theAnticlough

Match day. Whatever the form, it's amazing how optimism always takes over as kick-off approaches. A great feeling that lasts til 3.05 or 7:50 when other feelings tend to kick in :)

Speaking for myself, I've reached the point where I'd accept LW back if it meant a return to his playing philosophy. We've been steadily losing our identity since his departure. What we've seen so far this season doesn't look like taking care of the ball to me. There have been so many long punts out of play, inaccurate long balls to nowhere. I miss the full-on version of keepball. It even made me sad at Barroe when Jones and Palmer were at a corner, nobody near them, they had a quick chat, MP seemed to suggest short and then JJ just put it straight in the goalies hands. LW would've burst out crying. Most don't seem to see any clear playing direction at the moment. Winning games again would make us all feel better and not care so much. Sometime in the near future though, I like to see the Bros say enough to all the compromise, we're going back to really dominating the ball.

I'm a big believer in Tsaroulla and enjoy watching him play. End product has been bad though in his Notts career so far. You fear it could be one of those cases where he puts it all together at his next stop, the moment he leaves. That would be infuriating. Let's hope the assist on Saturday is the start of him realising his potential with us.

Lots of good points @TheSkipper I agree it has been a fair discussion on here - and by and large the posts have been sympathetic and supportive of Martin. There's no point denying that he's under pressure though, just the facts of footy life

Agree @piedestrian, unfortunately the pressure's building and needs the release of victory. The players really have to dig him out of this hole but collectively they are going backwards. They need to reverse this by finding their best games. As we've discussed on the other threads, the blame for this start is spread in a lot of directions. Unfortunately for MP though, he's the obvious pressure point, and he'll be the fall guy if we continue to drop points at the current rate. Really unfair, I'd hate to see this happen, because he hasn't done much wrong with the hand he's been given.

On the evidence of recent seasons, it won't be too long now before some of the 92 Head Coaches bite the dust, and most of those will be in the bottom 2 or 3 of their divisions. It's very unfair and reactive but it seems to get earlier and earlier each season these days. So here's the distasteful question....we're sitting on 1pt from 9, but what will it take for MP to keep his job out of 30, 10 games? For sure, if we were sitting on 1pt after 10, he'd be a goner, and probably earlier than 10. But what does he need as a minimum in order to get another batch of games and move forward? My guess is a modest 8pts from 10 games W2 D2 L6, but that kind of haul would suggest borrowed time. Lets hope that this question is completely redundant after the next two home games.

Huddersfield Town 2-0 Doncaster Rovers Luton Town 2-0 Wigan Athletic Joker Stockport County 2-0 Bradford City Colchester United 2-0 Cambridge United Gillingham 1-2 Chesterfield Harrogate Town 2-1 Barrow Altrincham 1-2 Hartlepool United Woking 0-0 Wealdstone

He would've been my 2nd choice @Fan of Big Tone. good effort and a great headed goal. Nobody covered themselves in glory, yesterday

4 teams in NL with 100% starts, all have some Notts interest Southend - Sam Austin Scunthorpe - Cal Roberts Rochdale - Toby Adebayo-Rowling Wealdstone - Enzio Boldewijn Let's hope none pass us on the way up. I'll get my coat.

Only a few had respectable games, the rest ranging from sub-par to atrocious. I went for McDonald, generally solid and alright with the ball. JJ had his best game inside so far, but that's not saying much. Some really good moments mixed in with some poor ones. An upward curve and maybe worthy of another go or two there, but I hope he's not selected for MoM. He's not there yet IMO

Yes, it was. Pity the same player was the last man there with a chance to stop their winner

We haven't been the same since LW walked out. The decision-making at the club all-round hasn't been great from that time (apart from Jatta, Platt, Bedeau, Bass coming in under Montague, who's gone) Who's to blame? That'll need a 'blame pie' and cutting slices. The fans won't be part of that, because they've given the club great backing. There's no magic fix to this poor start. Just the normal tools - 1) swap the players around searching for the best possible blend and some fight 2) one or two final desperate signings 3) assess the Head Coach like all clubs do, by results, and act accordingly. Fortunately for Gagliardi, he's safe. Directors always get a longer period to be assessed.

What to do about Aljofree? That's the danger of recruiting from Man Utd, you get Man Utd level performances. Seriously though, that was way below the level required - the way he was beaten for the first and his poor distribution throughout. MP will hesitate when picking him again. Is Ness ready? Could Cotter play there? He's only young, so we'll give him more chances. But he can't have games like that.

We look and act like a team that will struggle to collect points It's on Recruitment, and the players, but we are now at the stage where MP will have to be accountable too. In modern football, in all leagues, what happens to managers of teams that are stuck at the bottom even at the start of the season? That's the position MP is in now, so he/they better do something about it.

