Notts County match thread

Just in case anyone is interested in football there is a match involving Grimsby today. It's at notts county.

Unchanged side. Pleased to see that! Let's have a go at them!

C, Mon Town..We can win this!

Sounds like a decent start by Town.

intercourse knows where my seat is but the cuntish stewards keep telling me to sit in it after being herded to the other end of the frigging stand.

Jamille matts had 4 chances already!!

Playing well. Matt is a real nuisance

This ref is a right tw@t

The ref is ruining this game! Tw@t!

Most of the people around me so drunk I'll be suprised if they even remember the small fraction of the game where they were looking in the direction of the pitch. Reminds me why I don't go to cricket matches.

Its bloody freezing

Terrible ref its all about him, Jones booked for a fair tackle, somehow our smaller lightweight players are knocking their giants over with regularity, Hes blowing up for the slightest contact and falling for their throwing themselves down if anyone tackles them but missed as blatant a push in the box by Clarke as you could ever see, They look v ordinairy just hoof it into the box from anywhere. We have had all the best chances and with luck might come away with something.

Good first half, DJ and Dembele need to switch flanks, both are less effective when played like they have in first half. We started brightly but started to sit deeper and deeper. We've got one of these Refs who has to make the game all about him and is certainly favouring the home side. Also can't believe Matt hasn't put one of those chances away

Quoted from promotion plaice

Luton Town player Jack Stacey gets a straight red card at FGR so will miss the Town game.

Luton still go 2-0 up though.

Doesn't look to be any stopping them, current GD of +32, incredible.

Quoted from Hagrid

Its bloody freezing

Its December the 16th what do you expect!!

Will take that away at second

FT......  Notts County  0-0  Town

Good away point in the end I suppose  

3 clean sheets in a row Collins and Clarke well all the back 4 playing really well again.

Well deserved point that not many was expecting  including me

That'll do.

Good point. Thought we could have even won it.

It's a good point but you do wonder where we'd be if we had a setup to change things from the bench for the last 10-15 minutes of these games that are inevitably just ebbing away to a 0-0.

It's almost a Slade masterclass in getting a point from a tricky looking fixture, but not one that indicates a top 7 position anytime soon.

Well played Town, good ground out point against a bunch of whinging knuckledraggers and a bloke all in black

That old cliche game of two halves, good attacking passing football first half in which I thought we edged it over County and Matt should of scored in. Second half County were by far the better side as we fell back into old habbits and began hoofing the ball more and more and more, strange subs from Slade again, taking Matt and DJ off when I thought Jones and Dembele should of come off,  Dull 2nd half, I was almost falling asleep, but a point away at county isn't to be sniffed at.

Sounded on the radio like we played well.  Nice little run going here.

Barnet drag themselves out the bottom 3, Chesterfield drop back in, and oh dear....FGR propping up the table

First class result that, very very good point.

Matt was knackered, hence his substitution. So we're Dembele and Jones for that matter and Jaiyesimi. Quite a lot of our team aren't really seasoned pros used to playing week in week out.

Bit of a dull game but well defended and hard working so a good point. I think the fact that we don't really have any threat to bring on from the bench shows why we'll struggle to push towards the play-offs this season.

Quoted from RoboCod

It's a good point but you do wonder where we'd be if we had a setup to change things from the bench for the last 10-15 minutes of these games that are inevitably just ebbing away to a 0-0.

It's almost a Slade masterclass in getting a point from a tricky looking fixture, but not one that indicates a top 7 position anytime soon.

So getting a point away at the top team in the League who are undefeated at home is not a sign of a team capable of making the play offs? Really?

Quoted from LondonMariner43

So getting a point away at the top team in the League who are undefeated at home is not a sign of a team capable of making the play offs? Really?

Yes, REALLY. Why the hell does everything on here have to turn a post into a negative and confrontational attack on the team/management. Read it again, it's a great point in the context of a mini unbeaten run and would be a superb result if it had followed up some home points
.In the big picture however we have scored at home, since the Lincoln game in late September 4 goals, 3 of which were in one game. Today was the 22nd game, the halfway point of the season, and our goal difference is still in the minus.

You think that's a team heading for the play-offs? Get a striker in to score/poach or whatever and we could make a decent stab at it but unless that happens this is firmly mid-table stuff.

Quoted from RoboCod

It's a good point but you do wonder where we'd be if we had a setup to change things from the bench for the last 10-15 minutes of these games that are inevitably just ebbing away to a 0-0.

