On 22/09/2025 at 08:45, Piethagoram said:

The full EFL2 League table after 9 games ( @Chris )

https://www.footballwebpages.co.uk/league-two/league-table

https://prideofnottingham.co.uk/sportx/tables/league-two/

I can see if we can have a toggle for this mode in the widget, if you wish? So that this table can be set to showing the above way. If toggled on, it would change this tables layout. https://prideofnottingham.co.uk/club/league-table/

Funny how after I posted we had the Crawley match and I feel like that is exactly what Martin Paterson wanted us to be. Aggressive, on the front foot, full of energy but keeping that ability to play good football. Even at Crewe we competed well, looked dangerous and we were unlucky to come away with nothing.

I feel like the expectation level of Martin Paterson is quite low from most fans and in a way, assuming we keep picking up points and putting in good performances, this could help him. Even after 3 matches if felt like some fans were thinking he's going to get us relegated, so even if we only finish mid-table he'll have surpassed a lot of initial scepticism and negativity.

We are now 10 league matches in and I feel more confident about the season than I did at the start. It's funny how just a few changes can make a big difference in football though, all that's really happened is Robertson is back in and Jodi is on the wing, yet we look a far more balanced and better side for it.

I know some fans are still disappointed by the way we were defeated to Crewe, but at least we played well and they didn't outclass us. That says something, because they are a well-organised team that can score freely if they are allowed to control the narrative of the game. Notts looked the far liveliest with plenty of good chances, which came from the hard work. We looked like a team capable of winning, whilst Crewe hung onto countering for the majority of the second half, this performance and some of the more recent ones makes me believe that Martin Paterson is starting to get a standard level from the players.

The way we have played since Crawley, seems to have given the players the self belief that creativity doesn't need to be overthought or limited. That playing, making movement and taking on the opposition will reward them with good chances.

If we focused on the results, Paterson would be under more pressure I feel but when you take into account the pre-season, opening games and how we have returning players from injury it does all seem to lean towards more optimistic point of view. The only thing I will say, I do believe an experienced manager would be able to get the best out of this squad, even with the earlier setbacks and poor performances. However, I do think Paterson is learning.

I just think we need to take a step back after 10 games have been played & just see who Martin is now picking for the starting 11.

Roos, Bedeau, McDonald, Macari, Tsaroula, Palmer, Robertson, Jones, Hall, Iorpenda, Jatta

Out of the 10 outfield players, we have 8 original players from previous seasons playing along with just two new players recruited during the summer transfer window. Both of those players are loan players.

This first 11 is arguably weaker than the first eleven we had just before the playoffs, missing Abbott, Didzy & Bass.

I am still not sure that Paterson knows what his strongest side is even after 10 games. He had our leading scorer on the bench, & Luker could easily have been picked after his 3 assists against Crawley.