RetroPie

You can tell Paterson isn’t getting carried away. No bold claims, just straight talk. The line about “one swallow doesn’t make a summer” is exactly what some fans need to hear too. We’ve had good starts before that didn’t last, this time, it needs to be built on something more solid. Let’s give him time and see where this leads. Good start, though.

Rod McDonald seems to be one of those players fans often overlook. Alongside Lewis Macari and Lucas Ness, he adds depth to the defence, which should help keep things steady at the back. With these options, we’ll be able to rest key players, deal with any injuries, and give someone a break during busy spells. That kind of cover is really useful over a long season. He seems like a level-headed bloke, so I hope he gets a fair chance and does well.

It looks really nice, and it’s got proper Nottingham colours too. Even though it’s not something I’d buy for myself, I can imagine loads of fans getting one. It should be a big hit on away days, with people wanting to show their support. Notts have been bringing out some great kits over the years, and they’ve done well with changing things up for the away shirts. It’s good to see something different each season, and I think they’ve made smart choices with the designs. I’d really love to see them go with a yellow kit again. It’s been ages since we had one, and it would be brilliant to see it make a comeback. Hopefully it happens while I’m still around to enjoy it. I’m excited to see what they’ve done with the home shirt. Just hoping I’ve not jinxed it by saying that. Fingers crossed it’s another good one.

Welcome to Meadow Lane, Harry. Hopefully, when your moment comes, you'll be ready to take it. I’m sure you’ll learn a lot during your time with Notts and grow into the role.

It’s a tough one to take. Bass didn’t just pull off big saves, he played a huge part in how we moved the ball from the back. His calmness and passing gave us so much control in games. I was hoping he’d stay at least another season, especially with how well things were shaping up. Still, you’ve got to respect the move. It’s a big step for him at an exciting point in his career, and to have all this happen over his wedding weekend is quite something. Best of luck to him in the next chapter.

This one stings. Bass wasn’t just a great shot-stopper, he was brilliant with his distribution too, and you could tell how much he improved our build-up play. I’m glad the club held firm for a high valuation, but I really thought he’d be here for at least another season. Fair play to him though, big move, new challenge, and on his wedding weekend too. Talk about timing! Wishing him the very best.

Andy Edwards should be the assistant. It feels like the sort of help Stuart Maynard should have had when he was here. I’m not sure this is the best choice we could have made. Still, I’m glad that Sam Slocombe is staying on as a coach. Let’s just hope Martin Paterson doesn’t think it’s going to be a walk in the park and puts in the work to get the results we need.

Sam Slocombe joining the coaching staff is a great move. He’s got the respect of the players and clearly loves the club. Seeing him move from the pitch into a coaching role keeps continuity, which is often overlooked in rebuilds. Plus, he’s already shown coaching potential when filling in last season. Excited to see what he can bring in a full-time capacity now.

It’ll probably be someone who’s either young and not played much, or someone older who’s okay with being second choice. That’s usually how these things go. I’m not sure who’s available on a free, but judging by how Notts have gone about signings before, I reckon they’ll look for someone aged 28 or older. That way they get a bit of experience in the squad. Even so, I wouldn’t mind seeing a young lad get a chance, if he’s good enough, then let him prove it.

I hope you had a great birthday, @Fan of Big Tone.

The worst thing about heatwaves is having to go out in them. Everything feels more stressful than it should. Drivers seem to lose all sense, racing around like they’re in a rush to nowhere. It makes the roads feel unsafe. People get short-tempered too. It’s like the heat boils over and no one has much patience. There’s not much calm when it’s this hot. It makes the day feel noisy and unsettled. You just want to get back indoors and shut it all out.

It looks like Steffen Højer is becoming a real option. Right now, he seems a much more likely choice than bringing Luke Williams back. Højer’s work with young players might be a key part of it. It could explain why the club is shaping the coaching setup the way it is.

Congratulations to David McGoldrick and Alassana Jatta. It’s great to see them achieve this, really proud of what they’ve done.

There’s a heat warning in place across the UK. Hopefully everyone takes care and keeps cool to stay safe in this weather.

A warm welcome to Nimesh Patel. It could be a good time to take another look at how the academy is set up. Some changes might help more young players make the step up to the first team.