Notts County 1-1 LCFC - Post Match Thread

[Sooper Steve's shin]

Maybe going against the grain, but I don’t think it was as bad as the reaction on here suggests. We did let them in a few times - absolutely inevitable with Martin’s style of play unless you have a Man City budget. Every possession-based team faces that issue. But we put some reasonably good moves together for a new team, scored a good goal and there were some very good performances. At the very least, there were some green shoots of life to cling onto - something we haven’t really had with any manager since Enzo.  
 

There were some obvious negatives that should hopefully get addressed - Thomas was woeful (but we have a loan left back who will surely get a chance) and Souttar looked off it (but we will recruit a CB and if he stays, I think his performances pick up). Cullen and Reid are tidy enough but need to play off a focal point - either would be fine as a second striker, but don’t seem reliable enough to bag us 20 this season. 
 

Otherwise, JJ is excellent, midfield and wingers pretty good (Burns didn’t get going but we have options), Hamza even looked decent coming on. Ideally, one of Choudhury or Hamza [edit: obviously I meant Choudhury and Skipp here - although happy to see Hamza leave twice!] leaves and we get in someone solid in the middle to complement what we have. 
 

Overall, as a work in progress with a new manager and one of the biggest player turnovers we have seen in one summer, I don’t think we can get on their backs too much. Did I want Martin? Hell no. But we have him, we have to see he’s trying to do something and we may as well get behind it to try and make it work. 

Edited 16 August by Sooper Steve's shin
Error

[Samilktray]

16 minutes ago, Sooper Steve's shin said:

Maybe going against the grain, but I don’t think it was as bad as the reaction on here suggests. We did let them in a few times - absolutely inevitable with Martin’s style of play unless you have a Man City budget. Every possession-based team faces that issue. But we put some reasonably good moves together for a new team, scored a good goal and there were some very good performances. At the very least, there were some green shoots of life to cling onto - something we haven’t really had with any manager since Enzo.  
 

There were some obvious negatives that should hopefully get addressed - Thomas was woeful (but we have a loan left back who will surely get a chance) and Souttar looked off it (but we will recruit a CB and if he stays, I think his performances pick up). Cullen and Reid are tidy enough but need to play off a focal point - either would be fine as a second striker, but don’t seem reliable enough to bag us 20 this season. 
 

Otherwise, JJ is excellent, midfield and wingers pretty good (Burns didn’t get going but we have options), Hamza even looked decent coming on. Ideally, one of Choudhury or Hamza leaves and we get in someone solid in the middle to complement what we have. 
 

Overall, as a work in progress with a new manager and one of the biggest player turnovers we have seen in one summer, I don’t think we can get on their backs too much. Did I want Martin? Hell no. But we have him, we have to see he’s trying to do something and we may as well get behind it to try and make it work. 

The eclipse is over you can take those silly glasses off now pal

[SouthStandUpperTier]

22 minutes ago, Sooper Steve's shin said:

Ideally, one of Choudhury or Hamza leaves

Please tell me we haven't cloned him!!

[gerblod]

26 minutes ago, HitchinFox said:

Good for you – and well done to the lad (I presume you mean Spurs men's team, as opposed to the WSL team). 

 

To answer one of your questions...

I think one of the persistent complaints you refer to has been that we haven't given youth a chance enough – or sold some talented youngster (or simply let them leave). Therefore, on that particular point, I don't think there will be disgruntlement or fan anger towards the ones we finally see on the pitch this season. It does help that Braybrooke, Alves and JJ were the best players on the pitch yesterday. But even if we do get into a mid-table, mediocre season, the blame for that can not be placed on their young shoulders. That would definitely be on the seasoned professionals around them. 

Yes - he's a boy - six foot+. He got on as a sub in a couple of Spurs' friendlies in New Zealand. He's captain material imho but whether he's good enough a player to supplant one of their expensive imports is to be seen. 

 

What I was stating was really about the insistent and, for me, the banal and tedious one line "they're all dogshite" comments. That's been the tune since Rodgers got the boot - even Maresca was coming in for abuse in the bad spell they had. 

I believe the club needs a complete makeover and the Top/Rudkin incompetence has infected the team's attitude. What we needed was committed professionals but we got cast offs - Bertrand, Vestergaard, Winks etc. Looking back, even to Ranieri, there were excellent players who were cast off - Kramaric for one. Then Maddison, KDH and Barnes left - rightly so. If you can't do well with players like that then what's really going on. Schmeichel, N'Didi, Castagne, Tielemans (exceptional with Villa), Soyuncu - all first-class performers. 

