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Chris
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Notts County has kept their unbeaten run of nine games with a goalless draw at Meadow Lane against Dover Athletic in the National League. The Magpies' had the first chance of the game and, came closet breaking the deadlock in the first half after Lee Worgan denied Enzio Boldewijn and Kyle Wootton with a double save to keep the terms level. Michael Doyle managed to find Wes Thomas, who had an effort on goal but the Dover keeper Worgan was equal to it. Dover then threatened Notts themselves, with their highest goal scorer Inih Effiong wasting their best chance after he cut inside the area but placed the ball way off target. After 9 minutes of added time, neither team could break the deadlock and had to settle with a draw as the outcome. Pride of Nottingham was at Meadow Lane for Notts County's draw against Dover Athletic. See if you've made it into our gallery on the latest Faces of PON! Share your thoughts about this gallery on Pride of Nottingham by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining in the chat with hundreds of fellow Notts County fans. Fancy showcasing your brand or business on Pride of Nottingham? Click here to find out more about sponsorship and advertising opportunities with us. -
Pride of Nottingham was at Meadow Lane for Notts County vs Dover Athletic. See if you've made it in our latest fan gallery in this week's Faces of PON! #Notts #FacesofPON #COYP
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Right, first and foremost I think the point is very fair - personally I happy with that. First half might has well not taken place, there was little to say about it and most fans told me they felt bored. Second half was better, I think Notts needed to attack the game better. I think Wes Thomas should have stayed one and played as a wide striker, with Nathan Tyson coming on at the other side. I would have played Kyle Wootton up top, and added Kristian Dennis behind him. I would have instructed Tyson and Dennis to drift back to support the midfield, with Enzio Boldewijn and Sam Osborne going off. I just feel we needed to be more attacking minded, Dover looked very iffy and dodgy at the back. The right pressure would have seen them crumble or allow more space for a shot. They organised themselves very well, put bodies behind the ball and did appear to be happy with a point. Personally, I felt they had one or two good chances which a better team would have finished. That's why I am happy with a point. If I supported Dover, I would feel disappointed and frustrated because they looked woeful up top. Yes, Notts defended much better and looked class in this area. Yet Dover still managed to get into areas where they should have shot on target, very poor game.
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This blog is personal, as a result, it's not your typical read on Notts County, and I thought that I should warn potential readers before. It's not designed to be or written to be appreciated, understood or to attract comments. It's more a personal approach to how the individual feels if any reads are struggling with depression, anxiety or illness - please do reach out. Support will be out there, so give yourself a little care. I keep meaning to try to find myself, but my head and life, to an extent, provides setbacks. I don’t want this to seem like a sob story, expressing myself through writing has been quite an eye-opener as I can take in how I feel. It’s a slow progressive part of life I guess and, in my nature, I problem stress a little too easily about things which others might be able to dismiss quickly. The biggest sense of finding inner peace comes from working or at times when I am away with my family. I quite like finding a quiet area to reflect on things, especially as the world passes me by. I’m not afraid to open up about my feelings, yet it isn’t the easiest thing to do – I know and, can understand why some would allow it to build inside. I used to do this, and it isn’t constructive. The thing about depression is that it takes over your mind, I wished I could be more strong-willed, but it’s not easy. I spent many years putting on a brave face, and I used to think I hide it quite well – yet at times now I think it’s more obvious. 2019, for personal reasons, I wanted it to be different. I ended up falling into the usual trap – it’s a never-ending circle which goes around. 2020 for me is the year I want to push myself, yet I keep thinking about how I could have supported those I consider close better. My illness tends to take its toll, it’s not just depression, and since learning about it – I would say I have a level of understanding on how to manage it. Coping is a different issue, especially when I am tired. Until recent years, I haven’t felt as sorry for those with back injuries – as pain in this department is a lot worse than feeling it in your knees or hands. I can’t wait for warmer weather, as I have genuinely struggled with the harsh cold that has been here for what feels like forever now. I often joked about “winter is coming”, a quote from the Game of Thrones (I’m sure I didn’t have to explain that) – yet I would rather face White Walkers than to feel how I do some days. The past few weeks, I have been trying to catch up with my to-do-list, and I have to say I feel bad about not being able to get @ARLukomski thumbnails on time. I put a lot of pride in them and, helping people I can. I know he understands too, yet it’s still a disappointment to me. I know I tend towards being harsh on myself, yet I should be able to be more productive when I can – I mean it’s not like I sit back and deliberately forget, but at the same time, it frustrates me because I’m not used to it. The bottom line is, I need to work harder on managing my health. It’s something I have previously enjoyed and, those that know me well enough – will be pleased to know I have spent more time having me time. That said, it still feels strange, and I want to use social media a bit more – yet I never seem to put it as a priority. It doesn’t remotely bother me if nobody responds, it’s just nice to interact when it is possible. DM’s are always open, I try to reply to those as quickly as I can, but I suppose I need time. I do want to re-find my middle ground, improve my health and be a better person. The latter part makes it sound like I’m not a good person, I don’t mean it like that – I know I care about things. There’s also a difference between needing to say something and, wanting to sat it – I could so easily ignore how I feel but I won’t.
