True Magpie

The gaffer has removed the account, as it was suspected to be spam. We are now looking at ways to stop people signing up with throwaway or unapproved email addresses. This should help cut down on unwanted registrations. If possible, we will also stop validating members from showing up as new members until they are approved. We still need to check if this can be done.

Joined: 16th January 2024 Best Activity Streak: 4 days Post Count: 464 Reputation: 2,190 Amount of Followers: 4 Most Recent Profile Visitor: @Robbie Last posted: 👇🏻 All the information can be found by clicking on your profile in a new tab. If you have your recent visitors disabled, you can choose to switch it on, but you will not see any details of who last paid you a visit. This is just for a bit of fun, and I would encourage everyone who reads this to join in. Take note of your favourite members and give them a follow if you have not already. As for the last post, have you taken a look at that discussion? Template Joined: Best Activity Streak: Post Count: Reputation: Amount of Followers: Most Recent Profile Visitor: Last posted: [Share the link to the topic or your post from the previous response before this]

Let's break the slumber and continue to create high-quality discussions. We can focus on the league now and I think we might just be on the verge of having a good run.💪

I am in the minority who believe we should take each game as it comes in this case. We have managed some good results, while others have been a bit disappointing. To be ahead of Swindon Town twice and only draw was frustrating. Added to that, the defeat to Brackley Town in the FA Cup may still be hanging over the camp, with the feeling that we should have made more of a game of it. I also think we either come together strongly for certain fixtures or just scrape through them by the skin of our teeth. The aim should be to pick up as many points as possible and not dwell too much on defeats or draws. I know I mentioned the Swindon game, but it is only an example of where we need to learn to close the game down once we have taken the lead.

Welcome to the Pride of Nottingham, we are glad you decided to join us. Please do check in as often as you can, you should find PON to be useful to stay involved with the club, and you will find our members will make you feel at home @Waltteriw. It is great how you have come to support Notts, there are supporter groups all over the world for Notts and Finland is anew one for me. @Chris, @liampie do you know if we have a Finnish Magpies at all? Do not worry about your English, it's perfectly fine. 👍

I feel sorry for Kelle Roos. He stayed focused and gave us hope with his penalty save. Their keeper came across as a bit cocky before that, which is not a good attitude to show, even though he had done well. Alassana Jatta should not have missed his effort. It put us on the back foot and it might have been better to let someone calmer, like Will Jarvis, take the first one. If we had chosen the right penalty takers in the right order, it would have put more pressure on the opposition.

I have not yet seen any clips of the game, but I was told that Jatta’s second goal was taken well and came from him putting pressure on a defender. Beating a team that had no clear plan and seemed to just want to bully their way to a result is very pleasing. It shows how much Jatta gives to the side and how important he is for Notts if they are to get out of this league. At the start of the season, did anyone really think we would be sitting in fifth place at this stage? It is good to see that belief and calmness back within the fan base.

I am away in Alicante in Spain. It is a very popular place for my family as my parents moved close to the historic town in 2019. I do find the mobile data a bit unreliable. I can reach sites like BBC News, but I struggle to load forums such as PON and Facebook. It has been a very pleasant trip. A calm and quiet week before we return home for Halloween.

@menzinho, Shrewsbury have a very poor defence. It reminds me of when we signed Maziar Kouhyar. His past and who he had played with did not matter as much as what he could offer at the time. Morecambe have pulled off a great signing. It should help them in their push to return to the EFL. That said, it will take a few seasons as they still need to finish the rebuilding work that is already under way. Jamal Blackman might have been a stronger choice for us. But with Kelle Roos already here, Notts will not want two goalkeepers who both expect to play every week. Even so, it could have created strong competition.

Hello, @Mark Berehowskyj. Welcome to the Pride of Nottingham, we are delighted to see you have joined us.

The formation does help push certain players into more advanced areas, which can be useful. But it's the individual qualities of each player that really make the attack work. Everyone plays a part, and when the midfield isn't quite clicking, the forwards often find it harder to make an impact. Rather than pointing fingers at players for not scoring, it might be better to look at how we can help them get into good positions. If they aren't getting chances, it's not just down to them. Wing backs can be key here, either by cutting inside or linking up quickly with others to create space. Corners are one area where Notts could improve. The same goes for free kicks. We do have players who can score from set pieces, but how often do we try something different, like floating the ball in with a bit of finesse? It feels like there's room to be more creative. I wouldn't be too concerned about Conor Grant. He brings a lot to the team. Matt Palmer might not be someone you'd expect to score, but he's a solid midfielder who works hard and keeps things ticking over.

