Match Thread vs. Eastleigh 17.04.21 [NL]

[KCNotts]

We just aren't a very good team. Our players aren't very good

I would have liked to have seen Osbourne and Bird have a chance instead of Turner and Griffiths

[drillerpie]

This is my first streamed match for a while and I would place it just above Formula 1 in terms of snooze-inducing sport.

We're brilliant at working our way through the thirds with intricate passing and tiring players out making them chase the ball. Unfortunately we go through the thirds in the direction of Slocombe and it's our players doing the pointless running. I hoped a change in manager would put a stop to this.

[SlockyNCFC]

For me, it's the horrendously unbalanced squad that is to blame, not IB. We're having to play 3 CBs and 2 wing backs to get a bit of width. Enzio is the only fit wide player in the squad and only fits if he's played centrally or up front. The midfield is utter dross (Reeves is having yet another hooner) and I don't know where Griffiths, Knowles and Knight are supposed to be playing. All the reasons why we are terrible are all problems we've had all season long. I can't see how we'd be any better under Ardley.

Having said all of that, I agree with Leigh Curtis's comments on the Magpie Circle that this all ultimately puts a lot of unnecessary pressure on IB. If we miss out on the play offs under Ardley, nobody complains if they let him go in the summer, or even a bit before the end of the season. By sacking him when they did, IB must shoulder at least some of the blame despite working with someone else's squad. I do think this is proving to be a miscalculation of the owners, in the short term optics if nothing else.

The problem for them is that in football, especially at Notts, the short term optics matter a lot when you have a lot of deeply unhappy fans.

[Russ_OTF]

God awful. We were not great near the end of Ardleys tenure but we always looked to be able to grind out a result and score some goals. Looks like we have traded down to a Sunday league pub manager.

[KCNotts]

I’m not.

Some on here didn’t think we had a good manager in Ardley. Compared to this idiot he is the dogs *******s.

Ardley was awful. He is also largely to blame for the dross on show today and their lack of ability to do the basics.

The jury is out on Burchnall until he can build his own squad.

[BanjoPie]

2nd half - take off Slocombe & put Doyle in goal - job done!!

[Stan Marshall]

This is very dull. I was cautiously optimistic when Burchnall was appointed but so far he appears to be Ardley mk II... but worse.

I agree. It’s the same as most other home performances this season. It’s so uninspiring. There’s nobody really who can beat a man and create something. This could be a painful and frustrating second half!

[upthemaggies]

Turned on the radio with 10 mins of the 1st half to go, don't think I've heard Charlie Slater ever sound so depressed. I thought we must be losing, then they scored and we were.

[jackal2]

IB hasn't said anything I've disagreed with in his press conferences and interviews, but unfortunately all the stuff about being braver with the ball, playing with purpose and playing football higher up the pitch are things these players are either unable or unwilling to do. Far too much of the play is in our half among Slocombe, the centre backs and Reeves, all in front of Eastleigh and pathetically easy to defend against. Chicksen is the latest set piece taker apparently unable to put a decent ball in. Central midfield looks weak - not really contributing to attacks and not really disrupting the other team either.

This.

We changed managers because it didn't seem that Ardley was getting enough out of the players, but still they under-perform. I look at our squad on paper and think it's the equal of any other in the division, and better than most, but ultimately these players simply do not seem to deliver in line with their previous experience or apparent potential.

Yes we can quibble with the manager over the selection of one or two players ahead of others, but as fans we will always do that. It doesn't change the fact that we should (on paper) have enough experience and ability on the pitch today to deal with Eastleigh, and so far we are not. If it doesn't change, then those forecasting a mass clear-out of the playing squad in the summer may be proven right. IB is unlikely to come under any immediate pressure from the owners, but he will have his own ambitions, standards and expectations in mind, and he must be beginning to wonder if (at least some) of these players are capable of delivering the football he describes.

[St Kitts Magpie]

What has Ruben Rodrigues done? It's got be something really bad, hasn't it?

Whats the betting Doyle 1st change.. but not for Reeves??!!!