Match Thread vs. Chesterfield 01.03.22 [NL]

[matt_magpie]

A longish journey back up to Manc disappointed.

Few observations about that game.

Firstly, IB's subs were poor. He normally uses subs well and times them correctly.

Taking 2 big players off (Wooton and Sam) in the last 5 minutes was absolutely ridiculous. I said to my Dad at the time...we'll lose this now. Then what happens next? We concede off a set piece. Wooton and Sam had been helping defend set pieces quite well throughout the game. No need to bring them off.

Secondly, Roberts should have been subbed not Sam. In fact, Nemane should have started over Robert's as he was obviously only running on about 80%.

Finally, we have to have a plan B. Anyone can see that when we get pressed high we start to panic and can't really string a good set of passes together and it knocks us off our rhythm.

Is there any chance we can keep IB as our home manager and Ardley for away games!!!? (Lol)

Chesterfield dragged us in to their ugly way of playing tonight...and we didn't have the tools to deal with it.

Not enough grit by a massive stretch.

We're not getting out of this league just continuously trying to play the same way, because 6 or 7 teams can work out how to combat it.

Just back, agree with most of that, we were second to the ball too many times and the quality wasn’t there tonight, very disappointing, after they scored their first we had a good 10 min spell but just collapsed after that.

[Iremongersrighthand]

Don't you think we're stuck with the approach we've got for this season? The squad options are pretty limited. What do you have in mind for plan B?
For example, we revert to Rawlo and O'Brien or DKE...they add something but take other things away, without being promotion level players at what they do anyway.
It's a bit bleak, we can only strengthen the squad after the season. For this one, IB's probably better served by sticking to his instincts and principles and seeing where it takes us.
I suspect that's why he sounded so shaky tonight, he knows he's got no other better options for now

Totally agree with this. It became apparent pretty early on that we didn't have a championship winning squad, so the play offs were always the best case scenario. I can't see IB leaving anytime soon.

[jackal2]

Don't you think we're stuck with the approach we've got for this season? The squad options are pretty limited. What do you have in mind for plan B?

For example, we revert to Rawlo and O'Brien or DKE...they add something but take other things away, without being promotion level players at what they do anyway.

It's a bit bleak, we can only strengthen the squad after the season. For this one, IB's probably better served by sticking to his instincts and principles and seeing where it takes us. I suspect that's why he sounded so shaky tonight, he knows he's got no other better options for now

We probably are short of a couple of 'beasts' or whatever term you want to use to describe the Strodder/Bishop types, and yes that can only be addressed in the summer, but we do have one or two more rugged players in the squad as you point out - like Rawlo and O'Brien - who are capable of putting a boot in if required, so we shouldn't be completely incapable of battling it out. I think if a Warnock or an Allardyce took over tomorrow they would find enough in the squad to implement some of their ideas in the short-term, even if they had to add more of their type of players later. I think IB has somewhat over-programmed the team to only play one way, so the players don't even think in terms of going to a Plan B when Plan A isn't working.

We've certainly got enough height and pace in forward positions to play a more direct game if we need to do so. I don't buy this modern coaching idea that you have to commit completely to one way of playing. We can mix it up if we try. We aren't a complete team of 5 foot 5 lightweights who are absolutely compelled to rely on a pretty passing game. Most squads at this level are short of something, and in many ways there's quite a lot of talent and versatility in our squad, albeit we're a bit short on aggression as Stall says.

Tonight, as we've seen in other games, Chesterfield pressed us and disrupted our passing, so don't keep trying to do the same thing and lose the ball in the most dangerous positions. Get the ball up the field quicker to your big centre forward and pacey wide men, get the opposition turning and make them scared to over-commit to the press. Pretty much any team can do that. And yes, put in a couple of tackles that make the pressing players think twice about coming back for more. You don't have to be a particularly big or strong player to leave your boot in on the odd occasion. It's a mindset issue as much as a personnel issue.

[optipez]

Burchnall has done a lot of good things, but I would probably sack him in the morning. He’s had loads of opportunities to learn and he isn’t going to.

Might elaborate at some point but yeah, can’t crack on like this.

It's a shame but I agree, he is the problem , not the answer. We haven't loaned in a centre half when Lacey keeps breaking down and we just keep getting done by moderate teams with grit who have wily managers.