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It's a good game for Notts to prove their promotion worth, Dover are a decent team but nothing special. If they're allowed space and, time on the ball - I would expect them to do well. They work hard for each other, yet it's a game we should really be winning. I'm hoping for a good attendance, the club really should be trying to get more fans down for the home run we have coming up. I can see Notts winning 2-0, if we play to a way that pins Dover back.
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The future must be the focus, it's good to have two brothers who support each other and those around them. I get the impression that they're relaxed about progress, understanding that it takes time and hard work. The clubs been in a state since as long as I have supported Notts - it will take steady hands to change this. Neal Ardley has been backed by them, they worked fast to support him in getting signings and it's just welcoming to see how it's the club being put first. No gimmicks, no false dawns or blame. No getting the fans all excited over nothing, just common sense.
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I'm a bit disappointed that it's been postponed, especially due to the fans who had set off. Hopefully, it won't be an issue with backlogging fixtures.
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I forgot about this game, I'm a little nervous due to Notts mentioning how they want to get a double win over them. I don't think they're a bad side, just we controlled the previous encounter and ultimately took our chances. I think they'll be harder at home, but our positives in the amazing support we take on the road. Hoping for a win, but I can see it easily finishing 1-1.
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I noticed Notts lead, Jake told me the final score. I didn't realise until I checked a DM on Twitter that the game was won in the final minutes. It's games like this which will install a lot of faith in the squad.
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It's a very important signing, Notts just needs to keep looking after him and ensure he's up for games. As he's one of those players who naturally thrives with confidence. We as fans will do the rest.
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I would have given him a 5-year-deal myself, yet I openly admit this might have been a bit OTT. 2 years is a very sensible option. We need to be ensuring players like Kyle we can move forward and grow together, I don't want to see the Alan Judge situation whereby we don't meet that forward progression every club seeks to make. If we build wisely, sign players who stock we can later sell but replace well - we would have moved forward a lot. It's always disappointing to see a good player leave, especially for free. Likewise, it hurts when we can't capture them as first team signings such as Ryan Yates and Jorge Grant.
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It's a good chance to rest some of the normal starting 11, if we can throw in some of the players who might be able to inject life where it's currently lacking - it could help us further. Winning games breeds confidence, progressing to the next round should be a target - as it's still a cup. However, I am not interested in the competition either personally.
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Pride of Nottingham was at Meadow Lane for Notts County's win over Bromley. See if you've made it into our gallery on the latest Faces of PON! #Notts #FacesofPON #COYP
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There was something special about watching the first home game of 2020 under the floodlights at Meadow Lane, and I’m impressed with how December went and more so due to the buzz which we as fans have created. Of course, credit where it is due. Neal Ardley and the squad have done amazingly well – especially after the 2nd set back to Jim O’Brien. Despite feeling like Jim would be a massive loss, I think Notts as a squad has coped well to setbacks like these. As I have mentioned, I missed the Boxing Day game due to illness, and I wasn’t able to make the Maidenhead United game. The sense of feeling I got from doing my usual rounds, rekindled some of my excitement which has been lacking in recent years. I don’t know, seeing and hearing fans lit up about making the play-offs it felt harder to play it cool. It felt like a genuine sense of belief that we Notts County could make the 2019/20 one to remember for the right reasons. I’ve always felt starting a new year well, shows not only signs of intent but also lifts that atmosphere which any club needs to be successful. Honestly, there’s a sense of feeling that things are coming together. Usually, you can tell when something is important, and that win against Bromley felt important too. No football club is perfect, in the lower leagues’ teams have to react well to setbacks and form is a lot more difficult to resolve unless everyone is on the right page. That coming together has a sense of pride, I mean, I never thought Notts would accumulate 13 points from a possible 15 during the festive period. Not only did the win against Bromley feel important for the campaign, it felt nice to win the game by fighting – the defence seems very focused right now. Performance-wise, there wasn’t a lot of standout moments which could form some of the argument against my sentiments expressed here – however, usually, Notts would have conceded a late goal. I never felt like Notts would concede a second goal, after recapturing the lead on Saturday. Considering there was a lot of panic at times. With clearances needing to buy time, after wave of attack by Bromley – in and around the penalty box. I always felt like Alex Lacey and Connell Rawlinson would have it covered, and if not them, Sam Slocombe appeared to be in fine form himself. Watching our opening goal, as Sam Osborne perfectly setup Wes Thomas for his strike, seeing him cope with the Bromley player who attempted to barge him off the ball – regain his focus very quickly showed a lot of maturity. It would have been easy to lose the ball or go attempt to get a foul – getting that cross in seemed the only item on Osborne's mind, which is another positive sign for me. I want to take a moment to thank those who spoke to me at half time, the reaction I got did take me back. I’ve always found people at Meadow Lane to be appreciative of what I try to do, yet some of the words resonated with me – the few pictures I had with fans took me back a bit too. However, I have missed catching up with people during Christmas with the number of away games thrown in-between home ones and of course, my absence. I’m also very thankful to Lee Coates-Kenzitt, who kindly gave me a scarf which I will be putting around my daughter’s grave as soon as I can visit. That continues with this belief, and attempt to make 2019/20 the season we can add some proper foundations to the potential success of Notts County Football League.
