Sheffield Pie

When you look at that Notts team, the player recruitment was pretty good! Local lads, internationals, astute signings from Scotland and other East Mids clubs. Paul Hooks being in there always amazes me - Notts apprentice, played in the top flight, then a coal miner I think.

Pretty pleased. Should have beat Leicester and maybe also Donny. Then a tactical wobble but now fixed. Loan signings doing really well. Some of the permanent signings doing OK but too early to judge. The table is starting to take shape. Bromley whipping boys. Wimbledon sinking like a stone. Burton and Cambridge I think will be down there soon enough. Next quarter through to January is a great opportunity for Notts. More winnable games against some bang average sides. Plus hopefully still in one of the cups. And Forest will have sacked at least one more manager.

If you were there, cherish it. Can't wait for the highlights and interiews. Taking the lead, keeping a clean sheet, beating Stags, Forest in the relegation zone. Come on.

Great post. I remember it like it was yesterday as well! Notts were on the up and to be in that packed away terrace (we had lots up in the seats as well) was a great feeling. Pay on the day and security wasn't great, a few gaps in the fence I seem to remember. Great seeing the goals on TV after as well, in the days before everything was online.

I think you've more or less nailed it but I would add David Robinson, signed for £400k in 1992 (so like millions now) to replace Craig Short. Had a dodgy knee (did noone check?) and played three times I think. Possibly including a 0-6 thrashing at Millwall's old Den I had the privilege of attending. Also how much did we pay for Traore? Might never know.

I think we'd all probably agree that in our lifetimes it has to be someone from the five pre-Munto seasons starting in 2004/05. If you stood out as bad in that period you were something special. Not hacking it in the National League would in theory be worse but we actually had better teams then. So maybe one of the, in inverted commas, 'strikers', or one of the couldn't-give-a-toss loanees from that period? I didn't attend much then so others may be able to pick out a winner.

Bob Catlin was a classic crap goalkeeper. Not sure why we even signed him. Conceded 8 in 3 games. Had the build of a Sunday league player. His home debut against Barnsley was almost funny. I think he just got his coat and left after that.

Sounded like another cracking game to be at. By the time we've played the Stags we'll have played 11 out of the current top 14 sides, and only Doncaster out of the bottom 10. So we've had a tough start but still have our heads above water, and hopefully starting to gel.

Taking the lead again, I like it. They've had a lot of shots though, bound to find their range at some point so Belshaw will need to be on top form in the second half I reckon.

Yes there are a few like Gibbons, Longelo and Evans who are a work in progress. In Tuesday's strong performance, the only new permanent signing (out of 11 we made in the summer) was Smyth. Far too early to judge the transfer window of course - Lipsiuc made a good contribution and Cooper, Campbell and Mustapha are injured, but it will be interesting to see if we continue to do well with a core of L2 survivors.

Stockport have lost rthee and conceded 11, that gives me hope. Also the fact we have our Wembley back three together again, with Robbo in front of them. That's the sort of no-nonsense line up you need to keep Wooton quiet.

We're on the BBC Saturday teatime. Gets us a few quid. I'm confident. Pato learning curve, FA Cup edition.

Check out some of his post match interviews, especially the Leicester one. He's been openly critical of his players. He should have known it's easier to replace the coach than the squad. Also Bromley had a pretty poor run in last season so the club might be taking into account a fairly long period of poor form.

We look more like the side near the top than Wednesday. Keep it tight for 15 mins then hit them with some subs. Still some life in that Pato learning curve.

After the first few games I thought Pato had a good formula for L1. It's not looking good at all now. We've no Identity or partnerships on the pitch. When the results aren't great the model/experiment starts to look questionable. We've got 32 pros but effectively only one (average) keeper, few creative players and no fit, proven L1 striker. Starting to look like naïvety. And our injury record is insane. I'll be there Tuesday night, hoping for a miracle!