⚽ Match Thread vs. Stockport 16.04.24 [EFL L2]

[skandark]

Team news shortly...

[skandark]

Bigger image:
26065

[MapperleyMagpie]

What's up with Jatta

[BanjoPie]

What's up with Jatta

Had a clatter!

[60YearsAPie]

What's up with Jatta

Macari and Jatta miss out through injury and Mahovo is recalled from his loan at Boston United to cover for the ill Jaden Warner.

[skandark]

Macari & Jatta injured apparently

[MapperleyMagpie]

That squad is very light on the bench and looks like an end of season can't really be bothered ! Disappointing

[BCnotts18]

Wonder what kind of reception Wootton will get tonight.

[BanjoPie]

Wonder what kind of reception Wootton will get tonight.

Bound to score a goal!

[marky]

Wonder what kind of reception Wootton will get tonight.

Should be fairly decent as long as he doesn't take the piss and he'll probably score.

[irish_pie]

Macari and Jatta miss out through injury and Mahovo is recalled from his loan at Boston United to cover for the ill Jaden Warner.

I'm pretty ill watching Jaden Walker this season 😀

[SmiffyPie]

Can I change my score prediction please? NCFC 1 v 3 StockPot.
Free run for them down our right.

[TedBovisPie]

Brindley, yey…

[OP67]

Anybody else want to see the back of Calamity Baldwin??!!!! FFS!!

[irish_pie]

Baldwin again... Jesus f@@k 😞

[BCnotts18]

Another Baldwin mistake, what a surprise.

[Little15]

Sorry folks, the pros will never outweigh the cons with him.

[MapperleyMagpie]

Baldwin I'd absolute garbage, outplaying them and he does that!! Get him gone end of season.

[Could'vebeenacontender]

Honestly
Baldwin doesn't have the temperament to be a professional footballer
He's a complete liability

[Notts78]

I’ve never known a player to consistently fall over when under relatively little pressure. That must be 10 goals that have come from calamity Baldwin slips

[irish_pie]

Sorry folks, the pros will never outweigh the cons with him.

Have to agree unfortunately...just way too many mistakes in that guy...a slip is a slip but 90% of the time his mistake leads to a goal... I'm watching it here with Stockport commentary and they just can't believe how many times we fluff up in defense

[BCnotts18]

Baldwin I'd absolute garbage, outplaying them and he does that!! Get him gone end of season.

We've not outplayed them, barring the first 5 minutes we've barely had a sniff, and now we've decided to gift them yet another goal. Disgraceful.

[TSANHO]

Surely someone is going to make a video compilation of our bloopers for this season.

[irish_pie]

Pen now...this is simply apauling... we are making Lemonhead Evans look like Messi tonight... shocking

[irish_pie]

This could be any score tonight if Stockport are bothered..

[irish_pie]

Absolute Ole football from Stockport now...yet more shocking crap at the back 😳

[BCnotts18]

They're taking the piss now, if their level is what we need to be to go up next season, we've got a monumental job on our hands in the summer, it's like we're playing against a championship team in the FA cup with how far behind them we are.

[legs77]

Pen now...this is simply apauling... we are making Lemonhead Evans look like Messi tonight... shocking

Disgraceful decision never a pen.

This **** let Barrow kick sh*t out our players at ML.

[Could'vebeenacontender]

I’ve never known a player to consistently fall over when under relatively little pressure. That must be 10 goals that have come from calamity Baldwin slips

His attitude off the pitch stinks too

[MapperleyMagpie]

We have conceded a record number of penalties , we are ****ing crap

[WarsopPie]

Bigger image:
26065

Under the cosh now and ****er Maynard still not made a tactical change just stands there like a wet lettuce

[BCnotts18]

We're an absolute embarrassment. So many players out there not fit to wear the shirt.

[Eastcoastultra1977]

This is a ****ing disgrace.I'am not surprised tho',I was expecting it.Talk about gift them the title.

There are going to be TWO teams celebrating at ML this season.One winning the title and the other staying up in League 2.

I'am ****ing sick of it.

[Notts78]

His attitude off the pitch stinks too

I don’t like him and hope he ****s off.

3-0 now

[irish_pie]

Disgraceful decision never a pen.

This **** let Barrow kick sh*t out our players at ML.