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Very big win for Notts today. The overall all performance was spirited, a lot of grit and fight. It wasn't always the best, yet it shows we can win ugly. Some very good play in spells, and those final minutes felt edgy. Great win.
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If Notts gets the ball down, presses high and ensures each pass allows forward round to be won - we'll be fine. It's going to be good to get back to Meadow Lane.
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My latest blog, just a bit about Christmas and how a present is going to make doodling/creating digital art will be so much better. Have a read, please keep in mind blogs are personal to their author and it might not be what you visit PON for. I can guarantee it will be different! My next blog will be about Notts.
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@super_ram @GrannyPie Thank you for the present, I can't say how much it improves life but it goes along way towards enjoying creating art.
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I've wanted to touch upon this subject for some time; however, I tend to put it off. It's not the most exciting subject, but at the same time having somewhere, I can express my inner thoughts did offer me some focus in the past. Towards the end of 2019, I tend to find my mind the most proactive of the year. While some openly mock people for wanting to improve their lives, whether it be for real or just for the sake of a quick social status - depression can be worse for those who suffer from it doing December. It's for that reason; I think it's harsh for people to mock others - as it seems natural that people will want to improve their lives or learn from the year that has passed. I'm thankful this December; my mum has been at home where she belongs. The past two years has been difficult for the simple reason she's been quite ill in hospital, I've enjoyed spending time with my parents and this past Christmas for me it was all about sharing quality time with them. Only issue I've had this time around was due to falling ill, but I am used to this. While I felt ill - I spent a lot of time thinking. I usually do, which is why I tend to be productive but again it wasn't negative as I typically find. I've focused on perspective, being content and figuring out what I did during the summer months - which I could benefit from trying to do in the winter ones. Another is having more focus on what I do, I've invested a lot of time doing art - mostly due to being told it would only become more difficult with arthritis and how easily I can dislocate my joints. I spent a few hours on Christmas and Boxing Day messing around, well, just trying to familiarise myself with a new graphic tablet which my parents brought me. I have various applications installed on my laptop/PC that would support the device, such as Photoshop and Illistrator. However, I spent some time with the equipment, and I wanted to see if I could find something more geared towards digital art instead. I love it; it's much easier to hold the pen. I find drawing for longer spells more comfortable, and I can even see my daughters loving uses graphic tablet. I'm hoping to find some free time to doodle more, maybe work on some new things. So, with the focus of saving time and making things easier for my condition - I do want to find time to do the things I know I take for granted.
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0-0 so far, I haven't been keeping an eye on the score until now. I'm curious as to how people have thought Notts have played, without listening to the radio it's hard to say.
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I'm hoping this form can continue, the club has the majority of fans on board with this positive vibe. I feel when Notts is one, we have this sense of being unbeatable - it's keeping this going during the blips but, I do think it helps massively. The game needs to pick up in terms of performance, I know, the last game we did well to win but the whole performance didn't sound like the best. That and 2020, must start off as we mean to go.
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It's great to see that we have sold out our allocation, this seemed always the case. It should be a great away day! They looked a decent team going forward, shaky at the back but I think provided we go into the game confident - I feel a victory is quite possible. It just depends on which of the players turn up and who takes their chances, I'm sure Notts will be quite creative. At the back we need to be more aware of their threats.
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I'm hoping that we pick up from where we left the Halifax game. It's good to see the players who came in, did well - it shows Neal Ardley that we do have depth. Understanding our options and adjusting during games would help. It will most likely be a game where we have to be solid at the back, alert and aware. I don't know much about their players but they seem to do well if given space.
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Halifax are just a very well organised team which fight for each other. If every player starting gave 100%, our quality would show. The biggest issue is moving the ball in the right away and, avoiding switching off at the back. The club needs someone younger to sit on the ball other than Michael Doyle, he doesn't have quick enough feet. Regan Booty is also better at being the advanced player further, so with Jim O'Brien being injured I think we will be limited. Likewise with the flanks, other than Sam Osborne we have nobody who will take on the opposition or stay wide.
