Chris

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I like that we are adding depth; he should be good cover, but with the options we have and our formation of being three at the back, it's hard to see how Sonny Aljofree will get ahead of Lewis Macari, Lucas Ness, outside of injuries. Not a negative, as I say depth and cover are vital. Hope he enjoys his experience and time at Meadow Lane.

It will be good for his confidence that he got a goal yesterday; that seems to be a big boost to Conor Grant's confidence. I do understand the points about him going quiet. I think he did very well in spells last season, but him taking charge in going forward and making himself a constant presence in our build-up play could see him chip in with more goals but also contribute with assists. Ideally, Martin Paterson will be able to get the most out of him. I don't think it's a lack of effort with Grant, but that other players like David McGoldrick tended to step up more than he did. Without the shadows of others, Grant has the potential to do the same. All our players should want the ball, should be able to drive us forward, and sometimes I would say Grant showing determination over ability would be welcome.

It's going to be another good test, considering their level and their being in the same league as Darmstadt. This standard of opposition is very useful for our preparation, as it will show who is ready and who needs to be pushed more.

The whole purpose of loaning players out is so that they gain first-team experience. I really hope we can start to bring through academy players before we reach the Championship (if and when that is). In League One, it can work because if you can find a good League Two team to take a youth on loan, it's a good level and starting point. I am not much of a fan of loaning players out to random National League North teams, with the exception of if the team is doing well. I generally question how much better they will be when they return? It's very hard, but it's why as fans we need to let the club know we are prepared to give youngsters a chance with the right experience. Even if the support players might not be as skilled as those around them, their passion, drive, and eagerness to get better can really bring something unique to the table.

Does anyone else write poetry? Let's continue to share and have some fun. 😁 Another outstanding poem, Michael! It leads well to the ending.

Holly will be missed, she's been a big part of the women's team and the reformed club after the last team folded. I hope they can strengthen and gain promotion, it would be nice to see our women's team continue to progress. I think Holly is now a coach? I believe I read that.

I wrote this on our Facebook group: I do still feel disappointed by the comments he made when he arrived, because I think this says a lot about someone's true character. His decision to leave, after Notts offered him what sounded like a fair offer, and rejecting it. Well, it went against those first comments he initially made, but I do acknowledge that football changes. There was a sense of excitement around the reception when he arrived before the AFC Wimbledon playoff home leg. Moving to Barnsley, I don't have any issues with that, and I wish him well. Had he joined Chesterfield or MK Dons, it would have disappointed me further, and I don't think I would think of him in the same light. Regardless of the money they offered, I just wouldn't get my head around it.

I am not trying to single out Mai Traore, I just wondered how he did? There were some good glimpses, I felt, from him against Alfreton, but I don't think the issue is English football. I'm wondering if it's nerves and confidence; I know it's easy to say "he's a professional footballer," but if he remains unsettled and not himself, it will naturally reflect on his football. If he looked the same as previously against a German team, then I would be inclined to think he will need longer to find his place on our team. I have nothing against him; I just feel he's not always the best option to be played, but at times I can acknowledge that for him to improve, he does need that support. I have seen glimpses of highlights; I think it did take Notts time to settle in and grow in confidence. Darmstadt 98 presents itself as a highly organised and cohesive team. I think when you play good teams, you learn far more in football if you can put those pieces of adjustment needed to further improve your own play. Defensively, we looked to have struggled, but this might not be fair given what I have seen. Not just the back three, but the midfield failing to pick up the danger as it grew. Nothing but knowledge and lessons to be learned from it, I am sure it has provided valuable insights.

Hello, @James Macdonald. Welcome to the Pride of Nottingham, I hope you enjoy being a part of our Notts County community.

Hello, @Peter Thornley. Welcome to the Pride of Nottingham, I hope you enjoy being a part of our Notts County community.

Hello, @Daisy-Mae. Welcome to the Pride of Nottingham, I hope you enjoy being a part of our Notts County community.

