sentient

I find Notts tends to count their chickens before they are hatched when it comes to cup games, so I doubt it will be an easy path to the next round and both teams must show that they want to make the 2nd round. I would be disappointed, because it seems like a while since we have enjoyed a good cup run. They have beaten Woking, and will be wanting to make a second strong display against us. It could be tougher than it would suggest.

Yes, I enjoy watching documentaries about true crime. Fred Dinenage had a show called "Murder Casebook" many years ago which was very good. I like it when the person telling the story is invested in what happened and shows respect while explaining how the crime was solved or investigated. Without some of these shows, you would never imagine the ways people have harmed others or tried to cover it up. It is a terrible subject, but human nature means it still draws your curiosity.

I read a rant on Facebook saying he needs to go and that he let us down. Imagine the reaction from that fan if Luke Williams had been appointed instead of Martin Paterson. I think the decision made sense. The club would have been rewarded well by allowing Luke and anyone under contract to leave with him. How can you hold a promotion elsewhere against someone who is ambitious. If he comes back, does well and helps to steady our recruitment, which I hope he does, then that is all I can ask.

I do not want anyone to take my comment the wrong way, and I am directing this to the fans outside of this site. There are people who have never played professional football, yet they pick out a player and single him out. They turn dislike into a crude witch hunt. This is what is happening to Conor Grant. There is a reason why he is playing for us, and why MK Dons did not want him. I believe he is a good player, very gifted with the ball at his feet, but his finishing is a weaker part of his game. Consistency can also be an issue. He reminds me of an unpolished player, but one with higher potential, in the mould of Sam Austin.

Hearts fans thought he was going to change their fortunes. Instead, he has been a terrible disaster, which many people expected. So many young and talented Scottish players have been sold by Hearts just to keep the club going.

I sometimes wonder what these fans are thinking when they go around spreading rumours. They do it on purpose, knowing it can cause problems. Most of the time the rumours are not funny and they are not worth sharing. The Jatta incident was handled well inside the club by Notts. Many other clubs fail to deal with things in the same way. While I believe fans deserve a certain level of openness, issues like Jatta are best managed between the club and the player.

The decision has been made by people far more qualified than me. If you asked me, and that is the point of this discussion, I would have played on. I think we do have the cover and the players need minutes. I believe that by postponing, you are telling the squad they are weaker because of the absent players. At our level, postponed games can cost money and also affect form. That said, I am more than happy to accept the decision.

I think striker and goalkeeper are two areas where we still need more depth. I worry that Kelle Roos will be found out as a weak link. If teams study footage of his mistakes, they will try to copy it, and in time he could start costing us points. I am fair enough to admit that defenders also make mistakes just as often, and perhaps they are not judged as harshly. But a goalkeeper is meant to give confidence to the team. Roos does not do that. As for a striker, a young player willing to play smaller parts could be useful. If he turned out to be a good goal scorer, then who knows what he could achieve. Look at Stockport and other clubs. They show how important it is to have players ready to step in when form drops.

The club are doing very well with many of the fan driven initiatives. They do need the right people though, and it should always be done for the good of the club and not for personal egos. I am sure most of those who help want it to be a success for Notts. At the same time, I am mindful that some might see it as a chance to boast about their part in it or even about things they might borrow.

I agree that there needs to be balance, and some people should be less quick to lose patience. I think all fans would agree that they want promotion. So why let bad feelings and negativity spoil what is a natural rollercoaster with its ups and downs. It would be great to be strong enough to win the league, and if we keep growing then one day this could happen. For now though, we should focus on building for League One. We need to earn the right to play there and then celebrate. Otherwise you spend more time wishing you were as successful as Liverpool instead of enjoying the journey. That is not what true football is about, especially when you support your local club.

Welcome to the site and PON, Cedric.

I really hope you can find a good way for your dad to keep going to matches. Watching from home just isn’t the same, and there’s nothing quite like being at Meadow Lane in person.

I agree with @Robbie. The real focus should be on forcing the sale of owners who are clearly harming football, no matter where they’re from. But it shouldn’t stop there, there needs to be proper checks in place to stop these types from getting involved in the first place. Prevention is key. Trying to jail foreign owners, especially those from places like the Middle East or the US, is unlikely to happen. There are too many political and legal barriers. A heavy fine or banning them from owning clubs might be the only realistic option. It’s not perfect, but it’s better than letting them carry on unchecked.

