⚽ Match Thread vs. Harrogate Town FC 16.12.23 [EFL L2]

[durhampie]

It’s not a fan club but people are getting sick of you constantly berating one of OUR players. Fair enough if you don’t rate him and I agree he’s struggled this season but classing someone as a waste of a shirt is something most wouldn’t label to a player who gives his all, as he does track back and get forward, if it turns out he isn’t good enough at this level then so be it but it won’t be from a lack of effort.

I pay my money traveling all over watching Notts, If i think someone is not at the races i will say so. Although he is not alone, Nemane has been poor this season, he constantly fails to take on his marker and has become one of the back pass brigade... If you think thats acceptable after forking out nearly £70 every away game, then fine. I dont...

[matt_magpie]

I pay my money traveling all over watching Notts, If i think someone is not at the races i will say so. Although he is not alone, Nemane has been poor this season, he constantly fails to take on his marker and has become one of the back pass brigade... If you think thats acceptable after forking out nearly £70 every away game, then fine. I dont...

I agree he hasn’t been great and I think he’s instructed to not go one on one all the time because he hasn’t got the strength and he’s better at timing runs onto the ball. It’s just constant berating of him, I think he puts a shift and I think it’s unfair. There’s no obvious replacement, TAR hasn’t pulled up any trees and Randall’s been hampered by injuries and the car crash.

[SmiffyPie]

if it turns out he isn’t good enough at this level then so be it but it won’t be from a lack of effort.

Correct.

[nw6pie]

I agree he hasn’t been great and I think he’s instructed to not go one on one all the time because he hasn’t got the strength and he’s better at timing runs onto the ball. It’s just constant berating of him, I think he puts a shift and I think it’s unfair. There’s no obvious replacement, TAR hasn’t pulled up any trees and Randall’s been hampered by injuries and the car crash.

I’m sure the majority of fans were delighted when AN signed a new contract this summer, but he’s been one of the biggest disappointments for me - especially when compared to Jodi Jones on the other flank. Given the importance for us of getting the wing back behind the defence and crossing into the six-yard box, I wonder if we’ll look to upgrade in that position and move Aaron on to a National League side in January.

TAR’s a better defender but generally looks a bit lost when he’s asked to play a more attacking role. Sam Austin did well at RWB at Doncaster earlier in the season, though - might be worth trying there again, especially as he’s a good crosser of the ball.

[matt_magpie]

I’m sure the majority of fans were delighted when AN signed a new contract this summer, but he’s been one of the biggest disappointments for me - especially when compared to Jodi Jones on the other flank. Given the importance for us of getting the wing back behind the defence and crossing into the six-yard box, I wonder if we’ll look to upgrade in that position and move Aaron on to a National League side in January.

TAR’s a better defender but generally looks a bit lost when he’s asked to play a more attacking role. Sam Austin did well at RWB at Doncaster earlier in the season, though - might be worth trying there again, especially as he’s a good crosser of the ball.

It does feel like he might need some time out the team but Austin’s been a bit hit and miss at times too but he certainly has potential or we do go for a formation change even if temporary.
I’ve always thought Nemanes probably best suited best to a wide forward in a 433, not saying to change to that though to accommodate him.

[the_anticlough]

That's probably Luke Williams' ideal scenario. It's tricky though. I'd say finding wing-backs (in particular) good enough to do everything asked of them - at this level - is a real challenge. We're effectively looking for the complete footballer: great engine, pace, good defensive instincts and creative, attacking ability. Most players with an all-round game that good are at a higher level or about to go there.

In the lower leagues, you tend to get players who are good at some things and not so good at others. Nemane on his day is a real threat going forward, but defensively he hates headers and couldn't tackle a paper bag. Chicksen is better defensively but going forward he struggles to beat players and isn't a consistent attacking threat, as you pointed out last season. Jodi Jones uses his footballing brain to survive defensively but our left side has still looked exposed when put under real pressure. TAR looks to have a balance defensive and offensive abilities but is probably playing at his limit in terms of overall skill. Randall we haven't really seen the best of yet, but to be fair he's had an injury interrupted start.

