Lets start with Notts County for whom Shaun Derry has done a tremendous job with this season and particularly at the end of last when they looked doomed when he took over. A club that I am quite fond of, mainly due to a chance encounter with a massive fan of theirs during a hazy evening at a summer festival last year, County are a 'proper club' and it nice to see them do well with a former Blade at the helm. I'd like them to go on and do well just not whilst visiting S2 or when we return to their place on the 3rd of January.
County set up in what appeared a standard 442 which soon reverted to 451 to combat the blades 5 across the middle of the park. It became very obvious that they were very well drilled, pressed well individually and as a team. The appeared to have the ability to break with pace which is never something we are particularly comfortable with which led to a couple of incidents in the first half. Although relatively new to the role of a number 1 in the dugout, Derry's players showed the commitment and energy he so often showed as a player for the Blades and the other clubs he served - it was obvious that County were up for the game. They got in United's face and we didn't cope with it very well. They punished us from a corner where the scorer appeared to have far too much time to smash them into the first half lead. Although they faded in the second as United smelt an equaliser and then a potential winner, County are a decent outfit and will certainly not have the relegation woes they had last season. Wether they are any better than that though is debatable because once again at the lane it was a case of United being bad in many aspects of their play.
This United side has a number of issues but for me there are 5 startling problems:
- The pace which the ball is moved. So very often in games United control possession which is good but not particularly exciting when done in such a slow purposeless manner. How often do we rely on the centre backs to make a positive movement. When we do work it into the box it is often overplayed and the ball, which should have been delivered, is hit far too late. We are not driving at teams like we did for the majority of last year, the play is slow and often lethargic.
- Responsibility. In countless games this season our forward players seem absolutely terrified of shooting. Stefan Scougall is the biggest culprit of this by a country mile. He will forever be remember for his terrific form last season but I don't feel he is doing enough. Mr Campbell - Ryce appears to have an appetite for trying to beat men 4 or 5 times before delivering anything.
- Passion. There is no doubting this set of players 'care' but who in the side is vocal on the pitch. Jose god bless him spends his team bemoaning others lack of intelligence on the pitch but hardly makes you, want for a lack of a better phrase, die for three points. They seem quiet and especially on recent trips to Crewe being sat practically on the pitch, sound quiet too. I am far from Lionel Messi but my experience of playing has always been more enjoyable and ultimately successful when there is a team of big gobs on the pitch to bullock you when you do something wrong. There is a big advocate of this who is currently bastardised to the stands at the moment but that is a story for a different day.
- The ability to mix things up. Last night a large variety of morons booed the returning Higdon because he hadn't ran around chasing everything like the much loved Chris Porter and other 'triers' from yesteryear. We played around 5 decent balls into him which he was able to hold up or layer on. The rest of the time Baxter et al where moving balls sideways to the largely ineffective JCR. Now I don't like route one football but I like playing to a strikers advantage. Sometimes hitting a longer ball or a diagonal ball will create space and problems. Trying to walk the ball in last night didn't work and when we actually whipped a cross in we scored.
- Set pieces. Defensively these are a shambles. Their goal came from a nudge to the back, drop off and before we know it we are 1-0 down. Short corners - they are and always will be for that matter shit and need to be banned. Jay McEveley taking a free kick on the edge of the area when there are better options, appalling. Harris has the best cross at the club, he needs to be on corners even if they are out swingers from the left only - it needs to be addressed. The way in which set pieces are carried out is costing us points. We don't need to move towards a Sam Allardyce model of playing the percentages but a change is needed.
The players:
Howard - very little to do but disappointing to see him spill the ball once or twice. He has had a great season mind.
Basham - not a right back but a very good second half. For me gets better every game and is one of the few who takes responsibility and shows resilience in his play. Should have scored the header which he did very well to head down so strongly to be denied by an outstretched County body part.
McCarthy - not a bad game but not a particularly good one either. Personally I feel that we are at a stage where we need to ask is the money he will undoubtedly be on worth it? I fear not. The fact he trains with another team until Friday afternoon cannot help with any organisation. Call me traditional but I would want the back 5 training together throughout the week.
McCeveley - not the worst game but much like McCarthy not his best either. Seems to have strengths to his game that doth particularly lend themselves to being a central defender. Excellent last ditch tackle when County broke with pace in the second half. Shame about the free kick mentioned previously.
Bob - steady as always but unfortunately didn't seem to attack with the drive and vigour he has for most of this season. Will always show for the ball and create an angle which is something that cannot be said about some of the others.
Doyle - standard but average display from arguably the seasons most consistent player, more guilty than most for passing the ball sideways but wouldn't come in for criticism from me personally.
JCR - no. I really like a tricky winger, growing up Ndlovu was one of my favourites, but this guy is an impact player. Once again he was pedestrian with the ball, terrible decision making and went missing for long spells.
Scougall - lovely turns and signs of brilliance are matched with ineffectual passes doubled with poor decision making. He is still 21 and has lots to offer but might need a drop.
Baxter - not his greatest game but still the only player on the pitch with any forward thinking flair and by far the best passer at the club. He might be a bit on the chunky side but people screaming at him for being lazy need to point their finger at other players in the team.
Murphy - got up well for his header and is always a threat. When he isn't at it United aren't and I think that was the case for some parts of the game. He is undroppable as we have nobody as good as him though.
Higdon - didn't chase every ball but wasn't a shocking performance. Could have scored from nothing, got poor service and despite making some moves to create angles didn't receive a cross all night.
Substitutions
Flynn - made the side more balanced at right back. Confused me why he doesn't start considering how well he did for us last season.
McNulty - ran around but also got no service - glaring evidence the booing of Higdon was stupid and in spite.
Reed- what did he do that Baxter couldn't have done - pointless substitution but as always Reed wants the ball and responsibility - should start ahead of Scougall for me.
Clough - changed it when he needed but should have instilled a need for tempo, urgency and attacking more from the off. Team selection was bold but the negativity seemed to loom large for the majority of the first half.
Overall the blades did very well to get a point as the first half was so poor. Unfortunately the team didn't do enough for three points despite a spirited second half. Notts County have not lost on the road since April but as with every game in this average league I expect us to win.
My team for Tuesday? God knows but we need Wallace back as soon as possible not to mention O'Grady at least if it lifts the stale poisonous atmosphere we have at most home games it should be something positive.
Until next time.
Jon
