Match Thread vs.Grimsby 23.05.22

[Masson4]

The only way we’re getting out of this league is as champions.

.

I've been of this opinion for quite some time. It's such an insanely difficult league to get out of once descending into it.

It appears as though only very significent investment will make that a possibility and that doesn't appear to be in the offing so the only other possibility is a slew of new signings that mostly all come off. Maybe it's that kind of night - bitterly disappointing, if not necessarily surprising - but I'm finding it more and more difficult to be optimistic about Notts' general game plan as a club in recent times.

[DaveSmithRules]

As others have said Grimsby were the better team tonight. Their players might be less naturally talented, but they just seemed to want it more. Be interested to see some stats on how often we won possession in open play, because we play a lot of tippy tappy football but don't seem to ever win the ball off the other team.

Did anyone else think Slocombe should have got Man of the Match for us? Particularly at the time it was awarded (around the 85th minute).

Overall a very frustrating night, but also not unexpected.

Following tonight's game a move to FGR for IB might be the best thing for all parties. I think he's a talented young coach. He might be perfect for them at L1 level, if he keeps them up next season - which he's probably more capable of than winning promotion with us - then he's a hero.

If he gets offered it he'd be mad to turn it down. Will it also be the first time we'll have ever had compensation for a manager? It's usually us paying them off...

[GranthamPie]

Can't help but think of the night we came within a knat's ******* of beating Forest at their place under Martin Allen and the team he had available to him that night. Each and every one of them to a man played above their level. Jude Sterling and Hamza Bencherif spring to mind.

This team could have been a team that challenged for a title but not under this coach. If we don't change the coach it'll be the same script next season.

This^^^^^

This team isn’t worthy of polishing Allen’s teams boots… fcuking spineless invertebrates. I hope Burchnall goes to FG and their 4,000 supporters, veggie burgers and eco ground… I think they’d be a great match.

Well done to agent Richardson for completely snatching defeat from the jaws of victory…. now **** off back across the river, you Forest Gump wannabe.

[tommopie8]

Thought Slocombe was excellent collecting crosses and was generally faultless bar one hashed clearance in the first half.

Anyone got a list of the players who are out of contract?

[marky]

Can't help but think of the night we came within a knat's ******* of beating Forest at their place under Martin Allen and the team he had available to him that night. Each and every one of them to a man played above their level. Jude Sterling and Hamza Bencherif spring to mind.

This team could have been a team that challenged for a title but not under this coach. If we don't change the coach it'll be the same script next season.

That team had the mental toughness, they didn't win every week but you knew they wouldn't give up. I'm afraid Notts County now has a reputation of being bottlers.

[Robertomac]

I thought tonight was very much a reflection of too many games this season. Not enough urgency to move the ball forwards quickly and too many safe and backwards passes. What happened to Burchnall wanting players to be brave and try things?

Generally, as others have said, we just didn't look as up for it as Grimsby. Too many of our players misplaced passes and suffered poor touches at key moments and also when not pressured. We were also overrun in midfield and never won a 2nd ball all night. Too soft.

Disappointed and frustrated.

[uysapie]

This^^^^^

This team isn’t worthy of polishing Allen’s teams boots… fcuking spineless invertebrates. I hope Burchnall goes to FG and their 4,000 supporters, veggie burgers and eco ground… I think they’d be a great match.

Well done to agent Richardson for completely snatching defeat from the jaws of victory…. now **** off back across the river, you Forest Gump wannabe.

Just say what you mean. I do agree with you. Think I'll get my pitchfork out.

[jackal2]

The team needs a complete overall starting with a new manager, one who can instill some fight into this lacklustre bunch of fancy Dan's.

I don't think the team needs a complete 'overall' (to quote Durhampie ) but I do think there are three attributes that need to be central to our recruitment over the summer: height, strength and aggression, especially in the defensive areas.

Yes, we'll need a centre-forward to replace Wootton, but we haven't been lacking goals this season from other players. It's conceding too many goals that has costs us, often from set pieces and/or the midfield getting overrun against the top teams.

As others have said, we've had a soft underbelly all season. We just can't tackle, battle and play ugly enough to grind out the results that make the difference between title winners and teams finishing 5th. We're a team that's too 'nice', and that really grates for a Notts County fan, because we were the club in the Warnock and Allardyce years who bullied the crap out of 'nice' teams with great success.

The bottom line is that you win or you learn, and regardless of who the manager is next season, I want to see evidence we will learn from our shortcomings in the past two years, while retaining the positives of what has made us look a good team at times. We don't have to abandon playing football and turn to hoofball, but we don't have to play fancy dan stuff trying to emulate Manchester City either. It isn't necessary in this league, and it often gets us into trouble. In simple terms, stop messing about with the ball in defensive and deep midfield areas, but play as much football as you like in the opponent's half!

[Notts78]

Anyone who thinks a complete squad overhaul is nuts IMO. We are probably 3 players from being more than decent at this level.
What will happen is we will get another 12-14 players and this time next season people will be saying the same. Get rid, let’s start again.
There comes a point where certain players need to be retained and the same with a manager and we try to improve that way.
IB spoke about the average age of the squad being 24. There are plenty of players that have a lot of scope to improve. However, we do need a more physical and experienced spine, hence my second sentence. 3 man mountains. CB, CM and CF
Grimsby are a good side, with plenty of players retained that came down. Macatee and Sousa were probably the best players on show tonight, and both were in the main marshalled well.

[jackal2]

If this squad was crap, there wouldn't be so many clubs from higher levels looking at our players. Give or take the odd player, the problem isn't so much what we've got, but what we're missing.