⚽ Match Thread vs. Chesterfield FC 20.08.22 [NL]

[nw6pie]

Chesterfield can probably afford a better squad than us after saving money through furlough.
My gut is that we are being ran to a budget whilst Chesterfield and Wrexham throw money at it.
Yesterday and to a large degree the season to date, we have under performed. Yet we remain unbeaten. The squad we have can’t play the system being implemented IMO. We don’t have wing backs, yet play a full back and a winger in what is a specialist position. I put in another thread about the system, and with the current squad the system that IMO would suit us more (4-3-3). How we have a player like Ruben and we can’t him on the ball enough is beyond me.

Exactly this. You play 5-3-2 when you have exceptional wing backs who can defend and attack equally well. I like Chicksen's attitude, but I've yet to see an attack-minded wing back in him who makes things happen. Nemane, conversely, is a winger who struggles with the defensive side of the game. Taylor blows hot and cold, and who knows what Toby is like.

There can be something very passive about 5-3-2 when you don't have the right players for it, which we clearly don't. I'd go for a flat back four, midfield three of Palmer, Rodrigues and the hard-running, ball-winning midfielder we still don't have (and I don't think Vincent is the answer either), and a fluid front three of Langstaff, Scott and Austin.

[Stan Marshall]

Well we were awful until our first goal. After that I thought we were pretty good actually.

The weaknesses are there for all to see. The same 4 or 5 structural deficiencies we've had for years and don't seem any closer to fixing.

Our defence doesn't do the basics. Baldwin looks good with the ball at his feet but I'm not convinced defensively.

The quality of the final balls was terrible until Austin came on.

We're shorter and weaker than most teams.

Our wing backs are neither fish nor fowl.

The movement was poor and we didn't look sharp until our goal, but then we did all of a sudden. Must be a psychological thing.

Hard to know what to think really. The season will probably be decided on how many points we rack up against mid / lower table opposition away from home anyway.

Spot on summary 👍

[the_anticlough]

The squad we have can’t play the system being implemented IMO. We don’t have wing backs, yet play a full back and a winger in what is a specialist position. I put in another thread about the system, and with the current squad the system that IMO would suit us more (4-3-3). How we have a player like Ruben and we can’t him on the ball enough is beyond me.

Exactly right. The playing and recruitment philosophy is the club's, but I don't think that would extend to formation. 3-5-2 with wing-backs is trendy and the EFL/NL are copycat leagues, so I think it's the choice of successive coaches (the players picked it for NA!)

The mystery comes when the club as a whole fails to accept that we've failed to recruit for it to a promotion-level. Our Head Coaches are then like kids at Christmas, who have the Play Station but only a couple of rubbish games to play on it and the money's run out for any new ones. They'd be better off going back to the train set until there's enough to buy a decent game or two.

[Elite_Pie]

You're right that this sentiment was building under Ian Burchnall last season and Luke Williams is a tad unlucky to have arrived when that frustration is really boiling over, but it could be a blessing in disguise if he realises early on that something needs to change.

Agreed, but the concern is will he be allowed to change it?

[Woodypie]

“We were playing one of the best teams in the NL- and we dreww 2-2 - what the heck do you want?”

A win?

[flukieireland]

First game ive seen on tv in a while, we looked unfit or gassed (think that's the new term), Cameron especially look gassed, he was at fault for both goals and is a much better player usually. He lost the run of Mandeville for the 1st, kept heading towards the line when Mandeville cut inside.

though the comments here before we scored were poor and overally dramatic. I didn't think we were playing too bad but nothing was coming off for us in the final third.

Palmer, O'brien, namane and chicken with poor balls forward but if they were able to make the passes more often they would be playing at a higher level. Mitchell didn't help as it was not sticking and when it was he was slow to lay it off.. langstaff and RR weren't getting on the ball at all, I think with Cal gone, RR is going to get more focus and less time on the ball..

agree with those who have identified wing backs and a young energetic box to box CM as going a long way to making us a much better team.

I think we will do OK against the better teams that try and play a bit against us, but I fear we will be unable to breakdown teams who sit back and setup defensively. If we go one up against these teams we should be OK, go 1 down and they go more defensive we will struggle.(generalisation)

[countygump]

If like me you want promotion, I'd have hoped we would look the better side.

We didn't.

Maybe that's one of the problems. Every year we trot out the ''serious about promotion'' line and apart from maybe year 1, we looked anything but. Eventually supporters will get peed off with hearing it and react accordingly. Especially when you look like a side that's actually getting worse year on year, smaller year on year, (which doesn't help), and further away from achieving it year on year. How can Cheesie who are effectively a Trust owned club have a bigger budget and better players than we seem to have?

[laddo]

In terms of summing up the game , driller's

"Well we were awful until our first goal. After that I thought we were pretty good actually......"

Is the most accurate summation I've read. Tbf we started on the front foot and looked better than them for first 5-10 mins then second best and pretty awful until we scored. After that I fancied us to win it although was nervy when they broke on the counter.

Keeping things simple, first half dull, second half really entertaining.

[countygump]

In terms of summing up the game , driller's

"Well we were awful until our first goal. After that I thought we were pretty good actually......"

Is the most accurate summation I've read. Tbf we started on the front foot and looked better than them for first 5-10 mins then second best and pretty awful until we scored. After that I fancied us to win it although was nervy when they broke on the counter.

Keeping things simple, first half dull, second half really entertaining.

I thought we looked OK (but never likely to score ourselves) until they scored. Then we looked truly dire till we scored, then really on top for 20 mins or so. After that, it could have been anyone's game but IMHAHO, Chessie looked far more likely to win it than we did.

[countygump]