Did Adkins stumble across the winning formula tonight?

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Bergen Blade

Bergen Blade

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Was it 4-3-3? Lots of pace and directness in the forward positions, ball players in midfield, Scougs back in his favoured role, Baxter pushed further forward?

The Port Vale starting line up certainly looked very slow in comparison.

The title may be a bit over the top, but there may be things to take from this "meaningless" game. Looking forward to comments from those who were there.
 



In a way.

I think anyone with a bit of football nouse knows our players are not built for 4-4-2. It also helps hugely having Done back.

However, the personnel would still need changing, and it doesn't change the fact our back four is about as stable as stilts made of matchsticks. Sharp obviously has to play, and presumably Edgar and Wallace too, but the formation seems much more suited to our squad as a whole.
 
Sounded like a bit of a knockabout in the park to me, and County weren't much of a threat. Doubt we can learn much from this, though it was good that Done came through (despite a worrying few minutes). Sounds like JCR had a good game. Baxter knows how to take a pen.

I'm more concerned about the U-21's at Stocksbridge and Brayford's knee
 
it might just be our best players are slowly filling the team up at last

has anyone else ithought it might be that simple

and Brayford playing for the under 21s tonight
 
I would reserve a question like that for a game against a team playing above league 2, that didn't put out a new team from their last league match and also one in which we didn't get gifted 3 penalties. Just a suggestion.
 
Mentioned it in the shout box but Done seems to have hit the ground running. Brayford and Harris back and I would have a bit more confidence in the back 4.

3 points in Saturday is a must imo.
 
..he stumbled across Done...
 
Whilst I don't think you can read much into tonights game I would love to see us go 4-3-3 as it seems the best formation to suit our players
 
Hard yo know what to make of tonight, everyone was great but County could not have cared less. Baxter in particular had the freedom of the park to pick his passes. Doing the same thing against a team that wants to win is another matter entirely.

Still, Done, JCR and Adams showed what they bring to the team.
 
I wouldn't get carried away with tonight. Better teams will play against us with more intensity than that. It was a good win in a nothing compeitition and in fairness they can only beat what's in front of them.....but it doesn't paper over anything.

You could play any formation and system you like with this lot. Collectively they wouldn't be good enough any which way.
 
The pace up front forced Notts to defend very deep and opened up a lot of space for Jose, Scoogs and Reed to play that isn't usually there.

As others have said though Notts were dire and didn't even look like they want to win.

For anyone who wasn't there, try and get a look at the way they defended our corner for the 4th goal. Even at our worst last season I never saw anything as bad as standing still and letting a player run to the 6 yard box and just lash it in..
 



Made a last minute decision to go down. We played well in the main and moved the ball quicker but as pointed out we might as well have been playing a park side so really difficult to measure.

But if a scare when done went down for a few minutes with a shoulder injury but obviously ran it off. He is vital if we are to improve our league form we so have missed his energy. Took his goal very well .

Survived a crossbar scare at 1-0 just before we went and scored our second due to poor dithering by long.

Scougall took his goal well although the marking was terrible

For those that didn't go hopefully someone will do a video clip of Campbell Ryce trickery just before he came off - amazing skill and really deserved a goal. In short yes notes county were crap but well done United !
 
Deej said:
The pace up front forced Notts to defend very deep and opened up a lot of space for Jose, Scoogs and Reed to play that isn't usually there.

As others have said though Notts were dire and didn't even look like they want to win.

For anyone who wasn't there, try and get a look at the way they defended our corner for the 4th goal. Even at our worst last season I never saw anything as bad as standing still and letting a player run to the 6 yard box and just lash it in..
Click to expand...

Was someone playing Scougall on? Normally a player would be offside getting a ball back from a short corner like that.
 
I think tonight, in addition to the Donny game, showed that we can dominate possession at home with three in midfield.

County were pathetic, looked disinterested, gave us too much time on the ball and left large gaps at the back but it's obvious that we keep possession better in that formation and give ourselves more attacking options, especially with one or two wide forwards.

