You think about it, we are almost a parody of Mansfield last season. They signed a lot of players that looked good on paper and struggled to settle early on, under Evans they became stronger and demised when he left.

They lacked "experienced heads" which now manager Flitcroft has introduced with the signings of the likes of Bishop.

Is Notts missing the experience from last seasons squad?

I've said it several times when people have mentioned how we need to reduce the squads age.

I honestly feel we are missing the likes of Shola who held the ball up and attracted players to mark him, I think Grants clever movement is missed too - he could have an off day but still enable someone else to pick things up. I think a lot of fans are starting to worry too much, things will settle but it's important that we get that early win sooner rather than later.

Mansfield have added experience, we have it but the the likes of Vaughan seem to be overshadowed for some reason.

I would say yes but there are players who can offer the experience the side now lacks.

Jon Stead and David Vaughan are two key players who can make a positive difference, a few games in and I think we will be seeing more.

I think it's more due to a lack of responsibility to defensive duties, none of them against Cambridge United respected this area. 

Give it at least five more games until we can say for sure what the problem is most likely to be.

If Notts could get Enzio to hold the ball up, I think there would be players around him that could do the leg work when he isn't running directly at times.

In goal yes.

The outfield players do have a lot of experience, so I don't think it's so much of this. I think in a few games things will reset back on course and Notts should improve over a few weeks of training.

On paper Notts has a strong squad and the mix of experience seems right.

It's a shame the Chinese lad has been sold, from what I saw of the Leicester game he could have been a useful player. I would give the squad time and reevaluate after 10 games. 

More pace and quality added? I wouldn't say so, experience can be found in anyone who has played enough games.

We are better for reducing the squads age.

i think we may miss people like alan smith in the dressing room but shola was not that good last season. he did alright but i would not say we missed him. i think its more preparation and defensive errors that have cost us so far.

I don't think it's experience that is missing, I think it's more a lack of organisation at the back which is costing Notts.

I wonder what the squads average age is compared to last season and what their average professional games played is as well, any statisticians out there?

Its good to have experience and youth in a squad and maybe @liampie is right we miss the likes of Alan Smith, Edwards, Ameobi etc.

Possibly, but they need time to gel and lets hope that happens sooner rather than later. We should have the experience with Vaughan, who i wasn't too keen on, at first. But he made some good tackles in the Colchester game, so i'm maybe changing  my mind about him. COYP

I know it’s not squad based but the first teams average age against Colchester was 28.8 with four players over 30, Stead(35), Vaughn(35), Jones(31) and of course Duffy(32). In comparison Colchester had an average starting line up of 25.2 and only one player over 30, Prosser(30).  Cambridge on the other hand had a less experienced side when we played them (25.8) in comparison to when vale played them on the opening day (27.4) with Deegan being the only player to play in both games the wrong side of 30 the other being gk David Forde. 

The only teams to have a more experienced starting 11 this season have been Crawley who in both of there games averaged higher with an average age of 29.5 and 29.4 and Grimsby once at 28.9.  Our bench is much younger though having released forte(30) shola(35)Milson(30)Smith(36)Hunt(33)Dickinson(30)Collin(32)Walker(29) and Edwards(37) if he should be included not sure, so even though some of these may well have offered something to our current campaign we definitely needed to get younger as a squad, especially since we are in division two and I guess it’s something they addressed in the off-season.

I definitely see Vaughn as a coach on the field for Patching/Crawford/Husain and even Hewitt to learn from and that is why maybe he was the only 30+ player to be added to the squad, not meaning to take away from his obvious ability but the younger players I just mentioned have massive potential from what I have heard seen read and in one/two years if they learn under Nolans and Vaughns tutolidge they could all be a real force whichever division we are in.    

 

 

I think it's the experienced players at Notts currently who are letting the squad down. We need to strength and ship some players come January, mostly from the defence.

I know that last years we have massive exspirence but this years ove got to say don’t seem to have that affect. Vaughan I think is doing is job to a T but I’m not sure about the rest. 

I think we are missing the experience we aren't playing great .

The balance has been prioritised on the attack, we are a different team from last season but are now weaker at the back. I don't think it's about experience, it's more about how Notts approaches teams.

I don't think the issue is the lack of experience, I think Notts are trying to throw too many bodies forward and struggle to cope because of it.

After seeing the games against Cambridge United and Newport County, I feel it would only be experience which would enable Notts to cut this mess out. Yes the midfielders need to protect the defence more but they are extremely poor this season.

No one is marking or picking up their man.

Experience needs to be brought into the club in January, sign a few veterans and let them sort the weak out.

It's not a lack of experience at all.

The players are simply not defending and the pressure is mounting now on the midfield, sooner or later the goals will stop coming and Kevin Nolan will be sacked by this pathetic bunch of professionals.

No one is prepared to block or work hard.

No responsibility at the back.

No organisation.

No communication.

It's a free for all as far as defending is concerned, Nolan should put his boots on and cover the back.

I don't think it's so much to do with experience, I think the players are just struggling to get back to the football after having a break. They treated the pre-season like it was an holiday, so no wonder it's slow now.

Would a player manager offer Notts some of the missing experience? Harry Kewell is a no for me but maybe the manager could add a bit of experience.

Ease the loan market too?

2 hours ago, Blake said:

Would a player manager offer Notts some of the missing experience? Harry Kewell is a no for me but maybe the manager could add a bit of experience.

Ease the loan market too?

I don't think so.

I'm surprised after this poor start that Kevin Nolan didn't consider moving into midfield or covering at the back, I feel he could have done a job but really I would stay clear of player managers.