Exeter City Manager Calls for Offensive Improvement Ahead of League Two Season
Exeter City manager Matt Taylor emphasizes the need for his team to enhance their offensive play if they want to achieve success in League Two this season. Following a disappointing 2-0 defeat to Devon rivals Plymouth Argyle in the Carabao Cup, where Exeter managed only one shot on target, Taylor acknowledged the urgent need for improvement.
After their relegation from League One in May, Exeter is set to embark on their first season back in the fourth tier since winning promotion in 2022. Their campaign kicks off with a challenging away match against play-off semi-finalists Grimsby Town.
“We all recognize that to be a competitive team at the top of the table, we must improve our in-possession play that leads to attacking opportunities,” Taylor stated in an interview with BBC Radio Devon. He noted that while the team demonstrated a strong sense of organization and discipline, they need to translate that into effective attacking moves.
“The improved control of the ball, better ball usage, and sound decision-making are all areas where we, as coaching staff, can contribute to our progress,” he continued. “We must see these improvements fairly quickly, or else face the risk of merely being a well-organized defensive side, lacking in attacking potency.”
Exeter faces a tough start to the season, with two lengthy away trips in their initial matches. They will first make the 600-mile round trip to Grimsby, followed by a 615-mile journey to newly-promoted York City two weeks later.
Taylor stressed the importance of embracing the season’s start rather than waiting for easier matches at home. “Starting the season away against Grimsby is a challenging task,” he said. “We don’t want to postpone acknowledging that our season has begun until we face supposedly weaker opposition at home.”
Despite the result against Plymouth, Taylor believes the season is underway and the team is getting into the rhythm of playing. “Traveling is simply part of being associated with Exeter City, and we might as well face one of the favorites right from the start,” Taylor concluded, looking ahead to this weekend’s match.
Exeter City boss Matt Taylor says his side must improve their attack if they are to be successful in League Two.
The Grecians had just one effort on target in their 2-0 Carabao Cup loss to Devon rivals Plymouth Argyle on Monday.
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After relegation from League One in May, Exeter begin their first season back in the fourth tier since promotion in 2022 with a tricky away trip to play-off semi-finalists Grimsby Town.
“I think we all know that if we’re going to be a real competitive team at the right end of the table we’ve got to improve our in-possession play which turns into hopefully attacking moments,” Taylor told BBC Radio Devon.
“I just thought we were so well organised and disciplined and connected; we’ve got to then add the same discipline and connection in terms of an attacking sense.
“Our control of the ball, our ball use, our decision making, everything we can play a part in as coaches will improve and we’ll improve over time, but we need it to improve pretty quickly otherwise for the start of the season we’ll just be a well-organised defensive team, but we’ve got to have a bit more output in an attacking sense.”
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Exeter have a tricky looking start to the season.
Having been drawn away at their bitter League One rivals, they face two of their longest trips in their first two away matches – a 600-mile round-trip to Grimsby on Saturday and then a 615-mile return journey to newly-promoted York City a fortnight later.
Taylor says it is important his side are focused on embracing their start to the campaign, rather than waiting for the first few games to be past them.
“Away from home in a Devon Derby is a tough start, away to Grimsby first (league) game of the season is a tough start,” he said.
“We don’t want to be waiting for our home games, or in theory lesser opposition, to say ‘our season starts now’.
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“Our season has started, not the result we wanted, but our season has well and truly started and we’re in the rhythm of games now which is the most important factor in a footballer’s life, or anyone involved in a footballer’s life.
“So we’re looking forward to this weekend, no excuses in terms of the travel. Part and parcel of being associated with Exeter City is a long journey on a Friday or a Saturday morning and going to one of the favourites, we might as well go there first game of the season.”
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