Let’s talk about Rúben’s pass…

Most Notts attacks go down right wing, seemingly as process. Yet now left too with Jones. Balls from central to central underused but far more productive, relatively, seems to me. Don't know if stats bear out. Interesting to see.

You must be a complete Pillock or completely ignorant and have no idea off football to have a player of such intelligence, skill and ability at your disposal but decide to leave him on the bench week in week out or not play him at all..
I'm not sure who this could be but he got us relegated with his negative football and nearly cost us the talents of RR.

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Originally Posted by Elite_Pie

Ruben was always a class above in terms of ability right from the start, but he was bloody frustrating in his first season. With hindsight, I put most of the blame for that on Ardley. Ruben wasn't fully fit, he had a hard time due to covid isolation, but he never had a real role in the team. He would show what he was capable of for a few minutes then be anonymous for the rest of the game. Burchnall improved that, but Williams took it to the next level. He now has a clear role and performs it brilliantly.

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Ardley playing him on the left of an old-school 442 didn't really help that first season. So glad we've moved on since then.

I think Ruben has the skill for a much higher level but his pace is too slow for someone who needs to be regularly box to box. Decent L1 level player as things stand.

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Originally Posted by The_Don_ORiordan

I think Ruben has the skill for a much higher level but his pace is too slow for someone who needs to be regularly box to box. Decent L1 level player as things stand.

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That's the level I would also have him at. A Pompey, a Bolton, an Ipswich that sort of club if not at Notts.

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Originally Posted by laddo

That's the level I would also have him at. A Pompey, a Bolton, an Ipswich that sort of club if not at Notts.

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Yes, same here. And the same goes for Langstaff.

Suggested League One quality players at a Non League club? Hmmmm the recruitment can't be too bad after all.

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Originally Posted by ncfcog

It wasn't just the slide rule pass but the dummy and turn to get away from the Bromley player when he received the ball. Also, I think the dummy (by Rawlo?) helped as well.

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Yeah Rawlo, he's had a subtle hand in 3 key goals recently

The assist for Scott's equaliser v B'Wood (not so subtle that one)...the basketball screen to allow Nemane to set up Chicksen for the winner at Chesterfield, this dummy that might well have distracted the defenders to let the ball go through to Maca at Bromley. Rawlo might be a closet Cantona up front, who knows :)

Some interesting posts on Ruben...

I doubt I'll get too many to agree, but his 1st season remains my favourite of the 3 so far (this would have to change if win promotion)...

He might not have the all-round game he has now, but he was more himself then I think. Faster and more explosive, when he finally got match fit (i.e. in the C'Field play-off game), a more powerful shot and willingness to shoot more often.

Now, he consistently does great defensive work. And he has stamina, nobody should want Ruben taking off - he had energy to do all that work in stoppage time for Maca's goal on Saturday. Each time he's withdrawn we take off match-changing ability, and there's no need, he's 26 and at the peak of his powers.

I wonder though if some things have been coached out of him of a bit over the last two years. Yes, he's the best defence splitting passer outside the Championship probably. Perhaps wanting him to concentrate on this has taken away from his shooting and finishing a bit. And he's bigger and stronger...good for absorbing challenges but maybe it's taken half a yard off his pace. The pace is still there, look how he left the Southend players for dead for Maca's 2nd v Southend, but that was a build up of speed over 20-30 yards.

Amazing player for the NL. Opposing fans seem to fear him and appreciate the chance to see him play. We should all do the same while we have the opportunity.

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Originally Posted by the_anticlough

Some interesting posts on Ruben...

I doubt I'll get too many to agree, but his 1st season remains my favourite of the 3 so far (this would have to change if win promotion)...

He might not have the all-round game he has now, but he was more himself then I think. Faster and more explosive, when he finally got match fit (i.e. in the C'Field play-off game), a more powerful shot and willingness to shoot more often.

Now, he consistently does great defensive work. And he has stamina, nobody should want Ruben taking off - he had energy to do all that work in stoppage time for Maca's goal on Saturday. Each time he's withdrawn we take off match-changing ability, and there's no need, he's 26 and at the peak of his powers.

I wonder though if some things have been coached out of him of a bit over the last two years. Yes, he's the best defence splitting passer outside the Championship probably. Perhaps wanting him to concentrate on this has taken away from his shooting and finishing a bit. And he's bigger and stronger...good for absorbing challenges but maybe it's taken half a yard off his pace. The pace is still there, look how he left the Southend players for dead for Maca's 2nd v Southend, but that was a build up of speed over 20-30 yards.

Amazing player for the NL. Opposing fans seem to fear him and appreciate the chance to see him play. We should all do the same while we have the opportunity.

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Agree with your last couple of lines, but not the first few. Ruben was criminally underutilised in his first season, we got the odd glimpse of what he was capable of, but the rest was sheer frustration that we couldn't get him more involved.

Ardley wasted his talent, Burchnall unlocked some of it, Williams has got it right.