Match Thread vs. Hartlepool 22..02.20

[pingu_pie]

Passing it around the defence in triangles is the most pointless tactic that we could possibly employ. I feel very strongly about that. These defenders are playing in the conference, the nature of their positions on the field means that the majority of them do not possess silky passing abilities! Why would you ask the worst passers on the team to pass it around the most risky part of the field? It's ludicrous. It is also incredibly predictable and easy to play against. Any decent opposition know that all they need to do is press us until somebody inevitably makes a mistake. I have never seen a Notts side give the ball away so often as this side does. It's painful.

What happens is that eventually a defender will play it forward, bypassing midfield. The ball will be intercepted and immediately we are on the back foot. There is literally no argument to suggest this tactic is working. Arguably the best forward players in the league are starved of service game after game. It DOESN'T WORK!!!

On these pitches against this opposition and with these players, direct is how we should be playing. Let their defenders make the mistakes and let's actually use some of the pace we have in the side.

But you've just said that when we play it forward it will be intercepted and we are immediately on the back foot...

[navypie]

Ha - I know - we agree on several things but I know we differ here. Maybe you sit with some more enlightened folk around you, but I still see the thirst for drama far too much, on here more than anywhere. Having just had two chairmen who went through a couple of managers a season, I just feel like the fanbase as a body is addicted to the need for change... or just gossip.

Just analyse a few of the messes we have seen in the last few years. Every season there is moaning because we haven't signed players within the first few days of the offseason. Yet when Ray Trew would come on here and say something was close, he was pilloried when nothing happened. If he said nothing, then "there's a culture of secrecy / he doesn't care about the fans / he's not trying to invest". Relationships break down, he's gone. So we get another one who wants to appease the fans, and we do the same cycle over and over - apart from that one season where Nolan was winning pretty much every week (and the football was still "boring"), which is the only thing that shuts Notts fans up for a while. I mean, we even had posts on here about how could the Danes possibly leave us all guessing as to whether they had made a bid back in the summer, why couldn't they just tweet something to let everyone feel good.

Another example is the amount of guff on here about what managers say to the press. Who the hell cares? Steve Thompson made jokes on the radio, so what? He was useless the first time, and we reappointed him to be useless again. Keith Curle was boring and had nothing to say. So what? He had our best league finish in god knows how long.

Tonight we have Ardley not saying that we will crush Fylde as some massive issue. I ask again, so what?? I've been very lucky to be a fan of the New England Patriots in the NFL for 20 odd years. Go watch clips of our Head Coach's press conferences on YouTube sometime. They are legendary, because he says NOTHING. Nothing that the other team can use as motivation, nothing that could be used as information, he doesn't even use it to big up his own players - he just coaches them up, makes great game plans, and then kicks seven shades out of teams. We've won 6 Superbowls and he's generally credited with being the best coach there has ever been. Similar stuff with Gregg Popovich with San Antonio in the NBA; he borders on being rude when interviewed. It doesn't matter, it's all just tosh to fill airtime. I'm not saying Ardley is Belichick or Popovich, far, far, FAR from it, but look at how much people are getting their knickers in a twist over what he says to Radio Nottingham. He should tell the players to go out there, believe they are the best, and to rip the other team to pieces... when he's with them.

Funnily enough, I'm closer to your view on Ardley anyway; I'm still not sure of him, I perhaps have a bit more hope than you, I'm going to keep my fingers crossed that it works out even if I have my concerns. My real issue is that should he go, it won't really matter who we get next in the mind of most Notts fans, because they will simply be the next one to tear down.

Do you ever do short posts...it's been a long day!

[KCNotts]

But you've just said that when we play it forward it will be intercepted and we are immediately on the back foot...

Because we are put under pressure from pressing attackers so they panic. If they moved it forward more quickly and gave the ball to players who can actually damage the opposition, it would be different. Enzio and Roberts don't receive the ball!

Our build up is painfully slow and we are asking our Conference defenders to play like John Stones or David Luiz.

[upthemaggies]

Tonight we have Ardley not saying that we will crush Fylde as some massive issue. .

That's not the issue at all. He said it's one of the three toughest fixtures of the season. So what does that tell us about how he is going to approach a game against a wounded animal that other reams are taking 3 points against for fun? Yes a wounded animal can have a nasty bite, but approach it the right way and it won't be taking anything from us. Ardley can only smell the danger, because he's scared, he's scared to win, he's scared of promotion.Why? Probably because he knows as well as anybody he's not a football league manager anywhere outside of Wimbledon where he got the benefit of the doubt being an ex-player at a club riding on the back of practically wall to wall success for a decade. He's comfortable in the National League. This is where he belongs. Not us.

