Fonda
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Talking absolute football...
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Post by Fonda on Oct 12, 2009 18:12:35 GMT
What a bizarre game of football. The first half was actually embarassing. It looked like an FA Cup tie between a League 1 side and a bunch of part-timers. We didn't make a tackle, and hardly put two passes together. It appeared for all the world we'd turned up there in the hope of scrapping for a clean sheet, but as soon as their first goal went in, we were completely stumped. We looked clueless as to what we were meant to be doing, or at least how to do it. When i advocated a change to 3-5-2 all those weeks ago, i assumed we might practice it before taking it into a match situation! In the first 45, it looked like the first time the players had been asked to play it. But what a change the half-time break can make. We pressured them all over the pitch in the second half, and what do you know, they started to look a little less comfortable. Suddenly it wasn't just a question of how many they'd end up with. Suddenly we looked like a team from the same division as the opposition. The goal just before the break certainly had a profound effect on the rest of the game, but the spirit and determination we showed in the second 45 was magnificent. Poke and Ellis were superb at the back. Nicho's delivery was as good as it's been all season, and Sillsy gave the central defensive partnership a tough old time. In the end, a point was the least we deserved, though i'd have happily accepted it before KO. That performance and result might just provide the spark our season so desperately needed. And then after the game McParland treated us to the most ungracious summation of a game ever witnessed. I suppose he can be excused. The poor chap was clearly under a great deal of pressure, and a result like that was only every likely to hasten his departure. Shame.  |
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Post by chrish on Oct 12, 2009 18:40:23 GMT
The problem was in the first half that due to the pressure we were under the 3-5-2 that you advocated became a 5-3-2 and then when that happens you're not using that extra spare man at the back. That tosser of a linesman certainly didn't help though.
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Fonda
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Talking absolute football...
Posts: 384
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Post by Fonda on Oct 12, 2009 18:56:45 GMT
Yep, that's always a danger with that formation. Though you'd have thought having 5 at the back might have made us more solid, not turned us into a quivering, shambloic mess.
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mike
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Post by mike on Oct 12, 2009 19:22:43 GMT
Yep, that's always a danger with that formation. Though you'd have thought having 5 at the back might have made us more solid, not turned us into a quivering, shambloic mess. 3 Centre backs should be fine once the players are used to the formation agree that it was a shambles in the first half but much better in the second once the marking responsibilies had been sorted at half time |
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Post by chrish on Oct 12, 2009 19:54:19 GMT
Yep, that's always a danger with that formation. Though you'd have thought having 5 at the back might have made us more solid, not turned us into a quivering, shambloic mess. Well it depends on the personnel. I remember us playing it down at Arygle once in 1994 or 1995 once. Argyle got at us and the wing backs tucked in, we got overrun in midfield and always had a spare man doing nothing at the back. Don O switched to a 4-4-2 to match them and Scott Partridge and Jamie N'Dah put us 3-2 up at half time. we went on to lose 4-3 after Chris Curran got fouled by Ian Baird and Ronnie "Kung-Fu Fighting" Mauge got a late winner. Once the midfield got a hold of their midfield the wing backs pushed on. Just got a text from the county fan at work. I mentionned that I couldn't remember the last time we got a manager sacked and that Kaspar Schmeichel might be a bit iffy on crosses. His reply was.... "Iffy? He's f**king sh*t! He's been at fault for 6 of the last 8 goals conceeded. As for McParland he's tatically inept and uninspiring, he should've gone last season. Yesterday he played a good midfielder at right back, left two good defenders on the bench and then when we were struggling in midfield he made a change up front." He went on to say that "if they bring in Tony Adams or David Platt I'll defect to Forest!" ;D |
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Post by jmgull on Oct 12, 2009 20:39:35 GMT
Yep, that's always a danger with that formation. Though you'd have thought having 5 at the back might have made us more solid, not turned us into a quivering, shambloic mess. 3-5-2 or 5-3-2 relies heavily on the midfield 3 denying their counterparts time on the ball and time to create opportunities, in the 1st half we stood off them so much, our wingbacks were forced inside numerous times to cover and stop the waves of attacks. This left the acres of space down the flanks that Notts so cruelly exposed.......cross after cross was whipped in, it was no wonder that our defence looked a bit of a quivering mess, in fairness i thought they coped pretty well. It was only when we started to press the ball and got in their faces in the 2nd half that the game changed in our favour..... |
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wigstongull68
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Favourite Player: Lee Mansell
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Post by wigstongull68 on Oct 12, 2009 20:47:07 GMT
Find myself just agreeing with so many previously mentioned thoughts and statements, but after attending the game i'll give some opinions anyway.
