Chris

@Fan of Big Tone, Matthew Dennis looks capable, but having seen him play, he looks more like an attacking winger to me. He did some really neat touches, controlling the ball well against Cardiff, and we are a side that tends to serve the ball on a plate for someone to score. The main thing is to keep working, avoid frustration, and focus on ways that break Newport down. They'll defend in numbers, I am sure of that, but my previous calls for movement (last season) could see space open up. Barry Cotter and Will Jarvis look fully capable of striking from distance. On his day, Jodi Jones can be a real threat, but it depends on how he's taking to his potential new role. Alassana Jatta is a real loss, but the club seems to have faith in Dennis, and these opening games give him the chance to prove himself without being overshadowed by Jatta. My only concern with Dennis is if he doesn't impress during these first 5 days, it will lead to further calls and unrest about how we need a striker. He needs to be given a chance, and I am hoping he can show us some firepower early on.

In the clips of the signings, you can see that there was a photoshoot in the back of The Nest. It's just being upgraded, but I did notice that James Sanderson has disappeared from it. Will he be going out on loan? Is he out on loan? He played for the B team against Radford, but he could be out on loan or going.

I don't think it's likely to happen. There was a news segment I saw on YouTube which covered this topic and said that it's possible to "de-age," but I think it's mostly nonsense and sci-fi. I also don't think many people would choose to live forever. It's hard enough watching your loved ones die as you age, and more people around you pass on, too. Every time a celebrity passes, it can hit home just how short our existence is. However, I wouldn't want to live in this world forever. It's possible that, over time, our lifespan will increase, especially through healthier eating and advanced care. Scientists are looking at growing organs, and even organ printing. More realistic achievements need to be made, such as cures for cancer and being able to learn more about what causes it to grow. It might not be "cured", but there's no reason we can't learn more about how best to avoid it. (at least try) Living forever just sounds very unrealistic, even with the advancements made in modern day.

I am almost 80% excited, with the rest being a nervous feeling. It's likely this will repeatedly change before I set off to Newport, but it's good to be back. Martin Paterson might not have a fully fit squad, but I believe his selection is relatively easy. Roos Aljofree Platt Bedeau (Centre Backs) Javris Bennetts (Wing Backs) Lorpenda (Defensive Midfielder) Palmer (Central Midfielder) Grant Jones (Attacking Midfielder) Dennis (Striker) Subs: Griffiths, McDonald, Gordon, Cotter, Norburn, Kouhyar, Traore This assumes that Nick Tsaroulla is still out, along with Lucas Ness and Scott Robertson. Traore might not be available; I haven't read anything about him, but he should be fit. If he's not, it leaves the concern that we don't have someone who can replace Dennis if we need him to. Of course, there's still time for signings to be made, but this is the squad I would choose going into the game. I don't think Ollie Norburn is fit enough to start; with him coming back from an injury, which we signed him with, it might be best to introduce him gradually to the XI. I would go for Maziar Kouhyar as he's quite direct and would be my preference ahead of Curtis Edwards. Up front is the only area where I would like to see more quality.

Regarding the media team, to give some perspective, it must be challenging to cope with the level of things they have to do at a professional level. I find my role here challenging, which is why I am very thankful for the help I receive so that I can focus on areas where I can get the most out of my time. I have been critical in the past, but that stems from wanting to see improvements, and I always try to ground my criticism in feedback. One example is the production quality of some of the fan forums; as for a professional media outlet, it shouldn't capture people in the way or have people talking in the background when a board member or someone else is talking on stage. I have no qualifications in videography, so I know I wouldn't be able to do much better, but from a professional point of view, there most certainly can be improvements. I don't like how some fans on social media pal up to them but soon call them out; it's the same with the players. I am sure everyone involved in the club is doing their best, and I see no reason why the media team wouldn't want to communicate with fans. The quiet spells this close to pre-season could perhaps have been handled with content to fill in those spaces, but again, from my experience, there's only so much time, and unless you do a role like this, you have no idea how long it takes to do things. This said, something is better than nothing, and I am sure the club will take it on board. I don't personally feel that we should be worrying, not at this stage. Joe Palmer and Roberto Gagliardi need to be given time. It's fine to have your doubts, but only Palmer can really be questioned at this stage. Gagliardi can't really be the person to blame for the transfers when they are conducted by a panel. It's fair to have concerns and to voice them; after all, it can lead to a healthy discussion.

