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Blink1862
The mood around the Notts camp at this moment in time must have taken a blow after losing three nil to Conference Premier side Grimsby Town, as it must be hard to accept a defeat even within the late stages of pre-season.
After losing to Port Vale, Notts manager Ricardo Moniz spoke about simple things having effected Notts’ chance of winning the game.
However, what struck me the most was these comments made by the man himself, “The loss against Port Vale was a big warning because we will play a lot of games like this next season”. I feel, the Port Vale game was not one we should have expected to win. Yet, the loss against Grimsby Town sends a far bigger warning, as optimism at his current stage seems to be dwindling.
 
There can be no argument that against Port Vale, the substitutions affected the game, however much you weigh up, having lost to Grimsby is far worse.
Pre-Season is very much a transition period, with sides getting fitness and tactics in place for the new season, but did Ricardo leave it too late to settle his squad down? I say this, as going into the final friendly against Scunthorpe United could have been much different, as it stands Notts have lost two back to back friendlies and the ambition for the season ahead seems to have damaged the famous black & white wheelbarrow once more.
I mean, I am not personally concerned – I think it takes time for players to settle and friendlies do not always give a clear indication as to what fans can expect.
Yet going into the League Two campaign having convincingly played throughout the pre-season, no doubt would have given Notts a boost going into the opening game against Stevenage. That said, Notts still have been playing quite well and were beaten by a very good Grimsby Town.
 
At this stage, I think we should not dwell too much on the result, however bad it may seem.
I do, feel the result was quite poor but at the end of the day, we can still be optimistic about the upcoming season.
It leaves me with questions regarding the chosen tactics, whether or not; a central defender will make all that much of a difference because I feel we may be more offensive minded with the players introduced by Ricardo Moniz.
If this is the case, I think we may have to employ some more defensive minded players and not just to bolster the defence.
I would rather see this money rumoured to have been offered Craig Mackail-Smith, made available to sign a strong-minded midfielder who can play deeply behind the advanced players. Whilst a solid Centre Back would be a blessing right now, with perhaps another right back who is not prone to being caught napping.
Notts have done well within the transfer window, as Ricardo Moniz had greatly strengthened the squad.
On paper, regardless of the defeats we look strong. It is all about how we employ players and what they offer us going forward. We have to be spend more time revising our opposition, as the homework seems to have paid off for Grimsby but I do not think we will see many games like this during the 2015/16 campaign.
 
So, let’s try to go into the only home friendly we have and lets show the new signings why WE ARE NOTTS COUNTY.
PON_News
Notts County's home match against Plymouth Argyle, originally scheduled for 3pm Saturday 10th October, will now be televised live on Sky on Sunday 11th October, kick off - 2.30pm.
Notts fan and PON member, Julie Henshaw had this to say about the fixture change - "Why do Sky have to change K.O times?".
She then went on to say "I'd sooner have had Plymouth v Notts on tv, as its a long way to travel for supporters, cos being on the bench, I'll be at the home fixture anyway. But i guess it will be good for Plymouth fans who wont want to make the long journey to Nottingham on a Sunday".
This is on the weekend of a Premier League international break due to European Championship qualifying rounds being played.
International page manager of the Irish Magpies Dripsey3 said "Notts County on the telly. A rare treat indeed for those of us who live outside the UK".
He added "A chance to see for ourselves the attacking philosophy introduced by RM. Silky skills. Moving the ball at pace along the ground. I'm rubbing my hands with glee! Chances are this game against Plymouth will be a top of the table clash". Further adding "Both clubs have recruited wisely in the close season. Plymouth may lost Lewis Alessandra but they still have Reuben Reid. Jake Jervis will be returning to Meadow Lane. Graeme Carey is a fellow Irishman so it will be interesting to see how he does. All in all, it should be an exciting game with a fair few goals. Can't wait!"
Prior to the Notts game, Devon's other club, Exeter have their home fixture against Stevenage also televised by Sky, kick-off 12.15pm.
In the first 3 months of the new season Sky will be showing 36 Football League matches as part of a new 5 year deal.
The last encounter between Notts and Plymouth Argyle took place at Meadow Lane in 2010 when Notts won 2-0. Craig Westcarr scored the opening goal and then provided a pass for John Spencer to get a second.
 