Overall thoughts first, what an amazing night. A complete turnaround of emotions. Awesome second half performance which could have seen a not unjustified away winner. The gulls fans were tremendous at keeping the noise up (inspired by our drummer) and i'm sure this was appreciated by the players.
The ref and "our" linesman in the 1st half were ridiculous, and the thought ran through my mind on several occasions that they were also on Svens payroll. The game evened up when they did.
Poke made some absolute blinding saves and Ellis was outstanding in the second half especially. As an opposite to this Hughes was scum, and did nothing to change my opinion that this animal should not be allowed make any money from our beautiful game.
The first half problem was no pressure on their boys, no closing them down, giving them time and making them look better. Sorted out and they looked no better than anyone we play, with their self created pressure helping their downfall.
Oh and keyberrygull, it may not be Ladbrokes etc's undoing but it's bloody well better off in my pocket than theirs! Especially when it's me that's helping pay Countys wage bill (£20 I ask you)!
Big thanks to longeaton and son for helping make the night, and I look forward to seeing you at the Lincoln game. If I had a hat I would be tipping it.
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Post by petergodfrey on Oct 14, 2009 23:01:55 GMT
Was at Meadow Lane but have just got back to Lancashire via Sheffield but have to say that the second half has to be one of the best I've seen in 50+ years of following the Gulls, not necessarily for the standard of football but more so the fighting spirit shown by the players, evidence of PB's managerial skill in turning it round and the fantastic display that earned a draw and, in my opinion, would have seen us deservedly win. Poke was brilliant, I like Manse at RB, Nicho was excellent too and, in my opinion, his defending was OK too as well as his attacking contributions. All three centre backs were good, as was Thompson - I think he can continue to improve. CH was good but how I wish he'd leathered the ball when neatly put through by Benyon. I think he tried to stroke it in viz against Burton rather than smashing it in as against Cambridge. Wroe took a while to get going but I'd certainly persevere with him. Sillsy gave them problems but Benyon's decision making was slow at times although he was often isolated. I'd stick with him too though, as I've said before, because he just seems to have the knack of popping up with a goal every few games. Both their goals were more than dubious - the free kick given in front of us against Charnock was for a fifty-fifty challenge and, from a little further away, Wroe seemed to get the ball totally cleanly for the second. as for Lee Hughes I was disgusted. As he and Sills headed for the corner flag I said to my son-in-law "Something's going to kick-off here" because Hughes had just been niggling Sills. Sure enough Hughes feigned being punched in the face as blatantly as Rivaldo had done that time the ball was kicked at his shins. I can't believe the ref let him get away with it. If I ever had a shred of sympathy for the guy it evaporated at that moment. Anyway, much cause for optimism - hope the team builds on it. Just wish I could fit in a trip to Devon for my first Plainmoor fix of the season !
