CliftonMagpie

How different would it be if we had someone who could let Matthew Dennis play off them? I think sometimes we need to be more attacking, drop the single striker, and go with two up front, even if one of them has the freedom we often see from Jodi Jones. We didn’t create many chances, and our passing wasn’t great. We kept putting ourselves in areas where we’d either lose the ball to a throw-in or get crowded out by Salford players. There were a lot of new faces, and I don’t think they’ve quite settled yet. But I hope the spark we saw near the end can be built on in future games. Notts really needs to think about whether we’ve got someone who can lead the line on their own while Alassana Jatta is out.

Keanan Bennetts gets my vote. I thought he did alright in the first half. His defending isn’t the best, and that’s something that could be improved in training. But going forward, he looked sharp. We need to make sure there are options in the box when we break forward, but I felt Bennetts did very well overall.

Jacob Bedeau and Matty Platt are clearly in the mix for team selection, but I thought Sonny Aljofree was the standout. Platt made some key tackles, and while his yellow card came from a poor challenge, he did his job. Bedeau looked off at times and a bit clumsy. He can be brilliant, or he can be shaky and yesterday he was shaky. Defensively, we let Salford take control even though we had the ball. The midfield needs to pick it up and show more urgency going forward. We weren’t sharp when it came to countering, and I hope Martin Paterson sees that we need to bring more energy.

Oxford United 2-1 Portsmouth Stoke City 0-0 Derby County Exeter City 2-2 Blackpool Mansfield Town 1-1 Doncaster Rovers Gillingham 1-2 Walsall Oldham Athletic 2-1 Colchester United Joker Tamworth 1-0 Scunthorpe United Wealdstone 3-1 Truro City

I want Jodi to enjoy his football, because that’s when he plays at his best. Moving further up the pitch is almost like reinventing himself at Notts again. He came here and made a massive difference. His ability out wide has been a joy to watch. There’s always that risk he could be clattered, which might lead to a long injury. He won’t want to miss football, but I’m sure he’ll still get assists. He’ll probably be in a position where he could score as well. I’m looking forward to watching tomorrow’s game.

I thought we were really unlucky to go behind. We were clearly the better side, and Notts just needed to be a bit sharper with the final ball. On another day, a couple of those chances would’ve gone in. I would’ve liked to see a bit more fight in the second half, but I get it, going 1-0 down like that can knock the wind out of you. It’s hard to keep confidence up after that.

I think the club is being careful with the budget so we can strengthen properly in January. It’s like building up a bit of a war chest, ready to fix any problems later on without affecting the start of the season. The loan deals seem smart, and it looks like we’re paying part of the players’ wages, which might use up some of the wage budget. I reckon the reason we haven’t spent money on signings yet is because we’re saving it for a proper go in January. This new lad sounds like a real talent, and having more depth in midfield is a good thing, as long as players get minutes and there’s some rotation.

I think Bristol Rovers will find it hard to settle in League Two. I don’t see them making the playoffs. MK Dons should do better, but I think 3rd place is about right for them. If we get off to a good start, I think we could finish 2nd. But to be on the safe side, I’d say 5th is more likely. Walsall should be in the playoffs too, and I’d expect Chesterfield to be up there as well. I don’t think Grimsby will make the playoffs. Salford City have made some strong signings, I’d put money on them to win the league. Colchester and Cambridge United should be in the mix for the playoffs. I think Oldham and Cheltenham will go down.

Martin Paterson gave a very good interview. I would have liked the media to push back a little when he refused to answer certain questions. I respect that he doesn’t want to talk about promotion and would rather let the football do the talking, but sometimes it’s okay to press a bit. There are polite ways to phrase things from his point of view, like saying he’s confident but will take it game by game, and after a few matches he’d hope to be in the top four and pushing higher.

Is he a striker or does he play out wide? If he’s a striker, he’s not kept up with scoring. I remember reading that he was one of the club’s top scorers at youth level. He really needs to push on with his career. Best of luck to him.

