Jump to content

menzinho

Members
  • Current Mood

    Balanced
  • Posts

    816
  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    52

Everything posted by menzinho

  1. Yeah, it was a pretty bad performance by all accounts. I didn't watch it but the commentary about the players constantly slipping over was about as entertaining as it got! Roberts and Rawlinson missing isn't helpful but the point of a squad is that we should be able to perform without them. Too many players had bad games. Wootton wasn't on it like he has been and Lacey had a uncharacteristic shocker. I worry without Roberts and Enzio's loss of form we've lost what was quite an integral part of why we were so successful last season, we need to be able to find ways of getting results without them. There's that old saying that champions can play badly and still get results, seems we've got that first bit nailed - just need to work on the second bit.
  2. Yeah it is surprisingly quiet, I guess there’s no point testing players too early on. I think Friday is the latest they can do it. Fingers crossed we have no more cases. I’m pretty sure there’s no chance any that tested positive last week will be available. I just hope they’re all doing okay, I know footballers are young and fit, I’m sure they’ll be fine but every individual is different. I hope they aren’t affected for too long after either, hearing all this stuff about long covid too now is grim. As for the remains of the team (assuming everyone else is alright) it’s likely we’ll be without a RB again. I'm not sold on McCrory playing there, think I'd rather play Rawlinson there and bring Turner into the side. Sam needs to be thrown in, he needs match fitness and a chance show us what he can do. Pilling looked decent in the pre-season games, wouldn’t be opposed to giving him a game. I wouldn’t make too many changes, with the reduced income it would be helpful to get through a couple of rounds. As for the score, I think we will have worked on set-pieces and defending this week (again assuming we had a squad to train!). 2-0 Notts, Sam and Reeves to score.
  3. Barratt should’ve been sent off, but that said it’s still annoying how we were so poor defending set-pieces. It’s the sloppiness against Barnet again, but this time it’s actually cost us. I agree we with everyone that we still had the players capable of getting a result, the bench was very weak in terms of attacking options but we still scored 2 goals and should’ve at least been able to get a draw. Disappointing result aside, I think the issue of testing and postponing of games could become an issue now. 6 games off today (throughout the national league structure) due to infections. We are incredibly lucky we’ve got owners able to fund rounds of testing, other clubs aren’t so lucky. Are Sutton getting a round of testing? I Imagine it’s likely one of their players could have covid-19. Surely they can’t play their game until they know they’re all unaffected… If clubs like Sutton have to wait until players show symptoms it could well be to late, players could play and pass the virus on. Getting Covid-19 test results after games means it won’t stop the spread. It’s just going to slowly and continuously disrupt the season if nothing is done but I know clubs can’t afford the testing. A real catch-22 scenario…
  4. I don’t think the squad will go into this one over-confident because Ardley won’t let that happen, he'll make sure we think of our defensive duties as much as our attacking ones. In terms of the team, not heard back about the Covid testing so I assume everyone’s in the clear there. I’d stick with the 4-3-3, maybe have Rodrigues as part of the midfield 3 with Thomas or Enzio up with Wootton and Roberts. McCrory back in at LB for me, not a dig at DKE but it’s just so much easier for a natural left-footer. I don’t think it’ll be as easy as everyone thinks, just a hunch I can’t see a thrashing. I still think we’ll control the game, but I can see Maidenhead frustrating us. 2-0, but the second goal will come late(ish) in the second half. Wootton to keep up his scoring run, Thomas with the other.
  5. Worth remembering Sutton play on a 4G pitch which should actually help with the way we play, they'll be no bumps or rough patches of grass to stop our slick passing. No doubting our home form at the moment, it's away from home where we need to improve. I think we should be approaching all the games in the way we do our home ones, I don't think there's anyone in this league at the moment that look like a real 'wow' team where it would be more sensible to play with more players behind the ball. As for the team for Sutton, my only slight issue is how we are a touch light in centre mid. Reeves and Doyle have played every game so far, hope they aren't too fatigued just yet. Maybe worth starting O'Brien for one of them? I'll say; 1-1. Wootton to keep up his current scoring form.
