Do Notts Have Automatic Promotion In Their Own Hands?

[Robbie 𝕏 @Robbie_NCFC]

By the end of March we will probably know if Notts can get an automatic promotion spot.

In March, Notts have matches  against:-

Fleetwood away.

Barrow at home.

Wimbledon away.

Grimsby Away. 

Chesterfield at home.

Crewe at home.

Newport away.

Positive results or even wins against three of those sides, Wimbledon, Grimsby, & Crewe who are competing with Notts,  plus picking up points elsewhere could prove to be a big month for Notts.

Are you confident Notts can come through those seven matches looking good?

[gtownjohnno]

5 minutes ago, Robbie said:

By the end of March we will probably know if Notts can get an automatic promotion spot.

In March, Notts have matches  against:-

Fleetwood away.draw

Barrow at home.win

Wimbledon away.draw

Grimsby Away. Draw

Chesterfield at home.win

Crewe at home.win

Newport away.draw...........13 points.....hopefully enough to keep Notts in the top 3

Positive results or even wins against three of those sides, Wimbledon, Grimsby, & Crewe who are competing with Notts,  plus picking up points elsewhere could prove to be a big month for Notts.

Are you confident Notts can come through those seven matches looking good?

 

[Piethagoram 𝕏 @piethagoram]

Jodi and Didzy back essential.

I do fear that this season may rest on the refs allowing Jodi to be kicked to kingdom come.

[Robbie 𝕏 @Robbie_NCFC]

I think that the seven March fixtures for Notts, three being against teams we are competing with for an automatic place, may prove decisive regarding whether Notts get automatic promotion or not.

If Notts can get positive results against those three teams & possibly get wins against the other four teams, we could have a very exciting end to the season for Notts fans.

[allardyces tash]

I think Notts are good enough to finish in the automatics, but we need to strive for a bit more consistency on the pitch, no matter who is available to play. Naturally, injuries will make an impact, but it is more the lack of taking chances which usually sees points being lost or defensive woes. The talent is there, but being able to call upon someone special to dig them out of trouble seems to fall on fewer shoulders.

[ARLukomski 𝕏 ARLukomski Instagram declanweliczko_arlki]

This is the current top 7's remaining set of fixtures, excluding tonight's fixtues (February 25th).

We must improve our performance levels if we are to reach the magical 83 points. 9 wins or 8 wins and 2 draws. We need to begin running into space with the ball again, pressing more intensely like we did between MK (A) and Gillingham (A) and having a quicker intensity with the ball along with more urgency. 

I am concerned about our record in big games. This season we've taken 7 points from a possible 24 against fellow top 7 teams. Walsall (2 losses), Donny (draw), Wimbledon (won), Bradford (won), Vale (2 losses) and Crewe (lost). This isn't just a current problem, but it's always been an issue. We just can't perform in the big games. 

The returns of Didzy and Jodi will be important, as will the progress of talented, yet still developing duo Charlie Whitaker and Will Jarvis. Mai Traore needs a run of games as well. 

I'm just not sure we have it in us. We have a more "that'll do" mentality rather than a ruthless mentality. Are we genuinely better than 4 other teams in that screenshot? I feel like other fans have more faith in us than we do in ourselves and vice versa. I look at performances like Cheltenham (A), Accrington (A) and Gillingham (A) and think we have what it takes. I then look at recent games against Carlisle, Vale, Colchester and Tranmere and think we don't have it in us. There's them performances, coupled with our results against the rest of the top 7, which makes avoiding the play-offs a must.

[Robbie 𝕏 @Robbie_NCFC]

Notts have five matches to play now in the month of march.

Wimbledon away.

Grimsby Away. 

Chesterfield at home.

Crewe at home.

Newport away.

I think at least three wins has now become essential if Notts have any chance of getting automatic promotion.

The fact that four of those teams are challenging in or around the play offs make it even more important for Notts to get at least three wins  against three of those challenging teams.

[Chris Website URL Visit Site 𝕏 fmcj10 Instagram fmcj10]

I have read a fair bit of criticism from Tuesday night's game, with regards to Kellan Gordon. All I can say is that he does become inconsistent, but he has waited a while to start regularly, and the last time he was in good form, Stuart Maynard dropped him, and then he fell back onto the bench. We need to be making sure that whoever plays, the wing-backs have support and understand 100% how they can do their job. We do need to be mindful of fatigue, but at the same time players need to step up and show more determination towards getting the results we need to maintain our battle for promotion.

At one point it was ours to give away, as we put pressure on Walsall and whilst it seemed unlikely we would gain the six points required to be on a level with them. We have gone in the opposite direction. Maynard seems to struggle with periods like this, so it's vital he gets to grips with them.

People have already returned to wanting him out; that is their right, but we do need to make sure that the calls don't further our growing poor form.

Losing to Barrow feels like a bit of a step back, which is disappointing despite how good a league team they have become. I am aware of the stats from the game, as we need to make sure we kill off games with such a high possession percentage.

There are a lot of minutes to be played in March. Maynard needs to manage them, and we have to make sure our chances count for something. In terms of officials, if we play at our best and take those chances which present themselves. Then, their decisions shouldn't affect us as much. The players need to cut out some of the frustration which builds during games, and just get on with it. I might have missed two recent games, but I am seeing a growing amount of it amongst players like Kellan Gordon and George Abbott.

If we don't finish in the playoffs, it won't be the end of the world, but Notts would have given it a go. It's natural to miss out on automatics when other teams are starting to find good form, but Notts can't let the start of the season, or the Christmas/New Year form, count for nothing.

[Fan of Big Tone 𝕏 @mainstandpie]

I think we can still make that third spot but we need our best players fit for the run in, the fans need to get behind the team and support them especially when things aren’t going well. We’ve bounced back from poor form before and we can do it again.

[menzinho]

I wasn't expecting us to finish in the automatics spots this season, that said having watched us play (prior to these recent poor home performances) I've thought we've usually looked better than most teams in the division, even when we've played the better teams yes we've lost/drawn but we've never been dominated in the way we can dominate teams. I think this team is capable, but right now it's just not playing like a team that is going to finish in the top 3. And it's frustrating watching a team play like a shell of themselves when you know they are capable of so much more.

In terms of these upcoming fixtures, I'm actually more confident about the away games it's the two home games that worry me more. If we continue to play as we have been at home this last month, I can't see how we get anything against a decent Chesterfield team and well organised/motivated Crewe.

5 hours ago, Chris said:

I have read a fair bit of criticism from Tuesday night's game, with regards to Kellan Gordon. All I can say is that he does become inconsistent, but he has waited a while to start regularly, and the last time he was in good form, Stuart Maynard dropped him, and then he fell back onto the bench. We need to be making sure that whoever plays, the wing-backs have support and understand 100% how they can do their job.

Just to add to Chris' point about the wingbacks, cos I noticed Jarvis got a lot of criticism too. We don't always give our wingbacks that much support in how we play at the moment. Prior to Stuart, whoever was playing in the two No.10 roles used to drift out wide to support the wingbacks with the intention of trying to play a short ball to get them in behind. Right now that doesn't happen as much, it's like the wing-backs are expected to take their man on and beat them and if they can't the only other option is to pass it backwards...