Match Thread vs. Eastleigh FC 15.01.22 [FAT4]

[jackal2]

There are some very encouraging signs in his post-match interview... apart from sounding happy enough, committed to working hard and accepting that the Head Coach picks the team

he described himself as 'the best'...(in training, on that day), it's great that he's still got the self-belief and pride to say that - all players, especially strikers maybe, need to think like that

we found out he's having his 1st child very soon. There's nothing like becoming a father for the first time for focusing the mind on your career and what you have to do...

Finally, he'll have increased his standing in the squad and gained some attention/respect. He'll be wanting more of that...
Having won that game for us, what's important now is that he gets some more pitch time over the next 3 games or so...or he'd be forgiven for thinking 'what's the point'. Trust IB to take care of that...

I've been arguing for Sam on here for a while and never stopped thinking he could be a real asset given the opportunity.
Now I think the tide's turned for him at Notts and we're about to see the real player.

I totally agree.

My impression for a while has been that we've got a really gifted and underrated player in Eli Sam but haven't found the way to get the best out of him, and that he could disappear at the end of the season without ever having had a proper run in the team and an opportunity to show what he can do, only to go somewhere else and prove his ability.

Fortunately, I think IB does recognise Eli's potential, has finally found the best position for him (in a front two) and may be ready to unleash him more often, which hopefully will mean Eli goes into any potential contract extension negotiations in a positive frame of mind. We had a similar situation with Adam Chicksen last summer, who had been inexplicably frozen out by Neal Ardley but who chose to stay after IB gave him more game time.

[the_anticlough]

My impression for a while has been that we've got a really gifted and underrated player in Eli Sam but haven't found the way to get the best out of him, and that he could disappear at the end of the season without ever having had a proper run in the team and an opportunity to show what he can do, only to go somewhere else and prove his ability.

Yeah, that's definitely the way it would play out (or was on track to)

Sadly, 2022 is likely to be a year we have to say goodbye to a fan favourite or two...Eli might have what it takes to make up some of the loss.

[laddo]

Yeah, that's definitely the way it would play out (or was on track to)

Sadly, 2022 is likely to be a year we have to say goodbye to a fan favourite or two...Eli might have what it takes to make up some of the loss.

Yup that's a likely scenario and if it does play out like that then the ball is firmly in Sam (and others) court they should know their is likely to be a great opportunity ahead for them if a fab favourite or two leave for bigger and better things.

[The-Mac pie]

Yup that's a likely scenario and if it does play out like that then the ball is firmly in Sam (and others) court they should know their is likely to be a great opportunity ahead for them if a fab favourite or two leave for bigger and better things.

Another thing we also have to remember with Eli Sam is::::
When he was signed by Notts with rodders,not long after we went into a lockdown,and a long way from home with no family around them,must say of been tough
Two young men in a new country
Didn’t really have friends,just team mates.
So I think Eli especially has felt the brunt perhaps more than rodders
Rodders is more an open charismatic guy who initially had trouble settling
Eli is a bit more restrained,and kind of holds back kinda fella
So now lockdown has eased and they can see there families more often,maybe this is why Eli’s form and work rate has improved, and long may it continue
If from what Notts initially saw in Eli comes to the game
We have a good signing on our hands

[nw6pie]

Another thing we also have to remember with Eli Sam is::::
When he was signed by Notts with rodders,not long after we went into a lockdown,and a long way from home with no family around them,must say of been tough
Two young men in a new country
Didn’t really have friends,just team mates.
So I think Eli especially has felt the brunt perhaps more than rodders
Rodders is more an open charismatic guy who initially had trouble settling
Eli is a bit more restrained,and kind of holds back kinda fella
So now lockdown has eased and they can see there families more often,maybe this is why Eli’s form and work rate has improved, and long may it continue
If from what Notts initially saw in Eli comes to the game
We have a good signing on our hands

This is a good point. Too often, we as fans think players are robots who live to play football and aren’t prone to the same life issues as the rest of us - like loneliness and boredom during lockdown in an alien country, for example.

Interesting to hear that Eli’s partner is due to give birth soon - I wonder how much paternity leave footballers get, and if it will affect him other than the sleepless nights.

[Maggie's Farm]

damn, but Notts are scoring some fine goals this season.

as brilliant as the ht switch appears to have been, can't help wondering what would have happened if we'd have set up like that at the beginning of the game.

[Mark_Ross]

Both cracking goals IMO

Agree. We only seem to score quality goals.

[Elite_Pie]

Agree. We only seem to score quality goals.

Agreed, how do you rate what ended up being a tap in that most of us could have scored for our first, against a 30 yarder into the top corner? We had a lot of 30 yarders under Ardley, but not many under Burchnall.

[Glad2BeAPie]

Agreed, how do you rate what ended up being a tap in that most of us could have scored for our first, against a 30 yarder into the top corner? We had a lot of 30 yarders under Ardley, but not many under Burchnall.

Would like to see stats on which part of the field goals have been scored in

[CamPie]

Would like to see stats on which part of the field goals have been scored in

Ncfcog posts them every week on his Notts County stats site - take a look, loads of great stuff on there.

https://www.nottscountystats.com/

Btw - are you American? Interesting you use the word field rather than pitch.