Match Day Notts County vs. Accrington Stanley

[jacobncfc]

A concerning lack of interest in this clash of the division's elder statesmen.

We've had a weirdly serene start by Notts standards, sat just in the top half and without a major drama to speak of so far this season. Sheridan looks to have put together a half decent team that should improve as the season goes on and give us half a chance of troubling the top seven.

The one big annoyance so far has been the lack of a home win, although we dominated the entire game against Plymouth. We've also gone behind in every single game so far, albeit coming back to equalise in the last five. It seems that it needs a goal to go in against us before we wake up, which is a habit we could do without.

A terrible performance against Grimsby last week was rescued by subs Vadaine Oliver and Aaron Collins, who'll be pushing for a start, but it's hard to see Forte or Stead getting dropped. What are these attacking option things we suddenly have!?!

It's a game we should be looking to win but I don't think our recent home record against Stanley is particularly impressive - they were definitely the only team to beat us at ML when we won the title the other year.

 

[shoddycollins]

If elder statesmen is a reference to Accrington, the founder member of the Football League then you are incorrect. Totally different club.

Stanley looked pretty competent last weekend at Brunton Park, we've usually won the midfield battles this season, and while we did again on Saturday it was a close run thing and they certainly seemed more comfortable at holding onto the point than in other games we've played.

 

[jacobncfc]

I know they are, but I've always assumed that Stanley are sort of their spiritual successors.

 

[Youpies]

This will be my first home game of the season. We have an awkward record against Stanley, don't think its the best over the past few years. Do agree how the home win is whats missing from us this season. It would be nice to score first for a change.

Wondering if O'Connor will keep his place this week after an absolute shocker. I can't see him dropping Stead as he's been scoring goals, even if he wasn't the best against Grimsby.

What we need now in the team is an outlet with pace, so perhaps Collins will get a start....

Edit: I expect Stanley Aborah may well be dropped after that absolute clanger last weekend.

 

[shoddycollins]

I know they are, but I've always assumed that Stanley are sort of their spiritual successors.

Well it allows for a Fred title when otherwise there would only be a thread title, so I shall allow it

 

[Stanleyfan]

Not sure what to expect from this one - we haven't won since the opening day V Doncaster although we played OK in spells last week. A lot of our fans are talking about the West Ham game coming up in the League Cup so this one hasn't had much of a mention on our forum. I'll be there tomorrow I just hope I'm not on my own!

 

[Optipez]

Not sure what to expect today. We haven't managed a home league win yet, Stanley tend to do well against us and we're on a run of three wins and a draw in the last four fixtures, so extending that run would be a bit special after the last couple of years.We also keep conceding first and haven't managed a clean sheet all season....And yet it feels pretty positive to be a Notts fan right now. It feels like this team will get better rather than fade to our annual relegation scrap and that this is a very winnable game for us.
Having said that Grimsby controlled us for sixty five minutes last week and a repeat of that and its Stanley all the way.

 

[RavenBish]

And yet it feels pretty positive to be a Notts fan right now. .

It doesn't, this squad is poor - they've just got the advantage of being compared to the last 2 seasons. Sheridan's assembled and set-up a bad, dull midtable side which is still isn't good enough given the quality of this division and our relative resources.

 

[Optipez]

Agree. Slow ,pedestrian, pretty old team and no spark. Flat as pancake today, Stanley fully deserved the points and if we play like that all season we are nailed on for bottom six.

 

[RavenBish]

not been to a Notts game this season thankfully (nor am I getting the urge to) so I can't comment on how bad individual players are (I assume they're all a bit shit though) - however, I have watched all the goals we've scored/conceded and my only real observation is that Adam Collin is fucking atrocious - how have we managed to find a keeper even worse than Roy Carroll, who was essentially a corpse.

 

[BeesKnees]

https://experimental361.files.wordpress.com/2016/09/2016-09-10-notts-co-accrington.png
Looks like a cracker

 

[Youpies]

There isn't much worth writing on this match other than to say. Tootle is not a midfielder, no way should he be playing there ahead of others. Curtis can't be back son enough. Our shape was non existent, players only knew to get it to Oliver asap. Can't play both him and Stead together, it's just painful.

Our build up is way too ponderous and slow, just boring as hell to watch. Sheridan needs to fix those problems if we are to win at home