National League fixtures 28/12

[Gatekeeper]

Agreed.

They have a steady squad who know what they're good at by the looks of things.

Everyone else is still gelling or bringing in new players every week, hoping it will all just click.

Everyone! Our squad has changed little from last season.

 

[jacobncfc]

Everyone! Our squad has changed little from last season.

Ours is largely the same as well - two new signings start regularly for us.

 

[B2TF]

Back in the play-offs.

 

[EnglishRed]

You were poor bro, not going to lie. Can see why the guys behind your new takeover may want someone else to be in charge to spend the increased budget they will likely put on the table.

This season is a washout anyway.

I think if we can keep our noses in the Play Offs in the PPG table we may just get a shot at promotion and it would depend how we shaped up around May to see if we could go on and win them. We've been far from good enough so far, better first half today.

We were rubbish. Particularly the first half. The whole club is in limbo until we sell. Players don't seem bothered, management are clueless.

I'm worried about the timing because by the time the sale wraps up and the various FAs pull their fingers out our transfer window will have closed. At least we can then bring in a new manager which might give our players a kick up the arse.

 

[slaphead]

Everyone! Our squad has changed little from last season.

unfortunately, neither has ours, which explains why we are shit. Searle out.

 

[Master D]

We can’t be expected to beat teams with these sort of budgets.

 

[sadgull]

We haven't won anything yet. Yes we have been on a good run and can eke out results. We have more experience in the squad this year than last which is helping. However we have lots of injuries now and Wright and Little out for several weeks with hamstring injuries. Ben Wynter at right back massive miss at the moment and centre halfs 9r midfielders playing out of position. Walters was injured today too so only Umerah up front.
At least one loanee required for Yeovil. We looked good today first half and Weymouth scored with their only shot on target. Even an early second half goal didn't help. We were poor defensively today . Weymouth played well though and will stay up if they play like that.

 

[AJS]

Got away with one there, but got to take it when you get them.

Agreed. Alty deserved a point. We’ve drawn/lost games undeservedly this season though so nice to see it go in our favour for a change

 

[MrGloverLover]

Now we have a few answers about our players who have been missing lately.

Rhys Murphy waiting on result of a Covid-19 test after family member was exposed. Josh Staunton set to miss rest of the season with complication to a knee injury. Gabby Rogers has handed in a transfer request.

Rogers is a real blow as he's an extremely promising yiung player who has come through our academy. It seems he's both unhappy about his lack of game time and (allegedly) has had a set to with the coaching staff.

Although Rogers has now posted on Insta "Don't believe everything you hear". Fingers crossed.

 

[Soup Ladle]

No clue how Notts never scored in that second half, they created enough chances to win two games, looks like the disallowed goal was level, so very harsh decision to take.

Great three points for us though, better team first half, backs to the wall, one way traffic in the second.

Just shows we're not far away from the shake up, Armstrong was the main thing we lacked. Margins are fine in this league and if you can find a goalscorer you're in with a sniff.

We're now able to grind out results, it was either shit or bust with us.

Obviously wouldn't be 2nd if everyone all played the same number of games but enough here to make a push providing the season can finish somehow.

 

[Who Needs Mourinho]

We can’t be expected to beat teams with these sort of budgets.

Until you have an even bigger budget when the Hollywood takeover goes through

First half was the first time this season that we actually looked liked a good team and we played some really nice stuff but I found it strange Keates waited until HT till he decided he needed to press us and try and stop us playing out from the back.

 

[TheEndIsNigh]

Fair play to Pools today, easily the better side in the first half and then rode their luck out in the second half, despite playing 2 days ago when we hadn’t played for 2 weeks.

Fucking ell, quite why the owners (and fans) are showing so much patience with the bloke who TOOK US OUT OF THE LEAGUE fuck only knows, but all I know is that we’ll only move forward on the pitch once that idiot is out of the club.

 

[Chief Rocka]

Just shows we're not far away from the shake up, Armstrong was the main thing we lacked. Margins are fine in this league and if you can find a goalscorer you're in with a sniff.

We're now able to grind out results, it was either shit or bust with us.

Obviously wouldn't be 2nd if everyone all played the same number of games but enough here to make a push providing the season can finish somehow.

Aye, I think the change in formation has helped, having two strikers on the pitch we look a lot more dangerous going forward and the three centre backs has worked a charm so far, today we rode our luck in the second half, had a helping hand from the lino and some abysmal finishing from Notts but it's three points, all that matters.

And will you dirty bastards stop trying to kick us off the pitch, that's four reds in four league games now, I know we're like watching Brazil but how aye cut it out, thuggery is not the answer!

 

[Soup Ladle]

Aye, I think the change in formation has helped, having two strikers on the pitch we look a lot more dangerous going forward and the three centre backs has worked a charm so far, today we rode our luck in the second half, had a helping hand from the lino and some abysmal finishing from Notts but it's three points, all that matters.

