It has been a disastrous season for England’s oldest
football club Notts County who face the real prospect of playing out the
football league for the first time in their history. The Magpies are in real
danger and struggling for to score goals as well as keep them out. In addition
to those problems, County are already on their third manager of the season with
former Wimbledon manager Neal Ardley currently tasked with ensuring safety in
the football league which is a complete contrast to 12 months ago when County
were battling for promotion with League 2’s elite.
Last season ultimately ended in disappointment for Notts
County and then County manager Kevin Nolan with his side missing out on
promotion having been in the automatic places for much of the season but ended
up losing to eventual play-off winners Coventry in the semi-finals. Kevin Nolan
vowed to rebuild the squad in the number which was capable for automatic
promotion this time around. Nolan added plenty of quality players including Kristian
Dennis, Kane Hemmings, Nathan Thomas and Enzio Boldewijn. However, all have
struggled to settle at the club with all four players struggling to recapture
their best form at this level. Both Dennis and Hemmings have proven goalscoring
records at the level, but the pair have notched just 10 between them thus far
with 7 of those going to the former Oxford United striker Hemmings. Kristian
Dennis scored 21 goals in a relegated Chesterfield side last season but has
struggled for goals, confidence and game time with the managers constantly chopping
and changing the team. Meanwhile, wide man Enzio Boldewijn has majorly
struggled since his £750,000 move from league rivals Crawley. The Dutch winger
impressed at Crawley but has flattered to deceive at County thus far with just
3 league goals have reached double figures in a poor Crawley side last season.
County’s big spending spree has backfired, and chairman Alan Hardy knows this isn’t
good enough.
Kevin Nolan was gone by end of August after a winless start
and 4 straight defeats with just a point notched in their opening 5 games. Nolan
was replaced by then Crawley manager Harry Kewell who lasted a mere 72 days in
the role before Alan Hardy sacked him in November. Kewell oversaw 3 of County’s
4 wins which did come in a three-match winning streak. Kewell collected just 15
points in his 15 games in charge leaving County languishing at the wrong end of
the table. Hardy’s decisions this season have alienated fans and caused unrest
breaking down the relationship between owner and fans. Despite Hardy’s best
efforts to get the crowds into Meadow Lane with ticket incentives, the 15,000
fans packed into Meadow Lane have been left disappointed and angered with the
performances and the effort of the players. Crowds have come especially in crucial
matches against relegation rivals but defeats to Cheltenham and Macclesfield
have angered, upset and alienated fans.
Neal Ardley is the third manager this season to revive a
dismal season but its just 1 win in his 8 league games in charge with their
only success being in Ardley’s first home game against Tranmere but its 5
defeats in their last 6 since that win back in mid-December. Ardley has so far
failed to sort the major issue for Notts County which is their defence. Their
defensive record is abysmal with County conceding 57 goals in 28 league games
and that is a major concern with an average of 2 goals conceded per game. Despite
having experienced campaigners like Elliott Ward, Dan Jones, Richard Duff,
Shaun Brisley to a new few, County just cannot stop conceding goals no matter who’s
in charge of the team. Ardley built AFC Wimbledon on a strong defence and will
be desperate to create that structure at County sooner rather than later. However,
he also faces issues with County’s attack as they’ve scored just 29 goals which
is the 4th worst in the league with only Macclesfield, Port Vale and
Cambridge fairing worse in front of goal. Despite having a luxury forward line
at this level which includes Hemmings, Dennis and Jon Stead, County struggle to
find the net on a regular basis. Ardley has plenty of work to do but he needs a
win from somewhere and fast to really ignite their survival charge.
County head into their next league game against fellow
struggles Yeovil 6 points adrift of their opponents who are directly above the
relegation zone. Macclesfield have had a bounce but Sol Campbell but Ardley has
yet to have that affect on a talented squad which is majorly underperforming.
The reality of dropping out the football league is beginning to hit the County
fans but of course there is still a long way to go this season but time waits
for nobody and England’s oldest football league club needs to get their act in
gear otherwise they will be slipping away into the embers of non-league
football and the spark will well and truly have gone out on one of the world’s
oldest and most famous football clubs.
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