Winning is always welcome, and snatching results from teams who thought they had it wrapped up is part of the game. But if Notts wants to be one of the top sides in this league. and ready for the next, we need to rely less on luck and more on the quality we’ve got. Gritty wins are fine, and sometimes the football won’t be pretty, but that doesn’t mean the performance was poor. Holding onto a lead, staying organised, and doing the hard work to see out a result matters just as much as creating chance after chance. We should accept that not every match will be a showcase of flowing football. What matters is building a team that can win in different ways, whether that’s through skill, structure, or sheer determination. If we want to be serious contenders, we need to focus on consistency and control, not just hoping for a lucky bounce or a late goal. The signs are there, and if we keep pushing the standard, Notts can be both effective and enjoyable to watch.

The Premier League has clearly leaned towards overseas coaches because they often bring fresh ideas and a more technical style, which suits the top level. Lower down, it’s a different world. League Two especially rewards physicality and direct play, and that can make it hard for technical players to shine. I think the real challenge is finding a balance. You don’t want to abandon passing football just to grind out results, but you also can’t ignore the reality of what works in this division. The owners clearly have a vision, and I respect that. It’s refreshing to see a club trying to play the right way, even if it’s not always easy in League Two. Martin Paterson has a tough job, no doubt. He needs to stick to the style the owners want, but also find ways to make it effective against teams who play rough and direct. It’s not impossible, like you said, Eddie Howe managed it, and there’s no reason Notts can’t do the same with the right approach and patience. I’d rather see us try to play proper football than settle for hoofing it and hoping for scraps. Let’s back the vision and give it time to grow.

The training sessions seem to be making a real difference now. The midfield looks more settled, and the movement off the ball is starting to improve. It’s still an area we need to keep working on, especially when we’re trying to break teams down. Scott Robertson coming back is a big boost, he’s looked sharp and seems to have added a bit of muscle too, which should help him hold his own in the middle.

It says a lot about the loan players brought in that someone like Curtis Edwards, who can play in different midfield roles, has been pushed out. Jack Hinchy is less of a worry, but it still shows the club has looked back at last season and is now changing how it goes about recruitment. If the loan signings do well and Notts can keep improving, I hope it helps us bring in stronger permanent players in the future. That would be a good step forward.

Thanks to everyone for the warm welcomes. I really appreciate it. I wasn’t expecting this. If you don’t mind me asking, which parts of Cincinnati have you visited? There’s loads to do, and plenty of lovely countryside to explore. It often gets overlooked because of the busy city and the areas around it.

Thanks for the warm welcome. I’m looking forward to joining in each day and getting to know the regulars a bit more. The site looks great and I’m really pleased to be part of it.

I voted for Rod McDonald. He’s played well in the last two games and has looked solid since stepping in for Matty Platt. He’s fitted into the back three without fuss and has helped steady things at the back. At Tranmere, I thought he was excellent. He defended with confidence and looked like the most experienced player in that part of the pitch. He led by example and didn’t shy away from the challenge.

I was referring to this season when I mentioned Mai Traore. We only saw brief moments from him last year, and I do think he still has something to show. But based on what we’ve seen so far, I feel Notts should look at other options. It’s not about giving up on him, but the team needs to be practical. If he’s not fit or ready to contribute, then it makes sense to bring in someone who can. The squad needs depth, and relying on potential alone isn’t enough.

Hello, my name is Geoff. I am 49 and have supported Notts since I was 7. I now live in the United States because of work, but I still manage to travel back and watch a few games in person. I grew up in Wollaton and still feel a strong connection to the area. I enjoy hiking, fishing and watching sport. I also like discussing ideas and hearing different views.

Mai Traore’s injury is a concern. Notts paid a fee, and he hasn’t featured yet. With only two strikers at the club, it’s hard to see how this setup works. Losing Matt Palmer and Scott Robertson showed how thin the squad can be. A third striker would give us more cover. The names mentioned in this thread are all decent options, but I don’t expect Notts to spend. A younger forward might come in to play off the bench. That’s fine, as long as he’s good enough.

Kelle Roos needs to sharpen up. Teams will see him as a weak spot. He reacts slowly and doesn’t always go down when the ball comes in. It’s worrying. He can make good saves, which shows he has ability, but something isn’t right. He needs to take control of his area and get his positioning sorted. With his experience, some of the goals conceded should have been stopped.

Thommo knew the game. He didn’t get the success he wanted as a coach, but he earned respect. He gave everything to the job. It’s a real loss to football and to those who knew him. Rest in peace, Steve Thompson.