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Usually, at the beginning of the season, managers rotate their squads a fair amount – this was no doubt the same for Neal Ardley. While many fans called for him to settle the squad down, myself included, it is quite natural to switch out players here and there. Sometimes, it’s a little concerning when it’s five or more and when it’s never allowed to settle. Yes, sometimes it’s due to fitness concerns, tactical reasons but you know when there’s too many. For the most of the 2019/20 season, I have felt encouraged and have seen some good performance. There have been woeful ones, yet most players work hard to do well in games, and this is all we can ask of them. Right now, there are several players massively out of form and a few who have been quite poor all season. To a degree, this is to be expected after the season we had last year and all of the turmoil leading up to the current campaign – but there becomes a time when playing them isn’t the answer. Before the recent form, I know fans talked about having “depth” in the squad, and I would have agreed, while the likes of Matt Tootle, Pierce Bird and others have been frozen out. Sometimes it appears quite harshly; It makes you wonder if this is part of the issue, a lack of competition and rewards for performers who have done well. Strong competition, a good level of morale led to a level of success during the 2017/18 season under Kevin Nolan, players coming into the squad knew what were expected to remain in the squad. The complete opposite to the season in which Notts were relegated from the Football League for simply being not good enough. After all, it must be disheartening for some players to put on the shirt, perform to a standard which they’re happy with, only to end up falling out of favour. Sam Osborne is the perfect example since he’s an academy prospect and has bulked up a fair amount during the close season. When he starts, I think he does better personally, whereas a sub it does take him a little time to get up to speed, and this is all-natural. I’m not knocking him, I think he’s a great prospect and if I were the manager of Notts County he would be starting a lot more. Simply due to his work rate and importance of development, as he will only improve with game time. Which leaves the question why we haven’t given the likes of Enzio Boldewijn a rest, a good player, defensively a disappointing but when in form – no doubt a quality player. This season, he’s appeared more of a luxury and quite fortunate that Ardley holds him with such high regards. As to me, it seems Boldewijn is guaranteed a start either due to lacking natural wide men or simply due to the odd wonder goal he scores – which never gives the full facts about his performances. I must stress, I do like him, and I’m trying to nitpick about him. I feel that when you have a player so desperately out of form, it makes little sense to expect him to improve when he’s constantly being played and almost 99% guaranteed to start. The same can be said for both full-back positions, Damien McCrory has looked good, but his form has dipped as of late. Richard Brindley looks a good technical signing; however, much of the same can be said about him too. At centre back, it’s almost like Ardley has gone out of his way to guarantee certain players will start in these positions. When asked about the position, he’s mentioned that he can’t make changes due to a lack of cover – yet allowed Bird to depart on loan to Boston United. I know some fans also have concerns about our strike force; however, I don’t think they’re the issue. Kyle Wootton has come into his element, found his boots and works hard. The only call I might suggest is switching Wes Thomas for Kristian Dennis when playing teams which either lack height at the back or have scrappy defenders who would leave Dennis the space to thrive. Nathan Tyson is perfectly fine to be a rotational and casual starter, and there’s the option of putting him out wide if we require too. In midfield, I do feel there’s a requirement for more creativity – Regan Booty is far more effective for me being able to dictate the passing and play a more advanced role as a play-maker. I agree with many fans that Mitch Rose and Michael Doyle doesn’t work – yet would allowing Rose to go out wide make sense? Rose hasn’t seemed the same player all season; however, I did feel he performed much better when Doyle was sitting out his suspension. There are advantages to giving some young and hungry players a chance to start, but when they see that it’s almost certain that whatever they do – the following week will return to the same lineup there’s a major lack of motivation. Give Osborne more game time, re-introduce Dion Kelly-Evans – consider giving Zoumana Bakayogo a game. Allow Boldewijn and Rose to sit out a few games, bring in Booty or Shields to remove some of the pressure. Make the most of the depth we have at our disposal, and it’s easy for me to suggest this, much hard to put in practice – I admit. Yet the issue Ardley faces is the fact it will only become harder the longer he leaves it. Squad morale and confidence would make a massive difference to this Notts County team. Most fans want to see the club fighting, giving 100% and at times this has fallen short. Most people I know and I don’t expect us to be thrashing teams – that is unrealistic but throwing it out there as part of the problem doesn’t make it part of the solution. Much like Ardley suggesting people want him to fail, fans want to see and feel the clubs moving forward. Nobody’s bothered if certain people behind the scenes has problems, you have to get on with it. Otherwise, it seems like you have accepted it as a problem. Share your thoughts about this feature article on Pride of Nottingham by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining in the chat with hundreds of fellow Notts County fans. Fancy showcasing your brand or business on Pride of Nottingham? Click here to find out more about sponsorship and advertising opportunities with us.
