McPie

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....

I think many feel the club could improve in their communication with supporters on football related matters. It seems as soon as you open the official website you are instantly hit with commercial offers. Most supporters appreciate the importance of raising funds for the club, but it would be nice if that were balanced out with more regular football related information. Maybe with the appointment of a new D of F, his secretary or some one could produce regular updates. For example, without giving too much detail updates during the transfer window. latest on injuries etc. Sometimes the long periods of silence can get fans worried and then rumours surface. Good communication is the life blood of any good club.

If MP plays with two up front again, it's possible Jodi would play at wing back and replace Gordon. Although with it being an away game at the team top of the league he might go more cautious and just go with one striker.

Not being privy to the details surrounding this decision it's hard to know what to make of it. However the the decision was made by mutual agreement. So it's seems both parties felt it was the right thing to do. Certainly recruitment hasn't been the best and there was was that longish period leading up to the end of the transfer window where no anticipated striker came in. Whether that has anything to do with it we might never know.

An often-heard expression among football fans is “winning is all that matters” It’s felt that playing good football and not winning is futile. “It doesn’t matter how we perform as long as we win.” Of course, for any team to be successful winning is essential. However is it too simplistic to say it doesn’t matter how we play as long as we win? Well to win trophies and achieve promotions, winning is vital. However, can a team play poorly for 46 games in a season and expect to get promotion? Yes good teams, champions find a way to win when they aren’t playing well, but they have to play well for a good number of games to be successful. Teams who consistently play poorly are more likely to be relegated than promoted. So good performances are also needed. The question is how can a team that plays good entertaining football also become a winning one? Certainly players with skill and technical ability are needed. They need to have the skill set that fits into the head coaches playing philosophy. They need a measure of physicality, mental strength and a never say die attitude. As a team there needs to be a clear playing identity. In answer to the question, yes winning matters, but it’s not all that matters. The performance against Fleetwood shows we are beginning to develop a winning mentality. Let’s hope MP is able put these ingredients together to make us not only a team that wins, but a team that is good to watch!

It can be a tough watch at times with the the ball flying aimlessly in the air from one side to the other like a tennis match. But to be fair to Notts league two opposition tend to force you into that style of play with there constant physical approach that stifles football. So I think the penny has dropped with the owners that to get promotion, you have to match that style. The old saying that you have to earn the right to play football seems to be true. As we develop as a team lets hope we can add some decent football to the physical side and get promoted.

Today wasn’t a fluent performance, but it did show we can mix it with the physical teams in league 2. I would like to see Robertson start when he’s fully match fit and Ness to replace Aljofree who I think would benefit from a rest. If Jatta is injured, then I would expect Jodi to get his place back.

I agree with the sponsors man of the match Iorpenda. Not only is he good at winning the ball back as he did for the goal, but he has the ability to turn and run with the ball. There was one occasion when he intercepted the and turned in one movement and was way on the attack. Real class for this level.

@Chris, I agree, don’t think Jodi will be a big loss. He’s not yet firing on all cylinders so to speak. It gives MP some interesting team selections without disrupting the overall momentum. He could replace him with Jatta and play two up front. He could give Hall a start to see what he can do. He may though play safe and put Grant in there. Also I wonder if he’s thinking about replacing Aljofree with Ness or Norburn with Robertson. We wait with anticipation!

As much as I would like to see two up front, I have a feeling Jatta will be on the bench. If he is that does give us two options for the game. Jatta can either come on and make it two upfront or if necessary he could replace Denis if he is not playing well. Play them both from the start and there's no one on the bench to bring on.

@gtownjohnno, Let’s hope it hasn’t been spent yet and is waiting in the coffers for some good signings in the January transfer window for a strong promotion push.