The Heff

Dennis has settled in quicker than I thought he would. You can see how well he fits our style and he looks confident in front of goal. What I like most is that he talks about the team rather than just himself, which shows he’s grounded. Gillingham will be a challenge, but if he keeps working like this, we’ll always have a chance of scoring.

I think most Notts fans can see the good work the Reedtz brothers have done. Some weren’t happy with Stuart Maynard coming in, and now Martin Paterson, but the club has given both a fair chance to succeed. The owners seem willing to learn and improve. They don’t rip things up each season, they stick to their plan and make small changes to help it along.

We haven’t seen wild swings in approach. The club isn’t signing ex-Premier League players one minute, then throwing in youngsters before they’re ready the next. There’s been no risky push for promotion at the cost of the club’s future. Unlike before, the money is being used properly to keep things steady and build for the long term.

The first half was tricky with Fleetwood creating more direct chances, but once Dennis scored, we looked far more settled. I thought Iorpenda was excellent in winning the ball back and pushing us forward. Lynch in their goal made a few good saves, but we still could have had a second with better decision-making in the box. Overall, it was encouraging to see us grind out a result and manage the closing stages without too many scares.

This was the kind of performance that has been missing in some of our away games. We looked shaky after going behind, but the response was quick after the break. Kellan Gordon’s introduction made a clear difference as he gave us extra energy down the right. Alassana Jatta also deserves credit for the flick that helped create the chance for Dennis. The defence did look stretched at times, but Kelle Roos made the saves when it mattered most. I liked how the team dug in together during added time, because Tranmere were really throwing bodies forward. It wasn’t pretty, but sometimes away wins need to be like that.

I liked what he said about needing to put together proper 90-minute performances. It’s something most of us have noticed too. We’ve had spells where we’ve looked excellent, dominating games, but not always for the full match. He clearly sees that as a player on the pitch, which is encouraging. If the squad can build towards maintaining that consistency across the whole game, then results will start going our way. It’s reassuring when experienced players are saying the same things that fans are thinking, because it shows they’re aware of the areas to improve. Hopefully against Tranmere we’ll see longer periods of that level of football.

The thing I take most from this is how much Martin Paterson values preparation. He’s not getting carried away by the occasion of his first home game, and that’s exactly the right approach. Newport was frustrating, but he’s clearly using that result to drive standards in training. Making it “uncomfortable” at times is no bad thing if it gets more out of the players.

We’ve got a mix of experience and now we’re bringing in young, hungry players from top academies. Hall might not be a household name, but if he’s anything like the players Spurs usually produce, we’ve got a real talent on our hands. It’s good that he’s already played some competitive games too. I’m quietly optimistic he’ll surprise a few people this season.

It’s a frustrating one because we had the game by the scruff of the neck for long periods, especially first half. Newport barely had a kick before the break and yet they go ahead from a scrappy long throw. Thought we responded well and earned the penalty, and credit to Jodi Jones for keeping cool. Still, with all that possession and territory, we’ve got to find ways to hurt teams more.

There’s a lot to take from this. Paterson comes across as very grounded, which is exactly what we need after the ups and downs of last season. He’s clearly put the work in to understand the squad, and it’s encouraging to hear how much thought has gone into recruitment. I also liked what he said about being emotionally balanced, you can tell he’s focused on the long haul, not just short-term hype. Feels like a fresh but sensible approach.

I like how Paterson didn’t sugar-coat anything but also didn’t throw the players under the bus. Admitting the shape changes didn’t work and pointing out where we were too passive shows he’s thinking things through properly. I’d rather see that than meaningless praise. If we’re fitter and sharper when it counts, this loss doesn’t matter at all. Still early doors but sounds promising.

Thanks for writing this, it’ll be handy for the next two matches. I really appreciate it. I’m hoping to meet a few Notts fans before kick-off tomorrow. It’s always nice to have a chat before the game.

If anyone’s going to all three matches and is on PON, I’ll keep an eye out for you. It’d be good to say hello.

Edwards is a really smart addition. His work with England youth setups means he’s got an eye for talent and development. That could help us massively with bringing through younger players and building a squad with long-term potential. Also good to have someone with experience of pressure situations at Leyton Orient. He won’t be fazed by the EFL grind.

I feel more confident about the signing knowing he has performed well before and has goals in him. I don’t put too much weight on players being released, as there are many possible reasons, whether the club couldn’t afford to keep him, he wanted a change, or he didn’t fit their system. That doesn’t mean he will or won’t suit us, but time will tell. For now, I’m happy with the signing.

