National League Fixtures 5th Feb

[Stocky]

You’re wrong - I read on Notts County Facebook he’s doing the business on a pittance down at Damsel Lane. Can Burchnall replicate his success at ML? It remains to be seen.

It's just exactly the same as that Ardley though isn't it? Maybe I'm wrong, I only look at the results.

 

[jacobncfc]

Tbh I still think it could come good with him but I do wonder whether he’s got it in him to take a club up out of this rank bad division. He seems like a clever coach. Would probably be brilliant running the arsenal under 23’s or something.

I’m not sure he was appointed because they thought the random bloke from Sweden with a folder full of coaching qualifications was the ideal man to get a team promoted from the National League.

He’s here to develop and improve players so we can sell them for big money. He’s bloody brilliant at that, to be fair, improved so many players as individuals, plucked Kyle Cameron from Gary Johnson’s land of the giants, long ball machine and turned him into a genuine playmaker at centre back etc, but the jury is still out as a manager. He’s great to listen to and seems a very nice man, and we’re a team fully in his image, but will that get you promoted?

He won’t be going anywhere for a long time anyway. Delivering on his main objective (which is why Ardley was canned I reckon).

I find us frustrating but ultimately we’ve mostly been absolute shite in my time supporting us and 90% of games have tended to be dreary bollocks. There’s worse situations than having a team full of nice lads playing genuinely really attractive football but who seem a bit soft to win the title their talent probably merits.

 

[Stocky]

I’m not sure he was appointed because they thought the random bloke from Sweden with a folder full of coaching qualifications was the ideal man to get a team promoted from the National League.

He’s here to develop and improve players so we can sell them for big money. He’s bloody brilliant at that, to be fair, improved so many players as individuals, plucked Kyle Cameron from Gary Johnson’s land of the giants, long ball machine and turned him into a genuine playmaker at centre back etc, but the jury is still out as a manager. He’s great to listen to and seems a very nice man, and we’re a team fully in his image, but will that get you promoted?

He won’t be going anywhere for a long time anyway. Delivering on his main objective (which is why Ardley was canned I reckon).

I find us frustrating but ultimately we’ve mostly been absolute shite in my time supporting us and 90% of games have tended to be dreary bollocks. There’s worse situations than having a team full of nice lads playing genuinely really attractive football but who are probably a bit soft to win the title their talent probably merits.

Which players has he sold so far?

You've kept Wootton basically knowing he'll go for nothing in the summer. I don't criticise that decison. But the objective is promotion going off that marker.

 

[jacobncfc]

Which players has he sold so far?

None, because they’ve decided to have a go at winning it and reject anything out of hand in January. If we stay down (or likely even if we go up), we’ll sell/lose Wootton, Rodrigues, Roberts and Cameron as a minimum.

 

[Wooderson]

It's just exactly the same as that Ardley though isn't it? Maybe I'm wrong, I only look at the results.

No. Ardley had worse results (apart from his first ‘Barrow’ season down here where I think even this year’s fucking Eastleigh would get top 3, I mean even Barnet made the playoffs ffs) and the games were by and large turgid.

You’re just still scarred by the Sion Rusk experience, but as the game at ML showed, they are different animals.

 

[SuperHans]

I’m not sure he was appointed because they thought the random bloke from Sweden with a folder full of coaching qualifications was the ideal man to get a team promoted from the National League.

He’s here to develop and improve players so we can sell them for big money. He’s bloody brilliant at that, to be fair, improved so many players as individuals, plucked Kyle Cameron from Gary Johnson’s land of the giants, long ball machine and turned him into a genuine playmaker at centre back etc, but the jury is still out as a manager. He’s great to listen to and seems a very nice man, and we’re a team fully in his image, but will that get you promoted?

He won’t be going anywhere for a long time anyway. Delivering on his main objective (which is why Ardley was canned I reckon).

I find us frustrating but ultimately we’ve mostly been absolute shite in my time supporting us and 90% of games have tended to be dreary bollocks. There’s worse situations than having a team full of nice lads playing genuinely really attractive football but who seem a bit soft to win the title their talent probably merits.

