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The players should get fitter and learn to stay focused, but they shouldn’t be scared to make strong tackles or worry about being too kind when playing. Football needs tough players who aren’t afraid to fight for the ball. He’s played at high levels, so we know he’s got good experience. Our team sometimes looks tired or starts slow, and that can be a problem. If we work on our fitness and show the right attitude, things can really change. It makes me feel excited because it sounds like we’re going in the right direction. There’s a good chance we’ll improve with better energy and teamwork.

Reading this actually makes me more confident than worried. It’s easy to panic when you lose a friendly but if we’re honest, testing the squad against higher-level German sides is perfect preparation. Paterson clearly wants us pressing high and playing aggressive football but knows it won’t work unless the squad’s super fit. That’s what pre-season is for. He’s spot on, mistakes now mean fixes before the real games. Also like how he says he won’t beat the lads with a stick. Hard but fair. Let’s see what Kaiserslautern brings.

i like that he backs his players with their challenges, we are not a dirty team and although i have not seen the tackle itself. the way football is going you wont be able to tackle at all. i think aside from that being silly, martin paterson says all the right things the right things. i like that he wont back down or treat friendlies as games we cant win. i just wont get excited if we do, because i know they are about fitness more than anything.

I like how Paterson didn’t sugar-coat anything but also didn’t throw the players under the bus. Admitting the shape changes didn’t work and pointing out where we were too passive shows he’s thinking things through properly. I’d rather see that than meaningless praise. If we’re fitter and sharper when it counts, this loss doesn’t matter at all. Still early doors but sounds promising.

most players his age by now are released by united, so he has something about him and being loaned out last season gives him plenty of experience. i dont read much into it when the club says they beat off bigger clubs, as i think its more about the player wanting to be a part of the right environment and i think we do offer a lot for a young player. hope he enjoys playing at meadow lane and in front of us notts fans. we will make him feel at home.

Always nice to see a player come in with a bit of family history in the game too, think it gives them that bit of extra grounding. Hasney was a decent pro back in the day, so Sonny will have grown up around the right habits. United fans seem to rate him highly and if he does well here it’s a win-win. Just hope we can give him enough minutes to really kick on. Great that the club are being proactive early instead of waiting around.

It can’t be much worse than how Luke Williams used to make the players run straight after matches and during training all the time. That didn’t seem very fun for them. I think it might help the team. If some of the players want to move up from League Two, then this could be a good thing for them. As long as we get the tactics sorted and know how to beat teams at our own level, the players should do well.

He's a good interviewee, that's for sure! The start of the game was feisty after what looked to me like a high, two-footed challenge from Hinchy that he got booked for. The home team's manager was absolutely jumping up and down with rage, it was quite comical. A few moments later there was a melee after another challenge (which I didn't see very clearly) and a Darmstadt player got booked. It calmed down a bit after that though. That's how it looked to me, but it all happened right in front of MP. I'm not sure that the potato farmers (Kaiserslautern) will be tougher, they've had a lot of comings and goings and may not be the cohesive unit Darmstadt were in the first half. We've also got another game under our belts. It'll definitely be a tough game though. And it's true that the new coaches are working the team really hard. After the final whistle, the Darmstadt players shook hands with ours and headed down the tunnel. Meanwhile, the Notts players applauded the fans and then proceeded to have a full-blown training session on the pitch. Players were sprinting the width of the pitch and being timed individually, all sorts of stuff, it definitely wasn't your usual warm-down. I hope we reap the rewards!

I can feel that the Notts fan base have become much more encouraged for the season after listening to Martin's interviews since he becomes Head Coach. There is a determination to succeed in Martin's rhetoric & I am beginning to believe that a Martin Paterson Notts team will be subtly different to a Stuart Maynard one I don't think that the latest video of Notts players training with weights & practicing boxing moves was released by accident. I think that Martin does want the Notts players to be tougher, stronger & more physical than we've seen them during the last few years. The players are definitely going to see a different kind of regime at Notts from the ones we have been used to recently.

I wonder what the players think about all the hard work, MP is certainly focusing on getting them fit, it doesn’t seem as if they are getting much down time. MP seems to have a plan as to preparing them properly it also sounds like he wants us to play on the front foot and be quite aggressive. I quite like that we’ve been too nice the last few seasons.

I really like that we’re going for young players with something to prove instead of short-term panic signings. Sonny’s got leadership experience, good technique and sounds like he’s not afraid of a challenge. That’s the sort we should be taking a chance on. The fact we saw off League One competition says a lot about how we’re viewed now too. A season with us playing regular football should do him the world of good. If he kicks on, he’ll help tighten us up at the back which could be the surprise signing we needed.

He's a very good signing by Notts & he comes to the club with a very good reputation. Coming from Man United too is a great coup for Notts. The Man U academy is one of the best, if not the best academy in the Country. I don't think that he would have come to Notts if he wasn't going to play a fair number of games in the Notts first team. I think that Martin Paterson has a lot to do with him coming to Notts. Another good thing about this signing is that Notts are getting a good reputation for bringing on academy players signed from PL clubs. George Abbott was a success story. I wouldn't bet against Sonny Aljofree having the same impact & success.

Encouraging that he wants the players fitter and pushing. Pre-season done right will pay off.

Cracking signing this, exactly the type of player we needed at the back!

Top effort by the travelling fans. Makes you proud to see that backing in Germany.

Impressed with this one, no nonsense. He’s already got experience in League Two so he shouldn’t be shocked by the physical side. Scored a few for Accrington as well which means he could chip in from set pieces, that’s always handy. You can’t teach height and bravery and it sounds like he’s got both. Let’s see how he does, but on paper this is very tidy business.

Good pedigree and sounds like he’s got the right attitude too, welcome Sonny!

