Piethagoram

Piethagoram stands back and takes a broader view of the contracts situation. It says more about our lacking in recruitment research than anything positive to the players that have re-signed. How many more times will we suffer needless penalties being given away by Duffy and Hollis? Lack of challenges by Hewitt, the tearing apart of him by Kyle Bennett at Portsmouth unfortunately lives long in the memory. Curtis was a bit part player yet Richards isn't offered a contract renewal and is told to earn it in pre season training? I have confidence in Nolan but feel that we have been not tough enough in recognising the limitations of the existing squad

As @Elite_pie points out, ..An idea of where we need to be to compete at the top end of the league. .. Noticed from the programme how much smaller Portsmouth's squad was. Just that they have invested in picking quality players. Burgess, their #6, best centre half in the division. Claims for handball against him rightly waved away for accidental handball. Jamal Lowe proving assured recruitment from Non League that there are good players to be found. I have a feeling that despite the turnaround in our fortunes under Nolan's tutorialship, some unpleasant pruning of our squad still needs to be done

25/3/67 Notts 20th in Div 4; 25/3/17 Notts 20th in L2. Piethagoram's 50 years to the day watching Notts, same league position as when I started. At least memorable seasons in the top flight, Anglo Italian Cup, Juventus V Notts in the intervening years. Nolan does seem to follow a Big Sam blueprint. Play the game in percentages, especially tightening up of the defence. Yes, Wycombe had squandered chances today to score, but Notts have a more team unit feel to the side now. Ability to see out a game too. The team is greater than the sum of the individual parts.

25th March 1967 stood on the County Road stand to watch Notts lose 0-1 to Exeter City. 50 years to the day, will be at Wycombe, same division, witnessing another afternoon's emotions as being a Notts fan

Perhaps he should take penalties now, great power from a near standing ball

http://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/sport/football/hartlepool-united/notts-county-2-hartlepool-united-1-match-reaction-jones-angry-with-pools-1-8434063

https://mobile.twitter.com/experimental361/status/840612065345732608 good analytical piece. Notts being "effective"

@upthepies A good summary in that I too agree with your synopsis. Stevenage's manager was very impressive in the way he set up his side. I have always been impressed by Schumacher from his Bury performances against Notts, likewise the ex Orient winger McAnuff. Stevenage's work rate in midfield was something Notts could not match. I still question our fitness levels as never once during the game, did we look like being first to the second ball. Never thought we would miss O'Connor but we did today Unfortunately I have to question Nolan's judgement. His failure to recognise Clackstone's first half nightmare, did us no favours. We could have been easily 3 down at half time. Tootle was a ready made replacement but it is becoming apparent that he doesn't fit into Nolan's plans. Personally I would recall Wildin from his loan.

http://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/plymouth-argyle-0-notts-county-1-more-home-park-woe-for-off-form-pilgrims/story-30170188-detail/story.html

Super set up from Stead for O'Connor to blaze over. What a wazzock

"It may be unpopular to suggest seeing Alan Smith.." You bet, especially starting a match ahead of Forte. I am extremely worried that chumminess with Smith will affect Nolan's decision making.

@notts-joe http://www.nottinghampost.com/all-eyes-on-alan-smith-s-team-selection-as-notts-county-head-to-morecambe/story-30033547-detail/story.html The only important news is the possible return of Stanley!

From Nottingham Post: "Stan is still injured. He just gets a different injury every week so I can't tell you when he'll be back," he said. "It's not frustrating for me. I've just got to pick the players who want to play and who are fit. "When you're injured you're no good to me, without being disrespectful. "Stan keeps getting injuries here, injuries there. They're setting him back." Rodman, a summer signing from Newport, has also not played since featuring against Boreham Wood. Like Aborah, he has suffered from a series of minor setbacks. "He's another who gets injuries for some reason, little niggly problems," Sheridan said. "I don't know when he'll be back. I don't think it will be long. One week they're fit then they're not. "John the physio is the best man to ask about them!" Looks like Sheridan has discarded these 2? To say speak to the Physio is unacceptable and unprofessional.

Rob Dorsett ‏@RobDorsettSky 1m1 minute ago For those #notts fans asking-apologies. My sources have gone quiet on the takeover talks, despite repeated attempts. Hence my radio silence.