It's almost a Slade masterclass in getting a point from a tricky looking fixture, but not one that indicates a top 7 position anytime soon.

I don't believe it, don't you think that there's a world of difference between drawing 0-0 at home to poor opposition, and then going to the league leaders, playing the better football and coming away with a point ?
In the last four games we've played our best football of the season and picked up 10 points out of 12, and your critical of it ?
Unbelievable.

UTM

Quoted from mariner tommy

I don't believe it, don't you think that there's a world of difference between drawing 0-0 at home to poor opposition, and then going to the league leaders, playing the better football and coming away with a point ?
In the last four games we've played our best football of the season and picked up 10 points out of 12, and your critical of it ?
Unbelievable.

UTM

Jesus...I give up.

Who knows what would've happened if we'd have been able to take one of those first half chances.

I see that County failed to register a single shot on target all match (according to the BBC stats). I'll give Slade and the team huge credit for that.

I do sort of agree that we'll be - once again - a side that may occasionally flirt with the idea of the play-offs but ultimately finish mid-table.

I'm aware we're only two points outside the play-offs. Don't get me wrong - I'd love us to squeeze in there, but as others have said a few times now, I still haven't seen us put in a really convincing 90-minute performance and win comfortably.

As soon as we beat a team 3-0, I'll continue to believe we're a steady team with a steady defence but will always fall a little short up front, and that'll stop us making the play-offs.

Things can change, though. I think we can get more out of the forward players we've got. Don't think Slade needs to chuck more strikers at it.

Sounds like a great point today.

We have a tough end to the year and the table could look very interesting after the Accrington game!

Is it that tough? Don't think we are near Luton quality wise but we are playing with confidence now and could frustrate them as we have done County. Mansfield are not tearing up any trees and we've already beaten Stanley on their own patch. I've yet to see a side in this league that look head and shoulders above the rest. Luton are probably that side, but what we do there won't determine the season.

I was very unimpressed with County. They basically whacked it long towards their two (admittedly very experienced) strikers then hoped for them to create something. Our central defence dealt with them very well, however.

I did think their defence looked capable though.

If we come away from Luton with a clean sheet next week I’d be more than happy considering they score lots of goals.

Looking at that form table, Stevenage could get dragged into the relegation mix. Them and Forest Green relegated is the stuff dreams are made of.

Quoted from RoboCod

Yes, REALLY. Why the hell does everything on here have to turn a post into a negative and confrontational attack on the team/management. Read it again, it's a great point in the context of a mini unbeaten run and would be a superb result if it had followed up some home points
.In the big picture however we have scored at home, since the Lincoln game in late September 4 goals, 3 of which were in one game. Today was the 22nd game, the halfway point of the season, and our goal difference is still in the minus.

You think that's a team heading for the play-offs? Get a striker in to score/poach or whatever and we could make a decent stab at it but unless that happens this is firmly mid-table stuff.

Good points, and interesting, but a look around at our rivals shows a bunch of teams lacking in firepower or defensive cohesion. Some tiny improvements and we could get involved in the top 7.

Quoted from RoboCod

Yes, REALLY. Why the hell does everything on here have to turn a post into a negative and confrontational attack on the team/management. Read it again, it's a great point in the context of a mini unbeaten run and would be a superb result if it had followed up some home points
.In the big picture however we have scored at home, since the Lincoln game in late September 4 goals, 3 of which were in one game. Today was the 22nd game, the halfway point of the season, and our goal difference is still in the minus.

You think that's a team heading for the play-offs? Get a striker in to score/poach or whatever and we could make a decent stab at it but unless that happens this is firmly mid-table stuff.

The form table for the last 10 games puts us at 6th in the table.  That suggests to me that we are very much a team capable of reaching the play offs if we maintain recent form.  Considering issues with red cards and injuries early on and the barren spell of 0--0s, being close to the play offs, improving our form and coming close to being the first team this season to win at County all seems very positive progress to me.

Aye. The margins are so small we could make it or end up lower mid-table.

Those red cards seem so long ago now.

Quoted from LondonMariner43

The form table for the last 10 games puts us at 6th in the table.  That suggests to me that we are very much a team capable of reaching the play offs if we maintain recent form.  Considering issues with red cards and injuries early on and the barren spell of 0--0s, being close to the play offs, improving our form and coming close to being the first team this season to win at County all seems very positive progress to me.

