Thursday 12th & Saturday 14th September

[valefan16]

Yes, physical press over 90 mins is tiring and it's now a squad game where you expect at least three subs to be brought on to maintain it. Not much Man City total football more used to seeing teams happy to break and plenty of crosses into the box.

I did expect us to tire with the press but we didn’t today, largely down to the 5 subs you can make and the depth we have in the squad. (Ronan Curtis didn’t even make the bench!) got to be adaptable, we found a way to pin Chesterfield back but each game presents a different challenge.

One thing Chesterfield might struggle with is that they have quite an ageing squad so high energy teams might cause them problems physically.

That said after our last meeting it was great to see both clubs today with decent numbers and two of the better run clubs who off the field are certainly on an upward trajectory going forward (can probably include Notts in that too) after spending much of the 10s wallowing in failure and certainly with us poor ownership.

Plenty for both sets of fans to be positive about regardless of the result today.

 

[Cloudy]

Just occasionally footballing miracles do happen....
Grimsby 1 Barrow 2.
A bit tense at times 2nd half, but we held on for (i think) only our 2nd ever win at the fishy folk.
Not many sides will end up winning at Grimsby this season, so a great result.

Thought Barrow just about deserved the points. Two poor goals to concede by Grimsby, but hand on heart, just reward for a slow lethargic performance. Improved a little after the break, hit the post had a goal disallowed, but too little too late.
Don’t think Grimsby will be relagation material and hopefully half way finish beconds

 

[The_Viking_Magpie]

You won't go down with Artell is charge. We won't go up with Artell is charge. So your hope should be realised.

 

[GTFCfish]

Cheers Kiersy.

The upside is that taking my Nanna’s winter fuel allowance off her means she can’t afford a season ticket for next year so she’s fucking buzzing now.

 

[jacobncfc]

One thing Chesterfield might struggle with is that they have quite an ageing squad so high energy teams might cause them problems physically.

 

[spireite]

Ironically, I think it's the younger lads who struggled to cope with the tempo today. We had a Everton youth lad making his debut in the engine room, and I think Gordon and the young Tanton at right back did not enjoy how tightly they were marked and pressed either. That's not to say the older statemen might not struggle as the season goes on! But not today

 

[valefan16]

A good example was Vale in 17/18 which had Tonge, Kay and Pugh as our midfield, would of been class had we had them in maybe 12/13 but it was clear we didn’t have the legs often and whilst clever players in their own right it can pose issues, especially when we start to get to the 6-7 game months.

 

[OneDecentLester]

In our starting lineup today we had:

Tanton - 20
Gordon - 23
Metcalfe - 19
Dobra - 23
Markanday - 23
Berry - 23

Today’s loss was nothing to do with an ‘ageing’ squad, we just didn’t play well & Vale did

 

[saddler78]

Thought we deserved the win over the 90 minutes dominated the first half Bradford had a 20 minute spell in the second half where they should probably have scored but you don't win games playing for 20 minutes it's a 90 plus minutes game and for once Cook didn't score against us.Thats probably another game we would have lost last season this team is nothing but hardworking and resilient that can go a long way at this level.The social media meltdown from some Bradford fans has been amusing they shouldn't be losing to clubs like us apparently that's not a slight on the lads on here who are a decent bunch and seem well balanced .

 

[Grimsby Road]

Barrow look a decent side and will probaably challenge top 7 alongside Chesterfield and Notts will be up around top 3 i suspect so we have faced 3/6 of the better sides .

Bromley is a big game next week as I suspect they will be competing in 'our area' of midtable to bottom half/relegation contenders - lose that and things could start getting tetchy for Artell already ; I get the feeling around half the fanbase are not keen and have not been since all the pumpings last season - he needs results really and soon or the pressure will be on .

We are a good team when things click but very weak /mentally fragile when the going gets tough ; the worry is we have seen what happens to teams like that in this league before - Rochdale from a few years ago is the first that comes to mind .

 

[CFC91]

Some very fair views from both sides here and I am probably in danger of repeating them but here’s my take

Was in the hospitality so had a view from high up on the half way line in the ‘new’ stand at VP. Food was very nice by the way, and the staff are fab, I do quite a few of these through work and never been anywhere where they were so friendly

As for the game..Deserved nothing, but the game was a poor one really, felt it never really got going.

We were bullied, out fought and ran all over, particularly in midfield. They had 6 booked, and we had no shots on target which says it all

Naylor needs to play CDM, for various reasons - but the main one is he is our best player there, and second one is he isn?t good enough in the air

We looked very toothless up top, Grigg barely had a sniff, and Drummond even less so

We rely a lot on getting on the ball and getting it out wide, their press and intensity meant we never could get Dobs, Markanday and Berry into the game at all, Vale had clearly done their homework

Banks was too deep at times in search of the ball, as a result, not where we need him.

 

[valefan16]

To be fair on the six bookings the referee was absolutely dreadful, loved himself! Had him at Portsmouth a couple of years ago where he was pretty much all over Colby Bishop.

