⚽ Match Thread vs. Lincoln City 08.08.23 [EFLC R1]

[Proactive not Reactive]

I didn't mean it to be insulting towards him. I'm a big fan of LW. He's done a wonderful job so far at Notts, and he's a cracking guy as well.

What I'm saying is his approach is so far removed from what's considered 'normal' at this level that it sometimes feels like a big experiment playing out in real-time. Last season it worked spectacularly, and we managed to keep pace with big-spending Wrexham through our innovative approach. But there were cracks in the system last season, and they haven't been addressed. Better teams will exploit our weaknesses, which are clear for everyone to see.

Rather than prioritising the strengthening of our defence over the summer, we added more attacking players and continued with the players and system who were starting to get found out last season. It's possible to love LW but still see that we have issues that need addressing, and that those issues would already have been addressed as a priority by most 'dinosaur' managers at this level.

I guess you have to take the rough with the smooth. Last season, playing the way did allowed us to score over a hundred goals, and the price of that was being more open at the back than some other teams. But this season, playing against better opposition, that approach might not work. Or maybe it will. Know knows? Like I said, it's like a giant experiment that could go either way.

Fair enough not sure it's an experiment more a fashion and the new coaches coming through are being taught/educated on possession based football and the same buzz words like process etc
When I started playing it was 4.3.3 then went to 4.4.2 and then just before I stopped playing 3.5.2 now most teams are trying to mix it up and tweaking all 3 of these to gain more control on the pitch
Anyway whatever formation we play lets hope for a win tomorrow.

[Proactive not Reactive]

Let's not forget you cannot get promoted out of the National league playing football .!!!🤭👊

Exactly nor Division 2

[slack_pie]

Fair enough not sure it's an experiment more a fashion and the new coaches coming through are being taught/educated on possession based football and the same buzz words like process etc
When I started playing it was 4.3.3 then went to 4.4.2 and then just before I stopped playing 3.5.2 now most teams are trying to mix it up and tweaking all 3 of these to gain more control on the pitch
Anyway whatever formation we play lets hope for a win tomorrow.

It's not really a fashion or trend because we're the only ones doing it at this level. And that's what makes it relatively experimental compared to teams who follow tried and tested methods.

I'm not saying our approach is wrong, but just that it's novel. That novel approach worked last season and gave us an edge, allowing us to keep pace with a team who far outspent us. This season, against better teams, it remains to be seen whether it will continue to give us an edge or whether it will in fact be the reason why we struggle.

[matt_magpie]

I don't think anyone is in panic mode yet. But if the powers that be can't or won't see the defensive frailty that has been evident even last year, then I am concerned.

The defence is not being helped by the fact we no longer seem to use the high press. I get that you don't want to commit against better players, if the press is beaten they are more likely to punish you.

There is lots to address and I have utmost faith in LW but I don't feel inaction now is appropriate.

I'd really like to see a player with some of Baldwins characteristics, physicality and pace but with far greater mentality.

We also definitely need a ratter in midfield. A non ball playing scrapper who knows how to tackle and master of the dark arts. We are a soft touch at present.

People were on about a ball winner last year and the season before and yet we smashed it last year.
You don’t need a tough tackler you need players intelligent enough to know how to nick the ball off players and where the opposition are passing it to, Marty palmers really good and JB will be better this year fit.
As for the owners can’t see, won’t see we need a defender, what are you basing your evidence on? Do you know for a fact they haven’t been pursuing defenders?

[the_anticlough]

People were on about a ball winner last year and the season before and yet we smashed it last year.
You don’t need a tough tackler you need players intelligent enough to know how to nick the ball off players and where the opposition are passing it to, Marty palmers really good and JB will be better this year fit.

Fans call for a lot of dubious things - 'height' 'toughness' 'physicality', they might want to try rugby, could be the sport for them

What you don't hear as much is 'athleticism', which I don't think you can get enough of. Chicks was able to convert himself into a wing-back based on making himself a superb athlete. As we saw last weekend, athleticism (running power, agility, speed, stamina and strength) is a prerequisite for a wing-back in the modern game.
Our recruitment might have left us a bit short of athleticism for L2, but it's difficult because being able to play to a high level is non-negotiable and players with both are in high demand.

