Match Thread vs. Altrincham 01.05.21 [NL]

[Mark_Ross]

{Huge sigh}

Let's just chuck the towel in, eh?

[matt_magpie]

We’re absolutely toothless up front, possibly the worst attack bar a couple of teams in the league. No point Doyle and Reeves playing together as we need a box to box midfielder, back 4 Brinley and DKE decent, Rawlinson has somehow turned into a shadow of himself, shows actually Ardley was over achieving with this side. I guess the big question is how many were his signings this season. I think now we have confirmation this is the lowest point of being a Notts fan with most of us probably thinking we have a 1% chance of promotion.

[Robertomac]

That was an Ardley performance if ever there was. Start the game slowly, give way too much respect to the opposition, play with no urgency or tempo, unforced errors across the team and they have all the chances.

By rights we should have lost that game. They had 3 decent chances in the 2nd half.

Enzio did everything right until the final ball when he refused to shoot, time and again, instead choosing to pass it to nobody or just kick it out.

Our forward players couldn't make the ball stick up the top if they were made of glue.

Massive difference today was we didn't win, never mind compete, for second balls. Failure to do that meant we couldn't dominate in their half and they were happy for us to pass it across the back line. We have a serious lack of desire throughout.

Despite results I felt like we were making progress after the last two games...

[countygump]

Terrible. It was an Ardleyesque performance. Respect the point. No urgency. No creativity. I appreciate Enzio is a confidence player but he was atrocious today. Long throws were laughable too. Very poor all round.

Add corners to that. Apart from Roddy's goal, our dead ball kicking is absolutely atrocious.

[Riverleeno]

Truly, truly awful. What the 4k is happening to our club?

Who is the player on the pitch with sheer force of personality to urge the team on and lead by example?
There isn't one.
Which players are prepared to run and run again to consistently give his teammates an option to pass to...forwards.
None.
Which players are happy to run alongside the opposition and 'hide' rather than moving into space.
Too many too often.

[SlockyNCFC]

Glad to hear Burchnall is not trying to defend that dross. I almost wish we'd kept Effiong as frankly lumping it into the box to him and Wootton would have had more chance of succeeding than faffing around with it on the half way line waiting for a killer pass that we have neither the forward movement nor the midfield vision to ever pull off.

I'll pay for the remaining home streams to support the club, and as I will be able to say I watched every home stream, including the FA Trophy games. Sadly though, this season is done for me. I just hope we can fix the deep, deep problems with this squad in the summer with effective recruitment in key areas, not least up front and in midfield.

[the_anticlough]

I'm looking for IB to be the coach who thinks outside the box and leaves match-winners on the pitch when we're drawing 1-1 with Altrincham and need a bit of inspiration to tip the balance our way.

Yes, he didn't need to do it. What if we won another free-kick around the box? I didn't like how he had to seek out IB and Ross for acknowledgment when he came off - for his first game in a while he did OK and it was him that saved us from losing again.

Today, he was forced to bring these players back, really. I haven't looked through this thread yet - Enzio messed up a lot but looked for the ball more than Wootton, Knight and Knowles, all of whom messed up all the time too. But I wonder if there will be more anti-Enzio moaning than the other three combined.

Another failing should be clear - the centre-halves and full backs are left with the fall at their feet a hell of a lot. How often does our midfield general move off the ball to take it from them? This is absolutely what the holding midfield playing should be doing when we're in possession. But he hardly ever shows, leaving the likes of Enzio, Knight, Wootton, Knowles to receive it with markers all around them. And he doesn't show to receive the ball from them either.

[hissingdwarf]

As said above, a typical Ardley performance.
At least IB said, along with most on here, Ruben was the only decent one out there.
Playoffs are now unlikely.
I’d be banging on the owners door on Monday and saying it how it is. IB needs a whole new team.
Even players like Rawlinson look rubbish. Clear the lot out. Start again. Change the philosophy of the club.

[upthemaggies]

We've finally dropped out of the top 7 in the PPG table, down to 8th.

2 points from the last possible 18.

Now on identical points to this stage last season but with a worse GD.

Of the 7 remaining games, 4 are against teams above us, 3 against teams below. 3 at home, 4 away.

[matt_magpie]

Glad to hear Burchnall is not trying to defend that dross. I almost wish we'd kept Effiong as frankly lumping it into the box to him and Wootton would have had more chance of succeeding than faffing around with it on the half way line waiting for a killer pass that we have neither the forward movement nor the midfield vision to ever pull off.

I'll pay for the remaining home streams to support the club, and as I will be able to say I watched every home stream, including the FA Trophy games. Sadly though, this season is done for me. I just hope we can fix the deep, deep problems with this squad in the summer with effective recruitment in key areas, not least up front and in midfield.

I agree about Effiong, not a great player but Ardley realised this side couldn’t pass their way to wins and conceded we had to go direct and at least we were picking up results. I get the feeling about IB that it’s all about proving the philosophy so write this season off. Next season who is going to come, a head coach with little about him, no experienced DOF and unfortunately I fear owners that can’t see the wood for the trees.