Surely promotion is the over arching goal though?

If he is there for 3 years, develops a load of players and turns a profit but you fail to go up - is that not failure? Or is it okay so long as you play nice football and he improves average non league players into good league 2 players?

 

[Stocky]

None, because they’ve decided to have a go at winning it and reject anything out of hand in January. If we stay down (or likely even if we go up), we’ll sell/lose Wootton, Rodrigues, Roberts and Cameron as a minimum.

I'm losing track of his KPI here then? Mixed messages.

Is he developing players to sell or trying to win the league? Because he's not done any of the first, in fact he's developing players to lose for free and letting contracts run down and in regards to the second, on PPG he's off that KPI aswell.

I don't get him. I think Notts have a class squad.

 

[Wooderson]

Surely promotion is the over arching goal though?

If he is there for 3 years, develops a load of players and turns a profit but you fail to go up - is that not failure? Or is it okay so long as you play nice football and he improves average non league players into good league 2 players?

The ultimate aim is definitely promotion. Our fans go mental every time we fail to beat one of ‘these teams’ (ie anyone who isn’t a brother).

Any more than 5 years in this poxy league and they’ll be marching on the gates of the Lane burning Danish flags.

 

[Optipez]

Which players has he sold so far?

You've kept Wootton basically knowing he'll go for nothing in the summer. I don't criticise that decison. But the objective is promotion going off that marker.

It is, not sure how much patience the owners will have if we don't go up, they say very little but strike me as pretty ruthless if they think change is needed.
Feels like we're on the cusp and the season could go either way. We've good players, play good football at times but when plan A isn't working we look absolutely toothless and devoid of any idea how to break a resolute defence down.

 

[Stocky]

No. Ardley had worse results (apart from his first ‘Barrow’ season down here where I think even this year’s fucking Eastleigh would get top 3, I mean even Barnet made the playoffs ffs) and the games were by and large turgid.

You’re just still scarred by the Sion Rusk experience, but as the game at ML showed, they are different animals.

Yeovil and Barnet came to our place and smashed us under Rusk to a bigger extent than you did that day at Meadow Lane. Proved nothing to me.

 

[jacobncfc]

Surely promotion is the over arching goal though?

If he is there for 3 years, develops a load of players and turns a profit but you fail to go up - is that not failure? Or is it okay so long as you play nice football and he improves average non league players into good league 2 players?

Obviously I think it would be, but I’m not convinced our owners agree. Basically the first thing they said after taking over was ‘we don’t judge how we’re doing by the league table’. Which is a different approach, I know.

You might argue that running things purely based on analytics and how much your performances and players are improving leaves too much space for you to keep getting done by other factors like ‘a Bromley team full of six foot four lads who are good off set pieces’, and I might well agree.

 

[Carsonsuckscock]

Anything less than a 5 goal victory over Dover will be an embarrassment for Stockport

Wait till 14:45 and call it off. Rain/Covid sure you can come up with something.

 

[Stocky]

Not getting promotion and then loosing Wootton for nothing, Rodrigues for half the price you would have got before, Roberts for half the price you would have got before and having to build a new squad is the worst footballing strategy I've heard for years.

Lose on Saturday and it's over for Burchnall.

 

[jacobncfc]

FWIW my expectations for the season are still a genuine title challenge. I think we’ve got a good enough team for it, but you can’t say we’re out of it yet with the games in hand. Pressure is on though for sure.

 

[SuperHans]

FWIW my expectations for the season are still a genuine title challenge. I think we’ve got a good enough team for it, but you can’t say we’re out of it yet with the games in hand. Pressure is on though for sure.

You’re not out of it no. I think notts will be there or there abouts but I don’t think you’ll win the league. I think Stockport will. I thought we had a good shout but with the recent events and current uncertainty I’d be amazed if we won it - top 3 still achievable though.

 

[Stocky]

You’re not out of it no. I think notts will be there or there abouts but I don’t think you’ll win the league. I think Stockport will. I thought we had a good shout but with the recent events and current uncertainty I’d be amazed if we won it - top 3 still achievable though.

