Quote Originally Posted by LaxtonLad View Post
I think we do have the class, EP, but I'm afraid Nolly's dropping of players for no apparent reason is possibly numbing the players wishes to show it. It could make a player afraid of trying something different, knowing his mistake could cost him his place. But then again, few mistakes were made against Swindon and Exeter but still players were dropped. Insecurity will breed a lack of confidence and stifle creativity. Can anyone say Nolan's faith in keeping nine out of ten of the team that were humbled by Mansfield paid off today?
I don’t think it was ever about dropping players because they weren’t playing well, but using the squad to full effect. The irony is that all of the changes were made after we won games, and there weren’t widespread changes following the worst performance of the season.

A few thoughts after today...

1 Our strength is pressing teams and making life difficult for them, which at this level means they make mistakes in bad areas. When we don’t do that, we’re average.

2 We’ve already had lots of games this season when the margin between winning and drawing was slim (Swindon, Port Vale, even Chesterfield and Lincoln, where we were against 10 men), and that probably evens out over the course of the season. I don’t think we’ve outclassed many teams this season, which you would expect a table-topping side to do. Let’s not worry about top spot yet, let’s just try and get the intensity back and back to winning ways next week.

3 Despite his obvious pedigree, Grant has consistently had far more impact when he’s come on as a sub. Should this become a regular tactic even if he’s match-fit?

4 Let’s hope Ameobi is fit enough to start next week. Time for him and Stead to swap places.

5 Two bad performances in a row - a blip or is this the point in a season when teams get “found out”? Let’s hope it’s the former; just so, so Notts that we flop in the big games.