  6. I watched the highlights of the Eastleigh game on the National League site (I was looking for ours v Dover but they never appeared). They actually knocked the ball around quite well and had some decent chances themselves but defensively they were all over the place, Eastleigh just kept chipping the ball in behind and they were so slow and useless dealing with it. The pace and skill of Thomas, Roberts, Knowles and Enzio could really damage Barnet from what I've seen. I'd say don't panic to much about the patterns of play being perfect, instead focus on working on the runs in behind. Barnet have had a lot of players leave them, I think they've pretty much got a whole new defence so it could be an ideal time to play them. We're very strong at home and the players will feel better now they've got the first win on the board. 2-1 Notts... Roberts and Thomas to score.
  7. That was a very solid performance all-round. Once we got into our passing rhythm, we looked comfortable and confident. Great play by Thomas to set Wootton up twice, he should’ve had a hat-trick – that said I think the penalty was a bit soft. Altrincham will feel hard done by with the one where Brindley grabbed their attacker’s shirt, no idea what he was thinking there… Thought the game slightly passed Doyle by a touch as the game wore on, maybe not entirely his fault once O’Brien moved more into the middle him and Reeves pushed that bit higher and harried Altrincham none stop. Hopefully proves that we don’t need him every game to be successful. Great to get the first win of the season, same again against Barnet please!
  8. If we want to play 4 in midfield O’Brien out wide is okay as last resort or for one game where the tactics suit but we can’t try and shoe-horn Reeves, Doyle and him into the team every game. No idea where Rodrigues will play now it seems the diamond (a formation suited for him) is presumably back on the drawing board, he’s skilful but I think ultimately he’ll lack the pace to provide much threat out wide. 4-2-3-1 would work but scarifies a striker and Ardley likes playing 2 upfront… I’d stick with the 4-4-2, but put Enzio in for O’Brien. I’d like to see Rodrigues in, but where/how at the minute I’m not sure. We’re better at home but I think we’ll be a bit cagey given our last result. 1-0, Roberts to score.
  9. Absolutely gutted. Harrogate did to us what we did to Barnet. Harrogate won pretty much every second ball and just did not let us get our passing game going. Everyone can criticise and pick the team after the game, but yeah in hindsight I think to combat the pressing we needed another man in middle to help us get more control of the game. The second half team was better, aside from no Rawlinson for Turner, Thomas and Enzio offered more threat. The 3rd goal absolutely killed us (and me) though. I agree we've got to take the positives from it, we'd have all absolutely taken a Wembley final if we were offered it back in September. Here's to hoping we can go one better next season...
  10. Like a few on here, it would’ve been my first opportunity to see Notts at Wembley. It’s bittersweet in a way, as moments like this are what being a fan is all about. Who knows maybe we’ll get a chance to go with the FA Vase *desperately clutches at straws*. As for the team, I expect at least one-surprise to it. Enzio back in? Thomas/Wilson upfront for more pace? Maybe. I’ve full confidence in whatever the team and tactics NA picks and it won’t be through lack of planning, effort or desire if we don’t win. I don't want to tempt fate by predicting the score, I know what I hope the score will be… Both teams are pretty closely matched I think there’ll only be a goal in it. Anyone know if it goes to extra-time or straight to pens? I think with our squad/subs extra-time would favour us. Straight to pens would be unbearable...
  11. I have to say, I was pretty stunned with that performance 4 months out and then coming back for such a big game and we just absolutely nailed it. 10/20 mins in and the nerves kind of went for me, we fell back into a bit of a rhythm, I just thought we looked so much more assured on the ball than Barnet even though it wasn’t coming off in the early stages. The movement, patterns, trying to work the ball into dangerous areas, it was all promising. And off the ball, we were the proactive team, organised but pressing Barnet well. The only thing that pricked the nerves a bit was Ben Turner when he had to sprint! He doesn’t look that natural running to me (sorry Ben) but that said he played very well, won pretty much every header exactly what you want from him. Lacey was class as well, 100% needs to be here next season. I don’t have the time to praise everyone, they were all excellent for me. What win. Finish the job next weekend and wow what a season this will have been. COYP!