This League One fixture was watched by 6333 fans.
Son of Berti

What lies ahead?

By Son of Berti, in News,

What a great pre-season it has been! I’ve been to every match and, frankly, I don’t want pre-season to end.
With the bitter reflections of last season still fresh in my mind, I have been thrilled by the passing and movement that RM is keen to instil, and that is rapidly becoming this team’s trademark.
The early matches amply demonstrated the skills of the new players while also showing that Jimmy Spencer is back to his best although he still has a tendency to drop his head when things aren’t going his way, which has a negative effect on both his own game, and that of his team-mates. To be at his best, he has to turn this force into a desire to do better.
 
Jon Stead caught the eye immediately at Arnold Town and he is definitely ‘a class above’. We can count ourselves lucky to have him.
Without exception, the Dutch players have great skills and love to be on the ball.
When ‘The Nobster’ comes on, he looks a different player to the hothead that got himself into so much trouble last season. He seems to have leashed those gremlins in his head and instead, his vision and accuracy of long-ball passing must surely now mark him out as a player who hasn’t yet reached his full potential.
Sport is as much in the head as it is in natural ability. If any sportsman (or woman) gets his head together, he will perform at his best. It is the difference between being demoralised when things are going wrong, and having the right mindset to understand what needs to change to put them right. As they say in Holland ….. Door wilskracht sterk! (strength through willpower). If LN has truly got his head together now, he is destined to play at a much higher level. He has natural ability and vision in abundance.
The team is very attack-minded and as thrilling as this is to watch, fans have become very aware that when we lose possession to a high-pressing team, what is our Achilles heel at present will be quickly and ruthlessly exploited. We haven’t shown the same urgency to track back and form a second line of defence quick enough, thus leaving the back four vulnerable and without support under counter-attack.
We hear that RM is still keen to recruit 3 more players. One or preferably two of them must be centre-backs. Alan Smith has started all matches in this position and he brings his uncompromising style to quick effect. But he is no longer the strongest of players and will surely pick up injuries playing the way he does. I am a little concerned that he lacks the discipline to pick out his man quickly enough and close him out. Scot Bennett is very capable of playing the ball out of defence but we will be exposed if he has to miss a game.
I am perplexed by Haydn Hollis’ performances. Two seasons ago – to me he was a stand-out player and seemed destined for stardom. But something has gone wrong. He isn’t playing his natural game and his long-distant passing is only marginally more accurate than mine! He can pick a pass out and has good vision, only in the execution is he lacking.
I have a feeling that giving him the captain’s arm-band for a period last season was his undoing. Any fool can pick faults, and I’m among the best of them! The clever ones can see what needs to be done to turn things around and I really am at a loss to see what it is that HH has to do to get back to his best. Perhaps put himself under less pressure; just relax and enjoy it, maybe?
And, if we need two big strong brutes for centre-backs, who should the third person be? Well my choice would be Steve McLaughlin who looks like he is being ushered to the door marked ‘Exit’ across the river. That man is inventive and is capable of producing magical assists. Mystic Meg I am not and I can’t predict what the season ahead holds for us. Promotion is potential ours but there are some big ifs.
 
If we can shore up the defence.
If we gel quick enough to get traction.
If we get more protection from referees to allow our natural talent to shine. If we can avoid getting too many injuries in what will surely be a war of attrition over a long, long season.
and,
If we, the fans, get behind the team, and turn up in numbers to support the lads even (or especially) when things aren’t going our way. Samen, door wilskracht sterk.
Son of Berti
FIFA, the global body that controls this beautiful game we know as football, are being investigated for bribery and corruption and it seems that the villains of the piece might be close to the very top echelons of the organisation.
If the allegations are proved to be correct, then you have to think the unthinkable and wonder how far down the chain of football administration, the stench of graft will seep.
Heaven forbid that we will eventually find that even the administration of our own national game is tainted.
 
There is a well known proverb: “Where there’s muck, there’s brass”. With so much brass swilling about in football now, the scope and opportunity for money to change hands for less than honest purposes is certainly there. Turning the saying around, we could find in FIFA’s case that “Where there’s brass, there’s muck”.
Now I’m not suggesting for one moment that evidence of match-fixing will be uncovered although I must admit that last season there were a number of decisions made by match officials that tested my own grasp of reality.
The trouble is that an incident on the pitch can look different depending on the angle that it is seen from. Something seen from behind a goal can look quite different to how it is seen from the side-line.
 