People getting fooled by the table. The PPG table is where it's at. We're still behind you and Boreham Wood. There's no way we're favourites and logic dictates we'll hit a dip. If we beat you on Tuesday and then Bromley away the following Tuesday, I could understand the favourites tag.

 

[SuperHans]

People getting fooled by the table. The PPG table is where it's at. We're still behind you and Boreham Wood. There's no way we're favourites and logic dictates we'll hit a dip. If we beat you on Tuesday and then Bromley away the following Tuesday, I could understand the favourites tag.

I’m going to Stockport away but a point would be a fantastic result. Our performances have been dire since Solihull away in November (second half at Barnet aside). We will come unstuck soon you’d imagine especially with this black cloud over the club re. The management situation.

 

[Stocky]

I’m going to Stockport away but a point would be a fantastic result. Our performances have been dire since Solihull away in November (second half at Barnet aside). We will come unstuck soon you’d imagine especially with this black cloud over the club re. The management situation.

I'm wary. We've just been playing shite teams for weeks. Would have liked harder teams to warm us up for you lot.

Should be a good game, close to a sell out. You drinking round the ground?

 

[Wooderson]

You’re not out of it no. I think notts will be there or there abouts but I don’t think you’ll win the league. I think Stockport will. I thought we had a good shout but with the recent events and current uncertainty I’d be amazed if we won it - top 3 still achievable though.

At the end of the day we would all love to have the money to tempt a manager from the league above with promotion experience, but for most of us it is out of reach. You’re right, Stockport will likely win it - and if they don’t then DC will have to fall on his sword, no option.

But to me he will still always be that guy with the long throw that Grimsby fans REALLY hate.

 

[doveranddover]

Wait till 14:45 and call it off. Rain/Covid sure you can come up with something.

unlikely seeing as the game is at Stockport

 

[jacobncfc]

At the end of the day we would all love to have the money to tempt a manager from the league above with promotion experience, but for most of us it is out of reach. You’re right, Stockport will likely win it - and if they don’t then DC will have to fall on his sword, no option.

But to me he will still always be that guy with the long throw that Grimsby fans REALLY hate.

Isn’t that Andy Woodman?

 

[Wooderson]

Isn’t that Andy Woodman?

Yeah, him too

 

[Carsonsuckscock]

unlikely seeing as the game is at Stockport

Nowt stopping your lot getting off the coach with a cough. Surprised you've got this far through the season to be honest.

 

[Master D]

Yeah, him too

He's been added to The List, don't worry.

 

[SuperHans]

I'm wary. We've just been playing shite teams for weeks. Would have liked harder teams to warm us up for you lot.

Should be a good game, close to a sell out. You drinking round the ground?

No I’m travelling up from london so will be in Manchester City centre for an hour before getting the 7pm to Stockport. Will probably just find a boozer near the station.

 

[Stocky]

Nowt stopping your lot getting off the coach with a cough. Surprised you've got this far through the season to be honest.

Why would they do that when they'll just have to come over on a Tuesday night instead?

 

[Stocky]

No I’m travelling up from london so will be in Manchester City centre for an hour before getting the 7pm to Stockport. Will probably just find a boozer near the station.

Loads on Castle Street near the ground, The Armoury on the roundabout from the Station is the best shout though. It'll be rammed at that time though.

 

[B2TF]

Contrary to predictions on here, we're emerging from the transfer window stronger than we went into it, thanks to ZERO departures (as predicted by ME) and 3 additions.

 

[doveranddover]

Nowt stopping your lot getting off the coach with a cough. Surprised you've got this far through the season to be honest.

you'll have wait til Saturday to be sure
Still, will be funny if you fail to get promoted by the 2 points you dropped at Crabble

 

[John Still]

We don’t get results against the top 7 sides so will come back with nothing against Chesterfield, would have gone had we been still on with a chance of play offs but can’t waste my money on what I’ve seen the last two weeks against Stockport and Halifax, utter tripe including the lucky win at Weymouth. Balanta is out, which will mean McCallum and Walker up top.