allardyces tash

Like I mentioned in the squad registration topic, there are signs pointing to a bigger plan. No major departures, space being cleared, and Paterson asking for new players all suggest January is the focus. Gagliardi leaving might be part of that, but it shouldn't cause too much disruption. It would help if the club explained the decision a bit more. Even if they don’t want to say too much, a little openness goes a long way with fans.

Gillingham won't want Notts to settle on the ball. I doubt they'll try to match our passing game either. I expect them to be more direct when creating chances, and they might see aerial balls as something we struggle with. It's been a weak spot for us at times. Notts are better at defending when the ball stays on the ground, so I imagine Gillingham will have done their homework. They'll likely focus on set pieces and crosses, trying to make the most of them. I hope Notts can avoid giving away easy corners, as Gillingham could really benefit from those. We need to keep up our recent form and protect the unbeaten run.

The club already seems to be planning ahead for January. They're freeing up registration spots and sending players out on loan, which suggests movement is expected. With Gagliardi leaving, it all lines up. I wonder if Paterson had a hand in this, especially after asking for reinforcements and not seeing much happen. Maybe Gagliardi was slow in parts of his role, and things boiled over, leading to his exit.

Lifeline has always been key to helping the club do things that might not be possible otherwise. It’s worth every bit of support. For those who can’t join, I believe there’s still a way to donate and help out. Every contribution makes a difference.

My blog carries on, and I want to make it clear that I’m using this tone to lighten the mood a bit. Things aren’t unknown right now, so I’m trying to keep it quirky and different. It’s how I try to stand out. Last time, I saw a comment on the PON Facebook page that was a bit disheartening. I just want to say, I write every word myself, not to have a dig at the club, but as a way to deal with things. It helps me cope.

Roberto Gagliardi’s reign at Notts: shorter than a queue for pies at half-time. New blog on the fallout.

Why is it that whenever things start looking vaguely positive for Notts County, the universe immediately slams the panic button? You’d think supporting the Magpies would come with a health warning by now. We’ve had 11 new arrivals, Curtis Edwards politely ushered out to Gateshead, Jack Hinchy turning up on loan market, and the midfield reinforced with what looks like a group discount at the “young loanee” section of the Football League. So far, so standard. But then the real curveball: Director of Football Roberto Gagliardi has left the club. By “mutual consent”, naturally, which in football-speak usually means “please go away quietly and don’t touch anything on your way out”. This all lands just five months after he arrived, complete with a fancy job title that started as “Head of Football” before someone decided “Director” sounded more important. The actual implication was simple: Martin Paterson runs the matchday show, while Gagliardi shuffles papers and pretends the loan market isn’t an elaborate version of speed dating. On paper, his CV looked sturdy enough: experience at Göztepe in Turkey, Portsmouth, and enough buzzwords about “wealth of experience” to fill a LinkedIn profile. But he was following Richard Montague, who had the annoying habit of actually signing players who fit the club’s style. Gagliardi, by contrast, seemed addicted to the loan system like a teenager hoarding free Spotify trials. What’s odd is how quickly he’s gone. This wasn’t some random stranger off the street; the Reedtz brothers knew him, worked with him, vouched for him. It should have been a neat fit. Instead, we’re left with the usual fanbase speculation buffet: did the Reedtz lose faith? Was it politics? Or did everyone simply realise, far too late, that it wasn’t working? He himself had said he wanted to work for people he believed in, praising the Reedtz for their patience and lack of emotion in decision-making. Which is a bit awkward now, since he’s lasted about as long as a Love Island couple after the cameras stop rolling. The timing doesn’t help either. Notts have started the season in a way best described as “patchy”. Pre-season included a jolly jaunt to Germany that, in hindsight, probably would’ve been more useful if spent in Nottingham making the players run up hills. Transfer targets may have slipped through the cracks, hence the sudden panic-buying of loans. The matches have been a mixed bag too. Newport looked promising but unlucky. Salford reminded us we can still be bullied. Barrow was like watching a balloon slowly deflate. Beating Shrewsbury 4-1 should’ve been a highlight, but felt more like we’d been gifted goals by a team that couldn’t pass water. Bromley was disappointing for entirely new reasons. And then, just when despair set in, wins against Tranmere and Fleetwood arrived, suggesting the squad is finally capable of lasting an entire 90 minutes without collapsing. Meanwhile, the Jatta saga added a touch of absurdity: ruled out with a “back spasm” one week, then reappearing after the club triggered a contract extension the next. Convenient timing, that. So yes, it feels like a transition period. Criticism of the Reedtz might be harsh, but there’s no denying that right now the whole thing feels like watching someone try to solve a Rubik’s Cube with oven gloves on. My focus, like everyone else’s, will always be on the pitch. But you can’t ignore the sense that behind the scenes, something isn’t quite clicking.