It’s the most sensible choice the board could have made. They know what Richard Montague offers and he should settle back into the role without any trouble. It’s a good move, though I didn’t see it coming. I had read that there was strong interest in him, especially from reports in the Swansea papers. I thought he might go for one of the League One clubs that were mentioned. But bringing him back to Notts quickly shows good intent and gives us a boost.

I’ve just done a quick update that the gaffer asked for yesterday. I forgot at the time, but it was important so I’ve sorted it now. People using PON through WPA [App] or a mobile browser will now see menus that look more like an app. This should make it easier to get around the site. @Chris and I have also been working on a theme where the menu sits on the side. It’s part of the v5 design, but we’ve changed it to suit our needs and added a smooth layout for the community index page. We’re still working on it, but it could help some users find things more easily when they visit.

I agree with you. There were a lot of changes, and it’s understandable that fans would be worried. The early performances didn’t match expectations, and pre-season should have been used to build stronger connections within the squad. Getting signings in earlier and giving the new head coach time to settle with his players would have helped. It’s fair to be concerned, but some fans go too far with the negativity, especially online. I always believed things would get better. Even if we finish 10th, I think adding permanent signings next season could give the club a fresh push. When it comes to league position, we have to think about our budget, the situation we’re in, and what other teams are doing. It’s not just about where we want to be, but what’s realistic. If we stick to being sustainable and focus on building a better future for the club, patience is key. If people only care about quick results, they risk harming Notts in the long run.

I stand corrected. If Jatta is actually available, I think it makes more sense to go ahead and play the match. We could bring in Lucas Ness or someone similar to cover the left side. It's only one game, and it might help highlight that Jacob Bedeau could be offering more with his performances this season. Oh right, I saw something saying Jatta was away on international duty. If that's true, I reckon we could still go ahead and play. Jodi and Jacob Bedeau are key players in the first team, but we do have other choices. Bedeau hasn't quite shown what he's capable of yet this season, so it might not be as big a loss as it seems.

It's hard to say if it was the right call, as we can't know yet if postponing the fixtures will cause problems later. There's a real chance the games could pile up, and that might lead to injuries. You can't delay matches just because of suspensions or knocks, so I usually think it's better to get them played. Missing Alassana Jatta is a big blow, but it's not like Notts to hold off on playing. I get the reasoning, but in the past we've gone ahead and the squad is big enough to cover most positions. The issue is that we do lean on Jatta quite a lot. For just one match, I reckon Matthew Dennis could have managed. I think Notts could have gone ahead with it, though part of me does understand the choice to be cautious.

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Nick Tsaroulla stood out for me. I thought he played very well and got involved straight away. There were times when I felt some players were out of position and slow to get back, but Tsaroulla attacked and defended without any problems from what I could see. Lewis Macari seemed to struggle at times, while Jacob Bedeau was better but still had a few shaky moments. Tyrese Hall deserves a mention for his efforts.

The discussion can be broken down into clear points. Most teams prepare for promotion in advance and I think it is a fair subject to debate. Notts will benefit from recruitment. It might not have been the strongest this season, but the signings have added to the squad and helped get the best out of the players already here. Our playing budget may not match many other teams, but it is about how the money is used. We have a strong spine in place. Promotion would not mean a complete rebuild, but smart signings in the right areas to add depth and quality. Off-field assets will also help. The Nest makes money when Forest are in the Premier League, as opposition fans often use it on matchdays. Liam makes a fair point about the rise in pay-on-the-day prices. It does seem to have affected attendances and that will have an impact. If a few friends decide to join you and you all go into The Nest for a couple of drinks, that is income for the club. If you buy food from the tea bars, that adds more. By raising prices, fewer people may take it up. Football should be more affordable. The club can sell 7,000 season tickets when results are good, but more could be done. If prices were lowered for existing season ticket holders and kept the same for new buyers, it would encourage early renewals and help bring in casual fans too. Promotion would bring in good money. If it came through the play offs, the reward would be even greater than finishing as champions. The Reedtz may need to invest, but that does not mean Notts could not compete in League One. We will likely need to get used to selling players more often. It is vital that we do, but also that we recruit well to replace them. I would not want to see Notts selling to rivals, as we did with Dan Crowley, but instead to clubs we do not have to worry about until we grow further. Moneyball or not, players who are unlikely to renew should be sold when possible. It all helps the finances. None of us truly know what life in League One would be like. Only those who understand the finances and the board will have a clear idea. It would be interesting to see how our current budget compares to League One teams. The first year after promotion is usually about survival and finding your feet. If the squad keeps its momentum and is strengthened in the right way, it can carry us forward.

