The current coaching team is it stick or twist? Some Notts fans have already decided it’s time for a change. Others feel they need more time. Some are not sure what to make of it all and the jury is still out. I suppose most importantly what do the brothers think? It was interesting listening to a Luke Williams podcast. He spoke about his time at Notts and he revealed a couple of interesting points.

 Firstly (something he also mentioned while at the club) that the brothers use data to analyse matches. Results don’t always tell the whole story. In some matches that ended in defeat, the performance data may show that it merited a win. Conversely in some matches won, the data may show it merited a defeat. Critics of this will say it’s only the result that matters not the ifs and buts. However, I don’t think that the data is simply saying that the result doesn’t matter. It seems to me the data is picking up on a trend that performances are showing. If the performances are consistent, the results will follow.

As an example, Stuart Maynard was sacked at the end of last season. Some may feel that was harsh as he took us into the playoffs. The data may have pick up on the trend that good performances didn’t result in enough wins. In fact it could have pointed to some wins actually merited a defeat. (winning only by a ref’s bad decision, a lucky penalty or some other non-performance related reason) This type of win is not due to a consistent performance trend.  Whatever the case, the data may have showed that with the players available there should have been more wins. The fact that we didn’t win enough games to achieve promotion seems to suggest that is the case. Resulting in his sacking.

The second point Luke made was that the brothers use algorithms as part of the data model. He gave an example whereby the brothers used an algorithm to indicate that a certain player should play in a particular position in a certain match to optimise the performance. Luke stressed he wasn’t compelled to use this suggestion or even if he did, but the data was there to help him make the best decision possible. The question is then: What is the performance data telling the brothers about the current coaching team? Is it too early to see trends? Have we had defeats that merited wins? Wins that merited a defeat. Time will tell. What it all does say is that the brothers are not sleep-walking into relegation. The finger is very much on the pulse. We can be confident that they will make the right decisions at the right time.

To begin with Maynard, I was sceptical with his original appointment because I didn't think that he had the EFL experience to be able to succeed at a higher level, however he grew into the job & he did improve the Notts defence, & he had the evidence to prove it. He also managed to get Notts to the playoffs.

I do feel that he was given a raw deal when he was sacked without getting the support that could have got Notts over the line. Then the brothers appointed a replacement then gave him lots of support, something Maynard didn't have.

I do remember Maynard saying in post match interviews that Notts deserved a draw or a win when they actually lost. Was Maynard being told that the data showed Notts should have won when they drew or lost?

I believe that data is not the be all or end all. I still believe the result doesn't always match up with dominating a match. The object is to keep the opposition from scoring & taking your own chances.

The data could show that 10 players have played very well, but one player makes a mistake & gives the ball away which leads to conceding a goal. But for the rest of the game that player plays well too but the mistake was costly.

When you look at teams like Wimbledon, Port Vale, & Doncaster, they weren't better footballing teams than Notts, but they just knew how to get a result even though they weren't the best team on the day

I get what the brothers are trying to do, by making Notts more physical, meaner & a side that is prepared to graft results when necessary. I think that it could work, but whether the fan base will be patient with the transition is another matter. Because that style of football isn't always pretty.

As far as the data is concerned, is Jodi Jones really in his best position according to data? I just don't agree with that notion. Jodi's best position is on the wings. The stats prove it.

An excellent piece @McPie . From a Personal Point of View it's time for a change in the Dug Out, nothing against Martin Patterson, but I Don't think he's the Right Guy for the Job. Regarding data I think the Brothers tend to rely on it too much. The Problem is (as I've said before) Data can Not Interpretate the Human Factor in a Game. As David McGoldrick said (and I know I've quoted this before) Football is a simple game, which needs to be seen with the Naked Eye. Perhaps Football annalists need to watch more Football instead of just feeding figures and other Data into a computer. Notts should have Won at Newport and Lost at Tranmere. Data is part of the Modern Game, but No Computer can Predict (at the moment) the feelings or emotions going on inside of a Players/Coaches Head on Game Day.

