Chris

I don't think anyone could say that Stuart Maynard hasn't been a good appointment because he has done well enough after taking on the role after Luke Williams left us at the worst time. The beginning was very unfortunate for Maynard, and I don't fault him for the downward fall that happened when we seemed to start losing every other week. I think from the coaching point of view, that is where his strengths are. He knows the squad now and who to start. There was a period especially last season when good performing players were dropped unexpectedly, and I still would say he's learning on the job. The issue for me is he has a tendency of still impacting how players perform by instantly switching back to previous players and disregarding form. We started with a fair squad, but certain players were overplayed and this left us with much of an issue. Such as relying on David McGoldrick without giving someone like Cedwyn Scott more of a rotational role. Obviously, Scott then got injured and then needed time off for his mental health. I think experienced managers would have been able to see some of these issues coming. Scott was probably wanting to play as a striker but would often be pushed into an attacking midfield role. He was okay in that position, but you have to wonder when we needed someone to ease Jatta and McGoldrick, why Scott never really got that chance. I mean, there was a point Scott had more of a chance, but he quickly fell back to being someone on the bench. Leaving changes late, or making them all in one go. The FA Cup match is the only time I feel justified in defending that decision, as we really needed to manage the players' fitness. Did he have to make them all in one go? No, but Peterborough had made changes long before all our subs came on that helped them come into the game. It just became an excuse, to the frustration that he does tend to make bold changes when it's not really needed. On the other hand, he has done well with changes and again, it comes down to management. I just don't think Maynard sees how to get the best out of players' performances and sees the squad as being acceptable for being subpar. Whereas I think the old fashioned approach of handling players in form yields better results on the pitch. I don't think it's a case of him having favourites, but he seems to rate players more highly over others and prefers to risk them at the expense of maintaining form. Kellan Gordon burst into the team when we needed someone to pick up after the loss of Jodi Jones, but the way Maynard played him I believe impacted Gordon's form. Now, I don't think Gordon is the most consistent player but he's a totally different player when in form. Maynard is still clearly learning. He's gone from the nervous selections to knowing which players are best, but it does come at the cost of maintaining form. His decisions in-game are a sign that he's sometimes out of his depth. Salford, for example, we desperately needed speed to counter how Salford passed the ball around. They enjoyed sitting off us, allowing the pace and the lack of direct approach from Notts meant that at 1-0, we were only going to lose that game. I still have my reservations about if he's good enough. I want him to succeed, and as I say, he will get my support, but certain parts of his ability are an eye-opener.

Absolutely, Jim O'Brien would be a great assistant, I feel. Michael Doyle, no. Doyle wants to be a manager, and he showed his true colours jumping with Ian Burchnall when they left for Forest Green Rovers. It wasn't a move that made sense for him, but we have benefitted from him leaving. As a person, Doyle is a great guy, but both his roles held us back. At the time, I thought Doyle was a sensible decision to support Ian burchnall but over time I realised just how better Ryan Harley and a more experienced assistant makes. I actually have always felt Stuart Maynard would have been better supported if the Saunders brothers were just coaches. Allowing for someone with EFL experience to come in and offer the guidance Maynard could thrive with.

Viva the Pineapple pizza! ✌🏻

I think both players in hindsight arrived in a similar situation, requiring game time and confidence. If the results had gone our way earlier on during their loan spell, we might have seen more from them, especially Josh Martins. His early cameos, I didn't see anything special, and it wasn't positive at all as to how we could get the most out of him. Stark contrasts to his time nearer the end of his deal at Notts. Both Martins and Jevani Brown had something which we do quite lack within our squad, something which at times we should have injected, but Stuart Maynard seemed hesitant to play them. That was his decision, and I am not criticising that. I actually understand why, in some cases they did tend to be overlooked. But, I would like to make the point that in games - especially against Salford we lacked energy and pace. Martins did well when he came on, he looked a bright spark and I had been calling his presence sooner. Some fans instantly spouted negative stuff when he arrived at the field, shouting that he was $**t, one of which left saying his performance was embarrassing and how he shouldn't have come on. In my opinion, I challenge him by asking him who else looked like they could break Salford's defence. Salford looked ropey when we ran at them, David McGoldrick caused them problems when he tried to be direct. However, naturally he doesn't have the pace and relies on his skill. This is why I felt Martins and Brown could have made a bigger impact, especially in that game. It shows the complexity and gamble of giving players more time, as it could have hindered us picking up points. I wish them both all the best; I can understand Brown going back. Yet, I do think we should have given Martins another 6 months or to the end of this current season.