  12. Picking the team is going to be tough. Some big decisions; like CM pairing. I think it will be Doyle and Rose. Maybe not a a bad thing, O'Brien on in the second half if we need a goal. Bakayogo or Bagan, I really don't know? And Turner coming back in? I personally would like to see Lacey and Rawlinson as our centre backs. I also wouldn't be surprised if Thomas starts upfront but I'm hoping it's Dennis and Wotton. Can't see it being a goal fest, I think Barnet will come and defend, they'll let us have the ball but restrict any space in behind. Having to break a team down on our first game back isn't ideal - need to hope Roberts and Enzio can do something magic. 1-1. Notts to go through on pens.
  13. A hard fought P-P well done Ardley, all the boys and the fans that did not travel! That keeps us 3rd in the league! COYP!
  14. Fylde's last league win was on the 26th November, they're on an 11 game winless run. Notts in recent years have a knack for losing games like this. On paper we should beat them though. I think if we get the first goal it'll knock their confidence, get the crowd to turn, they're not in a good place right now. They played extra-time too, whilst we got sub off Wotton, Doyle and Rawlinson. I'm quietly confident about the game, hopefully it does go ahead it could potentially be raining all morning there. Eek!
  15. I listened to the game too, it sounded like we totally dominated the game. It's very good win, I thought having got so far Aveley would've been more of threat and I certainly didn't think we'd score 5. Genuinely want to get to Wembley now, so I'm looking forward to the draw on Monday! Also worth noting that Halesowen who are at the same level as Aveley beat Barnet… Imagine the reaction if that had been us yesterday!
  16. Woking lost 7 successive away games before turning up at Meadow Lane today… When they went 1-0 up I thought this is classic Notts. We started very well and probably should’ve taken the lead. And then passing seemed to get worse and worse. The second half was just a bit off mess for the first 20 mins. Roberts always looked dangerous though, and he was vital in getting us back into the game. I thought we were a bit predictable and narrow, not the usual support from the fullbacks. Kelly-Evans couldn’t really do a lot but cut the ball back when he overlapped and Brindley didn’t really get forward (he didn’t do a lot in the game if I’m being honest). I’d have liked to have seen Enzio and Roberts switch wings from time to time and look to stretch the game. It was a pen for us, but then I thought the ref did miss one for Woking when we were 1-0 down so I won’t complain too much… Definitely not our most fluent performance, I feel we could’ve beaten them.
  17. First win at Yeovil in 15 years apparently! I think I would have been frustrated had I been a Yeovil fan today! Ref sounded like he had a bit of a nightmare, and never got hold of the game. Could’ve been a red for Lee, Thomas’ red sounded soft and then he bottled giving a pen for Yeovil. Still credit to the team today, tough game and they’ve gone and grinded out a great result. Que sera sera and all that…
  18. I thought we deserved the win, we controlled the game but bar the start we didn’t really have many spells of sustained pressure. Chesterfield were poor, they relied the long throw and the long ball to Denton. We could’ve been 1-0 down, although with us twice hitting the woodwork we probably should’ve gone ahead. My one issue is our CMs slipping back into old habits and playing too deep. Why do we need two players doing the same job? On a couple of occasions Lacey/Rawlinson picked up the ball, ran past them both! And considering Chesterfield’s forwards probably had a combined age of nearly 70 I don’t know why they didn’t push up a bit more. Positives for me were the Rawlinson/Lacey partnership and Kelly-Evans did excellently considering he’s plays on the other side. Rose stepped his game up, Enzio turned up and Roberts showed some very promising glimpses. The big moment was the penalty save, as dreadful as it was Fitz still had to stop it and he did. He might not be too happy here at the moment but he put in a great performance. All in all, very happy! 3 goals, clean sheet and the TV curse – gone!
  19. There’s an interesting story now that the Chesterfield manager has said Fitzsimmons is desperate to go back and he wants him back. I wonder what it’s been like behind the scenes this week, I wonder if he’ll start now… Their manager has also said he’s picking the brains' of Nathan Tyson and Matt Tootle about how Notts might play. "I think Tyson has been doing my job this week," he joked. "I have asked about one or two things." A bit weird as I think it’s pretty obvious how we’ll play, NA has been using pretty much the same system all season! Even though they beat us they last time, they were really poor. About 3 shots over the whole game and one went it in. I think we absolutely have to score first and if we do, I hope the goals will flow and we’ll be able to banish this TV curse!
