McPie

What I took from the Fans Forum (for what it's worth) is Martin Paterson's take on the start to the season. He said it was ok. He seem to point to the last three or so games as to a turning point, that were playing more like the way the owners want. I would agree with that. A point was made by one fan that the team that played against Crawley had 8 players from last season and that seem to make the difference. It would seem from his reply that he agreed. It looks like he has been giving certain new/loan players the chance to show what they can do, but they haven't taken that opportunity. I think he is getting very close to knowing his best eleven. You get the feeling that the likes of Cotter and Aljofree are on borrowed time. I think we will see more of Luker and Hall with just one up front. From the game against Barnsley, I'd like to see more of Ness, Bennetts and Jarvis, at least being involved on the bench.

Yes he did play well I agree @liampie, It will take him time to get back to full match fitness, but he is certainly on the way. He is a first team starter for me.

I'm not sure Notts need a massive injection of cash to survive in League 1. Our model has been to find talent from lower leagues/overseas without spending high levels of cash. Our past recruitment has unearthed Wooton, Rodrigues, Langstaff, Bass and Baldwin all playing at a higher level. We also currently have Jodi, Robertson and Bedeau who have played at a higher level before joining us. So I'm not too concerned about the financial side of things, we just need to get our recruitment back on track and we will be ok.

Didn't think anyone was outstanding yesterday. However, there were a few honourable mentions. Jodi was a threat, McDonald give us stability at the back and Tsaroulla for his goal and the spirit and determination he shows. Also Palmer the go-to anchor man and Macari for his defensive work and overlaps. On balance I go for Tsaroulla.

This is the problem with too many loan players. They can help you win promotion, but most likely will be gone soon after the season finishes. I think we have a basis for a competitive squad in league 2, but like other successful promoted sides we would need to strengthen during the summer.

I don't think you could drop Rod McDonald on his current form. I can't see it being an issue for some yet. Platt has fairly long term injury and then has to get match fit. When he returns to fitness you would expect him to start on the bench and wait his chance. It's a good thing for the club to have competition for places. No one should feel they an automatic right to start. Keeps everyone on their toes!

Everyone played well today, but I think Scott Robertson deserves MOM. His energy, press and winning the ball was first class and the goal...... say no more! I feel he provided the platform for the rest of the team to perform well. We just have to keep him fit!

That was for me without doubt the best 90 minute performance I've seem from Notts since we came back into the EFL. For me Robertson's energy was infectious. Mcari did well. I thought the passing was quick and accurate the press was excellent and the finishing clinical. The team look like they had a game plan, there were organised and without the ball kept a good shape and consistently forced Crawley backwards. Crawley are a decent team, but we blew them away. Top marks for MP he got everything right today and the subs were spot on and well done Tyrese Hall with two excellent goals. COYP!

Robertson is in that’s a big plus! Also Mcari, might see some overlaps down the wing. COYP!

One thing I have noticed this season on occasion is a lack of composure on the ball. Particularly when the ball is hit long from an opposing defender. There has been a tendency by some players to simply hoof it first time away and surrendering possession. Yes there is a time when we have to “row z” it, but we have players capable of bringing the ball under control and passing.

I agree with @gtownjohnno, the interviews done by Radio Nottingham aren’t great. I don’t know why they don’t do that them internally. Nick Richardson usually does a good interview.

It's true that there aren't any easy games in League 2, but if we are serious about promotion we have to be beating sides like Crawley at home. A fit Scott Robertson and a flying Jodi on the wing could be key for us going forward.

I think @Robbie, @theAnticlough, looking at Dennis's first goal against Bromley, I think he can play the Didzy role. I would have a midfield 3 of Palmer, Robertson and Iorpenda. Palmer as the deeper linking the play and the other two supporting further forward when appropriate.

I like the idea of two strikers, but it does mean adjusting the formation to accommodate it. With two strikers I think you may have go 442 or 4312. We could do away with wingbacks. And have Jodi as a winger floating either side. And the two fullbacks maybe Mcari and Bedeau (I think they’re good at doing that)overlapping with Jodi. That way you have three options for creating crosses into the box. Without the ball we can revert to the 442 formation to defend.

I’m with you @Robbie, we need toughen up, but at the same time keep our footballing principles. I don’t accept we have to revert to ‘kick and rush’ football to get promoted from league 2. Teams who play that way often come back down very quickly. We need to embed our playing style in to club and recruit accordingly. It will pay in the long run.

Yes I agree @theAnticlough, the data may have already forced the brothers hand with the departure of Roberto Gagliardi. The poor recruitment may buy MP and his team more time.

Could it be @Robbie, that the data suggests that Jodi's best position is out wide as you say, but perhaps MP has decided otherwise as is his prerogative as head coach? I agree with you Jodi's best position is on the wings. Maybe MP is beginning to go that way as was seen last Saturday. Let's hope so. With two hungry strikers in the box it's a no brainer!

