theAnticlough

We went down this road with Hardy and where did it get us? Nobody needs to show their balls and nobody needs to get shafted

Unless there's a knock we don't know about, I think MP will be delighted to pick an unchanged team after a 4-1 win. He's said he'll change things when we don't win so the corollary of that is to reward a winning side. I'll be happy with that, although it will overlook an opinion verging on a fact - In both of our 2 home games so far, our two poorest performers by far in each game have been Roos and Norburn, oddly the most experienced players in the side. I think the coaching staff and the Gas Board (aka technical board) will know this but we have to keep picking them. We need Roos to gain his confidence, and we need Norburn to gain his form, his 2nd game was better than his first after all. But I don't think they'll suddenly be our best, or even average, performers on Saturday and we'll have to try to win in spite of this.

You make a good case, @McPie, is it a spasm or a chasm. We'll know over the next couple of games

Disappointing, but I thought about a positive as soon as I read it - we won't change a winning team that just won 4-1 Jatta will need games to regain sharpness and Andy Woodman teams are very adept at neutralising players like him anyway. Strange as it sounds, I think Bromley will be disappointed about this. They'll have sat in the Pavis watching Dennis, Jones, Tsaroulla, Iorpenda popping up all over and won't fancy a dose of that. Also, Dennis has 2 in 2. Were we going to drop him? Or 'rest' him? That would've sent a bad message to the squad, 'name' over doing the business.

That sure is one ideal @Robbie. SM spoke about that, especially at the start, and I think we can all agree he didn't pull it off. He hardly ever changed the shape, but he certainly changed the personnel. A lot of these changes were pretty baffling. There's more logic to MP's changes so far. LW had the opposite approach though - This is us, you worry about us, this is what we do and we'll work and practice on that one shape and all its patterns of play. Too early to say how MP will be. It's noticeable how he plays 3-4-2-1 every game and his substitutions are like-for-like, within the formation. Team selection seems to be based more on performance and form rather than changing for the opposition, like SM did. I think I much prefer that way, MP's.

Good question in the OP, but I don't think there is a lack of shape. We play a clearly identifiable 3-4-2-1, same as SM played, and IB too. LW's team was more 3-2-4-1. Sure there's still a shitload to work on. Interesting point about Tsaroulla's position for the goal. Oddly, he was way inside but a more common problem would be not getting back after an attack. But surely, when this is the case Bedeau has to cover from LCB. He has McDonald and Aljofree and there would be no excuse for Cotter not sliding over, with Palmer and Norburn filling gaps and marking runners too. The team is built for a WB being beat or not being there. In our first season back at MK Dons, Rawlo at RCB kind of ended his Notts tenure by running away (back inside) from a player who had got through on their left, instead of getting over there to block what turned out to be an easy goal for them. We have the players and formation to cover at the back. But who will 'cover' for Cotter if he doesn't attack and penetrate on the right-hand side? Nobody is the answer. There's will be no 'cover' going forward, if he doesn't do that. Nobody will attack down that third of the pitch so the opposition only have to think about the other 2/3s. Not having a go at Cotter, he's been fine. I'll always just prefer the full-on attacking approach of 2022-24.

I enjoyed the short cameo from Tyrese Hall last night - I think he's going to be an enjoyable player to watch this season. It was good to see his involvement in the 4th goal for example. But it's the playing style that caught my eye. Maybe not many on here watch the NBA but he reminded me of Darius Garland the Cleveland point guard, the way he moves and plays. I've always enjoyed watching Garland plays and I think it'll be the same with Hall. A football comp is not so easy for me? Any ideas? Phil Foden a bit?

I think the sponsor got it right - Nick Tsaroulla. He was a real thorn in their side, it's great to have him back. Word for Aljofree, great way to rebound after being taken off at Barrow. He would be my 2nd choice

Well done County. Delighted for Martin Paterson - he deserved that

It's an improvement, isn't it? Lots of good play down our left-hand side. We have good players there with creativity and energy. There's been zilch down the right. I'm pleased for Alfofree. He needs the confidence boost that goal will bring. We need to keep an eye on Norburn on the yellow. He's the type of player who can't help leaving a foot in so I hope MP doesn't risk it for too long.