  20. I didn’t know initially that a draw would mean the game against Fylde would be off. Why did Dagenham want a replay? Bizarre! With about 1-minute left of listening to the game I was thinking that 1-1 was the worst-case scenario, falling even more games behind in the league. I almost wanted to hear that Fitz had just kicked it into his own net in the last seconds… And then Michael Doyle pops up with the goal of the decade! I cannot wait to see the highlights.
  21. It's a weird competition this! Beat the Daggers and then we're just 2 games away from the semi's and 3 from the final! I think we'll definitely see the fringe players in, so I'm hopeful Crawford, Bird and Fitz can get starts. Dagenham's recent form has been absolutely dreadful so I'd imagine they'll be looking to try something different. We're confident at the minute, but the possible dead atmosphere could make it feel like a training game. We've got to try and keep the ball moving quickly, I think if we can get an early goal I'd be confident of an easy win... I don't think we'll get one though! 1-0 Notts, Tyson to score.
  22. It felt like a big game yesterday, a real chance to solidify our position at the right end of the table. Bromley were your stereotypical non-league side, big, physical and all about loading the box. That’s all they did, hit it long and play for set-pieces/long throws but we defended our box really well, made for an excruciating last 10 minutes mind! It was proper battling win, Rose & Doyle did well considering they were outnumbered in the midfield. The back five were great, Connell Rawlinson the stand out for me, he was outstanding! Ref was bad. Missed the pen. Missed the red for Cheek on Rawlinson. And Bush should’ve been sent off way before he actually was…
  23. Well what an away day that was, a great early Christmas present! I thought the first half was a bit of a non-event. Started okay, but quickly started playing too safe and the final ball was poor. Halifax didn't really deserve to go in 1-0 up. However the second half was like watching a completely different game. We just shifted the tempo, the passing was quicker, we actually knocked the ball for players to run onto and put some crosses in! Enzio was on it. Not so much of the drifting inside, more using the width beating his man and getting balls into the box. Lacey has stepped in nicely, decent in the air but he's much quicker across the ground than Turner. He won his far share of tackles and was pretty spot on all game. Just looks like a really good athlete to me! Also I'm pleased for Ross Fitzsimons, I thought he did really well considering it was his first game in ages. Notts have a clip of the final goal on twitter now, doesn't show the bit where he came and grabbed the ball in the crowded box a good 15 yards out from his goal. Last season he'd have been stood under his crossbar... Back to back away wins now, bring on Maidenhead!
  24. Imagine if Cambridge pull off a win and we don’t. I’ll feel physically sick. But seriously I’ve got a horrible feeling we’re going to go through all the emotions tomorrow, nothing is ever straight-forward with Notts! Over the course of 90 minutes we’ll be going down at one point, have a chance of survival the next, probably even be safe at some stage! I really hope we just go all out for the win. 3 points or nothing. Que será, será and all that...
  25. I’m dreading this weekend. I expect an OK performance from Notts like usual. The effort will be there but the cohesion and quality won’t. It really is groundhog day, how many times have we said “this weekend’s game is a must win game?”. How many times have Yeovil and Macc slipped up, and then we have as well? Too many. It’s the most excruciating and painful scrap for survival ever. For once I'm more concerned about Macclesfield, they go to Port Vale who are now managed by Mr Macclesfield himself: John Askey. He has nearly 700 appearances for the club and managed them for 5 years as well. He must have spent close to 30 years there. I'm sure he'll have a soft spot for them and I just wonder how seriously he'll take the game. I won't be surprised if Vale try out a few youngsters and give their fringe players a run out too... Hopefully I’m wrong but this could be the weekend we go down.

About PON

Pride of Nottingham

Pride of Nottingham is an independent fansite devoted to Notts County, the world’s oldest professional football club. Created in 2013, it has served as a source of Magpie news, features, match previews, reports, analysis and interviews for more than three years.

Support PON

Enjoy our content? Want to help us grow? Your donation will go a long way towards improving the site!

donate-pon.png

Meet the Team

Chris Chris Administrators
super_ram super_ram Global Moderators
DangerousSausage DangerousSausage Global Moderators
CliftonMagpie CliftonMagpie Global Moderators

Social Media

×
    Search In
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Pride of Nottingham uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. To approve, simply continue using the site or click 'I accept' Terms of Use.