menzinho

Imagine if Cambridge pull off a win and we don’t. I’ll feel physically sick. But seriously I’ve got a horrible feeling we’re going to go through all the emotions tomorrow, nothing is ever straight-forward with Notts! Over the course of 90 minutes we’ll be going down at one point, have a chance of survival the next, probably even be safe at some stage! I really hope we just go all out for the win. 3 points or nothing. Que será, será and all that... ????

I’m dreading this weekend. I expect an OK performance from Notts like usual. The effort will be there but the cohesion and quality won’t. It really is groundhog day, how many times have we said “this weekend’s game is a must win game?”. How many times have Yeovil and Macc slipped up, and then we have as well? Too many. It’s the most excruciating and painful scrap for survival ever. For once I'm more concerned about Macclesfield, they go to Port Vale who are now managed by Mr Macclesfield himself: John Askey. He has nearly 700 appearances for the club and managed them for 5 years as well. He must have spent close to 30 years there. I'm sure he'll have a soft spot for them and I just wonder how seriously he'll take the game. I won't be surprised if Vale try out a few youngsters and give their fringe players a run out too... Hopefully I’m wrong but this could be the weekend we go down.

Fitting that over this Easter weekend it's now pretty much Notts last chance to resurrect the season. Over the two games 4 points has to be the minimum here. That's a win and a draw, any less and I really think it will take the miracle beyond all miracles to stay up. I'm not feeling confident, simply put MK are good and our home form is bad. I think we'll need at least 2 goals to get something out of it. And I'll take a draw if that can then be converted into a win away at Crawley. Here's to hoping we have new life come Monday, but I'm expecting we might just be nailed on for the conference...

I don’t think we’ll get an easier chance to get three points like that again this season. It was painful. We were given a gift and instead of ripping it open with both hands we stared at it for a bit, prodded it, poked it and then just as Exeter were about to leave we chucked it straight to them and they’ve gladly taken it home with them. We’ve got no clue how to break teams down when they just sit back. If anyone’s done their homework against us they’ll do just that, cross a couple of balls into the box and take the three points. Forget battle to stay up; I think Yeovil, Macc and Us are having a battle to see who can be relegated first...

Comprehensively beaten by Michael Duff’s (who?) Cheltenham Town… Other than Macc away I don’t think we’ve beaten any of the teams around us, we just can’t help ourselves can we. The season’s nearly over now and Harry Kewell is still responsible for half our wins this season. Where is the next win coming from, anyone see it? Port Vale beat Mansfield which is something I’d usually be quite happy about; not tonight though. I’ll be amazed if we aren’t playing in the national league next season.

I really felt yesterday was the day we’d make a statement, get back to winning ways and get that optimistic mood back. Port Vale were bottom of the form table, as a poor team we’ll get to play this season and we made them look half decent. We looked nervous, we didn’t have any sustained spells of pressure just wasted the ball (hoofed it) far too often. The second half was just a complete non-event from us. Neal Ardley spoke in his press conference before the game that in his eyes it wasn’t a 6 pointer, it absolutely was, and we’re not going to get many more home games where we’ll have a great chance of picking up 3 points. The draw against Lincoln and the two wins are now just a distant memory, 1 point from every 3 isn’t going to keep us up. The pressure's on with back to back away games now and we have to win at least one of them.

I know off the field it’s glum but the team just have to carry on and see what happens. It’s an absolutely HUGE game, we’ve already given points to Macc, Yeovil, Cambridge etc. We cannot let Port Vale go 8 points clear of us. I think if we lose we really will need a miracle to stay up. Vale are in real trouble though, they’ve only scored 2 goals in their last 8 games. Before the window we struggled against teams like them but we’ve got more character now and they’ve got a chance to rectify that in this game. (And in the ‘6 pointers’ just around the corner). I’ve seen some Vale fans on twitter doing a prediction league thing from the Staffordshire Post (or whatever it’s called there) points wise most have got Vale in the low 40s and still to stay up. Maybe that sacred 48/49 won’t be the finish line this year… Assuming we’re still around to get there… I’ll go for a 2-0 win for us. Gomis and Mackail-Smith for us. Here’s to hoping come Saturday evening the gap is down to 2 points.

Top v Bottom. Lincoln saw off the likes of Yeovil and Cambridge recently whereas we really struggled. I hope the new players can have an instant impact and I'd expect a couple more in and out before the window shuts. Predicting the team and formation is anyone's guess. Personally, I'd like to see Schofield back in goal with a back 4 in front of him. Dennis and Hemmings to get the nod to start assuming they're fit but I wouldn't be surprised to see Mackail-Smith start. Almost guaranteed that Lincoln will score from a set-piece. I'd absolutely take a draw right now, I just can't see us beating Lincoln. 1-3.

