While I like the principle of keeping possession of the ball, have we become too predictable? Is the over use of wing backs the problem? We pass the ball along the back and then look to feed the wing backs. When the opposition doubles up on the press, the ball comes backwards. Do we need to play more centrally and pass the the ball through the lines. It seems over using the wing backs is easy to defend against. We need more players who can accept the ball in tight areas on the half-turn higher up the pitch and then there may be opportunities to feed the wing backs higher up.

I think that Notts have become much more predictable because I just don't believe Notts have been able to solve the tactics that the opposition practise against us especially at Meadow Lane.

Every team we encounter at home employ very similar tactics against us, they allow Notts to have the bulk of the possession, they employ the high press & try to dispossess Notts as they play out from the back.

They go direct against Notts & try to counter attack once they gain possession from Notts after Corners & dead ball situations. They also find it easy to bully the Notts players too, by being much more physical than Notts on the field of play.

Notts just continue to play the same way despite having the same issues against these opposition tactics. The New Head Coach needs to work on a solution to successfully counter the way teams are playing against us.

Notts suffered during the last third of last season because they lost Crowley & didn't replace him like for like, someone who could create opportunities down the lines & split open defenses & getting behind the opposition.

Notts also need to vary their tactics by going more direct & having players that are more physical & won't be bullied by the opposition.

I also think that the Notts team need to grind out results if necessary. On the few occasions Notts tried those tactics last season they worked well.

Yes agree. The new head coach has a big job to do. Let's hope the brothers are willing to tweak their approach and select a head coach who sees the need to move the ball quicker and forwards more. I'm not suggesting long hopeful balls to no one, but playing through the lines. I think one of the problems last season when they tried to do it, Jatta's poor first touch meant we easily conceded possession.

There was a big shift in how we attacked under Stuart when you compare him to Luke Williams. We probably over committed too many players in attack under Luke, but at the same time the actual link up play and general threat was always there. I never felt this way watching us under Stuart most of the time last season.

The wingbacks were the biggest difference, they were a lot deeper to the point we looked like we were playing a back 5 at times. We actually lost a lot of width in an attacking sense and when you want to play like we do it's a massive hindrance. Also when they did go forward they were left to basically fend for themselves which is why they were a lot more ineffective this season. I can’t remember us ever playing little one-twos to get them in behind which we used to do to such great effect under Luke.

Another little thing I noticed was that generally in midfield and upfront when we were attacking we would take three or four touches more often than one or two, which in turn slows the ball speed down. I get the one and two touch football is a tad riskier but at the same time you need to move the ball as quick as possible to break through stubborn defences.

Direct balls also have a big part of play even in possession based sides, I’d like to see quick switches of play and pinging balls into space to turn defences and stretch sides more. You need the movement and well-timed runs but again that was something we lacked last season. We played the ball to feet far to often so again this made us easier to defend against.

Losing Jodi and Crowley also had a big effect as they were basically players that you can just give the ball to and their superior ability means they can just do things most can’t in this league. But Jarvis always looked really dangerous to me, he has that ability to glide past players and I think he was used badly last season.

Maybe we were a touch predictable, but I would say the issue was more we were too slow and safe when it came to our attacking play last season. Lots of teams know how we are likely to set-up that said if our attacking play is on point and it’s slick and quick there really isn’t a lot you can do to stop it.

I think it's fair to say we are somewhat predictable because how many times do we try to force the play by passing it back, only to focus on going down the left or right wing? Usually the left side, at the expense of the other wing-back becoming a spectator for key parts of the game.

I believe it was our final game against Doncaster, when Stuart Maynard finally brought on Will Jarvis, but at the time everything was being focused on coming from Jodi Jones.

The spells on the ball that Jarvis got, it seemed like we could create something different, and I don't mean for this to be a criticism of Jodi, as he does superbly well and is skillful enough to bring the quality needed to change the game or create a goal-scoring chance. My point is the predictability. When defences know we won't use the opposition flank, we won't try to attack through the centre of the park.

More frustratingly, we insist on trying to tap the ball in by walking into the goal line. Very few efforts come from outside, but a lot of the best goals last season came from a pure bit of magic and a chance from distance when the opposition don't expect it.

There's no reason why at times we can't try to mix things up, but I do think teams start to see where the danger is. Then it takes us to have a real quality moment to break teams down, rather than forcing them to make mistakes by switching things up.

I would have liked to have tried Jodi in the number ten role. He's good with both feet either on the right or the left. He has pinpoint accuracy with his passes & I'm sure he could fit into that role very well.

A player that has contributed over a few dozen assists can certainly be classed as a playmaker.

i think we are stubborn with sticking to the vision and ways the club wants the players to play, there needs to be a bit of freedom otherwise we will have worse performance because how do you make changes when the players are drilled not to take risks, that ball possession is important. there does need to be a balance and i think when we are really playing well, thats about the only times we are not predictable because we are happier to pass the ball more direct and just go for it.

when we need to be more clinical, thats when we fall to being more predictable i think.

