The Heff

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.

I’m looking forward to seeing Tyrese Hall in action. He seems like a promising young player, and I’m keen to see how he fits in at Notts. If he can score goals or help set them up, there’s every chance this loan spell will be a success. With all the new signings, it makes checking the matchday squad more exciting. Now we just need Hall and the others to show what they can do on the pitch.

Best of luck to him on loan. I think it’s a decent move, and I understand the thinking behind wanting to test him at a higher level. The key is for him to get regular game time and learn from the experience. Moving from us to them should give him the chance to develop the qualities needed in a young player aiming for first-team football.

Oxford United 2-0 Portsmouth Joker Stoke City 1-1 Derby County Exeter City 2-2 Blackpool Mansfield Town 3-1 Doncaster Rovers Gillingham 2-1 Walsall Oldham Athletic 1-1 Colchester United Tamworth 1-1 Scunthorpe United Wealdstone 2-2 Truro City

Fair play to everyone who voted. It’s always interesting to see how the poll shapes up and to read the different opinions people share. I’m really pleased for Matt Palmer. In my view, he deserves this, and clearly most voters agree. I hope he can keep playing at this level. It’ll only help show how important he is to the team.

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.

I’m leaning towards Matt Palmer for Man of the Match. He was steady all game and gave a strong performance from start to finish. I only noticed one pass go astray, but apart from that he kept things ticking and helped drive us forward as we chased the equaliser.

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.

Bradford City 2-1 Wycombe Wanderers Doncaster Rovers 1-1 Exeter City Lincoln City 0-1 Reading Joker Plymouth Argyle 1-0 Barnsley Barnet 1-0 Fleetwood Town Cambridge United 2-0 Cheltenham Town Grimsby Town 1-1 Crawley Town Walsall 2-1 Swindon Town

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’ve done some sightseeing myself during the free time between matches on this short tour of Germany. It’s been a good chance to explore a bit while we’re here. It’s also my first time watching German football, and it feels like a whole different culture. The atmosphere and style are quite something. I’ve chatted with a few fans from German clubs too. They were all very friendly and knew a lot about their teams, which was great to see. Visiting places nearby has made the trip even better. It’s given me more to enjoy outside the football. The photos you shared are nice, some great views and moments in there.

Getting Championship clubs to Meadow Lane, or arranging friendlies at their grounds, is never easy. It depends on their pre-season plans and how much they want a competitive test. It would be great to attract a few though. German football is treated very seriously. Their approach is about discipline, with every player expected to defend and attack. It’s quite different to how we play, with our game working more in phases and structure. The last two friendlies were useful. They gave a clear view of who’s coming along well and who might still need more time. These games aren’t just for fitness, they can show real progress. I think this upcoming match will be tighter. It’s my first proper look at German football, and it’s not bad at all, so long as you’re not expecting miracles. I respect how Martin Paterson treats each game properly. That said, he should also use it to learn just how far apart we are from some of these sides. It’ll be a lesson, not just a test. It’s shaping up to be an interesting match. I reckon we’ll learn a fair bit more about the team and where we’re heading.

I wouldn’t change anything. I’d just love to see Jimmy Sirrel lead Notts into the old First Division. That would be a moment worth watching again. Even the early 90s would be a great time to go back to. There was something special about football then, and Notts were holding their own. The only real success I’ve seen is the 2009 League Two win and our National League Play-Off victory. Getting back into the EFL was a huge moment.

That’s something I really admire about PON. There’s always a feature tucked away that you might not have noticed before, but it’s there if you choose to use it. It makes the site feel rich and full of useful bits. The status feature sounds like a solid addition for the community. It could help bring members closer, let them share more, and make it easier to understand each other.

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.

It’s not bad, really. I might start to like it more over time. It’s got a bit of a different look. I’m not saying I hate green football shirts, I just don’t always think they look great. But in the photos, this one seems alright. I reckon it’ll look better when I see it for real. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that the home shirt is a good one.

I've got mixed feelings about this transfer. On one hand, we're losing a very solid keeper who has performed consistently week-in, week-out. Over the last season, Bass was crucial in pulling us through tough matches, making saves most keepers wouldn’t get near. On the other hand, if the fee is indeed substantial, it could open doors for reinvestment across the pitch, not just between the sticks. But it all hinges on how effectively the club uses this transfer money, there’s no point earning a decent sum if it's not put back into strengthening properly. Interested to see what moves follow this departure.

Notts will likely share some news and show pictures of it. I saw that I could pick the standing area when choosing a seat. It didn’t really say how many spots are in that bit, but it’ll be interesting to see if it’s open for the Cardiff friendly. Has anyone gone for their season ticket in the standing section?

That’s really serious. A fractured skull could’ve ended his whole career, especially as a defender who has to head the ball and go into tough challenges. It’s great he’s still playing. That shows a lot of strength and bravery. If he keeps going like this, he might be a really good player for Shrewsbury Town. Bradford Telegraph and ArgusBantams defender ready to get ahead again after fractured...BRADFORD City centre half Sam Stubbs is back with a clean bill of health after recovering from the fractured skull that ended his season early.

Hello, @Ash. You will fit in perfectly well with PON, it's a good site and very friendly. Welcome!

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.

Luke Williams must have a strong work ethic if he’s taken a job at the airport. Fair play to him for getting stuck in. I do hope he thinks about coming back to football, though. He’s got what it takes to be a good manager. His move to Swansea City felt rushed, even if it made sense at the time. It reminds me a bit of Ian Burchnall. You learn more by building experience and staying at the level where you're already settled. Some people think it’s like managing on Football Manager, but Williams is handling things well in his own way.

I wouldn’t throw money into buying a football club, but I’d happily support one like Notts as a private investor. If I couldn’t stay out of the public eye, I’d stick to being a shirt sponsor or help out in other ways. I understand how being closely involved can change how you see the game.

Well done to Alassana Jatta and David McGoldrick. This really is something special. It shows just how important both of them were to our season last year.