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StarkMallard
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Everything posted by StarkMallard
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I think SM is trying to do that already to be fair. Luke Williams tended to stick to his favoured team and formation, and after a while the opposition knew exactly how we were lining up. SM has tried to switch things around - but do that too many times and you'll end up with confused and nervous players in unfamiliar positions.
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I can't say too much about the match as I only saw the end of it when it was already done and dusted. Under LW we could gloss over days like yesterday as we'd had a good start to the season and were sitting near the top. Now the table tells a more realistic story. We had a soft start to the season that probably led many of us to think we're better than we are. But as soon as we started playing the current top six or seven we started to struggle, and it hasn't changed. We are just not effective enough at either end of the pitch to decide tight games in our favour. We've won just four games by a single goal this season. It's not a new problem, but it''s one that Stuart Maynard hasn't got to grips with yet. We seem to have missed an opportunity to strengthen our back line over the last couple of transfer windows. But the root of the problem goes back further: Ian Burchnall inherited a team that looked terrified to leave our half of the pitch and placed a lot of focus on being braver and taking more risks. Since then, every time we've signed a player (even defenders), the feedback from fans of their previous clubs has been the same: "he's great going forwards, but a bit dodgy at the back". It's given us a few years of brilliant football, but now we're lacking players who simply focus on the bread and butter of preventing the opposition scoring. We should definitely mix it up more during games to keep the opposition on their toes, but trying to turn into a long ball team with our skillful but physically weak team is a recipe for disaster. Until last season we played with a target man in Kyle Wootton - it would be handy to have an option like him again for League Two, but that ship has sailed this season sadly.
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A couple of women came to my door yesterday, they said they wanted to talk about bread. White, brown, granary, they just wouldn't shut up. They were the Hovis witnesses!
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As iFollow decided not to work for me or many other fans (and their "support" staff failed to fix it or even respond), I relied on the radio. Apart from a second-half wobble it sounded like we played well, but in tighter games like this we always seem to come up a little bit short. Wrexham play percentage football that isn't great to watch, but it's effective and that's what we lack sometimes. As for the handball, it was one of those situations where even VAR wouldn't give you a definitive answer. I think McGoldrick dramatically raising his arm out of the way led to the loud shout of "handball", which in turn influenced the ref.
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We're off to Cheshire's second biggest club tomorrow then. We owe them one. It'll be difficult as they're a physical side that'll put us under pressure and try to force mistakes, but if we pick up where we left off at Newport we've got every chance of bringing points back with us. Looking forward to it!
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When the teamsheet came out for tonight, no one knew quite how we would be lining up. Apparently only Baldwin, Warner and Cameron were practicing headers during the warm-up in an attempt to make Newport think we'd be playing a back three. SM obviously likes to keep the opposition guessing, and I'm really chuffed that his bravery and hard work paid off last night. We looked a different proposition off the ball last night, and that made a huge difference. Robertson looks a superb signing. Ashby Hammond looked decent enough with the ball at his feet, but if you're hoping to see a keeper who'll come off his line and claim crosses, you'll be disappointed. Almost saved the penalty though. And of course Jones is in unreal form right now.
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I thought we started the match well, we looked creative and incisive. It didn't translate into many clear-cut chances, but that was due in no small part to Gilingham's deep, well-organised defence. When we took the lead it was well deserved. In days gone by, a single goal would be enough to win a home game, or at least get a point. This season, we need a hatful to stand a chance. What followed after the goal was a horror show, a very basic equaliser visibly shook the team's confidence and we never recovered it. They made it hard for us, and we made it easy for them. Now we need to get our remaining points from the strugglers and get used to the idea of the bottom half of the table, as that's where we'll be finishing. I thought Robertson had a decent game and could prove a good signing given time. Warner has the makings of a decent player, but anyone expecting this raw youngster to save our season needs to give their head a wobble. That's exactly what we've done under Maynard, the midfielders are tracking back and shielding the defence much more than under LW. None of that compensates for players not challenging for headers or loose balls.
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I thought we were unlucky to go in behind at the break and if it had been a draw everybody would be saying it's a fair result. However, from about the 70th minute onwards we seemed to run out of energy and ideas and really needed some inspiration from the bench. The sub, when it came, was too late. I hope the new signings can improve this in the coming weeks. Jones and Nemane switching flanks was a brilliant idea at the start, it surprised the opposition and nearly got us ahead in the first minute. However, later in the first half it was pretty evident that they were struggling being on the wrong side, a good example being Nemane reaching the byline at the end of the first half, trying to change feet and getting dispossessed. They should have been changed back sooner. Baldwin made some eye-catching blocks and tackles, but at least a couple were him recovering from his own mistakes. Warner certainly wasn't overawed by the occasion and looked very confident, maybe a little too confident. Finally, it's time i got off Facebook. The post-match comments were a mess of people abusing the manager and Mansfield "fans" who obviously hadn't watched the game having a gloat about 2 minutes after the final whistle. I hope Mansfield go up, on the pitch they absolutely deserve it. Maybe we can swap divisions with them in a year or two, or whenever we're actually ready for promotion. They can keep their bragging rights!