We need more questions and shorter answers. Right now, it’s the results and performances that should be doing the talking, not Martin Paterson trying to steer the post-match chat. He still sounds like a player, not a coach. That style doesn’t help when fans want clear insight into what’s happening. I think he’d be more open if the interviewer pushed him a bit more. Let him respond rather than lead the conversation. That way, we’d get a better sense of his honesty and how he really sees things. It would feel more natural and less rehearsed.

I feel like Curtis Edwards has caught us out twice. When he first arrived, there wasn’t much expectation, but he put in some good performances before getting injured. This season, he’s drifted out of the squad and ended up in the position many expected when he first signed. It’s a shame, because he did show promise early on. His time playing abroad seemed like it might bring something different to the team, but we never really saw that side of him. It didn’t translate into anything special on the pitch. I don’t think it’s all down to Edwards. It feels more like Notts have shifted focus. The club’s priorities have changed, and that’s left him behind.

He speaks more like a player than a manager. It feels like he’s still in the game himself, rather than guiding a group of individuals. I don’t find Martin Paterson very engaging to listen to. His comments are quite predictable. It’s similar to what most managers or head coaches say in football. They tend to stick to their usual way of thinking and don’t often say anything new. I do think he sometimes says things the wrong way. But I also believe he’d come across better if he was answering questions, rather than trying to control the message with long, planned responses. It’s not that he doesn’t know what he’s doing, but the way he speaks doesn’t always match the role he’s in. A bit more thought and a clearer style would help him connect better with fans.

Bolton Wanderers 2-1 AFC Wimbledon Doncaster Rovers 1-1 Bradford City Cambridge United 1-0 Oldham Athletic Salford City 2-0 Tranmere Rovers Joker Walsall 1-1 Chesterfield Forest Green Rovers 2-0 Hartlepool United Tamworth 1-1 Eastleigh Yeovil Town 1-0 York City

Josh Vela is another former player who’s turned out for both clubs. He’s one more name to add to the growing list of MAGnets.

Well done to Matt Palmer. It’s great to see fans voting for different players, and I think the winner was spot on. He’s earned it.

It’s been a while since I last donated, but I’ve really liked the updates. The site looks great and it’s clear a lot of effort has gone into it. I feel it’s only right to support the cause again. I hope you reach the target, this place deserves it.

It’s great to have choices again. More than three players caught my eye, but two really stood out and deserved to be in the mix for this. I went with Matt Palmer in the end. He’s been excellent lately, and it’s good to see him keep improving and pushing on with his game.

The thing that impressed me most was how the players actually listened to Martin Paterson at half time and came out with purpose. Too often so far this season we’ve seen decent spells without taking control, but at Tranmere we grabbed the game straight after the break. Matthew Dennis is sharp in those areas and Kellan Gordon’s goal showed real composure. The final 15 minutes were about character, defending wave after wave of long balls and set pieces. That’s exactly the kind of away day steel we’ve been lacking. No one is saying it was perfect, but this felt like the first time we looked like a team capable of handling the physical side as well as playing good football.