It sounds like the match was quite a fiesty affair from the reports I’ve read, quite a number of bookings and a bit of argy bargy involving several players from both teams. This seems to back up MP’s claim that he’s told the players to be competitive and get stuck in, he didn’t want it to be a practice match. Good for him, the more I hear the more I like.

I didn’t know Kim personally, but reading this made me wish I had. Her dedication to Notts goes far beyond what most fans do, I can’t imagine how hard it must be to face what she is now, but she’s doing it with grace and courage. If anyone deserves a bit of joy and help ticking off their bucket list, it’s her. Hope she gets everything she wishes for.

Kim has a very good heart, hidden inside one of the best characters you could ever wish to meet. Her battle with cancer has been nothing short of heroic, and the determination she has shown is inspiring. There's a side to her you don't often see at games, and while I might not be the closest person to her, I am very thankful for the kindness she not only showed me over the years but also showed my son, Jake. We used to travel via Iris's and Malc's coach, and you will see the family feel that those fans have amongst themselves; it's very much unmatched, but Kim is a big part of bringing people together. This last picture was taken at Swindon Town away. After losing, Jake hoped he could get some of the players signatures. Kim made it her personal mission to make it happen, captured by @Dan. Kim encouraged the then-manager, Chris Kiwomya, to get all the players to sign his shirt. It was a very special moment, and just one of the many things that Kim does for those she cares about.

It’s a great signing, and not just because he came through United’s academy. That’s not the main reason to be excited. What really stands out is that he’s got something to prove. He picked us over other options, and that says a lot. It shows he wants to play and make an impact.

What a shining example to us all you are Kimbo. All the suffering and pain you have gone through and brightly shone as a leading light to everyone. May the dreams you have be fulfilled totally and you have the time to tick off that bucket list, everything from top to bottom. An absolute legend and rolemodel for us all.

What a great story of dedication to your favourite club. I'm saddened to learn that her cancer has returned, but it is so heartening that she has lots of support. I do hope that her fresh treatment is effective & it will reduce her discomfort.

Continue to demonstrate your resilience and passion, Kimbo. I might not know you personally, but I am aware of who you are, and I wish you all the best with your treatment. The Notts community has your back! I hope to see future updates as you continue your GoFundMe page.

i am saddened to read this, kim is a well known figure. i used to see her often at home games and it was nice to see her in passing at away games last season. she is a larger than life person, who does a lot for the supporters club. i really hope she manages to do everything she wishes for, and i hope the treatment helps.

Lorraine was often seen around the Notts staff and played a clear part behind the scenes. When she passed away a few years ago, it was tough news to hear and many felt the loss. I’ve heard of Kimbo, though I don’t know her personally. I remember PON sharing a video showing she’d beaten cancer before. That stuck with me, and I truly hope she can defy the odds once more. Even if that’s not possible, I just hope she can be free from pain and make the most of the time she has left.

Never met Kim but her name’s always popped up. Shows what real passion for a club looks like.

I’m beginning to understand why the owners liked Martin Paterson during the interviews. We’ve got a solid squad that’s built to do well in our division, and that kind of match-up shows he’s thinking clearly about what fits. Facing German second and third division teams has brought a fresh challenge. It’s helped us go up against sides with a different style and a good level of quality, which has added something useful to pre-season. The longer pre-season goes on, the more positive it feels. The signs are good, and the players seem to be responding well.

Real club hero. Doesn't wear a kit but she’s every bit part of the team.

I like what Martin Paterson has to say, and I enjoy hearing his thoughts. He seems focused and ready, which gives me a good feeling about things. I hope the start to our League Two season goes well for him. If all the work he’s doing comes through on the pitch, we might be in for a much stronger season.

Kim's story hit me hard. I've seen her around the club over the years and never realised how much she’s actually done. It’s the kind of dedication you don’t see every day. It’s heartbreaking what she’s going through, but typical Kim to face it head on. Wishing her all the strength in the world. She deserves to make every memory on that list.

What a star Kimbo is. It’s heartbreaking to see someone go through such a hard time, but staying positive really does help. I’m sending her my best wishes. She’s a well-known Notts fan and has been going to matches for years. Before she became ill, she hardly ever missed one. I hope the support she’s getting brings her some comfort. All the very best to you, Kim. Gav

German football fan, coming in peace. A well done, Sir, that's a cracking write up on the impending matches over in Germany. I tip my hat, @DangerousSausage 👍 A good option for drinks ynd scran prior to Kickers matches are the club houses of the small, local football clubs, e.g. SF Stuttgart (literally "friends of sports"), only a goal kick away from the Kickers ground. There's a few of them, just have a stab at GoogleMaps (e.g. 11'er Sportfreunde Stuttgart https://share.google/Mrph6qR4htdJNI5zr Also popular is "Paule" (an immobile mobile stall, literally a minutes walk from the turnstiles, an institution for the regulars. You can sink your teeth into a Rote Wurst and/or sink another beer and cheer on the Magpies inside the stadium a minute later. The "Waldauerle" is good for local, Swabian pizza (and beer and wine), approx. a 5 minutes stroll from the ground. Enjoy the trip and match, Mags ✊️🍺👍

Very happy to be of help. To answer your question, I am a foot soldier of the other lot in town (VfB 1893). But I don't mind the Kickers and I take in the odd game. I am an old codger, like the chaps that watched the Magpies/Forest or Sunderland/Newcastle, City/United, etc. in the 1950s., for the sake of the beautiful game. But definitely no half/half scarves, that's obviously a total no-no! ✋️🫣

Wow, thanks for the tips @BlackPudding! I haven't been to Stuttgart for a long time, so this is a great addition. Are you a Kickers fan?