Notts Co v Leicester Pre match thread

[The Doctor]

if Burns starts over Alves then that's a huge black mark against Brussel, it means that nothing is changing, prospects still only play if there isn't an alternative option. Alves was the only player I actually enjoyed seeing yesterday, in a crap performance driven by the same shitty "experienced pros" it always is. Dropping him and persisting with Bobby ****ing reid, mavididi and co, and Russell can already **** off tbqh

[john ridley]

2 hours ago, Claudio Fannieri said:

Hopefully after yesterday RM has got the measure of a few of our players and we don’t see them in a squad for a long time.
 

Difficult to pick a starting XI at the moment because I genuinely think this week we will see some significant movement out of the club. But if I had to pick a team as it stands today depending on fitness I would go as follows this assumes the new striker signs today as reported  - 

 

McCarthy

 

JJ

Okoli

Souttar

McFarlane

 

Braybrooke

Chaplin 
Cullen

 

Burns 

Bristic 

Watson 

 

Subs

Stolarcryk

Aluko

Gray

Page

Neale

Carr

Alves

 

Would be happy with that squad as it would mean the swamp practically  has been drained,fingers crossed 🤞🤞

[Mungongo]

1 hour ago, Chelmofox said:

As soon as you said 'fancy footwork' etc i knew exactly where you were coming from, and its straight back to bash the Academy product cliches (unless he has 9/10 performances hes not good enough!). Neither had stella games, so to say Burns 'looked quality' boggles my mind a bit as he looked pretty average. They both looked ok, but imho when Alves came off we lost a bit of quality and it took us a little time to adjust to that. In the 2nd half in particular we started to see Braybrook and Alves link up better and this is something i am sure both players can improve on.  It was Alves first senior start for us at home and i felt he acquitted himself well all things considered. Also felt he was pretty measured with his tricks / footwork, so to bash him for that is pretty lame.

 

The stats align with my thoughts as well. Alves ratings (6.7, 92% accurate passes, 35 touches, 2 tackles, 3/6 ground duels won) - Burns rating (6.2, 85% accurate passes, 15 touches, 0 defensive contributions so no tackles and no ground duels won). Nothing to suggest Burns was quality head and shoulders about Alves at all. On the wing, its easier to come on and make an impact compared to starting.  Burns looked more mature, but he bloody well should do to, so i dont count that as a plus, I consider it an alternative.

 

Alves has been our stand out player in pre season, and shown he has both quality and matured. He is also still very raw and young, and will only improve if he plays. The upside for us and Alves is massive compared to Burns.

 

If Alves is dropped for the 1st home game, it sends a massive statement to the academy players, especially as his replacement isn't better than him.  Ideally they will both be getting lots of game time, but i would handle it the same as the game yesterday and start Alves and bring on Burns for 30 mins.

 

 

Apologies if this came across as ‘bashing’. It certainly wasn’t intended that way.

 

For the record, I love Alves. I think potential wise he is one of the biggest talents we have had coming through our academy in years. I see him more as a Joe Cole type of player… quick feet, skilful, eye for a pass and a goal. I think he will eventually settle into a CAM role. I still think he can be very effective on the wing but his lack of explosive pace may be the difference between him being a good winger and a very good winger.

 

The question was about yesterday’s game. I agree I thought he did well. I’d love him to start next week.

 

I also think Jayden Joseph and Braybrooke were excellent and their futures are also very, very bright. They should also start next week and I am certain they will.

[Spudulike]

3 hours ago, LeicesterMagpie said:

Promising performance from Notts yesterday, deservedly taking a strong Burnley side to pens. Expect next week to be more of the same, hard working, pressing but lacking some quality at the top end. We might not have the skill of some of the top sides but no one is going to outwork us. Also looking like a sell out 

'Hard working, pressing', 'no one is going to outwork us'. These are all the things we are not. It must be brilliant to follow a team with these attibutes. We've not had this for years and is why we have fallen so far. Grim.

[coolhandfox]

4 hours ago, Mungongo said:

No. Alves showed lots of fancy footwork and step overs but flattered to deceive. Don’t think he went past his full back once. Don’t get me wrong I love Alves and think there is a future for him at this club. Just not as a winger.

 

Burns looked quality in the 30 mins he was on. Always made the right decisions. Should be one of the first names on the team sheet when he’s up to speed.

Yes he did a number of times.

[spacemunky]

3 hours ago, Chelmofox said:

@spacemunky Do you think Notts will have a go against us or settle to deep block?

I don't see us coming at you, but will probably see how the match goes and pick our spots.

 

We really aren't even the same team heading into this season as we were to start last season.

 

We like possession and usually not doing much with it 

 

We are never one to just sit back and defend, unless we are forced into it. 

 

You guys should be a good test for what is basically an all new and untested midfield.

[spacemunky]

I shouldn't be revealing our gameplan though.

