B&Wstripes

It’s hard not to feel a bit emotional thinking about Alan Judge. He was brilliant for us, and you could see his love for the game every time he played. That energy and drive were infectious, it lifted the whole team and the fans. Watching him move to Brentford was bittersweet because we lost a great player, but he went on to prove himself at a higher level. The leg break was devastating, though, and I don’t think he ever truly recovered his form after that.

Jatta’s growth since joining in January has been amazing to watch. His ability to handle defenders and his knack for finding the net are unmatched. But beyond that, what’s really impressive is his mindset. He talks about working hard and setting goals, and he’s not shy to admit that his teammates make him better. It’s not often you see a forward give so much credit to the team around him. His bond with the fans, especially when he collected the flag, shows he values the support. Looking forward to seeing him thrive with The Gambia and come back to give his all for Notts.

Welcome to the community here on PON, @Bren Shep. It would be great to see you joining in with the discussions.

Aside from the goal, I thought Jacob Bedeau handled Port Vale very well. He was one of the main reasons they didn’t score more. Not that they could make do with the open net opportunity.

It’s refreshing to hear a manager talk about the importance of every player, not just the stars. Maynard’s belief in squad depth is crucial, especially as the season progresses. It’s clear that he has instilled a strong sense of unity in the team, which is evident in how they play together on the pitch. If we can keep this momentum going, there’s no telling how far we can go this season. I hope the lads can handle the pressure against Port Vale, they’re a tough team. Let's get those three points!

Maynard deserves credit for the way he's shaping this team. He’s got them playing with a mix of flair and resilience, something that was evident in the victory over Carlisle. Jatta and Robertson returning and immediately making an impact is a testament to the depth and quality in this squad. Defensive efforts, especially Bass's crucial save, were outstanding. The support from the fans was also incredible, making their presence felt throughout the match. It's performances like these that build momentum and confidence going forward.

Carlisle United could feel unlucky. They played much better than Morecambe but found us very resilient in defence. They were poor on goal but good at moving the ball forward. When was the last time we had less possession than our opponents? It says a lot, as we usually dominate possession. It was great to see Jatta back, even better when he scored the opening goal. Scott Robertson was also very good, and we missed his presence in previous games. Winning 2-0, despite the chances they created, was a good night for us.

One thing is for sure, Notts need to attack as a team in the first half and not wait until the second to produce the goods. I am sure the Gillingham defeat has been frustrating for the players, as would conceding early against Morecambe. This is another tough task on paper and we need to play at our best. I wouldn’t change anything defensively, other than perhaps including Kellan Gordon. I think in midfield, if Scott Robertson is fit, allow him to partner Matt Palmer and give George Abbott a chance to impact the team from the bench. I fully expect David McGoldrick and Dan Crowley to start. I don’t see Jevani Brown starting as I think Maynard sees him as a good attacking option for the bench.

Really liking what I’m seeing from Bedeau so far. He’s calm, collected, and clearly a leader both on and off the pitch. His comments about focusing during possession play show he understands where we need to improve, it’s been an issue in a few games this season. I also thought his comments on Morecambe were interesting. He’s got respect for his old club, but it’s clear that he’s committed to our success now. His experience in League One will be vital as we push for promotion, and I’m excited to see how he handles this weekend’s match. He’s quickly becoming one of my favourite players.

Both are good managers in their own rights, but I think Jose Mourinho is the better manager. Pep Guardiola works and requires a much higher budget. Are they as good as the hype? Probably not, but I do acknowledge that they are very good at what they do. Mourinho has spent money with clubs like Chelsea, but he has worked and done well for teams where they are not as fortunate. Pep wouldn’t manage an Italian team in my opinion as they don’t spend nearly as much as Spanish or English clubs would.

