menzinho

I agree with @Robbie, all the back 3 had good games. Ness did well coming in, Platt solid as always and Macari moved over to the left but didn’t look out of place at all. My only caveat is that Newport didn’t really commit many players forward though, so it was always very manageable for our defence. Not much between Palmer or Abbott for me, other than Palmer looking a bit dead on his feet by the end of the game. So Abbott just shaded it for me too.

Anyone on here a student a the Uni of Nottingham? Little scouting mission for the week...

I agree about adding another wing-back and I think I’d be looking to add someone more in the mould of Nemane. Matt Ward possibly, I’ve not seen him play and I think you’d have to be a clear cut above National League level to step up and do well for us in League 2. And I like Anthony Forde, not quite as quick but the guy was and probably still is League 1 standard. The money was clearly the pull that got him to Wrexham, would we be able to afford him? Kavanagh’s numbers make him stand out but I’m never quite sure of the standard of the League of Ireland and how it compares to the lower EFL Leagues. I remember Andre Wright was on trial for us (when we were in the National League) after getting in the LOI team of the year. We didn’t sign him and he went to play for Ayr United and then Telford and didn’t score for either of them. Obviously there will be players good enough to play League 2 but it’s about spotting the right ones.

Weird game, totally dominate and although we had 20+ shots we never really forced their keeper into a great save. And some of our shooting was really bad. The fact Jatta, our centre forward, only had 2 shots is also quite bizarre. Brown probably had the best chance first half when Jatta headed it back to him and he completely scuffed the ball from about 8 yards out, he should've scored. Second half Macari is unlucky that his header didn't drop in and Didzy had a decent chance again from a corner. But every other shot was pretty poor. I think a lack of quality with touch of slow attacking play did for us there. We pressed well against them and robbed the ball off them quite a few times but nothing ever really came of it, when it probably should. Teams used to punish us for that last season and we should’ve done it to Newport today. But at times I feel like we are so married to our patterns of play, when a half chance opens up to go forward, we don’t. Instead, we play safe because we are waiting for certain players to get into certain positions before we attack and then Newport can have a breather and get back into position. I think we are crying out for some pace. Not only do we need to attack quicker but a player or two that can break the lines more and cause more of a threat in behind would be helpful.

I don't think he would be classified as an overseas player, from what I can find he did grow up in England (living here from the ages of 7-18) so that might be enough and if it isn't he came through the English academy system. A “Home Grown Player” is defined in the (Rule 33.8) as a player who: Irrespective of their nationality or age, has been registered with either: their current club (who is a member of the EFL); and/or a club and/or any other football club affiliated with the Football Association (“FA“) or Football Association of Wales (for example, EPL or non-league clubs) for a period, continuous or non-continuous, of three seasons or 36 months prior to his 21st birthday (or the end of the season during which they turn 21). Basically a player needs to have been in an English Team/Academy for 3 years between the ages of 15 and 21. He spent 4 years at Leicester, leaving when he was 18. So he'll have had the 3 years.

Jatta and McGoldrick both go straight in for me and Crowley too if he’s fit. It does slowly start to feel like we are becoming very reliant on those 3 players and that’s not a good thing. I feel like Brown is at a bit of a crossroads now, I thought after Alfreton he’d kick on, but he’s still yet to score or assist in the league. Sam Austin also has the same issue. And I still feel like I’m yet to see the best of Gordon, and whilst Tsaroulla looks promising he’s still only provided one assist... Defensively I feel we are a lot more solid, but is that now coming at a cost to our attacking play? We are really struggling in an attacking sense (outside of Jatta, McGoldrick and Crowley) our other attacking midfielders and wingbacks, whilst having had more game time recently, have struggled to have much of an impact for me. That first half against Crewe, in an attacking sense, was probably the worst I’ve seen all season. We need to step it up a bit now. A game against Newport should suit us though, they are one of the poorer teams defensively in the league and one of the worst pressing sides (in terms of effectiveness). And we tend to very well against the lower mid-table sides too. Aaron Wildig has just been ruled out for the season for them and was probably one of their best players. We’ll likely see the tallest man in the world again as Kyle Hudlin (formerly of Solihull Moors) is now at Newport and he’ll provide a threat upfront.

