leigh curtis has teased and wrote about comments expressed by neal ardley, who believes some people want to see notts fail.

what do you think of the comments?

While the Barrow fans seem to be largely windup merchants on Twitter, I don't think any Notts fan would deny the better team won the game.

It's just; I rarely see poor winners in such a pathetic demonstration of childish celebrations. I would have happily gone home, accepted that Barrow deserved the win, but the way they acted is just unfortunate.

I can get over the way they attempted to incense our fans, does that demonstrate how much winning meant? No, Leigh, it doesn't. It highlights them as poor winners.

Running over to their travelling fans, for me would have highlighted how much it meant to them.

But, besides this - again they deserved the win. They did homework on us, shut Notts down and knew exactly how to contain us. Plus, at times Barrow was quite enjoyable to watch (when they weren't time-wasting, diving, playing dirty). All part of their tactics mind, I get that!

This all put to one side; I feel there are things we can learn from this.

Notts won't win every game, just like Barrow won't remain top of the National League table for long if they continue to be vein.

1] - Once our keeper has the ball, the players need to be quicker to make space and move without clustering themselves into areas which only benefit an organised opposition. Sam Slocombe can be very quick to release the ball, however, despite this we don't counter that well, and against Barrow, this would have been highly effective I feel.

Don't get me wrong; it's improved from the days whereby nobody seemed to want the ball, but even I could make more movement after dislocating both my knees than some of our players.

2] - Retaining focus on the game rather than antics! Several players mentioned to me after the match that Barrow players repeatedly rubbed the result in their faces. While this is again poor showmanship, whatever happened to wanting to prove people wrong? This type of s**t is precisely the type of thing which fuelled me when I used to play. Good players, they use this to their advantage - just like Lee Hughes did back in his playing days at Meadow Lane.

Michael Doyle, at times, almost lost his head, this isn't what you want to see from the clubs captain.

3] - Stop rushing passes! There's no point rushing, it leads to poor play, and often it just makes people panic. Damien McCrory was a visible offender of this, likewise Mitch Rose, who hasn't been the same since Michael Doyle returned from his suspension. Enzio Boldewijn rushed that shocking back pass, although if people wanted to be a bit fairer on that - why did we play so high?

Especially knowing how eager and quick, the barrow players were to break.

It makes no sense at all.

4] - Sometimes, changes are required at half time! If you want to try to get a result, sometimes you need to force a change. Enzio Boldewijn should have been subbed early, his free playing role just created space, and it made it more difficult for Richard Brindley to defend. I accept, most of the players performed quite badly, and it wasn't a good team performance at all.

Yet choosing to stick, when it's isn't working. Just reminds most people that Ardley tends to leave things late, he doesn't have a plan B and individual players no matter what their form are always going to perform inconsistently when they don't fear being dropped.

5] - Better homework is required! Barrow did theirs on us; it just sometimes seems like we have no idea how to counter when good teams come to Meadow Lane or even play us. There's no point trying to chase a 2-0 lead, without acknowledging that the opposition is playing a different game. Or, only that our tactics aren't working.

Before Barrow's goal, Notts looked okay, and chances did fall. When it went wrong, well it never seemed likely that we could salvage a point from the game. After last season, I can't be the only Notts fan who wishes to see more fight from our players.

This season is far from terrible, we are doing better than Chesterfield, and I would like to maintain this.

Would I be annoyed that Notts failed to make the playoffs? No, it's more about working together and losing games where we put in an excellent performance ourselves. Kyle Wootton and Wes Thomas are the only two players that can walk away from the Barrow game, feeling like they had put in any shift. I know, Thomas doesn't feel he played well as he told me himself.

I don't want to see the squad suffering the same old problems that we tend to see.

