Expectations for Saturday ?

[nw6pie]

I wouldn’t be surprised if Matty Palmer starts on Saturday alongside Hinchy, with Edwards further forward with Crowley. Or maybe Abbott will get his chance ahead of Hinchy? If everyone’s fit, we actually have genuine options this season - a huge difference to last season.

We should also be grateful that JJ has fallen out with the Maltese coach, otherwise he’d have been on international duty this weekend.

[the_anticlough]

(posted this on the wrong thread earlier)

i'm expecting a dominant performance.

First home game of the season against a low block (Fleetwood) was pretty awful - I hope we've learned from that.
As Stall commented, faced with such tactics we have to be prepared to put the ball at risk. Such teams are delighted to see Platt pass to Bedeau, back to Platt, to Macari, back to Platt.

I think we can only do that if we go 1 up and after the 55 minute mark, unless it's 2 up, otherwise the opposition will be happy and will never take the bait and come looking for the ball. While ever it's tied, or just 1 up, up to that mark, we should always be pushing and taking the initiative.

[BigFatPie]

I like Jones on the right tbh I think it gives the defenders more to think about, heÂ’s bent in some nice crosses when cutting back, plus he can drive towards goal and get a shot off and he can actually hang in a decent ball on his right. I actually like Crowley deeper as well but IÂ’d play him as a 10 with a bit more freedom to roam.
ItÂ’s all opinions the good thing is they can play both at a very high level.

HeÂ’d played deep against Grimsby?! Genuinely didnÂ’t know that, he scored twice and set one up!

For me the only reason IÂ’d play JJ on the right would be because of the link up play with DC as happened with DC and Nemane last season and Ruben and Nemane the season before.

Obviously Didzy instead of Jatta changes things up as well.

[matt_magpie]

HeÂ’d played deep against Grimsby?! Genuinely didnÂ’t know that, he scored twice and set one up!

For me the only reason IÂ’d play JJ on the right would be because of the link up play with DC as happened with DC and Nemane last season and Ruben and Nemane the season before.

Obviously Didzy instead of Jatta changes things up as well.

I thought that only really worked because of Nemanes raw pace, RR and DC could knock that ball inside the full back and Nemane could fly. The good thing is they’re interchangeable and in games too. That’s one thing I like about SM, he switches it up in games but the negative will be if he over does it.

[Boomerangpie]

(posted this on the wrong thread earlier)

i'm expecting a dominant performance.

First home game of the season against a low block (Fleetwood) was pretty awful - I hope we've learned from that.
As Stall commented, faced with such tactics we have to be prepared to put the ball at risk. Such teams are delighted to see Platt pass to Bedeau, back to Platt, to Macari, back to Platt.

I think we can only do that if we go 1 up and after the 55 minute mark, unless it's 2 up, otherwise the opposition will be happy and will never take the bait and come looking for the ball. While ever it's tied, or just 1 up, up to that mark, we should always be pushing and taking the initiative.

I maybe not the best person to judge but it certainly shows how far we have come if fans are calling the Fleetwood game pretty awful!

My memory is decent and compared to what the supporters have been served up in the 2000s and 2010s that game doesn’t even come close to pretty awful in my eyes.

The passing was too conservative and slow in the first half for sure but the second half was anything but dull.

[the_anticlough]

The passing was too conservative and slow in the first half for sure

Yeah, and the 2pts were lost there IMO. First home game of the system, certainly they get a pass for that, but I don't think we want to see it again

[matt_magpie]

I’m certainly happy with the overall performances so far, room for improvement but when I saw the 1st 4 games at the start of the season I feared for SM a little, especially the away ones.

[Boomerangpie]

Yeah, and the 2pts were lost there IMO. First home game of the system, certainly they get a pass for that, but I don't think we want to see it again

Yes that plus the obvious errors for both goals conceded. Do you really think that was a pretty awful game at Meadow Lane? If so compared to past home games you’ve seen or last season?

I hoped for 6 points from first 2 home games but also did not expect 4 points from the first two away games.

[the_anticlough]

Yes that plus the obvious errors for both goals conceded. Do you really think that was a pretty awful game at Meadow Lane? If so compared to past home games you’ve seen or last season?

I hoped for 6 points from first 2 home games but also did not expect 4 points from the first two away games.

To answer the question honestly...the performance picked up no end after we went 0-2 down, but we deserved to be in that position to that point, and I actually think my description is on the kind side. I really don't want to see that pointless passing across the back again, and I don't think we will (connecting with the subect of the thread)

[Mud Pie]

Along those lines , but build into the equation we were away , then a gritty hard working, smash and grab win is ok by me. At home to a supposed lowly team, i would hope our fortunes would be much more than a gritty smash and grab win. I will take it but it would still leave many doubters as to how our season is going to pan out !? Are we still finding our feet under SM and the new line up etc etc etc . is the squad paper thin, are we short of a forward as per CBP's concerns. Another good win would be a performance closer at putting these doubts to bed.

totally. SM still has work to do, and that's a great point about doing it at home.

There's maybe hints of joined up thinking about Notts these days, the extra black on the home shirt - the black verge around the pitch, the skillful possession game - the smooth playing surface, keeping our width on the field - a wide pitch. Especially because our home gates are so brilliant right now as well, it would be ideal if we could nail our home form.