League 2 General Chat Thread

[JJ1532]

Two crackers from James Jones today and 3 assists from Pickering. Potentially two of the best players at this level for me.

You sure? I had him at 2. He passed to Jones for the 4th and crossed to Porter for the 5th. The 1st had no real assister, the 2nd was a Kirk cross, the 3rd was Green setting up Nicholls and the 6th was Wintle passing to Jones.

 

[UTS]

We looked solid all round today but we were playing the completely wrong system.

No fault with any performances from the players but Lowe really held the team back today. Yeovil shat themselves every time we attacked but the system we played meant it was hard to attack effectively.

Lowe needs to learn 1 up top, won’t work with Dagnall on his own.

We’d have drawn today if Yeovil had kept their discipline. A very frustrating victory if ever there was one as it seems like deja-vu.

Pick the best players then play the team to their strengths, it’s not a hard concept. Lowe’s tactics almost cost us the game today.

 

[Huntsman94]

It's nice to watch the highlights of a game on the same day the match was played instead of having to wait 4 days... The Football league perks just keep on coming

 

[RLC]

There is quite a gulf between League Two and the National League on today's evidence. I would guess Stevenage are still mid-table standard at this level but they looked better than any team we played last season, with the possible exception of Macclesfield.

That said, I thought eight or nine of our players looked perfectly comfortable at this level and we probably had the greater creativity and played the nicer football. The lack of support for James Norwood up front could be the issue for us.

 

[Conker]

There is quite a gulf between League Two and the National League on today's evidence. I would guess Stevenage are still mid-table standard at this level but they looked better than any team we played last season, with the possible exception of Macclesfield.

That said, I thought eight or nine of our players looked perfectly comfortable at this level and we probably had the greater creativity and played the nicer football. The lack of support for James Norwood up front could be the issue for us.

It’s going to take more than one game to figure out if a player is comfortable at this level, especially the first game of the season where you can’t read much in to the results.

But yeah the gulf is big and definitely understated by those below.

 

[RLC]

It’s going to take more than one game to figure out if a player is comfortable at this level, especially the first game of the season where you can’t read much in to the results.

But yeah the gulf is big and definitely understated by those below.

The players I am referring to have either played at this level before or were outstanding talents in the division below and probably will adapt. But yes, the gulf is big and most of us would be happy with consolidation this season.

 

[Stringy]

http://www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/football/11461429/mansfield-3-0-newport

Khan goals are both excellent, Walker with a goal and a assist on his debut too!

Agreed, and I thought Khan was the standout player. I was very impressed by the timing of his runs and passes.

I thought Newport looked poor today. Maybe if they had scored next at 1-0 it would have been a tougher game.

 

[AdamStag]

Agreed, and I thought Khan was the standout player. I was very impressed by the timing of his runs and passes.

I thought Newport looked poor today. Maybe if they had scored next at 1-0 it would have been a tougher game.

They look good goals, it was nice to keep the pre-season form going. Poor Newport have had some real spankings at field mill in the recent past.

 

[Carver]

Who?

Ronnie Pickering.

You never heard of him?

 

[Crewelad87]

You sure? I had him at 2. He passed to Jones for the 4th and crossed to Porter for the 5th. The 1st had no real assister, the 2nd was a Kirk cross, the 3rd was Green setting up Nicholls and the 6th was Wintle passing to Jones.

Just watched the highlights, yes it was was Wintle to Jones for the 6th I thought it was Pickering. Sentiment still the same though.

 

[JJ1532]

Oh of course, a player with a lot of potential and will rack up the assists, even playing at LB. Should have scored with that great chance in the first half as well. One added upside of having Ng and Pickering at full back this season is that both can hit the ball well and will be goal threats.

 

[Trapdoor]

That said, I thought eight or nine of our players looked perfectly comfortable at this level and we probably had the greater creativity and played the nicer football. The lack of support for James Norwood up front could be the issue for us.

I'm quite happy that Norwood has made a career for himself (even though he acts like a bit of a twat sometimes). When we first signed him, I could see that there was definitely a player in there somewhere, he made a reasonable fist of his start with us to be honest. Really frustrating though to watch and he just never kicked on, then his work ethic went out the window and we got rid.

 

[MrGloverLover]

We looked solid all round today but we were playing the completely wrong system.

No fault with any performances from the players but Lowe really held the team back today. Yeovil shat themselves every time we attacked but the system we played meant it was hard to attack effectively.

Lowe needs to learn 1 up top, won’t work with Dagnall on his own.

We’d have drawn today if Yeovil had kept their discipline. A very frustrating victory if ever there was one as it seems like deja-vu.

