Chris

Messi for me, has always performed underwhelmingly in national tournaments with Argentina, well until they won the last World Cup, but he played very poorly during the group stages. Yes, Ronaldo didn't always play well and forced Portugal to focus on him at the cost of the team. I do think he's more polished. Both are great players, but for me Ronaldo is the better of the two. It's very fine margins, but I think one downfall is how Messi is around world-class players and Ronaldo has often lifted his national team by himself. He's repeated it at clubs; when he played for Juventus, he heavily played a role in taking them further in the Champions League. Whereas, at PSG, Messi did not seem to repeat his Barcelona performance. It would have been easier to judge had Messi joined a team like Manchester City earlier in his career. I know Man City kept trying to secure his signing, but without them both having played in their prime in similar leagues. Everyone will have their own opinion, but I think Messi wouldn't have been as big in the Premier League. I think he would have struggled where skill wasn't enough to deal with the style. Likewise, if Messi signed for an Italian club, I think he would have struggled massively with the physicality. It's a difficult league to do well in when defenders are quite dirty.

I think there is an evolution in the approach that Notts has taken under Reedtz. I think initially the focus was just to support the manager and become familiar with the club. Using the knowledge introduced to identify players who would give us a solid footing going forward. The likes of Damien McCrory arriving was very promising, and I think he was somewhat underrated because he did contribute to the stability the club needed to move forward, as did the arrival of Sam Slocombe, who was easily the best keeper we had during our National League years. No player will avoid mistakes; I think even Elisha Sam showed the club's willingness to make the wage budget work. Each season in the National League, even now we have seen a steady improvement in the focus of those we signed. Players like Lewis Macari, with a great level of potential, could have been missed if Luke Williams hadn't given him time. Additionally, he made significant strides in his development under the guidance of Stuart Maynard. Earlier in the season, I remember writing an article about how Macari didn't want to miss a game and how he felt he had improved. This is a significant thing for me in recruitment; we are identifying players who can come in on loan, but then when they establish themselves, we do try to buy them. So, there's a real incentive for a player to do well, especially if they want regular football. I could say the same about Kyle Wootton, as I have Macari. I didn't think we would sign him permanently at the time, and when we did. It showed that we are stronger in negotiating with clubs, whereas before it seemed impossible. We then give them a platform to showcase their ability, and develop them, and this is resulting in the club managing to attract fees. I used to feel we had a culture of giving players away 'cheaply' and whilst some might feel we didn't get good money for Macaulay Langstaff, I do feel the club took his age into consideration and how much he wanted to try life out in the Championship. When you recruit players who give their all, bring success and play a part in the feel-good factor, I am less disappointed when they leave. Whereas I don't like how Dan Crowley left us. I think all his reasons and excuses are disrespectful. The positives in the recruitment are that we can weed out players whose heads get turned; we are not afraid to sell and then reinvest. Importantly, the recruitment doesn't come at the cost of development off the pitch; they go hand in hand. So, all that nonsense about 'The Nest' when we were struggling a bit just seems daft and ungrateful, given the direction we are heading. Our improvements with recruitment are the biggest reason why we are having success and moving forward as a club. If we want to retain this ambition, or even reach the championship, then the focus needs to be exactly as we see it now. It's certainly been much better, but at times we have made poor decisions, which will happen. Some of the poorer signings do come down to the players themselves, so I do agree with earlier comments about Will Randall. Yet despite the good, I do think it's wasteful signing players for a fee and never really giving them a fair chance. While others seem to be treated much better. Obviously we don't know why this is, what happens behind the scenes, or on the training ground. Yet there are baffling signings, which will always happen in football because no club has perfect recruitment 90% of the time. I do feel the resources we have in the budget to buy players should only be spent when we are prepared to fully invest in that player - something I don't think we have done with the likes of Junior Morias. Despite all this, we are a million miles away from the guessing games and gimmicks that we have seen. Hardy loved signing players with whom he could pal up with. Before that, every season we had a fresh gimmick, and that never brought stability. Right now, we are establishing a squad and doing what I have always felt was best. Those days when, each season, we would end up with a virtually new squad or tied to players who don't offer anything, are long gone. Which is one positive for mutually agreeing on release terms with players, but it is a waste of time for both parties.