I do wonder whether we'll be able to find wing-backs good enough at this level to provide the quality we need on both sides of the ball, but I suppose if anyone can pull a rabbit out of the bag it's Football Radar. Problem is we probably need two rabbits at least.

With the 3-2-4-1 LW wants to play, I think we've moved beyond the idea of wing-backs. Whoever plays in those wide roles will have defensive duties in the whole team defence concept, but they're not the same wing-backs that Ardley introduced.
This may come as a shock to some, but he might be happy with our wide players. But this brave system depends on that 1-3-2 part of the formation being very strong - we've been playing our NL stalwarts from Ardley's time there - Slocombe, Rawlinson, Brindley, O'Brien and makeshifts like Austin and Gosling in CM.

If LW gets a fair shot at upgrading GK, CBs and CM and it's still not working then he would have to address the rest of the team and the system itself even.

[Elite_Pie]

I have to admit my tactical knowledge is limited, but I think we have bigger problems than who plays RWB. For me the main problem is that we have a goalkeeper who doesn't have confidence in his back three, and a back three who don't have confidence in their goalkeeper. Until we find some sort of solution to that we will continue to gift goals.

[magpie_mania]

I have to admit my tactical knowledge is limited, but I think we have bigger problems than who plays RWB. For me the main problem is that we have a goalkeeper who doesn't have confidence in his back three, and a back three who don't have confidence in their goalkeeper. Until we find some sort of solution to that we will continue to gift goals.

I was really surprised that we still have a +ve goal difference.

I have been thinking about what has gone wrong and I keep coming back to Palmer. He brought confidence across the team, always there to take a short pass from the defenders, or take it off the attackers, then play what was often a simple pass forward. When Bostock came the question was asked as to whether he could play with Palmer. Now it seems more like can be play without him, or that type of player.

Francis was mentioned - I was disappointed when he left as I thought there was a good player there. Maybe he would have been better with Bostock than he was with Palmer?

I won't comment on 3 5 2 or 4 4 2 or whatever as I think the most important thing is to send a team out who are fired up with a plan (and a plan to beat the opposition.

I am disappointed with the last few games but can't get too down. If we are still in the play-offs after Christmas it will have bettered my expectations.

[durhampie]

I was really surprised that we still have a +ve goal difference.

I have been thinking about what has gone wrong and I keep coming back to Palmer. He brought confidence across the team, always there to take a short pass from the defenders, or take it off the attackers, then play what was often a simple pass forward. When Bostock came the question was asked as to whether he could play with Palmer. Now it seems more like can be play without him, or that type of player.

Francis was mentioned - I was disappointed when he left as I thought there was a good player there. Maybe he would have been better with Bostock than he was with Palmer?

I won't comment on 3 5 2 or 4 4 2 or whatever as I think the most important thing is to send a team out who are fired up with a plan (and a plan to beat the opposition.

I am disappointed with the last few games but can't get too down. If we are still in the play-offs after Christmas it will have bettered my expectations.

The worrying thing is that we dont have a plan, its the same tactic every game. One trick pony springs to mind...

[ThaiPie]

I'm sorry to upset his fan club, but He is useless.. I assume you weren't at the game yesterday... If only he was anywhere near as good as Jodi..

I'm a fan of Notts County, which includes AN.

I don't want to get into who goes to more games, because it distracts from the point. (Although I could argue I travel more miles in a season to support Notts than most)

Have another look at the Walsall Youtube clip. One minute AN is in the corner area surrounded by four Walsall players. Next minute he is defending in his six yard box.

If AN's form has dropped, maybe its because his supply line has dried up and he is expected to operate in a huge area of the pitch. More mobile and energetic displays from the surrounding defense and midfield will fix this.