⚽ Any match day thread today ? [PSF Stoke City (H)]

[Chicken Balti Pie]

Thought the first 11 played looked tired and sluggish, wonder if that was the plan? Second 11 seemed very sharp. Liked the look of Cisse, although too small as a centre back but think had we had Langstaff or McGoldrick up top, we'd have pulled some back.

Defence looked very, very shaky, Brindley no where near his best and Mohovo isn't close to the first team which means we need a centre back or two. Thought Stone had decent distribution but left a lot to be desired with his shot stopping but he's had 180 minutes so far so perhaps just fatigue.

Crowley looks a very decent replacement for Rodrigues, dare I say an improvement? But then Jones also looked incredibly sharp coming on.

Going forward we have no problems, it's purely in defence where my worries lay, perhaps we will carry the mantra of scoring one more than the opposition?

[TSANHO]

Not sure at what strength Stoke were, but today clearly exposed our weaknesses at the back, like others have said. Not going to single anyone out but there were some very poor and shaky performances out there today and I’ll be surprised to see some of them anywhere near the first eleven.

LW said a week or so ago that Stoke and Forest would be defensive tests….we’ve failed the first one quite badly. Defending with this high line surely has to be under scrutiny now because at least two or three of todays goals were because it was broken far too easily.

Positives -

Macca
Jones
DM
Bostock
Cisse
New sound system
Chicks

[Magpies1959]

P.A. System is as good as the blurb, top notch.
Pitch superb with upgraded sprinklers.
Had a free sauna in the club shop, getting my shirt.
Stoke clinical at exposing our high line, not unexpected as championship quality.
Mahovo very poor ac LCB, soon moved to LWB where he improved as the game went on, played full 90. Great psychology by LW to keep him on.
Crowley excellent, great touch.
Macca doing Macca things.
Bajrami, improvement on midweek against better opposition.
McGoldrick touches of genius, also wins his shares of headers from goal kicks = bonus.
Chicksen very impressive as LCB.
Last 30 mins, controlled the game against a younger Stoke eleven.
Randall impressive, good touch, awareness and pace chasing back.
Rawlinson solid as ever.
Cisse very impressive, good pace and no little skill.
JB being JB.
Jodi Jones looking very sharp, confident.
TAR massive step up on Tuesdays display.
Stone, comfortable/confident with ball at feet. Kicking improved in second half. No chance with the goals.

[marky]

Fully expect Notts to lose heavily next week as well, and if that is the case then maybe they'll have to be a rethink on whether we need another centre back, I honestly think at the moment they're not intending to bring anymore in.

[countygump]

Not sure at what strength Stoke were, but today clearly exposed our weaknesses at the back, like others have said. Not going to single anyone out but there were some very poor and shaky performances out there today and I’ll be surprised to see some of them anywhere near the first eleven.

LW said a week or so ago that Stoke and Forest would be defensive tests….we’ve failed the first one quite badly. Defending with this high line surely has to be under scrutiny now because at least two or three of todays goals were because it was broken far too easily.

Positives -

Macca
Jones
DM
Bostock
Cisse
New sound system
Chicks

Bossie was the best player on the pitch 2nd half. I think his presence really tightened us up. Give him another 2 year contract Notts, now!

[Elite_Pie]

These games are meant to sort out the problems, and on the evidence of this one we have a bucketload of defensive ones to sort! The high line we got away with last season was ruthlessly exposed by Stoke time and time again. We were useless at defending balls over the top, and with decent finishing Stoke could have had double figures. Even considering the gap in divisions, we were woeful at the back. Brindley worries me, he looked a shadow of the player he can be. We had most of the possession and looked ok going forward, but once we lost the ball we were wide open. I never read too much into pre-season games, but I have to say this one threw up more negatives than positives.

[Magpies1959]

Very honest post match interview from LW as ever. Pleased he glossed over the attacking side of the game, and was concerned with the defensive part of our play.
I like many others, think we need another CB in, more so now that Aiden Baldwin is out for a while.

[Glad2BeAPie]

Good workout against a good championship team our snail like defence gave them plenty of room to play, especially 1st half Pavis stand side. Goalie Played more long balls forward than usual. Hope we don't get a tonking next week, or we'll never hear the last of it.

[1955pie]

These games are meant to sort out the problems, and on the evidence of this one we have a bucketload of defensive ones to sort! The high line we got away with last season was ruthlessly exposed by Stoke time and time again. We were useless at defending balls over the top, and with decent finishing Stoke could have had double figures. Even considering the gap in divisions, we were woeful at the back. Brindley worries me, he looked a shadow of the player he can be. We had most of the possession and looked ok going forward, but once we lost the ball we were wide open. I never read too much into pre-season games, but I have to say this one threw up more negatives than positives.

Agree with this.

Only really went along to assess the new boys.

In my eyes and realizing we were playing a Championship side.
Stone - not much passing it out from the back - lots of long balls.
Crowley - Now I know he got Man of the Match from the sponsors (BHF) but I was disappointed. Certainly not a replacement for Ruben.
Randall - playing as LWB but never took his man on.
McGoldrick - Class

Feel a bit deflated. Perhaps it was an anti-climax.

[BCnotts18]

Fully expect Notts to lose heavily next week as well, and if that is the case then maybe they'll have to be a rethink on whether we need another centre back, I honestly think at the moment they're not intending to bring anymore in.

I highly doubt LW is naïve enough to think our defence is good enough for league two, but if we are done for transfer business then we'll struggle, simple as that.

I just hope we haven't spend up the budget bringing in midfielders and forwards, only to be left wanting defensively, similar to the season we got relegated under Nolan.