Match Discussion: Game 13 - The Stags (H)

[PON_News]

Game 13 - The Stags (H)

Team: Mansfield Town

Date: 14/10/2023

Where: Meadow Lane

What line-up should Luke Williams opt for? What will be the key areas for the Magpies to get a victory? What do you think the final score will be?

Have your say below, join in with the Pride of Nottingham match discussion.

[Chris Website URL Visit Site 𝕏 fmcj10 Instagram fmcj10]

We started the game very well, I thought the games' outcome would be so different despite Mansfield looking good on the break.

The reason Notts lost the game simply comes down to how we started to fail to manage the game. At 1-0 up, we became very content with having a narrow lead, too content. It took away our urgency to get the ball forward and, to create further chances. It became a very slow and patient game, which really suited Mansfield because they grew into the game.

I would also say, Mansfield wanted it far more than we did. I think nerves started to creep in, and we made things a lot easier for them.

The amount of times one of our players played a very simple pass but did so straight to a Mansfield player, I lost count of this, and it formed part of the issue. Defensively, I thought Connell Rawlinson and Aidan Baldwin did very well. I need to see the highlights again, but I felt disappointed with Richard Brindley. I think he could have got closer for Mansfield's opening goal. The marking process was extremely sluggish and lacked efficiency.

People were criticising Sam Slocombe, but there was zero urgency from any Notts play to make space for him to distribute the ball. Hence why we started knocking it around the back, such a lack of creative ideas, or he would smash the ball up to David McGoldrick who I felt would struggle to win the ball simply because Mansfield always had 2 to 3 more players around him. Whereas we just seemed to sit in the middle of the pitch without pressuring or trying to open space.

I feel very disappointed in the performance.

Our midfield simply wasn't the best it could be, even John Bostock made several poor passes and would lunge into tackles without much though. His yellow card, it was a very silly foul. However, once he came off. You could see the difference, Jim O'Brien just didn't fit the game all that well. I think as a team, we failed to handle Mansfield, who were a very decent team. I am comfortable in saying, they deserved the win and played much better than any team we have faced so far.

The glimpses we had of making a game out of it really ended once we conceded our 3rd goal. The service in our attacking play, wasn't great at all.

The reason why I feel so disappointed is that we could have played so differently had we not settled for so long on the 1-0 scoreline. That a lone can be dangerous as it is, people may say, well, Mansfield made it hard to attack. We didn't make the space, nobody thought to get that fluid movement going. Aaron Nemane made an effort, but unfortunately, he didn't perform at his highest level. I just feel like these games are what we should be doing much better in.

[Joshua]

Notts fell apart, I completely agree with what @Chris said. We sadly missed Jodi Jones, but where was Will Randall? This match could have been a good opportunity to see his contribution but we just collapsed. Hats off to David McGoldrick for his efforts, he seemed keen to make a difference and not many players can claim they performed at this level.

[menzinho]

I thought Mansfield really did a job on us. Yes we started well and scored but after that we couldn’t get the ball into midfield or our wingbacks so the defence passed it around a bit, got pressed and then passed it back to Slocombe to kick long. We then didn’t pick up enough second balls and just looked a bit passive/all over the place.

It was worrying how thread bare the squad was. Scott and Bajrami would’ve been good options for us that game it’s a real shame they are missing. And then to have Cameron, Chicksen, Randall (did we accidently forget to register him to play) and Jones all out. That meant the bench was weak, Morias was our only attacking option but the fact only O’Brien and Adebayo got on says a lot. Might as well send Macari and Tipton back as it feels like they’re just here to make up numbers at the mo.

That result and peformance was very unexpected. Don’t get me wrong the overall picture is still very good, but the goals against is becoming a tad worrying now.

[NottsCountyKev]

Mansfield’s victory was well-deserved, there’s no question about it. They outperformed Notts and controlled the game, while Notts seemed to lose their way when their initial plan didn’t pan out. Luke Williams, in my opinion, needs to address our approach when things aren’t going our way. There were moments when we could have regrouped, but the substitutions didn’t seem to alter the course of the game. The players need to put in more effort in such situations. I’m not criticising Williams; managing a team is a tough job and he shoulders that responsibility.

[liampie]

i am with @Chris, hes spot on with what he said.

we just lack the fight and strengthen we usually have in midfield. defensively we made it harder on ourselves, but i thought connell rawlinson was the best defender on the pitch. richard brindley had a nightmare unfortunately. there was nothing that macaulay langstaff or david mcgoldrick could do, its just was out of their hand but they at least gave their all.

[super_pie]

We played well at first especially with that early lead but we didn't manage to hold it and quickly fell apart in the second half, we definitely missed Jodi Jones but I think our defence wasn't our biggest issue as Baldwin and Rawlinson where making some good challenges, I feel like our big issue was how easy we were giving the ball away in the midfield allowing them to attack more often than we should of let them. The corners where obviously a big issue too but I feel that came down to confidence after throwing away the other goals.

[thommo]

I genuinely believe that we possess all the necessary elements to achieve a positive outcome, and I have full confidence that Luke Williams will give his utmost effort. The real question lies in how Gillingham will approach the game. Both teams have the ability to score goals, but we are fortunate to have a formidable squad that, in theory, should excel. Let's hope they take the field with a burning desire to showcase our team's true potential.