Breakdown of key topics:

• The Danish brothers were attracted to Notts because, the clubs history, Nottingham as a city, the potential and a fantastic opportunity.
• 2019/2020 aim is to hopefully gain promotion - however, they feel it's not expected and Neal Ardley must establish the team.
• Long term goals: Create an excellent scouting infrastructure to enable the club to sign the right players from the English leagues and overseas.
• They want to work with the fans so that the club can attract newer and more fans.
• It's hoped the club can go as far as it can, creating new memories.
• Hardest challenge faced coming in was forming the team, due to the time limits.
• Neal Ardley acknowledges that the new owners came straight in, they helped him to move quickly to make the signings and some of the players didn't have a pre-season.
• Media has been interested in the takeover in Denmark, that we are the oldest professional club and additionally with Kasper having played here - Danish people like supporting one English club, perhaps Notts?
• Things had to happen very quickly, they didn't have much time to look at players nor due proper financial diligence with the takeover. Both were happy with completing, they just wished they had more time.
• Unsure what to expect from owning a football club, they acknowledge that the staff have plenty of experience which makes their life easier.
• Spending money respectfully and carefully, Neal Ardley doesn't want to mismanage this.
• Owners look beyond defeats, they look at the bigger picture.
• Two new scoreboards to be installed, with support from Lifeline and the OSA.
• The club wants to promote the heritage, yet there are no plans currently to open a museum.
• Neal Ardley instructs everyone to go up for corners as it allows for more space, those with height have a threat. i.e Ben Turner, Kyle Wootton etc.
• There are no plans to have our own training facilities, but the club hopes to have something more permanent in the future.
• Neal Ardley starts Enzio Boldewijn because of his current ability, rather than form and despite Sam Osborne being described as a having a bright future - he's not see as being better, despite being a 'hard worker'.

What do you think of the evening and, the items discussed? You can watch the event below.

Last season, we were supposed to see Kristian Dennis and Kane Hemmings as our main strike partnership. For me, they was never given the chance to really settle. I still recall the home game where we dominated in the first half, then ended up being extremely poor in the second. @ARLukomski might recall the game better than me, I know Dennis played some lovely touches to put in Hemmings and Alessandra.

May question; did the loan move for Dennis to Grimsby help him or us?

I know their fans didn't actually want him in the end, however, I believe the deal was close to being a permanent move as a means to reduce the wage bill.

Personally, I wonder just how much that short stint played a role with him this season. He's spoken about wanting to play, prove his worth and not wanting to remain on the bench. There was also a brief time when he seemed out of favour this season, with fans telling rumours of him supposedly joining Stockport County,

7 goals he's got this season, he's working well alongside Kyle Wootton and Wes Thomas.

His form seems to be self-driven, with goals usually coming in back-to-back games which suggests he's quite in form for a striker. I honestly believe if it was true that last season he was bordering an exit from the club, that we might have struggled a bit more during this campaign.

Welcome @Mark159,

I hope to see you join in our community on pon!

Can you all join me in welcoming @Notoriousgee to the pride of Nottingham community 

In one corner, you have some fans who don't have faith in Neal Ardley and then you have people who just want to see him get on with things. Most of the comments I have read have highlighted they just want to see Notts do well, few expect promotion. Those that do are hardly being negative, if there are fans out there that wish to see the club fail, they're not supporters.

They would only be a small minority too.

In recent games the clubs form has been woeful, I feel the defending and tactics to a degree are the real reasons why we have experienced a few bad results.

Naturally after relegation, some fans might be inclined to believe Ardley isn't the right man for the job. I personally don't blame him, yet he could have saved Notts and if he didn't set out for what appeared to be draws things may all be different. I say this as a point, I accept it happened and just feel I would like to see the club moving forward.

There seemed to be a sense of positivity floating around the club prior to the defeat, so what has changed?

I just want to see Neal Ardley focus on the games as they come, figuring out how to adapt to games would help. Ignoring his gut feelings, or excuses about why things aren't doing well isn't productive. If you agree, disagree, want him out it's beside the point. He is the manager of Notts County.

Just get on with it.