It might help with having players like Matthew Dennis. From what I have seen, it looks like he has the ability to make direct runs with the ball from deeper positions and that can also create space for others.

This was Maynards problem- no 2nd plan. Why did he get a 42 month contract. His previous club and record did NOT warrant this length-maybe 24 months with a review??

Football Management compensates Failure-just look at Spurs and the money wasted paying off their last manager?? Best job going for Failure??

We need a new Manager-(whenever he arrives) to be more open to changing as we play. We are TOO nice and even since losing to Harrowgate FC -Wembley playoff and times before this-like play off game against Coventry-Grimsby . Our players are tappy tappy around the middle of the park-we do not frighten opposition players any more. An example of this has been 2 players on Jodie-hit Jatta and he will give up playing etc.

We need good Division 1 or 2 players who can be physical-no point having those STUPID percentages of possession- it is all about Not Conceding and Scoring Goals.

Paul Mace and Young Stallard on Pauls podcast speak with conviction and sense. Jimmy Sirrel would have never tolerated this tappy-tappy footb This past season was out BEST chance of Promotion-we blew it.

I fear for next season as we at present have only weeks to go until the new season restarts?? No Manager yet after 4 weeks?? 1 player has come in- we need another midfielder-defender and winger-hopefully players who have experience and necessary know how of how to play at this level plus speed of pace and turn. I said in January-why not get Langstaff back on loan until end of season-pay the extra wages-instead we recruited young players with no Division 2 experience-this was a BIG Missed opportunity for Promotion. Hoping for the Best-fearing the worst. Michael Belfast Northern Ireland. Notts Supporter since Jack Dunnett-Chairman.

@michaelbrown

Totally agree with your sentiments.

A new Manager/Head Coach with good man management skills, experienced in League 1/2 management. Has a good knowledge of League 2/1 players Not afraid to implement a plan B & C, & a good judge of when to bring on the substitutions.

I'm not a big fan of the term "plan B", but I know what people mean by it.

Football shouldn't be based on rigid tactics all the time, there should be a general approach, and tactics do generally fall within a system. I just think, if managers or head coaches have tactic A, tactic B, tactic C etc. It takes some adjustment switching, and whilst I would say Stuart Maynard didn't show much understanding of turning games around. I don't think he ever really had the understanding of how being less formal can make the opposition ask questions of how we would play.

It would be nice if we could switch formations much easier, based on the starting XI and the players available on the bench. As such, this might be a fallback plan, but I would hope our next head coach can read how games are actually going.

Usually, there are signs that we will concede. It starts with pressure in controlling the ball at the back and playing it straight to the keeper the moment a player can't make a forward pass.

It would be much easier if instructions were being given, and the moment one of our players is struggling in-game, thoughts are made as to how to overcome it. Some managers sit back, hoping the quality will prevail, but a lot of people say we need a leader on the pitch. I think it starts with who is in charge of the squad.

At our level, every coach will have different abilities in areas of their management style, but I do think a better understanding of how a game is going would help with the mistakes we can make and the lack of concentration. Another point, I would have thought a manager would think about why we don't score from corners often, something which comes from the training ground.

SM in his post match interviews, talked about the focus turning to the next match & it always seemed that there was going to be a tactic & plan against that particular side.

But when it came to it, especially at ML, the plan & tactic always used to be very similar to the previous match, play out from the back & retain possession as much as possible.

When I talk about a plan A, B, & C I'm talking about how Notts should be approaching each game against 23 different teams. For me, there has to be a different approach because every team is different.

It's not all about the style & shape, it's also about which players of the squad you play, what position they play, & how the Notts formation will be for that particular opponent.

What would be the most effective way of playing that particular team. Which players would be the best players to play against that team, What formation would be the best against that team. What style would be the best against that team to win a game of football?

On a poor narrow pitch or against a physical & bullying side, the player line up should be different, compared to a side that will play an open passing game on a good wide pitch. I think that is how a Head Coach should be using his squad.

I think when Notts struggled, the predictability became more obvious. When they played well, the quality in the squad shone, and the creativity was much harder to read. While there are clear patterns, especially with play coming down the flanks, having players like Nick Tsaroulla, Kellan Gordon, and Jodi Jones means we will be heavily focused on the wider areas. Now that Will Jarvis has joined, we have plenty of options out wide and flexibility with Jodi and Jarvis if another wing-back is signed.

Having versatile players is important, as is keeping the back four stable and selecting those in form. However, addressing certain weaknesses goes beyond just predictability. I agree that more creativity through the centre of the park is needed and that the team should look for attacking moves rather than dropping back.