⚽ Match Thread vs. Chesterfield FC 20.08.22 [NL]

[MAD_MAGPIE]

I think it was the people booing that were the drama queens, not me. It must be beyond disappointing as a new manager at a club, to hear supposed supporters booing after less than four games. Maybe at the next home game they could all stamp their feet, and throw their dummies on the pitch, for added petulance.
I think the booing comes from the style of play, which was in evidence last season when IB was in charge, who showed his displeasure to the booing at the Dover game. I would imagine until these people force the manager/owners/club to abandon this style of play we can expect to hear more boos, unless we win every game.
I could understand people getting annoyed if we were consistently giving away goals and losing matched due to this way of playing, but after three and a bit games unbeaten, nah.

As I mentioned on another thread I think some of the booing is boiling over from the past three seasons of being at this level and the three failed playoff campaigns. So if we are not looking convincing or not showing the aggressive intensity to get back into a game especially a local Derby, then when you add that into the pot a perfect storm is created. Also there is the effect it has that begins to lead fans to believe it’s going to be another season of playoffs at best from what conclusions are drawn from what is seen on the pitch. It’s about being brave and courageous as a footballer to go and make an impact, try something, don’t play it safe all the time or give someone else the responsibility to make something happen. That last 30 min of the first half was a case of new season same issues that hampered us last season hence the frustration.

The worse thing about it all is that those that brought us to this level are long gone and so unfortunately it’s those here now that have to shoulder that responsibility of restoring our league status.

I don’t think people were booing the manager. Like some others have said I feel sorry for him. He needs a bit of time and patience to make his mark on the squad and to get his ideas across along with getting a settled best eleven and formation.

If we have that side out that played for the last half an hour today and play with the hunger, desire and intensity we did then we will be a match for anyone at this level. That was more like the team we saw in pre season against Forest. We’ve got to be confident and produce that kind of last 30 min performance for the entire 90 mins. That will be the key to how successful we will be this season.

[jackal2]

As I mentioned on another thread I think some of the booing is boiling over from the past three seasons of being at this level and the three failed playoff campaigns.

Quite. The bottom line is that Notts County Football Club is arguably operating two divisions below its 'natural' league and after three seasons watching us drop silly points and then fail in the play-offs, fans don't want it to happen again. Yes, it will be tough to finish ahead of moneybags Wrexham, but I think there's a sense that a little too much emphasis is being put on the club developing a particular footballing identity, when right now we just want the results that are going to get us out of this league, and that requires a more pragmatic style. To quote the late owner of the Oakland Raiders: 'Just win, baby!'

[jackal2]

I think the booing comes from the style of play, which was in evidence last season when IB was in charge, who showed his displeasure to the booing at the Dover game. I would imagine until these people force the manager/owners/club to abandon this style of play we can expect to hear more boos, unless we win every game.

I think there is a growing undercurrent of dissatisfaction with excessive amount of time we spend on the ball in the defensive third of the field and I must say I can understand why. It's a stressful and unpleasant thing to watch, because we look like we could make an error at any moment and sometimes do. We were lucky not to let at least two more goals in today from overplaying and losing the ball in ridiculous areas, and there's only so much kamikaze play fans can watch before they vocalise their exasperation.

You're right that this sentiment was building under Ian Burchnall last season and Luke Williams is a tad unlucky to have arrived when that frustration is really boiling over, but it could be a blessing in disguise if he realises early on that something needs to change. I genuinely don't think Notts fans are averse to seeing their team play good passing football, but they want to see it in the opponent's half of the field, not our own.

There was a former manager of ours present today whose style epitomised what it takes to win games and promotion at this level and in the Football League. His teams were built on solid, no nonsense defending and players imposing themselves physically on their opponents, but Warnock's teams also played some very entertaining football in the right areas of the park, and it was done with the purpose of getting the ball into the box as often as possible in the space of 90 minutes.

If Luke Williams can get this group of players playing something like that - and the beauty was in its simplicity - then we should be able to stop conceding so many silly goals and get a tremendous return from strikers like Langstaff and Scott, who will thrive on that quantity of service. These players can results if we start playing to their strengths instead of exposing their weaknesses.

[Elite_Pie]

You're right that this sentiment was building under Ian Burchnall last season and Luke Williams is a tad unlucky to have arrived when that frustration is really boiling over, but it could be a blessing in disguise if he realises early on that something needs to change.

Agreed, but the concern is will he be allowed to change it?

[MAD_MAGPIE]

I think there is a growing undercurrent of dissatisfaction with excessive amount of time we spend on the ball in the defensive third of the field and I must say I can understand why. It's a stressful and unpleasant thing to watch, because we look like we could make an error at any moment and sometimes do. We were lucky not to let at least two more goals in today from overplaying and losing the ball in ridiculous areas, and there's only so much kamikaze play fans can watch before they vocalise their exasperation.

