Robbie

I agree @DonnyNotts . Our total football style of play worked well in the National League but this is a step up and at away matches we must be much more cautious and play more defensively. I know it's not Luke's way but it is a case sometimes of having to adapt to new realities.

The positive thing to point out is that because we have the best offense in league 2, we are still in the playoff mix, & we will continue to score goals, but I think we need changes in defense & goalkeeping position & we need to be more defensive minded away. We have some tough away games to play and if we keep playing like this, we will finish in the lower mid table, come season's end.

Our defence is lacking confidence and I think that stems partly from the performance of Stone who's lacking confidence too, but it has to be said that I don't think Stone is comfortable with the way Luke wants him to play. Stone's not a good distributor, or is he comfortable on crosses either. I think we do need a new goalie to come in asap.

Welcome @Thomas Cotton great to have you on board.

I agree with your first point @Fozzy but I believe, while we are going through this bad patch, we have to tone the attacking intent down and be more defensive away from home. By all means go for it at home, but for me, not considering going to a plan B away from home is only helping the opposition, because they have worked us out and every team has the same plan against us now. One of the Tranmere players talked about their plan in his post match interview.

Good point @Fozzy we have Jones on the left doing a great job, so he could always move to the right occasionally if needed. We have Scott Robertson now who I believe is more defensively minded who could do a roll for us in the final centre of midfield. Nemane may be the person to give way for him or another signing

Gary scored 21 goals in 62 appearances over two seasons for Notts. Remembered him well and he was a firm fan favourite.

Another great article by Joe Jones. I love reading about Notts County's history. Bishop was a good servant to Notts and he played a big part in our promotion year.

I've seen on his stats that Scott doesn't get many goals. Hope he can come into central midfield and he can improve our defensive frailties. We need a ball winner in our final third who's tenacious and hard working.

We are now into Jan 2024 as I reply to this topic. Dan has been a revelation having scored 10 goals from midfield as I write. Trouble is, we are leaking goals like a sieve even though we are scoring freely. Dan is doing well but I can't help feeling that the balance of the side is too weighted toward offense to the detriment of the defense.

That's a good point 6 months down the line.

That's a worrying Stat @Piethagoram Everyone plus myself is waiting for new players to come in, but should we be looking to be a little bit more defensive, at least in away games by changing the way we play by defending our last third in numbers, then look to break when we can?

Our back 3 plus goalie today had very low ratings from me. Nemane and Bostock not up to it today. Our defense is simply not good enough at this level, so we need to have more bodies defending our last third of the field especially away. We need to change our system playing away. Every team has found us out. They concede possession, and hit us on the break, and it is working for them. I believe we should be more defensive minded away. Concede possession & defend our own third & hit them on the break.We cannot keep playing the same system when we have 65% or more of possession and still get hammered.

I agree @Morten Johansen Mark Stallard on match day has mentioned possibly changing the system for away matches. I'm sure we are capable of being more defensive minded and hitting on the break.

As much as we are brilliant in attack we are woeful in defence. If our defence had been anywhere decent we would be running away with this league. Our defence is just not good enough at this level and it has been apparent for a long time. I love what Luke has done for us in 2023, but there needs to be movement in the transfer window for two defenders asap, otherwise if this continues we won't make the playoffs. Very disappointed with the performance today.

William Eric Houghton, (Eric) born 29/06/10 was an English footballer, Manager, & Cricketer. Football Career. Houghton signed for Aston Villa in 1927 as a seventeen-year-old & played in the Villa side until 1946, scoring 170 goals in 392 games (The total including wartime matches was over 200 goals.) He also won 7 caps for England. Houghton scored 30 goals in the 1930-31 season for Villa, in which Villa scored 128 league goals, a First Division record. Houghton transferred to Notts County in 1946 & over a three year period, he scored 10 goals in 55 games for Notts. Managerial Career In 1949, Houghton became Manager of Notts County & Eric is regarded as being the Manager of Notts who guided them through their first golden age, with players in the side including Tommy Lawton, & Jackie Sewell, who helped their side win the Third Division South Title in Eric's first season as Manager, in front of record attendances. Eric remained Notts County Manager until 1953. In 1953 Eric Moved to Aston Villa as their Manager, guiding Villa to a FA Cup triumph in 1957. He left Villa in 2958. He later returned to Villa as a director. Cricket Career. Houghton played seven first-class matches as a right-handed batsman and a right-arm bowler for Warwickshire County Cricket Club (1946–1947) and also minor counties cricket for Lincolnshire County Cricket Club. He also played club cricket for Sleaford, Aston Unity and Olton Cricket Clubs. Houghton died in Sutton Coldfield on 1 May 1996, aged 85. (Source Google) Legacy. William Eric Haughton will be remembered at Notts County as Managing & guiding a great side that won the Third Division South Title. Eric is a Notts Managerial great and legend.

I remember the trolley buses. They would be very handy right now, but I suppose they wouldn't work very good with the amount of traffic we have today, nor would the old fashioned trams

My 1, 2 and 3 favourite Managers are:- Jimmy Neil Big Sam

It's Matchday. CMON U PIES

Good blog, great read.

Just like to wish everyone on PON a Happy New Year.

What Chris & Alex have done for Notts since they bought the club is beyond compare. On & off the field, they have both done wonders for our club. Off the field we are now in a good financial state, and on the field they have supported Neil, Ian & now Luke to recruit the players to get us back where we belong. A lot of the credit for our success goes to Jason Turner, the Club's CEO who the club tragically lost in March. Over all, the last 12 months has been a fantastic period of time to be a Notts supporter, and the story continues.

League Division 3 South, final table, season 1930/31