Recruitment

[queenslandpie]

I think that is because everyone is not happy with the appointment. I know a few Notts fans that are not on here who are worried that he has no experience of this league and they have never heard of him and that it is a risky thing to do when we are still in the play offs.
I myself was surprised at what happened and who we have appointed but keep an open mind and hope he will be the next Steve Cotterill. But I think if we miss the play offs this season many fans will be unhappy imo.

Yes I myself am not convinced so I am hoping he can convince me! Let's hope he gets us pointing in the right direction reasonably quickly.

[countygump]

To be fair there has been ample criticism of certain players this season such as Doyle, any full back pretty much other than Kelly Evans and pretty much all midfielders other than Wolfe. The criticism is simply now more focussed on the team as it is simply impossible to blame the manager after one game ( although it hasn't stopped some people!).

Yes, there has been plenty of criticism of the players during Ardley's tenure. Most of the criticism of Ardley was his negative attitude, ie forcing flair players into defensive duties etc and his 2U2ME tippy-tappy, sideways football. Possession football seems to be the way the game is going in this country but his possession football consisted of keeping the ball with no end result, other than one of our defenders losing control of it and conceding an opportunity to the oppo. I'm still not convinced it's even the best method to get us promo from this league. I think you need a mixture of styles, direct football included in the mix as well.

[laddo]

There has been criticism of the players but it's been very much secondary to that of the manager. Now they don't have that barrier/protection it's now all aimed in their direction.

A mix of styles direct and controlled passing is the favoured approach to getting this side promoted.

[applepie]

The owners have put their money in and have the right to run the club the way they want. We definitely need a huge clear out in the summer.

I agree we need a clear out, but a huge one? I’m not so sure.

It’s the NCM solution: “Get rid of the dead wood, and all will be well “, along with “We need a new striker / box to box midfielder / central defender / winger / left back / goalie (delete as applicable)”. We have almost always needed “a couple of players”, without whom we apparently don’t stand a chance.

As to the “dead wood”, there’s never any possibility of a player turning round their form, in the gospel according to NCM.

I’ve been around long enough to see a player have a good season followed by a bad one, and the other way round. The same with a team. It’s hard to prove yourself after people have written you off, but it can be done, especially with the right management. I think Ardley achieved a turnaround last season, helped enormously by Roberts having such an impact. Burchnall has to get players confident and positive in outlook, trying to impose our way of playing on the opposition - but of course the opposition will be attempting exactly the same.

Every managerial appointment is a gamble. Even the sainted Sirrel failed at Sheffield United.