ARLukomski

The loss of Alfie May was obviously going to affect them. Not just his goals but his creative ability too. 

They haven't scored in 8 league games and the only goal they have scored (or had scored for them) was Bristol Rovers putting through their own net in the Papa John's Trophy.

They're struggling with creativity in midfield and they lost their director of football in the summer to Shrewsbury. 

From the list I'd like us to look at Conor Keeley, Josh Honohan and Ben McCormack.

Two players that aren't on the list and I'm not sure about their contract situation are Derry City pair Cameron McJannet and Ben Doherty. We tried to get their manager before we went for Luke Williams and with us having bids rejected for Keeley, I wouldn't be surprised if we looked into the League of Ireland.

Sam Curtis is another with potential but I think he'll go higher

I'll always appreciate Ian. I was going through a horrible time in March and April of 2021. He was the manager of Notts then and the end to that season gave me something to smile about.

I needed the 2021-22 season so I could go to the football again. The season might not have ended how we wanted but he gave me a lot of good memories. I met him after the last home game against Alty and what a gent. Took time out to have a photo with us and have a laugh as well. Would happily take him out for a drink

Saw him score his first professional goal in the FA Cup against Tranmere. We might have got top 3 if he hadn't got injured

Bristol City 1-0 West Bromwich Albion (Joker)

Huddersfield Town 2-1 Rotherham United

Derby County 2-2 Portsmouth 

Shrewsbury Town 0-0 Bristol Rovers

Crawley Town 2-0 Tranmere Rovers

Newport County 1-1 Barrow 

Hartlepool United 1-2 Woking

Wealdstone 2-1 Altrincham

How I've managed to have a shocker and still benefit from it, I have no idea. Now I know how George Russell feels

Exeter City 2-1 Leyton Orient 

Stevenage 2-1 Carlisle United (Joker)

Accrington Stanley 1-1 Mansfield Town

Colchester United 1-1 Tranmere Rovers 

Forest Green Rovers 2-2 Crewe Alexandra

AFC Fylde 2-1 Aldershot Town

Bromley 2-0 Maidenhead United

Woking 1-0 Solihull Moors

Thank you Bolton and Wycombe. Two clubs I've never liked but I appreciate you for giving me all my points.

Me @Chris

Getting all of our points from 1 league

Middlesbrough 2-0 Queens Park Rangers (Joker)

Plymouth Argyle 2-2 Blackburn Rovers

Bolton Wanderers 2-1 Derby County

Northampton Town 0-1 Wycombe Wanderers

Morecambe 1-2 Salford City

Newport County 2-1 AFC Wimbledon

Maidenhead United 1-2 Woking

Rochdale 1-1 Halifax Town

Coventry City 1-1 Sunderland 

Millwall 0-2 Stoke City

Exeter City 2-1 Reading

Lincoln City 2-0 Blackpool (Joker)

Bradford City 1-1 Crewe Alexandra

Walsall 0-1 Grimsby Town

Boreham Wood 1-1 Oldham Athletic

Ebbsfleet United 2-1 Kidderminster Harriers

Queens Park Rangers 0-2 Ipswich Town (Joker)

Sheffield Wednesday 1-2 Preston North End

Cambridge United 0-1 Bristol Rovers

Carlisle United 1-1 Exeter City

Grimsby Town 1-1 Mansfield Town

Sutton United 2-1 AFC Wimbledon

Rochdale 1-2 Eastleigh

Wealdstone 2-2 AFC Fylde

Barnsley 1-1 Peterborough United

Northampton Town 1-2 Lincoln City

Shrewsbury Town 1-2 Burton Albion

Colchester United 0-1 AFC Wimbledon

Crewe Alexandra 2-1 Newport County

Stockport County 1-0 Bradford City (Joker)

Eastleigh 2-1 Barnet

Woking 2-0 Rochdale

Hull City 1-0 Sheffield Wednesday 

Ipswich Town 1-1 Stoke City

Leyton Orient 0-2 Portsmouth (Joker)

Peterborough United 1-2 Charlton Athletic

Harrogate Town 1-2 Forest Green Rovers

Swindon Town 2-2 Crewe Alexandra

Dagenham & Redbridge 1-1 Southend United

York City 2-1 Kidderminster Harriers

Blackburn Rovers 1-2 West Bromwich Albion

Plymouth Argyle 2-2 Huddersfield Town

Carlisle United 2-1 Fleetwood Town

Shrewsbury Town 1-0 Cheltenham Town

Morecambe 0-1 Walsall (Joker)

Tranmere Rovers 1-2 Barrow

Aldershot Town 1-1 Oxford City

Gateshead 2-1 Boreham Wood

Definitely loan out. Luther has promise but needs to find his best position. Whether that be up front or out wide. Lucien seems comfortable with the ball at his feet but needs to work on his positioning. Somewhere like Scarborough or maybe Chester may help with the development. Or a National League club like Fylde or Solihull if we want to send them to the NL.

