⚽ Match Thread vs. Maidenhead Utd. 06/08/22 [NL]

[Elite_Pie]

I know I'm biased but Ruben's part in that first goal is absolutely sublime.

Indeed it was, very few players at this level are capable of showing skill and creativity like that. I gave him a match rating of 6.5, on that clip alone he maybe deserved a 7. The problem is that almost anyone can look good on 'highlights' by the very definition of the word. They only show the good bits and not the bigger picture. What stopped Ruben getting a higher rating from me was the bits the highlights didn't show. His corners were poor, and the free kicks he took (one in a brilliant position) failed to hit the target. This isn't meant to be a downer on Ruben, because I love him and he would be the first name on the teamsheet for me because of the creativity he offers along with his work ethic.

His ability has never been in doubt, just the consistency to produce it on a regular basis. His anonymous games are now a rarity, so let's all hope he will be around to take us to the next level.

[laddo]

Oh I was not talking about anything to do with his match rating or even how he played in the game. I wasn't there I can only go on what others say.

And yes you are quite right highlight reels can make (almost) any player look good if edited well and selective. The difference with Ruben is he can do things that others can't in the squad (goal one prime example), and his highlight reel is plentiful.

Last season he was consistent , he was consistent in scoring goals and consistent in setting goals up for others. Two of the hardest things to do in football. He was incredibly productive.

I'm glad you've come round on our Portuguese man. That first season was a little difficult cos it was all internet live streams, so not as easy to judge players. And he only showed flashes which is understandable as he was new into the club and country. But tbh I found them easy to spot once I'd seen him show his quality with his touch, vision and ball striking. There was just something about him early doors and delighted to say he's come on leaps and bounds since.

[Elite_Pie]

I'm glad you've come round on our Portuguese man.

I was never against him. The key words in my last post were "His ability has never been in doubt, just the consistency to produce it on a regular basis". When he first came he struggled to last 90 minutes and had several anonymous games. Neal Ardley (who was very popular with you until he was sacked) even left him out of the team. Great to see Ruben realising his potential, long may it continue in a Notts shirt.

[laddo]

Of course he's at a new club in a new country and had been playing in a much different league it should be little surprise he struggled for 90 mins. Even still his ability was spotted by many on here and demands for more minutes were regularly made. Naturally Ardley got the blame for not allowing him more time.

For the record NA isn't unpopular with me since his sacking , I've wished him well and continue to do so unless playing Notts or impacting our chances of success. I'm certainly not like some who prey that he and other ex-managers struggle, gloat and enjoy when they lose or fail elsewhere. Once they become ex-Notts I just can't care much either way tbh. But each to their own, I'm sure IB will get the same treatment this season from a select few.

I didn't say you were against him just perhaps didn't spot it as early as most whilst sat on that fence of yours lol.

Let's not forget that it's very rare that flair players, like Ruben, are consistent over 90 mins. Unless of course you are Ronaldo or a Messi.

But in general that's not really their M.O. or in their makeup. There are plenty of 6 or 7/10 players around him, but his role is more to hit the 9/10 on as many games as possible which your solid 6/7 out of players rarely can.

Where flair players need to be consistent is producing game changing moments like he did all last season. Surely you can't argue he didn't do that throughout the whole of last season?

As shown in the number of goals he scored, goals he directly assisted and for those with a keen eye number of opportunities he started / created from deeper positions. If they do that the rest doesn't matter so much.

[Elite_Pie]

I didn't say you were against him just perhaps didn't spot it as early as most whilst sat on that fence of yours lol.

Oops, I should have realised this was one of your self-congatulatory "I noticed but the rest of you didn't" posts. I just say what I see. His talent and skill was obvious from the start, but I saw (with my own eyes) Ruben have many ineffective games. He was frustrating to watch, because he wasn't using his talent to the max. He would struggle to get involved and frequently took the wrong option. He seemed to improve when Burchnall took over, and is now a key part of the team. If you want to claim you always new it would happen and the rest of us didn't then go ahead.