From what I have seen and heard (commentary) it would have to be David McGoldrick. Yet it did sound like an excellent team performance, where everyone played their part in securing the three points and clean sheet. It didn't sound like Accrington were all that much of a threat.

Has the club announced who the new vice captain is? I would assume it's a safe bet that David McGoldrick would be the next in line. The only other two candidates for me would be Jodi Jones, and then Curtis Edwards, but the latter hasn't been here long enough to warrant it IMO.

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I'm aware of him, I've seen highlights and I know roughly his background, but he's one of those players my generation might not have appreciated - unless they supported a team in which he played for. I'll look up if there are any documentaries about him. Rest in Peace, Dennis Law.

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I am going to start compiling permission from members who would like to be notified if a major situation occurs, such as significant downtime. I require authorisation in accordance with GDPR regulations. I will be sending the updates via the email [email protected] - if you agree, please ensure you add the email as a contact. There is the possibility that I might send such messages via my own personal account: [email protected] as if our server goes down, so will our mailing handler. In addition to the email, I will be setting up a Discord server. Further news of that will come at a later time; it will not be a replacement for our community forums. A service page will also be created, which will highlight if we are running as per normal with information where news can be sourced to any potential issues. New members are already placed in a group, where they need to post x amount of times to access regular membership. Once those requirements have been reached, they are automatically moved into the next group with the ability to perform functions previously limited. A review of this within the next major update may see a few more restrictions applied to guests, and various levels of benefits to early members as they rank up. I generally favour communication and motivation that stem from tangible effort and results. Yet sometimes people need pushes, and a different type of encouragement.

What happened to him wanting to play for every "best" club in Europe? He said on his arrival to Manchester City, that he intended to move on after so many years so that he could play for clubs like PSG. Signing almost 10 years away, makes me think he wants a club to make him the highest transfer if he is to move. Either that, or he wants to say goodbye to winning the Champions League. 😆

Good interview, not the best talker - quick and simple answers. Yet you can see he's a nice lad, there's signs of sincerity in his speech. I do feel the arrival of Will Jarvis shows we are trying to strengthen wisely, but I am sure he will find League Two a joy to play in. The Irish league is hit and miss, but there's good players and it's a brilliant league to give good players their chance to shine. It's a better signing for us, than Will Patching to Carlisle United at least on paper. There's also a feeling that I get, that he's more into speaking with his ability and performances rather than his words.

The last time I remember Nottingham Forest being in the nose bleed area of the Premier League, with Liverpool doing well, was when Blackburn Rovers won the title. Manchester United were enjoying better days back then. I still can't get over them being 14th in the table now. It makes you realise just how far they have fallen behind so many other teams. Newcastle United are only doing well because of their takeover. Still, I'd much rather see them doing well. Fair play to the likes of Bournemouth, Fulham, and Aston Villa.

Cardiff and Swansea can earn more money by staying in the EFL and/or Premier League. Wrexham on the other hand, they are only growth due to the success their owners have brought within them due to the magic of Hollywood, and I am not having a good. Yet without them, they would be a strong candidate for switching to the Welsh league because it would be their only means of making a European competition even if it was just the qualification rounds. Though, if this had been the case, it might limit their appeal and fan base. The Welsh league is hardly all that good. Newport County is a strange one, as despite their anti-English chants - they to me feel far more English than the others. For a team like Merthyr Town I think it makes a lot more sense. I hope it turns out to be a good decision for them, as leaving the English Non-League might give another club the chance to dream of EFL football one day.