I'm getting depressed now. Thanks for your thoughts. 

 

 

 

 

[jayfox26]

26 minutes ago, Sooper Steve's shin said:

Maybe going against the grain, but I don’t think it was as bad as the reaction on here suggests. We did let them in a few times - absolutely inevitable with Martin’s style of play unless you have a Man City budget. Every possession-based team faces that issue. But we put some reasonably good moves together for a new team, scored a good goal and there were some very good performances. At the very least, there were some green shoots of life to cling onto - something we haven’t really had with any manager since Enzo.  
 

There were some obvious negatives that should hopefully get addressed - Thomas was woeful (but we have a loan left back who will surely get a chance) and Souttar looked off it (but we will recruit a CB and if he stays, I think his performances pick up). Cullen and Reid are tidy enough but need to play off a focal point - either would be fine as a second striker, but don’t seem reliable enough to bag us 20 this season. 
 

Otherwise, JJ is excellent, midfield and wingers pretty good (Burns didn’t get going but we have options), Hamza even looked decent coming on. Ideally, one of Choudhury or Hamza leaves and we get in someone solid in the middle to complement what we have. 
 

Overall, as a work in progress with a new manager and one of the biggest player turnovers we have seen in one summer, I don’t think we can get on their backs too much. Did I want Martin? Hell no. But we have him, we have to see he’s trying to do something and we may as well get behind it to try and make it work. 

Im hoping both Hamza and Choudhury leave to be honest.

[The Guvnor]

Yesterday's performance did nothing to ignite any optimism, yes it's that bad!

[Sooper Steve's shin]

I also think this is a good wake up call for any players that needed it. We won’t stroll this league just because X has played in the Prem or got promoted before. Everyone’s fighting. It was a decent test against two teams coming into the season on very different trajectories. And yes, I am clinging to positives!

Edited 16 August by Sooper Steve's shin
Posted in error.

[mozartfox]

McCarthey binned off. Mc Farlane at left back.  A second striker and 2 new youngish CB's that are quick and can move the ball rapidly, and we 'could' be sorted.

[dmayne7]

55 minutes ago, Sooper Steve's shin said:

Maybe going against the grain, but I don’t think it was as bad as the reaction on here suggests. We did let them in a few times - absolutely inevitable with Martin’s style of play unless you have a Man City budget. Every possession-based team faces that issue. But we put some reasonably good moves together for a new team, scored a good goal and there were some very good performances. At the very least, there were some green shoots of life to cling onto - something we haven’t really had with any manager since Enzo.  
 

There were some obvious negatives that should hopefully get addressed - Thomas was woeful (but we have a loan left back who will surely get a chance) and Souttar looked off it (but we will recruit a CB and if he stays, I think his performances pick up). Cullen and Reid are tidy enough but need to play off a focal point - either would be fine as a second striker, but don’t seem reliable enough to bag us 20 this season. 
 

Otherwise, JJ is excellent, midfield and wingers pretty good (Burns didn’t get going but we have options), Hamza even looked decent coming on. Ideally, one of Choudhury or Hamza leaves and we get in someone solid in the middle to complement what we have. 
 

Overall, as a work in progress with a new manager and one of the biggest player turnovers we have seen in one summer, I don’t think we can get on their backs too much. Did I want Martin? Hell no. But we have him, we have to see he’s trying to do something and we may as well get behind it to try and make it work. 

Split personality? 

 

In all seriousness, I agree it wasn't quite as bad as some make out. First half was pretty good as we actually moved the ball fairly quickly and pressed well out of possession. We had 80 successful passes in the final third so clearly not just passing it around the back. Just desperately need a focal point up there.

 

Second half was crap though. Still the same weakness in mentality that we always see. But overall it feels like if we start stringing things together, we'll dominate teams but we're also going to gift chances and momentum to the opposition without fail. We'll see exactly how much Martin has actually learned.

 

But I do think it's completely fair if people are going to have no leeway with performances this year, so don't blame them for being furious with yesterday.

[Rubbersoul]

It’s sooooo boring how the players we all know will be shite end up being shite. Why are we trapped in this never ending hell 

[FLAN]

37 minutes ago, mozartfox said:

McCarthey binned off. Mc Farlane at left back.  A second striker and 2 new youngish CB's that are quick and can move the ball rapidly, and we 'could' be sorted.