The season is still there if the hopes to finish inside the playoffs, breeding chaos through smoke screen isn't going to help. If anything, the lack of focus and negativity that it breed will just become the short term excuse as to why things didn't happen.

A win tomorrow would be massive, there has to be some sort of focus now we are almost half way through the season.

Game 23 - The Wood (H)

Team: Boreham Wood

Date: 26/11/19

Where: Meadow Lane

What line-up should Neal Ardley opt for? What will be the key areas for the Magpies to get a victory? What do you think the final score will be?

Have your say below, join in with the Pride of Nottingham match discussion.

Welcome to the latest round of the prediction league! We're slowly approaching the half-way stage - but that means that half the points are still to play for! So whether you're going for top spot, pride and honour or there's just someone you really want to beat, get involved!

These matches kick off on Saturday at 3pm, so I'll need your predictions by then. As usual, remember your joker!

Bristol City v Nottingham Florist

Stoke City v Wigan Athletic

Sunderland v Coventry City

Shrewsbury Town v Bristol Rovers

Cheltenham Town v Colchester United

Carlisle United v Cambridge United

Hartlepool United v Boreham Wood

Dover Athletic v Solihull Moors

Game 22 - The Shots (A)

Team: Aldershot Town

Date: 23/11/19

Where: Recreation Ground

What line-up should Neal Ardley opt for? What will be the key areas for the Magpies to get a victory? What do you think the final score will be?

Have your say below, join in with the Pride of Nottingham match discussion.

Slocombe 6 - Not troubled much. Distribution slow at times

Brindley 5 - Guy isn't bothered sometimes

Rawlinson 6 - Cleared one off the line and alert. Our best player

Turner 4 - Accident waiting to happen 

McCrory 4 - Not quick enough on the ball and again poor with his passes. For the first goal, he wasn't alert and didn't track his man

Boldewijn 4 - On occasions, failed to track back in the first half. Lost the ball for the first goal. Quiet 2nd half

Rose 5 - Completed passes this game but lost the ball in the build up to Aldershot's first goal. Still not anywhere near effective 

Doyle 5 - Apart from a wayward shot that ended up being an assist, did not do enough to impact the game

Booty 6 - Good deliveries into the area but no one on the end of it. Why is he playing on the wing

Wootton 5 - Scored but barely did owt second half

Thomas 4 - The old Wes is back. The one who can't finish

Dennis/Shields/Tyson N/A - Nothing of note

Welcome to Pon! @Nick Kennedy

I hope to see you join in our site as we have alot of friendly members.

Hello Bromley1972,

Welcome to the Pride of Nottingham, I hope you enjoy being a part of our Notts County community.

does neal ardley squad now have good enough depth?

i think the squad has the depth we need, i know there are concerns about upfront but wes thomas, kyle wootton and kristian dennis all seem bang in form. they are capable of scoring goals, and nathan tyson does offer us suitable squad rotation.

with the signing of alex lacey seems to give us the final jigsaw which was loss of sam graham.

what do you think? do you have any concerns?

Welcome back! Hope you enjoyed the break and used the time to hone your top secret prediction league-winning formulas. I know I have. As usual, post your predictions below by Saturday at 3pm, you get one joker each.

Bolton Wanderers - Milton Keynes

Gillingham v Lincoln City

Exeter City - Cheltenham Town

Macclesfield Town - Mansfield Town

Leyton Orient v Scunthorpe United

Bromley v Harrogate Town

Dagenham & Red v Aldershot

Woking v Halifax Town

Game 21 - The Bluebirds (H)

Team: Barrow AFC

Date: 16/11/19

Where: Meadow Lane

What line-up should Neal Ardley opt for? What will be the key areas for the Magpies to get a victory? What do you think the final score will be?

Have your say below, join in with the Pride of Nottingham match discussion.

Yesterday was very disappointing. Seeing how far we have progressed over the last few months has been great but yesterday's performance made us feel very dis-heartened. 

This is because of how expectations have risen over the past two months as the team has got better.

