Match Thread vs. Stockport County 15.03.22 [NL]

[SwalePie]

Do I detect a hint of sarcasm lol? Swale I do admire your loyalty to the club but please for once in your life join the rest of us and admit they were poor, very, very poor tonight. Doubt we will get to know the reason why as since Burchnall took over we get very little news coming out of the club regarding players.

I do admit they were very poor, you're missing my point. I'm actually suggesting they were probably poor BECAUSE they were ill.

[countygump]

Oh god more bloody excuses, they have a tummy bug, poor little boys!

Sorry, I don't buy it. If players were that ill, how come the game wasn't abandoned?

[Warnocks Legends]

Sorry, I don't buy it. If players were that ill, how come the game wasn't abandoned?

Agree with that, must of had a tummy bug since start of Feb then

[Notts78]

Agree with that, must of had a tummy bug since start of Feb then

It’s COVID related illness that’s swept through the playing squad.

[Warnocks Legends]

It’s COVID related illness that’s swept through the playing squad.

So if we were that bad why did we not ask for the game to be called off? Is it poor management by us or poor supervision by National League itself

[SwalePie]

So if we were that bad why did we not ask for the game to be called off? Is it poor management by us or poor supervision by National League itself

Now that's a fair question. If things are as bad as they seem we should probably have requested a postponement.

[Mark_Ross]

So if we were that bad why did we not ask for the game to be called off? Is it poor management by us or poor supervision by National League itself

At last I think I know something we are good at = excuses.

[Warnocks Legends]

Now that's a fair question. If things are as bad as they seem we should probably have requested a postponement.

I agree Swale and would be very interesting to hear Notts take on that. I really wish our commentators asked the important probing questions rather than the usual predictable questions.

[nw6pie]

The next game will bring us to the end of the 3rd quarter of the campaign.

The form table for the last 11 looks even worse now. 13 sides better than us over the last quarter including Wealdstone and Alty.


1.Stockport Co 11 10 1 0 26 3 +23 31 W W W W W D W W W W W
2.Wrexham 11 8 1 2 21 10 +11 25 W L W W D L W W W W W
3.Halifax Town 11 7 2 2 16 6 +10 23 D W W L L W D W W W W
4.Grimsby Town 11 7 1 3 16 8 +8 22 W L L W W D W W W L W
5.Southend Utd 11 6 4 1 16 12 +4 22 W D W W W W D D D W L
6.Torquay Utd 11 5 5 1 16 12 +4 20 W D W L W W D D D D W
7.Solihull M. 11 5 4 2 24 12 +12 19 L L W W W D W W D D D
8.Boreham Wood 11 5 3 3 12 10 +2 18 W D W W W L D W L D L
9.Dagneham & R. 11 5 2 4 19 15 +4 17 W D L W L L D L W W W
10.Chesterfield 11 4 5 2 15 13 +2 17 D W W D D L L W W D D
11.Bromley 11 4 3 4 10 12 -2 15 D L W W W W L L D D L
12.Altrincham 11 4 2 5 17 17 0 14 L L L L D W L W D W W
13.Wealdstone 11 4 2 5 15 17 -2 14 L D L W W L L D L W W
14.Notts County 11 3 4 4 17 15 +2 13 D L L W W D W L D D L

That is a very grim statistic - while Stockport and Wrexham have kicked on, we’ve gone backwards. We’re barely averaging over a point a game.

Sorry, but if the illness in the team was so bad tonight, we should have postponed the game - let’s stop being martyrs and recognise that we need to be fighting fit to have any chance. Tonight was so predictable, even I got the scoreline correct.

[MAD_MAGPIE]

Fair summary.

I actually think most of the players we've recruited in the past two years have been good ones, but the problem is the players we haven't signed. We never really have replaced Thomas or Dennis, and yes, we need two or three defensive and midfield 'enforcers' - ideally of sizeable physical stature like Cameron - who will stand up to the physical battle and intensity you get in this league (and the one above, for that matter).

As you say, if those kind of players win their individual battles, then the more gifted players like Rodrigues, Roberts, Sam and Nemane can then show their skills, but at the moment we're a soft touch, mentally and physically. The question is, can IB recognise this and adapt his tactics and preferred playing style to suit, or is he going to go the same way as Keith Curle?

Those ball winners are v.ital at this level and the level above certainly in midfield. They protect the defence but also stop the other team playing through and when playing forward they give it to the more creative players to let them do their stuff. The Ravenhill and Bishop combo with Davies, Westcarr, Hughes, and Rogers in front and around them was the blueprint.

I hope IB does not go the same way as Curle and I'm hoping that lessons will be learned for our recruitment this summer. It's going to be a big summer because if the likes of the Woottons, Rodrigues etc.. do leave then it's who we bring in to not only replace them but who we haven't brought in as you say that will be key.

But also I don't feel we are far off. Get a couple of enforcers and some recognised firepower in the summer and we should be right up there.