THE Ardley In/Out Thread [Multiple threads merged]

[Biker9999]

Biker9999

"we should easily dominate most teams." Is this reality?? Liverpool have just lost 7-2 but you think Notts County should "easily" dominate teams.

"I have no faith" It's a bit sad you don't have any faith after three wins on the bounce. How many wins would it take 15 or 20?

There is so much in your post that I would like to take issue with but I don't think it would be well spent energy.

If, by hook or by crook, should Notts win/grind their way back into the football league, would you enjoy it? or just say they should have done it by January!

So no ridicule from me, just a slightly puzzled bewilderment by your depressed persona.

As we say here, Live the dream!

No depressed persona just reality. Dover lost at home 5-0 and Altringham are mostly part timers. I want Notts to do well and I am looking forward to life in higher divisions I just don't see the evidence Ardley has the proven ability to take us there

[laddo]

You shouldn't be ridiculed for that opinion or viewpoint at all. It's nice to see a well thought out post.

It's certainly a glass half empty verging on where's the glass view on the 3 games you quoted and they can be easily countered but plenty of valid points in there.

One thing I would add is I honestly have no idea how good Stockport or Hartlepool's squads are for example. Hartlepool impressed me last season hence my season long bet on them. Stockport I hear made some impressive signings and are installed as favourites for the title. Early days clearly but interesting to see 3 of the promotional favourites with the bookmakers all making good starts.

[upthemaggies]

It is possible to be awful for much of the season and still finish 7th or higher, I can think of two such seasons - Murphy/Thompson 1995/96 being one. Naming the other would just invite a pile on because most people only remember the handful of brilliant games from that season, which really were outstanding, but generally we were atrocious. Luck and things just going for you plays a big part.
To finish 1st however, you probably have got to be a bit special, even at this level.

[The_Don_ORiordan]

It is possible to be awful for much of the season and still finish 7th or higher, I can think of two such seasons - Murphy/Thompson 1995/96 being one. Naming the other would just invite a pile on because most people only remember the handful of brilliant games from that season, which really were outstanding, but generally we were atrocious. Luck and things just going for you plays a big part.
To finish 1st however, you probably have got to be a bit special, even at this level.

I really want to know which season that was UTM. Promise no to pile on

[The_Don_ORiordan]

And we absolutely were awful in the Thompson/Murphy season.

[upthemaggies]

I really want to know which season that was UTM. Promise no to pile on

1993/94 under Mick Walker. The football under him the previous season to escape the drop was brilliant, 2nd season - apart from the obvious trio of local derbies and a comeback from 2-0 to beat Palace - it was dire, but we somehow ended up with the 2nd best home record behind champions Palace. Away from home, we had the 4th worst record in the league. Finished 7th.

On the flip side, I thought we were really good to watch 1998/99 (Alllardyce) and didn't get the results we deserved, mostly battling against relegation that season but ended up 16th.

[The_Don_ORiordan]

1993/94 under Mick Walker. The football under him the previous season to escape the drop was brilliant, 2nd season - apart from the obvious trio of local derbies and a comeback from 2-0 to beat Palace - it was dire, but we somehow ended up with the 2nd best home record behind champions Palace. Away from home, we had the 4th worst record in the league. Finished 7th.

On the flip side, I thought we were really good to watch 1998/99 (Alllardyce) and didn't get the results we deserved, mostly battling against relegation that season but ended up 16th.

No argument from me on that. I was at uni that season and went mostly to away games, with a notts fan who was at uni with me.
I recall us doing all sorts of strange stuff in the away end to keep us entertained. And regularly turned up in fancy dress. Some on here might remember us.
Good way to get bought the odd free drink.

[upthemaggies]

No argument from me on that. I was at uni that season and went mostly to away games, with a notts fan who was at uni with me.
I recall us doing all sorts of strange stuff in the away end to keep us entertained. And regularly turned up in fancy dress. Some on here might remember us.
Good way to get bought the odd free drink.

Record number of away games without a win was set under Walker, 29.
At home we just bored the opponents into submission, IIRC a Wolves reporter noted that they hadn't seen the ball in two games against Notts that season but somehow came out with all 6 points. There was no frustration in the stands because we were getting results, but no atmosphere of any kind. Murphy season was different because we constantly gave the ball away, we must have used up 25 years worth of luck in that one campaign, every decision seemed to go our way. Officials must have felt sorry for us because we'd just built the biggest and most modern ground ever seen at that level and most of them had never officiated in a place like that before.

[KCNotts]

Reading this thread I am going to upset a lot of you but I want to put my opinion because I think just because we have won 3 in a row people are getting rose tinted glasses. The facts as I see it are
1. We are the biggest and best backed team in the league as a result we should easily dominate most teams.
2. We played badly at Dover and lost 1-0 and we played badly last night and won 1-0 whilst Dover were getting thrashed at home, so we were poor and got unlucky and then lucky in two away games, whilst the true standard of our victors was revealed.
4. Against Barnet we had a lucky escape as in my opinion we were completely flattered by a woefully badly organised opposition. Look back at the video their defence was all over the place in the first half and gave Notts chances they should not have had which flattered them. I think Ardley later admitted as much.
5. Both away games were played in poor conditions on less than ideal pitches, but as a top rated team we seemed to be unable to adjust our tactics to cope with and to dominate the opposition and in the second half on Saturday after Barnet got organised we seemed to struggle to be able to contain them.
I do not want Ardley or Notts to fail but I cannot see from the evidence so far we have a manager who will take us forward with tactically astute decisions to turn matches we are struggling with and he has already proved, in my opinion, that in high pressure must win situations he cannot get the team to rise to the occasion. We have the best and probably the most expensive set of players and if well organised should run away with this league. Give him his ten matches and if we have 20 points, or more, then clearly I am wrong but I have no faith it will happen. Just my opinion and I now await the ridicule.

Spot on. Dover had 8 first team players, Barnet's squad has been decimated as they have no money, Altringham and Maidenhead are part timers and we were fortunate at Sutton.

I feel like we win in spite of Ardley not because of him. Largely due to the fact that are players are significantly better than the opposition's. I sometimes think we would be better off without a manager, so the players could just play with freedom, uninhibited by Ardley's rubbish tactics.

There are some dreadful teams in this league and Notts are by far the best backed side. We should be turning teams over, but we play with fear.

[LaxtonLad]

We play with a lack of confidence brought on by Ardley's inability to push for a win over lesser teams. The players know they can do it but Ardley's caution depresses any individual's adventurous style or effort.

This is why Enzio is in and out of the first team, just let him try for a breakaway shot at goal and hit or miss, he's frozen out next game. Naughty Enzio, you might have scored and upset my secret plan! Now stay out on the wing on the half-way line like I told you!

It's no bad thing to encourage team performance but if your team has no plan B after the failure of plan A then an astute enemy manager will exploit the weaknesses of plan A. It's obvious to us Notts fans Ardley NEVER has a plan B and as the season progresses it will become obvious to other managers.