Match Discussion: Game 37 - The Spireites (H) Live

[Piethagoram 𝕏 @piethagoram]

Mentality to win isn't there.

Slocombe's footballing non skills exposed within first minutes , nearly costing a goal.

Gordon unmarked wide right yet Slocombe hits down the middle, ball comes back, Chesterfield score.

Whitaker misses another sitter with his head in final minutes.

Depressed. Why haven't the Saunders bros been replaced?

[Piethagoram 𝕏 @piethagoram]

 

[Piethagoram 𝕏 @piethagoram]

 

[Robbie 𝕏 @Robbie_NCFC]

It's a dissapointing defeat. Notts seem to be a first half team this season. Can be brilliant in the first half but fade in the second. 

Maynard is rigid in his substitutions too. He substitutes between the 60th & 70th minutes most of the time just about every match which I don't think has been very effective.

And, The injuries are really starting to have their affect on the form now. Unless Didzy is on the bench, Notts just don't have the strength in the squad for somebody to come on & change a game match after match.

I noticed that MK Dons got hammered again. Crowley made a big mistake leaving Notts & Notts should have kept hold of him.

Also, I would have took Langstaff on loan till the end of the season, even if his wages were high. There were whispers that he was available for a loan out

The January transfer window was very poor. I don't think the players we recruited have improved the team.  Notts still have a chance for the automatics, but I think they need to concentrate on getting into the playoffs now.

We have been very fortunate that teams around us have been losing, but that is not going to continue. If Notts don't t pick up their form, it's going to be a dissapointing end to a promising season.

[Piethagoram 𝕏 @piethagoram]

 

[Dripsey3]

At this stage I'd take a 75 minute performance. We don't seem capable of a 90 minute performance. The funny thing is that we could end up getting promoted because everyone else is average as well. We'd be battered in League One if there wasn't a major overhaul of the squad. 

[Blake]

Notts played well in the first half, and we should have made that count. Even though Chesterfield had a few moments, I didn’t see them as a real threat. 

In the first 15-20 minutes of the second half, we just couldn’t get to grips with the game. Both goals we conceded came from poor play on our part and a lack of organisation. 

I hated hearing all the negativity about Sam Slocombe being in goal. Defensively, when Chesterfield scored, I don’t think there was much Slocombe could have done. Notts should have done better to block or clear the cross. Chesterfield knew it would create good chances, and we just never dealt with it properly.

[ExiledPie]

I thought Notts looked motivated but couldn’t make the most of their early possession and opportunities. It’s a bit disappointing, especially given the occasion. Chesterfield’s defence initially looked poor and vulnerable, but they managed to make us look like the team struggling at the back. They deserve credit for raising their game and making it tough for Notts. The quality is there, but the habit of trying to walk the ball into the net holds everything back.

[Robbie 𝕏 @Robbie_NCFC]

I agree with you @Blake about the negativity. Notts played well in the first half & could have been three goals ahead. We have nine games left & the Notts supporters need to get behind the team.

No matter what anyone may say, there has been progress this season especially defensively.

[ARLukomski 𝕏 ARLukomski Instagram declanweliczko_arlki]

I'd say we were passing the ball about at a quicker intensity in the first half, than in any of the last few games combined. Yet again though, we missed chances and that brings up problem number 1 (Ruthlessness). Too many times we don't take our chances, which I have said before is a team problem.

Port Vale (A), Newport (H), Fleetwood (A) and Gillingham (H). All games we failed to take our chances in. Even in games we won, we missed chances to increase the winning margin which include Accrington (H), Harrogate (H) and Carlisle (H). Whilst those 3 ended up in victories, it still shows our lack of ruthlessness in front of goal. The latter of the three was a particular poor performance.

