Hurst post match Mansfied

I would've asked why Efete came on at left back rather than Amos

Putting last night to one side , this first 10 games were never going to be easy - we have been front loaded with all the well financed and settled teams right at the start barring Notts who seem to be imploding after 2 games .

It might be negative but I would be happy with 6 or 7 points from the first 5 games which I think would be a reasonable start given the opponents . When we get through the first 10 there are a lot more (on paper) favourable fixtures that should in theory yield a lot of points .

Notts on Saturday is certainly a chance to get off the mark on the goalscoring front - a poor defence , playing that high line with their best defender now suspended .

Quoted from lew chaterleys lover

He never knows his best team, does he? That is what pre season is supposed to be about. All the excited comments on here and elsewhere about how good our signings were and how much pace we've added look in tatters already.

He started his best team on Saturday that was available to him, having tried it out in the Lincoln game. He used pre-season to try formations and variations of players.  The point of a squad is that you have players coming into form at different points, I'd rather he doesn't know his best team all the time and have players challenging each other.

It's two games in, one of which we played a side that would take a lot of injuries for us to field in a league fixture.

Just like how two wins this week wouldn't have made us Champions elect, a draw and a cup defeat doesn't put everything in 'tatters'.

Quoted from lew chaterleys lover

You're saying the same but in a nicer way!

We should know by now our best attacking formation(that is what pre season is for) the new signings were hailed in some quarters as amazing (better technically no doubt) but as you say might not be effective and however you cut it we are short of a big man up front to act as a focal point.

How overjoyed we were when the signings were brought in early, a real chance to bed them in properly and decide on your best system etc but no we are still in pre season mode. We didn't make one close range chance on Saturday and last night was beyond the pale.

I don't think that 6(?) pre-season games, 1 league match and a League Cup game is really adequate for Hurst to 100% know exactly who is best XI are. I agree that we're a big man short though or at least a different sort of striker to Rose. Pyke could provide that once he's properly up and running.

Quoted from Croxton

Mansfield were excellent at working an overload on Glennon. Vernam was drawn back to help out but was immediately closed down by their press. Their midfield, especially Lewis were better at supporting their wide men, creating angles and options. Way too mobile and clever for Holohan and Green. Gnahoua was not ready for such a test. Barely knows anyone and had no space. A cameo out wide would have been better for a player with no pre season.

Vernam tried to beat players where a simple lay off would suffice. Mansfield only tried to beat players when near the box and rarely gave up possession in midfield.

So would you say the bigger selection error was midfield as opposed to attack? I also assumed Eisa was in the middle of that three and Gnahoua was on the right, was that not the case?

Quoted from diehardmariner

He started his best team on Saturday that was available to him, having tried it out in the Lincoln game. He used pre-season to try formations and variations of players.  The point of a squad is that you have players coming into form at different points, I'd rather he doesn't know his best team all the time and have players challenging each other.

It's two games in, one of which we played a side that would take a lot of injuries for us to field in a league fixture.

Just like how two wins this week wouldn't have made us Champions elect, a draw and a cup defeat doesn't put everything in 'tatters'.

Well let's see how it pans out then. His "best team" didn't create a single close range chance on Saturday and despite people enthusing we could field 2 strong teams last night was a shocker. Why wouldn't you continue to play your strongest team in an important cup game?

None of us know how it will go so we can only comment on what we see.

If the team is still gelling, which it is is, you can argue that last night was a free- hit to continue this long process.

Hurst should already know the strengths and weaknesses of his squad players.

Easy to say this after the event.  A better team and better performance would have built some confidence.

Quoted from Croxton

Mansfield were excellent at working an overload on Glennon. Vernam was drawn back to help out but was immediately closed down by their press. Their midfield, especially Lewis were better at supporting their wide men, creating angles and options. Way too mobile and clever for Holohan and Green. Gnahoua was not ready for such a test. Barely knows anyone and had no space. A cameo out wide would have been better for a player with no pre season.

Vernam tried to beat players where a simple lay off would suffice. Mansfield only tried to beat players when near the box and rarely gave up possession in midfield.

I do wonder if this is where the problems stemmed from last night. Neither are particularly mobile and neither are particularly good at looking after the ball. If you're being over run and then giving the ball away cheaply when you do get it, it's a recipe for disaster. I would be highly surprised if those two start any league games together. That isn't to say that other players didn't let themselves down but if your central midfield is completely dominated then you're facing an up hill battle.

Quoted from Son of Cod

I don't think that 6(?) pre-season games, 1 league match and a League Cup game is really adequate for Hurst to 100% know exactly who is best XI are. I agree that we're a big man short though or at least a different sort of striker to Rose. Pyke could provide that once he's properly up and running.



So would you say the bigger selection error was midfield as opposed to attack? I also assumed Eisa was in the middle of that three and Gnahoua was on the right, was that not the case?

Gnahoua didn’t know where the feck he was…! He’s had no preseason so there is an excuse. Just surprised PH chucked him in there.

Quoted from mariner91

I do wonder if this is where the problems stemmed from last night. Neither are particularly mobile and neither are particularly good at looking after the ball. If you're being over run and then giving the ball away cheaply when you do get it, it's a recipe for disaster. I would be highly surprised if those two start any league games together. That isn't to say that other players didn't let themselves down but if your central midfield is completely dominated then you're facing an up hill battle.

I differ with you there as I think both are physically capable enough - strong, can run, not slow. It's their relative lack of ability on the ball which would be an issue for me as neither is technically the most gifted and you don't really expect them to keep possession effectively. Holohan has a knack of popping up with goals but I agree he's not really going to be first choice this season unless we have a few injuries. Green useful to bolster the defence in a backs against the wall sort of a performance.

It sounds as though we just weren't at the races throughout the team last night, which does happen. Could be a tricky one on Saturday now as County have a lot to prove to their fans so will really be going for it.

They are apparently hopeless at the back, so we need to take advantage of the chances that come our way.

‘Kinell….have we always been this bothered about the league cup?