Have you ever wondered why the Premier League has so many coaches from overseas? I think we only need to look at League 1 and League 2 where the majority of coaches are British. Especially in League 2 the style of football is physical, direct, full of the dark arts. Stifling skillful football and suffocating technical players. We see serial achievers at League 1 and 2 level like Phil Parkinson, Nigel Clough, Steve Evans and the Cowley brothers, struggle at the Championship level. It seems for a lot of lower league coaches, it’s all about winning no matter how’s it’s achieved. A philosophy that doesn’t seem to work higher up the pyramid.

The Challenge we face is are we going to change our footballing philosophy to play percentage football, pumping as many balls in to the opposition box waiting for a knockdown, a penalty, or even a mistake leading to an own goal to win matches? Or are happy to persevere with passing football looking for the chance to create a clear cut opportunity to score. Playing attractive football pleasing on the eye with the same aim?

Our owners are from overseas, playing passing football using technically gifted players is in their DNA. So I don’t think things will change any time soon. I for one share their vision. I don’t like watching tennis football, seeing the ball toing and froing in the air and talent being suffocated by physicality. The constant stop start with free kicks for fouls. Everyone is not the same of course. We all have our own preferred style.

The challenge then is one for Martin Paterson to overcome! Let’s hope he does. Some may feel playing the style of football the owners want doesn’t work in League 2. However, Eddie Howe did it with Bournemouth. Ironically he is one of the few British coaches still in the Premier League. I wonder why? Keep the faith. COYP.

When Notts are on their song their passing game is the best in the Division in my opinion. When we were on a roll in the National League Notts were absolutely untouchable the vast majority of the time.

However, we have seen with our own eyes, that being in League 2 & having to compete with teams that are very physical & employ a hard press against us, Notts have struggled in comparison.

Possession football has it's merits, & I wouldn't want Notts to lose that identity, but there is a case for mixing it up during games to keep the opposition guessing.

We did see the occasional change under Maynard when Bass would go long & pick out either Didzy or Jatta on the counter. Going long on occasions with accurate passing can open up defences.

I do hope that Paterson is smart enough to quickly change formation & tactics during a game if his set up isn't working for the team. It could even mean a slightly different starting eleven when playing home or away depending on the team they are facing.

I think it is important to be less predictable during a game & mix it up on occasions, without losing the club's passing game identity.

Speaking for myself, I've reached the point where I'd accept LW back if it meant a return to his playing philosophy. We've been steadily losing our identity since his departure.

What we've seen so far this season doesn't look like taking care of the ball to me. There have been so many long punts out of play, inaccurate long balls to nowhere.

I miss the full-on version of keepball. It even made me sad at Barroe when Jones and Palmer were at a corner, nobody near them, they had a quick chat, MP seemed to suggest short and then JJ just put it straight in the goalies hands. LW would've burst out crying.

Most don't seem to see any clear playing direction at the moment. Winning games again would make us all feel better and not care so much. Sometime in the near future though, I like to see the Bros say enough to all the compromise, we're going back to really dominating the ball.

Much better from the team tonight, and the result should help get the season going. It’s the kind of win that can lift confidence and build momentum. I hope the club can move forward from here. It’s still early days though, and with teams not yet settled, anything can happen.

The main thing is not to panic too soon. There’s a long way to go, and things will start to even out once everyone finds their rhythm.

The Reedtz brothers seem to be thinking long-term. Our coaching team is already bigger than most in League Two, just like it was in the National League. That means more wages, but I think it’s a good sign. They’re also working on the infrastructure now, which should help us stay on track when we do go up. I see it as a chance to build and invest early, rather than fall behind by only focusing on the pitch and signings. A balanced approach should lead to more steady success. If we don’t have the right setup, we’ll end up stuck between spending on players or improving the club’s facilities to boost its reputation and quality. Doing both at League One level might work, but I can’t see it being enough in the Championship if we only invest in the squad.

@McPie I think one of the Main Reason's why we see more Foreign Coaches in the Premier League is the Fact that there are Now more Foreign Owners of Premier Clubs and those Owners Prefer both Foreign Coaches and Foreign Players. It seems to me that these Owners are Strangling English Talent in their Academy's, preferring to buy a mediocre Foreign player instead of Encouraging English Talent, to come through their Academy and become Star Players in their First team. And if an Academy player starts to show Star quality then they are Sold, instead of appearing for the First Team where he first began to Show his Talent. Look at Manchester United's class of 92, If Alex Ferguson Had Not kept those Players would the Red Devils have been as Dominant and would they have won as Many Trophies as they did? It seems Nowadays if an English Player wants to get on, they need to Go and Play Abroad.

A Majority of Clubs want to play Pep Ball, the trouble is they can't and instead of Finding their own style they Keep On playing the Pep way, and suffering because of it. What they fail to see is the Bigger Picture, Pep has Never had to Struggle in his Coaching Role Every team he's Coached have had a Massive Player Budget and Very Little Opposition to play against. But he must be a Great Coach because of all the Trophies he's Won and yet last season when City had all those Players injured, he Struggled to Motivate the other Squad Members, and it remained that way, until his Star Players Returned from injury. This Maybe hard for Notts Fans to Swallow but, look what Nuno did across the Trent, Forest won a Large percentage of their Games with less than 30% possession during a Match. Why ? Because the Red Dogs went against the Norm and other Premier League Teams couldn't cope. Admittedly they Ran Out of Steam in the Last Few Games of the Season, but was this because other Teams had Managed to work out Forest's approach or had Nuno ran out of Fresh Ideas?