Agreed never a pen but it doesn't matter because its 3 now...absolute horse crap and had to be an irishman too... and guess what... Baldwin again!

[keldsyke]

Disgraceful.. pack your bags and take the rest with you

[marky]

Thank **** I've not attended.

[legs77]

Under the cosh now and ****er Maynard still not made a tactical change just stands there like a wet lettuce

What do you suggest he does ?

These are top for a reason and much better than us

[Notts78]

Maynard needs to take responsibility for this. Playing against the best side without anything remotely combative in midfield.

[irish_pie]

Blow it up ref please! 🙏

[Eastcoastultra1977]

You would have hoped there would have been a bit of pride.

God,they needed us tonight.

**** off Maynard.

[marky]

Under the cosh now and ****er Maynard still not made a tactical change just stands there like a wet lettuce

He hasn't got any other options defensively it's been disgusting recruitment in terms of our defence other than Macari. Get rid of all of them.

[legs77]

Agreed never a pen but it doesn't matter because its 3 now...absolute horse crap and had to be an irishman too... and guess what... Baldwin again!

Im of the opinion Baldwin has to go said it before he isnt as good as Cameron who takes all the stick as he is captain.

We're just coasting nowt to play for as harsh as it sounds and missing Jatta as well.

[Could'vebeenacontender]

I don’t like him and hope he ****s off.

3-0 now

The club will be better all round

[irish_pie]

Maynard needs to take responsibility for this. Playing against the best side without anything remotely combative in midfield.

I have been critical of Austin this season but tonight just shows he is not up to league level... he has been shocking but unfortunately he has plenty of company 😕

[WarsopPie]

What do you suggest he does ?

These are top for a reason and much better than us

I’m not paid to make them decisions but you’d like to think he could go to a 5-4-1, and get Mcgoldrick off or this will be 6 or 7, wait is he even playing????

[JoePass]

You would have hoped there would have been a bit of pride.

God,they needed us tonight.

**** off Maynard.


For gods sake give it a rest.

[legs77]

Maynard needs to take responsibility for this. Playing against the best side without anything remotely combative in midfield.

Yeah he does that ppl call him tinker man its same midfield that beat Walsall.

Reality is these are bigger stronger and better than us that is why they are champions.

[legs77]

I’m not paid to make them decisions but you’d like to think he could go to a 5-4-1, and get Mcgoldrick off or this will be 6 or 7, wait is he even playing????

Imagine he does that 541 and we get beat still sorry we have to attack them not give up.

[Eastcoastultra1977]

They won't get shut of him.We are back in the NL after next season.I'am dreading a summer of recruitment with this **** in charge

[MapperleyMagpie]

This is not on Maynard this on on the duck in charge of recruitment, it's been appalling this season and except for macari Jatta and Crowley all the rest of a disgrace, Morias, Randall Crockett always injured, Warner not up to it, goalkeepers not up to it , Robertson ok in patches but that's about it mcgoldrick past it

[irish_pie]

Break the bank and try get Challinor here in the summer...the man is a winner

[BanjoPie]

You would have hoped there would have been a bit of pride.

God,they needed us tonight.

**** off Maynard.

Here we go again FFS!!

[WarsopPie]

Yeah he does that ppl call him tinker man its same midfield that beat Walsall.

Reality is these are bigger stronger and better than us that is why they are champions.

Get off Austin, Mcgoldrick and Baldwin

[marky]

They won't get shut of him.We are back in the NL after next season.I'am dreading a summer of recruitment with this **** in charge

Depends on what defenders we bring in and Maynard doesn't actually do the recruitment anyway that'll be Montague.

[Eastcoastultra1977]

Break the bank and try get Challinor here in the summer...the man is a winner

That isn't going to happen mate.They have said as much in their speel the other day.

[irish_pie]

Mercifully it's half time... that was as shocking as we could of imagined... horrific at the back as usual... 2 goals down to Baldwin...never a pen but that ref hasn't got a clue what he is doing... unfortunately Stockport are levels above us... playing for a bit of pride in the second half... but I fear this could be 7 or 8

[legs77]

Break the bank and try get Challinor here in the summer...the man is a winner

You do realise Stockport are loaded and he is also a Manc isnt he ?

He is good manager lower league but he has had funds at both his clubs to do it.

