Chris

To be perfectly honest, this is something more warranted mid-way through the season if it was needed. We're going off our last campaign and pre-season, all things which we should eventually show improvements in. Our new defence does look a lot better, it's hard to evaluate them fairly when the squad is settling in and getting familiar with the playing style we plan to make. There's plenty of room to continue playing the way we have, by this I mean quick football that is both exciting and skilful. Yet it just means we have to take a more pragmatic and robust way in our defending. Do we have to have a large amount of possession? No. Can we hoof the ball if needed? We certainly should under the right circumstances. The players could be more disciplined in making runs/trying to open up the space, instead of waiting for it to happen, but these are all things which I think could happen with time.

I'm trying to remember if I have heard his name before, but I am not all that into cricket, but I think I have. Either way, it's very sad news. https://www.theguardian.com/global/2024/aug/05/graham-thorpe-obituary Rest in Peace, Graham Thorpe.

I think we can move on if this is confirmed, there are strikers who can score goals and the way in which Notts plays - we could find someone who might not have been prolific before. Provided a striker can make good movement, read the game and has a good level of finishing, there will be goals in our team. I would have liked him as a potential signing, but there's certainly options. It makes me wonder if we won't be signing anyone though.

He doesn't look like Jack Grealish to me, not remotely, but I say people look-a-like to family and sometimes nobody agrees. Wait... It's Jota Silva, who does look similar. Maybe if Wish.com sold footballers?

I'm not going to keep saying things about Andy Murray; I personally don't like him or his attitude, but I don't deny he's a good player. He would make a very good coach.

Saturday, I spent most of the afternoon offline. We decided to have the film night then, so we popped out to a local shop to get treats (as bribery) to encourage it to be watched, without complaints. We ended up choosing IF, which is about imaginary friends. I thought it was very good, less story-based driven but full of meaningful messages about enjoying life etc. I also made some home-made popcorn, which is something I liked to do. A bit of oil, sugar stir it in nicely and then coat the popcorn kernels and shake every 20–30 seconds. On Sunday, I managed to go see @super_ram. No gardening, just catching up and talking. It was a decent weekend, thankfully not overbearingly warm.

He swears to much to transition into a commentator for the BBC but punditry he might do. I really hope not, as at times I do enjoy watching Tennis. Plus, I hate to further say negative things about Andy Murray, but he's got no personality. He's not relatable and would bore me to sleep.

I'm trying to relax whilst feeling a nice cool breeze through my window. I have been literally melting these past few days and at night I have struggled to sleep due to it. I've also earned a bit of a rest, since doing some gardening earlier in the week. The past few days, I have been tempted to go to Wilford Hill Cemetery, but it won't be today. So, I will rest up today and try to catch up on some of the things I have been otherwise tied up with. Tomorrow, I really do want to get out though, so I'll probably go see that person who calls himself Super Ram. We are planning to have a film night too, though I think that will be sometime in the upcoming week. As for making it to Wilford, I think Kate's spoken about Thursday for that. It's maintenance time and tidying things up, so if the weather is nice. We can take care of that... ????

I believe it encouraged people to renew quicker, but I am less sure how many wouldn't have purchased a season ticket knowing that Notts were going to sell him. I certainly can understand why some fans would think it might impact the quality we see on the pitch and not everyone who purchases a season ticket can be defined as a supporter. Some just go to watch football. I know 4–5 people who have done this, just because they're Nottingham born and want to watch good football. To me, it seems unlikely to have made a large impact. It probably would have been very minor, if noticeable at all.

I've never liked him, I don't deny he has been a good player at times. He was better than the likes of Tim Henman, but that doesn't mean much. The surrounding hype at times is unbearable, as is the whining he does when things don't go his way. He could play some superb tennis, but then look average sometimes against players ranked much lower than him. Seeing him on some of the game shows, like Question of a Sport, he takes himself way too seriously. In 2011, he played some of his best tennis, but I have found him very inconsistent. Good luck to him in retirement, but I hope it doesn't mean he'll transition into someone who appears frequently on our TV screens. There's enough annoying ex-sports personalities without him joining the ranks.

The Caley fans seem highly sceptical with good reason. https://caleythistleonline.com/topic/36282-investment/page/16/#comment-569160

I'm a little tied up, so I am not sure if I would be able to commit. Plus previous years, I would get these very annoying reminders sent frequently. I suppose it's one positive thing. Count me in too, I'll find something to shove in @super_ram's gob or ask Ava to tie his fingers up.

