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Notts County's Tactical Evolution: Maynard’s Insights Before Facing Port Vale


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Ahead of Notts County's home fixture against Port Vale, head coach Stuart Maynard provided insight into the team’s preparation and his reflections on recent performances.

Speaking candidly about squad fitness, tactical flexibility, and the team's desire to bounce back from a recent defeat, Maynard offered a clear sense of determination as his side looks to return to winning ways at Meadow Lane.

After Notts County's recent 2-0 victory against Carlisle United, Maynard was quick to highlight the importance of squad depth, particularly with injuries to key players.

“We’re getting there, we’re getting there slowly,” he said, reflecting on the return of some players. "Obviously, Didzy [David McGoldrick] we didn’t want to risk. He’s had some soreness and tightness in his hamstrings just through pure fatigue, so we’re managing him carefully."

Maynard also addressed the condition of midfielder Conor Grant, who missed the Carlisle game due to a knock.

"He’s got a little bit of swelling on his knee after a bang. The swelling seems to have died down now, and we’re just waiting on the scan results," he explained. "We’re hoping it’s not bad, but we’ll have to see what the scan throws up."

The return of players like Scott Robertson and Cedwyn Scott has bolstered the squad, but the absence of influential playmaker Jodi Jones continues to be felt. When asked about adapting to life without Jones, Maynard was philosophical.

"Look, we have a structure in the way that we play, and we want to control and dominate games in different ways. But obviously, Jodi is a top, top player, and you’re always going to miss that level of contribution," he acknowledged. "We’re going to miss Jodi, but when he comes back, it’ll be like a new signing. A signing you’d never believe you could get over the line."

One area where Notts County has made strides is in attacking reinforcements. The acquisitions of Josh Martin and Jevani Brown have provided cover in Jones' absence, but Maynard stressed the importance of managing their minutes to avoid further injuries.

"Both Josh and Jevani have had an impact when called upon. We just have to make sure we manage their minutes carefully to get them up to speed," he said.

Turning to the defensive side of the game, Maynard heaped praise on goalkeeper Alex Bass, who has been a standout performer in the early stages of the season.

"He fills you with confidence. Some of the crosses he takes are through crowds, and he makes them look easy," Maynard remarked. "We knew what we were getting when we signed him, and we were desperate to get him in the summer. He doesn’t just do a little bit of everything; he can do it all."

Bass’s impact was further underlined during the Carlisle game, where he not only kept a clean sheet but also provided an assist with a long pass. Maynard reflected on the importance of unpredictability in their tactical approach.

"It’s something we work on against different teams," he explained. "Bass is so accurate with his kicking, and if a team wants to be aggressive with their press, we have that at our disposal. We’ve got to be unpredictable. It’s about finding different ways of controlling the game."

Maynard's emphasis on adaptability and tactical fluidity suggests that Notts County will continue to evolve as the season progresses. With Port Vale up next, Maynard is keen to maintain the balance between attacking flair and defensive solidity.

"We can’t just be that team that plays from the back every time. Sometimes, you’ve got to take five or six men out of the press and bear down on their goal," he said, outlining the importance of varying their approach.

As Notts County return to Meadow Lane following their 1-0 defeat to Gillingham, Maynard’s comments reflect a focused and optimistic mindset. With a deepening squad, a commanding goalkeeper, and a tactical plan that embraces unpredictability, the Magpies are well-positioned to challenge Port Vale and push for another three points.

Maynard’s final word? “We’re always looking to strengthen, but we’re happy with the squad we’ve got – and now it’s about keeping everyone fit and fighting for places.”

Check out the opposition view on Pride of Nottingham as we sit down with a Port Vale fan to get their take on the upcoming clash!

Read Pride of Nottingham's exclusive with Kellan Gordon as he talks about staying close to family, life at Meadow Lane, and Notts County’s push to maintain their winning form.



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I listened to the interview intently, & one of the things I've learned is that Notts will go direct & use the long ball tactic when it is necessary.

I believe that is very good news & demonstrates that Stuart will change tactics & style of play during a match when it is necessary.

Notts will not be predictable as they have been over the last few years & the opposition won't be able to settle into just countering Notts playing from the back.

For me this demonstrates more than ever that Stuart Maynard was a brilliant pick by the owners, & Notts are benefitting from what he has brought to the Club.

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kellan gordon should do great to cover jodi jones, yes we will miss jodi but we can allow him to focus on his recovery and when he does return i do think he will be like a new signing. i know that tends to be a cliche, but this is jodi jones we are talking about. hes going to come back determined and hopefully pick up scoring and assisting where he left, but i think keeping the players fit, rotating when possible will be a beneficial thing for notts.

