Return of the seven.

[Robbie 𝕏 @Robbie_NCFC]

A team with six of their best players unavailable & a seventh on the bench & coming back to full fitness will always struggle.

There is not a manager or head coach in the league system who will not struggle with seven first teamers unavailable.

The players that are left have done a great job keeping Notts in touch with the leaders, despite the large number of injuries.

Stuart Maynard has been able to keep Notts in the top six by getting the best out of those players, who would have been on the bench under normal circumstances.

When those magnificent seven return to full fitness. Stuart will have a very big selection headache to solve & that will only make for healthy competition within the squad.

Just imagine what those seven players will bring to the team come January. I'm looking forward to it. Watch out League Two.

[Morten Johansen]

Completely agree @Robbie. Big shoutout to Maynard and the players for keeping our promotion dream alive.

[liampie]

when they do return, there is the chance we might further improve and i think the club really did want to have a good cup run. it was unfortunate that the subs impacted the game, but peterborough was already growing into the game. at least now we can focus on the league, so i dont think we need to worry or dwell on the results. i think we need to try to show the lads we are fully behind them and that includes stuart maynard!

[menzinho]

I know we are lacking our better technical attackers, but we seem to persist with the intricate passing patterns even when we are struggling. Austin isn’t Crowley, Tsaroulla isn’t Jodi yet we play like they are. We really struggled to get Austin into the game yesterday and Tsaroulla was well marshalled by their full-back for most of the game. I think a slight change in style could've helped. Sometimes I just want to see us put the opposition defence under a bit more pressure, yesterday Walsall showed that just forcing defenders to do things quicker than they like can create problems.

Don’t get me wrong I do think it’ll be a massive help when the better attacking players are back, but I just don’t think we’ve adapted as well as we could have. Maybe I'm being overcritical but I wonder why so many of our other attacking players have struggled to perform. Since the injuries Austin, Brown, Martin, Gordon and Tsaroulla have provided no goals and 1 assist between them, are they really just not good?

[Robbie 𝕏 @Robbie_NCFC]

@menzinho I see what you are saying. I just think we have to acknowledge that players like Crowley & Jones are top league one or championship level players & them being absent reduces the effectiveness of the team.

Jodi had two players, sometimes three, marking him when he was going forward, this left room for Crowley to do what he does best. I think we have missed the energy of Edwards, & Grant made a difference with both Crowley & Jones in the side.

The players you've mentioned are reasonable players. I think Tsaroulla & Gordon have missed Jones and Crowley in the team too. 

Not only them, Jatta has found it more difficult to find space without the better players being present.

Players being absent have had a knock on effect all around the team, but I think the team has done as well as they could despite some of the players having limitations. 

[Fozzy]

Issue we’re going to have is the length of time it will take these players to get back up to full match fitness and also the heavy workload that those left have had to endure as they are also now picking up injuries. I hope we can stay in touch as January’s fixtures look very favourable but our form of 10 points from the last 9 games suggests we’re going to slip away again.

The next 3 are massive games now, we simply must get 7 points as we then have to go to MK who are now flying after a horrible start.

[Robbie 𝕏 @Robbie_NCFC]

You bring up a very important point @Fozzy regarding the return to fitness of players coming back. It will have to be carefully managed by Maynard to ensure those players don't break down again.

We may not see Six of them return at once. We've already seen Robertson on the subs bench for his return & he wasn't even used.

Recruiting new players in January looks like it's going to take on even more of a significance now, to ensure that Notts remain competitive.

[JustLikeJuve]

It takes some players time to settle and find form after injury. While some might be like a new signing, I hope it isn't repeated and that all can steadily return to action. We need their quality to help get the club back on track.

[ExiledPie]

Looking at it from a broader perspective, there's so much to be proud of with how the team's handled adversity. Even if the road’s been rocky, Notts has demonstrated resilience and character. The players have dug deep, despite the pressure. Sure, we've seen the gaps in our strategy, but isn’t that what builds character?

Each creak in our formation has been an opportunity for growth. As our ranks refill with the return of essential players like Crowley and Jones, we’ll not only have the skills back, but more experienced players who’ve learnt to cope without their injured teammates.

[Chris Website URL Visit Site 𝕏 fmcj10 Instagram fmcj10]

I think it's important to remember that we do have injuries, but a strong team can navigate that problem, and I am hoping the close-knit group will start to see that we just need to convert the chances that are created. It's a cliché, but goals change games, and we are good enough. I don't think we have been bad, certainly the performances have largely been positive.

The news today of Dan Crowley being close to returning, George Abbott and Matty Platt back in contention to play against Colchester is great news.

There's always valid points to be made around the club, and it's important that some perspective on the positive side is looked at. It's good that we can keep an interesting discussion focused on this point. Even with downsides, there's always something to encourage.

[Blake]

Consistency is key. Balancing returning players with fitness could make all the difference. I think Maynard will manage it well, though.

[KingMaynard]

It's been a test of resilience for the team. I think once everyone’s fit, we’ll see a Notts side with real depth and firepower.

[NiftyNick]

Injuries are part and parcel of the game, aren’t they? But our progress has been remarkable. Can't fault the lads for their grit and determination.

[JustLikeJuve]

I can see both sides of the coin here. While it’s frustrating to see us struggle without key players, it’s allowed the others to shine. Players like Austin and Gordon may not have made the same impact if they were competing with a fully fit squad. The return of those injured will no doubt push our performance further, but it’s the experience gained during these tough times that could prove invaluable. Maynard’s biggest task will be integrating everyone back into the squad, ensuring both old and new stay motivated. I’m cautiously optimistic about what the rest of the season holds.

[Robbie 𝕏 @Robbie_NCFC]

Sad that the match was postponed yesterday, however the extra week before the next match will give some of the players extra rest. Players like David McGoldrick and Alassana Jatta.

Those that were recently injured and missed the last game, George Abbott & Matty Platt, plus Scott Robertson who was on the bench for the last game but didn't play will get more recovery time

Dan Crowley will welcome the extra time to get match fit, as will Jodi Jones, Conor Grant & Curtis Edwards.