Magpie Circle Altrincham Preview

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by the_anticlough

Well isn't that something, maybe the only thing, to build on? And add to that list, the games before (looking past Roberts) and after.

When it's only 1 up, you have to find a formula to be fantastic or 1 of the other 23 will do...

So you have fantastic, ordinary, interesting, OK, solid but limited...which of those versions do you look to recapture. As you say, Ardley made a hash of harnessing what he might have had (might've invented a tongue twister there :) ) but isn't looking fantastic kind of interesting information for a manager, incumbent or incoming?

Anyway, Magpie Mania said it better than me.... in 4th with games in hand to 10th and looking out of it.

As Marlon would say 'You don't understand. We could have had class. We could have been a contender. We could've been somebody, instead of a bum, which is what we are, let's face it'

---

I think the other thing to take into account is that the times we’ve looked great have owned as much to the opposition as how we’ve set up. This applies to the whole team, but particularly some of the players you’ve mentioned (Ruben and Eli for sure) - they look great when given space and put under little pressure, they struggle horribly and disappear out of the game when the opposition makes it difficult. That’s why it’s tended to only last 20 minutes, because the opposition tends to try and stop you if you’re playing well. This is why Roberts was so important - press him and he’ll just dribble round you.

Is this unsolvable? Not at all, but it probably is in a few weeks when you’ve got no time to train really.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jacobncfc

If you think we were looking like a team capable of ‘running through this league’ then fair play, we disagree.

IB’s results in his first eight aren’t even that different to NA’s last eight, the rot had set in. Which isn’t to say that he doesn’t deserve questions for being unable to turn that around, and indeed making it slightly worse, but this idea that all was going swimmingly and a new manager’s just come in and blown it up is... fanciful at best.

---

Slightly?...

And Mace spelt in out well, Ardley's last 8 - 2 defeats, Burchnall's first 8 - 5 defeats

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jacobncfc

I think the other thing to take into account is that the times we’ve looked great have owned as much to the opposition as how we’ve set up. This applies to the whole team, but particularly some of the players you’ve mentioned (Ruben and Eli for sure) - they look great when given space and put under little pressure, they struggle horribly and disappear out of the game when the opposition makes it difficult. That’s why it’s tended to only last 20 minutes, because the opposition tends to try and stop you if you’re playing well. This is why Roberts was so important - press him and he’ll just dribble round you.

Is this unsolvable? Not at all, but it probably is in a few weeks when you’ve got no time to train really.

---

Ardley certainly didn't manage his resources well - chopping and changing, seeming to lead through senior pros instead of empowering all and boosting the confidence of the creative players, making sure they were fit and strong. The bottom line though is those results. And for me a statement of intent - Burchnall's whole approach so far makes me think watching Notts isn't going to be much fun and he won't be able to take us to where we need to get to.

So we were 4th with games in hand yet so many wanted Ardley sacked?!?! Huh?

How can that be? Either we were very lucky to be 4th or Ardley was very unlucky to be sacked!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by the_anticlough

Slightly?...

And Mace spelt in out well, Ardley's last 8 - 2 defeats, Burchnall's first 8 - 5 defeats

---

But only 1 behind in terms of points for the 8 league games, not totally awful since we have been away to Hartlepool & Torquay.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by laddo

So we were 4th with games in hand yet so many wanted Ardley sacked?!?! Huh?

How can that be? Either we were very lucky to be 4th or Ardley was very unlucky to be sacked!

---

If you look at the performances, I'd say we were lucky to be 4th with games in hand.

We never really looked like we deserved that position.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by the_anticlough

Slightly?...

And Mace spelt in out well, Ardley's last 8 - 2 defeats, Burchnall's first 8 - 5 defeats

---

As we were saying, though, it’s all about points and there’s just a couple in it, as much as it feels like it’s been a complete disaster.

I think I’d summarise my position as IB being responsible for not arresting a slide in form, but not for starting it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by lunaspie

I'm still waiting for a Stella performance under this manager.

---

Maybe we get the Don to come back, sort out that midfield

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jacobncfc

As we were saying, though, it’s all about points and there’s just a couple in it, as much as it feels like it’s been a complete disaster.

I think I’d summarise my position as IB being responsible for not arresting a slide in form, but not for starting it.

---

That last line could be fair
But you know, taking those 8 Ardley games is a bit arbitrary - you could also look at ppg over the whole season and league position of course and don't you task an incoming manager with doing better than a guy who has just been sacked?

From my perspective, you seem to be one of many going a bit too easy on this whole disaster...not sure why tbh
He'll get more time for sure, but we don't know...maybe the Reedtzes had a worldbeater of a 2nd choice, maybe he was/is the real deal.
But I guess that didn't work for Trew when he switched from Short to Ince

No excuse not to win tomorrow. Altrincham are in no great form.
I think the players care, they're an earnest bunch but sometimes you need a bit of self confidence and this lot have been lacking all season, even on a good run they've looked brittle.
If we keep losing and don't make the playoffs I'm really not convinced I'd want to start next season with the same management.