But we can't score. Again, today..'should have had 3...Matt could have had 4..should really have beaten 2nd placed County, nowt special' etc. I'm in no doubt that at least 2 or 3 very, very ordinary teams will go up this year but I do have doubts it will be us. As the match thread and just back posts state tonight, for the umpteenth time, we'd have won if we had a cutting edge.
We plough on but I'd really like to know at what stage of the season a goal difference in the minus is not acceptable.

How many bookings has Macca had now?

In danger of getting a one game ban at some point.

I think any Slade team will always be well organised and difficult to beat, but Robo does have a point in that unless and until we score more goals than we concede, then we will always be on the fringes. Admittedly, we are edging closer to a plus goal difference and may well get into the positive soon, but Slade has never won a promotion to date and in his best seasons has made the play offs a few times. He is an experienced manager and his teams are usually competitive, but he just needs to find that missing ingredient that takes him from a nearly man to a winner. In my view, we should be challenging for automatic, with the play offs as a consolation prize, not looking to survive with the play offs being a bonus. There are several teams above us at the top, who we should easily be competing with. Having said that, we are on a decent run and could well start to push up the league as the season progresses. It's frustrating to see us always on the fringes without ever quite pushing on, just like last season in fact, although we still have time yet.

You never know, we could do a Huddersfield and win promotion without scoring many goals or reaching a positive goal difference.

Obviously, would be better if we started to knock a few goals in, of course.

Quoted from ginnywings

I think any Slade team will always be well organised and difficult to beat, but Robo does have a point in that unless and until we score more goals than we concede, then we will always be on the fringes. Admittedly, we are edging closer to a plus goal difference and may well get into the positive soon, but Slade has never won a promotion to date and in his best seasons has made the play offs a few times. He is an experienced manager and his teams are usually competitive, but he just needs to find that missing ingredient that takes him from a nearly man to a winner. In my view, we should be challenging for automatic, with the play offs as a consolation prize, not looking to survive with the play offs being a bonus. There are several teams above us at the top, who we should easily be competing with. Having said that, we are on a decent run and could well start to push up the league as the season progresses. It's frustrating to see us always on the fringes without ever quite pushing on, just like last season in fact, although we still have time yet.

I think we doing pretty well in spite of the off field distractions, but we clearly need a pacey goal scoring forward if we are to really take off. Finding one is the problem for the money we are prepared to throw at it.

We are certainly looking like a team that is bonding nicely, and the recovery from six weeks ago when it wasn't gelling has been good to see. It will obviously be tough next week, but whatever the result the new year brings the promise of better things to come on the pitch.

I look at what Exeter did last season for inspiration, coming from bottom of the table without a home win in their first nine games, and then they absolutely flew up the league. The run we're on at the moment could just be the start of something similar?

The league tables is very tight, and teams above us will regularly be playing other teams chasing play off spots and will inevitably drop points. It's a very interesting scenario, and I always use the old adage that as long as your team improves annually (however slowly that may be) they will be in a healthy position.Think we are well on the way to doing that this season and am looking forward to a positive result at Luton as well. UTFM.

Quoted from RoboCod

But we can't score. Again, today..'should have had 3...Matt could have had 4..should really have beaten 2nd placed County, nowt special' etc. I'm in no doubt that at least 2 or 3 very, very ordinary teams will go up this year but I do have doubts it will be us. As the match thread and just back posts state tonight, for the umpteenth time, we'd have won if we had a cutting edge.
We plough on but I'd really like to know at what stage of the season a goal difference in the minus is not acceptable.

It's a funny kind of benchmark - unless the team win 3-0 away at a ground where no other away team has won this season, then they aren't good enough?

Trying to look at this with a half-full glass as we approach the second half of the season we are in good position to improve further. Get through the next three games with a couple of wins would see us right up there IMHO.

You need some luck in this game and we are not getting much in front of goal.

I feel somewhere we are going to hammer somebody and put those chances away.

The players are gelling into a tight unit now and match fitness is getting better.

The defence looks better, the midfield looks excellent it's just the attack that needs a bit more sting/ruthfulness and maybe a bit of luck to kick us into a nice run.  

Get Luton out the way relatively unscathed and crack on.  UTM.

Quoted from LondonMariner43

It's a funny kind of benchmark - unless the team win 3-0 away at a ground where no other away team has won this season, then they aren't good enough?