So bad. Iorpenda and especially Aljofree have been absolute liabilities, and nothing from Gordon as per usual. Hall for Gordon please, JJ wide, what have we got to lose. As it is, we just don't look like scoring at all.

You have a nice house Piethagoram, and love that you've done it up in black and white, but you've got to keep on top of that big lawn of yours

We need to see better play from the inside forwards than we've had in the first two games. At some point I'd like to see Hall and Luker playing behind Dennis with JJ wide. There might be something there

@Fan of Big Tone, always hated dreams! I've been happy that I remember very few...and those rare ones that I do, I give little attention to, just dismiss and forget. I think we can solve all our problems with the conscious mind. I don't need to see a random acquaintance from 40 years ago come back and scare the living **** out of me!

What I learned recently @Fan of Big Tone is that when a tooth can't be extracted in the usual way it has to be extracted 'surgically'. So when a tooth is split, cracked or whatever you can't grip it as a whole tooth with the forceps. The gums have to be cut open so the dentist (or 'Oral Surgeon') can get at it piece by piece. And then you're stitched up afterwards. So it felt like about 3 separate extractions and there all the parts were on the table afterwards. I'm not sure if the terrible pain I had after was worse because of the surgical part of it. All I know is that it's 500% better today :) Hope it goes well Big Tone

I know it's only the 3rd game but we really need a win. To me it feels like the recruitment and the players owe MP a better performance and a victory. Some thoughts on the team... Iorpenda complements Palmer well and should start there instead of further forward - we kind of miss out on his running and athleticism when he has duties to stay higher Sooner or later, we will face the question of RWB. Are we a struggling team that really needs an extra defender there? Or can we play someone with more goals and assists in them? Cotter's done well, but if the game is looking like the last 2 we'll be drifting to 1 or 0 pts unless we shake it up and move Jones wide, at HT or 55mins at the latest.

Surgical molar extraction yesterday, anyone had one of those? It was heavy going for a while immediately after but pills allowed me to sleep and it's bearable today. I don't know what I can eat though. Hopefully, Notts can cheer me and everyone else up tomorrow.

Preston North End 1-1 Leicester City Swansea City 0-1 Sheff United Leyton Orient 1-1 Stockport County Reading 1-0 AFC Wimbledon Barnet 1-2 Walsall Joker Tranmere Rovers 2-1 Gillingham Aldershot 2-1 Boston United Hartlepool United 1-1 Braintree

@Piethagoram,@Wheelbarrow repair man, agree that the Jodi situation is an important one to keep an eye on. Stall is on a roll so far this season, and voiced on the podcast what I felt but hesitated to write on here - it's unlikely to work out for him at No.10. Although he's probably going to get a couple more matches though to prove us wrong, I suspect he's going to be moving back to the wing. That's going to pose MP with a set of choices. He seems as wedded to 3 across the back as IB,LW and SM were, so the only wide position is 'wing-back' (unless you really go for it like LW, although even the likes of Nemane were expected to defend). Then he'd have to decide left or right? And choose between really different options, for example Cotter or Jones? Will he be willing trade defense for more attacking threat? So not only does MP have to find a winning formula and work out a best XI, he'll have to deal with some big structural questions related to the team as well. He's really going to earn his corn. Good luck to him.

Stronger team than we've seen for the League Cup in recent years. That's what MP said he'd do and he's been true to his word. A priority will be giving key players a chance to get sharper and find form.

Yeah now the 'technical board's been set up formally, it has to be allowed to do it's job. I laughed watching Magpie Circle when Mace read out a comment 'sack the technical board'. My view on that is the complete opposite. It should be untouchable! It's only a more official way of describing what goes on at all clubs to some degree - collaboration. And Paterson is part of this technical team, not outside it. So sacking the board includes sacking him - hardly fair that, is it? We need a Head Coach willing to collaborate with the other professionals employed at the club. MP has said repeatedly that he's happy to do this. If ever we had a manager that doesn't want to get the benefit of the analysis, and doesn't want to be accountable, that manager should go as the club/board would deserve better. Ditto for the head of recruitment, who has as much to be accountable for as the coach. I'll say one thing though - the players have to be protected. Having your performance scrutinised too much might take the joy out of the profession for them, like teachers or the police drowning in admin. The club needs to find ways to make NCFC an enjoyable place to be. We don't want MP, Edwards and Slocs coming out of meetings weighed down by a long to do list, as this misery could be passed on to the players. Joy can't be measured unfortunately, but we need to play with as much of that as possible. LW pulled that off, so it can be done.