I think the coaching team will be given a fair shot, taking into account the quality available to them. Par might be mid-table up until January, when we can do something about it.

A poor below-par run could prompt the bros to act before then. I don't think it's too much to ask MP to keep us just about 'in touch'. I think RobGag can get the biggest slice of the blame if we're not regularly in the top 10 from Sept-Jan, and I think the club and the fans can understand that. Par will be keeping in touch.

Issues of style and performance levels should be secondary to results for the moment and ideally reviewed at the end of the season.

Could it be @Robbie, that the data suggests that Jodi's best position is out wide as you say, but perhaps MP has decided otherwise as is his prerogative as head coach? I agree with you Jodi's best position is on the wings. Maybe MP is beginning to go that way as was seen last Saturday. Let's hope so. With two hungry strikers in the box it's a no brainer!

Yes I agree @theAnticlough, the data may have already forced the brothers hand with the departure of Roberto Gagliardi. The poor recruitment may buy MP and his team more time.

JJ being tried out at No.10 made sense and was worth a shot, having lost Didzy and Crowley.

Unfortunately he wasn't quite ready and was buffeted around every game in that congested area. Personally, I think we'll be forced to go back to 1 up front and we'll need 2 no.10s again (which might include Dennis), but Gordon going out will probably be the deciding factor in JJ going out wide again. And once he moves, we might not see him back inside again this season.

The Reedtz must stick with the current setup, but come January they need to make a couple of signings to strengthen the squad. I can’t see why we brought Tyreese Hall to the club; he’s very lightweight and at times looks scared to be on the ball. I don’t see him improving much. It’s unfortunate, but not every loan will work out.

Sacking Martin Paterson could undo all of their hard work, and I feel we must settle down again with the coaching staff. It highlights the point that a third season, albeit two and a half, might not have been the worst decision in keeping him on. Playoffs, in hindsight of our budget, seem quite good. Paterson, on the other hand, is no worse or better; he has a different idea about things, and it’s that change which seems to be the struggling point.

Going to have to stick till Jan, Then a clear out, Get Macca back in the 9 shirt, and Luke back in the dugout

The problem that Paterson has is that half the squad are trying to play the Maynard way & the new players are trying to play the Paterson way.

Paterson needs to be getting all of the squad to play his way. That could prove a little difficult & may need several further games more before we see it happening.

As far as the team makeup is concerned, Ness needs to come into the defence for Aljofree, with Aljofree on the bench

I would revert back to one striker, Jatta with Dennis playing just behind him in a similar role that Didzy played. I would put Jones back on the left wing instead of the number 10 role, Tsaroula on the bench & put Iorpenda alongside Dennis.

Any long balls could be aimed at Jatta to try to retain possession, but I wouldn't want to see as many long balls as we have seen lately. Notts should largely persist in building from the back, in the Williams/ Maynard style.

They are never going to give away the secrets to how their prediction model works but I’d be so fascinated to see it. I would guess it's very complex but surprisingly accurate. I’ve heard snippets of the Luke Williams interview (on the Not The Top 20 Podcast) and he mentioned it was predicting with 99% certainty that Wrexham would win the National League and that was in the run in stage – It didn’t feel like it because it was so neck and neck, but their model proved to be correct.

And that’s probably why Stuart was let go, because the data probably told them we were lucky to finish in the play-offs. They probably ran a programme to predict the play-offs and I’m pretty sure our chances of winning it would’ve been a very low percentage.

If the brothers want to go in a slightly different direction, they’d be mad to abandon it 8 matches in. And 8 matches is a small sample to take data from, I could be completely wrong here but I’m always under the impression to get more accurate data you need a bigger sample. For example, I guess their model’s current prediction for winner of League 2 be is hard to predict right now, but 36 matches it’ll probably have a pretty good idea.

In terms of the new coaching staff it's the first time Martin Paterson, Andy Edwards and Sam Slocombe have all worked together and we had a high turn-over of players this season. We are in an ok position in the league with lots of matches left to play, it's about seeing steady progress for me and becoming that team that Martin is trying to make us... Ok it might not work out but you've got to give him a chance.