[OP67]

No Langstaff and no Jones and Baldwin still under contract with Maynard as coach = National League!!

[irish_pie]

That isn't going to happen mate.They have said as much in their speel the other day.

A man can dream sir 😀

[M0ufMk3]

This is not on Maynard this on on the duck in charge of recruitment, it's been appalling this season and except for macari Jatta and Crowley all the rest of a disgrace, Morias, Randall Crockett always injured, Warner not up to it, goalkeepers not up to it , Robertson ok in patches but that's about it mcgoldrick past it

Correct! And Robertson okay in patches is also right. Sometimes good, sometimes meh, and sometimes couldn't pass water. Will be good though.

When Stockport score next, I've got money on the ref running around after lifting his shirt over his head. Probably won't even book himself.

edit - we are losing on merit though. Comment about ref could be interpreted as me thinking we were unlucky. No we haven't been (but the ref still stinks)

[irish_pie]

You do realise Stockport are loaded and he is also a Manc isnt he ?

He is good manager lower league but he has had funds at both his clubs to do it.

I get ya man... just daydreaming here a bit

[Old_pie]

No need to panic, the metrics say it's all down to luck despite the performance.

Just hope someone up top is paying attention to what is needed to get out of this, basement, league.

[marky]

Richard Montegue is on Magpie Circle tomorrow night, time to tell him how we feel I think.

It's pre recorded I think.

[legs77]

I get ya man... just daydreaming here a bit

Wrexham are the spotlight club but these have big budget too and large squad.

Saturday be tough too as Cowley is here and they arent 100% safe yet either so will fight like mad.

[irish_pie]

No need to panic, the metrics say it's all down to luck despite the performance.

Just hope someone up top is paying attention to what is needed to get out of this, basement, league.

A defense and a midfield would be a start 😀

[Bohinen]

I see a pattern here. when Notts lose, it's because our defenders are crap, but if Notts win, it's because Maynard has turned it round, and not the fact we have two attackers in the L2 team of the year. Yes, the defence is terrible but you could pick anyone off the street to manage us and they would still win occasionally because players like Jones are unstoppable at this level.

[irishpete]

Not bothering watching 2nd half. Yes a couple of goals dodgy but the still created chances easily.
I'll pay for Baldwins taxi. Absolute liability every game. Will never make it as long as he has a hole in his arse

[hissingdwarf]

What a shocking performance so far. Stockport are way, way way above us. Not just skill, but basics like commitment. Nemane is the only one who seems to give a **** so far.
When Stockport move, forwards or backwards, they do it as a unit.
What do we do? Rely on passing around the back until we feck up each time.
J Jones looks like he’s too busy holding his trophy to run the wing.

[upthemaggies]

You do realise Stockport are loaded and he is also a Manc isnt he ?

He is good manager lower league but he has had funds at both his clubs to do it.

Feels like most teams that traditionally used to be a level or two below Notts are loaded these days, compared to us.
Stockport were in the 6th tier not so long ago. Expect to see Scunny and Bury power their way past us in the pyramid with wealthy owners in ten or so years time.

[legs77]

Not bothering watching 2nd half. Yes a couple of goals dodgy but the still created chances easily.
I'll pay for Baldwins taxi. Absolute liability every game. Will never make it as long as he has a hole in his arse

Baldwin lucky before goal too as that wasnt à free kick when he got robbed by Wootton.

He has bit of pace but no brains he thinks he is Neymar dribbling round players when last man

[the_anticlough]

Don't know why posters put themselves through all the anguish - it's a meaningless game for us.
It's interesting to see the champions in action - they're such a solid side physically and in their individual play. We didn't see the best of them in the first fixture.

Even so, more than Baldwin's slip, it's a reminder of how toothless we can look when teams make it hard - McGoldrick, Austin, Brindley, Macca haven't looked ready to play at the level we need.

[legs77]

Feels like most teams that traditionally used to be a level or two below Notts are loaded these days, compared to us.
Stockport were in the 6th tier not so long ago. Expect to see Scunny and Bury power their way past us in the pyramid with wealthy owners in ten or so years time.

They are loaded that is why they are flying up the leagues from NLN.

Be tough for them and Wrexham next season

[MapperleyMagpie]

It's all very well the owners spending money behind the scenes on the nest and such but unless they truly invest I. The playing staff in the close season it will all be to no avail.

