I am glad that Neal has tried to implement an identity on Notts and focused on a passing style of play which we can grow from season to season. However the way we go about this could do with tweaks.

It's good to see that we only use the long ball as a last resort and that we always try to play with the ball at our feet.

Firstly, we need to play our wingers as wingers and not as central attacking midfielders. When we played Halifax away, Boldewijn and Shields were hugging the touchline and it caused them all sorts of problems. When they are told to stay inside the wing, their impact on the game is limited. When the wide men are told to play like this, the RB or LB struggles for an option when they receive the ball. Our wingers are dangerous and can produce if we used them as much as we did against Halifax (A) and Maidenhead (H). 

Notts need to attack more in numbers and be more expressive and positive when pressing. I watched the highlights from the Hartlepool game and when Pool went forward, they attacked in 6's or 7's. At most, we had 4 forward when attacking. We seem too bothered sometimes of minimising the risk of losing rather than maximising the chance of victory. We have the players to win games at this level and we've got one of the best defensive records in the league. There is no need to worry so much about the defending. We are well organised at the back. Notts must focus on play going forward. Don't get me wrong, we have played some lovely football at times this season but we must do it 7 or 8 times out of 10 in a game rather than 5 or 6. More runs should be made as well and the strikers must come deep to give the centre midfielders or wingers an option when playing through the centre. 

We play two defensive midfielders and whilst that is fine on occasions, on the whole I do not think Rose and Doyle work particularly well together. Doyle is the anchor man and sits deep but Rose is not an O'Brien/Booty type midfielder who runs forward. He's more of the disruptor, putting in tackles and winning the ball back. Whilst he has shown a few signs that he can play this role and perhaps we can make him that type of player over time, JOB and Regan have shown they have better creative qualities when we attack. 

I enjoy seeing a Notts team pass the ball but we need to do it with more purpose, especially in games like Dover and Woking, if we are to break the opposition down.

I pretty much agree with everything @ARLukomski says, so thanks for saving me the time and effort from having to type it all out! 

Teams can take two approaches to stifle us. Press and win the ball when our defenders/central midfielders have it on the edge of our box (Barrow). Or just sit back with everyone behind the ball knowing if we pass the ball slowly we’ll struggle to open them up (Pretty much every team in the league).

I agree and wish we could change things up a bit more often when things aren’t going to plan. Change the formation, play wider, play midfielders higher, get dangerous players running with the ball more often, look to get the ball forward quicker, play some balls in behind.

As for Ardley and the fan perception, at the start of the season because of what went on the summer the expectations for Notts were so low. However Ardley's managed to assemble a brilliant squad, and he’s improved us again with the likes of Lacey and Roberts and so the expectation level has completely changed.

I can understand why fans get frustrated but I don't expect us to win every week. There are some good teams in this league, it's more competitive than I think most imagined it would be and maybe some people just don't want to admit this - "cos we are Notts County and we are massive". We've had more good performances than bad this season but one loss and fans seem to forget this. We’re still in contention for the play-offs and if at the start of the season you said we would have a chance of promotion every Notts fan would’ve absolutely taken it. We could potentially have two trips to Wembley this season!

8 hours ago, menzinho said:

I can understand why fans get frustrated but I don't expect us to win every week.

I don't think most expect this, I think it's some and younger fans who don't know what supporting a club like Notts is really like.

They get involved when we are winning/doing well.

And don't understand why we aren't doing well the season(s) after, it will be a test for the new owners to balance some fans expectations because them saving us will sadly only last for a certain amount of time.

On 29/02/2020 at 22:38, ARLukomski said:

I enjoy seeing a Notts team pass the ball but we need to do it with more purpose, especially in games like Dover and Woking, if we are to break the opposition down.

If Notts moves the ball quickly and with purpose, the team looks like a very good side.

Issue is those individual mistakes.

I think Neal Ardley sees the bigger picture but doesn't understand some of what happens before his own eyes. He's very defensive of some of the players.