It depends on how you look at things. For animals, it would be easier for them to survive, but at the same time fatalities would increase without vets. Extinction would most likely still occur, but the blessing of no poachers or otherwise cruel individuals would mean it's more natural. The planet would be better off, although at the same time there are things that humans have done in order to protect it; it's just a shame that there has been more damage. Innovation wouldn't exist without humans. There would be nobody to offer stewardship of the planet, nor anyone who could try to make improvements. There would be no arts, languages, or storytelling. No caregiving, volunteering, and many more losses of human kindness, compassion, and cooperation. The biggest loss would be the lack of a witness to the world knowing there is a universe beyond Earth, no scientific breakthroughs, and no understanding of what makes things work. Animals just see that things do; they can't comprehend why.

When I looked on Wiki, I noticed the Rams were the first to win it. I do recall seeing the competition named in some of the Notts OTDs, but none all that memeriable.

It's way too early for anyone to be saying that MK Dons will win the title; they've been throwing money to the wind and have struggled for it. I think they will be more competitive, but I don't think I would have them in my top 3. I also wonder, how on earth can they spend such amounts? They seem to have a never-ending transfer budget, and for a club like them with little history, I find it hard to see how they are not breaking FFP rules.

Thank you for continuing to run this @DangerousSausage. I do very much appreciate the time you put into the community and, of course, the Prediction League. If you need any help or assistance, you know how to get hold of me. Bradford City 0-1 Wycombe Wanderers Doncaster Rovers 2-0 Exeter City Lincoln City 1-1 Reading Plymouth Argyle 1-3 Barnsley Barnet 0-0 Fleetwood Town Cambridge United 2-1 Cheltenham Town Grimsby Town 1-0 Crawley Town Walsall 2-1 Swindon Town (Joker)

I can only make out parts of what Paul wrote, and some of it I am not sure I agree with. I don't think Jacob Bedeau is underestimated, and Jodi Jones needs time to be anything significant. Yet, that's an opinion, and I respect it. My key player would be Alassana Jatta, as his presence at the club, combined with his ability to score, is of paramount importance. Most underrated for me right now would be Matt Palmer because, for some reason, a lot of fans act like he's not a good player. I think some of this stems from him just being the club's captain; whilst his injury did set him back, he's still a vital part of what makes us work. I would close my comment by saying sentiments in football can be quite misleading, such as wishing for Luke Williams to return.

Hello, @Chedozie. Welcome to the Pride of Nottingham. I hope you enjoy being a part of our Notts County community. If you are a reutning member, or you first time here. Please do take some time to familarise yourself with the site. It would be great to see you joining in, there's plenty of discussions and content. I very much hope to see you become a regular contributer, see you around.

I was very much like, "Who, who, who?????" when I read the title. AFC Wimbledon, in fairness, sounds like a good prospect for him, whereas I fail to see how he would improve us. It's a little unfair, as I haven't seen him play, but we do have more senior players, which explains why we didn't sign him.

You can't throw money at a football club and instantly expect it to be a success. There can be smart investments where a club is purchased and money is spent, such as Wrexham, that rides the wave of a mixture of expenditure and the excitement that the club is going somewhere or at least is capable of reaching new heights. I think their fan base is very much in harmony with the club's vision, which I personally think we lost halfway through our first season back in League Two. When clubs foster a strong bond with their fans, it cultivates an atmosphere that enhances the likelihood of achieving promotion. With smart investments and focused recruitment, success can come, but it's never equally measured. A club can't replicate what another successful team has done because it needs to be tailored and molded around individual clubs. Those teams spending money without much thought and seeking only short-term success are basically gamblers. There needs to be equal measure, a strong focus on creating a winning mentality that connects with the club's fans. Fans in nature only think short term, at least a portion. The focus tends to be where we are and where they want to be. It needs to be realistic, reflecting on structure and how the club can progress. A lot of clubs these days look like they don't have a real strategic outline beyond a season.

