“The team to win today, lads” begins Gary Caldwell. Exeter City are two hours from kicking off against Manchester City in the FA Cup third round, and their manager is addressing his players at a hotel shortly before they travel to the Etihad.
“You know why I said that?” he continues, his thick Scottish accent filling the room. No one knows. He explains the phrase is borrowed from Roberto Martínez, under whom Caldwell won the competition with Wigan in 2013. It was used to bring humour and break tension when his team were inevitably written off.
The words spilled out before Wigan’s Wembley win against the same opponents Exeter are about to face, and they too are underdogs – albeit to another degree or three. Sadly, Caldwell’s manifesting proves ineffective.
Exeter’s staff begin their morning with a parkrun, a tradition whether home or away. David Perkins, Caldwell’s first signing when he managed Wigan to the 2016 League One title, is always quickest, although his snoring doubtless slows stride of his roommate, Michael McBride, the head physio. A niggle restricts Caldwell to 30 pool lengths.
A carb-loaded group brunch is followed by a staff-only pre-mortum. Caldwell’s team model various permutations, potential changes and actions when winning, losing and drawing.
The conclusions are by no means final, but they do provide a touchstone when in-game adrenaline is flowing. “I think the best managers and the best days are decided on instinct, on making decisions in the heat of the moment,” Caldwell says.
Caldwell sits at the back, encouraging a collaboration between all present. His say is final, but he finishes each section with: “Anyone disagree?” The question is genuine. Caldwell is undoubtedly the leader, and his words carry gravitas. But he is no dictator, nor is he closed-minded.
As players arrive for the team meeting, Caldwell loiters outside the room, pulling a handful aside for a word. He clasps his hands on Jake Doyle-Hayes when informing him that, with Pierce Sweeney suspended, he will captain the team. Doyle-Hayes’ eyes explode at the news. “Exactly the reaction I wanted,” Caldwell later says.
Caldwell’s message is clear, concise and brief. He does not rehearse his speeches but carefully considers his points, aware that each individual will take something subtly different from his words. One coach has given a warning that Caldwell is quite the orator, and that is borne out.
On the bus, Caldwell sits opposite head of emotional intelligence, Mike Holden, a colleague he discovered on Twitter shortly after his October 2022 appointment. Holden had profiled Caldwell from online interviews and the results were so accurate that the Scot got in touch.
Holden completed a similar exercise on all staff in pre-season so Caldwell could ensure appropriate responsibilities were allocated and has since been working with the players. The focus is helping Caldwell et al tailor their treatment of each individual, and the group believe the fruit of that has begun growing.
Squeezing every single thing from every single thing while maintaining an elite approach is how Caldwell operates. He has to: Exeter have League One’s smallest playing budget and his 14th-, 13th- and 16th-placed finishes are to be celebrated. Most important, his players respect him wholeheartedly: that much is obvious.
The last three seasons have helped Caldwell develop towards the manager he aspires to be massively. “I won the league at Wigan with an amazing squad and thought: ‘This is pretty easy,’” he says wearing a smirk of humility. Spells at Chesterfield, Patrick Thistle and Exeter have since taught him the folly of his naivety.
Preparation is meticulous now, with Exeter training at Manchester United’s base on Friday via Caldwell’s friendship with his former Scotland teammate Darren Fletcher. “Possession is your freedom,” he shouts as they run through an 11 v 11 exercise at Carrington.
Coaches Perkins, Kevin Nicholson and Dan Green have his full trust, but he is more hands on as matchday approaches. “Possession is the moment you fill your lungs and enjoy the game,” he bellows. “As soon as you lose it, you know you’ll have to react.”
Exeter’s travelling party have navigated the Etihad’s cavernous underworld and are stretching in a vast dressing room. Elsewhere, Macclesfield take a 2-0 lead, a goal that is met by whooping. If they can, why not us? The last hour before kick-off is Caldwell’s worst, the thumb-twiddling time unwelcome. He seeks out Pep Guardiola, clutching a bottle of single malt as a gift. That is an example of Caldwell’s warmth, but he later shows a fierce side when Pep Lijnders laughs at his touchline protestations. Caldwell responds by making his point sternly.
Post warm-up the music is blaring but the goalkeeper Joe Whitworth can be heard above it as motivator-in-chief. Suddenly, a piercing beep signifies kick-off nears. That is the only prompt the entire room needs to lock arms tightly and form an oval. A pause. Then Caldwell begins: “You have to start at 100% intensity. Do not wait. We can forgive everyone for a mistake that’s made with courage.” Exeter begin strongly and Caldwell patrols his technical area intently, trying to ensure all the shapes, the pressing, the patterns are implemented. An early Jayden Wareham strike gets deflected wide. Caldwell turns angrily. “Pass it,” he shouts, the words preceded by an expletive.
Promising and yet, by the break, Exeter are four in arrears.
Caldwell’s voice reverberates in the tunnel, audible from the dressing room as he approaches. The players get a few minutes to themselves while the staff gather around head of performance analyst Lauren Jones’ laptop to view her findings.
As with his previous addresses, Caldwell keeps it minimal, no space left for misunderstanding. Yet this time he is angry, fuming even. A lack of commitment to the plan is cited, his disappointment pouring out as he talks through a small handful of clips to reiterate the desired approach.
“It doesn’t matter what the shirt is, it doesn’t matter what the name on the back is, that is what we do,” he exclaims. “Commit to it and the second half will be much more enjoyable.” Then he leaves.
“Now we’ll see what you’ve got,” says Green. “Don’t start looking after yourselves, look after each other.”
Exeter concede a further six goals, albeit the 19-year-old academy graduate George Birch gives their near 8,000-strong away support something to celebrate. Despite the score, Caldwell breathes and lives every moment, his body twisting and contorting into what, out of context, could (with a squint) be yoga poses. Dialogue with Perkins and Nicholson is constant.
“Everybody look up,” Caldwell demands once his dejected players are gathered after the final whistle. “That is a world class team.” And then a lesson begins. “Tell me some of their behaviours?” Silence. “Go on, tell me some of their behaviours?” “They’re relentless,” offers a voice in the corner. Precisely the answer Caldwell seeks, and he then explains the beauty in Manchester City’s simplicity. Effective; nothing flashy; and they do. Not. Stop.
“We aren’t going to be defined by that,” Caldwell continues. “But we do have to learn from it. It’s a good experience if you learn from it, but only if you go away and do that.” Shoulders around the room stand proud once more.
Naturally, there is disappointment, but Caldwell lavishes praise on Birch for his courage, “outstanding” contribution and goal. “I’ve never celebrated a goal at 9-0 down in my life,” he tells everyone.
It will have been of little consolation on Saturday night, but the £250,000 or so earned from the tie will provide Exeter welcome financial comfort. The Exeter City Supporters’ Trust, the fan group that owns the club, has put loans of £600,000 in since last summer.
“We’ll be defined by the next 22 league games,” Caldwell concludes, before giving everyone three days off. “Back in Wednesday to get ready for Stevenage.”