⚽ Match Thread vs. Mansfield Town FC 14.10.23 [EFL L2]

[Elite_Pie]

Notts’ players to a man looked very, very tired.

No reason we should be tired this early in the season but everything we did after the first ten minutes was timid and half-hearted, which isn't the way we usually play. Maybe we were beaten by a far better side, but then you realise that we're still a point above them and they've failed to win 8 of their 13 games. I can't explain why we were so poor, but we need a good response at Gillingham.

[upthemaggies]

It was dreadfull ever since we scored in the 3rd minute, sitting back, always back to the goalkeeper

The SKY commentators noted the home crowd growing restless with the sideways/backwards passing and I think that was at 1-1 or 1-2, not when we were out of the game.
Since LW took over we've never gone more than 2 home league games without a win, no consecutive defeats and not more than 1 game without scoring. The BT comms last season described the ML faithful as "patient" and "educated" but that has yet to be put to the test.

[LaxtonLad]

think most of us know where we’re weak and all that was proved today. Keepers aren’t great, defence, strength in depth. Knocked out of our stride by a good league 2 side.

Even so, bringing in Slocombe today was the first big clanger Williams has made. Stone’s long kicking isn’t great, but Slocombe’s today was awful.

He only had midgets to aim at and they were marked by comparative giants. Trying to play out from the back wasn’t working either, two or three or four sideways passes inevitably went back to Slocombe who then had to boot the ball clear, repeat ad infinitum. The lack of a plan B was glaringly obvious.

[1955pie]

No reason we should be tired this early in the season but everything we did after the first ten minutes was timid and half-hearted, which isn't the way we usually play. Maybe we were beaten by a far better side, but then you realise that we're still a point above them and they've failed to win 8 of their 13 games. I can't explain why we were so poor, but we need a good response at Gillingham.

They could be tired if they are being worked too hard in training. Also perhaps because we ha a very small squad. 6 injuries is starting to make me wonder.

[drillerpie]

The SKY commentators noted the home crowd growing restless with the sideways/backwards passing and I think that was at 1-1 or 1-2, not when we were out of the game.
Since LW took over we've never gone more than 2 home league games without a win, no consecutive defeats and not more than 1 game without scoring. The BT comms last season described the ML faithful as "patient" and "educated" but that has yet to be put to the test.

I think people get what we do now and why we do it. But today was a pretty stark example of how bad that kind of football can be when it goes wrong.

I mean we must have spent half the time we were in possession just passing it around our area. In a local Derby. Hopefully that doesn't mean the crowd has turned against our philosophy, rather just a case of terrible performance at the worst time.

[Dunce]

Excellent stuff, Jackal

Agreed

[upthemaggies]

I think people get what we do now and why we do it. But today was a pretty stark example of how bad that kind of football can be when it goes wrong.

I mean we must have spent half the time we were in possession just passing it around our area. In a local Derby. Hopefully that doesn't mean the crowd has turned against our philosophy, rather just a case of terrible performance at the worst time.

I suppose the worry has to be that other managers are going to be watching videos of Sutton, FGR, Colchester and Mansfield scoring for fun against us and work out what they need to do. Not all clubs will have the personal to do it, but we're now facing a tricky looking set of opponents.....

Sat.21.Oct gillingham (7th)
Tue.24.Oct NEWPORT CO. (20th)
Sat.28.Oct WREXHAM (5th)
Sat.11.Nov crewe alex. (4th)
Sat.18.Nov BRADFORD CITY (11th)
Sat.25.Nov wimbledon (8th)
Tue.28.Nov CRAWLEY TOWN (10th)

[Proactive not Reactive]

I think it had a lot to do with them going man-for-man all over the pitch, as LW said in his interview. This was similar to the B'Wood league game last season and we really struggled in that.

Slocs, Bostock and the back line found a few good balls through the lines, generally though it went back as you say. I think some players have to do a better job of making themselves available to receive - today that'd be Palmer, Nemane, Austin, Crowley (2nd half) and even Maca....trouble is they might be restricted by the precise positions they're instructed to take up and they might not have license to roam a bit.

They had us in a bit of a stranglehold. Nige knew LW wouldn't change his shape to something they're more comfortable with.

But if there's one word to describe today - for me it's 'over-powered'

Anticlough I don’t think you’re far off with your assessment
First of all we all know the scissors,paper,rock game unfortunately Mansfield were scissors to our paper
Mansfield have been a very solid Division 2 for a few years and probably unlucky they haven’t been promoted and this summer have strengthened again and should be automatic this season
We are newbies and still on a learning curve and most would be happy if we made the playoffs(took us 4 years to get out of NL)
Mansfield were very good tactically,they pressed us and man marked us so even though Slocombe’s kicking wasn’t brilliant but who does he aim for ? their back 4 were all a lot bigger than our players and one of the key things were Didzy is our outlet for the long ball but the 2 centre backs are 6ft 6’’ and 6ft 2.5’’ the only other aerial outlet is TAR who was introduced 10 minutes too late.
The only real criticism I had of the defence was that Brindley had a good few opportunities to run forward with the ball which then creates the space for other players but for whatever reason kept turning back - Rawlinson went forward twice in the first half(and he doesn’t have the tools Brindley has) and we created 2 chances from that,
Regarding the 2 goals from corners very clever from Mansfield dinking them in without pace and hung in the air with 2 centre backs coming onto it - our tallest centre back is 6ft 1’
They took a longer corner just before and JOB was lucky not to concede a penalty as he hauled one of their players down
For me we have to accept that they were bigger and stronger than us and yes we were bullied 2nd half but how do you stop that if they are bigger and stronger than you ?
Bostock gave the first goal away(or was he fouled ?) but he was missed when he went off
The two wing backs were disappointing especially Nemane he needed to just push the ball in front of him and just run(his best attribute ) and not try to dribble,Austin unfortunately doesn’t have the pace or skill to be very effective Jones was a big miss today.
LW is doing wonders with the players and we are doing great with our squad - 6 players injured is a lot for most clubs especially for us with our small squad.
I know during preseason we offered 6 figure fees for two 6ft 4’’ plus centre backs so it’s not for lack of trying that we haven’t brought defenders in but for me we can’t bring anymore small players in for any position.
Not too happy with the Supporters(the clue is in the title) the Kop were probably the quietest they have been this season and embarrassing the number of Notts fans walked out when the 4th goal went in.
The team never stopped trying,they weren’t good enough today and they will know that and they have given us enough pleasure over the last season and a quarter for us to support them when they are having a bad time ?

[legs77]

I think people get what we do now and why we do it. But today was a pretty stark example of how bad that kind of football can be when it goes wrong.

I mean we must have spent half the time we were in possession just passing it around our area. In a local Derby. Hopefully that doesn't mean the crowd has turned against our philosophy, rather just a case of terrible performance at the worst time.

I agree and when its bad its bad and can go very wrong but its risk v reward.

I see some suggest plan B which basically means a 6ft 2 lump up front and that can look bad very bad if he is hopeless watch Nolan side when we got found out it was awful to watch.

We wont go to that plan B under LW and im glad about that as it looks a threat at times but in reality we did nothing for decades doing it.

[nw6pie]

The concern at the moment is the level of performance in recent weeks - we’ve had one great 45 minutes against Swindon, and poor showings against Colchester, Barrow and now Mansfield. Let’s hope it’s a blip, but we’ve created very little in the last two league games.