It could be a good move for Tyler Miller; Bolton should be among the teams fighting for promotion, and they also have room for someone to establish himself as their number one. I wish him well; it's a shame we never had the chance to see how he could perform.

I would hope that it still gives them hope that Macaulay Langstaff can make the grade, but with him being transfer-listed, it might help him find a club at the same time. His level might not be quite at the Championship stage, but I still feel Millwall is the wrong type of team for someone like him. There's still every chance he could be useful to them, but it does seem likely that he will be heading out.

Today should be quite productive, I forgot to say yesterday that my new home shirt had arrived. That will be making the worn trip to Newport on Saturday, its very nice! There will be a teaser, but not yet Mr Tone. 😉 ETA's a very difficult when some of the scope is out of my control, but two major areas are making good progress. I think next week, might see some of the news start to filter into the site. I will of course post an announcement closer to the time, most likely dangling a carrot instead of tackle.

During the Cardiff game, I heard a mixed amount of opinions on Jodi Jones's role within the XI that took on the Welsh side. I think the role is encouraging, and I could see Jodi Jones affording better potential than what he would get from the wider areas of the pitch. It might also see him gain more chances to convert opportunities, with him being further up the pitch. In my opinion, if we are to give Jodi this role, I would hope that we persist and afford him the chance to grow into the role as Mai Traore had in game time last season. The comments I heard were mostly negative, with complaints that he's not good enough or that he isn't creative enough for the role. I understand the concerns that he's exciting to watch coming from the flanks, but he can still do that if he's afforded some freedom to drift either left or right. It's no different than David McGoldrick, although the promising thing is that we have other attacking options ahead of and around him. Sometimes with Didzy, I could understand the frustrations with him going deeper or moving out to the flank, because it would isolate the attacking threat in the middle. I don't see this being the same as Jodi, as there will be better quality in the position(s) he's previously played, with fewer chances for the opposition to want to hack him down. For some reason, officials act like it's perfectly fine to hack wide players down when they are good, whereas they tend to stamp down on it in the middle, and opposition players tend to be more afraid to challenge players for fear of giving a free kick in a vital space. If the concerns I have seen and heard over Jodi losing his "pace" are true, it would be more reason to give him a fair chance in this squad. Personally, I think he's suffering from a lack of confidence and is scared of falling victim to further injuries. With his history, it's perfectly natural, but if you watched him play when he returned towards the end, he wasn't the same out wide, and if the attacking midfield brings him confidence, I can see it paying off.

This is overseas fans means of having a season ticket, which I would hope our wider fan base would take up because it is good value. It keeps you in the loop with visual performance and adds to the club's coffers.

Crying about it isn't going to help them, either. This sort of thing made so early sounds more like excuses than reasons because it's down to the club to find the players at the right price. If they can't find affordable players, they need to rethink. If they can't pay what the expectation is for jumping up a level and being closer to the second tier of English football, then they are in for a rude awakening. What happens if their current squad harmony and new signings are enough for them to earn back-to-back promotions? Will he be back complaining that £200,000 isn't enough to find a quality Championship player? All Bradford City can do is try to unearth affordable gems; crying that the players costs have jumped up to me suggests a lack of understanding of the business that football is.

I liked Dave Bracegirdle, both his commentary and his interviewing. Adam Hassell is okay commentating, but I do think he leads to obvious and negative questions when there seems to be zero need for them. I would much rather a Notts fan do it, and for the long term, so I do wish Adam all the best in stepping into the role full time. Hopefully, he grows in confidence and asks the right questions at the right time.