[irishpete]

They are loaded that is why they are flying up the leagues from NLN.

Be tough for them and Wrexham next season

They are no more wealthier than Notts. Been mentioned loads of times even by LB apparently. The difference Notts have a model at present & sticking to it.
Salford are loaded, look where they are

[irish_pie]

Forgot how decent in the air Wooton is..has won almost everything sent his way tonight... decent effort from Macca there...would like to see us score at least 1 tonight

[Could'vebeenacontender]

Baldwin lucky before goal too as that wasnt à free kick when he got robbed by Wootton.

He has bit of pace but no brains he thinks he is Neymar dribbling round players when last man

He probably looked good as a kid because of his pace
But in the professional game you need to concentrate for the full 90 plus minutes
He's just not capable of doing so
We seem to be afflicted by total recklessness at the back
LAH almost gave the ball away earlier with a preposterous Cruyff turn

[meoldlaner]

Pathetic

[MapperleyMagpie]

This is truly embarrassing

[legs77]

They are no more wealthier than Notts. Been mentioned loads of times even by LB apparently. The difference Notts have a model at present & sticking to it.
Salford are loaded, look where they are

He has personally wrote off £7.5m to them.

He is Stockport born and bred so is more likely to put it in heart ruling head ?

League one is different kettle of fish though so big teams in that league.

[BCnotts18]

The embarrassment continues, sack Baldwin tonight, horrendous footballer.

[Notts78]

Baldwin turned for the 4th goal and blames someone else. He is ****

[irish_pie]

Just look at Baldwins attemp to win the ball there...just goes to show that he really has given up... 4 nil now... god knows what this will end up 😞

[Could'vebeenacontender]

Just look at Baldwins attemp to win the ball there...just goes to show that he really has given up... 4 nil now... god knows what this will end up 😞
He needs to be hooked

[Notts78]

Maynard exempt by some on here is laughable. We get completely smashed in the first half and what does he do at half time. **** all.

[keldsyke]

Lots leaving already 50 mins in

[MapperleyMagpie]

Our whole recruitment and playing philosophy since the bros have come in is layed to bare tonight. Unless we recruit better players, change to a different philosophy we are at best stuck in this dreadful league at worst heading straight back to the National League

[marky]

Get Aden Baldwin out of this club NOW he is a disgusting defender utter clown people are laughing at him.

[legs77]

Just look at Baldwins attemp to win the ball there...just goes to show that he really has given up... 4 nil now... god knows what this will end up 😞

Yeah just awful if we werent getting smashed id bring Mahovo on but not sure its right game for that now

[M0ufMk3]

the fact that he was Brindley's man has escaped you? Baldwin at fault for first and always an error in him but discredit where it's due, and that wasn't one of them

[SmiffyPie]

Well that one just takes the biscuit. Two of our stood waving their arms around as the ball is lobbed into space behind them. Get rid of the bloody lot.

[marky]

Lots leaving already 50 mins in

Don't blame them why would you stay and listen to their fans taking the piss out of us and celebrating.

[MapperleyMagpie]

Yes Maynard has made poor decisions but his players are letting him and this club badly down

[legs77]

Yes Maynard has made poor decisions but his players are letting him and this club badly down

Agreed not sure you can pin it on him players giving away goals and not tracking back they are the basics of the game.

[marky]

Said it for weeks these gutless clowns are letting Maynard down.

[MapperleyMagpie]

Get rid of all loan players, Morias, Randall , bostock , mcgoldrick, Cameron, brindley, Rawlinson , adebayo and both keepers minimum ! Probably add chicksen and Austin

[the_anticlough]

Brace-Girdle has told us the referee is American about 6 times already, if he tells me again I'm muting him.

[irish_pie]

Stockport commentators joking about some of their injured players foaming at the mouth to face this Notts defense...that is a serious indictment of this shambles... ok 3 subs coming on... Bostock (slow) Austin (shocking) and McGoldrick (finished) all off

[Old_pie]

Stall is trying his hardest not to lose his rag. No kind words for Baldwin.

[MapperleyMagpie]

And while I'm on a role offer O'Brien coaching role but retire him from playing

[irish_pie]

Terrible miss from JOB... but Macca pulls one back

[51Magpie]

5-4, we're gonna win 5-4!