Just half a team to sort out then 😂

by the way I agree 

[HitchinFox]

56 minutes ago, gerblod said:

Yes - he's a boy - six foot+. He got on as a sub in a couple of Spurs' friendlies in New Zealand. He's captain material imho but whether he's good enough a player to supplant one of their expensive imports is to be seen. 

 

What I was stating was really about the insistent and, for me, the banal and tedious one line "they're all dogshite" comments. That's been the tune since Rodgers got the boot - even Maresca was coming in for abuse in the bad spell they had. 

I believe the club needs a complete makeover and the Top/Rudkin incompetence has infected the team's attitude. What we needed was committed professionals but we got cast offs - Bertrand, Vestergaard, Winks etc. Looking back, even to Ranieri, there were excellent players who were cast off - Kramaric for one. Then Maddison, KDH and Barnes left - rightly so. If you can't do well with players like that then what's really going on. Schmeichel, N'Didi, Castagne, Tielemans (exceptional with Villa), Soyuncu - all first-class performers. 

I'm getting depressed now. Thanks for your thoughts. 

 

 

 

 

Yeah, I'd ignore a fairly large percentage of fans' comments, especially within 24 hours of a frustrating result (which yesterday's was). And especially on Facebook. There are a few persistent ones on the City groups on FB who can't even spell properly, so best leave them to it. 

I was fuming yesterday too, but I at least tried to look at things slightly more analytically than "they're all shit, we're doomed". 

Regarding the players you mentioned and why we didn't do better with them..part of the problem was that Rodgers seemed to be happy to see us struggle and even be relegated, just to prove a point. It was difficult to believe that narrative at the time (2021-22), but when you see how he behaved at Celtic after leaving us, it all does make sense and paint a damning picture of him and his methods. The bloke becomes toxic after a while. 

He is now done as a manager. Will never again have a proper job. 

If any more proof was needed, just look at what he's prepared to do (and say) in Saudi to promote his own bank balance. 
https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/brendan-rodgers-saudi-arabia-b2925646.html

 

[Russell sprout]

17 hours ago, jim5000 said:

“Scrapped a draw” against Notts County in League One, and you question why people boo? We were in the Premier League 2 seasons ago

I’ve always found there to be a ‘clicky’ bunch on Foxestalk who think that anyone who disagrees with them isn’t a true supporter

[ian__marshall]

Very disappointed with that result. Cowardly performance from our senior pro's.

 

Souttar, Thomas, Skipp, and Reid should all take a good hard look in the mirror. They may not be the greatest players in the world but all technically are far better than this level (excluding Thomas, don't think he'd make a Sunday League side. No idea how he came through the England youth ranks). Souttar looks checked-out, and Skipp and Reid look so devoid of confidence I genuinely have concerns for their mental health. I'll let Cullen off for the time being as I suspect he's not match fit and also needs more time with the other players to understand each others game, however that performance in isolation was abysmal. 

 

The application levels were not there from any of the above. We lack both winners and leaders. Where are the highly driven characters in the side getting after individuals misplacing simple passes, or missing simple chances? 

 

I'd also echo concerns raised about the support in the stands. First away game for a while, but our support was atrocious, so so quiet. Seeing people in the standing section sitting down just doesn't feel right. Clearly advertised as a standing section, so why buy up tickets there when you have no intention of standing.

 

On a more positive note, the young lads should be incredibly proud of themselves, Joseph, Braybrooke, and Alves were outstanding. Only gripe I have is that I think we win that game with Otchere rather than Reid up top. 

 

Disappointed that Russell tried to defend the lead once we scored, invited pressure unnecessarily. You could land a jumbo jet in the gap between the midfield and the attack. That needs a lot of work given we had quite a few AMs on the pitch. That said, I won't go in on Russell yet, as the team are still adapting, and clearly he has players who need moving on. Team looks a lot different with the likes of Page, Chaplin, McFarlane, and Bristric involved, so still plenty of room for improvement. 

 

Want to see a marked improvement versus Burton. Early days, appreciated, but we need to be showing the rest of the league we mean business. 

[Leicester_Loyal]

Probably already been said but you can’t play Martin ball or a possession based system with Thomas, Okoli, Hamza and possibly Souttar in the team, they aren’t good enough at passing the ball. 

[Dan]

4 hours ago, Rubbersoul said:

It’s sooooo boring how the players we all know will be shite end up being shite. Why are we trapped in this never ending hell 

I see pretty obvious solutions on here but the changes are never drastic. Always slow. Like they think you should be eased into this failing, miserable team when it needs completely gutting.