Well, considering how negative I felt on boxing day, maybe there is a bit of light at the end of the tunnel after all. Proper Jekyll and Hyde team this lot. I don’t remember a first half where we were so comfortable, all that was missing was a goal. Bury stepped it up at the start of the second half but on the whole I thought we should’ve won (considering the gift of a that pen). Vaughan finally played like we hoped he could and Kellet is surely now a shoe-in to start the games for the rest of the season, his touch and movement combined with his combativeness is great. Then in the defence we had Pierce Bird playing like Bonucci, impressive debut from him. Evina stepped up and I know I have to whisper it quietly on here because he’s no fan favourite but Duffy played very well. It feels like that was our first clean sheet since time began. I’m not getting ahead of myself yet though, need to back that performance up with another positive display against Oldham now.

Great escape? With this lot? Na. I'm usually pretty positive but unless we have a miraculous January and get in a few amazing players I think we're in really, really, really big trouble. That first half was just depressing. Vaughan shoved out the left? Defenders backing off, a complete lack of effort again. We needed to start that game like a house on fire, we just go the house. The stationary house watching everything go by. The 2nd was better in spells, Kellett looked good as did Hemmings (why was he taken off?). At 1-1 we had a chance, a tiny little glimmer, beat the worst team in the league or become the worst team in the league. We chose the latter. The players put more into the scuffles at the end, shame they can't show that same passion when actually playing.

Some Sunderland reserve side that was… GK – Ruiter – 31 – Played top flight Dutch football. DF – Ozturk – 26 – Former Hearts player. DF – Looven – 35 – Played for Celtic, Zaragoza and Sheff Wed. DF – Oviedo – 28 – Former Everton player, 46 caps for Costa Rica. MF – McGeouch – 25 – Former Hibs player, recent caps for Scotland. MF – O’Nien – 24 – Part of the Wycombe team that got promoted. MF – Power – 25 – On loan from Wigan, played Championship football. FW – Watmore – 24 – Played in the Prem. FW – Sinclair – 22 – On loan from Watford who paid £4Mil to get him from L’Pool. Sounded like DJ handed them that 2-0 though. Ross made some good saves and Notts had some chances from all accounts. Like many have said it'll have given Ardley a chance to look at the team before the big game at the weekend. GULP.

Well by all accounts it wasn't a great performance, but considering the catastrophe that was the 3-0 loss last weekend, I'll take a point for now. Pros: Dennis has started to now look the striker we hoped for. Morecambe didn't have tons of chances like most sides that plat against us. We didn't lose. Cons: Late goal made it feel like a loss. Same old problems in terms of defending balls into the box. Didn't create too many chances. Possible injury to Enzio.

It shows how far we’ve fallen when we’re genuinely worried about taking on Morecambe a team that has practically no budget, a squad that Adam Campbell isn’t deemed good enough for and with soon to be 40-year-old Kevin Ellison still turning out for them. Jim Bentley must hold some supernatural powers because I’ve no idea how they’ve been able to hang onto their league 2 status for so long. Must get a draw out of it as a minimum but honestly we’ve got the players to win this game comfortably. It's just a shame they're all in awful form at the moment, hopefully they’ll want to impress with the new manager, who I’m sure will be following the game.

0-0 FT. Another point but the performance sounded as dreadful as the one at the weekend if not worse, be interesting to hear what everyone thinks! The most poignant bit of the commentary was when Charlie said "Notts are at home clinging onto a point against a team that has only lost 4 of their last 5 matches". Last season's achievements seem a very distant memory. Oh and Duffy on for Dennis after we spent the whole game hoofing it over his head... Wasn't Harry Kewell supposed to be our attacking free-flowing football saviour! Where do we go from here?

Well, I don’t know where to start. Grateful we got a point I guess! After the disappointment of last week where we should’ve won, this a game we probably should have lost. Three proper last ditch tackles a ball cleared off the line. Port Vale were wasteful and midway through the 2nd half it just felt like we were waiting for them to score. Kewell didn’t change anything and whilst we were okay in the first half it was the same old problems, standing off and anytime Port Vale got the ball in the box players were free and we panicked as per usual. We’ve pretty much got a new defence but the organisation is still not good. Alessandra and Dennis never got into the game today but it didn’t help that we gave the ball away too often. Also 3 centre backs on the bench and two kids? Where are Jones, Husin, Crawford, Kellet and Hawkridge? 2 points off the relegation zone… 50 points looking miles away right now. Can we start the season again?

I listened to the game yesterday and I've now caught up on the highlights (what highlights?!) and it's not good. We were so deep they were practically walking the ball into the net, they literally did for the 2nd goal which might be the most pathetic goal we've conceded all season. Fitz has gone back to standing under his crossbar, does Crossley seriously coach him to do this? The tactics were wrong, 4-1-4-1 away from home! We're not playing Rolls-Royce factory boys here, it was pretty much 5 attackers and one midfielder. We were so, so, so open in the midfield Bury could literally pass it out of defence and into their attackers. After the game Harry Kewell said of the tactics it was going to be hard to pull it off, but he's supposedly all for simple football isn't he? And he said part of the plan was to allow the wide players to get crosses in? I don't get it. I thought things were on the up, but to lose 4-0, it really knocks us right back down. I'm not looking forward to Tuesday...