I suspect it's one way to reduce the wage bill, but I wonder if it will be more at Walsall's expense? I am torn, as to me, it looks like owners trying to shuffle money around and use one club to help the other. I really have a lot of time for Walsall, and the amazing fans of theirs that I have met. They don't need distractions, or things off-field to distract from the amazing season they are having. So, I just hope it's positive.

I wouldn't expect to see Curtis Edwards straight back into the team, although it will be nice to see him make his return and there's nothing stopping him from getting some match minutes within the game to build his return to match fitness. So, that's positive news early on. The majority of the team writes itself, provided the players are available and fit. Bass, Platt, Bedeau, Palmer, Abbott, McGoldrick, Jatta. I hope Tsaroulla and Jones will take positions in the broader areas. Yet, I do have a feeling that Will Jarvis will make his debut. All three of the signings so far might go straight into the team. Notts just needs to ensure that we don't leave ourselves open at the back, avoid silly passes within our area and attack the game. It should be a good game, with an early glimpse into life after Dan Crowley.

I have spoken before about where signing young players in a good established team which can give the foundation for all players to thrive is a beneficial part to squad building. He will have plenty of potential, reading comments and having browsed Everton fan sites a lot of their fans seem surprised he's not joined a League One team. I know this is quite common, just look at Josh Martin for intense, but the signing does come with a large amount of prospect. Fans just need to be mindful he might require time to settle, and he most likely won't be a ready replacement for Dan Crowley. Yet for the future, there's no reason why he couldn't, and we just need to provide him with the platform to flourish. The majority of fans will welcome him, and even better, we have a mixture of experience where he can further learn from within a first-team environment. George Abbott could very well help him early on, due to them being near the same age. Signing sensible, good prospects like this is what teams at our level must do to be more competitive.

He's not someone I have come across much of, but it's always good to have cover and at this stage having another tall defender on our books wouldn't be a bad thing. I mean, it makes perfect sense in terms of his position and the fact he arrives to us on loan. Nobody can complain we aren't treating this transfer window as a chance to get things right, although I do hope to see maybe one more signing. I welcome Zak Johnson, and I eagerly await seeing him make his debut for us.

It's not so much the money, it's the way it's been conducted and how little respect he's shown the club. He's a journeyman as @Robbie said, so there's no validation in his comments about 'exciting project' because he said it was arriving at us. His ego is coming through, which is my biggest problem.

Thinking of you, and wishing for the best! Viva la Pineapple ✌🏻

No, they don't. Take a at their menu here: https://www.wagamama.com/menu?category=shareables

"If you want my pineapple and you think it's tasty, Come on, sugar, let me know! If you like that sweet and tangy on your pizza, baby, Just reach out and grab a slice!" Speaking of Rod Stewart. 😇

I just want @Fan of Big Tone to confirm, or not that they sell pineapple on pizzas? Viva la Pineapple 🍍

Nothing great about MK Dons. But new signings will say anything to win over the fans, the thing MK Don's fans need to consider here is what happens when he decides that MK Dons aren't big enough. Refuses their contracts and ends up leaving on a free? It wouldn't surprise me if this didn't happen. It's a shame really, as I would like to have wished him well but the vibe I get - I just don't care to be honest. We have to use this to fuel our bid for promotion, I hope we don't get wrapped up with competition with MK Dons like we did with Wrexham. I would like us to view it, as a way to really drive us forward though. Dan Crowley has been a good player; there's no denying it. Yes, he might have been inconsistent at times, but I am happier knowing players want to be here.

I haven't, but if you have ever been to Birmingham there are parts where you wouldn't escape seeing one of their franchise restaurants, so something must be working. We took a look one time, but the menu and price put us off from considering it. This was quite a few years ago, but despite one seeming to always follow us - they tended to be full. Have a wonderful time.