We didn’t have to postpone it but because we got the minimum number of call-ups required, we did. Now we know the players missing are; Bedeau, Jones and Kouyhar do you think it's the correct decision. Without these 3 players would it greatly impact the chance of getting a good result?

Personally, I think I’d have just played it as right now we are in a good spell of form and as it’s is only three players, I think we’ve got a big enough squad to cope. Also in a way I feel like it gives the message that some players aren’t good enough, it’s almost as if without these 3 players getting win is impossible.

What do you think?

I think it was a borderline decision, but on balance I think it is the right decision.

Losing three important members of the squad, particularly Jones & Bedeau, who would have most probably have been in the starting eleven, would have been a big miss.

It could easily have been four but Jatta wasn't selected for his Country this time. The players are starting to find their form together & I think it was important for all those players to be available, for the Swindon match, which would have been a tough one anyway.

The only negative of course is that Notts will lose some ground on the leaders by not playing, but I do think that the decision not to play is indicative of the Notts new way of not allowing your opponents get any sort of advantage if at all possible.

It's always a tricky decision to make. Kouyhar is a fringe player right now, but the other two are starters and we would probably be weaker without them (although we've no shortage of alternatives for Jones). On the other hand, postponing it could lead to a fixture pile-up further down the line. And who's to say we won't have more injuries by then?

On top of that, a rescheduled match would likely be midweek, which is less fan-friendly. nd football is a spectator sport after all.

So I can see both sides of it. It's a tricky decision with a lot of second-guessing involved.

The other aspect worth considering is Swindon are in really good form at the moment. We might find playing them later in season a better option for us. Especially as we are getting better but not yet the finished article. Only time will tell I suppose.

Correct decision to postpone

It's hard to say if it was the right call, as we can't know yet if postponing the fixtures will cause problems later. There's a real chance the games could pile up, and that might lead to injuries. You can't delay matches just because of suspensions or knocks, so I usually think it's better to get them played.

Missing Alassana Jatta is a big blow, but it's not like Notts to hold off on playing. I get the reasoning, but in the past we've gone ahead and the squad is big enough to cover most positions. The issue is that we do lean on Jatta quite a lot.

For just one match, I reckon Matthew Dennis could have managed. I think Notts could have gone ahead with it, though part of me does understand the choice to be cautious.

15 minutes ago, True Magpie said:

Missing Alassana Jatta is a big blow, but it's not like Notts to whether it’s the right or.hold off on playing. I get the reasoning, but in the past we've gone ahead and the squad is big enough to cover most positions. The issue is that we do lean on Jatta quite a lot.

I don’t think Jatta was called up so he’d have been available to play, I think if it had been my decision I’d have played the match, “a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush”, we don’t know what the situation with the squad will be when it is played later in the year, at the moment we are in good form and have a strong squad. However it doesn’t matter what we think, the decision has been made and time will tell.

@True Magpie Jatta wasn't picked by his Country. He was available. The players missing on international duty are Bedeau, Jones & Kouhyar

1 hour ago, Fan of Big Tone said:

I don’t think Jatta was called up so he’d have been available to play, I think if it had been my decision I’d have played the match, “a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush”, we don’t know what the situation with the squad will be when it is played later in the year, at the moment we are in good form and have a strong squad. However it doesn’t matter what we think, the decision has been made and time will tell.

I stand corrected. If Jatta is actually available, I think it makes more sense to go ahead and play the match.

We could bring in Lucas Ness or someone similar to cover the left side. It's only one game, and it might help highlight that Jacob Bedeau could be offering more with his performances this season.

1 hour ago, Robbie said:

@True Magpie Jatta wasn't picked by his Country. He was available. The players missing on international duty are Bedeau, Jones & Kouhyar

Oh right, I saw something saying Jatta was away on international duty. If that's true, I reckon we could still go ahead and play.

Jodi and Jacob Bedeau are key players in the first team, but we do have other choices. Bedeau hasn't quite shown what he's capable of yet this season, so it might not be as big a loss as it seems.

defensively, I don't think we can afford to have Bedeau missing

play on, build confidence in the squad we have because all the players who are on international duty can be covered for a single game. jodi has looked better since crewe, but we do have other options. the biggest loss would be jacob bedeau but i agree it could give someone else the minutes and see if it can force another defender to step up as we have seen with rod mcdonald since matty platt has been inconsistent and injured.

The club is on a hiding to nothing. If they played Swindon with three players missing and lost, that would be greeted very negatively by the press and some of the fanbase.

I don't think that the club would have taken this decision lightly. They would have weighed up the pros & cons & decided to ask for a postponement. We will know if it's the right decision when we play Swindon later in the season.

I am more inclined to play the game, and it's interesting compared to previous seasons where a lot of fans were inclined to say the same thing. I guess it's a reflection of where we are hoping to go, but we can afford to miss Jacob Bedeau for one match. I think Jodi is more of a loss, and even then I have to acknowledge it would give someone else the chance to come in.

Postponing the game will give us time to train and prepare for the upcoming games, but it will come at a cost of routine and potentially form.

There is also the possibility that Swindon might be much stronger and in better form the next time we play them. Whereas right now, I think it shows that we see them as a threat without a plan. I trust the judgment, but my preference would always be to play games where possible.

18 hours ago, Robbie said:

The club is on a hiding to nothing. If they played Swindon with three players missing and lost, that would be greeted very negatively by the press and some of the fanbase.

Some fans will never be happy and will flip their complaints.

If we have suspensions or injuries for the rearranged fixture, people will say that it would have been better to have played the game. This will be more a problem if we end up with a backlog of postponements, but the point is the club needs to worry less about pleasing fans who just find fault.

Notts are in good form right now, so why stop that? The players away on international duty can be covered for one match, which gives others a chance to step in and prove themselves. I know Jacob Bedeau is a key part of the back three, but Sonny Aljofree or Lucas Ness could fill in. As for Jodi, bring Will Jarvis back into the side. Why is he missing from League games so often? I think Notts should keep playing and build on the momentum.

I would day definitely the right decision, some key players missing and Swindon are riding quite high in the table at the moment.

I'm pleased...hopefully it will be live on Sky+.....

The decision has been made by people far more qualified than me. If you asked me, and that is the point of this discussion, I would have played on. I think we do have the cover and the players need minutes.

I believe that by postponing, you are telling the squad they are weaker because of the absent players. At our level, postponed games can cost money and also affect form.

That said, I am more than happy to accept the decision.