Player ratings vs. Salford City 14.12.24

[matt_magpie]

The side on Saturday wasn't the issue. How they were asked to play was? you could tell that the pitch was ****. Salford apparently aren?t long ball merchants but were happy to dump the ball in our third and wait for us to **** up, which we did on a number of occasions.
Funny how Nemane was vilified by some on here and yet sits top of the assists chart. Oh to have him playing again for Notts.

SM claimed he wanted to play more long and less risks and that?s probably even more worrying they didn?t carry out what they planned and asked for.

[Could'vebeenacontender]

SM claimed he wanted to play more long and less risks and that?s probably even more worrying they didn?t carry out what they planned and asked for.

TBH we started well but gave Salford a perfect start when Dan ran back demanding the ball in the worst possible place then was easily brushed off the ball when challenged by a more committed opponent
Bass probably wouldn't have passed to any other player in that position
We were all pleased to see Crowley back in the starting 11 but his performance on Saturday bore the hallmarks of someone who's already mentally decided to move on in January
The way he gave up for the third goal was another red flag
I think we may do better to leave him out and pick people who want to play and follow the manager's instructions

[BigFatPie]

TBH we started well but gave Salford a perfect start when Dan ran back demanding the ball in the worst possible place then was easily brushed off the ball when challenged by a more committed opponent
Bass probably wouldn't have passed to any other player in that position
We were all pleased to see Crowley back in the starting 11 but his performance on Saturday bore the hallmarks of someone who's already mentally decided to move on in January
The way he gave up for the third goal was another red flag
I think we may do better to leave him out and pick people who want to play and follow the manager's instructions

Genuine question but who told him to play in a position to be picking up short passes from the keeper or was he doing it of his own accord?

[SmiffyPie]

Genuine question but who told him to play in a position to be picking up short passes from the keeper or was he doing it of his own accord?

Well it seems there was/is a problem there. SM says he wanted them to go long (and I get that with that team) but DC coming short and Bass playing to him smacks of deliberately going against the manager. I would say DC is playing his own game.

[Notts78]

I?m not as convinced as some that there is an issue between SM and DC. There are enough experienced pros in the dressing room to quash any players thinking they are bigger and better than what?s being asked of them.
If there is an issue it would be a wider issue than simply DC.

[Could'vebeenacontender]

Genuine question but who told him to play in a position to be picking up short passes from the keeper or was he doing it of his own accord?

Dan is our best player from those currently available
I believe he is asked to play in a particular role but on occasions he makes his own decisions
All good when a player recognises when it's safe to take a chance - like taking the last man on in the final third for example
Have a look at the highlights from Saturday. You can see him sprinting back from higher up the pitch and gesticulating for the ball
But when he gets it he stops and the opponent takes it off him and he takes to the floor feigning injury

[Could'vebeenacontender]

I?m not as convinced as some that there is an issue between SM and DC. There are enough experienced pros in the dressing room to quash any players thinking they are bigger and better than what?s being asked of them.
If there is an issue it would be a wider issue than simply DC.

You're right there is no issue between Dan and SM
It's more a case of maybe his head has been turned?
Maybe it's a subconscious thing, I suppose a lot of us are slightly less committed in our job if we've decided that we're going to move on?

[Notts78]

You're right there is no issue between Dan and SM
It's more a case of maybe his head has been turned?
Maybe it's a subconscious thing, I suppose a lot of us are slightly less committed in our job if we've decided that we're going to move on?

Again, was DC?s performance down to that? Could it be he was simply rusty from his time out injured? The pitch was terrible and wouldn?t help someone like Dan. I don?t his performance reflected anything other than a bad day at the office rather than the fact he?s tapped out and wanting to leave.
If other clubs are interested in him, would they look at his character as much as his ability? If he?s willing to sack Notts off with half hearted performances, other clubs will see that and be equally unimpressed. I?m not convinced he?s not trying. I do believe it simply wasn?t his game on Saturday, which could be said of most.

[durhampie]

The side on Saturday wasn't the issue. How they were asked to play was? you could tell that the pitch was ****. Salford apparently aren?t long ball merchants but were happy to dump the ball in our third and wait for us to **** up, which we did on a number of occasions.
Funny how Nemane was vilified by some on here and yet sits top of the assists chart. Oh to have him playing again for Notts.

I bet MK are playing him as a winger, and not a chuffing wingback.

[the_anticlough]

They definitely lined up with Crowley back alongside Palmer, and Abbott getting close to the inside-right position. That has to be wrong, GA hasn't shown enough as a final third player but has done as a man in the middle.

SM also only has himself to blame for other picks...Austin is on an horrendous run of form, so many poor games on the bounce, you could've bet your house he'd do nothing again.

It's hindsight of course, but I felt at the time that...

Macari didn't deserve to lose his place to Ness
Tsaroulla should've started on the left, in the absence of Gordon, as Austin shoudn't have been considered for another start.
Abbott could've had another run out at RWB, he showed really well there at C'field, with Hinchy holding which would've freed up MP more. With DC in the advanced role.

The most shocking thing about Saturday was the inability to respond to being 2 down. I don't blame the backline or Jatta because we totally lost the battle across the middle of the park - the box midfield and the WBs never once got on top of the game, Didzy and SA being the most anonymous. And then whole team gave up, which is most disturbing of all.

We seem to have the perfect storm of SM decision-making, ill-discipline, low confidence and motivation, players off form and confused. It's a real low point, and I think they need a shake up - MP to pass on the armband to somebody more vocal and then allowed to concentrate on his own game. And a couple of immediate exits, to get everyone's attention.