Chris

I don't like Real Madrid or Barcelona, both are teams who feel they can bully decisions due to their size, and really it's because of the money involved with those higher up. Real Madrid have several players who are a disgrace to football. Vinicius Junior, for example, he has such a bad attitude, is quite selfish and resorts to cheating tactics if the team isn't winning. I don't mean just diving, or other dark arts, but getting in the faces of the opposition, pushing buttons, and even trying to cause riots with opposition fans. He is someone I used to like to watch, but not any more. Real Madrid aren't a team that I really like anymore. I think they act like they are football, rather than a football club.

Sorry for not voting, I hadn't watched the game or listened to the radio coverage. I had planned to go to The Nest with my friends, but obviously that got cancelled due to Notts not being on Sky. Pleased to see the votes, and David McGoldrick earning the fans support for his performance. It's great to have secured a playoff place, which every player majorly contributed towards, but Didzy is a different class this season.

I thought we would manage to get back into the automatics by this stage, but it's not going to be, and whilst there's talk of it still being mathematically possible. In all seriousness, our form suggests otherwise, and if we are unlucky, we might slip out of the playoffs if we don't at least get 4 points or the remaining fixtures go our way. I still believe our squad is good enough for promotion, and I feel playoffs will be achieved, but the season has been a good one regardless. It's a shame, but I think the club handled the injuries and recruitment well. Mai Traore looks like he's finally settling, and could be a good asset for next season. If we remain at this level, Notts wouldn't have to do so much to improve ahead of competing with other League Two teams. I think more extensive improvements would be required if we do secure promotion. We need Junior Morias' position covering, with another optional striker to take off the burden. The future of David McGoldrick is unknown at this stage, and defensively we could do with a few more improvements. We have a good core squad for both situations, which is pleasing, but I really hope whatever happens we really send a message that we are not there to survive (League One) or settle for playoffs (League Two), but make a bold strategic move to establish ourselves as a good League One team, or a firm promotion favourite with a squad that has the depth to rally when our form dips or injuries happen. I am not suggesting the club blows the players wage budget and risks the future. I am just saying it would be a big confidence boost to see us not "settle" but continue to build well.

Adam Chicksen actually assisted Woking's third goal with a superb cross into the box. Can we try to encourage Notts to put out highlights of this quality? I appreciate the multiple angles and quality of the footage. At first, I had to ensure it wasn't a fake video using FC 2025. The overlays are quality, just very well produced and look not like something found in the Non-League but Championship or higher. I haven't seen what caused the injury, and it's not featured in the highlights, but there were some rash challenges mentioned by both sets of fans towards mid-point of the second half. Woking played some quality football, and could have easily scored far more than they did. As for Adam Chicksen, I wish him a speedy recovery. I always liked him, and whilst he did a good job covering as a centre-back. I always preferred him out wide and believed he offered us something going forward and defensively. He probably wants regular football than he could get here, hence the loan, but I wished we could get the best out of him. He had one exceptional season, the year when we gained promotion back to the EFL. Since then, he seems to have struggled to motivate himself or find the level of form to keep him in our squad's contention.

I don't know, Harrogate are a team we tend to struggle against and know how to adapt their football to suit league teams. At this point, they are very well established and I just have a feeling the game will end up as a draw. James Belshaw has also been a tricky keeper, so if we are to get something from the game, I do believe Notts would need to be at their very best. I would start Jodi Jones and Will Jarvis, focus on an attacking-minded team. I would hope defensively, we are prepared to clear the ball away from danger instead of playing it down. At the start of the season, this was a policy that Notts tended to do, and it worked out better. Defensively, we are good enough to make Harrogate have to work for anything, but I am mindful about their set pieces and corner kick routines. Though, with Alex Bass back in between the sticks, it is a welcome boost.

It would be very unlucky if we were to slip out of the playoffs now, but stranger things have happened. However, I look at the season, I think we have grown and done well as a club who is only in their second season back within the English Football League. But in typical Notts fashion, it's going to go down to the wire. The only team I can see potentially edging themselves into the playoffs is Colchester United. Ideally, we'll get a positive result at the weekend and they drop points, leaving the playoffs final spaces to be fought between Grimsby Town and whoever can challenge them. It's going to be interesting, though I hope some of our supporters can get over this Maynard out stuff and just back the team or club, as they say managers come and go.