The current coaching team is it stick or twist? Some Notts fans have already decided it’s time for a change. Others feel they need more time. Some are not sure what to make of it all and the jury is still out. I suppose most importantly what do the brothers think? It was interesting listening to a Luke Williams podcast. He spoke about his time at Notts and he revealed a couple of interesting points. Firstly (something he also mentioned while at the club) that the brothers use data to analyse matches. Results don’t always tell the whole story. In some matches that ended in defeat, the performance data may show that it merited a win. Conversely in some matches won, the data may show it merited a defeat. Critics of this will say it’s only the result that matters not the ifs and buts. However, I don’t think that the data is simply saying that the result doesn’t matter. It seems to me the data is picking up on a trend that performances are showing. If the performances are consistent, the results will follow. As an example, Stuart Maynard was sacked at the end of last season. Some may feel that was harsh as he took us into the playoffs. The data may have pick up on the trend that good performances didn’t result in enough wins. In fact it could have pointed to some wins actually merited a defeat. (winning only by a ref’s bad decision, a lucky penalty or some other non-performance related reason) This type of win is not due to a consistent performance trend. Whatever the case, the data may have showed that with the players available there should have been more wins. The fact that we didn’t win enough games to achieve promotion seems to suggest that is the case. Resulting in his sacking. The second point Luke made was that the brothers use algorithms as part of the data model. He gave an example whereby the brothers used an algorithm to indicate that a certain player should play in a particular position in a certain match to optimise the performance. Luke stressed he wasn’t compelled to use this suggestion or even if he did, but the data was there to help him make the best decision possible. The question is then: What is the performance data telling the brothers about the current coaching team? Is it too early to see trends? Have we had defeats that merited wins? Wins that merited a defeat. Time will tell. What it all does say is that the brothers are not sleep-walking into relegation. The finger is very much on the pulse. We can be confident that they will make the right decisions at the right time.

I used to be a big fan of possession based football, the theory being while you have the ball the opposition can't hurt you. Especially the Guardiola style played at Barcelona. The problem is to make it work you need players like Messi, Xavi and Iniesta. Now even Guardiola has tweaked his style at Man City as many teams have discovered how to nullify it. In recent years Klopp and now Slot have and other managers are adopting a much faster quick passing more direct style that is proving difficult to defend against because defending teams have less time to react to what is happening and get into shape. With this style you don't need Messi and co, but you do need players who can think quickly and pass accurately. I think that has become my preferred style, but not sure it's achievable with league two players. When that style doesn't work you tend to get long aimless balls up field. Sound familiar? It's possible that the brothers are thinking that Williams style leaves us too open at the back and Maynard's style was too pedestrian. Maybe they think Paterson's style is somewhere in between. Let's hope it works out that way. I suppose we will find out sooner or later!

Just watched the match back and no one for me stood out as man of the match. It was an all round poor performance and Gillingham weren't much better. As @theAnticlough, says McDonald came closest, was the best of rest.

I have to admit, the current style of football we are playing is the worst I can remember since before the relegation to the National League. I was hoping that the slow start would turn into gradual improvement. We seem to be very static in that respect. In terms of league games we have only lost by an odd goal, so while we are competing physically, it has been pretty dire to watch. It would be easier to accept if we could see some progress but it’s hard to see it happening at the moment. Is Gagliardi’s departure the first sign the brothers don’t like what they are watching either? We will have to wait and see!

Just listened to MP's latest after match interview and he seems very incoherent and I think this is reflected in the way the team is performing at the moment. I think one of the problems is we have half the team from last season playing the way we have for the previous few years and the other half used to playing a different way resulting in players not being on the same wavelength. The result being very disjointed performances. We seem to have lost our identity as a team. We have gone from a passing team to one one that goes long with no real purpose. We have arguably two of the best strikers in the league yet we only have one shot on target. Something is not right. Is MP the man to solve it?

Definitely well deserved! He looks the complete striker. His two goals against Bromley show that to me. His first a solo goal cutting in from the left and a great finish. The second, although not the tallest, timed his jump perfectly to head in against a very strong defensive Bromley back line. Well done Matt Dennis!

Notts need not fear anyone this season. I think we have the best two strikers in the league. If we can improve the accuracy of our passing, keep winning the ball high up the pitch (like we did against Fleetwood for the goal) we should be fine. Our weakness is defending balls into the box, especially from set pieces. As its most teams in League two’s most potent weapon, we will have to master it to get promoted, starting this Saturday against Gillingham. I noticed in Gareth Ainsworth’s presser, he said Notts have a certain way of playing. I don’t think many managers have cottoned onto the fact that we have changed this season. I think they are in for a surprise when play us. Hopefully this works in our favor! COYP!

The plot thickens! Richard Montague's future at Swansea is in doubt apparently. I wonder....