The Izale McLeod appreciation match. Crawley vs Notts

[AFaceInTheCrowd]

Hoping to continue our run of form. It's hard to predict the starting eleven as I thought dropping Jones and Grant was harsh on Tuesday but their replacements made us look equally effective. It's only points on the board at this stage and no one is getting carried away but the quicker we can get to 50 points the sooner we can look upwards.

Crawley seem to be a very mixed bag. Does the social club at your ground admit away fans if no one mentions Izale?

 

[jacobncfc]

The kind of place where I think a team with genuine designs on promotion should be going and winning, but our start has been so good now that dropping points wouldn't be a disaster. That said, the week after looks like a huge and incredibly difficult one, with a midweek trip to Exeter sandwiched between local derbies against Lincoln and at Mansfield, so a win would give us a bit of confidence and a cushion going into that.

As well as the likes of Dickinson, Milsom and Alessandra played last night, I would expect Hewitt, Jones and Grant all to come back in, although Alessandra may have done enough to earn a start ahead of Hawkridge, I guess. Not heard any news on Ameobi but even if he's available for selection it'll probably be for the bench.

We've always been to the Half Moon for Crawley and it's always been very decent - much better than the social club that we tried once and only five mins away.

 

[LongEatonPie]

I am finding myself saying this should be a match we win, which is very confusing!

Nolan rotated the squad on Tuesday and got 3 points, with Lincoln, Exeter and Mansfield coming up could he be resting again on Saturday! I hope not as we have to win these games more so than the others.

Going for 2-1 Notts win

 

[Alain]

The Redz Bar at the south of the stadium does let in visiting supporters and its the New Moon now, having gone through a complete refurbishment - both Ok - both venues have Sky/BT Sport.

As for Izale McLeod we can only thank you for the money you donated to us.

As for the result who knows - you can't second guess Harry Kewell's line up - keeps close to his chest until he has to put the team into the referee - you won't hear about injuries about our team either - we are starting to play better - brilliant at Swindon and a dogged performance at Stevenage - both teams supporters said we were the worst teams that they have played - funny that, but that's what we expect now as we wouldn't get credit even if we played them off the park - but they dropped points against us - if we play like we did against Swindon we have a chance - we are improving each week, even Colchester we had a poor first half, but second we had enough chances to get back into the game - just having no luck.

Safe journey down on Saturday - hope the M25 is clear for you

 

[Youpies]

Going to this. Impossible to pick the squad after Tuesday and with three tough games coming up, Nolan may be tempted by further rotation. We know Ameobi is out. So I expect Stead and Forte will be the partnership upfront. I'd also expect Hewitt and Grant back in but who knows

Will the stand be open? Or will it be in the seating?

 

[devilofajob]

Going to this. Impossible to pick the squad after Tuesday and with three tough games coming up, Nolan may be tempted by further rotation. We know Ameobi is out. So I expect Stead and Forte will be the partnership upfront. I'd also expect Hewitt and Grant back in but who knows

Will the stand be open? Or will it be in the seating?

Both I would think.
Will be happy with a point.

 

[The_Viking_Magpie]

In terms of team selection for the stylish magpies. The full backs aren't a concern to me, Tootle/Jones in great recent form, Dickinson/Hunt, average but solid enough.
Again with central midfield Yates, who tackles walls, and throws himself into ever possible tackle or 50/50 + 1 other.

The forwards pick themselves due to injury. Stead poor so for all season. Forte inconsistent. Both a concern.

The Widemen, no such concerns, Alessandra certainly came to the party midweek against Swindon, so him Grant and Hawks provide more than enough out wide. Would like to see them get more involved.

The player of the season so far from what I've seen and the most important player is Big Shaun Brisley, makes Duffy look so much better, dominate in the air, strong , no mistakes, boots it long no messing. Big fan so far, he is the one outfield player that if he gets injured/suspended we can't replace , big drop to Hollis

Need a result here with the impressive Lincoln City established 2016 and the little Mansfield Town Galaticos who we never beat up coming up afterwards

TVM

 

[Optipez]

We should beat Crawley, but I'm so used to us not going on winning runs that I can't quite bring myself to believe we're going to win four on the bounce.