I demand that you start bringing me along with you and Mrs T, @Fan of Big Tone. I'll sleep in the car, bring a tent... I will find some way to camp, but your adventure looks awesome. I'm very envious! (in a good way). I try to refrain from posting in here, as there's not much I can say on a daily basis, also who wants to read about me complaining about my health? 😂 Unfortunately, I will do that a little. My left hand, having dislocated about two weeks ago, is still giving me great pain. I tried to soak it in a nice, warm bath earlier in the week, but the bloody thing isn't happy. That's hEDS for you, whereas @cheeky~k8's proud of her hypermobility to the point I have nightmares. I really hate it, and can see just how much of a toll it took on my mum in her lifetime without her ever being diagnosed with it. The similarities in her declining health are very reminiscent of my own. Positive things: I am trying to multitask today, with effort going into the dev site and eventual upgrade. Very important prep work for that, which is quite exciting. I am focusing some time on communicating with newly joined members. I have only had one response, and despite writing each message personalised to that new member, I do think I should persist without feeling downhearted. I'm also hoping to find some time to go see the old GOAT.

If the National League wishes to become more in line with other leagues, it should increase promotion from two to three teams. The playoffs are extremely unfair for some teams, while I like that there's a gap between the 2nd and 3rd teams playing. It's not exactly a reward when they are knocked out by a team that only just finished in the playoffs. Yes, it's encouraging to see these upsets sometimes. I do believe 2nd place should automatically qualify for promotion to League Two. Teams in League Two might not be for this, though, and we know the higher up you are, the more importance they seem to have over these decisions. Yet which is best for football?

Watching Aidan Stone in the pre-season, I felt very encouraged because what I witnessed seemed very promising. He looked like he was ready to take the opportunity, but in hindsight I wonder if he was pushing himself too much and demanding what he needed time to deliver. I know, some will say that playing against the standard of teams which we did doesn't compare to League Two, and it doesn't. Yet, you can see a player's natural ability nonetheless. What encouraged me was his ability to command the area; he was very vocal. He would come for crosses and catch them, while I like Sam Slocombe (I think a lot of fans are harsh towards him), did feel Stone was a big step forward. Despite comments that he was the worst keeper we have had (directed at him early on), I always thought he tried and I do feel he would be much better in the squad we have now. Whenever I interacted with him, I always tried to put across that those vocals weren't the main voice of the fanbase. I mean, he signed quite a lot of A4 and A3 prints, while a fan was being pathetic towards him, and this was like the third home game of the season. I think the poor defending, abuse from certain fans, the fact Stone was pushing himself too fast, and blaming himself took away any chance of building confidence. He's not a bad keeper, he just deflates when teams score, and that is 100% a confidence thing. I would have him happily as our backup, to which I hope Sam Slocombe retires with us, but I do think Stone could have been a good backup to Alex Bass. Slocombe has been a good servant of the club, but again we are far too critical of our keepers and considering a fan near me shouted he would **** him after conceding, only for David McGoldrick to score during the fan's petty rant. I would hate to be the world's best keeper, and playing for Notts, putting up with that. Good luck to Stone at Yeovil, we have massively upgraded with Bass but I would like to see someone with half of Stone's professionalism come in as our backup keeper in time.

From the picture, it looks like the area my friend drove in on the way to Carlisle. I can't say for sure, I am not that familiar with the road since I don't personally drive. Yet, it does look like one of the many roads he took, where I found myself gazing out of the window appreciating the scenery. I wonder if they could look at improvements to make it safer during bad conditions, because it would be a shame to see it go due to this. I have seen more dangerous roads in South American countries than this, so I hope it's not us being OTT and closing just for the sake of it.

Fully deserved, from the games I have seen live he injects himself into the play and often helps lift the performance of those around him. He's in such a focused drive form, that I am unbiasedly saying I don't know how he couldn't win.

What the hell was the designer drinking? Aviation gin or Wrexham lager??? It looks awful, I would really hope the real thing looks better in person. I'm all for seeing something different, but this... Well, it's quite the eyesore.

I read a friend's Facebook post about it (Mick Wotherington). It's sad news, and a terrible thing to read about. I really hope he's okay, and is able to return to playing football once he's mended.

