McPie

Although 1-1 was probably a fair result, I was really proud of the boys yesterday. They stood up to the physicality and aerial bombardment from Bromley really well. Notts were the only team trying to play football. I listened to Andy Woodman's post match interview and I think he must be detached from reality to think Bromley should have won the game. He was probably frustrated that their style of play didn't work. I agree with@DangerousSausage Just as was the situation with Lincoln was, we to some degree yesterday sussed them out and they were quite ineffective, with only one shot on target. Others teams will work it out and we could see them drop down the table. I would much rather watch a Notts team trying to play football with skill and purpose than a team that at every opportunity just lumps the the ball in the box hoping to cause chaos and score from it.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0n0nmqt Nice interview with Luke Williams.

Heart says Championship, but head says League 1. Which when we consider the mess we were in when we were relegated to the National League is a good return from the brothers management of the club. Well run clubs like Brighton, Bournemouth and Brentford didn’t do overnight. They have been able sustain their place in the Premier League. Unlike others who make it and then drop through the leagues like a stone!

It’s a dangerous thing to be top of the table too early. Walsall and Gillingham to mention a couple in recent times shows that. Bromley have always been ready to talk about being the “underdog” “punching above their weight “ well being top of the league brings with it a different kind of pressure. They are now the ones to be shot at. When they finally lose their unbeaten record, whether it’s to Notts or someone else, it will be interesting to see how they respond. We should have no fear in playing Bromley, they are just another League 2 team. They are not better than Mk Dons or Swindon who we have already beaten.

My vote goes to Lewis Macari, I thought he was great going forward always available for the overlap and solid at the back. He has been consistently good for a while now. He makes some important tackles and is composed on the ball.

It seems to be a trend of late that we get ourselves into a winning position and find ourselves hanging on for the win. Next week against Bromley, if we are hanging on for a draw or win I suspect we will come unstuck against the masters of the late goal. I just hope Norburn and Robertson are fit or we could be in trouble.

I think it’s a sign that the recruitment is going in a slightly different direction. We have tended to sign young talented players with technical skills that have a sell on value. While that is still the case in some instances, they realize that to get out of league 2 more is needed. While we have signed Luke Browne our defensive options are strong so he has time to bed in. Whereas Lee Ndlovu and James Belshaw are ready to make an impact. Beck-Ray Enoru is probably somewhere in the middle.

Accy's win last night definitely softens the blow of the them beating us! As @Robbie says its vital we don't slip up against Barrow. A sign of a good team is to go all out and win decisively and make the previous wins really count!

In his post match interview after the Gillingham game, Martin Paterson said there are lots of things we can do better. What might some of those things be? For me while we are now competing well against the physical aggressive foulers and shirt pullers of the division, we seem to lose our composure and give the ball away cheaply as the game progresses. The last two games we seem to be hanging on instead of being in control. If we can improve in that area (getting a second goal would help) we have a real chance of automatic promotion.

Agree@Robbie this one could be another battle! I just hope fatigue doesn’t affect the performance. A poor pitch last Saturday and the physicality of the game could take its toll. If we can perform to our recent levels, we can win. COYP!

This was a game that was short on quality, but that wasn't Notts's fault. The pitch played a massive part, not to mention the anti-football tactics of Fleetwood which the ref did nothing about. So for me a man of the match would be a player who led the way in passion graft and determination. For me it has to be Ollie Norburn. His celebration for the second goal typified it for me.

We have the best two strikers in the league with Ndlovu as good backup. Jodi is back to his best and a good strong defence and midfield. If we don't have a strong end to the season, we will only have ourselves to blame. The owners have shown ambition while at the same time balancing the finances. MP and his coaching team are moving us in the right direction. It's up to the players now to do it on the Pitch. COYP!

It could have been any one of a number of players, some really good individual performances. I'm going for Jatta, just thought it was his best game for a long time. His hold up play and control was good, he ran and ran. A good all round performance.

Just what we need!

Really like his interview with Adam Hassell. Says he will work hard for team and is happy to do the "dirty work." I think he will be a real asset. He may not score a hatful of goals, but will hold up play and create chances for others.

I get where you are coming from @liampie regarding Nick Tsaroulla, he put n a great cross for the goal and I like the partnership with Lewis Macari. For me it's just there isn't enough of what he is good at. Taking players on quality crosses and for a wing back he gets in some great positions to shoot from, but always seems to sky his shots over the bar. There is a really good player in there if he can increase the end product.

Yes I think he would be the ideal player to have when chasing a game. He is big and powerful and can out muscle defenders. We remember all too well the goal he scored against us for Boreham Wood in the play-off semi final!

Good all round performance yesterday. Everyone played their part. Not been a big fan of Norburn, but showed his real worth against Crewe and could easily have been man of the match, but for me Tom Iopenda just shades it. He has been a consistent performer and his pressing and tenacity were key in winning the game.

A number of different candidates have been put forward so far seems to indicate that in what was a fairly scrappy game there was no real standout performer. A touch of quality from Jodi for the his goal was about it, but not enough for MOM. I'll add another to the mix and nominate Tom Iorpenda.

Hopefully this signing is and indication there is more to come. We are not desperate for defenders, but good business while the opportunity was there. Lets hope we now go and get players in where we definitely need them! Actually what we need are players that can hit the ground running and make the starting 11.

Interestingly, out of the four teams promoted only Doncaster were in the top 3 on news years day. Bradford were ninth 17 points behind Walsall who were 12 points clear of Doncaster in second place. It just goes to show anything is possible at this stage of the season.

Have we progressed under Martin Paterson? I suppose it depends on the criteria used as a metric. Compare our league positions after defeats on new years day 2025 and 2026: Position Played Won Drawn Lost Goal For Goals Against GD Points 01/01/2025 7 24 11 6 7 36 26 10 37 01/01/2026 7 23 10 7 6 36 26 10 39 Amazingly they are very similar. If results are the criteria, then maybe we haven't progressed. If performances are the metric then I would say we have regressed. We all know what happened from this point onwards last season, so to avoid it happening again, we need a good January transfer window!

Absolutely agree @ARLukomski ball retention is poor. It seems like we’re playing panic football. Few have the composure to control the ball and pass. It just seems it’s head it kick it as far away as possible like a hot potato! I don’t know why Roos continues a long clearance trying to find Jatta, it never comes off. It feels like the team is playing with fear. I agree @piedestrian we have a group of squad players. I don’t think any of this is knee jerk reaction, a number of positive results have masked some poor performances.

Two of our bogey teams in the National League were Bromley and Boreham Wood, one is top of League Two and the other top of The National League. Is it time for a re-think?

I agree Iorpenda MOM. Not only does he press well, win the ball and retain it; he is a genuine goal threat.