CliftonMagpie

Notts seem to like having groups of people involved in talks about tactics, how the club runs and the results. So I suggest the club hires @Chris, @Piethagoram, @ARLukomski and KC from Twitter. With those four, I reckon recruitment would be smart and successful. On a serious note, how hard would it be to have someone who checks all the player shortlists, sees who is a free agent, and talks through the best options for Notts. They could work out which players fit the budget and would make the squad stronger. I don’t want a manager who just brings in his mates, or the owner picking players he thinks are great. That kind of thinking doesn’t help. I also don’t want to see the club take big risks like the £300,000 we spent on Izale McLeod. It feels like we’re seeing the same thing again with Mai Traore.

This has come up a few times, and I think the club could be clearer with its communication. From what I can tell, there are only three people in the media team. I’m not sure what the person filming goals in portrait mode does exactly. One seems to focus on video content, and Nick appears to be responsible for all the written work. It might help if they added another writer to the team. That way, the site could offer more updates and be more informative for fans. Maybe the issue is planning. The old media team under Jamie Dixon felt much more focused on the fans and what they wanted to see.

I picked up a copy of Left Lion at the Fleetwood game and it felt like the paper version is going downhill fast. I know it's free, but it used to shine a light on everything going on in the city. The Notts content was stronger when the previous writer was involved. It felt easier to connect with and had more of a local voice. Now it seems a bit distant and not quite as engaging.

It can hit you like a fast train, and once it takes hold, it’s hard to see a way out. Depression is something we should all look out for in our friends and loved ones. If you’re struggling, don’t keep it to yourself. Speak up when you feel able, before the weight becomes too much to carry. I have some very good friends, but it’s tough when you can’t get out and don’t see familiar faces often. It adds to the pain, especially when you’re dealing with loss after loss. That kind of heartbreak builds up and makes everything feel heavier. I won’t speak too openly about my own experience. I’ve seen people I respect get attacked for talking about their mental health. I don’t need that. I don’t want to deal with people who show no support and no sympathy, only judgement. They act like it’s all for attention, and that narrow view makes it even harder for those who are struggling.

I hope Martin Paterson is ready and that he and the squad are not distracted by anything off the pitch. The focus needs to be fully on Gillingham. They are a strong team and have come a long way since last season. It’s good to be talking about football again instead of everything else going on. I think the team should stay mostly the same. The only change I’d make is bringing Jodi Jones back into the squad. There’s no other reason to switch things around. Gillingham play with pace and seem sharp on the counter attack. We need to block every ball and be smart with our tackles. If we keep moving and make sure we get goal side, we can give them a real headache.

Great blog as always. I hope you didn’t hold back a little because of the comments you mentioned in the content update thread. You’ve got a good way of explaining what’s going on, and the touch of humour helps make it feel less heavy. I think the club needs to take a proper look at the goal of promotion. It’s time to review what’s happened so far and decide the best way forward. Things haven’t gone exactly to plan, and now’s the moment to reset and refocus. Recruitment needs to be balanced. It’s a bit disappointing to see Curtis Edwards let go, only for Maziar Kouhyar to come in as what looks like a direct replacement. I’m not even sure if Kouhyar has played in the league yet. He did look lively in pre-season, but that was before all the loan players started arriving. It makes you wonder how the plan changed and whether the timing of signings was really thought through.

Jacob Bedeau looks to be getting back to his best, he's been a bit inconsistent and at times poor, especially on the ball and going forward. Defensively, he always tends to be solid, and the way he tracked the Fleetwood player for their one-on-one with Kelle Roos did put pressure on the player when it came to finishing. We need Bedeau to be at his best, because he's a great player at this level, and I am sure he will continue to improve.

Most managers repeat themselves, but I don’t understand why Martin Paterson always says things like “if I’m honest”, “being honest”, or “I’m an honest person”. At first it didn’t bother me, and I even stuck up for him, but now it’s starting to wear thin. After a good win, hearing him focus on the negatives feels disappointing. It takes away from the moment and makes it harder to enjoy the progress we’re making. It’s frustrating to hear him trying to please the wrong crowd. The football should be doing the talking, and it’s starting to show signs of improvement. I do believe we’re heading in the right direction, as long as the hard work continues. Let the results speak for themselves, and the rest will follow.

I thought Martin Paterson was a bit harsh saying we’ve played better than we did against Fleetwood. For me, that was our best home performance so far. We created chances, defended well, and looked solid for the full 90. Fleetwood came organised and tried to frustrate us, but we dealt with it and showed more spirit than earlier in the season. The clean sheet was deserved, and Paterson’s changes made a difference. It didn’t feel like an ugly win, more a sign the squad is settling and improving. That’s progress, so I’m not sure why it sounded like he was downplaying it to please the fans.

Martin Paterson said he thinks we've played better football than we did against Fleetwood Town. I thought that was a bit unfair. It sounded like something said to calm fans who are unhappy with how the season has started. Ironically, those same fans might be the ones putting pressure on Paterson in his role as head coach. I don’t think we’ve had a better home performance than the one against Fleetwood. We created chances, and while we could’ve been more inventive, it felt like a solid 90 minutes overall. It wasn’t just a short spell of good play. We had two strong periods where Notts attacked and defended well. Fleetwood were well organised and knew how to frustrate a team like ours that prefers to play the ball on the ground. Considering how the season began, I thought we defended much better and showed enough attacking intent to deserve more than a 1–0 scoreline. Even though I’ve praised Fleetwood, I do think they were poor in some areas. Their finishing was lacking, maybe because of how well we defended. The chances they did get didn’t really trouble us. I haven’t seen the away games, but I’ve been at every home match. I haven’t seen us play with such confidence that we looked certain to win. That doesn’t mean we don’t need to improve, but it shows how far we’ve come since the shaky start. In earlier games, we let teams push us around and use tricks to gain an edge. Our fitness looked off, the passing was sloppy, and the midfield felt empty. Against Fleetwood, we improved in all those areas. I wouldn’t call it an ugly win. I’d say it was full of spirit and determination. The squad looks like it’s starting to settle, and Paterson seems to be managing the players well, making smart changes during the game. So why does it sound like he’s trying to please the fans?