Just like in the summer, the extension of George Abbott's loan deal is part of the best business the club has done. Hearing George talk about how he wanted to stay, and that he wanted to finish this season off with us. It's a good thing to add to his footballing CV - even better if he gets his wish and helps us to be promoted. He's a very talented player, who could go far with the right guidance. He's got the skill and attitude, so I hope he does end his season at Meadow Lane achieving the dreams he set out. He'll be another Jack Grealish and Callum McGregor to our memories of having played for us, before he tears up the Premier League.

I have called many times for Junior Morias to be given a chance, when he did, I thought he did well. There were times last season his presence gave us goals, and they weren't just nothing. They always seemed special in the way that he would use his skill, one of them at home just came from his pure turn of pace. He could have got a second, but he gave the ball to Sam Austin, if I recall, who shot just over the crossbar. We seem to be addressing the lack of speed within our team, people like Aaron Nemane who, if you don't watch - will show a burst of speed and be off. While Will Jarvis demonstrates considerable talent, Junior Morias possesses incredible speed. I fail to see why we can't, but I think his height plays a part in it. He's not the tallest, but still I think he could be a great squad member. I do think he will end up not ever putting on the shirt for us again, and quietly disappear at the end of the season.

I said at the time that Carlisle United going as far as they did to appoint Mike Williamson from MK Dons would end up in disaster. He showed no ability to make MK Dons a good side, they were very inconsistent and just not competitive enough under him. The move could have worked out, I know people spoke about it making sense due to where he's from, but it always came down to his ability and style of management. MK Dons gave him a great platform to show that he can be an EFL manager. Carlisle United seemed the total opposite to me, he needs time to learn but throwing him in a relegation battle when he can't show signs of success with a promotion tipped favourite. Well it's just a recipe for a disaster and I honestly never thought it would work. Wishing Carlisle the best of luck in maintaining focus, and hoping Mike Williamson finds stability in his career without frequent job changes.

Welcome to the Pride of Nottingham, @TFP. I hope you enjoy being a part of our Notts County community. It's good to see you joining in so early!

Matt Palmer is the captain and the best passer of the ball, thanks to his skill in retaining possession. David McGoldrick when he's in form it's hard not to include him, and it's a credit to his work rate, especially at his age. Alex Bass is the most valuable player in our team, we finally have a keeper who is solid and able to grow with us. Jodi Jones always believe in... George Abbott even if he's on loan, it's hard for me to name a team which wouldn't include him.

He could be a bit of a k**b, but I did think he made a good assistant. It's just his tendency to act like him and Kevin Nolan were to be worshipped. I had no issues with him, and the times I spoke with him, he sounded very knowledgable, but I did see him reacting unprofessionally. Weather a good or bad thing, he wouldn't hear anyone bad mouth Nolan's tactics etc to the point he would just go off on one. Pairing him with Jamie Fullarton would create an explosive combination! Get that TNT ready.

There's always vary levels of 'rumours', and it's something I have never got involved with. JJ (a former admin) used to like sharing them if they seemed of interest, but it just leads to people second guessing. When reports from reputable sources like the BBC or other trusted journalists indicate that we are about to welcome new players. I am fine with speculating, and seeing how the discussion grows. It's not something I am all that inclined to do on social media, as I really want the Pride of Nottingham to be a trusted source and something fans can rely on for common sense. I know some supporters in the past have expressed they miss the fan element of the social side, I still pride myself on reporting facts and things of value. There's no issue discussing or informing the community of what's known or might have been heard. It will likely tend to show how genuine people are, so I am not bothered about that. I don't like when people are intentionally dishonest and make up stories for clout. Those people get caught out time and time again, but some will always look for the false information instead of ignoring it. It's usually better to take things with a pinch of salt, as it can be annoying when negative.

His Wikipedia isn't much to go on, so I won't read much into that. I have faith in the scouting, and our ability to develop players. If he's quick, he should get plenty of chances (if this is true). It would push Junior Morias more out of the picture, but the likelihood of him getting minutes again seemed slim. Interesting potential signing though, I hope it is true because the firepower could be a vital part of our promotion push.

