⚽ Match Thread vs. Chesterfield FC 20.08.22 [NL]

[jacobncfc]

Thoughts:

I actually thought we started the game really well and were the only team in it really until they scored.

Goal rattled us completely, as it did for a bit against Gateshead. We still seem to have a bit of a mentality problem when things started going against us.

Much of the rest of the first half was a mess, and a the start of the second half was awful. No intensity to anything we did at all. I think the wing backs did okay individually but they just don’t look completely natural in that position, and we have a huge problem in central midfield. It’s clear Williams wants someone alongside Palmer who has some presence and wins second balls, as O’Brien once could, but his legs simply aren’t up to any more than half an hour bursts any more. We’ve got to sign someone in that position who ideally has a bit of height and a proper engine. Austin could be this player short term, but doesn’t help with the lack of height in there.

Game changed completely with the subs and over 90 we probably had the better chances tbh, Langstaff will probably feel he should’ve scored another two. I’m a bit less down than others because I think a lot of our planning is around Scott and Langstaff as a front two, hopefully we’re closer to seeing that.

We need to find a way to get those two in with Rodrigues a bit higher up the pitch as well. Thought he did some good stuff but it was all around the half way line rather than the edge of the box.

Chesterfield looked good in parts, but let’s be honest if we’d folded like that from 2-0 up then the players would be getting absolutely killed on here. It’s a long season, I expect both teams to be there or there abouts.

[Hoppie]

Thoughts:

I actually thought we started the game really well and were the only team in it really until they scored.

Goal rattled us completely, as it did for a bit against Gateshead. We still seem to have a bit of a mentality problem when things started going against us.

Much of the rest of the first half was a mess, and a the start of the second half was awful. No intensity to anything we did at all. I think the wing backs did okay individually but they just don’t look completely natural in that position, and we have a huge problem in central midfield. It’s clear Williams wants someone alongside Palmer who has some presence and wins second balls, as O’Brien once could, but his legs simply aren’t up to any more than half an hour bursts any more. We’ve got to sign someone in that position who ideally has a bit of height and a proper engine. Austin could be this player short term, but doesn’t help with the lack of height in there.

Game changed completely with the subs and over 90 we probably had the better chances tbh, Langstaff will probably feel he should’ve scored another two. I’m a bit less down than others because I think a lot of our planning is around Scott and Langstaff as a front two, hopefully we’re closer to seeing that.

We need to find a way to get those two in with Rodrigues a bit higher up the pitch as well. Thought he did some good stuff but it was all around the half way line rather than the edge of the box.

Chesterfield looked good in parts, but let’s be honest if we’d folded like that from 2-0 up then the players would be getting absolutely killed on here. It’s a long season, I expect both teams to be there or there abouts.

Great post. We’ve been waiting 5 years (since Yates) for midfield player with presence and the ability to win those 50/50 clashes that turn games and generate momentum swings. I’ll give NA credit for at least trying to address it when he bought in Doyle, JOB and Rose but nothing even attempting to fix it since those 3. Too much talk about the back line and not enough focus on what’s in front - Had Yates stayed all season we could be talking about richard Duffy as a league 2 champion - just think about that for a minute.