Salford Score Fred sponsored by Beermen.

[1970Stag]

Giving teams a head start was a problem last season wasn't it, nice to see we've snuffed out that problem...

[Spiritater]

We were doomed on Sunday by the Beermen I'm afraid.

[gazza1988]

We seem to have gone 4-2-4 with Hewitt and Bowery at CB.

[yorkshire stag]

so completed baffled by his formation & team selection today, what on earth was that all about ?

[gazza1988]

Lapslie finds boeteng just inside the area but his low cross is blocked.

[Billy the fish]

To be fair, we should have won this. They’re no better than us, we’ve just given them a head start again and not been able to finish

It’s about putting the ball in the opposition net we’ve really threatened, but some may feel we are still going to walk this league …. We’ve failed to address our weaknesses from last season and that will tell if not sorted asap..

[gazza1988]

FT its a 2-0 loss for the Stags.

[MTFCMusings]

Some bizarre decisions today by Clough. Bowery has played three different positions and not one of them in an attacking role despite being primarily a striker and us trailing for 95% of the game

[SeanieStag]

To be fair, we should have won this. They’re no better than us, we’ve just given them a head start again and not been able to finish

It’s about putting the ball in the opposition net we’ve really threatened, but some may feel we are still going to walk this league …. We’ve failed to address our weaknesses from last season and that will tell if not sorted asap..

If only we could get hold of a striker who knocks in hat-tricks for fun.

[Johnny H]

Clough has let us down today with this team and all the changes in formation.

Fitting around his favourites players

Just like Wembley

Get ready for the usual NC interview......
Individual mistakes costing us goals and failing to hit the target and put the ball in the net.

He has never yet stated he got things wrong......and his stubbornness is his biggest failure !

[CassellsCap]

9 corners . 14 shots off target . 15 players used... ?? Zero goals

[Conker]

Never read too much in to the opening game, obviously disappointing nevertheless - both attacks that led to the goals were due to poor mistakes from our end and we lacked any quality in front of goal ourselves.

I believe Clough is the man for the job obviously like the majority of Mansfield fans, that’s without question, but he can be a proper weirdo at times just to fit in his favourites.

No professional manager should think it’s a sound, reasonable idea to play probably the best left sided full back in the division at CB, I don’t care if it’s a back three, it’s a ridiculous decision.

[tmwilson]

so completed baffled by his formation & team selection today, what on earth was that all about ?

Spot on. I said last season, Cloughie one of the best managers we have had but definitely one of the most confusing

[BH_Stag]

Cloughs decisions in the last 2 competitive games have bordered on negligent. A complete unwillingness to see things from an objective point of view due to a stubbornness of either picking certain personnel or a certain formation. I’ll say that I’m generally a big fan of Clough as well.

Today was baffling. We played a back 5 where only 2 players across that 5 were in a natural position…. We kept that formation to our complete detriment for 90 minutes and neither of those 2 players finished the game

Nothing he did made any sense whatsoever. What makes it worse for me is it was pretty clear this would happen today, could see it coming.

[lancer]

Clough needs to hold his hands up on this one I’m afraid, learn by it and move on. End of

[Mansf1eld]

That was absolute dross.

[yorkshire stag]

Cloughs decisions in the last 2 competitive games have bordered on negligent. A complete unwillingness to see things from an objective point of view due to a stubbornness of either picking certain personnel or a certain formation. I’ll say that I’m generally a big fan of Clough as well.

Today was baffling. We played a back 5 where only 2 players across that 5 were in a natural position…. We kept that formation to our complete detriment for 90 minutes and neither of those 2 players finished the game

Nothing he did made any sense whatsoever. What makes it worse for me is it was pretty clear this would happen today, could see it coming.

completely agree, let’s see if any of the reporters had the bottle to ask him what everyone else was thinking ?

[Spiritater]

Oh dear, Nigel saying it'll take us a couple of months to get up to speed
Re-run of last season?

[Billy the fish]

Cloughs decisions in the last 2 competitive games have bordered on negligent. A complete unwillingness to see things from an objective point of view due to a stubbornness of either picking certain personnel or a certain formation. I’ll say that I’m generally a big fan of Clough as well.

Today was baffling. We played a back 5 where only 2 players across that 5 were in a natural position…. We kept that formation to our complete detriment for 90 minutes and neither of those 2 players finished the game

Nothing he did made any sense whatsoever. What makes it worse for me is it was pretty clear this would happen today, could see it coming.

Sheff Utd supporting mate told me when we appointed NC get ready for Negative Nigel he try’s to live in his dads footsteps but ain’t got a tactical clue..

[HitchcocksShins]

9 corners . 14 shots off target . 15 players used... ?? Zero goals

A loss, an ex player having a great game against us, their keeper pulling off a fantastic save at a pivotal moment of the game and an ex Stag scoring a hat trick for their new club.

Life as an MTFC fan

[Marky Mark]

The story of that game was that we gave them a 2 goal and 45 minute head start with the questionable starting line up, and then threw in 2 missed open goals for good measure. They barely had a kick second half until the last 10 minutes, they didn’t need one though.

[Sandy Pate Best Stag]

It looks like we are in for a long season if that’s the yardstick.

We should have scored 4 or 5 but credit to Salford for their game plan.

It’s obvious we need another centre half and please don’t tell me we would have been better with Hawkins as Salford didn’t play a high lump it game. Hawkins would have been turned inside out with those forwards.

It would appear we can’t rely on the midfield to put the ball in the net but Lapslie did liven things up when he came on.

Much improvement needed as on that display we will be at the wrong end of the table. Clough should take that on the chin and learn from it. He has most of the players he needs but needs to look hard at his favourites.

[Stagdale]

I question NC’s recruitment. For me we need to sign permanently a GK,CH and CF and build the rest around this spine. I accept that Pym will probably be a permanent signing at the end of the season and is a very good signing. But two key positions on loan is a mistake. Even if they do the job we have to sign replacements next season. Oh for a proven striker!!!

Team selection today absolutely baffling. Square pegs in round holes yet again. Player of last season played out of position.Bizarre! It certainly looks like some players are on the team sheet no matter what.

It is the first game of the season so there is a long way to go but without a solid defence promotion will be very difficult to achieve.

[Jamie]

Not a great start but some of the tears on here are funny. We've had a strong pre season but yes lost the first game. Its not like there's not another 135 points to play for or anything...

[kevin kents tasce]

I agree with most of the comments about team selection.

Both goals came from balls into the Macca’s area, where a proper centre back should have been playing.

As soon as we brought Hewitt on and had players playing in more natural positions we became the better side and created some decent opportunities and limited them to very little.

Bad result but no need to over react.

I though Nartey was pretty solid for them.