Pick the best players then play the team to their strengths, it’s not a hard concept. Lowe’s tactics almost cost us the game today.

You had deja vu? It was complete groundhog day for us! We had two players sent off 4 times season and lost countless games in the last minute. Our squad looks good on paper but on the pitch...plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose.

 

[GTFCfish]

You had deja vu? It was complete groundhog day for us! We had two players sent off 4 times season and lost countless games in the last minute. Our squad looks good on paper but on the pitch...plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose.

At least we tried our best to balance out the red card count when we played you.

 

[Optipez]

Well, it's taken eight days and one defeat but the knives are out for Nolan already. On the main Notts forum they're throwing the kitchen sink at him. Bad tactics, wrong signings, not enough signings, terrible win stats since Christmas and now he has a drink problem apparantly.

 

[Casey]

Anyone want a laugh? Watch Stevenage's third goal today. Those who care about Crawley will cry, everyone else had better watch it while near a urinal.

We have Olly Palmer up front. 6ft7. I know let's only put one cross in today. That'll fool 'em!

Well done Stevenage.

Casey

 

[woburnsandsdon]

Bit of a dull match with us V Bury, won't say we nicked it, because their keeper made two cracking saves, the one in the first half was very bloody annoying tbh,other than them hitting the bar from a free kick, they didn't threaten our goal, without our main strikers kicking a ball so far this season and winning 2 out of 2 so far, that will do.

 

[DippyDon]

Bury didn't deserve to lose that, but I'm so glad they did

 

[Conker]

Well, it's taken eight days and one defeat but the knives are out for Nolan already. On the main Notts forum they're throwing the kitchen sink at him. Bad tactics, wrong signings, not enough signings, terrible win stats since Christmas and now he has a drink problem apparantly.

Noticed some of it doing the rounds.

Nolan apparently being rude and bladdered in Nottingham, the moaning about Hemmings looking uninterested during a interview is comical.

 

[TimeyWimey]

Decent performance from us today against one of the league favourites. MK didn't cause us many problems, not sure if that was our doing or them being not very good. First time I've seen us this season though and we looked a lot better than I expected, we just we look toothless up front. We get in the positions and create the chances but then faff about with it and balls it up. Encouraging overall though.

Btw, Ainley > Kirk.

 

[Franchisor]

Decent performance from us today against one of the league favourites. MK didn't cause us many problems, not sure if that was our doing or them being not very good. First time I've seen us this season though and we looked a lot better than I expected, we just we look toothless up front. We get in the positions and create the chances but then faff about with it and balls it up. Encouraging overall though.

Btw, Ainley > Kirk.

Our defence and midfield was solid and impressive (IMO) we just lacked any real potency in the final third and we're really lacking a decent front line. Has been the story for us so far this season hence why we've only won by a one goal margin against Oldham and Bury - but we've been solid at the back and this was our second clean sheet in the league in additon to one in our win over Charlton in the cup. Although we were on the backfoot for the last 20 minutes or so we held on and were never really threatened either.

Was impressed with one of Crewe's young forwards. Don't know the lad's name but he was playing on the left side attacking our goal in the second half - looked quick. Think Crewe will certainly be somewhere in the top half at the end of the season, looked stronger than both Oldham and Bury.

As for us, I'm certain we have the best defence in the league and that will bring us points alone. We probably won't smash anyone 5 or 6 nil or score many goals, but we will keep a lot of clean sheets.

Overall, a decent end to end game with few real chances but lots of quality from both sides defensively.

 

[JJ1532]

More than happy with a point from a tough home game. One thing that we struggled with last season was picking up points against the bigger and better teams, so hopefully this is us on the way to rectifying that issue.

Not too worried by the sudden lack of goals either. Newport are decent at the back, were last season and clearly are bar the one off on the opening day. Same for MK Dons. Col U on Tuesday will be similarly tough sledding, although with Miller back, it does give us some options to mix things up.

 

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

Defensively we look improved (watch us lose 4-0 to Colchester now I've said that). There are fewer silly mistakes. Yes we still make some, but bar Newport scoring past us last week we've not been punished for them. Last year we were making lots of daft mistakes every game, usually through underhit square passing or woeful defensive positioning from balls over the top and not dealing with them accordingly. The fact we have two clean sheets in our opening three games is encouraging.

Yes we've not scored in the league since the Morecambe game, but the creativity is there, it's the final ball that's letting us down. I thought MK's defence were outstanding yesterday and really made it hard for Nicholls who was bullied by them. Bowery couldn't influence the game either. Soon as Porter and Miller came on though we looked like we could hurt the MK defence with their physicality. I'd play both of them up top if fully fit for the Colchester game and give Nicholls and Bowery a rest. Think playing Hunt against the pacey Colchester forwards will be suicide so if Ray's not back I'd play Walker or Raynes at centre half and push Ng to RB.

