Match Thread vs. Stockport County 15.03.22 [NL]

[jackal2]

Neil Warnock once said if you give players excuses, they will be only too happy to take them.

I'm not convinced by the illness explanation, but let's assume for the sake of argument that it's true. Either way, the reality is that we need to get a serious run going in the remaining games because none of the other teams around us will be sympathising. The target now must be to reach the play-offs - seventh place if necessary - and give ourselves a chance.

As others have said above, even if illness was a predominant factor tonight, many of the other criticisms listed above still stand and must be addressed. This team needs to adopt a more practical style of play and develop some aggression (like Ruben eventually showed) if we're going to get promoted, be that this season or next.

[MAD_MAGPIE]

The next game will bring us to the end of the 3rd quarter of the campaign.

The form table for the last 11 looks even worse now. 13 sides better than us over the last quarter including Wealdstone and Alty.


1.Stockport Co 11 10 1 0 26 3 +23 31 W W W W W D W W W W W
2.Wrexham 11 8 1 2 21 10 +11 25 W L W W D L W W W W W
3.Halifax Town 11 7 2 2 16 6 +10 23 D W W L L W D W W W W
4.Grimsby Town 11 7 1 3 16 8 +8 22 W L L W W D W W W L W
5.Southend Utd 11 6 4 1 16 12 +4 22 W D W W W W D D D W L
6.Torquay Utd 11 5 5 1 16 12 +4 20 W D W L W W D D D D W
7.Solihull M. 11 5 4 2 24 12 +12 19 L L W W W D W W D D D
8.Boreham Wood 11 5 3 3 12 10 +2 18 W D W W W L D W L D L
9.Dagneham & R. 11 5 2 4 19 15 +4 17 W D L W L L D L W W W
10.Chesterfield 11 4 5 2 15 13 +2 17 D W W D D L L W W D D
11.Bromley 11 4 3 4 10 12 -2 15 D L W W W W L L D D L
12.Altrincham 11 4 2 5 17 17 0 14 L L L L D W L W D W W
13.Wealdstone 11 4 2 5 15 17 -2 14 L D L W W L L D L W W
14.Notts County 11 3 4 4 17 15 +2 13 D L L W W D W L D D L

If the players were as ill as IB has suggested in the interview then in tonight in isolation that is understandable. However that does not account for the other ten games as that statistic is awful. Mid-table form in the national league is just not good enough for a club the size of ours and is complete a waste of all the resources a club like ours has compared to a club like Wealdstone.

Let's be clear we have no devine right to be anywhere in any league. We are where we deserve to be.

Is this club cursed or something? When will this slide down ever stop?

[SwalePie]

[jackal2]

Those ball winners are v.ital at this level and the level above certainly in midfield. They protect the defence but also stop the other team playing through and when playing forward they give it to the more creative players to let them do their stuff. The Ravenhill and Bishop combo with Davies, Westcarr, Hughes, and Rogers in front and around them was the blueprint.

I hope IB does not go the same way as Curle and I'm hoping that lessons will be learned for our recruitment this summer. It's going to be a big summer because if the likes of the Woottons, Rodrigues etc.. do leave then it's who we bring in to not only replace them but who we haven't brought in as you say that will be key.

But also I don't feel we are far off. Get a couple of enforcers and some recognised firepower in the summer and we should be right up there.

That's the most frustrating thing. It's a brave thing to say after a 3-0 defeat (possibly aggravated by illness) but I don't feel we're far off either.

It's like a jigsaw that's not far off being complete, but until you fit in those final key pieces it might as well still be in a 100 bits. At least two big hard-tackling, mentally strong, head it, kick it leaders who can dominate especially at set pieces is critical, plus a goal poacher. Not necessarily big name players, but guys who know what's needed at this level. These kind of players can get you a point in games when you're off the pace for whatever reason, like tonight.