[1955pie]

Fans call for a lot of dubious things - 'height' 'toughness' 'physicality', they might want to try rugby, could be the sport for them

What you don't hear as much is 'athleticism', which I don't think you can get enough of. Chicks was able to convert himself into a wing-back based on making himself a superb athlete. As we saw last weekend, athleticism (running power, agility, speed, stamina and strength) is a prerequisite for a wing-back in the modern game.
Our recruitment might have left us a bit short of athleticism for L2, but it's difficult because being able to play to a high level is non-negotiable and players with both are in high demand.

If we want that, then we will have to pay the going rate. Unless we are prepared to take a gamble on a player with history eg injuries

[Kent Magpie]

I would add that L2 is a step up in terms of athleticism (I like that description) and that doesn't come overnight, you can't suddenly go up a level in terms of athleticism, it takes weeks, potentially. It's not just being able to run faster for longer, but it's being able to think quicker, execute the basics under more pressure etc.

Unfortunately a pre season can only address the physical side, the mental side comes with competitive games. I think the mental side comes quicker than the physical side though (if you are capable of the step up). I am sure they will get there, but they are starting from behind. I think last season we were happy to accept mistakes at the back for the benefits it brought going forward, I wonder if we will end up in the same place eventually this season (either with our current defence of a bolstered one). To get a defender in who would suit our style in this league means we need someone who can think faster and execute more reliably that you may normally expect from a L2 defender, which may be harder to find. Ironically, we may find it easier to address our defensive issues as we move up the leagues and our style becomes more of the norm.

I wonder if that is why the transfer window closes a month into the season - it gives managers and recruitment teams time to identify those that are struggling and address that in the transfer market?

[the_anticlough]

I wonder if that is why the transfer window closes a month into the season - it gives managers and recruitment teams time to identify those that are struggling and address that in the transfer market?

Great post KM, and interesting what you say at the end.

The brothers have shown that they have patience. They know that Rome wasn't built in a day. They took 4 years to achieve their first goal, making steady progress each year in terms of reaching that formula that would do the business.

Likewise, there's no need for breakneck measures for the next step. If it takes 2,3,4 years, so be it. Let's see where momentum takes us but realistically, the next step is another project.

The first part of that I agree with - let's give the lads who got us back into the EFL a chance to show what they can do. It's doubtful all of those will survive the process though, maybe 1 season, 3 months or 1 month even (as you say re: the window) will be all they get. But at least we've given them the chance they deserve.

[Proactive not Reactive]

Totally correct we have to give the players that got us promoted a chance, hopefully they will improve as they get used to the league and realise it's a step up.
Look at Ryan Yates across the river the majority of Forest fans said he wasn't good enough for the championship let alone the Premier League now a lot of them say he is their main man and how much they missed him when he was injured
Hopefully we can do a Luton or Coventry in time and if we did we will lose players along the way and it would be a totally different squad as are theirs - is it 1 Luton player in their squad from NL days - maybe Macca could be that player for us lol

[BJPIE]

People were on about a ball winner last year and the season before and yet we smashed it last year.
You don’t need a tough tackler you need players intelligent enough to know how to nick the ball off players and where the opposition are passing it to, Marty palmers really good and JB will be better this year fit.
As for the owners can’t see, won’t see we need a defender, what are you basing your evidence on? Do you know for a fact they haven’t been pursuing defenders?

The more adept the opposition, the more you need a spoiler/ball winner to break up play, or as we've seen you get hurt if you are not good enough defensively.
Are we pursuing defenders? If we are, we've had no success. Yet we've been able to attract midfield and forwards!!
My feeling is we hadn't been actively pursuing or if we had, we haven't prioritised it.
That I personally feel is a huge mistake, but that's only my opinion and one I voiced last season despite the success.