Saturday 25th November

[Gunit]

I wish I was surprised.

Told you’d they’d struggle to score.

 

[womble76]

Probably not much..however ali hamadi ripped you.apart.

 

[Boz]

Told you’d they’d struggle to score.

To be fair you did mention our one player to watch on the right, loanee Rob Apter who chipped in with two of the goals. I wasn't at the game and have only seen brief highlights, but sounds like Gillingham were unable to make the most of their greater possession

 

[lordofthepies]

Can’t believe Crewe keep beefing us because some people shouted at a linesman. Didn’t even get such small time behaviour from Dover and Chorley.

It wasn't us who tried to murder a lino for correctly flagging for a penalty

 

[Indian Dan]

Just one thing. Stags had a very decent 685 turnout, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many elderly away fans. I’m no spring chicken but i can still get about under my own steam. There were so many of them in The Merlin I couldn’t get a drink and had to make do with the bar at the ground

 

[jacobncfc]

Just one thing. Stags had a very decent 685 turnout, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many elderly away fans. I’m no spring chicken but i can still get about under my own steam. There were so many of them in The Merlin I couldn’t get a drink and had to make do with the bar at the ground

 

[The_Viking_Magpie]

It wasn't us who tried to murder a lino for correctly flagging for a penalty

No wonder Crewe traditionally have a reputation of being soft and sensitive.

A+ melodrama

 

[The_Viking_Magpie]

Just one thing. Stags had a very decent 685 turnout, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many elderly away fans. I’m no spring chicken but i can still get about under my own steam. There were so many of them in The Merlin I couldn’t get a drink and had to make do with the bar at the ground

Quite the opposite down in SW17, youngsters here, there, everywhere in that away end. Pleasantly shocked.

Great to see and a contrast to what I was used as a youngster myself following Notts home and away.

 

[jacobncfc]

Now, I’m no goalkeeping coach, but…

 

[Reginald Fodstain]

To be fair you did mention our one player to watch on the right, loanee Rob Apter who chipped in with two of the goals. I wasn't at the game and have only seen brief highlights, but sounds like Gillingham were unable to make the most of their greater possession

We took our chances and Gillingham lacked any end product, but we look so much more solid playing 442. Last three games unbeaten since the change in formation - makes you wonder what had happened if they'd switched it up two months ago when it was obvious to everyone watching that 433 was suicidal. Brad Walker had a great game and bossed the midfield, and yes, we'll do very well to keep hold of Apter. If he had a right foot, he'd be championship quality.

 

[WilsdenBantam]

Just one thing. Stags had a very decent 685 turnout, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many elderly away fans. I’m no spring chicken but i can still get about under my own steam. There were so many of them in The Merlin I couldn’t get a drink and had to make do with the bar at the ground

Bet the dine in fish and chip shops were happy.

 

[AdamStag]

Didn’t see anything of the game as was on a works du. However the stats looked slightly skewed in swindon’s favour and over a course of a season you’re going to lose games like that (like ones we’ve got something from we shouldn’t have)
Had a funny feeling about the game and lumped £15 on swindon to win and sadly won the best part of £50 back.

 

[northstandexile]

Just one thing. Stags had a very decent 685 turnout, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many elderly away fans. I’m no spring chicken but i can still get about under my own steam. There were so many of them in The Merlin I couldn’t get a drink and had to make do with the bar at the ground

The majority of us remember the three seasons between 1974-77
We all want to see one more promotion before we all clog it.

 

[JJ1990]

Thought we were shaky yesterday. Missing players starting to bite, a few players look like they need a rest and a break from starting. Midfield was poor, attackers struggled to generate anything in the 2nd half.

Still, got over the line in the end with the defenders stepping up once again with their 11th, 12th and 13th goals of the season in the league and 11th assist as well. Sticking in the promotion hunt and got a healthy 7 point gap down to 8th.

 

[JJ1990]

Notts County are a team that interest me more than most others in L2 because of their manager and how they play. Williams is clearly a smart guy who knows what he's doing. But the flaws in his squad building are evident. Having a small squad is always dangerous at this level. Lose 1-2 key players and suddenly the depth behind them is non-existent. I'm shocked by how thin they are all over the pitch. Ok I know they are without Palmer and Scott, who are both big losses. But still, every week they have no attacking depth to give the likes of McGoldrick or Langstaff a break should they need it. In midfield, behind Bostock and Palmer it's a soon to be retired O'Brien. Need more than that.

