Dripsey3

I expect League 2 to be very even next season. A dozen teams pushing for promotion is likely at this stage. We know we are getting a coach and the appointment will be season defining. We need to replace Ditzy. That much is certain. You'd hope there will be other signings. If we stand still, we'll be lucky to finish mid table.

I was at Cobh Rambers vs Treaty United in the League Of Ireland First Division last night. I bumped into Brian O Callaghan who's a coach for Treaty United. Brian spent one season at ML in 2005/2006. It wasn't a great season. We just about avoided relegation to the Conference. We had a chat about Notts County and how Brian was glad we were on the up. He's a nice bloke. He had a chat with the supporters and you can see why Treaty fans like him.

I'm going to leave this one here. Ollie Pearce. Yes he's 29 but he's a proven goal scorer. He's out of contract at York next year. I think he's worth taking a chance on, especially if Jatta leaves.

I wish SM all the best. He is a decent guy. He didn't deserve the personal abuse directed at him and his family. It was disgusting. We will get another coach and it will be rinse and repeat. I don't think the approach the owners are taking will work in League 2. We need an experienced manager who has the freedom to make the big decisions. As it will be another coach, he needs to have experience at this level and a strong support staff with minimal input from the owners.

That's the very least we should expect. Let's be honest, once Matt Saunders left, things started to go downhill. SM needs experienced staff around him. Otherwise it will be rinse and repeat next season.

To be fair, no one thinks we should win every game, that's just nonsense. This season was a golden opportunity to win promotion. We had the squad to match up against any side in the division. Too many times we were simply outmanaged or outcoached. The same tactics time and again. So if SM does stay, let's hope he'll learn to adapt and actually win games against the teams around us.

A season that promised much but ended in disappointment. There was an air of inevitability well before the season ended. Teams had figured us out yet nothing really changed. We need a change and that starts with SM. We need a manager, not a coach. A manager who's not afraid to play his way, not the way the owners want to play.

That was a poor display by the officials. They got the sending off wrong. There was at least one strong shout for a penalty. Jatta's reaction could land him in hot water. Notts played better than expected. Wimbledon defended brilliantly to be fair. They took their chance when they got it. It's not over yet but it's a massive mountain to climb. We can't put the ball in the net and we need at least 2 goals.

It's a match up of 2 sides who are out of form. We look like a team who has run out of steam. Wimbledon are a team low on confidence. We know how we are going to play and so do Wimbledon. Doncaster looked like the home team last time out. I expect Wimbledon will try and replicate that. The most important thing is avoiding defeat. We are better on the road where there is less pressure.

Doncaster fully deserved their victory. Another poor performance at home. We are limping into the playoffs. On form, we have little chance but the playoffs are unpredictable. The fans deserve a trip to Wembley.

An impressive 3 points and somehow we are still in with a shout of automatic promotion. The unpredictability of League 2 has kept us on the edge of seats and I suspect there's a few more twists and turns to come.

Another poor result at home. It was an outstanding first half. Should have been 3 or 4 ahead. It seemed we adopted what we have we hold attitude for the second half. Suddenly Cheltenham realised we have a chance here and started to push. We only reacted after they scored. We could and should have been ahead before they scored their winner. SM has put up with some vile abuse and that's completely unacceptable. Play the ball, not the man and leave his family out of it. Back to playing the ball, that was uncertain coaching 101 and it cost us the game. We can only hope SM learns from this.

Credit where credit is due, that was a big improvement last night. We probably deserved the 3 points. The only negative was a lack of composure in front of goal. Automatic promotion is unlikely at this stage but you never know in League 2. It's one of the most unpredictable leagues in the world. 4 points should be enough to secure a playoff place.

Bradford have been struck by a sickness bug. They could be missing a few tomorrow night. You'd be expecting a response from our lads tomorrow night. The last 180 minutes of football have fallen well below the standard required. If it continues, we may not even make the playoffs.

The Luke Williams excuse has run its course by now to be fair. This is about SM. The team were excellent in the first half against Colchester. When Colchester upped their performance, we had no answer. The performance against Salford was woeful. Even mediocre might have got us something out of the game. Bradford is a huge game. They are not world beaters. It's time for SM and the players to stand up and be counted.

A squad like ours shouldn't be limping into the playoffs. The biggest loss this season was Matt Saunders. SM is just not good enough at this level. The results against the sides around us prove that. I hope he proves me wrong but I suspect we'll have a new manager going into next season.

Gutless. Rudderless. Embarrassing. This club is going nowhere under SM. It gives me no pleasure to say that. We might scrape into the playoffs but it's delaying the inevitable of another season in League 2.

It's squeaky bum time. If Notts don't make the top 3, I'd prefer if Walsall and Doncaster swap places. The playoffs will be wide open and a playoff place would be progress. League 1 would be a brand new adventure boys and girls. Think of the away trips and the teams coming to Meadow Lane. I'm getting ahead of myself......but......a man can dream........

That decision not to award a penalty was shocking but not surprising. The ref was awful. Did we do enough to win the game? Probably not. Crewe didn't do much either. The gloom has not been lifted....

I found my thoughts returning to our glorious victory at Wembley lately. It's become a happy place when things aren't going so well. Anyway...... Crewe are a decent side. They could easily go on a run and get promoted automatically but I have a sneaking feeling that we'll meet them in the playoffs. We need a win. Not just for the 3 points but to lift the gloom that has descended recently. We have to start winning our home games. Full stop......

At this stage I'd take a 75 minute performance. We don't seem capable of a 90 minute performance. The funny thing is that we could end up getting promoted because everyone else is average as well. We'd be battered in League One if there wasn't a major overhaul of the squad.

A vital 3 points. Didzy provided the leadership that we were painfully lacking. Hopefully whatever crisis of confidence that SM is suffering from is also in the past. We are in the mix for automatic promotion. It's there for the taking.

You could have wrote was going to happen in this game before it happened. The one bright spot was a change of tactics that improved things slightly in the second half. We'll be lucky to make the playoffs.

What worries me is that SM seems to be having a confidence crisis. He doesn't seem to know how to react when change is required. He leaves it until it is too late. Matthew Saunder's departure has had an effect for sure.

Only 1 of the top 9 won tonight. A missed opportunity for Notts. We didn't deserve anything from the game. The return of Ditzy can't come fast enough and hopefully JJ's injury isn't too bad.