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That's a walk down memory lane I could have done without @ARLukomski! Yikes, it's like a ritual humiliation ???? They're the best side I've seen this season and would have been well clear in the table if they could have turned some of those early season draws into wins. Them having players out doesn't necessarily mean we'll get an easier ride as their replacements are getting their chance and will be fully motivated to take it. Any points from this would be a good result.
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I made myself a belt out of wristwatches. It was a complete waist of time!
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That foul on Jones was a red card all day long, it was cynical and could have caused an injury. I don't think a draw is a bad result, many online commenters seem to think that Barrow were just there to be swatted away, but they've only lost five games all season and are near the top for a reason. There was a bit of slow and ponderous passing from us on the extended highlights, but you can't really judge based on that.
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I used to be addicted to panto. But it's behind me now!
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I think it'll be too late for any new head coach to implement anything @Chris, but maybe our next man will be in the stands? It'll be interesting to see whether the new keeper will get the nod now he's got his feet under the table. We gave Stockport a really good game at their place just a few weeks back, and with home advantage and if everyone is at their best there's every chance we could come away with points.
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He's not in their squad, I'm guessing he's cup tied as he was a regular starter at Gateshead. But good luck to him at Morecambe!
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I missed the first half, which was probably why it was so great but that's a fantastic result. Doncaster and Morecambe might not be the best the division has to offer, but you can only beat what's in front of you, and we've done it in style. It was so important to string a couple of results together, and the clean sheets are the cherry on the cake.
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I think it was a penalty, Richardson was about to pull the trigger and would certainly have scored. Cameron took his heels with no attempt to play the ball. Stockport would have scored either way. Richardson looked a right handful after he came on, but did he spend as much time whingeing and provoking the opposition when he was in a Notts shirt?
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Neither of them looked great @Chris, I could see the second coming a mile off. However, in our general play we looked less like an accident waiting to happen than in recent weeks, and that was due in part to the much improved assistance and movement in midfield. Against Harrogate they were constantly passing it back to the keeper because there was nowhere else to go, and it always looked a matter of time until a pass went astray. Yesterday was a world apart from that.
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There are some cracking comments here and I don't have much more to add. The overall performance was such a big improvement on the Harrogate game it was like watching a different team. We didn't create tonnes of chances, but we were away to the team that's top of the league, and because we conceded first Stockport had the option of staying deep and not taking too many risks. It's a shame we lost again, but not many teams will get a result there. Now we need to carry this on against Doncaster and I'm confident we can get a much-needed win.
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If any of you want me, I'll be hiding behind the sofa.
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We are 21 points clear. We could conceivably lose all our remaining games (which we won't) and still stay up. As for being sussed out, we were sussed out years ago. Every team we play knows that the best way to play is is to press us high and stop the back three play it out. It's not rocket science, but it didn't use to matter because we were too good. What we saw yesterday was nowhere near as good as last season, let alone as good as we need for L2. The game got away from us due to two straightforward goals, but we didn't threaten at all either. Time and again our defenders had the ball and were forced to play it back because there was no movement in front of them, no one was making himself available for the ball. We miss Palmer badly, and LW moving Austin into the middle instead of bringing on Gosling speaks volumes as to the latter's chances of staying. The January window will determine whether we can push for the top seven, or whether we'll end up in the bottom half. I was expecting us to lose a few this season, but not as lethargically as that. I expect to see a bit of fight when things aren't going well, not a limp surrender. It was a deserved and easy win for Harrogate.
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As always, the challenge is getting past the opposition's press. If we do that, we can beat anyone in this league. COYP, bring the points home!
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Well, that game was very "League Two" - scrappy, lots of misplaced passes and some nervy defending from both teams. We badly needed a Palmer in there in the first half to help us play it out. But the way we took control in the second half and came back showed real character. Really chuffed that Morias scored and JOB finally got the chance to show off his tattoo! It always is. We're a newly promoted team, it was highly unlikely we were going to sail through the division. Some people need to get a grip. Was he the one who elbowed Macari(?) in the face off the ball? I've seen players get a straight red for that.