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merse
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Post by merse on Oct 15, 2009 3:58:03 GMT
 Having watched and re-watched the Sky coverage, my thoughts were that we were absolutley appalling in the first twenty five minutes and lucky not to be at least four goals down in a match resembling the one sided affair at Dagenham. I thought in that period Mark Ellis was simply out of his depth and frequently adrift of any player he must have been detailed to mark and his distribution was pitiful. The essence of 3-5-2 is not to allow the opposition to pin back your wingbacks so it becomes 5-3-2 yet this is what was happening whilst Nicky Wroe was struggling to get into the game during this period..................had Notts succeeded in getting those two more goals we could have been looking at a landslide in my opinion. I agree that 3-5-2 accomodates and covers the lack of pace of Nicho and Greavsie but it will require a much better player than Benyon to hold onto the ball intelligently up front. I thought his whole display was pitiful to be honest and even in "time added on", he couldn't properly shield the ball at his feet in his own box and almost gifted them a late winner. Next match it's GOT to be Rendell for my money! Our second half comeback WAS inspired and the effect of Thompson in that formation is to see him in the light of his peformance against us at Crawley two years ago and 3-5-2 does maximise the expert and quality delivery of Nicho from the wing, but I feel a lot of work needs doing on the match reading ability and intelligence of the back three and to be honest I could see why a lot of lower division managers fight shy of a system that requires quality match reading and communication between players ~ some managers simply don't trust their players to think for themselves too much and in Ellis' case I can see the point. Brave as a lion maybe, but the brains of a rocking horse in that context I'm afraid. However, Charnock IS a natural left footer, and I thought Robbo was consistently sound throughout. The problem was solved for me during half time when the team came out and squeezed up at least ten yards to in turn push the Notts wide men back and allow Manse and Nicho to strut their stuff and how well they did it! We always ask ourselves why the players can't see that for themselves but in all honesty sometimes during the Alamo you can't see the woods (sorry to use THAT word  ) for the trees and it takes an outsiders (the manager) view at half time which is obviously what happened. Eight games without a win though is worrying and it is better to win/lose than draw/draw when points accrued come into it and we badly need some victories now. Let's hope the week's transfer activity will allow the manager to bring in the level of professional he desires so that we can at least hold the ball up front for a decent amount of time AND stick the chances away with a better degree of reliability.
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Dave
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Post by Dave on Oct 15, 2009 7:32:54 GMT
Was at Meadow Lane but have just got back to Lancashire via Sheffield ! Where there some road works Peter  So great to see so many great contributions on this matchday thread.  |
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Post by longeatongull on Oct 15, 2009 16:43:34 GMT
have to say that the second half has to be one of the best I've seen in 50+ years of following the Gulls, not necessarily for the standard of football but more so the fighting spirit shown by the players, /quote] top comment.......just what I have been saying all week......really put a smile on my face. Only thing is I cant agree with 50 years will have to settle with 48 ;D |
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Jon
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Post by Jon on Oct 15, 2009 19:50:04 GMT
The essence of 3-5-2 is not to allow the opposition to pin back your wingbacks so it becomes 5-3-2 yet this is what was happening whilst Nicky Wroe was struggling to get into the game during this period.................. Everyone agrees that the key is not getting your wing backs pinned back, but the comment you make about Wroe is the key to that isn't it? Whatever the formation, I always think that the battle to control centre midfield is the factor that decides which team dictates the style of the game. The wing backs had no choice but to fall back for the first half hour, because County controlled the midfield and if the wing backs had pushed up County would just have knocked balls in behind them and totally slaughtered us. It was the middle three stepping up the pace and grabbing hold of midfield that allowed the wing backs to push up - and that made it an entirely different game. It will be interesting to see if we play this formation at home. The problem is the if a team turns up with just one striker, you don't need three centre backs. But I suppose Robertson and Charnock are both capable of playing full back, so it could almost be a 3-5-2 with two full backs and one centre back. At home, I would like to see Carlisle playing at right wing back. That would give us two superb crossers in wide positions supplying ammunition for Sills and Rendell. Mansell would relish a box-to-box centre midfiled role and would help to ensure that we did not surrender the midfield early on. |
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Post by petergodfrey on Oct 15, 2009 20:12:28 GMT
Nice one Dave ! No, no road works - just a three-day spot of grandchildren-sitting !
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Post by longeatongull on Feb 11, 2010 21:56:47 GMT
Sorry --not sure where to put this .................did you see Notts County have been sold for £1 today?
According to local news "a Lincolnshire Businessman" has purchased them and he used to be chairman of Lincoln City.
Sven is taking a back step but been offered some "honourary" role? They are making a statement on monday as to the "way forward".....
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) for the trees and it takes an outsiders (the manager) view at half time which is obviously what happened.