Chris

Elisa Sam has scored @menzinho. Que people saying he's megastar, the next big thing since Kyle Wootton. ????

It's all gone out of the window with the stops and, starts. You'd expect Halifax to favour themselves, not just because they're at home but due to them being match sharp. Hopefully, we have done our home work and, understand that they aren't the best on the ball, at least they struggle to be clinical. In midfield they can move the ball, but can be poor. They also tend to panic at the back, so it could be interesting if both teams decide to pressure themselves. It will either finish 3-1 to someone, or 1-1 if the game ends up being tighter. The first prediction could sway either way, I hope in favour of Notts but who knows which team will play for the points.

I’ve been trying to draft my thoughts for some time now, it’s not been coming so freely and, I have found that my depression/anxiety had taken a deep hold of me. I share these, not because I want sympathy but because I can reflect on things. I can also appreciate the support it sometimes gets too; this isn’t about attention but because it’s helpful to feel understood. The past 3 to 4 years, it’s been me trying to keep things a bit more locked up. With the lockdown effecting many mentally, I realised that my behaviour despite my best efforts was never going to be beaten. 2019, I spent trying to reduce my weight as I wanted to ease my mobility and, attempt to enjoy it better – without tipping my health in the wrong way. It’s odd, as strangers would refer to me as “big man” etc, I never felt big, but accepting that I had put on weight has helped. It’s weird, as I walk a lot despite the struggle at certain times but I haven’t felt the benefits of it. Roll on 2020, my Wife pushed towards buying a new bike and, since I found my previous one extremely difficult to peddle – I thought it was more me, rather than the bike itself. It’s helped me in more ways than one, getting out of the house and, enjoying rides with my children has been a nice bonding experience. Even if Jake [my son] takes a lot of convincing, he usually ends up enjoying it and, during lockdown it helped just to give us something to do. With winter, it’s going to be a bit more difficult to have regular bike rides but I aim to have one when possible. We’ve just managed to beat the 2nd lockdown caused by the worldwide pandemic COVID-19, I can honestly say, I spent two weeks embracing a real grasp of what has been clouding my mind. Many of the worries I felt, since have been pushed out of sight and, I feel genuinely a lot happier. Looking at the family snaps, I notice the difference within myself and, I feel my friends will too. Depression is never easy but, I’ve been talking about it a little more since returning home and, it’s nice to feel that corner now becoming a straight road. I’m more determined than ever to keep the inner peace I have found at the top, whilst being kinder to myself. I don’t expect everyone to understand, yet I do hope that those few people I have effectively pushed away can realise that it wasn’t done due to malice – more a lack of coping. I also know, I might not have been that easy to be around from time to time but, this is all on me – I don’t find talking face to face to be easy. Those that have taken something I’ve said or written the wrong way, effectively ignoring me – life moves on. I’m not going to dwell on what I can’t change, as I feel these issues tend to border manic depression and, I know I have a good grip – I fail to deal with everything that life throws my way. Some people can cope, others have a supportive network, but I bury my head in projects. It’s perhaps not the healthiest thing, but to say I’m not grateful would be a massive understatement. First time in a while, I’m not dreading the 2nd lockdown – I will keep to myself, but I do want to start pushing myself to be more talkative slowly. It’s not an ignorance at all, and I stick to what I feel comfortable with and, I realise now it’s just effectively limiting the circle in which my life has been heading. One of my favourite’s songs growing up was about being able to see clearly – it’s perhaps a bit corny, maybe a cliché to say it but I do feel like it’s true. I only realised as a teen that it was about depression in the first place, it always seemed quite a peaceful song.

The game has so much unnecessary pressure leading into it, but it should ease once the game begins. Notts needs to get a feel of what Stockport has about themselves, it's live on TV and that's another blessing in my eyes. Neal Ardley knows a result would push Notts back up the table, the players understand what is required. It's just getting it out of them. At the moment, I don't think Stockport will batter us by any stretch of the imagine. I feel it's more closer to being a draw and, I am swaying towards 2-2.

6 games into the season, I realise that form comes much later for some teams. I'm not a defeatist by any means, I just acknowledge that Notts can't come from being a poor League Two team that deserved to be relegated to winning every National League team just because we're the biggest club in the division. I'd say, I am more a realist that understands that with good times - it takes time to have those better teams which most of our fans seem to take for granted. Yes, Notts has lost 2 games in a row but again, the Maidenhead result should've been done and dusted when we went 2-0. I haven't seen Aldershots goal, I'm unsure about the match stats but I do feel had the players not messed up in the previous game before the COVID-19 break that some would see the bigger picture. Anyone who thinks Notts will walk this league isn't aware of the difficulties, could Notts be doing better? I think so, but some of the games so far has been in our hands and yet we failed to maximise the points gained. Going into the National League last season, most fans said that they would accept mid-table. Most believed the club would struggle and, this is what has happened but we enjoyed a very successful spell last term that propelled Notts into the playoffs after a very sluggish part. I don't feel I have kneejerk reactions to the slightest defeat, I feel the club are in a very good position and, if they work harder that we can push up the table. Torquay and Stockport have gotten off to an amazing start, I can't help but feel some of our fans see this and, believe we're entitled to be doing the same just because of our stature.

