PSF Forest

[Notts78]

I have no concerns over the side. Plenty to work on which is exactly what you want. Folk saying Notts don’t have a chance of top7 or even top half are basing it on nothing more than our performances. I haven’t seen anyone say which 7 teams are better than us.
Having a quick look at preseason results, Wrexham haven’t played yet. Stockport drew with Lincoln and beat Alty. Gillingham beat Como but have lost to Millwall and Chatham Town. Mansfield beat Alfreton in their only game to date. Bradford lost to Getafe in their only game to date.

These are at the top of the betting odds and no one is pulling up pre season trees. It happens.

[Elite_Pie]

It's all about minutes in the legs, trying things and preparation.

We know.

But it's still good to get a few opinions on the game and the players.

[jackal2]

My only real concern is that both Scott and Langstaff have looked isolated by themselves

Yes, and this has carried over from the latter part of last season where Langstaff was feeding off scraps, including during the play-off matches. There was a noticeable decline in cutting edge compared with earlier in the season and it wasn't the fault of the strikers.

I know we're a possession team and that's the style that made us so good last season, but there are signs that we're just lapsing into over-playing and not getting enough quality ball into the box. This becomes a particular concern if we're only playing with one orthodox striker and the balance isn't right between neat build up players, and players willing to take on their man and make the killer pass/cross. Someone has to take responsibility to make their pass the 'final' one. There's a lot to like about our game, but when you've got the quality of striker we possess in our squad, you've got to make sure the ball is in the box enough for them to show their finishing skills, otherwise you're wasting that talent.

[laddo]

We know.

But it's still good to get a few opinions on the game and the players.

We?

It is indeed. When it comes to opinions I say the more the merrier

[durhampie]

We?

It is indeed. When it comes to opinions I say the more the merrier

Opinions are only valid if you actually go to the game...

[countygump]

Opinions are only valid if you actually go to the game...

1st rule of Black and White Club.

[laddo]

Opinions are only valid if you actually go to the game...

Valid on that specific game, yes. Although I believe some may disagree.

I didn't go, it's a friendly even if I still lived in Nottinghamshire I wouldn't have gone. Not a fan of preseason unless it's the County Cup at the old Field Mill or against Arsenal.

[Magpies1959]

I understand peoples concerns over Macca or whoever the striker is, becoming isolated or having only scraps to feed off, but LW did say in the build up to the pre season friendlies, that the games versus Stoke and the Red Dogs would be a good test of our defending. We obviously failed miserably against Stoke, but with a change of formation looked very solid, and still looked like the same Notts County, yesterday, as LW said in his post match interview. I would imagine/hope we will see a more attacking side to our game in the friendlies against lower sides. If keeping the 442/424, we will hopefully see how Macca and McGoldrick play together.

[nw6pie]

Does anyone know how long Junior Morias is out for? I was hoping he’d have a great pre-season and we’d finally get to see what he has to offer up front, but so far it seems to be a continuation from last season.

[the_anticlough]

I know we're a possession team and that's the style that made us so good last season, but there are signs that we're just lapsing into over-playing and not getting enough quality ball into the box. This becomes a particular concern if we're only playing with one orthodox striker and the balance isn't right between neat build up players, and players willing to take on their man and make the killer pass/cross. Someone has to take responsibility to make their pass the 'final' one. There's a lot to like about our game, but when you've got the quality of striker we possess in our squad, you've got to make sure the ball is in the box enough for them to show their finishing skills, otherwise you're wasting that talent.

Interesting post.
Fans shouldn't forget we're a possession team that had unbelievable success playing that way. We have to try to continue in L2 and see if it can take us even further. This includes trying to play in the same terrority/areas of the pitch as when we dominated last season...if we can.
A highish line shouldn't mean getting done all the time as we were in the final games of last season. We have enough players assigned deep and covering to be able to track runners. If players got in behind too easily, it was down to errors and miscommunication. We should try to further improve what we do, not start playing a different game.

About playing with a purpose and positivity, I think we need to be sure we're pressurising right across the pitch.
Bostock and Palmer are similar players with the same strengths and weaknesses, but I came round to having them both in the team - a possession team should have 2 players like that. Like when Crewe went up the leagues with Lennon and Murphy running their passing game. The only proviso though, and an important one, is that with having 5 players deep, the other 5 have to be a threat in the final third, and we know where the problem is there....on the left.
Is Randall or Jones the answer? Swapping Chicks and KC for periods within games? Or do we still need a new specialist?
What I know is that we can't have the Chicks from the final third of last season if we want to have the chance to boss games in L2. (the Chicks from the 1st half season was great, until he said in an interview that he was being selfish and would change - DON"T CHANGE!)