 

People will be coping but if you'd been told in May that yesterday's XI would consist of a finished crap Southampton keeper, Okoli, Thomas, Skipp, Bob as the striker you would all be mortified. I'm not letting my own expectation dip. The summer so far is another failure.

Edited 16 August by Dan

[Dames]

9 minutes ago, Dan said:

I see pretty obvious solutions on here but the changes are never drastic. Always slow. Like they think you should be eased into this failing, miserable team when it needs completely gutting.

 

People will be coping but if you'd been told in May that yesterday's XI would consist of a finished crap Southampton keeper, Okoli, Thomas, Skipp, Bob as the striker you would all be mortified. I'm not letting my own expectation dip. The summer so far is another failure.

There is a lot of cope on here because people are desperate to not acknowledge really truly how bad things have got and how little has been done to address the slide. 
 

In our first two competitive games against league 2/lower league 1 opposition we have approached the game in exactly the same manner we have that failed in the previous 80 games. We ‘dominated possession’ in almost every single game last season and we got relegated how can anyone not see that 2 games in we are doing exactly the same and expecting different results? I dread to see what the more capable teams in the division will do to us at the minute. We might not have lost but there are very very few positives to take from these performances considering the level of opposition. 

[Dames]

3 hours ago, Russell sprout said:

I’ve always found there to be a ‘clicky’ bunch on Foxestalk who think that anyone who disagrees with them isn’t a true supporter

They are stuck in a doom spiral because they’ve gotten so much wrong over the years on the football side of things the only positive they can cling onto is claiming moral superiority over their fellow supporters. 

[AKCJ]

I think it’s a positive that we weren’t really cut open in the game.

 

The players that were shit were all players we know are shit (and they have players to come in and start ahead of them).

 

We looked motivated. Didn’t look like a team that wasn’t trying.

 

The academy lads were genuinely fantastic. Alves in particular was electric.

 

For me there’s enough to go on. The individual mistakes cannot be allowed to continue and the likes of Skipp have to sharpen up. 
 

I thought Martin spoke well after the game. Lots to fix and I think he will.

[Stuntman_Mike]

1 hour ago, AKCJ said:

I think it’s a positive that we weren’t really cut open in the game.

 

The players that were shit were all players we know are shit (and they have players to come in and start ahead of them).

 

We looked motivated. Didn’t look like a team that wasn’t trying.

 

The academy lads were genuinely fantastic. Alves in particular was electric.

 

For me there’s enough to go on. The individual mistakes cannot be allowed to continue and the likes of Skipp have to sharpen up. 
 

I thought Martin spoke well after the game. Lots to fix and I think he will.

Yesterday was the best of Skipp, he's had his time and chances. He isn't changing. 

[Pick Good Name Later]

Glass half full or glass half empty?

 

Half full view - Signs of an identity. Small signs of ability to play within the indentity. This is a build and not an overnight win. Will Alves a cut above anyone on that pitch yesterday.
 

Half empty. - Alex M, Harry S, Caleb O are a worrying trio at the core of our spine. Luke T still looks devoid of confidence. Sammy B had some good touches but looked lightweight in the middle. Bobby DR, no more needs to be said. Oliver S, 2 yards off the pace. JJ will get caught out by better and quicker wingers. A striker won’t fix the fundamentals here and this style of play will rely on a JJ type goal every match. Better teams will put us to the sword.

 

Having football back again is the biggest win. Early signs aren’t too promising but Rome wasn’t built in a day. Patience will be needed and a trust in youth. 👌🏻

 

 

[Lesta2014]

First league game of the season I can cope with the first hour being cagey etc. once we went 1-0 up I’m mostly dissapointed we didn’t really go for a 2nd and then third. Something I felt under Enzo we didn’t do too! 
 

im glad martins referenced it slightly after the game, hopefully we put it right next weekend. We should be relentless, scoring goals is most fun part of football, no one should get bored doing it! 

[Mapperleyfox]

What annoyed me was the amount of loose balls and 50/50s we seemed to lose. Whether the stats back it up I don’t know but we seemed a yard slower sometimes. Hoping it’s first game lack of sharpness but time will tell. If we don’t learn quickly we’ll be too far behind to claw it back.

[Parafox]

On 15/08/2026 at 15:24, foxcrewman said:

I didn’t know we dipped into the market to sign Danny Ward’s inferior brother. 

Inferior and older.

[Parafox]

23 hours ago, oldbluefox said:

Thomas looked a bomb scare throughout.

And this is news to you?

Edited 16 August by Parafox