Very much agree with the sentiments expressed. I fear the real risk of relegation as Meadow Lane's atmosphere resembles a morgue. Was Jamie an undertaker in training? His appointment not only affected the football, it also questioned us fans in our allegiance, that's how bad it got. Now with an experienced manager, the on field problems remain. Recruitment policy not improved, this whole situation hurts in my 50th year of supporting Notts. I want to see a team that cares, to match how much we care as supporters. I want to see reassurance from Ray of either intent of reinvigorating this club or to pass on custodianship to someone that cares.

Stallard: "If it stays like this for 90 minutes i'm in danger of not being awake for the final 10" # Stallard's comment made in the first half. The lack of atmosphere really comes down to the players out there giving numbingly dull individually performances. Where are the hero's that can lift the crowd? Laing, Stead, Richards, Collins when he came on, Genaro too. Players like Rodman send people into a deep coma It needed some midfield positivity, which Stanley can provide.

#StanleyIn

Even more shocking goal to concede from this angle

http://www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/football/teams/notts-county/10614122/notts-co-1-2-morecambe Morecambe's first looking even worse now....

Sums up my feelings too reply to @Keithw65 1hWow. its Kevin Smith‏ @kevvykevster @Keithw65 I've banned myself from Saturday. They make it so easy to not want to go!

My 70 mile journey back gave me some time to reflect on a truly awful state of affairs. I could not attend the Mansfield debacle but had assumed that JS would illicit a reaction this evening. My heart sank on seeing Burk's name on the starting line up. I am trying to recall the wingers name ( @Elite_pie) may help me remember, where Jimmy Sirrel deliberately played 45 minutes with 10 men as the player was deemed as not motivated enough to play....well that's my feeling with Burke....It was summed up quite nicely by Morecambe's opening goal...corner come over, our keeper misses it ( he too is a liability) and the man Burke is supposed to be marking is left completely free. However that's not the end of the matter, the aftermath of the goal, Burke is pointing at another player rather than being "Man enough" to accept responsibility for another example of his concentration lapse, or sheer couldnt care less attitude. The midfield has no pace, Richards gave a reasonable performance, he slots in like an old pro. Forte showed some skill and effort...but the finger pointing has to be focused on Rodman, Tootle, Dickinson Duffy for their sheer lack of mobility. Morecambe were scared of Stanley's ability in the abandoned game...they were faced tonight with a midfield so slow with the ball, and the inability to even break sweat to challenge for the second ball. Half time for coffee was a roster for former Notts managers, Dearden, Hart and Curle would have left with very little notes....only scribbles, Notts have no players to fear..... Collins showed some pace and was perhaps unlucky with one blocked shot, Oliver thumped a header in when it was all too late. Laing and Audel show good movement going forward but both are not rock solid at the back... Sheridan talked after Mansfield, about needing a nasty pro in the middle. The problem goes much deeper, we are just NOT CREATIVE enough. It's like Derry's OAP midfield of Smith, Jones, Thompson et al... As a club we are not moving forward...these players will likely get JS the sack, as maybe he is too stubborn in himself to drop his "picks". I dont know if I can be bothered making the journey on Saturday...I am left with the feeling some players are happy picking up the money without effort..aganst alimited Morecambe team who did the basics well. a disillusioned Pietagoram

Pity to miss out on 10k win bonus that victory at Rochdale. Listening to Uncle Colin and Stall, the latter said at half time Burke was anonymous... ( how many times in Burke's Notts career have I heard that). Campbell again cannot score despite his work rate. I would not be surprised if JF makes some tough decisions as early as January.

Team Loach, Hewitt, Laing, Hollis, Milsom, Richards, Aborah (C), Burke, Campbell, Oliver, Forte

@notts-joe Any further thoughts re Stead? I have more confidence that we have a manager making in the main, the right decisions ( Stanley excepted ). Scouting still remains vitally important. A recent tweet by Stan Collymore: Man City. 52 scouts worldwide. Villa. 5. And 4 are analysts. Infrastructure. Infrastructure. Infrastructure. In order to gain a competitive advantage, I still think we need to invest more in the scouting network.

minimum of 5 first team players, according to the rules. An interesting question, does the default 5 counting position go back to the Exeter game as Saturday's game was abandoned? So Hollis, Laing, Aborah, Milsom, Forte form my 5, providing Saturday's game as basis Team Loach Laing Hollis Audel Richards Aborah, Milsom Atkinson, Snijders Forte, Gibson