Notts are taking a gamble, but there’s no reason it can’t pay off. Some fans on social media are complaining about his injury, but we signed him knowing he was recovering and would soon be back in full training.

You can’t judge a player on past injuries alone, you have to see how they settle in. As a midfielder, he’s exactly the kind of signing we’ve needed. For all we know, he could start as an impact sub until he regains full fitness and sharpness.

Platt’s attitude is exactly what we need in this squad. He’s not getting carried away, just focused on the next game and keeping things tight at the back. His point about clean sheets being the foundation for success is spot on. We know we’ve got the attacking talent to score goals, so keeping solid at the back will make the difference in the promotion race.

Momentum is everything at this stage of the season, and Notts have it in abundance. Maynard has got the squad playing with confidence, and the defensive improvement has been huge. We were too open earlier in the season, but now we look much more compact. 12 clean sheets show just how much we’ve improved at the back. My only concern is the injuries. Losing Jones and McGoldrick for any length of time could be a real blow, especially with big games coming up. That said, we’ve got depth, and Whittaker stepping up against Morecambe was great to see. Port Vale will be tough, but we’re in such good form. Keep defending well, take our chances, and we’ll be fine.

I respect the effort Curtis put in to get to this point in his career. Having been with Notts for half the season and recently back from injury, I'm looking forward to seeing what he can do for the team!

Excellent article, @menzinho.

Solid win for Notts. The first half saw some good football with quick passing, good movement, and two goals. McGoldrick looked sharp, and Tsaroulla was strong. The second half was different, with Gillingham stepping up. We had some struggles, especially after their goal. We need to manage games better, but defensively we held our ground. Bass made a couple of key stops, and Platt was solid at the back. Nice to see us securing wins under pressure. Another three points on the board. The team is getting stronger each week.

Seeing Curtis Edwards come back after such a long spell out and slot straight back into the team like that was brilliant. He brought so much composure and energy when we needed it most. You could tell how much it meant to him, and the way the fans responded was class.

A lot of young loanees take time to settle, but Abbott has slotted in seamlessly. His movement off the ball is clever, and he’s always looking for a forward pass. That’s exactly the type of player we need if we’re going to push for automatic promotion. His assist for Jatta was brilliant, but he also had a solid defensive game, making key tackles and interceptions. He’s already got four goals and four assists in League Two, which is an impressive return for a midfielder. If he keeps this up, he’s going to have a big future, whether that’s back at Spurs or somewhere else. Absolutely delighted he’s staying.

I feel like we were in control for most of the match, but it just wasn’t to be. We had the possession and the chances, but when you let in three goals, it’s always going to be tough. McGoldrick did well with his penalty, and Hinchy’s goal was a bright spot, but it wasn’t enough in the end. A lot of work to do defensively.

Sam Austin really gets the essence of what the FA Cup means to fans and players alike. His point about how even small things, like using different balls in training, add to the excitement is so relatable. It’s clear he values professionalism, which is key if we’re to take on tougher teams like Peterborough. This mindset could help Notts push through to the later stages. Come on, lads!

This is the kind of fixture that really helps young players grow, a big stage, strong opposition, and the backing of fans. I’ve been impressed with how the lads have handled pressure in earlier matches, especially with the challenges they’ve faced. It’s great to see the club taking pride in its academy, and the coaches clearly have the right mindset going into this game. Whatever the result, this journey is something the players will remember and build on.

It’s refreshing to see the club addressing both on-pitch and off-pitch matters so openly. The updates about the Jimmy Cyril Stand and accessibility improvements at Meadow Lane show a real commitment to making match days enjoyable for everyone. Safe standing is also a great idea, I hope they consult fans closely to get it right.  

On the footballing side, I’m pleased with the summer recruitment process and the emphasis on tactical flexibility. The way Stuart Maynard is handling injuries and integrating younger players is promising, even if it’s not easy. If the January window brings a couple more reinforcements, we could really be set up for a strong push this season.

It was a good football match between two decent teams. Doncaster played well, but at times they looked like a team we could have easily beaten if we had a full squad available. They made changes and fielded what seems to be their strongest team, but I didn’t see much to suggest they are better than us. It’s all about collecting points, and for both teams, this is a good result. We need to aim for all three points against Crewe, keep up the pressure, and make sure we stay firmly in the automatic promotion race.