Reed had another good game and in his last few appearances he's consistently got the basics right and done his defensive job well too, so that's a positive as he's looking like a genuine option as a starter in the deep lying midfield position, although in most league games I'd want Basham in there with him and not Scougall.
 
Can anyone shed a bit of light why everyone was flashing there lights on there phones? o_O My batterys took a right swamping
 
County were poor, our Midfield will not get that much time and space again this season BUT...Baxter was outstanding (under no pressure), Reed constantly broke up play, though needs to be more positive in possession. Done was a breath of fresh air with pace and directness coming in off our left and Scougs looked more like his best as the game wore on. Worryingly Woolford still looked average and although I'm a big fan, Adams had a poor game. His 1st touch and ability with back to goal need a significant amount of work. Anyone who believes he is ready to play up top needs to watch the game back.

Overall a good run out with lots of positives shame only 5000 were there to enjoy it. UTB
 
barnyblade said:
gifted 3 penalties
Click to expand...

Not seen the game, will watch it on bladesplayer, but we've had some shit refs at the lane last few seasons letting clogging shite bully boy teams get away with murder, maybe we got a bit of justice for once? Or is it when we don't get em we are robbed and when we do we are gifted?
 
Guesty said:
Hard yo know what to make of tonight, everyone was great but County could not have cared less. Baxter in particular had the freedom of the park to pick his passes. Doing the same thing against a team that wants to win is another matter entirely.

Still, Done, JCR and Adams showed what they bring to the team.
Click to expand...


Didnt think Che had his best game tonight though, alot of naff touches/passes.. Still alot better than Saturday blades!
 
The best thing about tonight was the pace of Done and at times Adams. The potential we have to run teams ragged and more importantly press the opposition higher up the pitch is huge. If we can cause opponents to make mistakes in there own half it may just take a little pressure off our defence. Would like to see a front three of Done, Che and Sharpy given a chance. With the beard and Kennedy close to return and Harris still to come it's not all doom and gloom. Sure we need more quality in the areas we all know about but things will begin to improve before long........ They have too!!!
 
blade too long said:
it might just be our best players are slowly filling the team up at last

has anyone else ithought it might be that simple

and Brayford playing for the under 21s tonight
Click to expand...

Sorry guys but I reckon the beard is a few weeks off again.
Got the ball in a bit of space, knocked it forward and set off after it but just stopped and headed off the pitch to the dug out without waiting for the game to stop.

On another subject Wallace ran the game but when he's not running his walk is lumber, looks me walking and I'm no spring chicken.
Looks far from an athlete at times.

More worried about Wallace long term than Brayford.
 
I's be tempted to play something like the following (when people are fit). I think we looked better with a 4-3-3 at Bradford and the team below could be shifted around quite easy to 4-4-2 if necessary (maybe with a sub).

--------------------------------Howard--------------------------------
Brayford----------Edgar-----------Basham/Kennedy------Harris--

---------------------------------Wallace---------------------------------
--------------Coutts/Reed-------------Baxter---------------------
-----------------------Adams-----------Done-----------------------
---------------------------------Sharp---------------------------------

Ideally I would like to swap Wallace with Hammond, but it looks unlikely.
 



GB10 said:
Made a last minute decision to go down. We played well in the main and moved the ball quicker but as pointed out we might as well have been playing a park side so really difficult to measure.

But if a scare when done went down for a few minutes with a shoulder injury but obviously ran it off. He is vital if we are to improve our league form we so have missed his energy. Took his goal very well .

Survived a crossbar scare at 1-0 just before we went and scored our second due to poor dithering by long.

Scougall took his goal well although the marking was terrible

For those that didn't go hopefully someone will do a video clip of Campbell Ryce trickery just before he came off - amazing skill and really deserved a goal. In short yes notes county were crap but well done United !
Click to expand...



So Done ran off a shoulder injury did he.......? How very unique.
 
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