Defensively I get holding onto players who helped get you promoted, sometimes you need the cold hard reality of going up a level to show just how far off the raised standard some are. But they didn't sign enough proven EFL experience. Mansfield signed Flint. Wrexham signed Boyle. Stockport have Horsfall. Heck, even we have Demetriou. They need more quality back there.

I also find his reluctance to have any sort of youth in the team baffling. Has he ever explained why he has so few under 25s in the squad aside?

I also think he badly fumbled the goalkeeper situation in the summer. Port Vale fans could have told you Aidan Stone was a very average keeper. Why he was trusted to be the number 1 I don't know. As for Slocombe, his best days are clearly behind him.

The flaws in how they play are evident. No defensive specialist in midfield and 2 attack minded wing backs who often leave the back 3 exposed to fast, physical teams. Yet Williams never seems to adjust the tactics to give the defence more cover.

I said in the summer that I thought Wrexham will finish above Notts because they play a style more suited to L2 and I think that is playing out. Until they find a better blend between attack and defence, they'll keep conceding too many goals.

I know that is a lot of criticism for a side currently 6th and who have the 2nd most goals scored in the league. But there is definitely a lot to think about for Williams and his staff.

 

[1862]

I'm not going through that point by point, the criticism of the recruitment is fair but doesn't really fall at Williams' feet, that's not our model. On the wing backs, our more defensive wing back option has been out injured until yesterday.

I'm no expert so I can't say exactly how you'd change the tactics to be more defensively solid, but do we have the players to play different systems? I'm not sure. Do we have the budget to go out and get all these required upgrades in January? I guess we'll see.

 

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

After the amount of times I've seen Doncaster score injury time winners against us over the years, it was very pleasing to score an injury time winner ourselves.

We weren't anywhere near our best but I'm going to refrain from any criticism given the result. Some of the finishing from our defenders yesterday was absolutely magnificent and it gives us a new tactical dimension. Some of those moves yesterday reminded me of Chris Wilder's Sheffield United side when they had the overlapping centre halves. Excellent football and can catch the opposition well and truly off guard.

Squad may look knackered but I still back us to show enough quality beat Sutton on Tuesday. Doncaster were an awkward opponent who played good football at times and I'm sure they'll be climbing up the league soon.

 

[womble76]

I agree with all of that. Although that doesn't bode well if we do find ourselves in the playoffs. I said the very same thing at HT, we are flat track bullies beat Joe Average and the Piss Poor teams (you know who you are ) but a quality side who can press and who are organised we struggle against big time. Bar those 15/20 mins when we were all over them and looked fantastic it's just not long enough

Absolutely world class Nottsing today. All four goals a complete individual defensive howler, incredible stuff. At least it’s not boring, but there is a part of you that’s like ‘imagine if we could do a little bit of defending’. God knows what our forward line thinks about it.

Al hamadi tore your defence apart all game yesterday. They can't cope with someone running at them with pace.

 

[chief]

That was sexy.

Morecambe are fortunate they've amassed the points they have already, as they'll be at sea without Adams. They looked a couple of levels below us yesterday, huge gap in quality all over.

Nice response to the poor game at Accrington, and great for Mullin to get a hat trick.

 

[The_Viking_Magpie]

In the main it's valid criticism and I can understand why Notts and Williams are obviously a lot of interest for others. It's a different model which has very interesting results.

Wrexham were always more likely to finish about Notts, they did at National League level, their budget is considerably greater than ours (6th is us overachieving on that barometer) and agree their style suits L2 more. So that statement was a pretty safe bet.

Getting the balance of a side is difficult as all football fans know, both playing wise and recruitment wise. We haven't got it right but our recruitment using the owners football has been absolutely fantastic far more hits than misses.

Plus it's our first season back at this level. It's been fun so far, the locals are very happy and the future looks good and very positive.

January will tell us a fair bit about the owners view of this season.

 

[The_Viking_Magpie]

Al hamadi tore your defence apart all game yesterday. They can't cope with someone running at them with pace.

True. We missed Baldwin who may have helped with his pace in that department.

Al Hamadi was my MOTM because of this (all game) Nemane probably Notts best performer as he had the beating of his full back who required backup to cope with him and Crowley throughout the second half.

 

[chief]

Has anybody talked about Barrow flying under the radar yet?

 

[Tinpot and proud]

Has anybody talked about Barrow flying under the radar yet?