I know other EFL clubs are still streaming games to overseas fans, as you have mentioned. Although I think the decision for Notts to change to a new site is probably holding this back for our fans. There's many features which I would have believed would be carried over to the new site, which are standard to all EFL clubs which is currently lacking. There's not been much actual work done on the new site since it's launch, which is disappointing. It might just take a bit of time, I'll try to get some clarification for you.

The other day, when we went over to see @super_ram with Ava turning 13, we were talking and for some reason, my dad started talking about songs he liked. He played Andrea Bocelli's daughter, Virginia, signing what was one of @GrannyPie's favourite songs. A few other songs played, then on TV an Amazon advert came on. He mentioned that he liked the song which was used, he asked if I knew what it was - I didn't, but quickly found it googling. It samples Sir Neville Marriner and the Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields's "Canon À 3 on a Ground in D Major". What songs do you like that are featured in adverts? PS. Did you know that due to their loose licensing rights, Nickelback became what the internet considers to be the most hated band?

The current system allows us to have a more presence-focused movement across the pitch. It's partly why we have such a large amount of possession, but there's much that we could do better. Being able to adapt to different formations is useful, but I am not sure if we could be successful going back to a traditional 442. This would be my line-up. Bass, Platt, Bedeau, McDonald, Robertson, Edwards, Crawley, Jones, Nemane, Scott and Jatta. McDonald and Edwards could be replaced, but I think this would be our strongest team, provided all are fit. I don't think Palmer would feature.

I just wanted to take a moment to acknowledge the lack of content. I am trying to organise myself into a routine that will help me over the season and into the future. I have been focusing a lot of time on doing this and sorting other issues that have come up. It's been quite slow in regard to news, but I have missed some, and I don't want this to worry anyone. Social media-wise, I haven't had the time either, but I will make up for that. When we are closer to the start of the 2024-25 season, you have my word that PON will be all systems go. Thank you for your understanding and continued support.

Get well, @CliftonMagpie. I hope you feel better soon mate. Thanks for letting us know @liampie.

I went to help @super_ram do some gardening, basically taken a lot of tree branches down. @super_pie helped, despite him not feeling well. Despite being tiring, I do enjoy it and will certainly go back to trim the branches into easier sizes to get rid. Coming back, @cheeky~k8 cooked me a double cheeseburger and some chips. I can back very thirsty and hungry, so I really enjoyed that.

I remember a smaller one from the 90s, that used to have very basic animations when goals were scored. I have seen this one during my time though, but I can't share any good stories about it. I have heard other fans at Notts games tell me about it, so I know it meant a lot to fans who were fortunate to have seen it in action.

Fingers crossed, I'll be able to get over to see and help @super_ram with his gardening later today. I'll report back if I do; a bit of tree trimming and general tidying up might be nice. There was a good breeze yesterday, despite the heat.

I wish Colby Bishop all the best. It's not good news and I have been pleased seeing how he's done at Portsmouth. I'm glad they have caught it, before it might have been a problem and I hope it doesn't impact his career.

I haven't had chance to really watch any of it, I used to, as I liked seeing our team get medals. Now I can track this topic! In all seriousness, I would like to watch some of the events. I'll need to watch out for the GB Hockey team.

I don't want to tempt fate, but we could give it to our highest earner and in that I mean, David McGoldrick. He already looks likely to be the vice captain (to my knowledge this hasn't been confirmed by Notts yet). I would rather Alassana Jatta or Cedwyn Scott get it, but Jatta has done remarkably well. The numbers on shirts being given relevant importance, is a trick teams did to sell shirts, and it really doesn't mean much. That said, I have said in the past that it would be nice to return the traditional way of numbers being given to important players, as the numbers 1-11 did actually mean something.

It doesn't make any sense, no sense at all. I mean stranger things have happened in football, but I don't buy it. To sign a player, register them after having completed a transfer isn't a simple job. Their fees involved with having the contracts overlooked, an agent just doesn't do it. It would be weird to see Leeds United pay them more than what we got. Honestly, I think the rumour will end up being debunked. The Millwall manager sounded very intent on signing Macaulay Langstaff, and the deal seems relevant for them as there's not many prolific strikers I think they could actually afford. We are in that same boat, so I would be more inclined to call bull on it.

Champions: Arsenal Runners-Up: Manchester City Third Place: Liverpool Fourth Place: Spurs Fifth Place: Chelsea Sixth Place: Aston Villa FA Cup winner: Manchester United League Cup: Crystal Palace