It's remarkable that we haven't suffered so much with the departure of Macaulay Langstaff. Jatta has shown he's a good replacement, and although a totally different player. He's been a joy to watch on goal. David McGoldrick continues to look like he's not slowing down. If we can get him to renew for another season, I would be happy to see him continue his part, especially if he takes on a mentoring role within the young pros we have.

MSV Duisburg I have been told, had some good players when we played them in a friendly. It's nice to see they have gone on to gain promotion and restored their previous standing. I hope Notts follows via promotion through the playoffs. Then perhaps in a few year time, we can invite them to Meadow Lane to play us?

You're still in Germany, right? Would celebrating Saint George's Day be a wise move? Mind you, it might be more forgivable than Sam Smith. 🤣 Oh right, not that Sam Smith.

I popped over to see @super_ram with Jake earlier. It was nice to get a walk, but very painful (feet/leg-wise). I had hoped to go over on Tuesday, but I knew there was little chance. I thought it was quite nice, a gentle breeze and not exactly cold or overly warm. Right now, I am just doing various things on here and behind the scenes.

I don't recall any home game this season that I have witnessed Notts being outclassed or not deserving something from the game. I think my biggest concern is how Stuart Maynard doesn't push for a second goal to wrap games up or at least make them easier. This past Monday, it was obvious that we were in control and just needed something a bit different to convert one of the many chances we created. Yes, we could have won 1-0 on Easter Monday, but there's always the element that a team might sting us. I spoke to Jake (@super_pie) about this, and I told him I would have taken Kellan Gordon off for Jodi Jones instead of Conor Grant. He mentioned that he would rather have brought on Will Jarvis and not play Jodi at all due to fears of injury. I get the point, but we are heading into a crucial stage where he really needs match minutes, and his confidence with a return to form would be massive. Gordon has a decent cross, but he runs himself into danger and becomes a bit frustrating to watch because you know he has the ability to do more. I think all season Maynard hasn't particularly used his subs well, but away from home I do think more often it's about positive changes. Except for Carlisle United, where we went defensive beyond a point, it was long balls for Jevani Brown to chase. There's a lot of talk by the club on how good a coach Maynard is, but I wish we could see it more during games, and especially at home. We either go defensive, or overload ourselves with attacking options. We rescued a point against Fleetwood Town earlier in the season, but I think we started with the wrong XI and I don't believe the changes in the game influenced our comeback. If anything, I felt at the time a change was needed to handle Fleetwood, who wasn't great but deserved their lead. The 0-1 loss to Gillingham, for me, is a prime example of how we could have got more from the game. Their only goal still annoys me, but Notts could have done much better. Despite all this, I do think Maynard has done well at times, but I wished I could see more improvements with the changes. I swear he listens to fans, as when he would make 3 to five changes at once, he's now reverted to the 70th minute mark. We would have beaten Cheltenham if we had brought Jodi on earlier and injected a bit more quality. There have been factors such as injuries, fitness, and other concerns which haven't helped, and I do believe at this level, most managers have negatives which become irritating, but Notts have played some good football this season at Meadow Lane. The club looks much better defensively, and finally our recruitment strengthened the areas we wished for. I do think it's a juggling act for Maynard though, and I hope we can secure a playoff place because I do think it would be a good achievement. I know we could have kept nearer the top, but with all the injuries and so on, it would have taken more than what this squad has. If we don't get promoted, I firmly believe we will be able to build and strengthen the squad to a point where we will be in the running again in the next campaign.

Ian Burchnall isn't a manager that would make my top 20 Notts manager. The way he left us and used the club to jump ahead of himself without committing to what he said really rubbed me the wrong way. He was very average in truth, and I much prefer Stuart Maynard. The best thing Burchnall did was take the FGR role, as it allowed someone else to come in and improve the squad. Luke Williams might have left in a similar way, but at least he gave us fans and the players something to believe in. Burchnall is just as wide-eyed as he looks, and there's a reason he's not in management now. He could very well be a good coach, but I really don't care for his memory lane tales of how much Notts meant to him. If the words held up, he wouldn't have been as foolish to leave for Forest Green. Thank God he did, as we wouldn't have gotten promoted under him.

Is it true that Mark Draper's brother played for Long Eaton United? Several fans over the years have told me this, I can't say, but those who have said that his brother was the better player, which is hard to imagine. Great to see them reaching the playoffs, I wish them well in them.

