⚽Match Thread vs. Mansfield Town FC 03.02.24 [EFL L2]

[Elite_Pie]

Matty Palmer is getting better every game he’s out injured, because it’s painfully obvious that he was the heartbeat of the team, setting the tempo. I think JOB can do that on a good day, but John Bostock definitely can’t. I’m really struggling to see what he’s bringing to the team - no forward passes, weak in the tackle, not particularly mobile. I expected him to be the main man when Palmer got injured, but he’s not worth a place in the side right now.

Harsh on Bostock considering what he's offered in the past, but I would have replaced him with JOB on 70 minutes. Jim is usually hit or miss as a sub, but at least he tries to make things happen. We needed that risk element in the second half, we were becoming too predictable.

[nw6pie]

Harsh on Bostock considering what he's offered in the past, but I would have replaced him with JOB on 70 minutes. Jim is usually hit or miss as a sub, but at least he tries to make things happen. We needed that risk element in the second half, we were becoming too predictable.

My disappointment with Bostock comes from having high expectations of him based on his earlier performances - but he’s looked lost without Palmer. Crowley going off the ball in recent weeks just compounds the problem.

[MAD_MAGPIE]

The old saying the definition of madness is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. Pretty much sums up our visits to Failed Mill as no matter who plays for us we come back with nothing.

A lot of thoughts and comments on here mirror my own having been at the game. We had so many chances early on and how on earth did that triple attempt one after the other did not end in a goal is beyond me. The chances kept coming but the ball would just not go in. So it was so predictable that Mansfield would score from one shot which they did. Their goal was frustrating because we gave the player too much time and someone needed to close him down and if need be put their body on the line. They couldn’t have complained had we gone in at half time 3-1 up.

The second half we didn’t create enough chances at goal which was disappointing especially not testing their keeper. As many on here were saying when we were shipping loads of goals and scoring lots if you change it so you are stronger defensively then you run the risk of losing your attacking threat. There is a bit of that but conceding two goals against the top sides is improvement in that regard.

One thing we can take out of it is where we are short and where we need to improve to be an automatic promotion contender. Overall Mansfield have got the balance right all over the park as a unit. It’s our first season back and the brothers and club will learn and we will be stronger next season, and maybe so with the new players. Let’s remember Mansfield have been trying to get out of this league for four years.

I thought the referee and officials were poor as others for a local derby as others have said. But we should be good enough to overcome that. The referee let too many fouls go without a free kick or yellow card. Likewise I felt the home crowd had an affect. At the time I felt Macca should have had a penalty because he was in a perfect position to score so why go down? Likewise some challenges on Jones and Nemane were just being left unpunished or ignored and not even a free kick given.

The Mansfield pitch is not good enough for league two too much sand in places on both flanks. They need to try and improve that going forward.

As for Stuart Maynard. A baptism of fire playing two of the top three in your first two games. People used to bemoan LW subs on 65 min, well today it was the opposite in that none came till Austin really late on. But then you have to think who could have come on that could have provided something different? Let’s have patience and give him time.

Not a happy day emotionally for Notts fans and the final kick in the teeth as always is hearing their fans chanting and celebrating near the end and having to walk through their jubilant fans after the game.

[marky]

Not a happy day emotionally for Notts fans and the final kick in the teeth as always is hearing their fans chanting and celebrating near the end and having to walk through their jubilant fans after the game.

Was there any trouble after the game?

[MAD_MAGPIE]

Was there any trouble after the game?

No nothing that I saw.

[Elite_Pie]

Was there any trouble after the game?

A few Notts fans congregated near six-finger corner towards the end of the game and one Notts fan was led away by the police.

That's all I saw, nothing between fans although I heard a few sirens going back to the car.

[Could'vebeenacontender]

Disappointing today but we thankfully didn't get our pants taken down as we did in the home game
We're a work in progress but I have a feeling we will turn the corner shortly under the new manager and his assistants
At least I hope so

[DaveSmithRules]

Sh1t day to be a Notts fan today. But there will be better days.

We really have to give SM time and bear in mind his first two games have been against teams in the top 3.

[OP67]

Gillingham on Friday night at home. We NEED to win this or we're out the play offs and I can see it being pretty hard to get back in them. The Gills are only a point behind us with a few others within distance to go above us. I never thought a few months back that this would be a must in game

[kill_the_drum]

I would have taken off both Bostock and Nemane, and replaced them with O'Brien and Toby. I wouldnt have taken Robertson for a start, i thought he was having a decent game.

I would have changed them as well.
Robertson went off as he was dead on his feet.
I thought he had a really good first half.