Match Thread vs. Yeovil Town 05.03.22 [NL]

[matt_magpie]

At least Mitchell would have a point to prove and put in some effort, Wootton barely broke a sweat today. I can't actually remember the last time Wootton actually put in a decent performance.

Have to agree, IB talks about his work rate and other part of his game but I’m not seeing it, far too often he’s second to the ball.

[the_anticlough]

Have to agree, IB talks about his work rate and other part of his game but I’m not seeing it, far too often he’s second to the ball.

When he's off his game, his goal threat reduces to zero and his general contribution declines too...

As Burchnall said in the post-match interview, he'll still try to link up and defend from the front. This is like 'busy work' in the office. You know, all the easy, routine stuff that makes you look busy but is not really helping at all. You're not doing the difficult things to help the team/company like running in behind, taking risks, dribbles, something different...

Those who prioritise effort will say look at good old Woots closing his man down and then forget that he didn't have a dangerous moment all day and was a defenders dream to play against.
If he thinks he's secured his spot in the EFL let's give his place to someone still hungry to prove themselves for a few games and see what happens.

[Stan Marshall]

When he's off his game, his goal threat reduces to zero and his general contribution declines too...

As Burchnall said in the post-match interview, he'll still try to link up and defend from the front. This is like 'busy work' in the office. You know, all the easy, routine stuff that makes you look busy but is not really helping at all. You're not doing the difficult things to help the team/company like running in behind, taking risks, dribbles, something different...

Those who prioritise effort will say look at good old Woots closing his man down and then forget that he didn't have a dangerous moment all day and was a defenders dream to play against.
If he thinks he's secured his spot in the EFL let's give his place to someone still hungry to prove themselves for a few games and see what happens.

Good post. Spot on. He’ll struggle in the EFL on current form!

[Elite_Pie]

What a dull, nasty, niggly game that was. We weren't too bad in the first half, and two sublime crosses from Cal Roberts should have seen us two goals up. After we gifted them a goal the second half reminded me of the relegation season under Ardley - no discernible pattern of play, just a bunch who looked like they had never played together and couldn't even do the simple stuff. Only when we hit the ball long in stoppage time did we pose any sort of threat. Kyle Wootton has been one of my favourite Notts players, but today he was beyond awful. Eli looked a threat early on, but faded with the rest. Ruben, if anything tried a bit too hard and very little came off for him. Cal Roberts was our only real creative threat, which Yeovil recognised and treated him accordingly. Still plenty of points to play for, but on the evidence of today securing a playoff place is by no means a given. If we do make it, sixth place might be the best we can manage.

[nw6pie]

As I said on another thread, today was my first game at the Lane since February 2020 - and that finished 1-1 too, against Woking.

Maybe I've been out of the country too long and today was a typical winter's day, but I thought the windy conditions didn't help us and the pitch was surprisingly bumpy.

Without ever playing particularly well, we should have been at least 1-0 up at halftime - Eli unlucky with the header cleared off the line and then the scramble, but Ruben's miss was horrible. In a game where Yeovil created nothing and were gifted their goal by, I think, Francis, that could have made the difference.

The game got very scrappy and we really did struggle to create anything in the second half. In fact, we struggled to get beyond the halfway line, even though Yeovil did precisely nothing with the ball.

I'll take a point given the performance and conditions, but expected far more from the likes of Wootton, Ruben - who did improve, but was always guilty of never releasing the ball at the right time - Roberts - who disappeared as the game progressed - Palmer, Francis and Richardson, who wasted some good crossing positions before being subbed.

I'll be better able to judge where we are after Tuesday night at Solihull, but today was clearly nowhere near good enough and would raise big questions about whether we can even finish in the top seven.

Still, great to be back at Meadow Lane after such a long absence and there's always something great about an injury-time goal.

[Hoppie]

I posted earlier there was no way there was 6,900 there with 200 odd from Yeovil. The last home match I I think I said there was probably 4,500 there and they said there was 5,600 there. I know all the season ticket holders are counted whether they are there or not, but there is definitely some creative accounting going on! Around 5000 tops for me today.

Thought exactly this when I saw the crowd figure - no chance. 223 from Yeovil

[upthemaggies]

Thought exactly this when I saw the crowd figure - no chance. 223 from Yeovil

Back in the day, if fans questioned the attendance figure it was always because they believed the official figure was lower than the true number.

Fword didn't have a game today but you'd only expect that to add a few hundred. An extra 1,300 on the last Saturday game (two weeks ago) with the weather not great today and following a very disappointing result seems more than a bit odd.

[Elite_Pie]

Thought exactly this when I saw the crowd figure - no chance. 223 from Yeovil

I'm usually within 10% of my Meadow Lane crowd predictions, but I was way off today. The Family Stand looked a bit fuller than usual, but I was a bit surprised when nearly 7,000 was announced as the attendance on a cold day against opposition that wouldn't draw in many neutrals. I've never agreed with the many "there were more there than that" conspiracy theories over the years, so I'll take it at face value and say it was a fantastic attendance for this level. Just a pity the game didn't match it.

[Hoppie]

Away on hols in Mauritius listening in. Sounds like Notts were utter garbage, we are not even going to make playoffs at this stage! Anyone there today can give me any crumb of comfort please?

Nope. Notts we semi effective for about 20 minutes in the first half and then garbage for 60(9) minutes. Couldn’t string a pass together. Had no idea how to play out without Cameron. And I think teams have cottoned on to the one type of goal we are trying to score (it’s not fifa ffs). If we’re in the 18 yard box shoot! unless someone is clearly in a better spot. If I see one more cut back/sq pass to no one from a player in a perfectly good shooting position I’ll… get all shouty or something.

[Elite_Pie]

Nope. Notts we semi effective for about 20 minutes in the first half and then garbage for 60(9) minutes. Couldn’t string a pass together. Had no idea how to play out without Cameron. And I think teams have cottoned on to the one type of goal we are trying to score (it’s not fifa ffs). If we’re in the 18 yard box shoot! unless someone is clearly in a better spot. If I see one more cut back/sq pass to no one from a player in a perfectly good shooting position I’ll… get all shouty or something.

I admit that while not being a member of the 'Gerrit forward' brigade, I am definitely somewhat old school. I'm trying hard to see the benefits of our modern 'possession at all costs' game, but after working a position for a cross or shot when we instead decide to pass all the way back to the keeper it frustrates the hell out of me. I get that if we have the ball they can't score, but if we go away from their goal we can't score either.