Nothing to see here !!!! Move along.


Phew.....that was close !!

 

[BarraMatt]

Mandela Egbo is a bellend.

 

[Alfie]

Has anybody talked about Barrow flying under the radar yet?

BARROW :- Top of the current Form Table
Bloody Hell

 

[Son of Cod]

Sack it off mate and come watch some Korean horrors with me.

I'm happy to talk about literally anything other than today's game, so, what yer watching? I loved I Saw The Devil, absolute classic. The Wailing too

The Wailing is a great film. Highly recommend Thirst as well if you've not seen that.

 

[Youpies]

Some very valid criticisms of Notts in this thread but I'm still holding onto some positives

We weren't dominated by Dons. 4 - 2 was a flattering score line in a game that could easily have been a draw or away win or the actual result.

I'm still pretty convinced the first penalty was soft. The way Evans jumped is a pretty good indicator there was no contact. I'm also pretty sure Currie handled in the box whilst already on a yellow. Langstaff had 2 good chances squandered. Couple of crosses just missed their targets etc

Our squad is very thin. Palmer is a huge miss and is basically our metronome which makes Williams ball happen. Not having suitable back up there was our biggest mistake. Gosling looks done as a professional footballer. Carrying too much weight, not convinced he has the pace of body or mind to play in this country and may get by in lower leagues on Europe.

Goalkeeper as correctly highlighted above is our weakest position. Stone and Slocombe not the required level no matter how good they are in the dressing room.

Notts fans around me in the ground pretty much blamed everyone bar Bostock, Langstaff, and Didz for yesterday but I think we need to remember we are in a good position to challenge for autos and play offs still. League two is not a 100 point league. Sort out some defenders and more midfield options and we should be ok.

I also want to praise Dons. They are a good side as the table shows. I can see why they are not prolific at home because they play like an away side but they have technical footballers with some pace and quality in key positions. Game plan from Jonny Jackson was spot on

 

[Master D]

That non-penalty award in the Walsall game was pretty mad. Worst decision I've seen all season in any match.

 

[Richard Cranium]

How’d that work out for you?

Was close

 

[TheEndIsNigh]

Notts County are a team that interest me more than most others in L2 because of their manager and how they play. Williams is clearly a smart guy who knows what he's doing. But the flaws in his squad building are evident. Having a small squad is always dangerous at this level. Lose 1-2 key players and suddenly the depth behind them is non-existent. I'm shocked by how thin they are all over the pitch. Ok I know they are without Palmer and Scott, who are both big losses. But still, ever week they have no attacking depth to give the likes of McGoldrick or Langstaff a break should they need it. In midfield, behind Bostock and Palmer it's a soon to be retired O'Brien. Need more than that.

Defensively I get holding onto players who helped get you promoted, sometimes you need the cold hard reality of going up a level to show just how far off the raised standard some are. But they didn't sign enough proven EFL experience. Mansfield signed Flint. Wrexham signed Boyle. Stockport have Horsfall. Heck, even we have Demetriou. They need more quality back there.

I also find his reluctance to have any sort of youth in the team baffling. Has he ever explained why he has so few under 25s in the squad aside?

I also think he badly fumbled the goalkeeper situation in the summer. Port Vale fans could have told you Aidan Stone was a very average keeper. Why he was trusted to be the number 1 I don't know. As for Slocombe, his best days are clearly behind him.

The flaws in how they play are evident. No defensive specialist in midfield and 2 attack minded wing backs who often leave the back 3 exposed to fast, physical teams. Yet Williams never seems to adjust the tactics to give the defence more cover.

I said in the summer that I thought Wrexham will finish above Notts because they play a style more suited to L2 and I think that is playing out. Until they find a better blend between attack and defence, they'll keep conceding too many goals.

I know that is a lot of criticism for a side currently 6th and who have the 2nd most goals scored in the league. But there is definitely a lot to think about for Williams and his staff.

Very fair criticisms, and ones that most Notts fans would agree with I think, other than the squad’s limitations should be laid at the club’s door rather than Williams. His choice of keeper continues to mystify though. 3 of the defenders and Slocombe all started the first day of the season 2+ a half years ago in non league, it’s not that much of a surprise we’re really struggling in that department. And we weren’t that great defensively that season either.

McGoldrick’s starting to piss me off as well. Can do it against the shit teams at home, nowhere to be seen against anyone decent or pretty much anyone away.