Yes, because that's what I wrote wasn't it? I demanded a 3 0 win. In a thread where it's agreed that County were poor and we should really have won had we taken just 1 of numerous chances it's seen as a bit too much to get a win.
Of course that wasnt my message at all, but hey.  4 goals at home in recent games 3 in 1 match, 1 a pen that was missed in the first place, yes I'm positively giddy at the promising future revealed in this little run.
A couple of defeats and we'll be glancing at the bottom 3 again, and this post will be seen as rather mild in comparison.

Quoted from Mrs Doyle

Trying to look at this with a half-full glass as we approach the second half of the season we are in good position to improve further. Get through the next three games with a couple of wins would see us right up there IMHO.

You need some luck in this game and we are not getting much in front of goal.

I feel somewhere we are going to hammer somebody and put those chances away.

The players are gelling into a tight unit now and match fitness is getting better.

The defence looks better, the midfield looks excellent it's just the attack that needs a bit more sting/ruthfulness and maybe a bit of luck to kick us into a nice run.  

Get Luton out the way relatively unscathed and crack on.  UTM.

I can't not agree with this tbh - Was that standard Notts County or did our game plan make them that way?   God knows what engine Summerfield's runs on because he covered some grass yesterday.  The missing part was the final ball, the quickness and cuteness if you like in getting us into a position to have a go at goal.

Luton play a completely different game and IF the two banks of 4 do their jobs we're in with a shout.

We're becoming a team that is hard to beat but, we will not be knocking goals in for fun. Our strikers are what they are, if any of them were a 15 to 20 goal season player they would not be here. The thing is we could miss out on the extra position we could require by goal difference, or goals scored.(lack off)

If we go into the second half of the season still bringing on Vernon and Hooper on 70 min. we will stay mid table. Bolarinwa, Cardwell, Clifton, Wright et al should not be binned in Jan. If Summers gets injured, all round fitness will be key. Was DJ really knackered? or was it tactical?

Quoted from Croxton

If we go into the second half of the season still bringing on Vernon and Hooper on 70 min. we will stay mid table. Bolarinwa, Cardwell, Clifton, Wright et al should not be binned in Jan. If Summers gets injured, all round fitness will be key. Was DJ really knackered? or was it tactical?

Would agree with the Bolarinwa point not sure about the rest as we haven’t seen anything from them at 1st team league level, the one we need to get back and look after is Osborne who will add some class, could he even play in the number 10 role if we can’t get another striker I wonder. Feels to me like making the play off mix will be dependent on injuries & additions. Defending looks ok now is that 3 clean sheets in a row for James?

Quoted from Kristine

I can't not agree with this tbh - Was that standard Notts County or did our game plan make them that way?   God knows what engine Summerfield's runs on because he covered some grass yesterday.  The missing part was the final ball, the quickness and cuteness if you like in getting us into a position to have a go at goal.

Luton play a completely different game and IF the two banks of 4 do their jobs we're in with a shout.

Well, maybe Osborne is that man we won't know until after Christmas though.

Quoted from RoboCod

But we can't score. Again, today..'should have had 3...Matt could have had 4..should really have beaten 2nd placed County, nowt special' etc. I'm in no doubt that at least 2 or 3 very, very ordinary teams will go up this year but I do have doubts it will be us. As the match thread and just back posts state tonight, for the umpteenth time, we'd have won if we had a cutting edge.
We plough on but I'd really like to know at what stage of the season a goal difference in the minus is not acceptable.

Quoted from LondonMariner43

It's a funny kind of benchmark - unless the team win 3-0 away at a ground where no other away team has won this season, then they aren't good enough?

A new benchmark for analysis. 3-0 defeat. At home. To Accrington.

Do we even have a "But we could/should have scored [random number between 3 and 6] !" angle this time?

I'm gonna bring the above post up again, and I'll tell you why, because I'm still narked off at the superior Slade supporters who argued against and red crossed my mildly put remarks about our worrying lack of goal scoring prowess and their alarming confidence in sneaking up to the play-offs. Then when it all goes titsup there's no more posts from them.

No wins in 7, 5 defeats in those 7 and just 1 goal scored.

Benchmarks my

Robo I have had them since the close season,one of my post that stated that Slade had missed his primary targets and was left was inferior players was branded the most stupidest post ever seen like that person to repeat that now.