⚽ Match Thread vs. Chesterfield FC 20.08.22 [NL]

[TSANHO]

There was a weird feeling around the ground today. Fans weren’t really into it from the off (until we scored of course), but there was a real sense of frustration, bordering on anger at some points in the game….and I understand it to a degree.

The quality in the squad is the lowest we’ve seen since being relegated. In my opinion four or five of those players either aren’t good enough or just don’t understand what LW’s plan is. The system and style of play isn’t working. We’ve got players playing positions that make no sense at all, we create very little at all, and are set up more or less with 8 defenders…it’s no wonder the fans are getting upset already this season.

I actually thought OB was one of our better players today but in general he shouldn’t be starting anymore. The farce of our midfield has been going on for so long now it’s just not funny. Playing wing backs that literally never reach the oppositions touch line. When we do play long we play it to the shortest player on the pitch in Langstaff. I never want a Notts player to fail, but Mitchell isn’t, and never will be good enough….you can’t teach anticipation and he is always 2-3 seconds behind the game, no good for a striker.

Credit to the guys for getting back in the game but it was barely deserved and really does paper of the cracks. I’m not confident in LW at all. I’ll be be even less impressed if we don’t address the serious lack of quality in the squad in the coming weeks.

[Elite_Pie]

There was a weird feeling around the ground today. Fans weren’t really into it from the off (until we scored of course), but there was a real sense of frustration, bordering on anger at some points in the game….and I understand it to a degree.

The word 'weird' is the best way to sum up that game. We did ok until they scored, but until we pulled one back we were absolutely dire. In the first half Langstaff barely touched the ball, and Ruben did nothing in the final third. We know Ross Fitzsimons is a limited keeper, but for 60 minutes his Dad could have played in goal and kept a clean sheet, we were so bereft of attacking ideas. The double substitution changed things, and in Langstaff I think we've found a gem. Get the ball in the box and he will do the business. It was criminal the way we deprived him of any service for the first hour. One thing was glaringly obvious to me, if we play tippy tappy sideways and backwards passes (first 60 minutes) we are easy to contain, but if we take a few risks and get it forward quicker we will be hard to contain. A few random observations from today:

The home support was much like our performance, pretty dire until we scored.
We still don't have a cohesive midfield, and without a good signing it will stay that way.
Adam Chicksen is a valuable squad member with a great attitude, but he's not a wing back.
Feed Macauley Langstaff, and he will be challenging for NL top scorer.
Funny how the Spireites started moaning about the ref in the last 10 minutes, before that he blew his whistle whenever they went to ground.

Did we deserve a point? Over the 90 minutes probably not. This game did however show what we are poor at and what we are good at. I hope Luke Williams learned a valuable lesson today.

[BanjoPie]

There was a weird feeling around the ground today. Fans weren’t really into it from the off (until we scored of course), but there was a real sense of frustration, bordering on anger at some points in the game….and I understand it to a degree.

The quality in the squad is the lowest we’ve seen since being relegated. In my opinion four or five of those players either aren’t good enough or just don’t understand what LW’s plan is. The system and style of play isn’t working. We’ve got players playing positions that make no sense at all, we create very little at all, and are set up more or less with 8 defenders…it’s no wonder the fans are getting upset already this season.

I actually thought OB was one of our better players today but in general he shouldn’t be starting anymore. The farce of our midfield has been going on for so long now it’s just not funny. Playing wing backs that literally never reach the oppositions touch line. When we do play long we play it to the shortest player on the pitch in Langstaff. I never want a Notts player to fail, but Mitchell isn’t, and never will be good enough….you can’t teach anticipation and he is always 2-3 seconds behind the game, no good for a striker.

Credit to the guys for getting back in the game but it was barely deserved and really does paper of the cracks. I’m not confident in LW at all. I’ll be be even less impressed if we don’t address the serious lack of quality in the squad in the coming weeks.

“We were playing one of the best teams in the NL- and we dreww 2-2 - what the heck do you want?”

[Elite_Pie]

“We were playing one of the best teams in the NL- and we dreww 2-2 - what the heck do you want?”

If like me you want promotion, I'd have hoped we would look the better side.

We didn't.

[countygump]

If like me you want promotion, I'd have hoped we would look the better side.

We didn't.

Maybe that's one of the problems. Every year we trot out the ''serious about promotion'' line and apart from maybe year 1, we looked anything but. Eventually supporters will get peed off with hearing it and react accordingly. Especially when you look like a side that's actually getting worse year on year, smaller year on year, (which doesn't help), and further away from achieving it year on year. How can Cheesie who are effectively a Trust owned club have a bigger budget and better players than we seem to have?