I wouldn't have signed him based on his performance at Cardiff, and I obviously missed the German friendlies. However, they might have influenced the decision. He shows potential and was impressive going forward, but I have concerns about his defensive abilities. When will we have another opportunity to evaluate him further? We wouldn't, and it's not my decision to make. I just personally wouldn't have offered him a deal, but I do hope it works out and that my doubts aren't correct in time. One point which I would like to make is that his career having been overseas does seem to attract more optimism than some who don't have a glamorous football CV. It's quite unusual for me to acknowledge that his positivity largely stems from the clubs he has been associated with. However, my son was really hoping that we would sign him, and I do respect the club's decision. I am also open to the prospect that he does have a level of exciting ability; it's just the defensive side, but that might be perfectly fine against teams at our level. I would always welcome such a signing, regardless of my personal thoughts. I do hope Keanan Bennetts does well for us.

Further depth to the centre of midfield. I am a bit surprised by the signing, even as a loan, but I welcome it. The competition in this area does need to be used to make sure only those in form start, with the exception coming from suspensions, injuries, or tactical choices; it further gives Martin Paterson something different, so that will be interesting to see.

Some exciting news which has kept me busy; I really do wish I could clone myself! All very positive things for PON, and from three different areas. Although I do think I will need to push two areas as a means to see this through. I know it sounds very cryptic, but I don't want to leave any open spoilers. Not at the moment, as two of the things are in very early stages. Match days are a good escape from day-to-day life, from knowing nobody to knowing so many great fans. I am in a very privileged position, and I do want 2025-26 to be the season where I return to challenging myself when it comes to the anxiety and mental side of things. I am very thankful that I have so much support because it might feel like it's the other way around, but I know in my heart this is not the case. Thank you for the belated birthday wish, Michael. Ava had a lovely day. Aye, I do. 🖤🤍

Every football club looks to work towards sustainability; Notts is doing much better at this, but it will continue to come at the cost of selling players. A promotion when not ready could result in this being harder, but when club officials speak about sustainability, they are often talking about cutting down on losses at the end of each season. It doesn't generally mean they are breaking even or making a profit; in football, this is hard for a professional football club to do. Spending money on the training ground could be a waste, especially if UoN decides to kick us off its facilities. Without knowledge of the agreement, I wouldn't be able to say, and therefore it is only speculation. I wouldn't imagine there's an agreement which the club is happy with, and that is for a fair duration. Having an identically sized pitch is a good idea on the principle of making routine training, especially matches held on the training ground, easier, and when we play intra-squad practice games. We will be playing on the exact dimensions as Meadow Lane, which will make it easier for the players to work on training-ground drills to put into practice with the first team. I think Manchester City has one the same size as the Etihad, with the exception of having several other different-sized training ground pitches. You would believe that this would help make Meadow Lane a fortress at home, as it allows us to replicate more closely what visiting sides might try to pull off. Better preparation does tend to lead to bigger things. There were silly comments on social media from some fans suggesting that our owners were asset-stripping and priming the club for sale. I do wonder if it is so hard to believe that the ambitions of our owners, the work that they have done, and the desire they repeatedly show deserve such nonsense? Similar to the absurdity found in the frantic comments regarding the Reedtz family supposedly losing interest simply because they acquired Viborg FF. This can be a healthy discussion, provided we approach things respectfully and considerately. There are several intriguing points, making this topic particularly engaging.

The WSL is by far the best female league in the world, and it's reflecting with the improvements made by the English national team. It's great to see the England Lionesses doing so well, despite not having watched the game my son confirmed we had won (as we played Monopoly as a family). I thought we had won 3-1, but when I checked I realised that it was on pens. Brilliant achievement! It goes to show that if you have a keeper good enough to save them, you should have the qaulity to put them away. PS. I think some of the Spanish players were a bit cocky leading into the game, claims being far more superior to our ladies.