I remember one sending off at ML when our player was deemed to have led by the elbow while going up to head a ball. Seen from the view that the referee had, his red card decision was understandable. However when the incident was seen from the side, the referee’s blind side, it was clear that the opposing player had in fact maliciously thudded into the back of our player leading with his own elbow. And with such force, that our player had to throw his arms back to try in vain to keep his balance. A curious case of the aggrieved being deemed guilty. And you have to question what, if any, assistance the referee got from his assistant who would have surely seen things differently.
And more recently if the referee had been stood next to, instead of in front of, Laura Bassett when she received an elbow in the face from a French player in the Womens’ World Cup, she would have had no choice but to send off the aggressor. Instead, play continued unchecked, Laura finished up with a real shiner, and the aggressor got off scot-free for an act of aggression which, had it happened in any other public place, would have seen her arrested for assault.
So what I’m leading up to is to suggest that if the administrators of our game want the job of the referee to be made easier, then those running the line should be expected to exercise their full responsibilities as assistant referees. They should do exactly what it says on the tin, and assist the referee, telling him (or her) what they are seeing in the game.
I find it incredulous that in this, the age of communication, there seems to be precious little communication between not only match officials during a game but also between the referee and the spectators, either during or after a game.
I am not a rugby fan but there is one thing about that sport which I really admire and that is the level of communication between the match official and the paying public. The referee explains his rationale over the public address system and, by doing so, takes away a lot of controversy. Not only that but if he is in any doubt, he can call upon video technology to review an incident before he makes his decision to help minimise any doubt. Subsequently the quality of the decision-making in professional rugby is extremely high; much higher than it is in association football.
Detractors say that if this level of support was introduced to football, it would slow the game down. But which is the lesser of the two evils? To be forced to suffer bad decisions through a lack of communication, or to have informed decision-making as a result of better communication?
I know which I would prefer and I feel sure that referees would not be so vilified if they were encouraged to give their reasons for making controversial decisions.
All of which makes me want to question why it is that FIFA refuse to countenance any use of video technology to help referees, or why it is that they do not permit the referees to speak to the press or the public about their decision-making. What is it that prevents FIFA from wanting to give the game greater transparency?
PON_News
Notts County manager Ricardo Moniz has admitted that he would like to bring at least three more signings to Meadow Lane.
The Magpies have already added 15 new players to their ranks this summer, as well as promoting two players from the Academy.
However the Dutchman, who was unable to keep the League 1 last season after taking over from Shaun Derry, still wants to add to his defensive and attacking options.
 
Speaking after his side's 3-0 pre-season friendly defeat at Grimsby Town on Saturday, Moniz said: "We need people who can score the goals and avoid the goals.
"It's very simple; it's at the front and at the back. In the middle everybody is okay, but the exception is defence and attack.
"A centre-back has always been my wish, but we haven't been able to find the right one as yet... but I would like at least three (more players) in. We know that. It's not a surprise."
 
Notts have so far recruited Scott Loach, Scot Bennett, Rhys Sharpe, Gill Swerts, Mawouna Amevor, Wes Atkinson, Stanley Aborah, Rob Milsom, Kyle De Silva, Genaro Snijders, Julian Jenner, Filip Valencic, Graham Burke, Jon Stead and Adam Campbell.
In addition, youngsters Jordan Richards and Lartey Sarpong have been promoted from the Academy into the first team.
PON_News
Notts County full-back Jordan Cranston has left the club by mutual consent. The 21-year old joined the Magpies in September last year and was given a new 18-month deal in a month later under then-manager Shaun Derry.
However, new boss Ricardo Moniz has signed Rhys Sharpe to battle it out with Blair Adams for the left-back spot in League Two this season.
This has left Cranston with limited first-team opportunities, and the decision for him to leave the leave Notts appears to have been mutual.
A statement on the club's official website said: "The club would like to wish Jordan well at his new club and will be keeping a close eye on his progress in the future."
The former Welsh youth international, who has also played for Wolves, Hednesford and Nuneaton, made 12 appearances for Notts and has been on trial with Gateshead in the last few weeks.
We at Pride of Nottingham would like to echo the club's sentiments and wish Jordan Cranston all the best for the future.
Chris
As we are quickly approaching the new season ahead, Pride of Nottingham is delighted to bring you this opposition view for the upcoming game against Alfreton Town courtesy of Reds fan 'DarkSithLord'.
We have taken the time to ask eight questions, so that we can gain an insight to our fourth pre-season friendly and the opposition in general. Please be sure to leave a comment below regarding your own views, share and link. You Pies!
 
