allardyces tash

I think before half-time and even going into the second half, the Man of the Match could have been anyone, as it was a solid team effort. I was very pleased with the defence. They did their jobs well and made MK Dons look quite poor. I didn’t notice anyone in their team who could strengthen ours, but I imagine they see a lot of quality in our squad. Hopefully, they stay clear of our players from now on. My vote went to Will Jarvis. He looks like a fantastic player and seems very settled now.

The first half for Notts wasn't too bad, though some clearer chances could have been made. The long wait for a shot on target made me wonder if it might be one of those games. The second half was decent, with a bit more intent and some exciting moments. Notts became much livelier around the 70th minute. Stuart Maynard's substitutions seemed a bit unusual. For me, Charlie Whitaker should have stayed on. Mai Traore feels like playing with ten men. He's struggling with EFL football, and it's even harder when he comes on as a sub. He had one or two exciting runs, but I don't think he was what Notts needed at that moment. Nick Tsaroulla showed why he should have started, as he was the only change that made a real difference. Kellan Gordon didn't do much. Most of his crosses were blocked, and he tended to avoid situations where a tackle might occur. Overall, it was a very standard performance from Notts, without the momentum to score from open play.

I don't think Notts would need a major overhaul after promotion. The hardest challenge will be managing realistic expectations and dealing with the pessimists. The club can't win with some fans. If they're near the top, people will expect them to stay there. A mid-table position will lead to claims that they're not good enough for promotion, along with fears of relegation. If Notts struggle, some supporters will react dramatically. I'd rather see the team earn promotion by being ready and deserving it. If we go up this season, it will be because of that. However, our current form makes me think we might struggle, especially as automatic promotion seems unlikely now. Play-offs are a big gamble. Still, if most of the squad is kept and improved with extra quality, we'll be in a strong position next season to push for League One.

I would choose Will Jarvis, but I was tempted to vote for David McGoldrick, who was excellent at finding positions and transitioning to take shots. Jarvis appeared more committed to playing as part of the team. @menzinho Jacob Bedeau, I can't imagine anyone voting for him. I thought yesterday was his poorest performance for Notts. He made too many mistakes and fouls, not great, but slightly better than average overall.

George Foreman’s impact on boxing and beyond is legendary. His early career was defined by sheer power, knocking out opponents left and right, but what stands out most is his reinvention. Many boxers fade into obscurity, but Foreman came back stronger, not just in the ring but in life. His second reign as champion was historic, proving that age is just a number. And then there’s his grill, who would have thought a boxer could dominate the kitchen too? He embraced life beyond boxing, which is something so many fighters struggle with. His kindness, faith, and wisdom made him more than just an athlete. Boxing has lost a true great, but his legacy will live on forever. Rest in Peace, George!

This is news to me, but I moved from the KOP to the Pavis Stand a few seasons ago. While I do miss it, I don’t think the KOP has been the same or as good as it could be. I hope the introduction of safe standing brings a lot more energy to the atmosphere.

I hope Junior Morias gets a chance this time. He has a lot of pace and brings qualities that Notts are missing at the moment. He could fit into the squad in so many ways. His natural finishing ability would be a huge benefit if Notts could create chances that aren't just tap-ins or attempts to walk the ball into the net. Few players seem confident in taking shots from distance. I feel he deserves an opportunity, as he is one of the players who has been treated unfairly.

Players with a mission and determination often show great self-motivation and drive. Jim O'Brien was eager to be part of the team that brought the club back to the English Football League, and he played a key role in achieving that. David McGoldrick has been outstanding this season. His performances towards the end of the 2023-2024 season were not solely his fault, but also a reflection of the lack of quality in the squad overall. I believe he has at least one more season left in him, but the decision ultimately lies with him. If Notts secures promotion to League One, I can imagine he might decide to retire.

I thought David McGoldrick was outstanding once again and delivered a strong performance throughout the game. If he hadn’t been required to do so much work leading up to some of his shots, I believe he could have placed them more accurately. Even if some feel he missed a few good chances, he deserves credit for creating those opportunities and performing well in all areas of the pitch.

Unlike in previous years, no profit and loss account was provided, nor was there a director’s report or an accountant’s report to give further context to the figures, with only the balance sheet included in this year’s accounts. Should the EFL step in and tell clubs that they must get their accounts in order before they can sign players for fees or sanction limits on their wage bill? There are a lot of clubs that are gambling with their future. Swindon Town haven't turned their misfortunes around properly. They still discard players almost every season to the point they have to rebuild, and some of this is down to the club's limited contract length. However, this season they did seem to start changing their stance on this. Still a poor state to be running as when it comes to football.

MK Dons are a joke. It's laughable that they're splashing cash like they're League Two's answer to Manchester United. Sure, they might be matching the Premier League giants in their own special brand of ineptitude, but to think of themselves as a big club? Please. They have less history than a blank page in a freshly minted notebook.

I can accept that Notts might not be ready quite yet for promotion. The inconsistencies and reliance on influential players might help Stuart Maynard in time, and I hope the club continues to back him. Whilst he's not perfect, I believe he's good enough and just needs to be braver at times. His game management when things aren't working could be better, but these are all reasons why he should be given longer. If the signs show improvement, we would be going the right way, and I think this is the case so far under Maynard.

He has never seemed to be a good fit in our team, but with Rod McDonald and other players, it just makes more sense to loan him out. I wouldn't write him off yet. I thought he did okay coming on against Colchester, and he has shown signs of doing much better. That said, he does have the potential to be the worst signing of the season, but I hope, given time, he can come good. A loan might just be the thing that pushes him to try harder if he can get minutes upon his return.

It's disappointing that Notts could not execute many of the chances. Truth be told, defensively we have been ropey for over a month, and performance-wise we are back to being very inconsistent. It highlights how much we miss David McGoldrick, whose experience helps us manage games a lot better. I don't want to write about the officiating, as it might come over as excuses or bitterness, but Barrow had a game plan and worked well despite Notts controlling the ball. They took their chances, and Notts can't make a high amount of possession work in games like this. I don't think it's just the injuries; Stuart Maynard needs to sort out the consistency. I am not calling for his head, but if he can be stronger, I believe it would help us with slipping further. The results as of late are not good enough if we want to aim for automatics, and the pressure is clearly part of the problem. I can't put into writing how frustrating yesterday felt. I can take losing, and not every game will go our way, but we are simply handing draws and defeats to the opposition.

I think Conor Grant should have started; he looked to be in good form and played well. Even with him coming on, I still believe he deserves the Man of the Match. I felt very disappointed that Notts couldn't execute many of the chances created. Defensively, it wasn't good either.