Have we progressed under Martin Paterson? I suppose it depends on the criteria used as a metric. Compare our league positions after defeats on new years day 2025 and 2026:

	Position	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	Goal For	Goals Against	GD	Points
01/01/2025	7	24	11	6	7	36	26	10	37
01/01/2026	7	23	10	7	6	36	26	10	39

Amazingly they are very similar. If results are the criteria, then maybe we haven't progressed. If performances are the metric then I would say we have regressed.

We all know what happened from this point onwards last season, so to avoid it happening again, we need a good January transfer window!

I think we’ve got to look at the squad too, we’ve got a tad more depth this season but last season at the same point we had Bass, Abbott, McGoldrick and Crowley in the first 11 more often than not. In terms of closest replacements now, we’ve got; Roos, Iorpenda, Dennis and Hall. Dennis has been great, Hall and Iorpenda have been good additions but they aren't at the same levels as Crowley or Abbott. And we’ve had a goalkeeper who really struggles when a ball is played into the 6 yard box.

Like you say 2 points difference is nothing but given the loss of quality in the squad this season I’d say we are probably over-achieving or just doing as well as we should be right now.

If you compare last year's table with where Notts stand now, Notts haven't progressed on paper. After 24 games Notts were on 40 points in fifth place on 4th January 2024.

Notts were playing entertaining football too last season. They were still having problems against physical hard working sides like they are now under Paterson, but Maynard had improved the Notts side from the previous 2023/24 season.

The January transfer window has increased in importance. Notts have to sign some skilfull, experienced players in key areas & they are going to have to spend some money too.

If they don't bring those sort of players in, it's going to be difficult for Paterson to improve the side to a significant degree to win promotion. It could be possible for him to achieve the playoffs with the present squad, but promotion is another matter.

This is the table from 4th Jan 2024

I think we have a better coach and coaching team. But there's less quality in the squad (although more depth).

Maynard's football was becoming unwatchable. And always 2nd best at clutch time. Moving away from a formula that would never win has to be progress in itself.

The possession with a purpose mantra is fine. I appreciate that there's enough attacking intent. But we're verging on lapsing into a team that gives the ball away too cheaply on a regular basis - we need our first-choice midfield back and more quality in general to put a stop to that.

Overall, I'm happier than I was last year. And that was before knowing for sure that SM was setting us up for the most gutless end of season run-in and play-off campaign you'll ever see.

@theAnticlough I do agree that we have a better coaching team.

Notts were just 5 points short of automatic promotion last season. If the squad is strengthened to the right degree, Notts could go on a good run from this point & get a promotion place.

It is perfectly possible to achieve that because Notts are just one point behind where they were at the same point last season.

As well as strengthening the squad, Paterson has to make ML a fortress & beat teams that are workmanlike, physical, & give no quarter at the back. But it can be done.

3 hours ago, menzinho said:

last season at the same point we had Bass, Abbott, McGoldrick and Crowley in the first 11 more often than not

Losing four players of that quality would be a major blow to any team at this level. That we're in the mix again is a great achievement and shows that we're getting more out of what we have at our disposal.

I think the quality of football we're playing has been worse, and that's largely due to our best centre midfield pairing being unavailable pretty much all season and our inability to sign a new number 10 who can make the ball stick. The result is too many hopeful balls forward instead of dominating the opposition.

What we're better at is "hanging in there" and getting our rewards in games that are 50:50, and we were sorely lacking in that department last season. However, our limitations are there for all to see and a couple of prudent additions could make all the difference.

One of the bigger problems a Club faces when they bring a number of players in during a transfer window is to get those players acclimatised & familiar with the other players in the squad, & the way in which that squad plays such as their formation, & style of play.

It may take up to several weeks before Notts might see the benefit of those new players. Of course some players will fit in quicker than others. Notts will hope that they can make an instant impact, but that is not always the case. The fans may have to be patient.

Interestingly, out of the four teams promoted only Doncaster were in the top 3 on news years day. Bradford were ninth 17 points behind Walsall who were 12 points clear of Doncaster in second place. It just goes to show anything is possible at this stage of the season.

Good question. To answer it, it's also worth considering whether L2 is stronger or weaker this season. Last season it was definitely weak, some bang average teams got promoted and it was a massive missed opportunity. Slightly stronger division this season I think especially on the managerial front. In that context, MP is doing OK. though he needs some strong showings asap to put that Accrington horror show to bed.

A good January window is vital if we are to achieve promotion, we need 2 or 3 quality players who can help the team get us over the line. Surely we have some money in the coffers from the sale of Langstaff, Crowley etc. to fund the purchase of good players. The last thing we want now is for the team to falter and drop down the table necessitating another change of coach.

I’m hoping to hear news of some signings soon but I don’t want to hear that Jatta and Dennis are sold. 🙏

The vast majority of the money received from the selling of players in recent years has probably gone on helping to finance the players wages in the interests of sustainability.

I expect that this will continue if players are sold during this window.. The risk of our best players being sold is always going to be quite high during the summer & midwinter transfer windows

The worry is that we have a “net loss” during January. If we replace outgoing players with improvements or simply add some additional quality to the squad, fine.

My fear is there will be a couple of out/goings who will be replaced by less favourable signings. We’ll either sign untried youngsters or “experienced” (injured has beens?) journeymen. I sincerely hope that my fears will be misplaced.

Exactly @YoopEyes

The Notts MO recently has been to sell big then bring in promising young players, out of contract players, players with an injury record on the cheap & going abroad for cut price players.

I think it's a weaker league this season, and now is surely a good time to really go for it. It's fairly obvious what we need to really solidify and build on what's obviously a weaker (more technical and creative debt) team this time around, but with a more motivational manager. I'd argue that MP isn't any better than SM as I'm really looking for consistancy and good, prolific attacking play and not the dross I've witnessed vs Accrington.

They have different strengths and MP can talk the talk and change the game a bit with his game management, but I'm yet to be enamoured by his style of play.

SM played a more attractive style of play, but became very easy to read and the style of play was monotonous when we weren't winning.

I think the one that will be the deciding factor is a consistant approach from RM again. Gagliardi effectively has hampered any effect from MP on getting them to play attractive football, but hopefully, we'll see a new few faces and say bye to a couple of ones who've yet to make the grade.

Despite the changes of coaching and playing staff and playing style you could argue that many of our unsolved problems remain the same. The biggest of these is inconsistency. In my opinion this can only be addressed if we sign three or four experienced players who are good enough to start matches.

Realistically we are just an above average League 2 team....mainly because we have no flair players...we haven't repaced Macca Rueben Didzy Crowley etc We appointed MP an old school footballer who would have zero experience of playing a possession type team . Perhaps we could tempt George Abbott back to bring some flair back into the team...