Thought everyone who started yesterday except Jones had a good game. Jones was off the pace, lethargic and his passing was woeful compared to Green and Wintle. I do feel for him though because he's not a wide midfielder but you have to play him because he's the one we're looking to sell. At the same time, Green and Wintle are playing so well that you can't drop either of them to accommodate him, but then we can't play a proper 4-3-3 effectively either with the personnel we have as there's not much width and pace in this side and you'd risk unsettling the strikers, and the best Crewe sides have always had two up top.

 

[Franchisor]

Defensively we look improved (watch us lose 4-0 to Colchester now I've said that). There are fewer silly mistakes. Yes we still make some, but bar Newport scoring past us last week we've not been punished for them. Last year we were making lots of daft mistakes every game, usually through underhit square passing or woeful defensive positioning from balls over the top and not dealing with them accordingly. The fact we have two clean sheets in our opening three games is encouraging.

Yes we've not scored in the league since the Morecambe game, but the creativity is there, it's the final ball that's letting us down. I thought MK's defence were outstanding yesterday and really made it hard for Nicholls who was bullied by them. Bowery couldn't influence the game either. Soon as Porter and Miller came on though we looked like we could hurt the MK defence with their physicality. I'd play both of them up top if fully fit for the Colchester game and give Nicholls and Bowery a rest. Think playing Hunt against the pacey Colchester forwards will be suicide so if Ray's not back I'd play Walker or Raynes at centre half and push Ng to RB.

Thought everyone who started yesterday except Jones had a good game. Jones was off the pace, lethargic and his passing was woeful compared to Green and Wintle. I do feel for him though because he's not a wide midfielder but you have to play him because he's the one we're looking to sell. At the same time, Green and Wintle are playing so well that you can't drop either of them to accommodate him, but then we can't play a proper 4-3-3 effectively either with the personnel we have as there's not much width and pace in this side and you'd risk unsettling the strikers, and the best Crewe sides have always had two up top.

Like I said in my last post it was a tough end to end game with few clear chances, but both clubs were excellent defensively. As well as being impressed with our own defenders, Crewe's were very good too - they managed to really restrict Agard for most of the game who looked frustrated.

Not sure why our player who had just come on (Baudry) decided to two foot one of yours - was a clear red and no complaints from me. Maybe he was just overexcited.

 

[DippyDon]

Thought yesterday was a fair result that showed that we're maybe one attacker away from a really top side in this league. Whether that's Aneke or Newton of Stevenage I'm not sure but we need something else. Cisse has been a revelation up top though and Watson really impressed me. I'll have to look at the penalty claims again, but the one in the second half looked clear to me.

Our mob were in good voice as well, 455 is more than we took in the January of our promotion season, so maybe the drop in leagues has done the fans wonders as well as the team.

All in all I'm not overly disappointed, Crewe impressed me and our defence remains as strong as ever. We only look one player off a very good side which I'm sure Tisdale and co are working on.

 

[Luke Imp]

How the hell do you overspend by £750k, Notts?!

https://www.nottinghampost.com/sport/football/football-news/alan-hardy-reveals-notts-county-1977865

 

[The_Viking_Magpie]

12 businesses ?!?!?!?

1993!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Imp in Branston]

How the hell do you overspend by £750k, Notts?!

https://www.nottinghampost.com/sport/football/football-news/alan-hardy-reveals-notts-county-1977865

I can predict what the Notts fans will say. it's all totally under control, nothing to be concerned about and they aren't worried in the slightest about the amount of debt the club accrue on a year by year basis because Hardy has deep pockets.

As for overspending 750k, more like Laurel and Hardy.

 

[Impish]

Strange interview that. If that's meant to be a rallying call it flopped in the first paragraph when he says he regrets buying the club.
Don't really understand the Kewell appointment just don't see it as a good fit at this fragile moment in time. Could be disastrous.

 

[The_Viking_Magpie]

Wrong, well badly wrong as far as I’m concerned. My stock answer is always ‘it’s not my money’ , so I don’t lose any sleep over it. If he wants to overspend , throw money at the playing squad to try and improve our fortunes good on him. The real question is which of his other 11 businesses suffers the most?

As for the Kewell appointment , like most shit lower league clubs, Lincoln have a some prime examples of shocking appointments in the not too distant past. No need for me to highlight them you already know. So maybe Impish and the other young Imps know their stuff on this subject#stain