Always up for it. Sights set on title number 5. Please continue the NL fixtures too

Looks like they've been saved thankfully. The grandson of the founder is taking over

First time seeing Notts vs Forest so here goes

- Good performance first half. Controlled the game and created some clear cut chances. Promising against a team who had a lot more first team players out than last year

- Palmer and Jones had good games. The tempo and passing quality are still there with Matty and Jodi, with a full pre-season will be exciting 

- Nemane and Tobi linked up well down the right and given time, that link could flourish. Nice to see an adaptation to the system, where we fall back into a back 4 when defending. Some defensively problems sorted but not all which brings me on to...

- The fact we still need a CB. Our lack of pace is still worrying and without Baldwin, our calmness on the ball isn't as high. AB not having played a single minute of pre-season is worrying. However I imagine that Claxton playing there means we may be after one

- I was impressed with Nathan Claxton when he came on. Comfortable with the ball, decent positioning, brought the ball out from the back. Give him a few more games, but we still need a CB

- We looked a lot more sharper and up to speed than we did last week. Still some rough edges to smooth over but it comes with pre-season games. The link up play will get better with games

Rumoured that Barnsley want him now

Used to be regulars in Ligue 1. I remember when they beat Marseille to win the Coupe De France in 2007. Such a shame. Hope they survive

My collection from 2022-23. Also got a mag from Sheffield United vs Burnley and Stoke City vs Burnley

Nice Greggs pre-match and the PA system is loud.

- Brindley got caught out a few times. Some good recoveries but Campbell got the better of him numerous times. Campbell is a Championship after all though and I'm sure we'll be in the market for a centre-back. The high line on both sides has been exploited but we needed to face a team who were going to show us our weaknesses, so we can fix them now.

- Crowley picked up space nicely and drove us forward on the counter. The more games he plays, the more he'll get used to our system and how we play. The link up play with Nemane will get there too.

- Stone is good with his one-on-one shot stopping. Makes himself big and despite a few loose passes, I'm sure he'll step in comfortably to be No.1. When you play like we do, you're always going to run the risk of playing loose passes out from the back. 

- On the ball, there might not be many better at this level than Didzy. He was making it look easy at stages and his link up play with Macca, once it gets going, is going to be excellent. He offers that quality from the leagues above that you need. 35, but plays like he's 25.

- Cisse was quick with his feet and direct when he came on. Looks promising. Mahovo struggled at first but was better in the second half. Needs a loan as he's not ready yet. 

- Randall looked alright at LWB. One of his favourite ways of playing, is to cut inside and shoot. Got back well, just need to adapt his play to run outside of his man.

Obvious we need a right sided centre-back. Jesse Debrah please. Would add a centre mid as well for competition.

A nice evening in the West Midlands. It's nice to chill at this time of the year. Good to see some familiar faces from Notts as well. A very nice cheeseburger and some lovely donuts too.

Things to take from the game 

- Dan Crowley and Aaron Nemane's link up play was excellent in the first half and both had a hand in the first 2 goals. O'Brien basically stealing Crowley's goal . It's what we've come to expect down the right, with the deeper lying CAM, linking up with the wing-back. DC also produced some nice crosses and is technically astute. 

- Riley Reynolds looked promising. Chased lost causes and had a good effort tipped over by the Nuneaton keeper. Agile player

- Geraldo Bajrami looked calm in the centre of midfield and I think that's where we see him long term. He said before that he prefers it in midfield and I'm not surprised. Looks comfortable there.

- Aidan Stone was calm in possession and vocal as well. Always on his toes to chase a loose ball and looks to distribute quickly, which suits us. One moment in the 1st half where he kicked quickly out of his hands and almost ended up with Macca through on goal.

- Cedwyn and Didzy look sharp. McGoldrick with some elegant turns and dips of the shoulder. Cedwyn's pressing was good and finished well after swivelling his body. He was also passing on advice to Charlie Gill who had a decent game and ended it with a mazy run, taking on about 3 players and getting into the penalty area.

- Lucien Mahovo looks assured in possession and looks to be on a good path to spend more time with the 1st team in the near future. He's strong and most importantly an athlete. He's built well and has that calm assurance on the ball, to bring it out of defence and overlap his wing-back, something we do often.

Think that's the first time in a while he's stuck with the same hair colour for more than 5 months. 

Big overhaul going on at Dagenham so they need fresh faces. Showed his ability at CM and LWB. Good luck to him