Both teams will be thinking the same thing. Crewe will want to improve their home form and Notts need to start picking up important points away from home. It should be a good match, but I hope Crewe focus on proper football and don’t turn to tricks or time-wasting. Even their fans have admitted on one of their messageboards that they got lucky with the officials in a recent game. Notts need to stay calm and avoid getting frustrated. The focus should be on creating chances and playing our way.

Hello, @Dave78. Welcome to the Pride of Nottingham. If you need any help or anything please do reach out. Until then, why not tell us a little about yourself?

Crewe made a strong start to the season and looked like a solid side. They picked up good wins against Salford, Crawley and Fleetwood, which showed what they’re capable of. Since then, though, they’ve struggled a bit, losing to Swindon, Barnet and Barrow. That dip in form shows they’re not quite consistent yet. They seem to play better away from home, so it’ll be interesting to see if Notts can rise to the challenge and put in a strong performance on the road. I’d like to see Notts come out with energy and try to put Crewe under pressure early. It feels like the sort of match that could end in a draw, but it really could go either way. Hopefully, the return of players like Scott Robertson and Jayden Luker will give us something to build on, as it gives Martin Paterson more choices to work with.

Getting the Director of Football role sorted before climbing higher in the league feels quite important. Some might see it as a role we don’t really need or as a bit of a luxury, but having stability in key positions can make a big difference in football. When it comes to networking, I like knowing the Director of Football is the one making contact, looking at players and having those early talks. It means the manager can focus on coaching. Football has changed a lot since the days when managers did everything themselves. While some might still prefer that, it does come with problems, like being less open to feedback. It depends on the manager’s style. If he enjoys scouting and has a good eye for talent, it can work well. But it’s easy to fall into bad habits, like signing mates or missing what makes a player truly good. Martin Paterson has said he watches the opposition, which makes me think he’s fairly confident when it comes to judging players. Still, having someone who understands the data side of things and can handle the time-consuming jobs is a real help. I like knowing the head coach has choices and people around him suggesting players. I’d be interested to know how much say Paterson actually has, especially since he asked for reinforcements and nothing came of it. Was it someone above him who decided not to bring anyone in? The interview with Chris Reedtz made it sound like they were happy enough and maybe thought Paterson was just being cautious because of the injuries. I do think the head coach should have a voice in these matters, and I wonder if Paterson shares the fans’ view about needing another striker. I’m fine with the head coach not being too involved in the early stages of signings and scouting. But once things move forward, his input should count. It’s about finding the right balance.

It’s a process, isn’t it. You have to make changes that help improve the parts that aren’t quite working. The old saying about not fixing what isn’t broken fits well here. A shift in direction can be a big deal, and maybe we’ve seen signs of that already with how the season has started. Even though new people have come in and things seem to line up, there might be differences that aren’t easy to spot. For example, the club has changed its coaching setup. A new head coach and assistant have come in, and there’s also a new Director of Football. He might have suggested a different approach to recruitment compared to past seasons. There were a lot of signings, spread out across the window, and not much time to get the full squad together before pre-season. Martin Paterson will have his own way of doing things, and the players are now adjusting to what they think he wants. The coaching style has changed too. The whole team no longer trains together before kick-off. It’s just the match day squad, and some players aren’t even part of the warm-up if they’re not on the bench. A new head coach can be hard for players to get used to, and with so much going on this season, some of these changes should have been sorted sooner. I think Notts should stick to their core values and make small changes where needed. We should avoid too much disruption, because having a settled environment makes a big difference. Players need to come in and know what’s expected of them, beyond what fans might think. Paterson probably has higher standards than he shows in interviews. Even when things aren’t going to plan, the players will still be trying their best.

I'm worried about what might happen if one of the strikers gets suspended, or worse, if one is suspended and the other gets injured. That could really affect the good run we're on and knock the confidence that's come from winning games. Alassana Jatta coming back into the starting eleven has made a big difference. It's given the team a lift. Matthew Dennis has shown he can lead the line against certain sides, but in other matches, it might be better to stick with Jatta. There will be times when playing both makes sense, but unless there's a backup plan in case something goes wrong, I don't think Martin Paterson should rely on it every week. I'd rather see it used as a well-thought-out tactic, something planned to give us more variety up front. I'm not against using two strikers. The match away at Tranmere Rovers showed it can work, and that was encouraging. But the game against Gillingham reminded us that strikers need service. If both end up dropping into midfield too often, it doesn't help the attack and isn't always the best choice.