Firstly, could you please tell prideofnottingham.co.uk a little about yourself such as how long you've been a Reds fan?
I am 21 and I have been following the Reds for around 7 years after my Dad took me one Saturday and I was hooked from there!
 
Can you tell our members and Notts fans in general a little bit about your clubs history and perhaps some of your achievements to date?
Alfreton Town was formed in its present guise in 1959 after Alfreton Miners Welfare and Alfreton United merged.
Just a year after being formed Alfreton achieved its highest attendance of 5,023 at North Street in 1960 when Matlock visited for a Midland League game.
One of Alfreton most successful seasons came in 1969/70 when they took the Midland League by storm winning 32 of their 34 league games.
Current Club chairman Wayne Bradley took over in 1996 when the club was at Level 6- The Northern Counties East League Premier and vowed to take the club to the Conference Premier and many didn't take him seriously but in 2010/11 after two failed Conference North play-off campaigns Alfreton were confirmed Conference North champions by a margin of 12 points following a 6-0 humbling of Guiseley FC and were promoted to the Conference Premier against all the odds. Pretty Ironic then that they were team to replace at us at Conference Premier (Now National League) when we were relegated on the last day of last season!
 
How have you seen Alfreton Town grow over the years, both as a football club and also a town?
I cant speak from experience but without a doubt Alfreton Town and the surroundings areas are unrecognisable from those humble beginnings in the Midland League. The Ground has been transformed too. It didn't even have any Dressing room for many years. The players had to use facilities just across the road at the Miners Welfare to get ready for matches!!
 
What signings have Alfreton Town made so far? How do you feel this upcoming season will go for you and what are your expectations?
IN - Sam Jones (Heanor Town) Todd Jordan (Lincoln) Tom Allan (Gateshead) Cliff Moyo (Free Agent) Sam Berry (Welling) Ryan Wilson (Ilkeston)
OUT - Bradley Wood (Lincoln) Callum Howe (Lincoln), Anthony Howell (Cartlon), Messiah McDonald (Bradford Park Avenue) Luke Graham (Brackley)
I must admit I was worried about what lay in store for this season but I think Nicky and Russ has done a very credible job following an exodus of players after relegation last term. They have recruited extremely well. Sam Jones from local Midland League side Heanor Town looks quite a player and in addition Alfeton withstood the interest from Lincoln to hold on to the services of star man Dan Bradley. And although of course its still early doors yet I think our performances against Sheff Wednesday and Rotherham have been fantastic and fully confirm our position as second favourites for promotion according to many bookies.
My personal expectations were for a solid top 10 finish with a late but unsuccessful push for a play-off spot but Id say on current evidence I would be disappointed to miss out on the play-offs.
 
How is your pre-season going so far, what was your reaction to the announcement of the planned friendlies and which of them stood out for you?
Well I am sure your readers will be glad to hear that our friendly really stood out for me as I have a soft spot for the club as my Grandad was a supporter and for the sheer history and tradition that surround the club. It was gut wrenching when just a few hours after our relegation was confirmed I heard a similar fate had befallen Notts.
Pre season couldn't really have gone any for us so far.
We followed up 4-1 success away at Buxton with a credible 1-1 draw at home to Sheff Wed and an excellent 3-2 triumph over a very strong Rotherham squad on Tuesday evening.
The news signings have began to gel extremely quickly and showed more passion and desire in the first half v Sheff Wed than for the whole of last season. Makes you wonder what could have been!
 