[Lullapie]

Bielsa got the sack at Leeds because he was to stubborn to change tactics when it wasn't working.

You've changed your pic. That's a young i961pie on there with the Jimmy.

[Masson4]

Jeez Notts, just when we all needed a little cheer... So bitterly disappointing.

I wasn't at the game tonight, just listening to Charlie and Stall's commentary, so can't comment in an informed way but in the home games I've been to this season I've always felt there is something 'missing' about Notts' performances. It's hard to identify exactly what that is but I've settled on 'heart' and to some extent, aggression. Clearly there are weaknesses with the defending which are endlessly chronicled but never alter much. Whatever other changes are needed to accomodate it I'd favour a traditional back four with two physical and dominant centre halves, one of whom who already shows his worth week after week. They just need to be stronger.

I don't believe attractive football and success at this level are mutually exclusive and certainly that die seems cast but some basics need attending to as the absence of that trips Notts up continually.

In truth, I haven't felt the team has what it takes to gain promotion this season for some time. They have flirted around the edges of and just outside the play-off spots for most of the season and I fail to see what is going to change to improve that situation. They encourage then flatter to deceive. That is their only consistency.

[durhampie]

That was the worst performance this season. All three substitutions added absolutely nothing to the team. How the hell Brunt keeps getting on is beyond belief. Once again he takes Sam off and leaves the likes of Rodrigues and Roberts on, who were both rubbish. Maybe Roberts is on his way to Chesterfield judging by the conversations he was having at the end with the chessie players.
Burchnall is becoming telegraphic with his Subs, Its always the same two players in Vincent and Sam who come off. There were far worse players on the pitch other than those two who could and should have come off..

Well we can kiss goodbye to any hopes of finishing 1st, We will be lucky to get into the play offs ...

[jackal2]

I've always felt there is something 'missing' about Notts' performances. It's hard to identify exactly what that is but I've settled on 'heart' and to some extent, aggression.

Yes there's so much to like about our play when we get it right, but I sometimes it feels a bit too clinical and 'nice'. Maybe it's a result of me seeing our greatest successes under Messrs Warnock and Allardyce but there's something quite satisfying about seeing your team 'stick one' on the opposition and send them home with some bruises to add to a defeat!

I'm too young to have seen 'Dirty Leeds' play live, so I can only go on the archive footage, but I think Revie's team's combination of skill and brutality would have been right up my street!

[Mark_Ross]

Jeez Notts, just when we all needed a little cheer... So bitterly disappointing.

I wasn't at the game tonight, just listening to Charlie and Stall's commentary, so can't comment in an informed way but in the home games I've been to this season I've always felt there is something 'missing' about Notts' performances. It's hard to identify exactly what that is but I've settled on 'heart' and to some extent, aggression. Clearly there are weaknesses with the defending which are endlessly chronicled but never alter much. Whatever other changes are needed to accomodate it I'd favour a traditional back four with two physical and dominant centre halves, one of whom who already shows his worth week after week. They just need to be stronger.

I don't believe attractive football and success at this level are mutually exclusive and certainly that die seems cast but some basics need attending to as the absence of that trips Notts up continually.

In truth, I haven't felt the team has what it takes to gain promotion this season for some time. They have flirted around the edges of and just outside the play-off spots for most of the season and I fail to see what is going to change to improve that situation. They encourage then flatter to deceive. That is their only consistency.

If we scrape into the playoffs, does anybody really think we will be able to grind out a sequence of wins against tough-ish opponents? The stylish play is great to watch at times, but when the going gets tough we always cave in.

[uysapie]

That was the worst performance this season. All three substitutions added absolutely nothing to the team. How the hell Brunt keeps getting on is beyond belief. Once again he takes Sam off and leaves the likes of Rodrigues and Roberts on, who were both rubbish. Maybe Roberts is on his way to Chesterfield judging by the conversations he was having at the end with the chessie players.
Burchnall is becoming telegraphic with his Subs, Its always the same two players in Vincent and Sam who come off. There were far worse players on the pitch other than those two who could and should have come off..

Well we can kiss goodbye to any hopes of finishing 1st, We will be lucky to get into the play offs ...

Think we can kiss the playoffs goodbye. Even if we scrape in, no way will IB get us promoted.