Match day. Whatever the form, it's amazing how optimism always takes over as kick-off approaches. A great feeling that lasts til 3.05 or 7:50 when other feelings tend to kick in :)

Speaking for myself, I've reached the point where I'd accept LW back if it meant a return to his playing philosophy. We've been steadily losing our identity since his departure. What we've seen so far this season doesn't look like taking care of the ball to me. There have been so many long punts out of play, inaccurate long balls to nowhere. I miss the full-on version of keepball. It even made me sad at Barroe when Jones and Palmer were at a corner, nobody near them, they had a quick chat, MP seemed to suggest short and then JJ just put it straight in the goalies hands. LW would've burst out crying. Most don't seem to see any clear playing direction at the moment. Winning games again would make us all feel better and not care so much. Sometime in the near future though, I like to see the Bros say enough to all the compromise, we're going back to really dominating the ball.

I'm a big believer in Tsaroulla and enjoy watching him play. End product has been bad though in his Notts career so far. You fear it could be one of those cases where he puts it all together at his next stop, the moment he leaves. That would be infuriating. Let's hope the assist on Saturday is the start of him realising his potential with us.

Lots of good points @TheSkipper I agree it has been a fair discussion on here - and by and large the posts have been sympathetic and supportive of Martin. There's no point denying that he's under pressure though, just the facts of footy life

Agree @piedestrian, unfortunately the pressure's building and needs the release of victory. The players really have to dig him out of this hole but collectively they are going backwards. They need to reverse this by finding their best games. As we've discussed on the other threads, the blame for this start is spread in a lot of directions. Unfortunately for MP though, he's the obvious pressure point, and he'll be the fall guy if we continue to drop points at the current rate. Really unfair, I'd hate to see this happen, because he hasn't done much wrong with the hand he's been given.

On the evidence of recent seasons, it won't be too long now before some of the 92 Head Coaches bite the dust, and most of those will be in the bottom 2 or 3 of their divisions. It's very unfair and reactive but it seems to get earlier and earlier each season these days. So here's the distasteful question....we're sitting on 1pt from 9, but what will it take for MP to keep his job out of 30, 10 games? For sure, if we were sitting on 1pt after 10, he'd be a goner, and probably earlier than 10. But what does he need as a minimum in order to get another batch of games and move forward? My guess is a modest 8pts from 10 games W2 D2 L6, but that kind of haul would suggest borrowed time. Lets hope that this question is completely redundant after the next two home games.

Huddersfield Town 2-0 Doncaster Rovers Luton Town 2-0 Wigan Athletic Joker Stockport County 2-0 Bradford City Colchester United 2-0 Cambridge United Gillingham 1-2 Chesterfield Harrogate Town 2-1 Barrow Altrincham 1-2 Hartlepool United Woking 0-0 Wealdstone

He would've been my 2nd choice @Fan of Big Tone. good effort and a great headed goal. Nobody covered themselves in glory, yesterday

4 teams in NL with 100% starts, all have some Notts interest Southend - Sam Austin Scunthorpe - Cal Roberts Rochdale - Toby Adebayo-Rowling Wealdstone - Enzio Boldewijn Let's hope none pass us on the way up. I'll get my coat.

Only a few had respectable games, the rest ranging from sub-par to atrocious. I went for McDonald, generally solid and alright with the ball. JJ had his best game inside so far, but that's not saying much. Some really good moments mixed in with some poor ones. An upward curve and maybe worthy of another go or two there, but I hope he's not selected for MoM. He's not there yet IMO

Yes, it was. Pity the same player was the last man there with a chance to stop their winner

We haven't been the same since LW walked out. The decision-making at the club all-round hasn't been great from that time (apart from Jatta, Platt, Bedeau, Bass coming in under Montague, who's gone) Who's to blame? That'll need a 'blame pie' and cutting slices. The fans won't be part of that, because they've given the club great backing. There's no magic fix to this poor start. Just the normal tools - 1) swap the players around searching for the best possible blend and some fight 2) one or two final desperate signings 3) assess the Head Coach like all clubs do, by results, and act accordingly. Fortunately for Gagliardi, he's safe. Directors always get a longer period to be assessed.

What to do about Aljofree? That's the danger of recruiting from Man Utd, you get Man Utd level performances. Seriously though, that was way below the level required - the way he was beaten for the first and his poor distribution throughout. MP will hesitate when picking him again. Is Ness ready? Could Cotter play there? He's only young, so we'll give him more chances. But he can't have games like that.

We look and act like a team that will struggle to collect points It's on Recruitment, and the players, but we are now at the stage where MP will have to be accountable too. In modern football, in all leagues, what happens to managers of teams that are stuck at the bottom even at the start of the season? That's the position MP is in now, so he/they better do something about it.

So bad. Iorpenda and especially Aljofree have been absolute liabilities, and nothing from Gordon as per usual. Hall for Gordon please, JJ wide, what have we got to lose. As it is, we just don't look like scoring at all.