YoopEyes

Stern test tonight but hoping we carry on from Sat - but with more goals! Hopefully, we’ll get a look at Ndlovu at some stage and, maybe, Enoru. We could do with all 3 points in order to stay in contention tbh, it would be a big win & send a message to the chasing pack.

Welcome aboard Harald & good luck. Looks and sounds decent enough signing - Norwegian top flight is handy, produces quick, robust and talented players on a regular basis.

Very impressive performance apart from the finishing. Solid all over the pitch, no “passengers” today, at all. There were some stand outs, particularly in the 1st half but only a couple maintained their high standards throughout. Platt was very impressive, Norburn and Palmer competed and distributed well. Grant was excellent, despite the header, and Jatta was busy, looked better on the ball and he scored. However, Iorpenda was head & shoulders above any other candidate. He produced a spectacularly impressive display from start to finish. Some touches of genuine class, a robust and busy performance and he was effective with and without the ball. His running, pressing, tackling and general mobility were outstanding.

Hmmm, interesting one - not the most exciting signing tbh. I can’t see the point of him signing to sit on the bench, so is Jatta on his way? Dennis is a handful and occupies defenders, plus he scores (apart from today!). I don’t really see the benefit of this bloke tbh, unless we lose Jatta, but I may be wrong.

I’d agree with this list. McDonald is a very close 6th tbh.

Norburn has guile, nous and fair amount of experience, they are useful qualities. I’d say he must be a strong candidate. It sounded a bit turgid for the most part but we conjured up a goal, managed the game and then got another. As usual for Notts, we then made it an exciting finish! Hard to pick a MOTM in a gritty and determined team performance. Other than Norburn, you have to consider Jatta, who has been dire for weeks but did his stuff, and Belshaw, who proved that goalkeepers are allowed to catch the ball and command their box. For that, I’d go Belshaw tbh.

We needed that, Jones needed it too. COYP.

It looks a balanced line up, delighted to see Grant & Palmer back in the starting line up. Astonished that Jones is in tbh - but I guess it goes back to “balance” and not risking the new man from the start, nurse him in gradually. Dennis should not be on the bench in my view, that is just strange. We need the win, COYP.

Sadly, Kell never really nailed down a place in the team - he seemed a “nearly” player to me. I expected pace, dynamism & sharpness - which he provided but only in short bursts. His crosses were inconsistent too. I think overall, he was a slight disappointment tbh but I wish him well. Always tried and came across as a good bloke in interviews etc.

Delighted with this - more than useful keeper, surprised at some of the negativity surrounding his signing tbh.

This is one I’d be happy with tbh. We developed him as a youngster, it would be interesting to see him return. Over the years he’s always looked steady rather than spectacular but he’s an established, experienced keeper at lower league level. He could be a replacement, or at worst, very good cover, for Roos. Either way, I’d welcome his arrival with a degree of optimism.

Interesting signing, hope it works out. I’d suspect that it might take a bit of time to adjust to the full time, L2 environment tbh. At 23 and with limited expedience, he is a raw talent. I’m not expecting too much too soon. Time will tell with this one.

The worry is that we have a “net loss” during January. If we replace outgoing players with improvements or simply add some additional quality to the squad, fine. My fear is there will be a couple of out/goings who will be replaced by less favourable signings. We’ll either sign untried youngsters or “experienced” (injured has beens?) journeymen. I sincerely hope that my fears will be misplaced.

Game off - postponed due to frozen pitch. So much for the covers, cannabis lamps etc. We have the facility for under soil heating but it isn’t connected/operational!

My only concern with Dennis was that he didn’t score - and he has a couple of good opportunities to be fair. He is far more dangerous throughout the game than Jatta tho’. Dennis has better close control, more ball skill and threatens the keeper/goal more often too.

I thought there were only 2 contenders tbh - Dennis & Iorpenda. Dennis was the only real goal threat and he showed the required levels of application and determination. Iorpenda was the only other who showed up well throughout the game. He covers a lot of ground, wins his challenges and uses the ball well. He did manage a shot on target too, of course. On balance, I’d give it to Iorpenda, but it’s a close call. The 2 of them often linked well together but in a team full of mediocrity, Iorpenda shives with his skill, awareness, industry and attitude.