Can we have your score and scorer predictions?
Alfreton Town 2 (Joe Ironside and Sam Jones) Notts County 2 (John Stead and De Silva)
 
Who are the players which Notts should be wary of and what formation do you see Alfreton selecting on Saturday?
Dan Bradley. A pace winger and competitive midfielder with a good box of tricks who has a good turn of pace and is not shy to take someone on. Should be at least National League level and even League 2.
John Johnstone Signed from Crewe on a 18 month deal last summer he has become a firm fans favourite. Another winger with good skills and a mean shot. Caused Rotherham problems all night on Tuesday
 
Have you been following any of the Notts news? What do you think the squad we are assembling and what do you think of our chances of regaining promotion back to League One?
From what I heard at the back end of last season Moniz got you playing some good football and had you appointed him just a few weeks earlier the outcome may have been different. But all in your signings have impressed me. I think John Stead is a excellent acquisition. Id say you look good for a play-off position but need more fire-power up front to push for an automatic spot. I have to say League 2 looks the strongest its been for a while so you will face tough opposition but I think you will bounce back at the first attempt.
 
Pride of Nottingham would like to thank Reds fan DarkSithLord for taking the time to answer our questions, we wish Alfreton Town all the very best for a successful 2015/16 season campaign.
Joe Jones
The Notts County Football Club Official Supporters’ Association are pleased to announce that they have made a substantial donation of much-needed equipment to the club’s Academy.
Ahead of the start of the new season, the committee liaised with Academy director Peter Jarvis about what was needed to take the youth team to the next level.
He highlighted the need for the Academy to adopt a video analysis system, which would enable two more jobs to be created to help film matches and give detailed feedback to both players and coaches.
Jarvis said: “This is one area that we struggled in resourcing last season – the equipment would make a huge difference to the Academy and the support we can give to the players.”
 
Following the consultation, the OSA duly dipped into their coffers and provided a cheque for the purchase of the appropriate equipment at a value of £765.
This kind-hearted gesture is not a one-off – just five months ago the committee gave the Academy a cheque for £1,300 and, over the years, have raised a total of £1,800.
The Association works hard throughout the year, both on-season and off-season, raising money through raffles, competitions and other fundraising initiatives.
We spoke to OSA Membership Secretary Lois Brough who told us that the fundraising is beneficial both to the club and to the Academy’s youngsters.
She said: “All fundraising is hard work but it is a way of getting to people who do not know of the work of the Academy and also supporters who do not realise the good work done by those running the Academy.
“When I think of the footballers that have made it to the first team from the Academy I feel we must help these young ones achieve their dream.
“Equipment is so expensive and we will do all we can to help them and we have very good and loyal supporters who willingly support us in this.”
 
Lois also highlighted the importance of getting more fans on board with the Association, which would enable them to have a voice within the club and to make new friends.
She said: “By joining the OSA Supporters have the chance to have their voice heard the chance to meet one another at events and also meet at the AGM.
“I believe all renewals and welcome letters should have a personal message to each and every member, new and old. They will always receive a welcome when either visiting the office or emailing us.”
“I hope that with all these new players coming to the club, our supporters can join with us at the OSA.”
The OSA will be at the Open Day at Meadow Lane on 2nd August. If you want to donate money to go towards the Academy or join the Association, pop down and have a chat with the members.
In addition the OSA is looking for prizes for the tombola, so if anyone has any please contact the Secretary by emailing Lois at [email protected]
Canadian
We were within 5 Minutes of Staying in League One, 5 MINUTES. In the 85th minute V Gillingham Something happened and not in a good way. We were so close, yet so far away.
My Girlfriend (Villa Fan) was out the house like a flash after their first Goal went in. I kicked the chair in frustration after the final whistle. HOW COULD YOU!! 5 BLOODY MINUTES. Time to focus on the Womens World Cup over here in Canada.
Being a Volunteer at the newly refurbished Landsdowne Place, I have been able to see the Germans power through the group stages. With the Ivory Coast fans probably the best ever, even at 6-0. Then I got the chance to see England, and Ms Bronze score that beauty and then the Heartbreak of our own Laura Bassett. We still love you Girls!!
 
July 1st rolls around (Happy Canada Day, 148 years old). My twitter feed starts to buzz about more than usual, Notts Have already signed Gill Swerts. There is rumours flying around about 4 more players coming in with Calibre. First in, comes Jon Stead. "Okay, we've made a statement of intent with this signing". All of a sudden, we were signing players left, right, and center. Mawouna Amevor, Adam Campbell, Kyle De Silva, Genaro Snijders, Julien Jenner, Filip Valencic & Graham Burke. We haven't had this much Transfer activity or hype since the Inglorious Munto year of 2009-2010.
 
