Is Jim O’Brien going to be fit?

[laddo]

JOB was making those runs under NA. Unfortunately they were few and far between because he was either pushed out wide left or his team mates weren't always on the same wavelength. Doyle is the one player, even under NA who always looked to play an early forward ball but then got frustrated at the lack of options resulting in a backwards or sideways pass, usually followed by a tirade of Irish abuse for the player nearest to him!

That's what I witnessed too. Doyle is never scared to receive the ball, actively wants it and his first look was for the forward pass as you say , that's not changed.

The movement and options ahead of him has though hugely, which is great news for all Notts supporters.

The criticism he received on here was OTT , he became a scapegoat mainly because of his age and lack of mobility around him in midfield.

[the_anticlough]

This is the key bit for me. As someone who’s previously slated Doyle and O’Brien, I think I was entirely justified. For a lot of their time at Notts they’ve looked immobile, pedestrian and turgid. And yes, past it.

The Doyle I saw on Saturday was an entirely different character. Forward looking, dynamic, and always looking for an attacking ball, even if it sometimes meant giving it away. O’Brien scored a hat trick the other week. As it turned out, along with quite a few others, the problem wasn’t with the players.

Along with Mapperley and OG, you're spot on.
Thankfully, the absolutely chronic midfield issues under NA were solved in time for us to make the play-offs. I guess attitude was part of it, but it was mainly positional - one holding and the other two more box-to-box, playing much further up the field. Even that gives Brindley, Chicksen and Doyle more passing options
All three have performed much better since then - but let's not forget the main catalyst too, yet again Rodders played a key part in all 3 goals against Chesterfield (not really mentioned enough)

[Mapperleypie]

Along with Mapperley and OG, you're spot on.
Thankfully, the absolutely chronic midfield issues under NA were solved in time for us to make the play-offs. I guess attitude was part of it, but it was mainly positional - one holding and the other two more box-to-box, playing much further up the field. Even that gives Brindley, Chicksen and Doyle more passing options
All three have performed much better since then - but let's not forget the main catalyst too, yet again Rodders played a key part in all 3 goals against Chesterfield (not really mentioned enough)

Rodders being used correctly (as he is at the moment) makes it a nightmare for the opposition.

If he stays he will have a monster of a season next year no matter which division we are in.

[the_anticlough]

Rodders being used correctly (as he is at the moment) makes it a nightmare for the opposition.

If he stays he will have a monster of a season next year no matter which division we are in.

Yeah, he's our wildcard for these play-off games too.
If he's on his game the other 3 teams have nothing like him or nothing to stop him...if fully, fully fit and unleashed he could have a 30-40 goal season in the NL next year (that would get him sold before it's finished ) and then he really would be looking like Ronaldo for Juve/Real/Manure - dominant
Let's whisper it, but he just doesn't belong in this league

[Mapperleypie]

Yeah, he's our wildcard for these play-off games too.
If he's on his game the other 3 teams have nothing like him or nothing to stop him...if fully, fully fit and unleashed he could have a 30-40 goal season in the NL next year (that would get him sold before it's finished ) and then he really would be looking like Ronaldo for Juve/Real/Manure - dominant
Let's whisper it, but he just doesn't belong in this league

I get the distinct impression he is already being noticed by sides higher up the pyramid. He certainly does not belong in the NL. Imagine both Cal Roberts and Rodders in the same side!

[laddo]

I get the distinct impression he is already being noticed by sides higher up the pyramid. He certainly does not belong in the NL. Imagine both Cal Roberts and Rodders in the same side!

Have no problems at all at imagining that, that would be awesome. Both playing off Big Kyle would be a nightmare for opposition at this level or L2 for that matter.

[BigFatPie]

Rodders being used correctly (as he is at the moment) makes it a nightmare for the opposition.

If he stays he will have a monster of a season next year no matter which division we are in.

Rodrigues was the one player who I was a bit disappointed with on Saturday. Chesterfield always had a man on him, but I thought he tried to do too much when he did get the ball. His set pieces were largely mustard though, obviously with 2 goals as a result.

Hopefully being the away side against Torquay will mean he gets a bit more time and space to do his stuff.

[Mapperleypie]

Rodrigues was the one player who I was a bit disappointed with on Saturday. Chesterfield always had a man on him, but I thought he tried to do too much when he did get the ball. His set pieces were largely mustard though, obviously with 2 goals as a result.

Hopefully being the away side against Torquay will mean he gets a bit more time and space to do his stuff.

I think the fact they had the extra man on him opened the game up for Doyle. I can't imagine Torquay will do the same.

[Mapperleypie]

https://twitter.com/Official_NCFC/st...68240582795267

[jacobncfc]

Rodrigues was the one player who I was a bit disappointed with on Saturday. Chesterfield always had a man on him, but I thought he tried to do too much when he did get the ball. His set pieces were largely mustard though, obviously with 2 goals as a result.

Hopefully being the away side against Torquay will mean he gets a bit more time and space to do his stuff.

He’s a bit like Roberts in that, even when he’s quiet and not really doing anything in particular, teams are so scared of his close control and dribbling that he just attracts two or three players any time he goes near the ball, creating space elsewhere. The two of them in a Burchnall team together is some prospect for next season.