You've hit the nail on the head for me in this paragraph. There is nothing wrong with trying to play football on the ground and passing it around but please can we do it in the oppositions half. I can also understand and get the discontent and sense of anxiety within the stands because as you say it's stressful when the opposition adopt the high press when we are passing and "recycling" it in our defensive third as one of it's key features is to put our defenders and goalkeeper under pressure and force them to make the error. So when an opposing player nearly intercepts a pass from a LB to CB or from GK to LB or any variation you want in our defensive third it feels like we are playing with fire. The thing is the high press tactic does need a lot of energy to sustain it for a full 90 min.

One thing I noticed yesterday was that on occasions we were also trying to play it out of our box when it was full of Chesterfield players and they had a corner or were playing in our defensive third. I get it but it puts us at risk of getting picked off if we are not careful and also stifles a quick counter attack. It's the national league just kick or head the ball out of our box. The Chesterfield No.5 with the blond hair and pony tail was just the type of big physical head it and kick central defender (like Ellis) that I'm talking about.

No wonder Notts is the most stressful team to support. How some of our older fans have lived to a ripe old age is one of life's great mysteries. Can we be enlightened by any over 60's on here.

[Notts78]

Obviously what he wants and is justified is to have a better team, squad than Chesterfield, for a club of our size, standing.

Chesterfield can probably afford a better squad than us after saving money through furlough.
My gut is that we are being ran to a budget whilst Chesterfield and Wrexham throw money at it.
Yesterday and to a large degree the season to date, we have under performed. Yet we remain unbeaten. The squad we have can’t play the system being implemented IMO. We don’t have wing backs, yet play a full back and a winger in what is a specialist position. I put in another thread about the system, and with the current squad the system that IMO would suit us more (4-3-3). How we have a player like Ruben and we can’t him on the ball enough is beyond me.

[nw6pie]

Chesterfield can probably afford a better squad than us after saving money through furlough.
My gut is that we are being ran to a budget whilst Chesterfield and Wrexham throw money at it.
Yesterday and to a large degree the season to date, we have under performed. Yet we remain unbeaten. The squad we have can’t play the system being implemented IMO. We don’t have wing backs, yet play a full back and a winger in what is a specialist position. I put in another thread about the system, and with the current squad the system that IMO would suit us more (4-3-3). How we have a player like Ruben and we can’t him on the ball enough is beyond me.

Exactly this. You play 5-3-2 when you have exceptional wing backs who can defend and attack equally well. I like Chicksen's attitude, but I've yet to see an attack-minded wing back in him who makes things happen. Nemane, conversely, is a winger who struggles with the defensive side of the game. Taylor blows hot and cold, and who knows what Toby is like.

There can be something very passive about 5-3-2 when you don't have the right players for it, which we clearly don't. I'd go for a flat back four, midfield three of Palmer, Rodrigues and the hard-running, ball-winning midfielder we still don't have (and I don't think Vincent is the answer either), and a fluid front three of Langstaff, Scott and Austin.

[the_anticlough]

The squad we have can’t play the system being implemented IMO. We don’t have wing backs, yet play a full back and a winger in what is a specialist position. I put in another thread about the system, and with the current squad the system that IMO would suit us more (4-3-3). How we have a player like Ruben and we can’t him on the ball enough is beyond me.

Exactly right. The playing and recruitment philosophy is the club's, but I don't think that would extend to formation. 3-5-2 with wing-backs is trendy and the EFL/NL are copycat leagues, so I think it's the choice of successive coaches (the players picked it for NA!)

The mystery comes when the club as a whole fails to accept that we've failed to recruit for it to a promotion-level. Our Head Coaches are then like kids at Christmas, who have the Play Station but only a couple of rubbish games to play on it and the money's run out for any new ones. They'd be better off going back to the train set until there's enough to buy a decent game or two.

[Stan Marshall]

Well we were awful until our first goal. After that I thought we were pretty good actually.

The weaknesses are there for all to see. The same 4 or 5 structural deficiencies we've had for years and don't seem any closer to fixing.

Our defence doesn't do the basics. Baldwin looks good with the ball at his feet but I'm not convinced defensively.

The quality of the final balls was terrible until Austin came on.

We're shorter and weaker than most teams.

Our wing backs are neither fish nor fowl.

The movement was poor and we didn't look sharp until our goal, but then we did all of a sudden. Must be a psychological thing.

Hard to know what to think really. The season will probably be decided on how many points we rack up against mid / lower table opposition away from home anyway.

Spot on summary 👍

[Woodypie]

“We were playing one of the best teams in the NL- and we dreww 2-2 - what the heck do you want?”

A win?