NC Defence (Discuss)

[ajojones]

The goals we scored were sublime. Its ridiculous the skill on display, game after game & I have never seen any Notts team like it, even the good ones. I couldn't care less if we have an occasional howler, 4-3 is an awesome win and yet another 3 points. Top of the table, plaudits everywhere and not sure why we want to question it. Forza you stylish pies.

[jacobncfc]

The goals we scored were sublime. Its ridiculous the skill on display, game after game & I have never seen any Notts team like it, even the good ones. I couldn't care less if we have an occasional howler, 4-3 is an awesome win and yet another 3 points. Top of the table, plaudits everywhere and not sure why we want to question it. Forza you stylish pies.

Basically this. We're asking an incredible amount of our centre backs really, because they're the only defensive-minded players in the team. Both wing backs are now genuine out-and-out wingers, and neither Palmer or Bostock could be described as natural holding or defensive-minded midfielders.

It means that when a team or player gets on top of us for a spell we are extremely vulnerable, but it's happening rarely enough that the good massively outweighs the bad.

[ForeignLegion]

There are balls ups from defenders in every league every weekend, and a fair few of them are from the so-called best of the best in the Prem. As long as the goals don’t dry up at the other end.

[upthemaggies]

The only stat that matters is the score at the end of the game.. Games are won by the best team on that day, and not by someone crunching numbers on a laptop..

Fighting talk from Durham here.

I can see the pressure is getting to him now that I've drawn level with him at the top of the NC MAD prediction table.

Game on.

[the_anticlough]

Basically this. We're asking an incredible amount of our centre backs really, because they're the only defensive-minded players in the team. Both wing backs are now genuine out-and-out wingers, and neither Palmer or Bostock could be described as natural holding or defensive-minded midfielders.

It means that when a team or player gets on top of us for a spell we are extremely vulnerable, but it's happening rarely enough that the good massively outweighs the bad.

Hooray, finally we get to the point everyone's missed (including myself)...

We play a genuine back 3 now. So what do the critics expect, going from 4 to 3 defenders is a bold move and of course we reap the rewards at the attacking end.

Maybe a lot of fans still think it's a 'back 3' from the old days, the con where 3 traditional CBs are picked with 2 full-backs still selected. Now, as Jacob says, we play wingers/midfielders out wide.

So of course we'll be under the cosh at times. But let's stop thinking of throwing out the baby with the bath water by reverting to a back 4 system. LW has spent his entire time at Notts training players into these specific roles and patterns of play. There's no way we should undo that because we're winning 4-3 instead of 1-0.

[BJPIE]

I've been very critical of Notts defence in the past on NCM but don't bother now as some on here cannot accept any criticism of certain players without throwing their dummies out.
Instead, what is deserving of more comment is Palmers sublime chest control and half volley pass of the dropping ball to Langstaff to subsequently set Jones free for McGoldricks goal. Everything about the move was class, but that piece of skill in a tight space was exquisite. What a player he is.

[SwalePie]

I've been very critical of Notts defence in the past on NCM but don't bother now as some on here cannot accept any criticism of certain players without throwing their dummies out.
Instead, what is deserving of more comment is Palmers sublime chest control and half volley pass of the dropping ball to Langstaff to subsequently set Jones free for McGoldricks goal. Everything about the move was class, but that piece of skill in a tight space was exquisite. What a player he is.

Yes, top class skill under pressure that one!

[upthemaggies]

I've been very critical of Notts defence in the past on NCM but don't bother now as some on here cannot accept any criticism of certain players without throwing their dummies out.

I do get the impression that some are interpretating this discussion as people just trying to find something to be negative about for the sake of it, or some not being prepared to settle for anything less than the title/auto promotion at the end of the season.

LW however has clearly spotted the warning signs that we could take a nasty tumble down the table if they don't improve in certain areas.

A fair few fans have said this season is basically a free hit and I agree with that. Problem is the "victims of your own success" factor could well now come into play with expectations having been raised by a table topping start that very few anticipated. Plus nobody can say for certain that this season won't be the club's best opportunity to get into tier 3 for a very long time, if the momentum is lost (which often does happen as the optimism and confidence that goes with a promotion fades) and moreso if LW was to move on elsewhere. With that in mind it has to be a worthwhile debate. Now we're top 3, what do we have to do to stay there.

[the_anticlough]

if the momentum is lost (which often does happen as the optimism and confidence that goes with a promotion fades) and moreso if LW was to move on elsewhere. With that in mind it has to be a worthwhile debate. Now we're top 3, what do we have to do to stay there.

Sure it's a worthwhile debate.

And it's good you mention momentum. It's such a valuable but elusive commodity, but we've got it at the moment. And a large part of that is continuity in playing style and mentality - and continuing the mindset we had in the NL of dominating teams and taking the game to them.

We've seen it in reverse with some of our opponents. Doncaster for example had a negative kind of momentum - defensive, cagey and lacking in confidence because they've been on the way down.

What I pick up sometimes on these threads though is posters who struggle to keep up. We regained our league status and shot to the top of L2 playing attacking, possession-based football and playing 3 ball-playing defenders only. It's different to what we've seen dating all the way back to Wilko's team perhaps. For some, it seems that if you haven't got 4 big lads in a line across the back then the sky is going to fall down. Up til last year they were saying you have to have a big target man up front.

[countygump]

Up till last year they were saying you have to have a big target man up front.

Actually, don't we have one now? And when we've been under the cosh, it's proved useful.