 

I'm just here to hear yours 

[Salieri]

3 hours ago, Spudulike said:

Don't think that you need to sign up for the season. You can probably get a one-month pass.

Yeah there’s a couple of early kickoffs that I’ll be missing so don’t mind paying a fiver to listen to those. 

[Pliskin]

23 minutes ago, spacemunky said:

I shouldn't be revealing our gameplan though.

 

I'm just here to hear yours 

Stolarczyk will pass it to Souttar, who will pass it to your striker and he will score. We will pass it around in midfield aimlessly, you’ll realise that, take the ball of us and score….. 

 

Simple really. 

[Silva Fox]

25 minutes ago, spacemunky said:

I shouldn't be revealing our gameplan though.

 

I'm just here to hear yours 

You think we have one? 

[Merchant_Banker]

43 minutes ago, coolhandfox said:

Yes he did a number of times.

The trouble was, when he did, there was no one in the box,BDCR was constantly dropping deep and when Alves cut inside there was no one there to play off as Cullen was pulling wide left.

 

It was as if the plan was to leave centre midfield empty for BDCR to drop in and do ‘something’.

[James and his giant peach]

4 hours ago, Tielemans63 said:

I can't believe I'm saying this, but I might be inclined to start Hamza (feel dirty saying this) as, aside from Okoli and Souttar, we have precious little physicality in the rest of the side.

 

I thought we looked technically decent but so physically weak yesterday. I think better sides than Northampton (which isn't difficult, because they were diabolical) will bully us. Hamza might be shite technically but he can put himself about and we might need him to, to protect the better footballers in the team and allow them to play a bit.

 

I think a lot of League One sides will have looked at that game yesterday and seen a pretty obvious blueprint for beating us: let us have the ball and allow us to fanny about with it - keep your shape because, for all that possession, we never seen to actually be able to pull teams out of shape, which is the whole bloody point of Pep Ball. Ironically, it was a poorly defended set piece that produced our winner yesterday;  we rarely put their defence under pressure in open play - opposing managers will have noted that.

 

From what I've seen preseason and yesterday I can see it being a similar pattern to last season; opposing sides will get their back 4 to sit in a low block as we don't have too much threat in the final third, especially centrally. On that basis, I'm concerned as we no longer have Abdul to create those occasional moments of magic, so I can see sides forcing our wingers wide on the outside, so they're crossing to nobody in particular. If Brussell makes the mistake of putting his faith in Mavididi, then we won't even have that option as Stephy seems incapable of beating his man on the outside (on the rare occasion he bothers to even try).

 

We've got some decent footballers in midfield. Braybrooke, Alves and Cullen look technically sound (and then there's Skipp) but that midfield is going to be easily bullied by sides not interested in trying to outplay us. Press our midfield at opportune moments and they will be able to win the ball with physically stronger players. If opponents then play their forward players play high, I think they can definitely pressurise Okoli (especially) and Souttar. Wait for them to make an error playing out from the back, because it definitely will happen at least a couple of times a game, and the better teams will punish us.

 

I'm not saying we appoint him, but I heard a great interview with Andy Woodman (Bromley manager) at the end of last season. He was asked what his secret was to their recent success and their rise through the leagues. His answer was that there was no secret, they just keep things simple; they play aggressively, get the ball forward as quickly as possible and they get crosses into the box wherever they can. He summised that two thirds of the teams they've faced in the last 4 years try to play a possession-based game that they're not actually capable of producing, and his team have profited massively from doing the opposite and simply waiting for them to shoot themselves in the foot. He was saying that he finds it amazing that so many teams at that level play that way and create their own problems. He clearly didn't give a flying **** if others felt his style wasn't trendy and I respect that he's doing what works for his club. My fear is that we're not being realistic about what what's needed to get out of this league.

 

I'm not going to pretend otherwise, I was dead set against the appointment of Martin. Largely because it was an indication from Top and Rudkin that they were prepared to double-down on this style of play that has proven so spectacularly unsuccessful for Leicester City football club. I look at the signings he's made and they seem to fit his vision of a side that out-passes everyone else in the division. IMHO we haven't recruited for what the reality will be in League One. I think this side is going to get absolutely bullied each week, especially if Souttar does end up leaving.

 

Hopefully I get this spectacularly wrong. 

 

 

Brilliant post. I was thinking the same thing. I admit I was actually quite pleased we had managed to attract Martin here in League One and pre season was largely positive, but yesterday was shocking. I can see us getting bullied like you say, making errors passing it out and having very little up front, exactly what Southampton endured in the prem his and Rangers side that couldn't win a game. I hope I'm wrong and the quality of our players and the poor quality of league One means we can get out of it but I'm not confident. Last time we had Matty Fryatt, Andy King, Lloyd Dyer, Steve Howard scoring more than ten each, who in our team will get those numbers? 

