⚽ Match Thread vs. Barrow 07.10.23 [EFL L2]

[SmiffyPie]

Why's LW so upset then?

Exactly!
Why do some people applaud LW when he makes nice positive comments but dispute comments from the same manager when he comes out with comments about a poor performance that are blindingly obvious?

[matt_magpie]

I don't want complacency, I want us to show the other team that we won't collapse in the second half if we are pushed.

We DO have a non-league defence composed of last year's players, where have we improved? They coped very well last year against some really poor teams but that is history, today we are letting teams back into the game.

LW improved the attack and midfield with some quality players but he now really needs to sort out the defence, including the choice of goalkeeper.

You can’t say they are a non league defenders because they played last year in the NL, by the same rule they are now L2 defenders because they are playing in L2??? They should be judged on their own individual merit and ability.
They’re also different types of defenders and the standards gone up and they’re being asked to do what most players aren’t.
That said they need competition and also taking out the firing line at times as with every team. We definitely need an extra top quality defender if the young defenders aren’t up to it as we have quality back up everywhere else on the team.

[Notts78]

Our defenders get a rough ride. They are asked to play in a way that 99% of defenders at our level would struggle to be consistently good at. They are often left exposed when WE give the ball away in poor areas.
The risk v reward nature of the way we play has so far reaped points.
Once we start adding players in that can defend better , but couldn’t pass wind, the way we play becomes nullified. Yes there is an argument of, get it forward and play in their third. However, does that then not nullify the strengths of others?
We are clearly not a club that wants to spend beyond its means and maybe some of our budget went on the improved contract for Macca and signing Didzy.
We have a coach who plays a certain way and the points he has picked up since he began is extraordinary. Sure, there will be times when could’ve, should’ve and would’ve will come in to play. No we are not Man City. We are Notts County, and we have a proper identity for the first time in a long time. It should be cherished and not picked apart every time if doesn’t quite work.

[jackal2]

Why's LW so upset then?

Because he's constantly striving for perfection, even though he acknowledges that the players can't always achieve it and have done brilliantly already. He'll keep expressing disappointment with performances like yesterday's and pushing for better, because he wants to find out just how far his players can improve.

It's the classic carrot and stick tactic really, but ultimately he knows where the club wants to be, so it's a case of finding out, week by week, which of these players are capable of making that journey of constant improvement with us, and which ones have 'maxed out'.

[Notts78]

Because he's constantly striving for perfection, even though he acknowledges that the players can't always achieve it and have done brilliantly already. He'll keep expressing disappointment with performances like yesterday's and pushing for better, because he wants to find out just how far his players can improve.

It's the classic carrot and stick tactic really, but ultimately he knows where the club wants to be, so it's a case of finding out, week by week, which of these players are capable of making that journey of constant improvement with us, and which ones have 'maxed out'.

I thought he made this clear from the outset. I remember a few of us thinking, we’ve won comfortably and he’s publicly saying he’s not happy. This was his first pre-season.
The guy is a genius at how he talks about his squad in public. He has his standards and wants them meeting… he doesn’t want the players having standards that are comfortable. He wants them to reach their ceiling. Once they have, and if they are no longer good enough to move us forward, ‘thanks for your efforts, good luck in the future’.
Ultimately, every player will leave better than when they arrived. If they choose to work hard and push the boundaries

[durhampie]

Because he's constantly striving for perfection, even though he acknowledges that the players can't always achieve it and have done brilliantly already. He'll keep expressing disappointment with performances like yesterday's and pushing for better, because he wants to find out just how far his players can improve.

It's the classic carrot and stick tactic really, but ultimately he knows where the club wants to be, so it's a case of finding out, week by week, which of these players are capable of making that journey of constant improvement with us, and which ones have 'maxed out'.

We need to go back to the 4 4 2 formation, and employ proper fullbacks. We simply dont have the players capable to play in the current defensive formation. We are asking square pegs to play in round holes, and it doesn't work.... Chicksen should be one of the first names on team sheet, at least he can defend the line...

[Notts78]

We need to go back to the 4 4 2 formation, and employ proper fullbacks. We simply dont have the players capable to play in the current defensive formation. We are asking square pegs to play in round holes, and it doesn't work.... Chicksen should be one of the first names on team sheet, at least he can defend the line...

Or we let the bloke who has the highest win percentage do his thing. I firmly believe he is much more qualified than you Durham in managing a football club.
Though I do think there is some merit in 4-4-2 away from home. It’s not the modern way and it certainly seems not to be Luke Williams way.

[jackal2]

We need to go back to the 4 4 2 formation, and employ proper fullbacks. We simply dont have the players capable to play in the current defensive formation. We are asking square pegs to play in round holes, and it doesn't work.... Chicksen should be one of the first names on team sheet, at least he can defend the line...

For a formation that doesn't work, it's done well getting us promoted from the National League and taking us to the top of League Two.

That said, I can see an argument for a back four option to bring better defensive players like Chicksen back into the side and avoid exposing the defensive weakness of players like Nemane and Jones, but I can't see Luke Williams using a 4-4-2 because it's too rigid for the style he wants to play. I see 4-2-3-1 as a more likely option, especially in terms of suiting the players we've got.

[ncfcog]

Season Stats page has been updated, stats report will be either later today or tomorrow morning.

https://www.ncs-news.co.uk/stats/season-2023-24

[Carlton_Pie]

We need to go back to the 4 4 2 formation, and employ proper fullbacks. We simply dont have the players capable to play in the current defensive formation. We are asking square pegs to play in round holes, and it doesn't work.... Chicksen should be one of the first names on team sheet, at least he can defend the line...

Seen it all now. Notts have gone from not serious contenders in the NL to the top of League 2 but you want to revert to 4-4-2?? Teams just don't play 4-4-2 these days, you lose the middle of the park.