I remember a line in the press release from Blackpool FC announcing the appointment of Ian Evatt as manager which said 'He holds an eye-catching record in the game, with a near 50% win ratio across his 350 games as a manager.' When he arrived we were bottom with 2 wins, 3 draws and 8 defeats from 13 games. With another 33 games to go, it was reassuring to think that if his win ratio continued at 50% then that would be 16 victories which would see us push well clear of relegation.
Not including the cup competitions, so far Evo's record has been true to form. 6 games played, 3 wins, 1 draw and 2 defeats and there is your 50%. In perspective, those first 13 games under Bruce/Dobbie (sorry to tar you with the same brush Dobs) we accrued just 9 points. In the 6 games under Evo, we've already won 10 points. Strangely, as mentioned on AVFTT it does put us 7th in the League One Form table for the last 6 games reflecting what a bizarre league this is.
Of course the random nature of League One was evident on Tuesday night when it seemed after that night's results went against us, that we had been set adrift along with Port Vale, but following the win at Rotherham we have joined a group of 7 sides who have just 3 points between them and going up to 16th place. Although it's way too early to be talking about competing with the teams in the top half, our current points per game under Evatt does match Luton who are currently 7th. It's worth noting as well that our achilles heel this season, our away form, has yielded 6 of those points from 4 games leaving Exeter now with the worst record on the road this season.
That Reading defeat is a reminder that we aren't quite there especially as it was at Bloomfield Road. However, home form will be crucial up to the halfway point of the season. As we head towards that Game 23, it's worth noting that 3 of the 4 games will been the Fylde. To end 2025 out of the bottom four is not a target any of us could have been looking for at the start of this season, but the league position Steve Bruce left us in means getting out of that bottom four as soon as possible has to be the target.
Added to the improvement in form and performances, it's to be hoped our treatment room is starting to look less crowded. It's remarkable that we have got through to this stage of the season with just two fit forwards due to bad luck and poor planning leaving us threadbare up front for most of this campaign. The return of Niall Ennis and Dale Taylor will be a massive boost and you only have to look at the difference having Danny Imray, Josh Bowler, Albie Morgan and James Husband have made to the side to see what we've been missing.
I still remember when we signed Taylor/Ennis and HMS Piss the League set sail. There have been very few high points along the way this season but the result in the FA Cup and Wednesday's league win at Rotherham will have given both players and fans something to be buoyed about. There is no doubt this is a massively wasted season but there are still plenty of games to make something out of it.
However, before we all get carried away, we know there could always be another Harrogate/Reading horror show. I still think we have that in us but results breed confidence and I don't think we're that far away from being a decent team. There are definite green shoots but we know how easy they can be trampled on. Ian Evatt has a tricky mix of factors that have gone against him since Day One. He's looking to get players back to fitness, he's watching his players learn his ways on the job and he still has the added pressure of still being in the bottom four. With another 5 games in 19 days over Christmas, if he can continue that 50% win ratio, those green shoots might still be seen.
Not including the cup competitions, so far Evo's record has been true to form. 6 games played, 3 wins, 1 draw and 2 defeats and there is your 50%. In perspective, those first 13 games under Bruce/Dobbie (sorry to tar you with the same brush Dobs) we accrued just 9 points. In the 6 games under Evo, we've already won 10 points. Strangely, as mentioned on AVFTT it does put us 7th in the League One Form table for the last 6 games reflecting what a bizarre league this is.
Of course the random nature of League One was evident on Tuesday night when it seemed after that night's results went against us, that we had been set adrift along with Port Vale, but following the win at Rotherham we have joined a group of 7 sides who have just 3 points between them and going up to 16th place. Although it's way too early to be talking about competing with the teams in the top half, our current points per game under Evatt does match Luton who are currently 7th. It's worth noting as well that our achilles heel this season, our away form, has yielded 6 of those points from 4 games leaving Exeter now with the worst record on the road this season.
That Reading defeat is a reminder that we aren't quite there especially as it was at Bloomfield Road. However, home form will be crucial up to the halfway point of the season. As we head towards that Game 23, it's worth noting that 3 of the 4 games will been the Fylde. To end 2025 out of the bottom four is not a target any of us could have been looking for at the start of this season, but the league position Steve Bruce left us in means getting out of that bottom four as soon as possible has to be the target.
Added to the improvement in form and performances, it's to be hoped our treatment room is starting to look less crowded. It's remarkable that we have got through to this stage of the season with just two fit forwards due to bad luck and poor planning leaving us threadbare up front for most of this campaign. The return of Niall Ennis and Dale Taylor will be a massive boost and you only have to look at the difference having Danny Imray, Josh Bowler, Albie Morgan and James Husband have made to the side to see what we've been missing.
I still remember when we signed Taylor/Ennis and HMS Piss the League set sail. There have been very few high points along the way this season but the result in the FA Cup and Wednesday's league win at Rotherham will have given both players and fans something to be buoyed about. There is no doubt this is a massively wasted season but there are still plenty of games to make something out of it.
However, before we all get carried away, we know there could always be another Harrogate/Reading horror show. I still think we have that in us but results breed confidence and I don't think we're that far away from being a decent team. There are definite green shoots but we know how easy they can be trampled on. Ian Evatt has a tricky mix of factors that have gone against him since Day One. He's looking to get players back to fitness, he's watching his players learn his ways on the job and he still has the added pressure of still being in the bottom four. With another 5 games in 19 days over Christmas, if he can continue that 50% win ratio, those green shoots might still be seen.
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