The momentum we are in right now, will be extremely crucial when it comes to the end of the season. Victories like this, even if we did concede late on, shows why we are in the mist of promotion and nicely positioned within the automatic places. Keeping our feet firmly on the ground, focus on each game as they come is the right way for us to approach game. Notts performed exceptionally well in the first half, it was a good start and the two goals shows how focused we are when we break with that focus. Quite a few goals for us tend to come within spells of each other. It's a good result, Gillingham will have had their plans and for us to start so brightly is a huge positive. David McGoldrick's goal is a class effort, just the way he took the shot and made it look so effortless. There were no signs he was going to lob the keeper, but he does it very gracefully. It's an excellent outcome on the road. We need to continue to add to the morale the players have right now, with returning players etc, it could add more fire.

It was a good performance by Notts, gritty at times but David McGoldrick's dink goal was just class. His whole performance was exceptional, and I think he deserves my support in the vote here.

Interesting that it states the medical is happening over the weekend, with the game today, it leaves this to be carried out tomorrow (Sunday). I know there were rumours about him failing, plus that we wouldn't be signing him due to other interested parties. Tomorrow could be a day to keep an eye on the official channels. Then again, it could end up being announced on Monday... Or not. 👀

Having heard stories from my grandfather Ray and Granny Pie about Tony Hateley, I can certainly see why Notts fans took to him. In all the research I have done, I know he's loved by clubs like Liverpool too. His legacy inspired his son and grandson to take up the game too. All three were very good players, but Big Tony Hateley no doubt deserves the title of legend, not just at Notts but within football.

In my passing time, I tend to watch YouTube videos. I have it on usually in the background when I am working on the Pride of Nottingham, plus other things I do online. So, whilst the videos loop to a new one - unless I choose what to watch, leaving the videos to play brings up videos it deems of interest to me. One of the videos, it made me feel like déjà vu, but I tried shrugging it off as just being due to the content being the same subject. But it kept bugging me, and near to the end it almost became word for word in memory on a video I had watched 2 years ago. I found it incredibly intriguing. I watched both videos - stopping and pausing as the script to the video seemed too familiar. And yes, to me, I could identify that the video script did clash in most parts with the original video that I had watched earlier. With this information, I went to the YouTube channel's Discord and posted about it. I got warned for sharing the link. 🤷🏻‍♂️ Okay, they don't allow links, but the warning came across very heavy-handed. I reposted the same message, remitting the URL. A new member joined amongst this and asked a genuine question, which I answered. Both the question and my response were deleted almost instantly. Now, the question just asked why the channel joked about not being able to mention a certain subject, and my response was the take on it. Basically, it seemed a nod at a political family's links to conspiracies and scandals. Nothing OTT, just my thoughts. I asked about why the messages had been deleted, I then received another warning. 😖 So, I politely asked why I kept receiving warnings. To which, I had another warning about not publicly arguing with moderators. 😕 A moderator sarcastically referred to my message original and told me to speak with them privately. Now the rules are not to message people privately without being requested to do so, so how do you ask questions? Upon the moderator opening up a private conversation with me, I realised I had been banned. 🤪 Confused and frustrated, I did become somewhat argumentative after the moderator listed the channels rules. I asked him if free speech meant anything, and how a simple message from the start could have avoided much of my responses. I was trying to be fair, but I felt like I were being handled by the nazi's. I received another warning, and were told that I would be removed from the channel if I kept arguing. 😖 Trying to calm down, I took a step back and wrote how this whole interaction came across to me in a fair and polite way. Pointing out that I had posted to help them, and that the moderation seemed very heavy and unfriendly. I stated I wasn't trying to argue, but I had questions, and with them, you will get points that they might not like. The moderator began responding with brief three-letter replies. This was a grown adult, acting like a child, it felt. 👶🏻🍼 I took a step back, and thought about how strange this situation was. So, I carefully explained and mentioned that I felt my points were failed and asked if he understood my point. He claimed he did, and said if I agreed to the rules I would be allowed access again. 😂 I thanked him, and reaffirmed my points that I had not intentionally broken the rules but that again, the moderation was very heavy without any consideration. I took the rules, quoted them and explained why I didn't believe I was breaking them. Sometimes, rules do need to be mentioned. If I blocked every URL it would be very excessive, but I do understand that it's restricted. I gave my advice on moderation fairly, explaining that I have been around popular forums since the 00s. The moderator said I had my access restored, whilst typing a response he closed the communication between the two of us. You might think, I am being difficult, but I'm not. I went with good intentions to point out a video was ripping them off. Due to the heavy moderation, you cannot speak or do anything without being warned. It's not helpful, it's not reasonable, and thirdly where's the transparency? I guess, I am too old-fashioned. So, at this stage I still have had several warnings for things which break their strict rules but in a way where it wasn't intentional. I was trying to be helpful, as I say I understand the rules, but it was very unpleasant. In the main channel, I asked if I could speak to another mod, mentioning two other names. The same moderator replied saying that the discussion was over and that they don't speak to people unless it's needed. So, I replied that I wanted to give them a link to the video and that I was done with trying to plead my innocence because clearly they don't care what people say. They're disinterested, noncommunicative and very aggressive. I left the channel, then I had another senior moderator try to speak with me. I declined, then an admin popped up trying to do it. I declined, then I had this warning message about that I was banned due to being confrontational and unwilling to discuss the issue. It's really put me off watching the YouTube channel, as I don't wish to support this behaviour. All the years I have used forums, chat rooms etc. I have never once had an experience like this. I might not compare to their size with any of the sites I have done or owned, but I would never treat someone like this.