I am pleased that we have signed cover. I don’t think we need to worry too much about Jodi Jones until solid news comes out. We don’t know if this signing is to give us cover to free up someone to play more frequently as a striker despite primarily being a winger. Yes, it does look like he’s been signed with Jodi in mind, but I wouldn’t go as far as saying it’s a long-term thing because his injury will keep him out for months. Had he signed a 2 or 3-year deal then maybe, but not as a short-term signing. That seems more to be about the club assessing him.

Morecambe will probably put every man behind the ball and look to spring the ball beyond our defenders. Until Gillingham, I thought we had cut this risk out quite well. Yes, it’s happened a couple of times and the Gills’ player was most likely offside, but he still had yards of space where we weren’t able to get back. Matty Platt would have walked and seen red had he committed a foul. We need to watch out for this and set pieces, like corners.

Hate is a bit strong for someone who has a reason for the way he speaks. The “erms” are just a normal part of life and shouldn’t be used against Harry Kane. He doesn’t seem the most switched-on footballer, but he isn’t as thick as David Beckham seemed when he was younger. England fans just love to pick at people and find scapegoats. Harry Kane just seems to be exactly that.

I thought the announcement was higher than 11,000. I can’t say for sure, but the attendance looked larger. I would have remembered if it didn’t seem right, I would have thought.

Welcome to PON and the community, @Shannon Daly.

It’s great to see so many comments and votes. Well done everyone, especially the man of the moment, Jacob Bedeau.

This could be a crucial injury and might be a problem for Notts, short term or even long term. We need to take care of Jodi Jones and not risk him too much. I'm not saying we can’t play him against tough teams, just that we need to be cautious and let him recover properly. We’ll have to wait and see, hopefully Notts will share some news tomorrow or when they know more.

People like him always take credit for things that can’t be dismissed. His time at Notts was clearly successful because he didn’t last very long, did he? He was one of those appointments that I didn’t feel the club really needed or valued. "I initially moved to Notts County, where despite not having the best season it probably taught me the most out of any club I have worked for and provided me with some of my closest friends." Craig Cope | Technical Director at Solihull Moors | Behind Sport BEHINDSPORT.COM Craig Cope is the Technical Director at Solihull Moors FC in the National League, he has previously worked at Notts Forest, Notts County & Birmingham City.

It was a poor decision to rule out Sam Austin’s goal. It looked perfectly fine from what I saw and in the highlights. Jevani Brown was onside, but it’s easy to side with teams who complain and have the rub of the green. Gillingham keeping 11 men on the pitch is a victory alone for them.

Dan Crowley pulled the strings and did very well. I don’t think Jodi Jones had much luck with the way he was being kicked and fouled.

@Robbie That is useful to know. It does sound painful, but at least it can be treated. I think the worst injuries to have, not that this makes it any better, but he should be able to make a strong recovery.

The game against Gillingham should be entertaining. I hope we start with real determination to stick the ball into the back of their net early on. Then we can pass the ball around, making them work to get hold of it. Just before the end of the first half, if a second goal can be scored, I think it would be good night. This is the ideal scenario in my head. The worst is that they repeat what Fleetwood Town did, and we have to go into the second half more determined. I think they will be tough, but supposedly they have quite a few injuries to their first team, so who knows if they will turn up.

Stuart Maynard is really making this Notts side his own, stamping out the predictability we’ve seen before. The football so far has been very enjoyable. The Swindon game was alright. Against Fleetwood, we looked lively in the second half. If it weren’t for the first half goals, we would have won that one. It’s almost a flawless start, so I’m encouraged to see how we do against Gillingham.

I was once working on a business unit, with two chippies either side of the premises. Every day, one would have a special, and the other would put handwritten signs of reduced prices on coloured paper. Every day it was something different, but one thing that always happened was when it came to locking up. The two people who ran or owned the takeaways, whatever they were, would throw spoilt food at each other at the back. It was one of the funniest but most childish things I have ever seen. They looked like they would come to blows, but neither would throw a punch, just fish. It’s the truth, I swear!

Welcome to the PON site. The community really thrives with members joining when they can. See you around the site, @Jeff johno.