And further down the road...

There are reasons, aye. Ways and means as to why it's been three matches and not a peep. The results probably hint why.

There was, shall we say, a minor sulk after losing 4-0 away to Huddersfield, which turned into a non-post because HaL was preparing for the annual holiday. Then, the day before said holiday, we go and lose 3-0 away at Walsall, and the case wasn't packed and Mrs HaL was fretting about shoe colour and before you knew it, we were in Dubrovnik and narry a free piece of internet in sight.

Then I get back today, and what do I find? We drew one-all with sodding Wycombe. At home.

Breathe.

Ok, to get sensible for a moment. There's little point in discussing three games that we haven't seen, other than feedback seems to indicate we were awful at Huddersfield, much better at Walsall and a bit average against Wycombe.

More worryingly, there's a lot of fans on Exeweb talking about players not appearing to be putting the effort in. I can forgive us playing utter shite if they try, but not bothering is criminal football offence, or rather it would be if football had criminal offences.

There are encouraging signs, though. Getting a last minute equaliser in injury time can do wonders for morale, for sure. And we're still where I expected us to be. There are, and will still be, worse teams in the division. And nobody said it was going to be another promotion chase. Except those who thought a 3-1 win over Hartlepool signified the playoffs. Tish and fips.

What we've got to do is win the home games, starting with Brentford next weekend. That will make me breathe easier. But we're by no mean in a dire situation, and it's nothing a couple of wins on the bounce won't help.

There's also been the small matter of an FA Cup first round draw. Some will be delighted that City have drawn lowly Nuneaton Town. Not Happy As Larry. Curzon Ashton is still fresh in the memory. We shall say no more, lest it result in another round of metaphorical cat kicking.

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Naaaaaaarch want Seaborne. They could just build a boat

The Norfolk Coast. Another way of getting seaborne

It's a bit like one of those leftfield transfers that occasionally gets thrown your way on Football Manager - squad member who's ticking along nicely attracts a significant bid from another club.

And just life imitates computer games as Norwich bid for our defender Danny Seaborne.

The club have rejected the first offer as derisory. Good. I'd hate if it they acted like me on Football Manager and click 'Accept' on the first offer out of sheer surprise.

Should we sell him though? On a practical front, that would leave us desperately short at the back with only Matt Taylor, Rob Edwards and Troy, who goes back to Spurs in January, as our centre-halves, while Goldborne's yet to make an impression at left-back and Tis prefers to keep Duffy on the right.

And then there's the player himself. In the Conference, Danny came through the youth ranks and established himself as one of our bright young prospects. He even captained the promotion-winning side at Wembley.

Since then, he got linked with a big move away, his head got turned, his form dropped and he lost his place in the side.

Many thought he'd move on in the summer but he's knuckled down and worked hard to fight for his place, and has recently been playing in the rather unlikely position of left-back.

Anybody who saw how he got taunted by Lloyd Sam at Charlton will know he's still got a lot to learn in that position, but it adds another bit of versatility to his game and by all accounts he's looking more settled as a full-back, even if it's not his natural position.

And, weirdly, for a player who probably isn't a first-choice at the moment, he's probably got more potential than the rest of the back four.

He's still only 22 and, if he applied himself, has the potential to become a very solid defender. And while Matty Taylor is bloody brilliant, Danny has the attributes to play at a higher level, again dependent on application.

But we saw what happened last time his head got turned by transfer talk. And would Norwich really be the best move for him?

Then there's more practicalities. His contract is up in the summer and, while he'd get a fair whack of compensation, he could still leave us for much less than we value him at.

But for all that, it'd be good to keep him at the Park. So, essentially, Norwich can do one unless they offer us a stupid six figure sum we can't refuse. And if they'd give to give us Matty Gill back, that'd be appreciated.

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Monkey hanged, town painted red

Much going on since HaL last dragged itself from the latest bar to update this place, chief of which was a rather delightful 3-1 win against Hartlepool on Saturday.

Adjective such as comfortable and routine have been used to describe the game, which is encouraging. As we’ve banged on about on here since the dawn of time, home matches against the Hartlepools of the world are games we need to be winning, and win we did.

Also encouragingly, Stuart Fleetwood got onto the scoresheet and celebrated by revealing his rippled stomach (Mrs HaL may be more interested in this than I), supposedly as a riposte to those fans who’d been calling him fat and out of condition.

Now, HaL has never suggested this, other than perhaps, after not getting many starts for Charlton since his loan finished, he might be a bit ring rusty.

No, what we were concerned about was whether he could cut it at League One. In the Conference he was on fire, but he’s still got a lot to prove at this level. And, happily, he’s started proving it.

It’s a big season for Fleets as, seemingly, the main striker in a League One team, so he needs to deliver. After a few iffy games, he’s doing just that at the moment. Even more encouraging is that he’s got the passion on the pitch to prove himself. Long may it continue, and we'll be right behind him.

And even better, he netted a last-minute equaliser against Swindon in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy, before City went out on penalties.

To be honest, what can you say about that competition? It's like the FA Trophy back in our Conference days. Yes, it's nice to win games in it but until you get to the latter rounds it's hard to get too excited about the competition.

Anyway, Tis doesn't do cups. Just promotions.

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