Perhaps the preparation and, tactics could've been better. It's still a 1-0 defeat. It's hardly a massive defeat and, if it's true about how shocking, how poor the players were, how bad the tactics the was then I am surprised it was only a single goal conceded. People are making it sound like Notts lost 10-0 which didn't happen. You can play poorly and, lose. It's normal. We're not a side that will win each week or even every game. Those calling for Neal Ardley's head and, most likely the rumour makers need to get a grip on what "support" means.

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I'll be tuning into Radio Nottingham for the game, I just hope Mark Stallard is assisting Charlie Slater as I might turn off early otherwise. Keep to the game, no rambles or boring statements about the pitch condition or what tattoos certain players has. I have missed matchdays, but in one sense it's been good that I only missed a single game - so yeah, thanks COVID-19. Notts should be able to pick up from where they left off, I would feel happier playing at home but it's a good chance to prove we are capable of getting good results on the road. I don't think they'll go to hit us, but I do wonder if set pieces will undo any good work.

Heart breaking to see us drop out of the FA Cup, part of me thought "why not just play the game?" and, then postpone the fixtures due to the positive tests. Yet, it shows Notts are prepared to look out for other clubs as some players might have it without knowing. Obviously they're tested, yet if teams can get away with fielding players with it potentially then it seems reckless. It doesn't take much to figure out who Neal Ardley believes our players caught COVID-19, so if proven they've pretty much cost us a piece of history and, a loss of income. On the other hand, I'm not overly bothered but I will be annoyed IF people take the League Cup/any other rubbish competition more seriously. For me, the FA Cup is the one cup worth trying to progress further in.

I should've pulled the games queued to go live, since these are done automatically. ????????

I'm not concerned, because the phase "it's a funny old game." springs to mind here. I don't feel Notts deserved to lose, the opposition wasn't special and never looked up to much. I genuinely feel, that we handed them the game due to how we defended. The calmness had gone from throughout the game, we never tried to take the sting out of the match or control it naturally. The praise is how we attacked which for the most part was very good, we did look like we could win, get back into it but we need to stop with the rushing. The signs of the first half would've been encouraging, yet the second half just comes across as a massive blip. The lights got turned off inside the heads of a lot of our players during key stages of the game.

Last time we played them, I thought they had a decent midfield but lacked in the defence department and, had woeful finishing. It's still somewhat of an unknown, I haven't check who they've signed and, I don't really know how strong they're. I will bow to @Dripsey3 and @ARLukomski who will certainly know what they have about themselves.

I have to hold my hands up, I promised @Ellie_Pie10 that I would play her on Fortnite. My intention was to get on right near the end, as I felt it would likely end up as a goalless draw. However, after waiting 15 minutes for the dam thing to update and, then playing a complete game. I switched over to the match chat and, noticed comments about us scoring late on. Kyle Wootton is in fantastic form, I bet he feels like he can score any chance present and, that's what we need in a striker. It might not have been a convincing or deserved win, yet the 3 points will be a big factor come the end of the season. As will grinding out results like this!

Can we expect to see some more rotation from the team that played against Barnet? I'd like to see Alex Lacey partner Connell Rawlinson, with Enzio again starting. He played better against Barnet than he's previously done for awhile, yet there's still a large room for improvement from him. He's too ball greedy and, guilty of giving the ball a way. Yet he's worth a place because he will only improve with confidence and, game time. Besides we would have a better benefit from attacking Sutton down the flanks, it all depends though. If Notts starts well, it could really help place those much needed points on the table. It's not a bad start to the season so far, but we need to avoid a Dover style result.

My thoughts; Notts picked themselves up from the Tuesday night win, went straight for it and, I feel Barnet never quite played to the same level as to what Altrincham did. I mean, they caused us some problems towards the end but for me this was mostly our fault. Kyle Wootton clearly looks to be enjoying his football, this is one of those important things which goes unnoticed by the majority of fans. He always looks like someone who can get on the end of chances. Once the first goal went in, Barnet sunk. Second goal sort of pulled the rug from under their feet and, we could've very easily killed the game off from there. The third goal, touch of magic, but defensively we pile on the pressure by backing off from dealing with the threat when it first develops. Overall, it's a very good performance and, Michael Doyle really helped to stop those final minute nerves. Once Barnet scored, they started to lift themselves and, they played much better in the second half. Fantastic performance, so good to be able to watch the games live via streaming.