Anyone who's actually attended a game this season is better qualified than me to start this thread, since I'm following from afar and all of my views are informed by this board, highlights and the radio commentaries.

What I can say with certainty is that we're 3 points below what we achieved in the equivalent fixtures against the same 10 opponents last season - and given that we finished way behind the top two, that's a big concern. Eight points is currently the same gap from the top of the league to the relegation positions, and the other worry is that we can't say the points total of 15 isn't a fair reflection of the games - in fact, it may actually flatter us.

Clearly, we've been unlucky with injuries over the past 3 games, but that can happen and you need to be able to adapt. We've been found wanting there.

We were also unlucky in that some of the new signings have been overcoming injuries, but we knew that when we signed them so can't use that as an excuse. As for the quality of the new signings, it seems fair to say that no one has proved an instant success.

Palmer seems the pick of the bunch, but for a progressive footballer his stats don't seem very impressive (no goals, a couple of assists). Taylor is in and out of the side - recently for reasons unknown - and seems to split opinion. Francis is being asked to learn on the job in a completely new position, which was always going to be a huge gamble. It does seem, though, that if you're giving someone that responsibility, you may need to give them the game time to learn - otherwise how will he improve and become the asset the owners want him to be?

Mitchell appears to be the biggest concern. Bigged up as the forward we were after all summer, there appears to be a bit of a Tony Agana vibe about him - except Tony actually got into positions to miss chances. Mitchell appears to be on the periphery and struggling to show he's the answer to our problems.

Alongside the unimpressive additions, the return of the Geordie Messi hasn't panned out as planned, Kyle Wootton has disappeared from view after a promising start, Richard Brindley struggles to complete 90 minutes (why?) and DKE has repeatedly shown his limitations. Ruben is clearly our main player, but he's also blown hot and cold.

On the management side, despite his supposed experience in Sweden, IB feels like a very naive manager (the word he used for his side last night). He needs to wise up about the time to be offensive and the time to be defensive - bringing on Sam and Mitchell last night was foolhardy, instead of thinking how he could take the sting out of the game.

His assistant, Doyle, seems to be enjoying himself far too much whenever I see him in training. Who's calling the players out when they underperform? Giving them the "hair dryer" treatment? Then again, he's also a rookie at this level and is learning his trade - one of many at Notts, it seems, which appears to be a big part of the problem.

Anyway, I've prattled on for long enough - over to the experts...