In most, if not all the Interviews Ricardo Moniz has spoken. He's always on about scoring goals and playing a fluid style. Like all of us have been crying out for over 4-5 years, we just want to be entertained. If we win or lose, we want to finish watching/listening to the game with a smile thinking we played well, it is what it is.
After last night’s display against Arnold Town, I'm quietly confident about the upcoming season, as long as the team in the 2nd half is given enough time to gel and time to form part of the Notts County team, i can't see the first 11 changing very often, as we did last season. Unless of course Injuries and suspensions.
Top 7 is a must, top 3 is realistic.
Chris
Back in mid-April, Notts County chairman Ray Trew announced during a radio interview that he would be creating a transfer committee at the club.
This would consist of six members – all unknown at the time of the interview – who would discuss each player, before the manager, Ricardo Moniz made his final decision, as any manager should do if the chosen players were good enough for the club.
After this interview, fans’ opinions were somewhat negative concerning the direction chosen by the club. The general opinion is that this would ultimately lead to bargain players being approved, as the general mood at the time was low.
However, nobody knew for sure how this would work out and regardless it was the direction in which the club opted to go for.
As the close season began, activity around Meadow Lane seemed very slow and fans hung onto any sort of transfer speculation linked with the club.
When Notts made their first signing, it seemed that the mission of the current board and manager was to settle the worries and minds of loyal fans.
The process of transfers is something generally handled on the quiet side at Meadow Lane it would seem. However, it wasn’t long before speculation and optimism started to creep into the fan base, with Ray Trew publicly voicing his thoughts on potential signings.
Notts quickly started being linked with European talent, namely from the Dutch and Belgian leagues where Moniz has managed or dealt with before. Even names within the English division seemed to impress the majority.
As the optimism increased, so did the transfers and, on merit, it seems that the transfer committee is doing a good job, as is Chief Scout Guy Branston who is heading the recruitment drive.
It’s a little too early to say if it’s a complete success, but looking at the business done and achieved by the committee so far, it is certainly showing other clubs how it needs to be handled.
With the club developing squad based on quality and not quantity, it’s easy to become excited when the players linked are of various skills and age ranges. It seems the five-step plan mentioned within local media really was the footprint for the success aimed towards the 2015-16 League Two campaign.
Personally, I am satisfied with the direction in which the club appears to be going. I am also very keen to see the season underway and for fans to quickly jump on board, as success on the field for me can only be measured by the fans in attendance and naturally if Notts do get off to a bright start, the players arriving could seal a brighter future for this football club.
It is a promising start for Notts, which does not warrant any sort of negativity remotely, and I am encouraged by the response I have seen.
Let’s hope this season is a successful one for us, so we can finally push on together in the right direction.
Jamie Barlow
Notts County have pulled off an audacious raid on Huddersfield Town by fending off much competition to snap up Jon Stead.
Stead’s arrival at Notts sends out a clear message to the rest of the division - that Notts are serious about promotion- with the attacker penning a two-year deal at Meadow Lane following his release by Huddersfield Town.
Manager Ricardo Moniz wants his new side to be ruthless in front of goal next season and expects 60 goals from his front line.
Moniz has turned his attention to the former England Under 21 international to spearhead the Magpies’ promotion push, and the former Terriers’ striker is keen to repay his new manager’s faith in him.
 
“After speaking to the manager, he sees me as a part of the project of getting the club on the right track and it is brilliant to feel wanted like that”, Stead said.
Stead had an almighty season whilst on loan at Bradford City last campaign where he helped the Bantrams to reach the FA Cup semi-finals.
Bradford sank Premier League champions Chelsea in the competition and the side were desperate to retain Stead’s services.
But in a dramatic turn of events the much-travelled Stead has instead opted for a move to Notts- admitting that it was the ambition shown by Guy Branston, the club’s head if recruitment, which convinced him to join the East Midlands outfit.
“The move came through a lot of pestering from Guy Branston. I remember him as a player and didn’t want to let him down.
“Guy told me about the project and the club moving forward, first of all getting back into League 1 and kicking on from there.
“And speaking to the manager (Ricardo Moniz) and hearing his philosophy, I’m interested to see how things pan out”, he added.
The dynamic forward will add muscle to Notts’ attacking armoury and will hope to make Moniz’s hopes a reality by helping Notts to make an immediate return to League 1 next season.
 