I left after the players came across, as Stuart Maynard was the left to acknowledge those who remained, and I didn't see Matt Palmer reacting to any fans. I might have missed it, but I don't believe I did and it wouldn't surprise me if it didn't happen.

The referee really did make the game much harder than it needed to be. He wasn't remotely interested in any calls or decisions for us, but I do think we need to be better, especially when it comes to finishing chances. Had Notts stuck to the first half performance, Cheltenham would never have scored. I thought we really should have put the game to bed by the time Jatta actually scored, the assist from the Cheltenham player being something special, but we were undone by our own poor defending. I want to be fair, I don't actually think Notts played all that badly, and I most certainly feel we deserved the win. Cheltenham scoring twice, it feels like robbery, but there were a number of chances which should have been taken. As for the penalty appeals, I thought the push on Jodi Jones in the area was very dubious and whilst it might have been somewhat soft to be given. I do think it looked like a foul, which should have resulted in a penalty. I felt very annoyed when Jacob Bedeau made the poor decision to head the ball. It felt like a balloon deflating, and such a poor decision, by someone who could have easily coped better. Mistakes happen, but I do think recently he hasn't quite been to the level I know he can perform. He could have easily brought the ball down, but heading the ball straight to an opposition player just sums the game up for me. It's another one of those games where we have undone the hard work which was put in, but I don't get all this crazy talk about how bad Notts played just because we ended up losing a game 1-2. Additionally, I don't think sacking Stuart Maynard makes sense, but he doesn't seem to be learning. The changes he made, I felt were, again, too late, but some of them were very valid and could have paid off. Will Jarvis and Jodi Jones should have come on sooner, Charlie Whitaker, if he had more time, I think he would have helped to salvage the game in our favour. I think Kellan Gordon at times just needed to be a bit more direct and aware of the players around him. He disappointed me, because there's quality there, and whilst he did okay - he could have been more influential. David McGoldrick put in a classic performance, he tried to steer us and keep the team together. Jatta's celebration being something I absolutely loved seeing. Even if we moved the very poor referee from the game, we simply let ourselves down today. Do not use this language, especially directed towards me. You took my reaction the wrong way. I wasn't laughing at you, but at how terrible the referee was and how frustrating Cheltenham were. You could have simply asked, which is what I would remind you to do in the future. Had your post ended with asking, I wouldn't have had a problem with it.

I am not a religious person, but I find it very sad that he sounds to have suffered a stroke and then heart failure. 88 years old, is a good innings. I hope he rests in peace.

I don't think Jacob Bedeau had all that of a good game, likewise Kellan Gordon was quite disappointing. There were times when both players could have given us something a bit more, but never seemed switched on like I know they can be. I thought Mai Traore had a very good first half and played very well up to the point he was taken off. The decision of late changes just seems off and again, I don't think the right players parted. David McGoldrick put in a timeless and classy performance, trying to involve himself in getting the team moving forward and working very hard in the process. Rod McDonald, for me, was perhaps the better defender, though sometimes you just wished he wouldn't just lump the ball forward. There were times when the idea was right, but the application of the ball wasn't. Matty Platt was also decent enough, he seemed quite involved throughout the game. I would like to highlight George Abbott as my standout player of the match. He was exceptional at breaking up the play, getting us moving forward and just making a menace of himself. Conor Grant did well, I would have kept him on instead of Gordon, but I don't quite think he reached the level of the three players I openly praise.

I wasn't aware he was in management or coaching to the level he could be appointed as one, so it's pleasing to see. Rotherham United have had a disappointing campaign, and I don't know the ins and outs, but at one point I thought all their good work in recent years might be undone. Am I the only one who wouldn't recognise him now, though? He looks very different.

I would feel happier if Salford City missed out completely with the playoffs. I think they would be a real threat to us - even if they do waste time. They have us sussed to the point we look useless against them. A draw is about the right result, although despite my nerves about Salford, I think even if they had won it would be a stretch to compete with Colchester United, Chesterfield, plus us and those in the playoffs already. Winning Bradford City would be a big boost for us, but looking at the form of all 24 teams this season has been very hit and miss for all involved with promotion hopes.