[spacemunky]

18 minutes ago, Pliskin said:

Stolarczyk will pass it to Souttar, who will pass it to your striker and he will score. We will pass it around in midfield aimlessly, you’ll realise that, take the ball of us and score….. 

 

Simple really. 

I will hand the note to my pigeon.

[Blueman1967]

Will Bristric sign in time, and go straight into the side? what your option up front again, not Reid l would have thought

[Chelmofox]

26 minutes ago, Pliskin said:

Stolarczyk will pass it to Souttar, who will pass it to your striker and he will score. We will pass it around in midfield aimlessly, you’ll realise that, take the ball of us and score….. 

 

Simple really. 

NEVER reveal our game plan.

Edited 9 August by Chelmofox

[coolhandfox]

20 minutes ago, Merchant_Banker said:

The trouble was, when he did, there was no one in the box,BDCR was constantly dropping deep and when Alves cut inside there was no one there to play off as Cullen was pulling wide left.

 

It was as if the plan was to leave centre midfield empty for BDCR to drop in and do ‘something’.

Yep, massive problem unilt we get a number 9.

 

No surprise our weak performance have been with BCDR playing.

[sm1]

2 hours ago, Mungongo said:

Apologies if this came across as ‘bashing’. It certainly wasn’t intended that way.

 

For the record, I love Alves. I think potential wise he is one of the biggest talents we have had coming through our academy in years. I see him more as a Joe Cole type of player… quick feet, skilful, eye for a pass and a goal. I think he will eventually settle into a CAM role. I still think he can be very effective on the wing but his lack of explosive pace may be the difference between him being a good winger and a very good winger.

Like you I see Alves as more of a CAM then a winger. Sadly with Russell getting Cullen and Chaplin,  I dont think we'll see Alves play that role anytime soon. Dream midfield for me would be Braybrooke, Page and Alves.

[Lesterlad]

10 hours ago, The Doctor said:

if Burns starts over Alves then that's a huge black mark against Brussel, it means that nothing is changing, prospects still only play if there isn't an alternative option. Alves was the only player I actually enjoyed seeing yesterday, in a crap performance driven by the same shitty "experienced pros" it always is. Dropping him and persisting with Bobby ****ing reid, mavididi and co, and Russell can already **** off tbqh

If Burns is better then Alves play Burns. Nothing to do with prospects you pick you best team full stop

[Chelmofox]

30 minutes ago, Lesterlad said:

If Burns is better then Alves play Burns. Nothing to do with prospects you pick you best team full stop

But he isn’t, and yesterday Alves was better, and has been our best player preseason. 

[Bluearmyfox28]

40 minutes ago, Chelmofox said:

But he isn’t, and yesterday Alves was better, and has been our best player preseason. 

Harsh on Braybrooke but based on Northampton alone I would play Alves in the 10 next to Burns as I can’t see Chaplin being ready to start.

[PhillippaT]

12 hours ago, spacemunky said:

I will hand the note to my pigeon.

CATCH THE PIGEON!

[deep blue]

Interesting suggestions I've seen so far in this thread are Aluko at CB and playing Hamza for his agression.

 

Given our current weakness at CB it's surprising we've not seen Aluko tried there as I seem to remember a game last season where he was pushed in there for part of a game and fared very well.  I think he also played there sometimes in the academy.  His speed, aggression and ability on the ball would definitely be positives in that position.

 

The suggestion of Hamza to give our midfield more strength and aggression may affront many of our supporters but I see Hamza as someone who's lost his way over the last few seasons but who might not be beyond rehabilitation if given a go, and responsibility, in a role that suits his abilities.

 

It's a good forum for having lots of deep but spurious thoughts, none of which ever appear to go through the minds of our recent managers 

[Grebfromgrebland]

23 hours ago, Salieri said:

Thing is, I can watch most matches (dodgy stick), so don’t want to be paying a monthly fee for something that I’ll very rarely use. 

I just stream the match using the same app from my fire stick on my phone and listen that way.

[Derby Blue]

This will be a tough game. On top of the momentum following their promotion, Notts produced a good performance at Burnley. They will definitely be up for it.

[Chelmofox]

1 hour ago, deep blue said:

Interesting suggestions I've seen so far in this thread are Aluko at CB and playing Hamza for his agression.

 

Given our current weakness at CB it's surprising we've not seen Aluko tried there as I seem to remember a game last season where he was pushed in there for part of a game and fared very well.  I think he also played there sometimes in the academy.  His speed, aggression and ability on the ball would definitely be positives in that position.

 

The suggestion of Hamza to give our midfield more strength and aggression may affront many of our supporters but I see Hamza as someone who's lost his way over the last few seasons but who might not be beyond rehabilitation if given a go, and responsibility, in a role that suits his abilities.

 

It's a good forum for having lots of deep but spurious thoughts, none of which ever appear to go through the minds of our recent managers 

Aluko isnt composed enough imho.