County v Nuneaton: Match Thread, Take 2 (20/02/2018)

Nuneaton top the 5-game form chart (13 points from last 15 available), having scored 5 and conceded just the 1 under their new(ish) manager. From memory, he had a similar impact when he took over Southport but hopefully the usual dip is coming... starting Tuesday night! Their striker, Chambers, was a League footballer in the not-too-distant past and always looks a threat whenever I've seen him. But with Turner returning to the bench, we should have a #9 threat across the 90 minutes and we know both Stephenson and Warburton have been doing the business for us too.

Given Salford should beat BPA on Tuesday, even a draw in this one might see us move from 10th to 8th. However, with being 6 points behind York and having 2 games in hand, it really does feel like this is a great opportunity to apply pressure by taking all 3 points and, for the first time this season, posting 3 consecutive league wins. Not only did York get spanked by Curzon, but Parkin (20 goals) was also straight red-carded meaning they will have to try to pick up points without him for a few games. Their next best scorers this season have only got 6 goals.

A win would make things look a lot more rosy so "let's be having you"... or something.

I think tonight was the last chance saloon for this season, and we've bottled it. Next season will be the last chance for Jim as well. Really disappointing season. You've got to wonder how Jim has arrived at the decision to start Jimmy Ball up front.

All our fans would have left mad at the ref for the time-wasting Nuneaton did but it shouldn't disguise that we got what we deserved - nothing.

Nuneaton kept things simple, were well drilled and everyone fulfilled their role well. They moved the ball through the lines confidently and showed better technique across the pitch. Throughout his time on the pitch, their #10 was continually able to get the ball to feet in space to run the show.

We were the exact opposite. In a key home game, we experimented with the front-line, looked very unsure on the ball, tentative off the ball and in the tackle, lacked ideas on how to work it towards the front line and even the very basics, such as first touch and not letting the ball bounce in defence, were miles away from being acceptable for NLN standard. The whole thing came across as some kind of pre-season game where we trying new things and playing passively because we were still getting a feel for what we are and how we play together.

Without any width being offered to stretch out the Nuneaton backline, Nuneaton just had to ensure they were compact and didn't make mistakes as it would take high levels accuracy for our front line to receive the ball and work effectively in such a congested triangle of space on a poor pitch. Given the blend of poor passes into them and their heavy touches when they did occasionally receive it to feet, our only real hope became balls over the top to chase after along with the couple of times when Ball or Stephenson had pulled wide to make their own width and ran the ball down the sides.

Oswell has needed a rest but, even without scoring of late or getting the assist credit, he was involved heavily in our last 3 league goals when Warburton and Stephenson have thrived. The same balls hit up to Oswell that he hasn't controlled weren't controlled tonight by Ball, the same flicks to nobody he does also happened tonight with Ball. While Ball offered pace in behind if balls went over the top (which really Stephenson should offer anyway), there was no relationship at all between the front line. I can't remember seeing both Warburton and Stephenson look so ineffective in a game. At the same time, by Ball being up top, he couldn't get on the ball and run it from midfield which is a key strength he does offer.

Couldn't fathom JG at all tonight.  It's one thing to make the initial decision but waiting 60 minutes to get on Oswell when he's been quick to remove Walker first half to change things just looked like it was about proving Ball could do a better job than Oswell though nothing was suggesting that.  When Oswell did come on, he came on for Thomas who was on set-pieces and had the best chance of getting wide on the right to put in balls and stretch out the defence that nullified us by... not being stretched (which JG himself alludes to in the interview).  

When they had a direct free-kick central to our goal, he shouted Thomas to make 5 in the wall when surely that's Hinchliffe's job to make his wall.  When Nuneaton were playing for time, he got caught up with it and the sideshow on the sidelines led to the ref coming over and talking to them for 2 minutes, wasting our own time further.  The night was completed with an interview which just seem to deflect away from his own decisions, further talk-down Oswell and even manage to make a comment about fans.  A night to forget, I think.

Nothing much to add to the comments made other than that my patience is beginning to wear a bit thin. Probably the single most important match of the season because as has been pointed defeat means that we're now probably too far adrift to make the play - offs. Given the importance of the game the Manager reverts to eccentric, not something that is new (anyone remember him sticking Anthony Elding out wide right at Mansfield in a role he clearly didn't understand or want) but a temptation I'd hoped he'd be able to resist. The only rationale I can think of is that the Nuneaton defence would lose concentration due to pissing themselves laughing. Note to Manager. Jimmy Ball is a fairly one dimensional player who isn't as good as you think he is. I can't even be bothered listening to his post - match justification because there isn't one!

Jim Gannon doesn't have a halo and he never has had. He is the club Manager and I have and continue to support both him and the board as long as they remain in their respective roles. As a paying punter I do however reserve the right express dissatisfaction with what I'm seeing on the field

As there's a thread 'on the dark side' about Jason Oswell not looking interested and there now seems to be questions about him being a teamplayer, I thought I would be a bit more positive about our top-scorer. Without doubt, and it misses making the highlights for obvious reason, he has not had the hold up play required to support us getting up the pitch when we've been under pressure. He's also given away ball too cheaply when there was no excuse, such as this example against BPA which led to a chance for them:


But the kind of things I think are easy to miss are these:

Making something out of nothing (or very little!)

Against FCUM, Oswell uses his body well and sets up Stephenson to cross.
Result = County goal.


Against York, he puts himself in to challenge with 2 larger players sandwiching him.
Result = County goal.


In this clip against Alfreton, Oswell works hard to turn a 'nothing' ball into something using his body well.
Result = County chance.


Over to Southport we go and after chasing down a ball over the top, he hold and lays off before getting into an excellent position.
Result = County goal.


A good effort to press the Telford defender and win the ball is followed by simple hold up play and a lay off.
Result = County goal.



Bringing others into play

Against BPA, he picks up Walker's prod and links up simply with Warburton.
Result = County chance.


Against Salford, he shows for the ball and lays it off wide before getting into a goalscoring area.
Result - County chance.


Harrogate and he's onto Winter's ball, lays it off and finishes the parry.



The big issue - finding Oswell from deep

Our weak midfield and lack of width often mean we're resorting to going too quick to Oswell rather than working up the pitch.
A standard example of the balls which don't make highlights but regularly waste much of Oswell's efforts this season:.
(The secondary passage is where he needs to hold though)


A good example at Telford of a defender (Smalley) finding Oswell to feet.
Result = County chance.


Walker's ball v Gainsborough means Oswell can use his pace and trickery against an isolated CB. After the initial cross to Minihan doesn't come off, he gets free at the back post in case Cowan crosses rather than shoots.
Result = County chance.


Against Salford now and a clearance/pass is collected to feet. Oswell links with teammates.
Result = County chance.


Still v Salford, the ball is to rather than feet/chest but at least it can be flicked due to Oswell being well away from a CB.


We often seem to bunch into a small area on the side of the pitch for goal kicks. It often ends with the ball kicked out of play
or certainly without us having the ball. In this one, Ormson hits towards their RB and Oswell moves away from the CBs to flick on for Warburton.
Result = County goal


All-in-all, my view is that there's a very clear candidate for 'not being a team player' in the squad and Jason Oswell isn't that person. Not once have I seen him and thought 'he doesn't try' although I have thought he looks tired for a couple of months and easily marked out of games when we play back to front and without width. While there needs to be focus on improving his hold-up play, the risk is that we forget the other elements he brings - a bit like the focus on Hinchliffe's kicking (which has been poor) compared to considering the confidence he brings to those around him and his high level of skills elsewhere in his game.