THE Ardley In/Out Thread [Multiple threads merged]

[Notts78]

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.

What’s your 3rd point? 😉

[Biker9999]

What’s your 3rd point? ��

OOOPS I made 2&3 into one point and didn't renumber.

Whilst I am on is Ardley losing the dressing room? He blamed two players for being out of position for 2 of the goals and the rest for a poor performance and as can be seen on another thread Enzio's attitude after he scored was odd. Are the players lacking belief in his "system" and in part doing their own thing on the pitch, hence they are out of position or unable to cover the "systems" weaknesses. Also a really good manager would use the fact that Wotton is being marked out of the game, which I assume means close attention by at least 2 opposition players, which in its turn must mean there are gaps elswhere for us to expoit. By my calculations we now can only lose 4 or perhaps 5 more games during the rest of the season to be assured of finishing top. It seems to me unless something changes rapidly we are already looking at the playoffs

[MAD_MAGPIE]

OOOPS I made 2&3 into one point and didn't renumber.

Whilst I am on is Ardley losing the dressing room? He blamed two players for being out of position for 2 of the goals and the rest for a poor performance and as can be seen on another thread Enzio's attitude after he scored was odd. Are the players lacking belief in his "system" and in part doing their own thing on the pitch, hence they are out of position or unable to cover the "systems" weaknesses. Also a really good manager would use the fact that Wotton is being marked out of the game, which I assume means close attention by at least 2 opposition players, which in its turn must mean there are gaps elswhere for us to expoit. By my calculations we now can only lose 4 or perhaps 5 more games during the rest of the season to be assured of finishing top. It seems to me unless something changes rapidly we are already looking at the playoffs

You make a very good point about the number of losses “allowed” in a season in order to go up automatically from this league. I’ve been through the past five completed seasons and the average amount of defeats is 7-8 (7.4) and 95 points.

What we have to remember is there are two less games as well this season so on this basis I would say max 7 defeats.

Barrow Lost 9 (70 points)
Leyton Orient - Lost 7 (89 points)
Macclesfield - Lost 8 (92 points)
Lincoln - Lost 7 (99 points)
Cheltenham - Lost 5 (101 points)
Barnet - Lost 10 (92 points)

We have lost 2 in 5 and those have been really poor defeats. One against a team thrown together on the day that have since been exposed time and again and the other against a part time side that were very physical and hard working.

We can only afford to lose another 6 in 39. Or we emulate Barnet and not draw many and can afford to lose 8 more games.

People might talk about Barrow and their slow start last season, but if you have a slow start you have to be exceptional for a very long period of the season as Barrow were.

You’ve got to be exceptional consistently in this league to get automatic promotion and can’t afford many off days. Losing to Dover and Maidenhead now means we will need to beat the tougher sides. We may do this and all will be good, but early season lessons are that we need to be picking up wins from the poorer teams in the league to go up automatically.

[Elite_Pie]

You make a very good point about the number of losses “allowed” in a season in order to go up automatically from this league. I’ve been through the past five completed seasons and the average amount of defeats is 7-8 (7.4) and 95 points.

What we have to remember is there are two less games as well this season so on this basis I would say max 7 defeats.

Barrow Lost 9 (70 points)
Leyton Orient - Lost 7 (89 points)
Macclesfield - Lost 8 (92 points)
Lincoln - Lost 7 (99 points)
Cheltenham - Lost 5 (101 points)
Barnet - Lost 10 (92 points)

We have lost 2 in 5 and those have been really poor defeats. One against a team thrown together on the day that have since been exposed time and again and the other against a part time side that were very physical and hard working.

We can only afford to lose another 6 in 39. Or we emulate Barnet and not draw many and can afford to lose 8 more games.

People might talk about Barrow and their slow start last season, but if you have a slow start you have to be exceptional for a very long period of the season as Barrow were.

You’ve got to be exceptional consistently in this league to get automatic promotion and can’t afford many off days. Losing to Dover and Maidenhead now means we will need to beat the tougher sides. We may do this and all will be good, but early season lessons are that we need to be picking up wins from the poorer teams in the league to go up automatically.

That's my main worry at the moment. I think the fixture computer handed us a dream start, and we haven't capitalised on it. If Dover and Maidenhead can beat us, it 'Ardley' inspires confidence that we will do better as the fixtures get more difficult.