Jamie tweets @JBarlow95_
Son of Berti
I have a confession to make. I feel sorry for Forest fans.
They so desperately want the Cloughie years to return; to be European Champions again. But the facts of the matter are that those days will never be repeated – so long as money falls from the Sky into the lake of professional football to make the big clubs richer, the small clubs poorer, and the gap filled by the ‘also-ran’ clubs, which currently seems to stretch from the middle of the Premiership into the top half of League One, bigger.
But let’s leave the fans from across the Trent to dream their impossible dream and, instead ask ourselves a more realistic question. One which can only be both asked, and answered, with rose-tinted specs removed and after swallowing a course of medication prescribed to cure UES (Unrealistic Expectation Syndrome).
Are Notts County an ‘also ran’ club or now consigned to become a small club?
 
The last two or three seasons have shown conclusively that to be successful in League One, and then hold head above water in the Championship, the primary requirement of any football club is to have either an oligarch as owner with an ego only slightly smaller than his bank balance, or the income generated by regular 5-figure home-match attendance figures. Preferably both. Members of the jury, as evidence, I lay before you AFC Bournemouth.
It is now 20 years since I first moved to Nottingham and became a Pie-head. In that time I have seen the Club fall from second-tier grace and then since zebedee between the third and forth tiers.
Sadly, in the same period of time, I have also seen average Meadow Lane attendance figures fall from five figures to lower-half four figures.
Sadly, his profligacy has not been supported by a growth in turnstile income and, until fans start returning to watch Notts in greater numbers, I rather fear that our once great football club may well not yet have reached the depths of its descent because even Mr Trew’s apparent willingness to fritter away his money will come to an end if attendances at home matches don’t start to grow.
Being cynical – if the expectation of seeing a return on his investment disappears, he will surely call it a day and quit while he shows no sign of winning.
 
While I understand that football is an entertainments business and that the fans will decided whether the entertainment on offer represents a worthy return on their money, I can’t help wondering whether, if the absent fans had attended more than just the last away match of each of the previous two seasons, the Club would still have found itself back in the basement division once again?
All the signs, pre-season, are that Ray Trew understands that the fans want to be entertained. To be able to leave Meadow Lane on a Saturday evening feeling buoyed up and thrilled; wanting more. He has chucked what could turn out to be the last throw of his dice by putting up a substantial playing budget and investing in a manager who wants to play a thrilling brand of football that gets bums off seats, let alone on them.
We hope that the close-season player dealings will turn out to be astute and that we have a successful season ahead.
But….. the final, vital, piece to complete this jig-saw of success is now in the pockets of us, the Notts County fans. If we truly want our club to be successful, then we have to pay our part in making it so. It won’t happen in an empty stadium.
Corrupting the final lines of a quite brilliant set of lyrics: “If you want to make Meadow Lane a better place, take a look at yourself and make that change”! Only when we return in numbers to Meadow
Lane will our football club start to climb up the league again. The blame game has to stop here. It’s up to us now. So let’s do this Club proud and support it in the truest sense of the word.
Jamie Barlow
Notts County have this afternoon confirmed the signing of Belgium international Gill Swerts with the player penning a two- year deal at Meadow Lane.
The capture of the defensive midfielder is a major statement of intent by Notts- who aim to put an end to last season's misery and make an immediate return to League 1.
The educated midfielder has made the trip across Europe and joined Notts on a free transfer from NAC Breda.
The 32-year-old's class speaks for itself with the player arriving at Notts on the back of representing his former employers, AZ Alkmaar, in the UEFA Champions League.
The player has also represented his native Belgium 17 times at international level.
It is testament to County boss Ricardo Moniz's ambitious plans that he has managed to lure the player to Meadow Lane and the shrewdest example of the Dutchman's European contacts- with the player knowing the County gaffer from his time in Holland.
The player can also operate comfortably at right- back and has faced numerous elite attackers- with the likes of Ruud van Nistelrooy and Patrick Kluivert having crossed swords with Swerts.
Swerts will also plough his much acquired experience and skill into working closely with Notts' academy set- up.
The news come just a day after the Magpies secured the club's record shirt sponsorship deal with Ladbrokes, and the arrival of Swerts will add to the excitement generated around Meadow Lane.
Jamie tweets @JBarlow95_
Joe Jones
When the final whistle blew at Priestfield on Sunday 3rd May, I surely cannot have been the only person who felt numb, drained, disappointed and fearful.
Notts had lost 3-1 to Gillingham despite leading 1-0 until the 88th minute, and following a season that began so promisingly but collapsed quicker than a sixth form leaver on his first lads’ trip abroad after his tenth shot of tequila, the Magpies’ relegation was confirmed.
But not only that, it was also the uncertainty that followed. The rot had started to set in the season before, when survival was also at stake on the final day of the season. In the end we were lucky as we held on with that exhilarating 1-1 draw at Oldham, but nobody can argue that the team built on that reprieve. If anything, the spine of the team was then ripped out as our remaining best players left, and let’s face it, with the exception of Roy Carroll, they weren’t adequately replaced.
And with Notts now slipping into League Two, what chance would we have had to rebuild the mess? What would happen to the team, the finances, and ultimately, our future as a club?
Well, I must say, as I write this at the tail end of June, around two months after the end of the 2014-15 season, I’m a hell of a lot more confident for the future.
 