One loss does not suddenly make us a bad team. Before yesterday's defeat we had not lost at home for 3 months and had lost only 3 games in our last 17. We also had scored in ever game bar 3, had the joint best defence and had the highest goal difference. 

We were beaten by the better team who obviously had come with a game plan and had done their homework. Couple this with a below par performance from Notts (not something we've seen much of this season) and you have your winner.

Barrow played some decent football and worked us out. They closed us down quickly, not allowing us the freedom we'd normally have. We played into their hands though as we were not quick enough on the ball and made rash decisions inside our own half and in Barrow's half as well. Decision making in both boxes was poor and our passing was not good enough. We rushed into passes without thinking

Notts weren't brave enough or clinical enough when in possession with the ball or going forward towards the final third. This is the one thing that could determine our season. Our tempo must get quicker if we are to challenge the top of the table. 

However, this season has shown so far, we will have more good days than bad days. We have shown we are a good team this season, battling in and around the play-offs for the best part of two months despite only starting to sign players, the week the season started (not using that as an excuse). Notts have played some decent football this season. Every team has bad days and we had a bad day yesterday. Need to get it out our system and go again at Aldershot.

The balls are out of the sack and we face Ebbsfleet or Woking away in the first round of the cup. I can't deny that I'm underwhelmed - it would have been a nice change to play a League club again. Still, we should keep the ball rolling and hopefully we'll make the third round.

What do you think? Will you be making the trip, or is the cup an unwelcome distraction?

Things are looking very good right now, performance wise Notts seems fired up and, Meadow Lane is quickly becoming a fortress.

Neal Ardley's position seems to be secure, despite some concerns early on by some fans.

Team wise, we have depth and have managed the 'injury crisis' that certain areas of the media attempted to push, perhaps as a way to excuse the defeats? Either way, it never seemed liked a major issue at all.

The injury to Jim O'Brien and return of Sheffield United youngest Sam Graham seemed the only genius issues Ardley faced.

We've seen that Mitch Rose can partner pretty much anyone in the centre of midfield, Pierce Bird can come in and do a steady job. The depth that Sean Shields and Richard Brindley highlights we have cover, in terms of quality and players able to come in at any point.

A few bad results, may creep in some nerves but I feel most fans are optimistic right now.

Importantly, the belief and feeling that Notts is able to do well had returned.

How do you feel currently?

https://www.nottinghampost.com/news/nottingham-news/former-notts-county-defender-turns-3420864

Does anyone know what is happening with the monthly shirt sponsors? Are we still doing them?

We're now into our third month with Lifeline on the front of the shirt. While their logo looks very snazzy and all, I can't help wondering whether we'll be getting an external sponsor again. Is there really so little interest in the monthly packages (I'd expected the owners to stick Football Radar on there for a month at least)? Or do you reckon they're looking for a main sponsor to go on the shirt next season too? I know the National League is a hard sell, but it's quite possible that we will be having two Wembley trips in the spring, with plenty of exposure for our sponsor...

Any thoughts, rumours, insider info?

Our former chairman died yesterday at the age of 97.

He was a bit before my time, but he was the man who brought Jimmy Sirrel to the club and took us on a crazy journey from the fourth to the first division. RIP Jack.

Here's an NEP article with an excerpt from Paul Mace's book on Jack Dunnett. Recommended reading!

I get and fully understand that some fans are not impressed with Neal Ardley.

At this stage in the season I think more time needs to be given, those who call for his head seem more impatient and unrealistic in their expectations. A modern sign of football supporters, I think on a rational basis we have to hope he improves because there is a lot that needs to be done.

So, I ask you what is your view on the gaffer?

What about his managerial traits do you not like? More importantly how do you think he can improve?

Notts County Football Club can't keep sacking the managers, stability is needed and I think Neal Ardley is struggling to make use of the players at his disposal. He has the CV to suggest he can do well, is it more his in-game tactics that fall short or does it all stem from his approach leading into games?

I might sound out of my head, I think given the time and chance he will do a steady job.