[nw6pie]

That's my main worry at the moment. I think the fixture computer handed us a dream start, and we haven't capitalised on it. If Dover and Maidenhead can beat us, it 'Ardley' inspires confidence that we will do better as the fixtures get more difficult.

Our record was better against teams in the top half last season, IIRC. The problem is that if we’re looking to improve on last season, we can’t afford these days where we lose to “basic” sides like Dover and Maidenhead who basically outmuscle us.

My biggest concern at the moment is the summer recruitment. Reeves is so far the only one to make any real impact, but he’s also another lightweight Notts midfielder in a land of giants.

Rodrigues looks promising in the final third - but also appears to be something of a liability in defence. Sloth wasted a shirt for two months; Chicksen has made an average start, partly due to illness, but doesn’t seem to be the rampaging full back we were hoping for; Knowles is eager but raw; and Elisha Sam really needs to start producing now or he‘ll be yet another failed European signing at Notts. Sam Graham is an old school defender (might have done better than Alex Lacey yesterday) and Wolfe, we’ll have to see.

After 5 games, I think it’s quite likely that we’ll win goal of the season with some brilliant 22-pass move. What I don’t see, though, is a side that can dominate others for 80-90 minutes, especially if they have the audacity to press us high up the pitch.

[Killerkline]

Should have posted on this thread;

I’ve refrained from posting on here due to hysterical responses/posts following certain preseason matches and opening day day defeat. And now there seems to be a witch-hunt, not against Ardley, but certain posters. A real shame individual opinions can’t be respected.

Anyway, I was of the opinion Ardley deserved his opportunity this season. However, it wasn’t unconditional support. My target was/is 7 wins from the first 10 games. Still achievable, but after Dover and yesterday, a lot tougher. The pressure is certainly on. I will stick with this target, taking into account performances.

Additionally there are some decisions I have found strange e.g. implementing a diamond formation for preseason but changing for the first game.

So I have my reservations, but would stick with 7 out of 10 target and then review. Ultimately, if our owners decide to stick with Ardley, I would support that decision. They’ll have very considered approach to any decisions they make.

The only other factor to consider is suitable replacement. If I were the owners, it may sway my decision e.g. Danny Cowley.

[laddo]

The classic and on here mystical 10 games and review.

Some aren't going to like it#burnhim

[laddo]

To premature to write off the title after only 5 games but get your point regarding number of loses.

No. Never seen any sign of the manager losing the dressing room at all. He gets accused of being too chummy with his players and not being tough enough on them so maybe openly criticising some players will be welcomed by many on here. Kick up the rear end for a few of them. Neal gets tough lol

[Mapperleypie]

To premature to write off the title after only 5 games but get your point regarding number of loses.

No. Never seen any sign of the manager losing the dressing room at all. He gets accused of being too chummy with his players and not being tough enough on them so maybe openly criticising some players will be welcomed by many on here. Kick up the rear end for a few of them. Neal gets tough lol

It's not about losing the dressing room, he's clearly got his favourites and now nearly all of the squad are his signings - there is absolutely no excuse to lose the dressing room in this scenario.

My real gripe is the negative tactics that Ardley insists on. We have by far the best squad in this division - we have had far the largest wage bill against all opposition sides since Ardley took over but you would have no idea of this by looking at his managerial record.

I don't think now is the time for Ardley to go but we need to show some proper attacking intent from the off and continue this even when we have the lead, this would see us put part-time sides like Maidenhead to the sword. He seems like a manager that is rigid in his approach which too often allows the opposition to stay in the match when we should have already put the game to bed.

[LaxtonLad]

It's not about losing the dressing room, he's clearly got his favourites and now nearly all of the squad are his signings - there is absolutely no excuse to lose the dressing room in this scenario.

My real gripe is the negative tactics that Ardley insists on. We have by far the best squad in this division - we have had far the largest wage bill against all opposition sides since Ardley took over but you would have no idea of this by looking at his managerial record.

I don't think now is the time for Ardley to go but we need to show some proper attacking intent from the off and continue this even when we have the lead, this would see us put part-time sides like Maidenhead to the sword. He seems like a manager that is rigid in his approach which too often allows the opposition to stay in the match when we should have already put the game to bed.

Get rid of Ardley and with this squad and our benevolent owners there would be a queue of good experienced managers all the way up London Road.