Blackburn Rovers 1-0 Norwich City Watford 3-1 Southampton Barnsley 0-0 Huddersfield Town Wigan Athletic 3-1 Stockport County Joker Barnet 0-0 Colchester United Bromley 1-2 Harrogate Town Hartlepool United 0-0 Boreham Wood Morecambe 2-0 Woking

It’s good to hear Ollie Norburn speak. He made a fair point about how captains lead in different ways, but I still feel Notts could do with someone who’s more vocal on the pitch. Matt Palmer has been excellent again this season. He’s consistent and reliable, but I think it might be time to pass the armband to someone else next year. A fresh voice could help drive the team forward. Ollie’s return to football has been impressive. He carries himself like a proper professional and looks like he’s only going to improve with each game. I hope he can take control of the midfield and help lead the team with real fight and hunger. That kind of attitude could make a big difference in tight matches.

Such a sad thing to hear. Steve Thompson was a proper football man, straight-talking and honest in how he shared his views. He was a very good player too. My thoughts go out to his family and friends. Rest in peace, Steve Thompson.

I believe the media has a duty to dig into the truth, and Notts should never stand in the way of open conversations between the head coach and players, especially when there are concerns like Alassana Jatta possibly having his head turned. I don’t blame the club for this. To me, it’s clearly his agent pulling the strings. But if this back injury isn’t genuine, it reflects badly on both Jatta and the club. Martin Paterson’s response hasn’t helped either, it’s only added fuel to the fire. This was a chance for the club to quietly shut the door on the rumours, but instead they’ve left it wide open. I rate Jatta highly, but I only want players here who are fully committed.

Tranmere away is one of those fixtures where you feel hopeful at first, but the closer you get to kick-off, the nerves start creeping in. Prenton Park is a proper old-school ground, and in some ways it reminds me of Meadow Lane. It’s a good place to take in the atmosphere, and I hope it’s not too tense. Watching 90 minutes of flat football can make things edgy on the pitch. If Notts can start well and get the fans behind them early, it could be a cracking game. I’ll leave the team selection to Paterson, but I do think keeping the line-up settled would help us build some consistency and improve performances. As for the score, I dread to guess. If Tranmere get the better of us, it’ll be a tough one to take. I wouldn’t set up for a draw, but I’d gladly take a point if we put in a proper shift.

Hello, welcome to the Pride of Nottingham @danielpie1862. It's great to keep welcoming new members such as yourself. Enjoy the site.

Hello, welcome to the Pride of Nottingham @timperkins. It's great to keep welcoming new members such as yourself. Enjoy the site.

Hello, welcome to the Pride of Nottingham @SoccerLord. May your reign as the lord of PON blossom for many years to come! In all seriousness, it's great to keep welcoming new members such as yourself. Enjoy the site.

Very good comments. I mostly agree with what @liampie and @Chris have said. We didn’t realise just how important Jason Turner was to Notts until he sadly passed away. It became clear then how much he did for the club. People have said it was like working with three people, because he was so involved and made sure everything was done properly. I’ve never met Joe Palmer, so it’s hard to compare fairly, but the lack of updates from him doesn’t help. The club used to say it wanted to be open, but Palmer seems quite closed off. Maybe he’s more focused on the business side. The idea of the club having a clear goal and everyone working towards it seemed to fade once we got promoted. @Robbie made a good point about not tearing apart a promotion-winning squad. Notts does have a habit of doing that, but this time the squad did start off well. There were a few poor signings, but most of them did improve the team. Does it feel like Notts are going for promotion from League Two in the right way? It doesn’t seem the same as when we went up from the National League. Most of what the Reedtz brothers are doing off the pitch is spot on. The improvements are brilliant. But when it comes to this season, it feels like we’re not as serious about promotion. The signings are okay, but it does feel like they’re cutting corners now, when before they had folders full of research.