⚽ Match Thread vs. Dover Athletic [NL]

[ncfcog]

Just had the stats through for yesterday's game, probably the most outrageous set of stats I've seen since doing this, hopefully get them published this evening, you won't want to miss this one

[Hoppie]

My point with comparing it to the Barnet games is that no team goes out every week and wins 5-0 every game. To do that, however poor the opposition is, you need things to go your way

Sometimes things go for you, and sometimes they don't. Yesterday we were a lucky deflection or a bit better finishing away from scoring a second, third, fourth etc.

It is the time of the season where teams do get nervous and Grimsby only getting a point at Barnet shows that. I would argue the quality of a team is defined by how well they do against the more difficult sides than against teams that they "should" be putting away by 4 or 5 because those games are not 'proper' football matches. Dover did not even attempt to attack yesterday so there was literally no space for 80 minutes, yet we still managed to force over 20 shots and I would imagine Shots on target were in double figures too.

Our record against the top 7 stands up to scrutiny this season.

Does it? When did we last beat someone in the top 7? 12 games 4 wins?

[upthemaggies]

Does it? When did we last beat someone in the top 7? 12 games 4 wins?

JonahBabb14 is right, there's nothing much between Notts and the rest of the top 7 when it comes to games against one another......


Top 7 against the top 7

Stockport - W5 D2 L3 Pts 17 (still to play WRX & HAL)
Wrexham - W4 D4 L3 Pts 16 (still to play STK)
Halifax - W4 D4 L3 Pts 16 (still to play STK)
Solihull - W4 D4 L4 Pts 16
Notts County - W4 D4 L4 Pts 16
Grimsby - W4 D2 L6 Pts 14
Chesterfield - W3 D4 L5 Pts 13

All 4 of Halifax's wins were at home, Chesterfield have only won one at home to a current top 7 side.
Notts have won only one away (Grimsby)

[countygump]

[laddo]

I believe that system may have been adopted in the Wealdstone I attended. I just don't like it defensively, even with 3 at the back, those 3 in centre mid and two flying wingbacks means we lose the battle in there. Roberts defensive work is limited at best, and therefore prefer in higher up the pitch.

And yes we still have a problem in centre-mid, but playing Mr Goals and Assists Rubes there is not the solution.

[Glad2BeAPie]

We just can't break teams down that employ the same tactics as Dover

[Notts78]

JonahBabb14 is right, there's nothing much between Notts and the rest of the top 7 when it comes to games against one another......


Top 7 against the top 7

Stockport - W5 D2 L3 Pts 17 (still to play WRX & HAL)
Wrexham - W4 D4 L3 Pts 16 (still to play STK)
Halifax - W4 D4 L3 Pts 16 (still to play STK)
Solihull - W4 D4 L4 Pts 16
Notts County - W4 D4 L4 Pts 16
Grimsby - W4 D2 L6 Pts 14
Chesterfield - W3 D4 L5 Pts 13

All 4 of Halifax's wins were at home, Chesterfield have only won one at home to a current top 7 side.
Notts have won only one away (Grimsby)

The problem we have is that we haven’t beaten any of the Top 4 away. It is looking almost nailed on that we will have to do a first this season as and when we meet whoever from that group. Am I confident? Nope. However, football is a funny old game and we might just put in one of those outstanding performances that we have rarely seen so far.
Performance levels aren’t great and my own opinion is that players are preserving themselves and doing the bear minimum. After all, IB has done similar with team selections.
I’m not concerned with performances. It’s all about results from here on in. If we continue to scrape 1-0’s, I’ll take that. Especially if it’s over 5 games.

[Notts78]

We just can't break teams down that employ the same tactics as Dover

Not sure that’s the worry when we play any of the Top 7.
I was sadly working yesterday and got home to watch a decent chunk of Chessie v Stockport. Both teams looked very limited. What both did was work damn hard at closing down. I think they call that the high press.
We desperately need our skipper back so we can have more confidence against the press. Otherwise I fear we will concede goals of our own making.

[Elite_Pie]

Performance levels aren’t great and my own opinion is that players are preserving themselves and doing the bear minimum.

They did spend a lot of the game ursine around yesterday.

[the_anticlough]

They did spend a lot of the game ursine around yesterday.

But IB won't panda to the Gerrit forward brigade