Originally Posted by
jacobncfc
I actually feel sorry for the defence, they’ve been hung out to dry. They proved last season that they were more than capable when keeping it simple and given some protection.
Suddenly they seem to have been asked to pass the ball out from the back, which they aren’t very good at, leading to stuff like Newport’s second goal tonight.
We also released an experienced goalkeeper who, whilst far from infallible, was pretty reliable at coming for crosses in his zone and either claiming them or getting something on them. This to blood a young keeper who makes flashy saves and can kick it cleanly, but refuses to leave his line even to claim a looped corner dropping about four yards away from him (the first goal tonight).
Probably most fatally, though, they’re being asked to play behind a midfield of four attacking midfielders. I actually think you can trace this malaise back not necessarily to Ryan Yates leaving, but our attempts to replace him with Noor Husin, a flashy but ultimately ineffective footballer who offers absolutely nothing without the ball. That and the mysterious disappearance of Terry Hawkridge, who is intelligent defensively, incredibly hard working and made us a much more balanced team.
This summer was supposed to be about taking the small steps needed to turn last season’s good team into a promotion winning one. Boldewijn, Dennis and Hemmings have, in among the chaos, looked like the players we needed (and I think that Crawford is impressive for an 18 year old, to be fair) - it’s just that we have for some reason ripped up everything we had that was good elsewhere in the team.
The only explanation I have is that the criticism Nolan received from Coventry and a vocal minority of Notts fans for his style of player has caused him to completely lose it.