Over to you Mr Montague

[bramleypie]

It could only be Notts to have two players in the League 2 team of the year, including the best player, and be 14th in the table. Don’t give me any BS about metrics being more accurate than league position.
It could only be Notts that have scored more goals than any other team, 88, but have also conceded more than anyone else, 85.
It could only be Notts that have a defence that’s been the laughing stock of the league, even to the point where people were talking about potential match fixing. It’s been so bad.
But the warning signs were there last season. The supporters knew our defence was our achilles heel and so it proved. So why wasn’t this sorted? Of course we don’t know the financial limitations set by the owners or details of the discussions between them and the director responsible for recruitment, Richard Montague.
However, surely this issue should have been addressed before the season or in January, though I accept it’s more difficult then. Why it wasn’t has not been explained. Whilst there have been some notable successes in recruitment, only Macari seems to be a decent buy in defence. We have persevered with players who are simply not up to L2, or they are not capable of handling the demands of the style of play dictated to them. We have brought in players, rookies with limited experience or players with a dubious injury record that haven’t worked. Graeme Souness always says the most important factor in football is recruitment and he’s right.
So, on that basis, I would say that Montague, having failed to do his job this season, has a critically important close season ahead. We can see what’s required from the three promoted sides. The style of play has to be flexed and we need experience, steel and leadership at the back. If that doesn’t happen then we will be in a relegation fight and 10k crowds will be a thing of the past. On a positive note half the team is superb, the challenge is to match that throughout. Over to you then Richard…….

[wiseoldmagpie]

It could only be Notts to have two players in the League 2 team of the year, including the best player, and be 14th in the table. Don’t give me any BS about metrics being more accurate than league position.
It could only be Notts that have scored more goals than any other team, 88, but have also conceded more than anyone else, 85.
It could only be Notts that have a defence that’s been the laughing stock of the league, even to the point where people were talking about potential match fixing. It’s been so bad.
But the warning signs were there last season. The supporters knew our defence was our achilles heel and so it proved. So why wasn’t this sorted? Of course we don’t know the financial limitations set by the owners or details of the discussions between them and the director responsible for recruitment, Richard Montague.
However, surely this issue should have been addressed before the season or in January, though I accept it’s more difficult then. Why it wasn’t has not been explained. Whilst there have been some notable successes in recruitment, only Macari seems to be a decent buy in defence. We have persevered with players who are simply not up to L2, or they are not capable of handling the demands of the style of play dictated to them. We have brought in players, rookies with limited experience or players with a dubious injury record that haven’t worked. Graeme Souness always says the most important factor in football is recruitment and he’s right.
So, on that basis, I would say that Montague, having failed to do his job this season, has a critically important close season ahead. We can see what’s required from the three promoted sides. The style of play has to be flexed and we need experience, steel and leadership at the back. If that doesn’t happen then we will be in a relegation fight and 10k crowds will be a thing of the past. On a positive note half the team is superb, the challenge is to match that throughout. Over to you then Richard…….

Terrific summary. Hopefully the recruitment team are already ahead of the curve.

[MagpieNate]

I’m somewhat calmer than most on here regarding this seasons failings. OP is correct, we saw these issues last year but to a lesser extent because the opposition was so poor. We’ve underestimated the league, we know what it’s about now so let’s get the players in and the team balance right and give it a right go next year. I think after the season is done, I’m going to sit down and re watch the playoff final penalties, just to try and get that feel good factor back. Bye bye Baldwin and Bostock, you can leave as heroes from the promotion season but a new direction needed next year.

[keldsyke]

It could only be Notts to have two players in the League 2 team of the year, including the best player, and be 14th in the table. Don’t give me any BS about metrics being more accurate than league position.
It could only be Notts that have scored more goals than any other team, 88, but have also conceded more than anyone else, 85.
It could only be Notts that have a defence that’s been the laughing stock of the league, even to the point where people were talking about potential match fixing. It’s been so bad.
But the warning signs were there last season. The supporters knew our defence was our achilles heel and so it proved. So why wasn’t this sorted? Of course we don’t know the financial limitations set by the owners or details of the discussions between them and the director responsible for recruitment, Richard Montague.
However, surely this issue should have been addressed before the season or in January, though I accept it’s more difficult then. Why it wasn’t has not been explained. Whilst there have been some notable successes in recruitment, only Macari seems to be a decent buy in defence. We have persevered with players who are simply not up to L2, or they are not capable of handling the demands of the style of play dictated to them. We have brought in players, rookies with limited experience or players with a dubious injury record that haven’t worked. Graeme Souness always says the most important factor in football is recruitment and he’s right.
So, on that basis, I would say that Montague, having failed to do his job this season, has a critically important close season ahead. We can see what’s required from the three promoted sides. The style of play has to be flexed and we need experience, steel and leadership at the back. If that doesn’t happen then we will be in a relegation fight and 10k crowds will be a thing of the past. On a positive note half the team is superb, the challenge is to match that throughout. Over to you then Richard…….

Brilliant and spot on post

[Elite_Pie]

Brilliant and spot on post

It certainly asks the right questions. Our problems are very easy to see, we are really good at scoring goals but we are equally good (bad) at conceding them! The lesson that should be learned this season is that the high risk strategy of playing from our own box that worked so well last season has been our biggest problem this season. We don't need to abandon the ideology, but we do need to tweak it and last night was a perfect example. Stockport tried to play from the back, but launched it forward at the first sign of danger. We need to find a balance somewhere between style and effectiveness.

And the owners and Montague are the ones who need to find it.

[The_Don_ORiordan]

Whilst it’s the slip ups that get the headlines. We’ve conceded an awful lot more very poor goals that are less to do with playing out the back directly and more to do with the defensive standard of the players playing that way.

Not to say the two aren’t linked, better defenders are probably not as good ball players.

The key is the right balance in all areas.

And a bloody decent goalkeeper.

[nw6pie]

Whilst it’s the slip ups that get the headlines. We’ve conceded an awful lot more very poor goals that are less to do with playing out the back directly and more to do with the defensive standard of the players playing that way.

Not to say the two aren’t linked, better defenders are probably not as good ball players.

The key is the right balance in all areas.

And a bloody decent goalkeeper.

How many goals have we conceded from headers this season? Every cross Stockport put in the box last night, whether from open play or set pieces, created chaos and both penalties came from repeated failures to clear the ball. Next season, we need centre halves whose top priority is a clean sheet. We also need more aggression throughout the team, but channeled in the right way.

[tommopie8]

How many goals have we conceded from headers this season? Every cross Stockport put in the box last night, whether from open play or set pieces, created chaos and both penalties came from repeated failures to clear the ball. Next season, we need centre halves whose top priority is a clean sheet. We also need more aggression throughout the team, but channeled in the right way.

Watched the Under the Cosh with James Collins a few days ago.

https://youtu.be/WtTukRm0z_4?feature=shared

40:38 for the pertinent part.

[Could'vebeenacontender]

Watched the Under the Cosh with James Collins a few days ago.

https://youtu.be/WtTukRm0z_4?feature=shared

40:38 for the pertinent part.

100%

[Lullapie]

I still don't feel that our problems are solely with our defenders, but instead, the way we play. If the owners want us to play a high risk game, then yes, they need to buy high calibre defenders and super fit midfielders.

If they aren't prepared to spend big, then they need to allow a change to how we play.