Chris

@super_ram, How inconsiderate of Notts, right? Nonetheless, Derby remains the top priority. [even though you are well known to talk more about Notts]. 🤣 I'll try to remember to watch it.

I am glad you were safe, but it is scary. When I was learning to drive, it amazed me how annoying and selfish ambulance drivers could be. I know people don't like hearing about people talking badly about them because they "save lives," but some of the drivers at times put others in danger; this applies to the police and fire services. Multiple times during driving lessons, I would pull in safely and receive praise from @Drivingmenotts, only to have an ambulance attempt to force me to move into a dangerous position for me. I would sometimes feel incredibly nervous, and it would cross my mind, "Should I?" but one look at Jim and he would say I was fine. To be clear, I was in a safe position for all involved, and the ambulance could have easily gone around me. At a different time on a roundabout, every car made space and stopped only for the driver to choose to go in between the cars instead of by the side where it was free, and the driver swore at everyone passing by.

He reminds me a little of Marti Allen, in the sense that he uses humour and direct talking to build a relationship with the players. I can't believe some of the players were asking him what he called the sprinkles on top of an ice cream; I've always known them as hundreds and thousands. It's only since 2010 that I have seen them being called sprinkes; even when my mum made cakes, her containers had "hundreds and thousands." 😂 The club did this with Stuart Maynard when he came in, and the contrast between the two is extremely different. I thought Maynard came across as very organised as a coach, but Martin Paterson seems another level. "Don't be disappointed, just get it right," and "you never need to say sorry to me." These are good ways to send your message over productively, and what he said to Riley Reynolds is a very vital thing for a young player to do. Communication is very important across the pitch, and if you have been selected to play, experience means nothing, nor does age, when it comes to telling a teammate to give you space, come in tight, etc. We play as a team, not as individuals, and success can be gained only when the team works together. Also, being selfish and unafraid to upset players is another important lesson, but it's all about timing and the right type of selfishness. There are times when players in previous seasons should go alone and have an effort on goal but choose to pass, and the opportunity ends up disappearing. Likewise, there's a chance when a player needs to be less selfish and make a pass. It's all about trust and trying to make the right decision. Also, there's nothing against this, but we have to keep in mind that this was always intended to be shared with us. Does this change what we heard? No, not really. Yet, you still need to hold onto some reservations nonetheless.

No, not at all. The weekly chat will always be encouraged for updating on what everyone has been up to, plans to do, and all those things that get the community talking to each other. I see the status as being more about personal achievements or things you would post on social media. With statuses being more personal or socially inclined, it could lead to further topic discussions being explored.

I would like to encourage members to use the status feature, just as you would on social media networks like BlueSky, X (Twitter), Facebook, and Threads. https://prideofnottingham.co.uk/ustatus/ This feature caught on after @Fan of Big Tone posted, and it's been a real joy sharing updates and posts as statuses to it. There are a handful of members who seem to be making the most of the feature; the statuses go in your profile and on the page above. There's even a widget in the dashboard which shows x amount, where you can read more and comment. This could be a very nice addition to our community, and another way to express something short: your day, a photo, etc. I'll be continuing to use it, especially during the new season. PS. Once the moods app is upgraded, you'll be able to set that, too. 👍🏻

The "Latest Community Discussions" widget is now back. Please note: The star icon at the beginning of a title indicates that a member has replied. If that icon lights up and the title is bold, it means there are new posts. The title will take you to the first post. The description or area beneath will take you to the latest unread comment. A total of forty topics will be presented, including those highlighted as featured. On mobiles and tablets in portrait mode, it will be thirty-five. A new feature: Active viewers will be shown without the need to reload the page; this allows members to see what content might be discussed live at that moment. As always, I welcome feedback. You won't be able to scroll pages, unfortunately; pagination isn't possible in v5 due to a lack of hook points.

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. 🖤🤍