[Magpies1959]

Watching the goals back again, I think if the keeper hadn't got a hand to Langstaff's finish for the first goal it would be the equal of Taylor's strike. Longer range goals often take preference to one touch moves that lead to a goal. Although Sam Austin got an assist for the second Macca goal, I do think his pass was meant for Rodrigues.

[laddo]

Oops, I should have realised this was one of your self-congatulatory "I noticed but the rest of you didn't" posts. I just say what I see. His talent and skill was obvious from the start, but I saw (with my own eyes) Ruben have many ineffective games. He was frustrating to watch, because he wasn't using his talent to the max. He would struggle to get involved and frequently took the wrong option. He seemed to improve when Burchnall took over, and is now a key part of the team. If you want to claim you always new it would happen and the rest of us didn't then go ahead.

No need to be like that EP lol, let's keep it about football. Again you have fallen into old habits of trying to put words in other people's mouths. I never said the rest didn't notice, quite the opposite in fact. Others did, but not everyone

I would also never claim that only I k(new) and the rest didn't because I recall many spotted it and were equally impressed and excited at a similar time as myself. Perhaps like me they aren't as comfortable on fences as you are.

More importantly maybe he was more effective away from Meadow Lane where you perhaps didn't see him (with your own eyes). The stats last season would certainly back that up as he was one of our most effective players away from home, basically the opposite of Wootton who did all his goalscoring at the Lane as you will have seen (with your own eyes).

To end on a harmonious positive I couldn't agree more than IB improved him as a player, he utilised him significantly better than NA, as he was impressive all season long. Although I imagine he would have shown some improvement in that 2nd season anyway as he adapted to the English game and improved his fitness in time.

[Elite_Pie]

I would also never claim that only I k(new) and the rest didn't because I recall many spotted it and were equally impressed and excited at a similar time as myself. Perhaps like me they aren't as comfortable on fences as you are.

As I've already said twice, his talent was easy to spot right from the start. I don't recall a single poster saying he lacked talent. Whether it was because he was new to the country and especially the National League or whether the manager didn't use him correctly, that talent didn't show to good effect on the pitch much in his first season. Thankfully that has now been resolved, so let's hope he can help us to promotion.

[the_anticlough]

As I've already said twice, his talent was easy to spot right from the start. I don't recall a single poster saying he lacked talent. Whether it was because he was new to the country and especially the National League or whether the manager didn't use him correctly, that talent didn't show to good effect on the pitch much in his first season. Thankfully that has now been resolved, so let's hope he can help us to promotion.

This might be nit-picking, but the high water mark of his form at Notts IMO may be back end of his first season, when he dragged us back into the play-offs. Not sure that he ever had such a run of 10 games last season, although he was very productive from start to finish really.

It seems a long time ago now that he was banished from the side and Leigh Curtis was saying get rid on podcasts. What an injustice that would've been and what fans would've missed out on...

If your last bit comes true, and he's the best player in a side that gets us back to the football league, he'd easily become my favourite Notts player of all-time.

[laddo]

This might be nit-picking, but the high water mark of his form at Notts IMO may be back end of his first season, when he dragged us back into the play-offs. Not sure that he ever had such a run of 10 games last season, although he was very productive from start to finish really.

It seems a long time ago now that he was banished from the side and Leigh Curtis was saying get rid on podcasts. What an injustice that would've been and what fans would've missed out on...

If your last bit comes true, and he's the best player in a side that gets us back to the football league, he'd easily become my favourite Notts player of all-time.

Nailed it AC.

He was in red hot form late in that 1st season and including the playoffs, it was a clear sign of things to come. Although he didn't single handedly drag us into the playoffs, however no other player was influential during that period IMO.

Although inconsisent in season 1, nobody can convince me he wasn't consistent in producing the goods in season 2 even if that's been suggested on here.

Here's to him improving once again in what could be his last season with Notts

As for the comments from Curtis, embarrassing then, laughable now. Keeping him was/is hugeeeeeee to start this season IMO.