Hello, @theAnticlough. Welcome to the Pride of Nottingham! I apologise for having missed this, but I hope you enjoy being a part of our Notts County community.

Hello, @MikeWood. Welcome to the Pride of Nottingham, I hope you enjoy being a part of our Notts County community.

Hello, @MejustMike. Welcome to the Pride of Nottingham, I hope you enjoy being a part of our Notts County community.

Today, I took the 79 bus with Kate to Arnold, traveling from our neighborhood through Bulwell, Rise Park, Top Valley, and more. God, the bus was hot... 🫠 Very glad to be home and out of the heat; thankfully, I don't feel tired or have any bad pains.

I believe the original was written 12 years ago; I made a better slider for the video. I always hoped to get various people around Notts, such as Colin Slater and so on, to speak parts. That dream never really worked out, and I was promised it would be played before a game via the audio system in the ground. It's probably a good thing that never happened, either. @Michael D Pie.: It's great to see another poet in our ranks; the first site I created was about poetry and art. I used to enjoy writing song lyrics when I was 14–16; I was never the best, but it helped me improve my poetry.

It's something that has been needed for years now; it's taken a while for football to operate within an acceptable loss, and even then, you can accumulate a considerable amount of debt over many seasons, which in the long term, doesn't offer much stability. I really hope this decision goes a long way towards securing football clubs futures and ultimately lessens the chance of historical debts becoming a problem for clubs moving forward. This won't be a quick fix, but it will be part of the solution if they handle it well and get the right regulators in.

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.

Have a great time, I will try to keep an eye out for your pictures on here and x/BlueSky. 🖤🤍

@piedestrian, agents only assist with the paperwork and helping to get the information which the club might need; Notts would have to hold a special licence. Similar to sponsoring a player for their work permit, it's probably more complicated than it appears. Jatta would have had to use the license/sponsorship from Notts to get the visa approved, but it would have been primarily the club's responsibility. Providing Jatta filled in the information and applied, it is in the club's hands after that. It's highly likely there were complications, which might have been due to us being in the fourth tier of English football. Unless there's more to it, Jatta made a mistake, or the club applied too late.

I feel in a very good place right now, busier than ever, and I do feel I am neglecting to find the time to respond to some of the conversations I have going. I do hope most understand that I balance my free time with many other things, such as a friend who had reached out to me about being diagnosed with cancer again, and I pledged to support them by donating things to help raise funds. I just haven't found the time; I'm really bad with these things. I won't sugarcoat stuff; I'll always be honest about it. I do need to do better with important things I allow to slip from my mind. Earlier, I drafted a news piece about my friend; I hope to help promote their GoFundMe page. I've reached out to an ex-player, asking if they would provide a motivational message, which I will include if they are able to assist. with it. I did go to the cinema on Monday, with @cheeky~k8. She wanted to watch Stitch, and we ended up with the whole cinema to ourselves. It was a great break out from reality. I'm also getting a fair amount of messages asking about my dad, which I have passed onto it. Don't worry, he's fine. He's just without acccess to PON currently, but he will be soon back.

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I think this is more to do with our level, rather than someone dropping the ball. It wouldn't happen to a Championship team; it's just a trip in pre-season to Germany, and it's not like we're aiming to sell Alassana Jatta to one of the teams we're playing. It's a bit silly, if you ask me, that a player couldn't be granted a visa to play in some pre-season friendlies. If the club did make a mistake, then it would be very disappointing, but I am more inclined to say it's part of the issue of having overseas, non-EU players. Please ensure that this doesn't become political; let's keep it focused on Jatta and his absence.

Is currently listening to: Jimmy Nail - "Ain't No Doubt". 🎶🎵 I haven't heard this for years, but it does capture the late 80s and 90s. I always thought that, for an actor who looked like Tony Adams, he had a decent singing voice. Now that I have stumbled onto this song, I am finding it hard not to have it on repeat. I'm almost replicating the Super Bowl Shuffle when I get up. 😂