First of all, Roy Carroll has signed a contract extension and will be with Notts for another season. I wouldn’t have blamed him at all for leaving the club following relegation and signing for a team in League One or even the Championship. He went above and beyond the call of duty for us – not least for playing for Notts the day after turning out for Northern Ireland – but in sticking with the club despite dropping to the fourth tier, he’s effectively ensured himself a status at the club not unlike that of Gigi Buffon, who stayed with Juventus following their relegation to Serie B nine years ago.
Alan Smith also committed his future to the club, meaning that he will be able to use his experience and know-how both on the pitch and in training as a coach and mentor to help other players out.
The new signings we have made so far have been very shrewd too. Four so far, all very promising – Scot Bennett, Rhys Sharpe, Robert Milsom and now Gill Swerts, who let’s not forget, has played for Feyenoord and Belgium and has won the Eredivisie with AZ. A great blend of youth, hunger and experience between the four.
And the icing on the cake – a two-year shirt sponsorship deal with Ladbrokes described by chairman Ray Trew as the most lucrative in the club’s history. An absolute coup of a deal to have pulled off, which hints at an increased budget and the chance not only to build just for the season ahead, but for the next few years.
 
In my humble opinion, last season ended up being a bit of a farce, and relegation was frankly deserved, but it looks like the board is doing all the right things in this vacuum that is the close-season / pre-season gap. Gone are the stopgap loans and the friendly team sheets that had four or five trialists listed – this appears to be a real rebuilding process, with the right players coming on board, on decent contracts, and all under a new manager with a great track record who is now looking to stamp his authority on the team after being thrown in at the deep end last season.
I’m not going to lie, I really wasn’t looking forward to the start of the new season back in May, but things appear to be heading in the right direction now and, with another five weeks yet to go before the league kicks off again, I feel a lot more reassured and raring to go. The future is bright – the future is Black and White!
Jamie Barlow
Notts County have today made history by securing the biggest shirt sponsorship deal in the club’s history. Ladbrokes, one of the world’s pioneering betting company’s, has agreed to sponsor the Magpies’ kit for two seasons- earmarked as the most lucrative sponsorship deal in the clubs 153- year history.
Plans have been drawn up to open a new Ladbrokes retail outlet at Meadow Lane as part of the agreement.
Notts County chairman, Ray Trew, told the club’s website: “This is an exciting day for Notts County Football Club and all our supporters, I have been in positive communication with Ladbrokes since they sponsored our Carling Cup Tie against Liverpool in 2013 and I am glad after many months of negotiating to have personally secured this deal”.
The obviously delighted Trew added: “We are obviously delighted that a huge Global Brand such as Ladbrokes have put pen to paper in association with us as we enter a new era both on and off the field”.
For those that fancy a flutter, the betting company has priced County at 18/1 to become champions of League 2 whilst offering odds of 9/2 for the Magpies to secure promotion to League 1.
Jamie tweets @JBarlow95_

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