That was very poor, lack of pace all over the pitch, no real creativity. Only Dennis & Ioroenda showed any quality really. Anyone still think Jones isn’t finished? If he comes on as sub again, I think I’m going home. Utter waste of a shirt, every time he plays. Not sure what value Gordon, Jatta & Kouhyar offer either for that matter. They don’t look like “top 3 team” players to me.

Purely based on commentary and updates from the ground, Iorpenda gets my vote. Bedeau, Tsaroulla and Macari seemed to show up well too.

Yes, very busy period! 3 more games in 7 days. I’m sure Jatta will be rested for 1 and Jones may well make a start. MKD is a huge game if we are to consolidate our promotion credentials. We need at least a point to regain some momentum really. I think players like Grant & Iorpenda are crucial for these games because they offer the guile and creativity that others lack. Norburn offers the grit but if Palmer is fit I’m sure he’d start - but he might come of the bench on Mon & get a start in 1 of the upcoming home games. We’ll see.

After the opening 30 mins, where Platt, Norburn, Iorpenda and Bedeau all looked comfortable, not many showed up favourably tbh. Macari is a decent shout, he’s pretty defendable, has a good touch, usually wins his battles and he links up well with those in front of him. I’d go with him - it certainly wasn’t Jatta, Roos, Gordon or Bennetts.

Catastrophic 2nd half. A lack of energy, fight and inventiveness. Today highlighted that we can, comfortably, get rid of Gordon, Bennetts, Jatta & Jones in January. They are all “off the pace” and just quite good enough tbh. As for Roos, well any credit gained from the last 2 or 3 games has been wee & truly dumped in the bin! He was diabolical today, should have held the shot for the 1st, it was straight into his midriff, and there simply are no words for the 2nd. Absolute liability, he needs replacing pdq. If you actually needed confirmation that Jones is “finished” then today must, surely be it. I think Gordon broke his own world record for the most awful crosses in 1 game and he was only on the pitch for 45+ mins! Bennetts has failed to improve/develop over the last 4 months and he was simply dreadful. Why we persistently take off Grant & Tsaroulla, both of whom possess ball control, skill and the ability to make forward passes remains a mystery. We rarely, if ever, improve once they’ve gone.

Decent enough effort & h/t scoreline in a tough gig tbh. Bennetts has wasted a couple of good breaks but we lack sharpness in the final 3rd again. Jatta’s touch and control are abysmal again tbh. If we can quicken the tempo and just find that incisive ball into the box we’ll win this. They look similar to us, neat at times but nothing up front. Their defence is distinctly shakier than ours, Grimes is a thug and the full backs are vulnerable. Can see a possible red for them too if Naylor and the 2 cb’s stay on the pitch.

Happy with that - strongest available XI for my money.

I’d disagree re: Jones - I’d say that he offers no threat at all! We lose pace & fluency with him on the pitch. He’s tentative, won’t even try to beat a man and lobs the ball into the box from far too deep. He was spectacularly ineffective today. Grant, on the other hand, has great touch, moves the ball forward at pace and his greater mobility means that he links up well with Macari and Tsaroulla on the right. Equally, Iorpenda has done enough in the “big games” to keep Hall out. Paterson has been consistent, he’s loyal to those who deliver & do the job. Can’t see him making changes for Chesterfield tbh. The MKD & Fleetwood games may see some rotation and we will probably see Kouhyar, Hall and maybe even Jones in the starting XI.

There were some impressive performances in a very solid team display. We didn’t create enough clear cut chances but we moved the ball well up to the final 3rd and defended as a unit. Hard to fault Macari or Platt all game, Iorpenda was superb in the opening 25 mins and again in the last 20 too. Grant was our most inventive and creative player again, his subtle touches and ability to link up with Macari & Tsaroulla make him a valuable member of the team. We lose a bit of spark whenever he goes off for my money. Dennis & Norburn were absolutely outstanding tho’, from virtually start to finish. Dennis worked his nuts off and looked comfortable on the ball - just needed a goal. Norburn’s best display in a Notts shirt, by a mile. He grafted, cajoled others, directed play and used the ball neatly and effectively. He gets it for me, just, over Dennis, Iorpenda & Macari. Footnote: Not at all sure why Jones came on - he offers no threat whatsoever now, no pace, unwilling to go past a man and his crosses are from far too deep positions. Tsaroulla could have moved to the left and Kouhyar on the right, rather than Gordon. I think we lost a bit of fluency with Jones tbh.