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Maynard’s focus on tactical flexibility is spot on. Teams that are predictable are easy to counter, so mixing things up is crucial. The squad’s depth is really starting to show its importance with injuries to key players like McGoldrick and Grant. With Bass’s solid performances and some of the new signings stepping up, I’m feeling pretty optimistic about the Port Vale game. It’s going to be interesting to see how we line up without Jodi Jones, but I trust Maynard’s approach.

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I’m really liking Maynard’s approach to managing the squad’s fitness and form. The balance between keeping key players fresh and integrating the new signings has been crucial so far, especially with injuries to McGoldrick and Grant. Bass’s impact can’t be understated either, he’s not only solid at the back but also offers a lot going forward with his distribution. Maynard’s comments about mixing up our tactics make sense too. We can’t afford to be too predictable, and Bass’s ability to play long balls adds an extra dimension. It’s good to see that Maynard isn’t just focused on one way of playing but is willing to adapt based on the situation. Hopefully, we’ll see that come into play against Port Vale.

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The tactical evolution under Maynard is really encouraging to see. It’s clear he’s trying to make us less predictable and give us more tools to break down different types of opponents. Playing from the back has been great, but the option to go long, especially with Bass’s pinpoint accuracy, could add a whole new dimension to our play. It’s good to see us thinking ahead, especially when teams press high like Gillingham did.

In terms of squad management, I appreciate that Maynard is taking a cautious approach with key players like McGoldrick. We can’t afford to lose him to a long-term injury, so giving him time to recover is the right call. Plus, the new signings seem to be slotting in well, so we’ve got plenty of options to adapt, even without Jodi Jones.

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Really impressed with the way Maynard is handling the squad’s fitness and tactical flexibility. Injuries to McGoldrick and Grant could’ve been major setbacks, but it sounds like we’re managing them carefully. Jodi’s absence is obviously being felt, but the fact that Maynard sees his eventual return as like ‘a new signing’ shows he’s thinking positively. Bass has been outstanding, both in terms of shot-stopping and his distribution, which gives us more options in how we play. I like that we’re not just sticking to one style and are adapting depending on the opposition. With the depth we’ve added, we should be in a strong position as the season goes on.

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Maynard’s squad management is spot on. He’s wisely not rushing McGoldrick back, considering his importance. The tactical flexibility is interesting; it’s not always about playing out from the back. Sometimes, going long and using players like Bass, who can distribute accurately, is key. This could help break down teams that press aggressively. With Martin and Brown joining, we now have depth, which will be crucial this season. Big game against Port Vale, and I’m feeling hopeful.

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Maynard’s approach seems spot on to me, especially with the way he’s managing McGoldrick’s recovery. Rushing players back is never the answer, and we’ve got the depth now to cope. It’s clear that the squad has been well-assembled, with players like Josh Martin and Jevani Brown able to step in and contribute. The focus on tactical flexibility is also refreshing. Teams that rely on just one approach can get found out, but mixing things up with Bass’s long passes and quick transitions could be key to unlocking stubborn defences. The clean sheet against Carlisle was well-earned, and with Port Vale coming up, I’m optimistic that we’ll see the benefits of this adaptable approach in action. Maynard’s got us on the right path.

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It’s great to hear Maynard emphasising squad depth and tactical flexibility. The injuries to McGoldrick and Grant are worrying, but it sounds like we’ve got a solid plan in place to manage them. Bass’s performances have been a real highlight so far, and it’s refreshing to see a keeper who not only commands his box but also contributes with his kicking. Maynard’s approach of not always playing from the back makes sense, sometimes you’ve just got to mix it up and keep the opposition guessing. Looking forward to seeing how we line up against Port Vale, especially after the Carlisle win!

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It’s a relief to hear that McGoldrick’s being managed carefully, he’s so crucial to our play, and it would be disastrous to rush him back and risk a longer-term injury. The squad depth is going to be key for us this season, especially with injuries starting to hit. Bass has been absolutely solid so far, and it’s nice to see him getting some recognition. His distribution really adds a new dimension to our game. It’s also good that Maynard is focusing on tactical flexibility; we can’t be a one-trick pony.

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The unpredictability in our game is the biggest difference between Maynards tactics and Williams tactics. Opposition teams have no idea how we are going to play, under Williams they knew we’d play out from the back and take short corners every time, now they have no idea how to set up against us.

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