Booked Stockley for kicking the ball away when half way through a volley to try and keep it in, Kyle John when the Chesterfield player ran into him and was so picky he made Chislett move the ball about an inch at a FK, even used the magic spray for a drop ball! Seemed to give decisions against us for being physical but let a lot go the other way at times like when BBB was absolutely poleaxed.

Nothing major but waved cards like confetti to us at times. Incredible hair style mind.

 

[Cloudy]

Barrow look a decent side and will probaably challenge top 7 alongside Chesterfield and Notts will be up around top 3 i suspect so we have faced 3/6 of the better sides .

Bromley is a big game next week as I suspect they will be competing in 'our area' of midtable to bottom half/relegation contenders - lose that and things could start getting tetchy for Artell already ; I get the feeling around half the fanbase are not keen and have not been since all the pumpings last season - he needs results really and soon or the pressure will be on .

We are a good team when things click but very weak /mentally fragile when the going gets tough ; the worry is we have seen what happens to teams like that in this league before - Rochdale from a few years ago is the first that comes to mind .

Don’t think Artell is under any pressure from the board. He will have their total support because they are totally aligned to what they are trying to achieve.

Fan base are different. Don’t know if it is the same everywhere but many GTFC fans are happiest when they are moaning. The negativity yesterday was amazing. We didn’t play well, we were off the pace from the start, but the crowd were constantly on the players backs. That cannot help. One goon was shouting “stop passing the fu#’ing ball to each other”. Others wanting it knocked long to our 5ft 9 centre forward. It ain’t happening!

I think Grimsby will be fine this season, there will be some good wins and some disappointment performances and defeats. They will even themselves out over the season.

I’d be more worried if I had the budget of MK and were performing like them

 

[The_Viking_Magpie]

It's definitely the same at Notts. I imagine it's the same everywhere when things aren't going great. The demands to gerritt forward followed by the moan when it's meat and drink for the towering centre halves and we've lost possession are far too commonplace. Can I guess that these moans are predominantly from the older demographic at Brundell Park like is the case at Meadow Lane? When things are working these old boys instantly go to operation hit and hope and want it limped forward.

The fans you mention have two settings:

1. Moan and complain
2. Silence and disappear

Currently at Notts it's thankfully setting No.2 but as we saw last season that won't last long once we lose a couple. At the moment there only moans are the classic 'what if' moans. They are my favourite.

Oh and totally agree the owners are more patient than the fanbase, when it's the other way around like it was on under Hardy the club is in big trouble

 

[Son of Cod]

We were absolute pish in the first half but the goals we conceded were once again soft as shit which is becoming increasingly frustrating as it continues to cost points. Lots of huffing and puffing in the second half but ultimately no blowing down of any houses.

Barrow were excellent in the middle of the park and Sam Foley, who was superb here last season, was once again the best player on the pitch for me. Our current midfield lacks a vast amount of EFL experience and it was painfully obvious yesterday. McEachran is a good player to have when things are going well but when you're chasing a match against a midfield that is snapping and snarling into every fifty-fifty ball his inefficiencies become apparent. Khouri, too, is as naive as his appearance count suggests at times despite having come on leaps and bounds of late.

A note on Barrow's LB too. If that's his level every week then what a ridiculous signing. Looks every bit a player that played almost 20+ times in the Championship this season.

Crap performance and result all in all but we got away with it in this fixture last season so feels a bit like karma swinging its axe.

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

I always find when things go wrong the first complaints are usually always about the fact they don’t pass it, ‘get it in the deck’ with some logic that getting L2 players to pass the ball will suddenly turn that side into Real Madrid.

Then they will always say this is the single ‘worst side ever seen in 30 odd years’ even though you can probably look back to sides actually relegated out of L2 years or did crap in non league or sides who were horrific but regardless this side is 100% the worst ever.

 

[hellogregory]

I always find when things go wrong the first complaints are usually always about the fact they don’t pass it, ‘get it in the deck’ with some logic that getting L2 players to pass the ball will suddenly turn that side into Real Madrid.

Then they will always say this is the single ‘worst side ever seen in 30 odd years’ even though you can probably look back to sides actually relegated out of L2 years or did crap in non league or sides who were horrific but regardless this side is 100% the worst ever.

It’s a pretty obvious thing though isn’t it and it’s a fairly basic thing to ask or expect, being able to pass a football. If you can pass a ball to a team mate you’re going to stand a better chance of winning football matches. If you give it away 9 times out of 10 then you’re more than likely going to struggle.

 

[Cloudy]

It's definitely the same at Notts. I imagine it's the same everywhere when things aren't going great. The demands to gerritt forward followed by the moan when it's meat and drink for the towering centre halves and we've lost possession are far too commonplace. Can I guess that these moans are predominantly from the older demographic at Brundell Park like is the case at Meadow Lane? When things are working these old boys instantly go to operation hit and hope and want it limped forward.