From a Notts point of View , under Luke Williams the Club found a Winning Formula and once he had left His Replacement Stuart Maynard was expected to carry on that Strategy, while he attempted to do so, he lacked the Experience and Man Management Skills of Williams. And the Magpies finished a Lowly 14th. However the following Season Maynard and his Coaching team, started to get to Grips with Notts Model, but once that Coaching Team split up, with the Departure of the Saunders Brothers, the Notts owners failed to Replace them and by promoting Alves who was also vastly Non experienced in the Assistant Coaching Role the Pressure became to much for Maynard to handle and he just Crumbled and Lost his way and that Cost Him His Job. The Magpies need a Coach who can Motivate his Players a Coach who can Lead from the Front, a Coach who can mix things up during a Game and Change Tactics when the Need's Arise. I Personally think Martin Paterson can't do that. But I'm Always Happy To Be Proven Wrong.

The thing about the Premier League and the Championship is that there's a lot more time on the ball, and if you have good players who like to have space, then they will always be able to exploit weak teams. I don't think the best coaches are from overseas; I think the top leagues focus on having names and reputations. Obviously, they will have a higher quality of experience to pass on, but I don't think that can dismiss English coaches or good upcoming ones who just need a chance.

People mention how the defending is better higher up, but it can be just as poor. The real difference is the quality on the ball and the different types of players who can punish teams in various ways.

A modern thing that has become popular in the last 5 years is having someone who can do a long throw, but I don't think this is an attribute that is really all that important unless the delivery is superb. I am more keen to see free-kick specialists and corner set-piece experts. I love Matt Palmer, but I just don't think he's the best person for us to have on the corner routine. He can deliver good corners, but under Luke Williams it always felt like we gave them to the player least expected to score.

There are quite a few players who have a good delivery, and I wouldn't mind seeing Nick Tsaroulla or Kellan Gordon given a chance, as this could get more out of them. Do we really always have to have the same person taking them?

I echo the comments about how the Reedtz are making changes now to save us for when promotion does come knocking, and when it does, we should be more prepared to face up against teams who have higher transfer budgets, more wages, etc. Even at League Two level, it's only a matter of time before it makes us one of the best in terms of what we can spend. With the focus on sustainability and working towards making sure the squad has quality, it should help whoever is assigned as the head coach to move us forward.

The main thing we need to tackle at this level is adaptability, and leveling up our performances to the point where it's natural once Notts takes to the pitch. Routine and consistency are a vital part of success in any league, but in ours, it's what makes the next level.

there is a lot of things that we need to factor in and improve as we try to gain promotion, its very difficult to do it without the backing of knowledgeable coaches, money and the right signings. someone told me the other day they spent over £200 to watch a premier league game, i am not sure i could afford that at a single price even though i have savings. so notts had to do whatever it takes to first keep us a family club, keep football pricing competitively and to spend money in more than just on the pitch. yes that should be the priority over other avenues but leaving no stone unturned means we should move in the right direction.

The Premier League has clearly leaned towards overseas coaches because they often bring fresh ideas and a more technical style, which suits the top level. Lower down, it’s a different world. League Two especially rewards physicality and direct play, and that can make it hard for technical players to shine.

I think the real challenge is finding a balance. You don’t want to abandon passing football just to grind out results, but you also can’t ignore the reality of what works in this division. The owners clearly have a vision, and I respect that. It’s refreshing to see a club trying to play the right way, even if it’s not always easy in League Two.

Martin Paterson has a tough job, no doubt. He needs to stick to the style the owners want, but also find ways to make it effective against teams who play rough and direct. It’s not impossible, like you said, Eddie Howe managed it, and there’s no reason Notts can’t do the same with the right approach and patience.

I’d rather see us try to play proper football than settle for hoofing it and hoping for scraps. Let’s back the vision and give it time to grow.

I don’t agree with the idea that a League Two team can’t play good football. It’s not impossible. There have been teams who’ve done it well. Playing on the floor and working as a team is tough, but it can be done.

The quality of the squad and the head coach go together. A good coach will get the best out of the players and know how to win, even when the usual style isn’t working. That’s what makes the difference.

Once you concede a goal, it becomes harder to get back into the game. That’s another reason why having quality in the team matters. You need players who can handle pressure and turn things around.

I think Martin Paterson shows promise. He seems to read games well and knows when to make changes. That will only get better with time. Still, I feel he sometimes needs to let go of strict passing rules and just focus on finding ways to create chances.

Supporters want a plan and a timetable. If results stay patchy, we need to see a plan B in the league. Martin Paterson has to show he can change shape mid game and still keep our identity. Patience is hard, but it’s part of building a club that lasts.