[pingu_pie]

Do you ever do short posts...it's been a long day!

Sorry, I don't have anyone telling me to shut the **** up when I'm typing...

Big respect to you for going up there in this weather, sounded like a terrible performance as a reward. Last time I went there, I remember everyone doing the conga when we were 4-0 down. Think we might have been relegated that day - it's hard to tell relegations about, really.

I'll shurrup now, hope you get to have a pint or six to make up for the journey!

[pingu_pie]

Because we are put under pressure from pressing attackers so they panic. If they moved it forward more quickly and gave the ball to players who can actually damage the opposition, it would be different. Enzio and Roberts don't receive the ball!

Our build up is painfully slow and we are asking our Conference defenders to play like John Stones or David Luiz.

And how are we getting them the ball directly - whack it out to the wings and hope the other team forgot to mark them?

[macse15]

I remember (some) Forest fans having that attitude when they were relegated to L1. Oh how we sneered at their arrogance

[Rez1862]

Ha - I know - we agree on several things but I know we differ here. Maybe you sit with some more enlightened folk around you, but I still see the thirst for drama far too much, on here more than anywhere. Having just had two chairmen who went through a couple of managers a season, I just feel like the fanbase as a body is addicted to the need for change... or just gossip.

Just analyse a few of the messes we have seen in the last few years. Every season there is moaning because we haven't signed players within the first few days of the offseason. Yet when Ray Trew would come on here and say something was close, he was pilloried when nothing happened. If he said nothing, then "there's a culture of secrecy / he doesn't care about the fans / he's not trying to invest". Relationships break down, he's gone. So we get another one who wants to appease the fans, and we do the same cycle over and over - apart from that one season where Nolan was winning pretty much every week (and the football was still "boring"), which is the only thing that shuts Notts fans up for a while. I mean, we even had posts on here about how could the Danes possibly leave us all guessing as to whether they had made a bid back in the summer, why couldn't they just tweet something to let everyone feel good.

Another example is the amount of guff on here about what managers say to the press. Who the hell cares? Steve Thompson made jokes on the radio, so what? He was useless the first time, and we reappointed him to be useless again. Keith Curle was boring and had nothing to say. So what? He had our best league finish in god knows how long.

Tonight we have Ardley not saying that we will crush Fylde as some massive issue. I ask again, so what?? I've been very lucky to be a fan of the New England Patriots in the NFL for 20 odd years. Go watch clips of our Head Coach's press conferences on YouTube sometime. They are legendary, because he says NOTHING. Nothing that the other team can use as motivation, nothing that could be used as information, he doesn't even use it to big up his own players - he just coaches them up, makes great game plans, and then kicks seven shades out of teams. We've won 6 Superbowls and he's generally credited with being the best coach there has ever been. Similar stuff with Gregg Popovich with San Antonio in the NBA; he borders on being rude when interviewed. It doesn't matter, it's all just tosh to fill airtime. I'm not saying Ardley is Belichick or Popovich, far, far, FAR from it, but look at how much people are getting their knickers in a twist over what he says to Radio Nottingham. He should tell the players to go out there, believe they are the best, and to rip the other team to pieces... when he's with them.

Funnily enough, I'm closer to your view on Ardley anyway; I'm still not sure of him, I perhaps have a bit more hope than you, I'm going to keep my fingers crossed that it works out even if I have my concerns. My real issue is that should he go, it won't really matter who we get next in the mind of most Notts fans, because they will simply be the next one to tear down.

That's fine when talking about some of the most successful manager/coaches in their respective fields but this is a manager of our club who is under pressure from the fans (rightly or wrongly) partly for being so negative. Using negative language in pressers does nothing to aid his cause.

You are right, of course, that what he says in public may not make any difference to performances but you have to admit, it doesn't inspire fans.

[KCNotts]

And how are we getting them the ball directly - whack it out to the wings and hope the other team forgot to mark them?

You're right mate. I've seen the error of my ways. We should stick to passing around the back and creating 2 shots per match. Total football.

[navypie]

Because we are put under pressure from pressing attackers so they panic. If they moved it forward more quickly and gave the ball to players who can actually damage the opposition, it would be different. Enzio and Roberts don't receive the ball!

Our build up is painfully slow and we are asking our Conference defenders to play like John Stones or David Luiz.

I think it must be so easy to play against Notts. Let them fanny around with it at the back ,set yersens up when they lose it and break at pace.