I don’t like it when newly promoted teams complain about how expensive the step up is or say things are overpriced. Compared to what, League Two? It doesn’t make much sense unless they’re trying to set up excuses early. They should stay positive and get on with it. It sounds like they wanted other players but settled for cheaper ones. What would their new signings think? Maybe they should have asked for more wages.

I really hope Jodi stays fit for most, if not all, of the season. We do miss him when he’s not playing. Trying him in an attacking midfield role is a smart move. It gives him some freedom, like others have said, but also offers a bit of protection. The main thing is that he enjoys his football. Helping the team by scoring, assisting and playing well will make a big difference. There’s nothing stopping Jodi from drifting wide to put a cross in or making a run into space for a shot. He’ll be different to David McGoldrick, but I think the role suits him. It’s more about him getting his confidence back and letting go of the fear of another injury. I’m sure he still hesitates at times when he’s on the ball. There were a few moments against Cardiff where he looked unsure, so moving him into a new role could help both him and the team.

Newport County might not be the strongest side, but we shouldn’t underestimate them. They play well as a team and can cause problems if we’re not careful. If we lose focus or switch off at the back, it could cost us. I’m sure Martin Paterson will set us up to control the game, and I do think we’ll create chances that trouble them. It’s the first game, though, and that makes it tricky. What’s on paper doesn’t mean much. We need to be sharp in front of goal and defend with courage to get the job done.

Me, Liam and TheSkipper have agreed that if we miss a round, we’ll each put £10 into a jar for every one we miss. At the end of the season, we’ll donate the money in PON’s name. If that helps us stay on track, we’ll think about other ways to support a charity through the site. Bradford City 1-1 Wycombe Wanderers Doncaster Rovers 0-1 Exeter City Lincoln City 1-2 Reading Plymouth Argyle 1-3 Barnsley (joker) Barnet 1-0 Fleetwood Town Cambridge United 0-0 Cheltenham Town Grimsby Town 2-0 Crawley Town Walsall 0-1 Swindon Town

With all the comments from our fans, Barry Cotter was always going to get the Potter joke. His goal against Cardiff shows he’s got a bit of magic in him. He looks like he can create special moments.

It’s always felt like their current owner is holding onto the club when he should just sell and move on. He’s causing problems that don’t need to happen. He’s damaging Morecambe, and it’s time he did the right thing. Let someone else take over and give the club a chance. Sadly, it looks like things will get worse before they improve.

Hello, welcome to PON @Chedozie. I also praise you for your choice of usernames, I am not as familiar with Chedozie because he played before I was born but I have seen clips of him. I hope you join in with us.

He speaks honestly, and I like that. He seems to want some control over the questions he answers, which makes sense. It can be annoying when the media keep asking about promotion. If he thinks the squad is capable, he’s unlikely to say no. No manager would want to deny their team. But his focus on performances shows he believes the players can do well. We’re capable of putting in good displays. Results might not always go our way, but if we work hard and defend properly, the good results should follow.

Harry Potter can do magic and stands up for what he believes in. He shows courage and always tries to protect others. Jesus, no offence meant to anyone religious, is seen as a martyr. He didn’t fight in the usual sense, and there’s no magic like spells or powers. His main significance is that people believe he’s the son of God.

Hello, @one-two pie. Welcome! I also hope you grow to love being a part of PON. We're a very friendly community, and we enjoy nothing more than discussing the club. You should find the site to be enjoyable.

It’s the sort of content you put on when you’re bored, just to have something playing while you do other things. It doesn’t really grab you. I agree, it looks a bit daft when they’re throwing money around for no reason, especially with the cost of living being so high. There are plenty of people who’d love to have that kind of cash just to afford basic things like food. I do enjoy some of the stuff they put out, but I also think it’s a bit shameful how they act like it’s normal to waste money just because they’ve got it lying around. It shows a real lack of awareness.

Hello, @Terry Lyons. Welcome to the Pride of Nottingham. It's good to have you here.

Hello, welcome to the Pride of Nottingham @makesha. It's good to have you here.

Hello @DublinPie, welcome to the Pride of Nottingham. It's good to have you here.

Hello, welcome to the Pride of Nottingham @roadsider1862. It's good to have you here.