It's a tough one to call, will the week off have given Kewell more time to work on his style and tactics for the Bury game? Or will we look a bit sluggish, will the time off have impacted that winning momentum? I don't think we'll be able to get away with playing Brisley in CM against a team like Bury. It kind of feels like we've only got two CMs at the minute in Hewitt and Milsom as Kewell is reluctant to use any of the others so it's anyone's guess who gets the nod really. The defence and keeper have improved and we've got players who can score and create goals in good form at the moment. I'm just worried about the middle of pitch. I think we'll miss Milsom. So I'll go right down the middle and take a draw. 1-1. Enzio for us.

Hmm... like most I've got no interest in the competition, but I was at least expecting a better performance considering the players we put out. They were only up against a Newcastle youth side, it was a chance for the likes of Dennis, Vaughan, Husin, Thomas, Patching and Kellet to make an impression and by the sounds of it they didn't. A bit of a missed opportunity there...

I was only able to listen today but I was incredibly surprised to hear Brisley in centre mid. I get that he's big and he'll win headers but his passing and general skill level is pretty low, on his good day he's your basic, kick it, head it, win type of defender. I can only guess he was a kind of stopper and I can't imagine he really helped build any attacks. It's also not exactly a vote of confidence for the likes of Vaughan and Husin. My only tiny gripe with Kewell would be substitutions, when we went a man down against Crawley I was surprised he didn't get fresher legs on quicker, we waited for about 20 minutes, they should have been on much sooner in my opinion. Likewise today, we didn't really have many opportunities until the pen, but he chose to keep it as it was. Why bring Dennis on with about 5 mins left, what is he supposed to achieve? He's proved can be very effective in this league, give him a bit more time. That all said, not really complaining 9 points from the last 3 games is fantastic, unbeaten in 5 as well. On the whole it's a big improvement and it finally feels like our season has started!

I did not think after 10 games of the season we'd be in a kind of must win situation. I think the next two games against Crewe and Macclesfield are massive. If we come away with 0/2 points we are seriously in for a relegation battle this season. If we get two wins I'll feel comfortable we're in for a season of mid-table obscurity. The performances have been better; Stevenage are a good side, Northampton are (no disrespect) not so much, but we were away from home. Crewe are a real Jekyll and Hyde team, on their day they play well and get a good result to go with it. Luckily they don't have good days too often. I think if we start well and score first we'll win it. (Please God let us win it) 2-1. Hemmings and Ward.

Not conceeding 3 goals would be a start, maybe it's time to try something other than 4-4-2? You can vary formations when you have and haven't go the ball 3-5-2 to a 5-3-2 or 4-3-3 to a 4-5-1. We haven't really adapted to stop the opposition so far this season. Last weekend was better but I've still got doubts about our defending. 2-2 (and that's being hopeful!)

I'm hopeful Stevenage will underestimate us (rightfully so) and we'll see the results from a proper week of training with Kewell; that being play like Barca and ease to a 3-0 win! However if recent form is anything to go by Stevenage will probably score a late winner and beat us 2-1. I can see it now; a hopeful ball into the box finds their striker in plenty of space unmarked and 6 yards out. His attempt is fumbled by Fitzsimons who drops it. Our defenders in a panic try to clear it but get in each others way and can only watch as the ball is scuffed into the back of the net. I know we're only 7 games in, but we really need a positive result tomorrow!

Right, the positives... Well that's one of the long trips done. Erm, Enzio can bang them in when he gets the chance. And; that's it. Maybe I'll switch the England game on, they're good at the minute I bet they're winning... Oh...

Doidge has gone! Pretty fantastic news for us, he's one of the best strikers in the league in my opinion. If we play Hewitt at RB with Husin and Vaughan in CM again I'll go for a 2-1 loss. If we play Hewitt in the middle, I'll go for a 1-1 draw. Hoping for a win (obviously) but I'm just not feeling confident. Kewell was at Notts' training session today and hopefully got them together to gee them up!

I didn't make the trip up to Middlesbrough myself (credit to the guys and girls who did though), but I did catch the goals on Sky Sports. Nice free-kick from us and Stead... He does the business in the cup competitions. Like you say Chris I too am pleased for younger players like Crawford and Bird who sounded like they had good games. As for the goals against us could Fitzsimmons have done more for the first two? Was he blocked a bit from the corner, could he have got to the cross? I'm not sure but he just seems to stand under his posts too much for my liking. I'm not complaining though, a 3-3 away at a Championship club with no Hemmings, Dennis, Boldewijn or Vaughan is a pretty impressive result. Hopefully we'll go into Friday with a bit of a good vibe!