theAnticlough

We've gone backwards fast since we were led by LW's vision, a squad packed with attacking talent and good ballplayers. and a recruitment team making more hits than misses. For sure, we're much better off than the Trew and Hardy days. I don't think we're on a track to non-league again - but the great momentum from our promotion has been squandered. We raced to the top of L2 by following the formula that had success in the NL - but step by step, adjustment by adjustment, it's been diluted....we must be more defensive... we mustn't throw players forward, they must be back to cover....we need to be taller, more physical etc Are these adaptations that protect us against relegation? Or do they just put us on track to be an average and more typical L2 side? Does becoming more typical give us a better or worse chance of getting out this league? Seems to me that we're bedding in for a long stay in this league rather than pushing all our chips in by trusting in our principles. As MP gets more and more stretched, tested and stressed as the season goes on, his true footballing instincts will come to the fore. Do we want to be more like Bromley so we can battle with these middle-ranking L2 clubs? Or so different that on our day we can steamroller them through superior football? I don't know which way it's going to go.

Yeah @menzinho, their first equaliser ultimately came down to an Aljofree misjudgement as the ball was definitely in his zone for clearing. Their 2nd was even flukier. I'm more concerned that they had a lot of possession and we didn't retain the ball enough. Our game relies on taking responsibility, getting on the ball and passing it well. Among the backlines, I thought Palmer and McDonald did OK, but Bedeau, Aljofree and Norburn didn't get on the ball enough to enable us to dominate.

Hmmm, seems there's been a flight from the 'we have to be better at being us' idea from the first game The main way to beat a team like Bromley is to outplay them with better, more skilful players like we did in the 2-4 at their place last season. The more we think we need taller, more physical players like them we play their kind of game, on their terms and lose our identity in the process. Of course we have to deal with balls into the box, and have to fight in general but the key is good players, well-prepared, playing better than they can.

Good point @liampie, unlike Wednesday, this time the subs came on and took us backwards. I though Grant was Ok, but Hall, Bennetts and especially Gordon just didn't make the contribution MP was looking for. The others 3 might have needed a rest, but I think Cotter might have easily done the 90

Sam Austin and Kairo Mitchell both scored winning goals today. Cal had an assist as Scunthorpe get into the play-off places

Don't think there's any need to overthink this one - Matty Dennis. Running him close I think is Matty Palmer. We have enough evidence now to know it's a different player than the recovering MP we saw last season. I thought he was great, popped up everywhere. Shout out too to Iorpenda - IMO his best game so far this season.

What a pity. They've benefitted from 2 random looping balls and mishits. Better than Salford though, we can see progress

Nice one MP, Unchanged. That's about right. COYP

Norwich City 1-1 Middlesbrough Sheffield United 2-1 Millwall Bolton Wanderers 2-1 Lincoln City Mansfield Town 2-1 Leyton Orient Joker Fleetwood Town 0-1 Oldham Athletic Gillingham 2-0 Crewe Alexandra Halifax Town 0-2 Forest Green Rovers Sutton United 2-3 Scunthorpe United

Yes, it's a difficult fixture. I agree, our best chance is a 'momentum win' building on the buzz of 4 goals and the first win of the season. Use this confidence to score in the first 15mins, then keep them out til HT - that'd be the best route to victory today.

We went down this road with Hardy and where did it get us? Nobody needs to show their balls and nobody needs to get shafted

Unless there's a knock we don't know about, I think MP will be delighted to pick an unchanged team after a 4-1 win. He's said he'll change things when we don't win so the corollary of that is to reward a winning side. I'll be happy with that, although it will overlook an opinion verging on a fact - In both of our 2 home games so far, our two poorest performers by far in each game have been Roos and Norburn, oddly the most experienced players in the side. I think the coaching staff and the Gas Board (aka technical board) will know this but we have to keep picking them. We need Roos to gain his confidence, and we need Norburn to gain his form, his 2nd game was better than his first after all. But I don't think they'll suddenly be our best, or even average, performers on Saturday and we'll have to try to win in spite of this.

You make a good case, @McPie, is it a spasm or a chasm. We'll know over the next couple of games

Disappointing, but I thought about a positive as soon as I read it - we won't change a winning team that just won 4-1 Jatta will need games to regain sharpness and Andy Woodman teams are very adept at neutralising players like him anyway. Strange as it sounds, I think Bromley will be disappointed about this. They'll have sat in the Pavis watching Dennis, Jones, Tsaroulla, Iorpenda popping up all over and won't fancy a dose of that. Also, Dennis has 2 in 2. Were we going to drop him? Or 'rest' him? That would've sent a bad message to the squad, 'name' over doing the business.

That sure is one ideal @Robbie. SM spoke about that, especially at the start, and I think we can all agree he didn't pull it off. He hardly ever changed the shape, but he certainly changed the personnel. A lot of these changes were pretty baffling. There's more logic to MP's changes so far. LW had the opposite approach though - This is us, you worry about us, this is what we do and we'll work and practice on that one shape and all its patterns of play. Too early to say how MP will be. It's noticeable how he plays 3-4-2-1 every game and his substitutions are like-for-like, within the formation. Team selection seems to be based more on performance and form rather than changing for the opposition, like SM did. I think I much prefer that way, MP's.

Good question in the OP, but I don't think there is a lack of shape. We play a clearly identifiable 3-4-2-1, same as SM played, and IB too. LW's team was more 3-2-4-1. Sure there's still a shitload to work on. Interesting point about Tsaroulla's position for the goal. Oddly, he was way inside but a more common problem would be not getting back after an attack. But surely, when this is the case Bedeau has to cover from LCB. He has McDonald and Aljofree and there would be no excuse for Cotter not sliding over, with Palmer and Norburn filling gaps and marking runners too. The team is built for a WB being beat or not being there. In our first season back at MK Dons, Rawlo at RCB kind of ended his Notts tenure by running away (back inside) from a player who had got through on their left, instead of getting over there to block what turned out to be an easy goal for them. We have the players and formation to cover at the back. But who will 'cover' for Cotter if he doesn't attack and penetrate on the right-hand side? Nobody is the answer. There's will be no 'cover' going forward, if he doesn't do that. Nobody will attack down that third of the pitch so the opposition only have to think about the other 2/3s. Not having a go at Cotter, he's been fine. I'll always just prefer the full-on attacking approach of 2022-24.

I enjoyed the short cameo from Tyrese Hall last night - I think he's going to be an enjoyable player to watch this season. It was good to see his involvement in the 4th goal for example. But it's the playing style that caught my eye. Maybe not many on here watch the NBA but he reminded me of Darius Garland the Cleveland point guard, the way he moves and plays. I've always enjoyed watching Garland plays and I think it'll be the same with Hall. A football comp is not so easy for me? Any ideas? Phil Foden a bit?

I think the sponsor got it right - Nick Tsaroulla. He was a real thorn in their side, it's great to have him back. Word for Aljofree, great way to rebound after being taken off at Barrow. He would be my 2nd choice

Well done County. Delighted for Martin Paterson - he deserved that

It's an improvement, isn't it? Lots of good play down our left-hand side. We have good players there with creativity and energy. There's been zilch down the right. I'm pleased for Alfofree. He needs the confidence boost that goal will bring. We need to keep an eye on Norburn on the yellow. He's the type of player who can't help leaving a foot in so I hope MP doesn't risk it for too long.

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.