We also need to acknowledge the effective end of the 'debate' about our playing style. This play-out-from-the-back-at-all-costs approach is not going to win you enough games week in, week out at this level. It exposes the players' weaknesses as often as it showcases their strengths. With the additions above we'll be able to win the battle more often and play the nice football we want to play, but in other games the team needs to be able to dig in, scrap and and be ready to play more directly, especially away from home. Our flair players won't suffer from a more pragmatic approach, they'll benefit from it.

[Elite_Pie]

Must say I find that interview disturbing. He basically says "we knew we were going to lose".

[hissingdwarf]

Must say I find that interview disturbing. He basically says "we knew we were going to lose".

This. Shocking interview imo. Poor management for either decision. The recall wasn’t used on players and went for sick players with the obvious mindset they would stuff us.
Call the game off. Play the under 18s if needs be. But offer something. I think a lot more fans would have respected a selection of young lads tonight with the knowledge of the illness stuff.
And then to openly admit the mentality was aimed at probably going to be handed out arse on a plate tonight. Not great.

[Big Bob]

Well he won't sort the defence out as all he seems to do is sign midfielders

[MAD_MAGPIE]

That's the most frustrating thing. It's a brave thing to say after a 3-0 defeat (possibly aggravated by illness) but I don't feel we're far off either.

It's like a jigsaw that's not far off being complete, but until you fit in those final key pieces it might as well still be in a 100 bits. At least two big hard-tackling, mentally strong, head it, kick it leaders who can dominate especially at set pieces is critical, plus a goal poacher. Not necessarily big name players, but guys who know what's needed at this level. These kind of players can get you a point in games when you're off the pace for whatever reason, like tonight.

We also need to acknowledge the effective end of the 'debate' about our playing style. This play-out-from-the-back-at-all-costs approach is not going to win you enough games week in, week out at this level. It exposes the players' weaknesses as often as it showcases their strengths. With the additions above we'll be able to win the battle more often and play the nice football we want to play, but in other games the team needs to be able to dig in, scrap and and be ready to play more directly, especially away from home. Our flair players won't suffer from a more pragmatic approach, they'll benefit from it.

For years I've said on here and have others about the club not having an identity, a style and a massive turnaround of players and overloaded squads full of deadwood which is why we ended up at this level. Thankfully the club has addressed those long standing issues. Also the best owners are like good referees not seen and not heard and whilst we can all react emotionally from game to game and some may want and demand answers, thankfully our owners come across as being astute, intelligent and measured and look at the bigger picture.

Our fans are a long suffering and passionate bunch, they only want what's best and none of us want to be in this league any longer than is necessary. When we got relegated I said we must see ourselves as visitors, guests and not take up residence here. That must always be the case for this great club.

We've probably been a bit to stuck to our plan this season and identity to the letter. I get it, I get what we are trying to do and achieve with the way we play. It's a good principle to have to say this is Notts County this is us and this is how we play we are not going to resort to your style. When it's at it's best we are an unplayable machine (Barnet x 2) but as you say we come up against teams that counter it and have done it successfully and exposed our weaknesses.

That's where away from home we need to learn or bring players in who can offer something like the qualities we see from the lesser teams or those above us who when needed we can mix it up who can offer us a more direct approach, or we may have to be more physical or mentally stronger than the opposition. It doesn't mean ripping up the rule book or breaking protocol, it just means being flexible to adapt when for whatever reason how we want to play may not be working.

[Mark_Ross]

Must say I find that interview disturbing. He basically says "we knew we were going to lose".

An employer should not be using sick staff. If our players were genuinely in poor health this is shameful.

[jacobncfc]

An employer should not be using sick staff. If our players were genuinely in poor health this is shameful.

This. If we really have so many players sick that we can’t field a team then apply to get the game called off. If the league refuse then call them out, it’s hardly unreasonable when teams have had games called off for one or two Covid cases. If we have to play, stick Doyle in, call the loanees back and play the kids. We’d understand that and get behind them.

What isn’t really fair on anyone is to put in 90 minutes where the entire team looks like they’re about to pass out, drag a few hundred of us up to watch it and then go ‘well, everyone was throwing up, what can you do?’.