The fans you mention have two settings:

1. Moan and complain
2. Silence and disappear

Currently at Notts it's thankfully setting No.2 but as we saw last season that won't last long once we lose a couple. At the moment there only moans are the classic 'what if' moans. They are my favourite.

Oh and totally agree the owners are more patient than the fanbase, when it's the other way around like it was on under Hardy the club is in big trouble

Thanks, it seems our fanbases are similar. Incidentally, I am very much in the ‘older demographic’ !!!.

 

[Kauto Star]

Great to see the proper Dons giving the fake ones a good beating yesterday.

 

[The_Viking_Magpie]

Thanks, it seems our fanbases are similar. Incidentally, I am very much in the ‘older demographic’ !!!.

Then you are one of the good old'uns.

Resist the moan

 

[Stocky]

Pleased Barrow have started well. They are a well run club and Wild made it all about him performing miracles etc which was bollocks, I said as much at the time and it was no criticism of Barrow as a club, quite the opposite.

 

[Luke Imp]

Was Wright dropped yesterday, Cods?

 

[Stocky]

Notts County going very well. I consistently said last season they had one of if not the best squads in the division. I couldn't believe how low they finished. They started off great and yes Williams leaving did seem to affect them but they started to hit a few bumps before then.

It's a tale of caution for this season but it will only take steady management to keep them right up there.

I also said Langstaff wasn't a great all round striker and stand by it. Great goalscorer but as long as you have others who can share the load, they'll be fine. He was the most dispensable player by far. Not a patch on Jones, Crowley etc.

Basically, I was right about everything as per usual.

 

[Soz]

To be fair on the six bookings the referee was absolutely dreadful, loved himself! Had him at Portsmouth a couple of years ago where he was pretty much all over Colby Bishop.

Booked Stockley for kicking the ball away when half way through a volley to try and keep it in, Kyle John when the Chesterfield player ran into him and was so picky he made Chislett move the ball about an inch at a FK, even used the magic spray for a drop ball! Seemed to give decisions against us for being physical but let a lot go the other way at times like when BBB was absolutely poleaxed.

Nothing major but waved cards like confetti to us at times. Incredible hair style mind.

They fouled us 3-4 times when we were breaking. All bookings yet none given, we were correctly booked when we did it though. Dunkley ploughing through the back of stockley? Nothing. 6-0 on bookings was outrageous.

I don't like to see players staying down but Paton got sandwiched midair and no free kick given? Goes down holding his head and he was desperate to play on. Dreadful from the ref from start to finish.

 

[The_Viking_Magpie]

Stocky did you think our defence and goalkeeper were sub-par to keep up a promotion push last season?

It's interesting that you think our talented head coach leaving mid season seemed to affect us? Never considered that would be linked to our sudden and severe drop in form

Your view on Langstaff is the same as 88% of all Notts fans. He just scores goals.

 

[Stocky]

Stocky did you think our defence and goalkeeper were sub-par to keep up a promotion push last season?

It's interesting that you think our talented head coach leaving mid season seemed to affect us? Never considered that would be linked to our sudden and severe drop in form

Your view on Langstaff is the same as 88% of all Notts fans. He just scores goals.

It affected you more than it should have with the group of players you have, that's the point I'm making. You should have still made the play offs at least never mind arsing about in like 14th or wherever you ended up.

The defence has improved it seems personnel wise this summer but I would still say it under performed second half of last season. But obviously correct to improve it in the market.

Well done to 88% of Notts fans. They are correct.

 

[Gladders]

Was Wright dropped yesterday, Cods?

Yes, he's not great, though to be fair it remains to be seen if Eastwood is any better

 

[The_Viking_Magpie]

It affected you more than it should have with the group of players you have, that's the point I'm making. You should have still made the play offs at least never mind arsing about in like 14th or wherever you ended up.

The defence has improved it seems personnel wise this summer but I would still say it under performed second half of last season. But obviously correct to improve it in the market.

Well done to 88% of Notts fans. They are correct.

A lot likely depends on the mentality of the squad on how much it impacts them.

As a Notts fan who watched lots of our games I disagree playoffs would have been achieved if no change in head coach. Once the changed unexpectedly happened very little chance we would finish top 7 with that squad.

Understandably I know very little about Stockport County FC so wouldn't want to guess the level of impact it would have had if your manager had left at the same time.

 

[womble76]

Easy win against toothless opposition yesterday. We are a well organisms side with attacking threat. We will be in the mix at the end of season

 

[Stocky]

A lot likely depends on the mentality of the squad on how much it impacts them.

As a Notts fan who watched lots of our games I disagree playoffs would have been achieved if no change in head coach. Once the changed unexpectedly happened very little chance we would finish top 7 with that squad.

Understandably I know very little about Stockport County FC so wouldn't want to guess the level of impact it would have had if your manager had left at the same time.

It would have had an impact but we have quite a high IQ board and DOF which would have hopefully absorbed negative impact.