Promising signs.

[TSANHO]

It was nice to get back to Meadow Lane, and good to see the fans give the new owners a warm welcome. I thought the crowd in general were somewhat subdued compared to the fantastic support from Stockport but maybe that's a little bit of a hangover from last season.

Stockport started the more lively as Notts worked hard to find their feet but when we did get some possession we looked rather disjointed. It was evident that they knew what they wanted to do but there were numerous wayward passes, and suicidal ones at times. I was encouraged by some of the play, especially for most of the first half.

The three centre backs looked solid to be fair and didn't really see the need to bring Turner on in the second half when we were holding a lead. Jim O'Brien was my MOM, almost everything we did well came through him as he always tried to make us play through the pitch rather than over it, which became more and more frequent as the second half gathered pace.

The forwards struggled to get in the game, especially Hemmings and although Enzio came in for some abuse, especially where I was sitting, I thought he did ok and a goal towards the end of the game would have done his confidence a world of good....he hasn't given up yet so we should give him our backing, not get on his back.

I liked the looks of Dunn when he came on, he looks like he can play given the chance...there's something of Shaun Murray in him, but we must to play it on the ground to get the best of him. He could do with a run in the team in-between Rose and O'Brien.

As gut wrenching as It was to concede the equaliser (nicely worked goal actually) it was good to see us fighting and making a fist of it for a change. We will be ok this season, the signs are there we are heading in the right direction and after a few more games I feel we will start to see a team capable of taking a command of games instead of playing in patches.

I'm certainly no manager but I don't like the 3 - 5 - 2 / 5 - 3 - 2 formation at our level and I don't think we've the right players for it. Kelly and Backayogo (Kelly inparticular) don't look like wing backs to me. I would much prefer a 4-4-2 but then it doesn't look like we have any wingers to make the most of that formation.

Next time I would like to see:

GK Slocombe

RB Kelly
CB Rawlinson
CB Graham
LB Backayogo

RM Enzio
CM O'Brien
CM Rose
LM Dunn

Fwd Hemmings
ST Tyson.......or Turner 🤔

All in all I had an enjoyable evening, pitch looked decent and I have genuine hope for the future!

[51Magpie]

The three centre backs looked solid to be fair and didn't really see the need to bring Turner on in the second half when we were holding a lead.

Maybe the idea was to "get some minutes in his legs". Seriously, he's apparently not yet match fit and he's supposed to be the quality CB that we can build the defence around.

[LilCrazyKim]

The three centre backs looked solid to be fair and didn't really see the need to bring Turner on in the second half when we were holding a lead.

Had we had a normal off season I would agree, but as it is we now have a tricky situation where we need to balance getting players like Turner match fit and not disrupting things too much.

Good post though, agree with the rest of it!

[Elite_Pie]

There were too many of last seasons problems still evident for me to agree with the OP. Their passing was quicker and more accurate than ours - twice in the first half we presented then with good chances by messing about at the back, and most of our forward play had the same slow, ponderous build up. We were second to most 50/50 balls although the effort seemed to be there. I know it's very early season and we have lots of new players but we don't seem to have any shape or real style of play. On the plus side we didn't lose, and Stockport may be one of the better teams in the division, but if I was one of their fans I'd be a bit disappointed to only take one point from the game.

[tommopie8]

There were too many of last seasons problems still evident for me to agree with the OP. Their passing was quicker and more accurate than ours - twice in the first half we presented then with good chances by messing about at the back, and most of our forward play had the same slow, ponderous build up. We were second to most 50/50 balls although the effort seemed to be there. I know it's very early season and we have lots of new players but we don't seem to have any shape or real style of play. On the plus side we didn't lose, and Stockport may be one of the better teams in the division, but if I was one of their fans I'd be a bit disappointed to only take one point from the game.

Disagree. Stockport are used to what it requires to win games in non-league and although they had more guilt-edge chances, I thought possession wise - Notts were superior in touch and quality. They barely had the ball stick up front until their sub striker came on and were reliant on hoofing it into the channels.

Agree with the ponderous build-up, but with the new system and team it's to be expected.

Jon Stead would be useless in this league as his only talent of winning the odd foul is redundant when the referee refuses to blow for blatant pushes.

Was pleasantly surprised with Enzio's graft tonight - disappointed for him more than anything he ballooned the chance and didn't pass to Hemmings. Gonna be the scapegoat.

Wrong decision to bring Turner on then - Bird was the best out the three today.

[queenslandpie]

It's interesting to see the same old "we just need this we just need that Ardley isn't good enough etc etc, nothing has changed from last season " comments. Well once the parachute money runs out, it won't be too easy to run out and just buy new players unless football radar win lotto, so we probably need to start learning how to get the best out of what we got, as I couldn't imagine anyone much else coming in unless we send a few out the door. I don't believe that one contracted player has left but please correct me if I am wrong? Ardley needs a few months whatever you think ( or don't think ) of him and replacing the manager right now would be absolutely crazy, beyond craziness, and we just have to see how we go. Never more than now have Notts fans needed to be patient. How frustrating! In another 10 games or so we will have a clear picture. At least we are not conceding a lot of goals as that would be concerning. Build from the back lads.

[i961pie]

Disagree. Stockport are used to what it requires to win games in non-league and although they had more guilt-edge chances, I thought possession wise - Notts were superior in touch and quality. They barely had the ball stick up front until their sub striker came on and were reliant on hoofing it into the channels.

Agree with the ponderous build-up, but with the new system and team it's to be expected.

Jon Stead would be useless in this league as his only talent of winning the odd foul is redundant when the referee refuses to blow for blatant pushes.

Was pleasantly surprised with Enzio's graft tonight - disappointed for him more than anything he ballooned the chance and didn't pass to Hemmings. Gonna be the scapegoat.

Wrong decision to bring Turner on then - Bird was the best out the three today.

I disagree about Bird, first half yes but in the second their centre forward was a bit to wise for him. He was getting bullied and pulled out of position to often.

[Lullapie]

There were too many of last seasons problems still evident for me to agree with the OP. Their passing was quicker and more accurate than ours - twice in the first half we presented then with good chances by messing about at the back, and most of our forward play had the same slow, ponderous build up. We were second to most 50/50 balls although the effort seemed to be there. I know it's very early season and we have lots of new players but we don't seem to have any shape or real style of play. On the plus side we didn't lose, and Stockport may be one of the better teams in the division, but if I was one of their fans I'd be a bit disappointed to only take one point from the game.

Unfortunately by messing about with the ball at the back rather than getting it forward fast to the target man or wingers we don't have, opens a team up to those sort of errors.

[TSANHO]

Whilst a target man can have its advantages the downside is, like we saw with Ameobi, that every time a full back gets the ball they just play it long every....single....time....and we be one ineffective. The midfield gives up in showing themselves for the ball and we're back to the drudgery of the Nolan philosophy.

We actually have some decent footballers available to us so it would be a shame to see them wasted by just hoofing the ball to a one trick pony who usually becomes the butt of terrace criticism for his lack of footballing skill....and goals.

[jacobncfc]

We looked distinctly like a team which has known each other for less than a week, surprisingly enough.

Any points we pick up at this stage are useful ones and see how we’re playing come the end of September IMO.