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Five thousand, thanks. It’s been a few years in the making, but this weekend Notts County finally play their 5,000th Football League match away to Gillingham. It will be our 888th fourth division match. We’ve spent the largest share of our Football League existence in the third division (1528 matches), with 1516 matches played in the second division (now the Championship) and 1068 in the top flight, albeit mostly before the war. We are the eighth club to reach the landmark, after Preston, Burnley, Wolves, Derby, Bolton, West Brom and Blackburn. Blackburn played their 5000th league game last month, and we could overtake them and West Brom in terms of League games if either win promotion to the Premier League. So how did things work out in our previous landmark games? Let’s have a trip back in time! 4000th game 10 January 1998: Rochdale 1-2 Notts County (Jones, Robinson); att. 2387 This was a sixth straight win on the way to winning the fourth division under Sam Allardyce, leaving us seven points clear at the top of the division. Shaun Derry started for Notts; he would leave the club a few weeks later. We were the first club to play 4000 league matches, with number 4000 originally scheduled to be played at home to Hull City and special match programmes printed. Unfortunately it was postponed, so we reached the landmark at Spotland instead. Key figures: Darren Ward, Ian Hendon, Gary Jones UK prime minister: Tony Blair (Lab) UK number one: Various Artists – Perfect Day 3000th game 25 March 1975: Notts County 2-2 Nottingham Forest (Scanlon, Richardson (OG)9; att. 20,303 We played our nearest and dearest in the second division for our 3000th. Notts, managed by Jimmy Sirrel, were comfortably in mid-table at the time and might have had a stab at promotion but for a leaky defence. The visitors were perched precariously above the relegation zone and had just appointed a new manager called Brian. We eventually finished 14th, just a couple of places and points higher than Forest. Key figures: David Needham, Bill Brindley, Ian Scanlon UK prime minister: Harold Wilson (Lab) UK number one: Bay City Rollers – Bye Bye Baby 2000th game 13 December 1952: Notts County 5-0 Blackburn Rovers (Ken McPherson (4), Edwards); att. 10,222 We celebrated our 2000th league game in style with this win in the second division. We started the game comfortably in mid-table while Blackburn were struggling, but over the course of the season Notts found wins hard to come by and eventually finished 19th, just three points clear of the relegation zone. In the early 1950s, the club’s envisaged march to the top flight had stalled, and Tommy Lawton had left the club the previous season. We had another five seasons in the second division, mostly fighting relegation, but by the end of the decade we had dropped into the fourth division for the first time. Key figures: Leon Leuty, Cecil McCormack, Tommy Deans UK prime minister: Winston Churchill (Con) UK number one: Al Martino – Here in my Heart (this was the very first UK number one!) 1000th game 25 February 1922: West Ham United 2-1 Notts County (Cook); att. 20,000 Notts started this Division Two match perched handily behind the promotion places, but following this defeat we won only one more match all season and finished in a disappointing 13th, at the time our lowest ever league position. Better times were to come though: we finished top the following season, heralding a three-year stint in the top flight. Our goalkeeper at this time was one Albert Iremonger. Key figures: Albert Iremonger, Billy Flint, Harold Hill UK prime minister: David Lloyd George (Lib) Thanks go to the brilliant Up The Maggies site; I wouldn’t have been able to work out our 1000th and 2000th games without it! Additionally, there's the EFL website featuring their exclusive "5000 club". Disclaimer: I’m rubbish at maths. https://carouseldrivefootballs.on.drv.tw/utm/maggies00.html https://www.efl.com/about-the-efl/the-5000-club/ Thank you for taking the time to read this article. The Pride of Nottingham very much values your time visiting our site and, we are very appreciated for being here to share the journey of Notts County with you! -
Fine lines. The visitors really couldn't have complained if we'd gone in ahead at half time - if Langstaff or Jones had scored, we'd have won and everyone would've been singing their praises. Uncharacteristically for us, we didn't take our chances. Wrexham are always good for a goal or two, and so we got punished. A few things did annoy me. In the second half we took a succession of short corners that we ended up passing back to our keeper. And, like against Mansfield, the concession of one (unlucky) goal was quickly followed by another and we suddenly had a mountain to climb. The collapses are becoming a bit of a habit and are causing us to lose games we could have drawn. The lack of cover is also a concern. All the same, the performance wasn't bad and the team don't deserve some of the criticism they're getting. We've come through a difficult month with ten points from six games. If we're serious about maintaining a promotion challenge, we shouldn't be making a habit of getting beaten at home by our rivals. All the same, we don't need to turn into a long ball team, we shouldn't sack our recruitment team and we didn't have a disastrous transfer window. Honestly, the way some of our fans react to a minor setback, it makes me wonder how they manage to navigate through life. To sum up, we just have to dust ourselves down and go again.
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Ah, this is one of those strange little clubs that come up from non-league. Although apparently they were in the League before, back when Steps were in the charts. In this fixture last season, we beat them by starving them of the ball and imposing our game on them. If we do that again, they'll struggle to cope. On the other hand, if we're cautious and reactive and allow them to fire throw-ins and set pieces into our box, it'll be a long afternoon. Obviously Cameron and McGoldrick will be back. I have a feeling Macari will retain his place too. If anyone reading this hasn't got a ticket, I've just had an email saying that some more have just been released. I'd get booked quick. Mad that I'm even typing this, we used to be happy to get 6000
