PAUL TISDALE admits one of his hardest selection decisions ahead of Friday's televised FA Cup third-round tie against Liverpool has been what to wear in front of the cameras.
 |
| Paul Tisdale is concerned about what to wear for their FA Cup tie with Liverpool |
But anyone keen to pigeonhole the Exeter manager as all style and no substance could be in for a shock with confidence growing at St James Park that his League Two side can pull off the first upset of the weekend.
Former Southampton midfielder Tisdale, 42, will lead out his side with characteristic style tonight even if his 'lucky' 1950s pork pie hat is the only confirmed part of his outfit.
"It is true that I have a fair sized wardrobe and plenty of options," he said, as befits a Ted Baker ambassador having been great mates with the fashion label's owner Ray Kelvin since the mid-90s. "But I wore the hat in the last couple of rounds so I might have to stick with it."
PLAY OUR FREE PREDICTOR GAME NOW TO WIN A 3D TV AND PS4!
If his Exeter side can respond with style on the pitch against a side reeling with injuries and sure to be feeling the concussive effects of a Tuesday's Capital One Cup semi-final against Stoke, the television audience could be in for a cracker.
Such an outcome would not be before time for a club who could do with the money and a manager who has enjoyed little luck in this competition in his 10 years at the club.
"It is true the FA Cup hasn't been kind to us in my time here," said Tisdale with a nod to defeat at the hands of non-League Warrington Town in front of the cameras in the first round last year. "But we beat Port Vale in the last round despite having no midfielders to pick from and despite playing what was effectively a 5-0-5 formation.
"Then we drew out the plum tie of Liverpool which was exactly the sort of fixture you want, even if this time we might have to give consideration to a 10-0 formation."
Behind the bright feathers and the self-deprecation beats a talented and deeply committed manager at work, as evidenced by the well-worn fact that Tisdale is the second-longest serving boss in the League, behind only Arsene Wenger.
After a modest playing career with Southampton, the lower leagues and overseas in Greece and Finland, Tisdale was given his chance at Exeter in 2006 after serving an eye-catching if unorthodox apprenticeship as manager of Team Bath.
 |
| Tisdale's Exeter were beaten 6-3 by Premier League side Sunderland in the League Cup this season |
In seven years there, four as manager, Tisdale drew on coaching influences from a variety of sports including track and field, swimming and rugby, sharing an office with rugby academy director Brian Ashton, who went on to coach England.
He also had the thrill of an FA Cup ride when taking the university side to the first round proper in 2002 before they lost to 4-2 to Mansfield.
Tisdale puts his longevity down to trust, give and take between him director of football Steve Perryman and chairman Julian Tagg, and an understanding of the business model on all sides.
He has rewarded them with success, including a rise of 48 places from non-League to League One in the first five years, and loyalty when bigger clubs took notice, including Swansea twice. They have repaid it when Exeter went down back to League Two.
"I had that chance to move to higher leagues and for more money but believe I paid them back the opportunity they gave me. It works both ways and when things are not going so well we go with it. We all understand the model of the club."
Finances were given a huge boost by the sale last year of home-grown star Matt Grimes, who went to Swansea with £1.75million coming back the other way which put the club "back on track", according to Tisdale.
But while prizemoney and television income from a Cup run would be welcome it is success, not the financial benefits of a trip to Anfield for a replay, that remains the prime motivation.
"It's a compromise between how much you risk," said Tisdale. "What we don't want to do is just go into the game to defend. But we are not going to sit back and hold on. We need to go out and give it a go."
Post a Comment Blogger Facebook Disqus