In the 2nd half, we allowed them more territory and more possession. During this we had everyone bar Jatta behind the ball and we were only just past the hour mark. Both goals come from us dropping so deep and giving them all the time in the world to pass the ball around. Nobody is closing them down, pressing them. That brings me to my 2nd problem (Mentality). We're too happy with mediocrity. After we equalised, we should have the momentum and energy to go again and get the winning goal in front of the Kop against our local rivals, but no not us. Instead, we retreat and are happy to settle for the point. We literally retreat to how we were before they opened the scoring.

Where is the want and the will to go for it? Where is the fire in us? The performance was alright apparently and guess what? We lost, again. It's ok though because we've got injuries. If you are having to rely on Didzy, who is 37, to try and inspire some fire inside of you to win in a promotion battle and fight for this football club, you are in trouble and you need to take a look at yourself. Didzy and Jodi barely a combined 15 minutes at Cheltenham, in what was arguably our best away performance of the season. Injuries also don't stop you doing basic things like running with the ball into space, pressing and playing 5 yard passes to a teammate. This basically sums up point number 3 (Urgency). There was a bit more of it yesterday (in which we still lost) but that does not excuse the lack of it throughout the season.

The last thing is intensity. The lack of it throughout the season, which has lead to our consistent unconvincing performances.

[True Magpie]

A crucial game, with the outcome adding to the disappointment of not making the first half count. The late flagging for offside against Jatta’s goal was irritating. How many touches did he need to take before the assistant decided he was offside? It was the correct call based on the footage, but from the Kop, it was hard to tell during the match.

It was good to see Sam Slocombe able to play to his strengths. However, there were many times when nobody wanted the ball, and when Kellan Gordon was free, he was either unsupported or heavily marked. The routine of releasing the ball is very predictable, and this remains the same when Alex Bass is in goal.

I don’t believe Lewis Macari is always the best pairing alongside Matty Platt and Jacob Bedeau, but I thought Platt was off his game as well. The first half was a good contest between two teams, with Notts enjoying the majority of possession. However, there are no real threats unless they come from open play. Chesterfield adjusted well in the second half and punished us for mistakes that should have been dealt with better.

It’s bitterly disappointing to lose in this way, but it’s football. I think Stuart Maynard could have brought some balance by making at least one substitution earlier. Despite Jatta’s chances, I thought he drifted out of the game towards the end of the first half and, in the second half, almost appeared lazy. He needs to stay more engaged with the game and show better movement. There were several occasions when crosses came into the box, but he was out of position. It’s not "idleness," but it comes across as laziness when, in truth, it’s a lack of awareness or hunger to change the game’s outcome.

[Robbie 𝕏 @Robbie_NCFC]

@True Magpie It was a pity that McDonald got injured. He was starting to look good in the back three.. 

[liampie]

the players need to take the criticism right now on the chin, just try harder to be tighter at the back and make better judgements when it comes to passing. i felt impressed with the workrate and effort in the first half to win the ball back. it is a little annoying to see us pass back, but sometimes it is understandable. i think notts fell into the habit of doing this to much against chesterfield and where as sam slocombe is being blamed. it was hardly his fault, yes he had a moment which he made up for with a brilliant save with his legs but the decision to pass the ball back to him, full well knowing he keeps being pressed and is not the most confident at passing is just a silly mistake.

i think going into the second half, all the positives of the first half performances just drifted. we had spells, but it took us longer to suss out chesterfield and it favoured them. notts looked good attacking, but lacked options in the box and was very wasteful on goal.

[menzinho]

Just to follow on from a few good points, I do think we need to take full advantage of the 5 subs more often at times, especially if we want to keep our pressing and intensity levels high. The fact you can make more subs now actually benefits teams that want to press because it gives you a chance to bring more fresh legs on. Asking your midfielders and wide players to press effectively for 90 minutes is not possible, they are going to fade as the game wears on.

And I think for Jatta it hasn’t helped that we’ve basically played him constantly for 90 minutes since about November. And unfortunately, Traore, who could replace him is injured. Yes he probably should've scored a few more goals but he's still scored the bulk of our goals this season (along with McGoldrick) I don’t know whether it’s down to style of play or individuals but the spread of goals across the team has been poor this season.