One all, Duffy header from a set piece.

 

[RavenBish]

Another win. Another clean sheet. Boring Notts.

 

[Pieyedfry]

Wow, amazing for notts. 4 straight wins, 4 straight clean sheets. Won 6 of the last 7 games, gonna be a cracker on tuesday. #superkev

 

[Droo]

Going up.

 

[LongEatonPie]

IF we can get 6 points from the next 3, I think we will be very very close if not auto.
There are gaps appearing already and for a time we were 5 points clear of 3rd.

Come on failed!

 

[The_Viking_Magpie]

I didn't go, I probably never will to Crawley. Good result, amazing to get another clean sheet.

Only concerns , Brisleys injury(?), lack of goals from our 3 forwards.

Nolan is Diet Big Sam or Alladyce Lite

 

[AFaceInTheCrowd]

Don't get the obsession with the lack of goals from forwards it's a team game and we are flying at the moment. Bloke near me did nothing but hurl abuse at Stead. Bizarre.

Proven goal scorers in this league get cherry picked and the season can fall apart if you depend on them like Carlisle with Wyke last season.

 

[jacobncfc]

Pretty dull game but it looked like a 1-0 away win from the first minute and that'll do me.

We don't even look like conceding atm.

 

[AdamStag]

So you're not shit now?

That's one impressive start to the season.

 

[AFaceInTheCrowd]

We look solid but unspectacular. Some real workmanlike displays are grinding out ugly wins.

 

[The_Viking_Magpie]

I don't think there is an obsession at all, and everyone can see the league table and record this season to date.

I was simply pointing out that from normal play our forwards (all 3 of them) have been very minimal in terms of goal threat which is surprising after the end of last season and is even more surprising when we are winning so often.

As for Stead, I won't hurl abuse but in every game I've watched of him this season he's been poor. At best, things are coming off for him, at worst he's been ineffective other than the usual Stead penalty area flop lol.

Brisley is my main concern.

Naturally on the flip side. Goals from midfield/defence and the clean sheets are the big bonuses

Tough games coming up so could do with some more production from the front boys

 

[jacobncfc]

I'm Stead's biggest critic but he was great today and great against Swindon on Tuesday. We look very much like a team rather than a group of individuals and that extends to who scores the goals.

Whilst Grant tapped the goal in today as well, it was basically Forte's - created it on his own out of nothing.

 

[The_Viking_Magpie]

Glad to hear he had a very good game today. I'm not one of his critics but at home this season he's been off the pace and poor by last seasons standards.

Forte is talented but so inconsistent it hurts. Luckily, as you say we are clearly greater than the sum of our parts. A proper team under a proper (very promising) manager

 

[Youpies]

Solid. Probably the best way of describing Notts these days. Crawley had the better of the first half, probably should have scored, but overall relatively even.

Second half, Crawley's one tactic if get it wide was nullified and Notts looked in control when we didn't even have the ball. Yates is like a brick wall in midfield, a very impressive performance. Stead and Forte also impressed me for work rate and stretching Crawley. Grant is like another forward at times. His touch, composure and finishing all far too good for most at this level.

Thought Payne was excellent for Crawley. Really dictated the play well.

 

[Casey]

This was an untypical Crawley game in many respects but indicative of our problems all season.

Usual issues. We didn't make the Notts keeper make a save, made a mistake that cost a goal (gave the ball away easily then the centre half fell over) and then the manager took off the best players to try to win the game.

Untypically we looked up for it all game. The players on the pitch were chasing back, charging forward and basically putting in a shift. Couldn't fault the effort at all.

County look like a side who will spend the season being difficult to play against but they need that extra something to be title contenders. I expect them to be in the play off positions come the end though.

Casey