The newly formed Technical Board has been met with a great deal of scepticism even outright opposition. However after the performance against Salford, is this where we actually start to see its value? After all a “technical board” is nothing new. We as supporters since football began, have been every clubs “technical board”? Is it not so that supporters often can see what a coach sometimes does not. Team selection, tactics, players played out of position. It’s not the the coach or players don’t know what they are doing, they know far more thane ever will about the professional game. Still sometimes they can so immersed in a situation they can’t see the “wood from the trees” so to speak. A view from the outside looking in can be so helpful. Surely then the technical board can see what we saw. Looking at the Salford game what did we see. We saw much more physicality which was welcomed, but not a lot else. Lots of long aimless balls, a lack of creativity etc. The head coach knows all this, but the regular meetings give a platform for discussion. He can be reminded of the need to stick to our playing philosophy and in turn he can remind the club to provide the right tools to do the job. This clarity of thinking will surely pay dividends as the season progresses. This regular analysis is what we need. We don’t want to wait until we are on a losing streak rooted near the bottom of the league before something is done. COYP!

I wonder if any of the playing staff are on the Technical Board, I expect that might have some valuable input? Maybe the club captain and team captain but where do you stop? Supporter representatives?

I’m sure the technical board will bear fruit I can imagine a coach/manager is a lonely job any help they can get must be beneficial as long as it’s not a case of “too many cooks spoil the broth”.

Time will tell.

A very good topic for discussion @McPie

I am warming to the Technical Board. I think that it will be a useful tool to ensure that any problems on the field are nipped in the bud asap. It will be a forum to ensure there is continuous improvement on the field of play.

I'm sure that the first meeting after the Salford game would have made for interesting listening, with plenty of input from everyone around the table.

One thing is for sure. I don't think the Technical board will be waiting for 10 matches to go by, before getting their 10 penny worth in by giving their feedback & making suggestions.

And you are right, the fan base have been something near to a Technical Board over the ages. The fans have always been quick to air their concerns & offering their feedback & solutions when things aren't going so well.

It's not clear if the Club Captain will attend Technical Board meetings, but I do think that it would be beneficial to have the senior player's feedback & suggestions too.

I don't think it is necessary that a fans representative be on the Board because I'm sure members of the board will be very aware of the feeling of the fanbase, whether it be positive or negative.

I do believe that the Technical Board will be of great value & a tool to ensure that the Club is continually improving on the field & help to put things right when things aren't going so well.

If they listen to some of the fan base they’d be sacking the manager every time we didn’t win. 🤣

I'm old school. Give me a manager who has control over the comings and goings. I feel a bit sorry for MP. I feel he has one hand behind his back. Anyway the reality is that the TB is in place and we just have to suck it up. By we, I mean I.......

Over time, the technical board might be able to give Martin Paterson a lot of useful support, but it won’t happen straight away.

Just like the squad, there will be moments early on when some players aren’t quite in sync with each other. A few are still working on their fitness. Barry Cotter is one example, he started really well but seemed to slow down after about half an hour.

The start of the season has been disappointing, but it’s not a big worry. The Salford match could have gone our way if a few chances had worked out. Jodi Jones hitting the crossbar was one of them.

Salford didn’t play in a very positive way, but we still looked like a strong team. It’s important to give feedback, support the players, and make sure they don’t rush things.

Yeah now the 'technical board's been set up formally, it has to be allowed to do it's job.

I laughed watching Magpie Circle when Mace read out a comment 'sack the technical board'. My view on that is the complete opposite. It should be untouchable! It's only a more official way of describing what goes on at all clubs to some degree - collaboration.

And Paterson is part of this technical team, not outside it. So sacking the board includes sacking him - hardly fair that, is it?

We need a Head Coach willing to collaborate with the other professionals employed at the club. MP has said repeatedly that he's happy to do this. If ever we had a manager that doesn't want to get the benefit of the analysis, and doesn't want to be accountable, that manager should go as the club/board would deserve better. Ditto for the head of recruitment, who has as much to be accountable for as the coach.

I'll say one thing though - the players have to be protected. Having your performance scrutinised too much might take the joy out of the profession for them, like teachers or the police drowning in admin. The club needs to find ways to make NCFC an enjoyable place to be. We don't want MP, Edwards and Slocs coming out of meetings weighed down by a long to do list, as this misery could be passed on to the players. Joy can't be measured unfortunately, but we need to play with as much of that as possible. LW pulled that off, so it can be done.

I'm sure that all the members of the Technical Board are fully commited to it, & what it may achieve to foster continuous improvement, & help to solve any problems or issues that arise on the playing front. I think that is key to the success of the TB, & that's why I believe it will prove to be a success.

Some fans seem strongly against something that hasn’t even been in place for long. It feels like they’re making things harder for themselves, especially when it’s not much different from chatting with mates or talking about Notts in public. The only real change is that the board will pass those thoughts on to the head coach.

If the feedback is constructive, it could help over time. There’s no harm in trying, and if it doesn’t work, I doubt Notts would keep doing it. Like anything new, it needs time.

Some might say that talking about Notts doesn’t affect the club, but it can. It can cause frustration among fans, and players might see those comments too. Everything has the chance to make a difference, as long as it’s thoughtful and constructive.

I'm all for the Technical Board, throughout my Notts supporting life, I sometimes cringed when a manager brought in his best mate to assist. A "yes man" that would not threaten the top job

If Notts get promoted, the Technical Board will be a resounding success. If Notts don't get promoted, many will question it's usefulness. Let's see what happens at season's end.

There is an old adage in business, and football is a business when all said and done, 'if two directors agree, then you have one director too many''.

So the Technical Board, or whatever you call it is an essential part of a clubs structure. Robust discussion is essential for success.