Everyone is fighting for points, and Gillingham won't be happy where they are in the league table. People will take false positions, but I think they should be doing much better than they are. Similarly, Gillingham is closely positioned in the league standings alongside Swindon Town and Colchester United. It just shows how open the league is this season, and the importance of maintaining your form. Notts has done well in January to bring in players. I agree that Will Jarvis looks like a good player and I look forward to seeing more from him. There's a lot more depth for us on the bench, and we can manage David McGoldrick by either resting him on the bench or starting to be replaced later on in games if we can afford to take him off. So, I don't worry about that so much now, what with the cover and depth now in the squad. Gillingham's pitch is a funny one too, it's similar to Meadow Lane's size but is slightly narrower. This can result in a more compact game, with less space for wingers and full-backs to exploit the wide areas. It might lead to more central play and could benefit teams that are strong in the middle of the park. Notts will need to be mindful of these differences and adapt their tactics accordingly. They might need to focus on quick, precise passing and maintaining possession to counteract the slightly narrower pitch. So, Stuart Maynard might need to rethink how our inverted wing backs play part in the game and how we can move forward where the play might be tighter.

George Abbott really ran away with this one, I wasn't at the game and I haven't seen the highlights yet. I do re-watch the full games, even those to which I have seen live. So, I am looking forward to seeing Abbott's magic and Jatta's goal.

After reading and replying to Fan of Big Tone's discussion about Stuart Maynard having been in his role for a year, I thought further about my response and whilst I don't want this to come across as ripping into Maynard's ability, I do think there's room to talk about how he can improve further. I do feel it's important that we acknowledge where he has come from, what he's achieved so far with us and that he will still be learning his role in a much bigger environment than he has previously held. I have listed some general areas where I believe he can, and at times is showing a better understanding. I do wonder what the community thinks, especially from more Maynard out supporters. Player Rotation: Maynard could focus on better rotation of players to avoid over-reliance on key players like David McGoldrick. This would give other players, more opportunities to contribute and develop, while also managing their fitness and health. Consistency in Selection: It’s important for Maynard to avoid frequently switching back to previous players and disregarding current form. Giving consistent playing time to in-form players can help maintain their performance levels and confidence. Adaptability in Substitutions: Maynard should work on the timing and manner of making substitutions. Avoiding late and all-at-once changes, and making more gradual and strategic substitutions during the game can help maintain the team's momentum and better manage player fitness. Maximizing Player Potential: Maynard needs to focus on understanding each player's strengths and positioning them where they can perform best. For example, Cedwyn Scott [whilst he was here] may perform better as a striker rather than an attacking midfielder, which should be considered in team selection. Handling Underperforming Players: Rather than sidelining underperforming players like Kellan Gordon, Maynard could work on ways to help them regain their form and confidence, possibly through tailored coaching and support. In-game Decision Making: Improving in-game decision-making, especially against teams like Salford, by utilising strategies that counter the opponent's strengths. This might include leveraging speed and a more direct approach when necessary. Learning from Mistakes: It’s crucial for Maynard to continue learning and adapting from his experiences. Recognizing when bold changes are needed versus when they may be detrimental to the team’s performance is key. If we can rationalise and be fair, perhaps we can further see just how much Maynard has done better than we might feel, along with fair points about how he can improve.