And will you dirty bastards stop trying to kick us off the pitch, that's four reds in four league games now, I know we're like watching Brazil but how aye cut it out, thuggery is not the answer!

Not been paying a lot of attention recently but isn't it 5 reds?

Didn't think 352 would work with us coz of all the out and out wingers we have, but the signing of the lad, full back from South Shields seems a good one and adds balance.

Challinaaaa was looking a bit desperate after the Woking shitshow so whether it was a masterstroke or he had to go with it (can't remember) looks like it's working.

Oates doing the donkey work and Armstrong in the box looks a good combo - he reminds me of Joe Allon, how he played.

 

[jacobncfc]

Oates was fantastic first half, ran us ragged.

Only thing I’d question is how quickly you went very, very negative and deep. I think if we’d have scored once then we’d have gone on to win it, but hey, it worked just about.

 

[Soup Ladle]

Oates was fantastic first half, ran us ragged.

Only thing I’d question is how quickly you went very, very negative and deep. I think if we’d have scored once then we’d have gone on to win it, but hey, it worked just about.

Players have since come out and said they were knackered, 3 games in 6 days.

 

[Optipez]

Frustrating day, Knowles certainly onside but if we had a poacher like Armstrong we’d have likely won. The expectation levels at Meadow Lane mean every game at Notts now results in a prolonged tactical analysis and a massive debate about whether Ardley should remain in his post or not, regardless of the outcome, so I’ll be checking out of social media for the night!

We've got a poacher.. Knowles. Scores very regularly but we refuse to be brave and play two up top. Wasting Wootton , wasting Knowles.

 

[Optipez]

Fair play to Pools, defended resolutely, scored a goal and had a better plan than us.
Ardley now simply has to ditch the overly cautious approach to matches. We're playing catch up, not scoring consistently and not looking like winning many games and none comfortably. We have more in the tank than he's getting out and is heading for the sack. I've been a big supporter of his but this timidity is failing us.

 

[chief]

Until you have an even bigger budget when the Hollywood takeover goes through

First half was the first time this season that we actually looked liked a good team and we played some really nice stuff but I found it strange Keates waited until HT till he decided he needed to press us and try and stop us playing out from the back.

He's incapable of talking to his players while the match is happening. Half time was the first chance he had.

 

[EnglishRed]

He's incapable of talking to his players while the match is happening. Half time was the first chance he had.

Terrible first half performances seem to be a hallmark of Keates ball, I have no idea what they talk about before games. And the players never react to things themselves, so much for getting leaders into the squad.

The exception being Yeovil when we played well in the first half and then were poor in the second half.

 

[jacobncfc]

Fair play to Pools, defended resolutely, scored a goal and had a better plan than us.
Ardley now simply has to ditch the overly cautious approach to matches. We're playing catch up, not scoring consistently and not looking like winning many games and none comfortably. We have more in the tank than he's getting out and is heading for the sack. I've been a big supporter of his but this timidity is failing us.

Need to see how it looks when Roberts and Thomas are back, if we’re still struggling for goals then he might be in trouble.

 

[Optipez]

Need to see how it looks when Roberts and Thomas are back, if we’re still struggling for goals then he might be in trouble.

You can't wait for something round the corner. There's enough in that squad and he signed Walker as cover for Roberts. He needs to lose one of the holding midfielders, I'd keep Reeves and rest Doyle.
The same faults keep recurring, lack of energy in midfield, not creating enough chances, struggling to score more than a goal a game.
He plays one up because he doesn't believe we're strong enough to play just two central midfielders.

 

[jacobncfc]

You can't wait for something round the corner. There's enough in that squad and he signed Walker as cover for Roberts. He needs to lose one of the holding midfielders, I'd keep Reeves and rest Doyle.
The same faults keep recurring, lack of energy in midfield, not creating enough chances, struggling to score more than a goal a game.
He plays one up because he doesn't believe we're strong enough to play just two central midfielders.

I agree that with Roberts out we don’t have enough goal threat with just one striker and need to get Knowles in.

 

[Optipez]

I agree that with Roberts out we don’t have enough goal threat with just one striker and need to get Knowles in.

I'm an Ardley fan, don't want him sacked and think he's a great organiser of the whole club with a very good eye for spotting talent. He's got a lot going for him, I just think that managers like Warnock, Allardyce and Howard Wilkinson were equally well organised but were more single minded on the fact that getting wins was everything and would take calculated risks. Each of them would have changed our line up at 0-0, not waited until we were losing.

 

[Optipez]

I'm an Ardley fan, don't want him sacked and think he's a great organiser of the whole club with a very good eye for spotting talent. He's got a lot going for him, I just think that managers like Warnock, Allardyce and Howard Wilkinson were equally well organised but were more single minded on the fact that getting wins was everything and would take calculated risks. Each of them would have changed our line up at 0-0, not waited until we were losing.

Should add, it's really fine margins and not a case of he's useless, sack it all off and start again.

 

[Luke Imp]

Neal Ardley sounds very Paul Hurst when he was down here with Grimsby.