[MisterD]

I've given up listening and watching EastEnders instead. 😉

[Could'vebeenacontender]

Stockport commentators joking about some of their injured players foaming at the mouth to face this Notts defense...that is a serious indictment of this shambles... ok 3 subs coming on... Bostock (slow) Austin (shocking) and McGoldrick (finished) all off
Everyone in football knew about our weakness at the back
Luke was begging for better defenders in January
Only Warner came

[BanjoPie]

So we can play a bit then!!!

[Old_pie]

The Magpie fights back.

[M0ufMk3]

We've got 'em on the rack :-)

[irish_pie]

Everyone in football knew about our weakness at the back
Luke was begging for better defenders in January
Only Warner came

Amazing to think our only defensive signing actually made us worse at the back ha ha

[Notts78]

Another penalty against us…

[BCnotts18]

This ref is a first class bellend as is the linesman on the pavis side.

[irish_pie]

What in the good name of f@@k was that! Clear the god damn ball...and Cameron just wipes Lemonhead out... absolute joke

[irish_pie]

Pen missed but that is pen number 17 conceded this season... that is shocking on so many levels

[M0ufMk3]

looked like he got the ball to me. Clean tackle good enough for this bloke to give a pen though. Absolute fan boy cheating ****

[marky]

League 2 refs are absolutely shocking.

[legs77]

looked like he got the ball to me. Clean tackle good enough for this bloke to give a pen though. Absolute fan boy cheating ****

KC won that ball joke this ref he needs to fcuk off back to the MLS

[keldsyke]

KC won that ball joke this ref he needs to fcuk off back to the MLS

Should have got rid instead of ****ing about at the bacj

[irish_pie]

The Ref just booked one of their players!!! I bet that hurt him a bit!

[legs77]

Should have got rid instead of ****ing about at the bacj

True but they have had 2 pens none of them were.

No matter how bad we are you EXPECT the right calls.

He was same in that Barrow game at ML allowing them to kick and foul us all game and one horror challenge on Jones gave nothing

[BCnotts18]

Crowley has been excellent in the second 45.

[BCnotts18]

5-2 another free header.

[irish_pie]

Did anybody just see the freedom Barry got to cross the ball...that is simply unbelievable 😳... sick as a parrot

[M0ufMk3]

If you discount a man being climbed all over then yes, I agree. This ref is so bad

[MapperleyMagpie]

Showed some fight in second half, but poor defending again for 5th

[irish_pie]

That looked a clear foul on the last goal, strange to think if a defender did that to an attacker in the box it's a pen but we get nothing from this thief of a ref 🤔

[legs77]

If you discount a man being climbed all over then yes, I agree. This ref is so bad

He is a cheat this guy is but I guess he is part of the circus tonight.

He is on a par with our defence !

[upthemaggies]

No team has scored six at Meadow Lane in the league since Ipswich in 1982.

[MapperleyMagpie]

Ref a joke, our defence a joke

[upthemaggies]

First 2-5 defeat at ML since Sheff Utd in 2012. Only the third time we've ever lost 2-5 at home, the other being v Leicester when Gary Lineker netted at hat-trick in 1984.

[irish_pie]

The only bright spot about the night is its finally over... hammered by a side levels above us... got it back to 4-2 and Stockport just turned the screw again..could of had 5/6 more if they were really bothered... 17 pens conceded this season is an absolute joke... we got confirmation tonight of something we all knew beforehand and that is our defense just isnt good enough... Baldwin has to go now... Cameron can go with him... Austin
..dear Jesus above I would drive him anywhere he wants to go... we shored up a little when Robertson and JOB came on but still a million miles off a classy Stockport side...very very bad day at the office

[MAD_MAGPIE]

So as we now move onto 85 goals conceded the simple fact is we've got to half this amount if we want to be up there next season.

We've simply been found wanting defensively and out of possession this season. League One attack, National League defence it's as simple as that whoever has been manager.

Each week the battle is internally between attacking and defending as to which one will come out best.

It's over to the recruitment team now.

[marky]

2007 - Walsall
2017 - Portsmouth
2018 - Luton then Coventry in the play offs
2022 - Grimsby in the play offs
2024 - Stockport
Fed up and sick of oppostion teams celebrating promotion/glory at Meadow Lane.