How embarrassing is the MK Don's social media post, that's not what you write when you have had two managers already this season and sacked the replacement. Yes, Carlisle United wanted Mike Williamson, but even that was an embarrassing appointment (even though I hoped it would work out for Carlisle). Paul Warne, I think will start to turn things around, and I can see MK Dons being better, but I do wonder if "better" will be good enough for a plastic club like Franchise FC? Imagine if their media team used "We've got our man" every time they hire a new manager, or sign a player from a club more successful than them. I can't express how silly it is in words.🤣

I am sure it will be a big boost when Jodi is back to full fitness, and whilst I love his drive, Notts does need to be careful (as does Jodi). He's a great player, and I would hope any frustration from not playing or feeling like he could have changed our season, doesn't push him too far or too quickly. It's not that I want to see him doing the talking on the pitch, I think Jodi's drive can be infectious, but I do feel there's a risk since he's suffered setbacks twice this season. The emphasis on pursuing automatic promotions reveals an underlying push within our ranks, which I do wonder if some players have doubts or feel they could have done better at times. The pressure needs to be forgotten at the end of the day, as does the frustration. If the players focus and work as a team, they will be just fine regardless.

It would be interesting to be able to compare clubs finances more equally, as this doesn't really factor in if owners/clubs are overspending or are making smart decisions not to overspend on the payroll. I also assume this only takes into consideration the players wages rather than staff. What is interesting is seeing how much each team is spending on the player positions. Notts seem to have focused on attack and midfield, with the defence not all that far behind. If I could access the previous seasons, it would probably paint a picture of why we weren't as strong defensively as we are now. As for Notts being placed where they are, I don't think it means much in the grand scheme of things. It does highlight and reflect well on our recruitment because on paper I believe we do have a squad very capable of winning promotion. Also, some teams have purchased players and thrown wages on them in a bid to succeed. It really goes to show just how important the right balance is, having a squad that's together and a club focus on moving forward. We are making good progress; we need to remember this.

I started today by updating the league table; I was busy at the weekend, but I did update it after Notts had played. It's Saturday's fixtures I missed, but that's all correct now. I have been looking at ways I might be able to include the home and away form. Along with some other coding jobs, such as finally managing to grant permissions to edit the news ticker outside of the admin team. Once I had sorted the updates, I messaged a couple of the team members and I do hope @Piethagoram is okay. Also, since my main device is my laptop and it's a gaming one, I have to frequently clean it. I have mentioned this in the past, it collects dust etc. very easily and then starts to sound like it's trying to launch itself into space. I didn't clean the inside, but the outside is now fine and I am hopeful to find the screw size for the underneath as I am missing one and a few of the others really could do with being replaced. --- It's quite a lovely afternoon. I am downstairs in the living room, and my youngest daughter is to the right of me listening to music through her headphones whilst playing games. The sun isn't blinding me, but providing a nice burst of light. It's a bit quiet, as Jake isn't home right now. It's days like this, I wished I could go to visit my dad and hang out, but I am mindful of my body and overdoing things. I hope every member and visitor who reads this is having a lovely day. 👍

I am made nervous by the amount of times this game should have been played, but has been changed for various reasons outside of our control. These events usually come at a cost to Notts, and with Bradford now being in much better form than they were at the start of the season, I do think the game will be harder. I believe the tickets for our end sold out very quickly the first time they went on sale, as my friend was disappointed to miss out. Again, another thing which makes me nervous, as does the amount of remaining games and closeness to us Colchester United and Grimsby Town are. Usually, I feel confident or at least quietly optimistic, but I think Notts will struggle. Colchester's pitch was awful, but Bradford's is almost a beach. I am also not convinced that Bradford missing a few players would mean all that much, as the pressure is on us to maintain our playoff spot. Whilst I think Bradford do have pressure and their form has dipped, I just feel they will be naturally more up for the game. We need a good team performance, which is focused and robust at persisting with creating chances. If we haven't had many shots on goal before half time, then I would worry more. I guess we have to hope Bradford aren't able to counter our tactics and that we can hold onto the ball in a useful way. As I say, we need a team performance with the likes of Jacob Bedeau, Matty Platt, Matt Palmer, Alassana Jatta but especially David McGoldrick who tends to always be the biggest difference. I'm unsure if George Abbott is back, but he would also be a key player if included. Also, I am dreaming of Nick Tsaroulla and Jodi Jones starting the game together.

Ah, I haven't really kept in the loop recently, and I remember him missing the last game I attended. My mind, for some reason, jumped ahead of itself, and I thought this was going to be about him being injured and ultimately recalled by Spurs. Thank God, it's not this. 😅 He does deserve to be nominated as one of the runners for the award, he's been brilliant.