Luton Town 1-0 Hull City West Bromwich Albion 2-1 Norwich City Huddersfield Town 1-0 Charlton Athletic Peterborough United 3-2 Reading AFC Wimbledon 1-0 Walsall Chesterfield 1-1 Barrow Boston United 0-1 Braintree Town Tamworth 2-2 Dagenham Redbridge

Interesting, I was thinking we are a bit short in numbers in wing-back and he was rated by Leicester when he was younger. Having done a quick search he actually turned down an offer from them and was training with their first team before he left. He then signed for Dinamo, but never played for their first team. Clearly very talented but just hasn't been able to settle at a club by the looks of it. If he's out-performing Tsaroulla and Gordon in our training, he'd probably be worth signing (assuming he is actually training with us!)

I'd much rather be watching a game when the temperature is 20° and not 2°. When it's mild over the winter it's ok, but when the frost covers are just being whipped off before the match with the snow is still lingering around the sides of the pitch I don't enjoy it. I can remember going to an away game years ago, when I was about 15, Shrewsbury v Notts and I was in that "I know better than you" teenage stage. So whilst I did have a coat and hat I wasn't exactly wrapped up because I was adamant it wasn't that cold out... It's quite an open ground at Shrewsbury and there was an icy wind blowing in all game. By the end I was probably just minutes away from becoming an ice sculpture, no idea how I managed to shuffle out the stand. My face, hands and feet were absolutely freezing.

One game closer now! It's a very admirable way of looking at it, to say we have been punching above our weight! No doubt at times we have but also, it does show how for long periods we've just been pretty rubbish.. Where are the other founding members on that list? Anyone near us? All apart from Accrington who no longer exist are either in the Prem or Championship right now! That's quite depressing in a way, why has it gone so wrong for us! Results have definitely improved since the Bros came in, maybe Grimsby will actually beat us to it!

He’s kind of come out of nowhere, I hadn’t heard of him until he was involved a lot in pre-season and he fared pretty well. Then he’s continued to be in and around the first team this season, without really getting the chance. Playing in League 2 might be tad higher than he’s capable of right now so a move to Kidderminster seems perfect. If he does well at Kidderminster he’ll have the chance to potentially stay longer, or even possibly move to a club in the National League. All looks quite promising for him at the minute.

Arguably 4/5 that are injured would be in our starting 11. I also think we are missing Edwards and Grant more than we realise. And to answer your previous question, I’m more than happy if we don’t reveal our minor injuries. Long-term stuff is pretty obvious but I don’t need a list of who is and isn’t fit before a match. Some teams will focus more on us then themselves when they prepare for a game against us. For example, a team could spend time in training where they focus on ways to cope with Crowley and Didzy. Then it gets to the game, neither are playing, we change things up so they have to adapt in game. That might turn out to be an advantage for us, football is all about those marginal gains!

Frustrating to lose the away record in that way, that first half was probably going down in history for the most uneventful and boring halves until we decided to let them score from our corner… I know we are hampered with injuries to our forwards but the 4-4-2 in that first half just didn’t work, especially going forward, only Tsaroulla looked like he knew what he was doing in the opposition’s half. Two upfront actually hurt us as both Brown and Scott looked a bit lost. I thought second half we were better but after that penalty (where Bogle just tried to do a cut/chop back completely lost his footing and fell into Platt) we just got a bit rocked. The attacking quality just wasn’t available and it really hurt us today. Even when everyone is fit I do think we are crying out for a bit more pace though, especially upfront/wide, we need to become more of a threat in behind teams. 6 yellows, 1 red for Crewe and the ref missed a nasty stamp on Abbott first half - that would've been replayed multiple times via VAR in the Prem... If we’ve got out of that game with no injuries we’ve done well.

The Gambian Football Federation has replied to Notts' tweet (and I'm pretty sure that is the official account) and they said he played the whole second half.

Can't be any worse than last week, so here goes... Blackpool 1-1 Northampton Stockport 3-2 Wrexham Accrington 2-1 Swindon Town Barrow 1-2 AFC Wimbledon Bromley 1-0 Carlisle United Braintree Town 2-1 AFC Fylde Hartlepool United 1-0 Eastleigh Yeovil 1-1 Halifax Town