[SmiffyPie]

So as we now move onto 85 goals conceded the simple fact is we've got to half this amount if we want to be up there next season.

We've simply been found wanting defensively and out of possession this season. League One attack, National League defence it's as simple as that whoever has been manager.

Each week the battle is internally between attacking and defending as to which one will come out best.

It's over to the recruitment team now.Well as LW said in vain in January "Let's see the commitment in this window". Let's see what happens in the close season, bet you that 50% of this defensive shambles is still here come August.

[M0ufMk3]

2007 - Walsall
2017 - Portsmouth
2018 - Luton then Coventry in the play offs
2022 - Grimsby in the play offs
2024 - Stockport
Fed up and sick of oppostion teams celebrating promotion/glory at Meadow Lane.

2030 - Barcelona, semi final Champions League (disputed pen given by an American ref) Just makes ya sick

[ajojones]

As sick as anyone at how this season has turned out but some of the hatred and nastiness on this thread is embarrassing. It's our club and players fgs. I've seen turjid football, collapses and dreadful defeats before but don't really recall the same level of hatred toward our players, as poor as some them can be.

[MapperleyMagpie]

Let's hope the recruitment team earn their crust or I think attendances will quickly take a dive.

[Mark_Ross]

Annihilated.

Mind you, we were playing Man City - probably the best club team in the world. What... uh, Stockport? !!

[marky]

2007 - Walsall
2017 - Portsmouth
2018 - Luton then Coventry in the play offs
2022 - Grimsby in the play offs
2024 - Stockport
Fed up and sick of oppostion teams celebrating promotion/glory at Meadow Lane.

Forgot 2011 - Brighton.

[Glad2BeAPie]

I've given up listening and watching EastEnders instead. 😉
It's not that bad

[Old_pie]

As sick as anyone at how this season has turned out but some of the hatred and nastiness on this thread is embarrassing. It's our club and players fgs. I've seen turjid football, collapses and dreadful defeats before but don't really recall the same level of hatred toward our players, as poor as some them can be.

(anti-)social media. Wherever we finish this season it is an improvement on the past 5 seasons, and 5 seasons ago we didn't even know if we would have a club, and not for the first time in the past 10 years.

Some have got carried away with "putting on a show" forgetting what full time professional football, even in the lower leagues, is really like. Maybe we should have stayed big fish in a small pond in the NL (no, I don't mean it).

But it is very frustrating that weaknesses that every man and his dog could see over the past few seasons have not been addressed, and even longer than that when we were in League 1 (?), got thrashed in a friendly v Grimsby and RT promised a new back four if necessary. Seems to me that we've not had a strong defender since Steady Eddie and he was getting past his sell by date.

There will be some real anger if the obvious issues are not sorted over the summer to give us a real chance of not being on "You've been framed, comedy defending special" next season. That is embarrassing and I trust the powers that be at Notts feel it too.

[hissingdwarf]

As sick as anyone at how this season has turned out but some of the hatred and nastiness on this thread is embarrassing. It's our club and players fgs. I've seen turjid football, collapses and dreadful defeats before but don't really recall the same level of hatred toward our players, as poor as some them can be.

I think partly, the owners, therefore the club are to blame. The way we have set our selves up for this fall is laughable.
Metrics. Philosophy. Possession.
Has it resulted in consistently winning football this season? No.
Last season, we were riding our luck and bossed games due to the fact we outplayed and out attacked teams. The defence was still shocking.

This season we’ve been found out on so many levels.
Last week was it when people were praising the brothers because of their off field plans. Agreed the needs of the club to generate funds and become balance positive or whatever it is…but if we’re not winning or at least providing the basics of entertainment…being stuck in a never ending loop of possession, pass back around the back until one of them feck it up…
I’d rather take 3 points and lump it if needs be.
4 at the back was better for ten minutes, but there is no credit changing the tactic to that when you’re already 4 down ffs.
And even then it was recycle 40 times at the back.
Take corners. We all laughed at Luke Williams explanation at the forum and we let it slide as we were winning.
Tonight, Stockport, like others such as Mansfield did, came and put our players under pressure with balls into the box from corners rather than short corners. And it created havoc.
Throw ins. We never seem to throw forwards at all. No sense of using the advantage.
Horrible night and I’m feeling right back where we were before the last two wins. Shocking players and management not much better.

