⚽Match Thread vs. Maidenhead Utd. 10.12.22 [NL]

[matt_magpie]

Last relegation season - Newport home (lost 4-1) was probably the equivalent of Harry Kane blasting the penalty over the bar. Having won their previous two, Notts didn't win another home game until match 45 that season - The Newport defeat seemed to knock any real fight and belief still remaining around the club as a whole, not just the team.

This isn't a relegation battle we're in right now though, so if we're looking for warning signs..... The turning point of 2017/18 when we were in an automatic promotion spot from September to February was the 8-0 defeat to Swansea immediately followed by a diabolical performance away to Barnet. Most promotion challenges get de-railed by cup runs. The 1990/91 Warnock 2nd Wembley Play off final came close to being screwed up for that reason but we recovered late on. The most likely thing to F up our chances this season is the FA Trophy, either through a fixture pile up or the distraction of Wembley at the end of the season (see also Wrexham last season).

I’m 100% happy for us to play our second string in that and every single round if we progress, it can be used as a positive that way.

[jackal2]

I’m 100% happy for us to play our second string in that and every single round if we progress, it can be used as a positive that way.

The FA Cup tie against Coalville shows the danger of changing the team too dramatically, but in the current circumstances I'd have to agree there's no sense risking our key first-team players in the FA Trophy. The title race might come down to fine margins and you wouldn't want to look back and think we missed out because a first-teamer got injured in anything other than a league game. The trophy has to be regarded as an opportunity for the fringe players to stake their claim for more involvement.

[nw6pie]

I’m 100% happy for us to play our second string in that and every single round if we progress, it can be used as a positive that way.

The problem with progressing to, say, the semifinal is that it means we'd have to rearrange three Saturday fixtures - and then you suddenly find yourself possibly playing Sat-Tue-Sat every week for one or two months (especially if the weather also causes games to be postponed - and Gateshead must be at risk on Tuesday given the cold snap and the 7:45 kickoff). And that inevitably can lead to some fatigued performances.

Of course, there's also the possibility that games may be called off anyway, regardless of what we do, because the scheduled opposition (Eastleigh, Dorking, Altrincham) are still involved in the FA Trophy. This year's final is the week after the playoff final, although here's hoping we'll be promoted before that anyway.

[matt_magpie]

The problem with progressing to, say, the semifinal is that it means we'd have to rearrange three Saturday fixtures - and then you suddenly find yourself possibly playing Sat-Tue-Sat every week for one or two months (especially if the weather also causes games to be postponed - and Gateshead must be at risk on Tuesday given the cold snap and the 7:45 kickoff). And that inevitably can lead to some fatigued performances.

Of course, there's also the possibility that games may be called off anyway, regardless of what we do, because the scheduled opposition (Eastleigh, Dorking, Altrincham) are still involved in the FA Trophy. This year's final is the week after the playoff final, although here's hoping we'll be promoted before that anyway.

True, but short of throwing the game we haven’t got any choice and it’s the same for Wrexham and Chesterfield.

[Elite_Pie]

I’m 100% happy for us to play our second string in that and every single round if we progress.

I'd be very surprised if we didn't play our second string. I've purchased my ticket for Chorley, but I'm expecting a team mainly made up of fringe players. A good chance to give the likes of Bostock, Rawlinson and Mitchell some minutes, but the fewer first team regulars the better.

[Davy500]

Last relegation season - Newport home (lost 4-1) was probably the equivalent of Harry Kane blasting the penalty over the bar. Having won their previous two, Notts didn't win another home game until match 45 that season - The Newport defeat seemed to knock any real fight and belief still remaining around the club as a whole, not just the team.

This isn't a relegation battle we're in right now though, so if we're looking for warning signs..... The turning point of 2017/18 when we were in an automatic promotion spot from September to February was the 8-0 defeat to Swansea immediately followed by a diabolical performance away to Barnet. Most promotion challenges get de-railed by cup runs. The 1990/91 Warnock 2nd Wembley Play off final came close to being screwed up for that reason but we recovered late on. The most likely thing to F up our chances this season is the FA Trophy, either through a fixture pile up or the distraction of Wembley at the end of the season (see also Wrexham last season).

No the turning point in of the 2017/18 season was the January transfer window , notably the loss of Yates ( as Grants golas dried up) , and Hardy failing to strengthen in the January transfer window , the injury to Bennet

As for the FA Cup , the backlash from the 8-0 thrashing by Swansea who were premier league surprised me.
It should have been celebrated by us doing very well to go that far, it was obvious once we began to play with the big boys, we were going to get a hiding especially away from home.

Interesting theory about cup runs derailing a seson, last one i remember was Wigan relegated from the top flight, whilst winning the FA cup

[upthemaggies]

No the turning point in of the 2017/18 season was the January transfer window , notably the loss of Yates ( as Grants golas dried up) , and Hardy failing to strengthen in the January transfer window , the injury to Bennet

If we're talking generally, rather than identifying a specific fixture as a turning point, then yes, I would imagine most of us would agree with that.

[Magpies1959]

I do agree about our throw ins, we always seem to have trouble finding a man in space and are regularly dispossessed, unlike the opposition who we rarely put under much pressure from throw ins, or that's how it looks to me.

[nw6pie]

Most would agree that we are a very well coached team, so you'd almost have to believe that being so poor at throw ins is a deliberate tactic. Also, in the games I've seen, we take a very long time over throw-ins, which may also be deliberate.

Most teams that play a possession-based game seem to throw the ball backwards from throw ins and then start building anew. Not sure why it's so hard for us to do that, though you clearly need to do it quickly so your player isn't immediately marked. It might also help to have a left- or right-sided player who can throw the ball more than 5 yards in any direction.

Still, if throw ins are our biggest problem, we're clearly doing something right everywhere else!

[durhampie]

Most would agree that we are a very well coached team, so you'd almost have to believe that being so poor at throw ins is a deliberate tactic. Also, in the games I've seen, we take a very long time over throw-ins, which may also be deliberate.

Most teams that play a possession-based game seem to throw the ball backwards from throw ins and then start building anew. Not sure why it's so hard for us to do that, though you clearly need to do it quickly so your player isn't immediately marked. It might also help to have a left- or right-sided player who can throw the ball more than 5 yards in any direction.

Still, if throw ins are our biggest problem, we're clearly doing something right everywhere else!

As well as our throwing's being poor, our corners never produce anything productive either.