Alassana Jatta could’ve gone for goal himself, but choosing to pass to Matthew Dennis showed real team spirit. It was a selfless move that speaks volumes about his attitude and how much he cares about the club and his team-mates. Tom Iorpenda had a strong game going forward. He found space well and helped drive the attack. The team put in a solid shift overall, even though the scoreline was tight. Both sides had chances, and while it wasn’t the most polished match, Notts handled it well and got the job done. It’s frustrating how some fans only seem to focus on the negatives. There’s no balance in their views, just fault-finding and moaning. The players deserve credit for their effort and the way they managed the game.

I don’t think Roos gets much backing from the fans, which is a shame. I agree with your view, he did have a better game than people give him credit for. The two moments where he dropped the ball didn’t help, and they’ve given some fans a reason to focus on the negatives. Without those slips, I think the reaction would’ve been a lot fairer. He might not fill everyone with confidence, but he made some key saves and looked more assured overall. There were signs of improvement, and that’s worth recognising.

Tom Iorpenda had a really strong game. If he’d managed to get on the scoresheet, I think more people would be saying he ran the show. He was involved in a lot of the play and looked confident throughout. The only thing I’d pick out is how long he sometimes keeps hold of the ball. He tries to beat too many players at times, which can slow things down. That said, his skill is great to watch and when it works, he opens up space and sets up good chances for others. He’s clearly got talent and a creative spark. With a bit more decision-making, he could become a key player in the middle.

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

Go for it, @Ash . The one I use was made by the gaffer. I asked @Chris to make mine, and I think other Pride of Nottingham members might want one too. Don’t worry if not many people reply straight away. Just make a few and show them off. Once people see how they can be changed and made personal, some might ask for their own.

Craig Westcarr is another player who has worn the shirt for both sides. He’s often overlooked, but he was much better than some fans give him credit for. He had a real eye for goal and knew how to find the net. His finishing was sharp, and he made a big impact when he was in form. Growing up, he was one of my favourites. There was something about the way he played that stuck with me, confident, direct, and always willing to have a go.

I’m not fully convinced Martin Paterson believes no players will leave. We have to deal with what happens, and he’s right to say we shouldn’t get ahead of ourselves. If he can guide the team to more steady performances, we should be fine. That would give us a chance to move up the table. A slow start isn’t always a bad thing if it leads to better form later, but we need to take each match as it comes. Paterson’s interviews are fine, but his long answers sometimes mean fewer questions get asked. It would be good to hear more variety in what’s covered.

A solid result in the end, though the defending was shaky at times. We looked brightest in the first half, but the goal came from what looked like a clear push on Tom Iorpenda. That moment unsettled us, and we didn’t deal with it well. Credit to the team for improving after the break. It was good to see Alassana Jatta back in the starting line-up. Hopefully the injury is behind him now and he can build some momentum. He adds something different up front and looks keen to make an impact. He and Matthew Dennis seem to work well together. They’ve both got pace, which defenders don’t enjoy facing. If they keep linking up, they could become a real threat.

I’ve gone for Matt Palmer. He was in control from start to finish and kept things ticking nicely. His passing helped set the pace and got us moving forward with purpose. He also worked hard off the ball. I noticed him winning it back plenty of times and doing his bit defensively. He looked sharp in both directions. I watched the full match back on video, so my vote’s based on that. I wasn’t there in person, but Palmer stood out clearly.

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

I’d say it’s more about his wages than his age. He might be seen as too expensive for us. It’s one of those things where we see other teams doing well after taking a chance on a certain player. They go for it, and sometimes it pays off. Meanwhile, we try to be clever with who we offer bigger wages to. Players like David McGoldrick are seen as worth it, while others aren’t. Then when we are trying to save money, we won't renew their deal with an amount that suites both parties. With Didzy, it was almost like here you go, that's our offer, take it or leave it.

I liked how Ollie answered the questions. He came across really well and seems like one of the most interesting players I’ve heard speak. He’s thoughtful and honest, which makes him stand out. The video on the official site is a great look into who he is. As a press conference before the Tranmere match, it gives fans something to think about and shows a bit more of his personality. Since coming back from injury, he hasn’t looked too bad at all. You can tell he’s working his way back to full fitness and starting to get up to speed again.

Hello, welcome to the Pride of Notitngham @SoccerLord. If I occasionally refer to you as FootballLord or just lord, it's only because I tend to say it instead of soccer. You will fit in and make PON your home if you get familiar with the site. All the best.

Haha… Year of the Whores, celebrated worldwide! 😂😂😂 You’ve got to switch the subtitles on during the Notts interviews. Alassana Jatta becomes Alister Gatta. Brilliant.

I do think the club should be open and honest when they can. I’m not saying they need to put out statements all the time, but they should make sure fans aren’t being misled. There was a time when players would be punished for faking injuries, now it feels like they and their agents hold all the power. The situation with Alassana Jatta seems pretty straightforward. He doesn’t look injured to me. When I broke my leg, I couldn’t wait to kick a ball again. I haven’t played properly since, but I’ve had a kickabout. I can’t imagine missing five games, only for a sore back to stop me from putting last season’s red card behind me, especially with transfer talk flying around.