Back on post though…yes the social media outpouring is worse now. But is it any worse than previous years? Or is it just ‘the way’ now? I’m pretty sure I recall many after match discussions in pubs in town after a match where players and managers…and owners…were slated by one and all. I remember one conversation about Tony Agana that would make a priest blush! Difference is in how people communicate now.

[Mark_Ross]

Unless we can acquire a defence (in case some of you had forgotten - that's the thing that tries to stop the opposition from scoring so many ****** goals) we are going to be in serious trouble next season. :(

[uysapie]

Rucking fubbish referee, how that 5th goal is allowed is beyond comprehension. Authors of our own downfall yet again, inviting pressure at the back and the usual slip/ mistake. No apparent attacking tactics,, just retain possesion. Half this team can sod off, nowhere near good enough for this league.

[uysapie]

Let's hope the recruitment team earn their crust or I think attendances will quickly take a dive.

Totally agree.

[1955pie]

Well as LW said in vain in January "Let's see the commitment in this window". Let's see what happens in the close season, bet you that 50% of this defensive shambles is still here come August.

Bet you only Brindley who is out of contract will leave along with the loanees.
And what has happened to Macari, he seems injured or ill rather a lot.

[jackal2]

Tonight was our season summarised in 90 minutes. Going forward, in possession, a threat to any team at this level and more than capable of scoring some fantastic goals. Defensively, out of possession, an absolute f*cking disgrace.

Any professional football defender with an iota of pride would be mortified to commit one mistake like Baldwin's in his career, and yet Aden has done the same thing three times in one season and got lucky several more. The only excuse I can make for him is if the coaching staff are genuinely advising him to take risks like that, in which case they're even more deluded than he appears to be. We actually were the better team until Baldwin's latest contribution to his one-man bloopers showreel, but the last thing you need to do is hand the initiative to a team as good as Stockport.

The penalty for the second goal may or may not have been harsh but that's incidental, because we had multiple opportunities to clear the ball before that, and the exact same goes for the penalty they missed - we were literally running round in circles in our own box instead of clearing the ball. Brain dead defending.

The fourth goal - good play by Sarcevic who for my money is one of the best players in the lower leagues, but still pathetic efforts to tackle him or slow him down by our players.

And the fifth goal, well, a traffic cone or an enthusiastic worm could literally have done more to stop the ball going into the box than Will Randall did, and I don't know why there's so little effort to stop crosses because we know damn well that none of our central defenders are consistently capable of marking a player or winning a defensive header.

Tonight confirmed in brutal fashion what we already knew or suspected. Cameron, Baldwin and Brindley are straight up not good enough to play as 'defenders' in this league. Pretty much the entire back of half of the team needs to be bulldozed and rebuilt in the summer, but if we can do that, and halve the number of goals conceded next year, then the attacking talent in the team - if they stay - are as good as any at this level.

We literally have half a good team at present. The entire focus of our recruitment this summer needs to be on players who can physically compete, defend aggressively and have the game intelligence to keep things crisp and simple in our own half.

[BigFatPie]

2007 - Walsall
2017 - Portsmouth
2018 - Luton then Coventry in the play offs
2022 - Grimsby in the play offs
2024 - Stockport
Fed up and sick of oppostion teams celebrating promotion/glory at Meadow Lane.

Yes it’s mighty irritating.

Desperately trying to look forward to next season but when it’s with a coach who hasn’t been able to do a damn thing about the problems this season it’s hard.

Having said that, I was hoping someone might take a life ban with that ref. Apparently he was the same guy who did the Barrow home game. A disgrace of an official.

[Lullapie]

I think partly, the owners, therefore the club are to blame. The way we have set our selves up for this fall is laughable.
Metrics. Philosophy. Possession.
Has it resulted in consistently winning football this season? No.
Last season, we were riding our luck and bossed games due to the fact we outplayed and out attacked teams. The defence was still shocking.

This season we’ve been found out on so many levels.
Last week was it when people were praising the brothers because of their off field plans. Agreed the needs of the club to generate funds and become balance positive or whatever it is…but if we’re not winning or at least providing the basics of entertainment…being stuck in a never ending loop of possession, pass back around the back until one of them feck it up…
I’d rather take 3 points and lump it if needs be.
4 at the back was better for ten minutes, but there is no credit changing the tactic to that when you’re already 4 down ffs.
And even then it was recycle 40 times at the back.
Take corners. We all laughed at Luke Williams explanation at the forum and we let it slide as we were winning.
Tonight, Stockport, like others such as Mansfield did, came and put our players under pressure with balls into the box from corners rather than short corners. And it created havoc.
Throw ins. We never seem to throw forwards at all. No sense of using the advantage.
Horrible night and I’m feeling right back where we were before the last two wins. Shocking players and management not much better.

Back on post though…yes the social media outpouring is worse now. But is it any worse than previous years? Or is it just ‘the way’ now? I’m pretty sure I recall many after match discussions in pubs in town after a match where players and managers…and owners…were slated by one and all. I remember one conversation about Tony Agana that would make a priest blush! Difference is in how people communicate now.

This - well said. As I've said before, some Notts fans think that we are the last bastion for the way football 'should' be played. I'd take effective football over technical football anytime.

[jackal2]

This - well said. As I've said before, some Notts fans think that we are the last bastion for the way football 'should' be played. I'd take effective football over technical football anytime.

It doesn't even need to be an either/or situation.

Move the ball out of your own half with as few passes as possible, and clear it in one go if you're under severe pressure in your own penalty area, but feel free to play as much attractive football as you like in the opponent's half.

Our players look almost brainwashed into believing they always have to play their way out of defence, even when the reward to risk ratio is tiny. If that's coming from the coaching team or a misguided club philosophy, then it needs a serious rethink in the summer. Defensively we're a joke.

[Elite_Pie]

Tonight was our season summarised in 90 minutes. Going forward, in possession, a threat to any team at this level and more than capable of scoring some fantastic goals. Defensively, out of possession, an absolute f*cking disgrace.

That sums us up well. We can score, but we can't defend.

[since41]

It doesn't even need to be an either/or situation.

Move the ball out of your own half with as few passes as possible, and clear it in one go if you're under severe pressure in your own penalty area, but feel free to play as much attractive football as you like in the opponent's half.

Our players look almost brainwashed into believing they always have to play their way out of defence, even when the reward to risk ratio is tiny. If that's coming from the coaching team or a misguided club philosophy, then it needs a serious rethink in the summer. Defensively we're a joke.

Fourth-division defenders might be ok if they are told to defend like fourth-division defenders but they are coached to play like premier-division Johan Cruyff's far beyond their capabilities.

[Lullapie]

It doesn't even need to be an either/or situation.

Move the ball out of your own half with as few passes as possible, and clear it in one go if you're under severe pressure in your own penalty area, but feel free to play as much attractive football as you like in the opponent's half.

Our players look almost brainwashed into believing they always have to play their way out of defence, even when the reward to risk ratio is tiny. If that's coming from the coaching team or a misguided club philosophy, then it needs a serious rethink in the summer. Defensively we're a joke.

I think you've touched on something in your last paragraph - who is telling them to do this? That's where the 'clear out' needs to be.

I'm not advocating route one football, but no fancy stuff in our own half. Langstaff needs to be told too, that under NO circumstances does he come more than one stride back into his own half.

[Lullapie]

Fourth-division defenders might be ok if they are told to defend like fourth-division defenders but they are coached to play like premier-division Johan Cruyff's far beyond their capabilities.

Spot on - it's the Peter Principle of football!

[BanjoPie]

I tend to think that we sometimes have too many ‘non-defenders’ ie attackers, trying to defend our own penalty area getting in the way of actual defenders (is that why we give away so many pens?) - Only my opinion but I believe attacking players should be further up field ready to break away in to the opponents half.

[Observerpie]

What was the attendance?

[irishpete]

What was the attendance?

11500 ish

[hissingdwarf]

What was the attendance?

11900 ish I think with 1960 from Stockport.

So we still got just under 10k.

If the recruitment isn’t there in the summer…that amount will drop like a stone. People will not pay to see these players week in week out.

[Old_pie]

What was the attendance?

11,656 according to the beeb.

[Observerpie]

11,656 according to the beeb.

Thank you. If we don't recruit well it may be some time before we see those sort of figures again.