allardyces tash

You have to wonder what Ray Trew and Alan Hardy make of it all. Munto, with nothing in the bank but big promises, ended up delivering a season they could only dream of. For all the dodgy dealings behind the scenes, that campaign brought a buzz back to Notts. It reminded everyone we were still a big name in lower league football, and for once, we actually looked like champions. The fallout could’ve been a disaster. Sven walking away from his wages, Kasper not costing a penny in the end, and Man City somehow getting ghosted on a transfer fee, it’s madness. But what a ride it was.

Notts took a risk by making Aidan Stone the first-choice keeper, then pulled off a masterstroke by bringing in Alex Bass. The two are miles apart in quality, which just goes to show how vital the role is. Stone never seemed to get the backing that Sam Slocombe had. Maybe with that support and a stronger defence, he'd have come on more. It's hard to grow when you’re constantly firefighting. Now that the defence has settled, it's key the club brings in another keeper like they did with Bass. Someone solid who gives confidence right through the team. I’m gutted the club sold Bass. Some positions should be off-limits unless the offer is silly money. It’s much harder to find a quality keeper than it is to plug a gap outfield. We nailed it with Bass. Before that, it was more of a lucky dip with gloves on.

It’s mad how quickly some ex-footballers age once they hang up their boots. Keith Andrews now looks like he's seen the script for every episode of Dallas, and played a part in most of them too. Still, fair play to him landing a job at Brentford. They're one of the few clubs that seem to be reading football’s modern playbook instead of clinging to the past.

Heatwaves are the only time of year when footballers actually queue up for ice baths. Usually, it's all moaning and waddling, but in this heat, they dive in like penguins at a pool party. Getting out of bed this morning felt like peeling myself off Velcro. My bedsheets had wrapped around me tighter than a clingy ex. I felt like a turtle trying to stand upright on all fours, except, crucial detail, I've only got two legs and zero shell protection. 🙃

It's hard to judge his potential without seeing him play. He doesn't appear to have much experience beyond the youth level, which makes you wonder if he's been brought in for the B team. I've got no problem with giving the lad a chance, he must have shown something to catch the eye of bigger clubs. But I do wonder where he's going to get the experience he needs. At his age, he really should be pushing for a place in the first team.

It’s good to have Sam Slocombe involved as a coach. I think he’ll bring a lot to the role and settle in well. I did hope the club might find a way to keep Jim O’Brien. Even though he’s with Sheffield United’s youth team, he would’ve been a brilliant addition to Martin Paterson’s coaching setup. Jim’s experience and strong personality made him a natural leader on the pitch. He could’ve offered some real insight and helped shape the group. Still, I’m glad Sam has got the chance and I’m looking forward to seeing how he does.

If someone said no after being offered the job, I’d hope the club would be open about it. But no matter what, there will always be talk and guessing from fans. Notts might get more interest if they gave the head coach more control, like a traditional manager. But the current setup has worked well for us and the club is moving forward. Things probably won’t change until the club grows more. In the meantime, Notts have to keep finding ways to stay one step ahead.

The way he gave his answer and the tone of his voice don’t make it seem like Chris was being dishonest when he said Martin Pearson was his first choice. He spoke about having interviewed a lot of people and having long talks, so if Pearson wasn’t the one who impressed most, that would probably have come across more clearly. It’s a really good interview and gives a lot of insight into what happened behind the scenes. It could be that the club has a fixed wage for the head coach role, and the candidates they looked at were all happy with that. Paterson may have simply stood out most to the board.The way he gave his answer and the tone of his voice don’t make it seem like Chris was being dishonest when he said Martin Pearson was his first choice. He spoke about having interviewed a lot of people and having long talks, so if Pearson wasn’t the one who impressed most, that would probably have come across more clearly. It’s a really good interview and gives a lot of insight into what happened behind the scenes. It could be that the club has a fixed wage for the head coach role, and the candidates they looked at were all happy with that. Paterson may have simply stood out most to the board.

Sadly, we are Notts County, a club where mistakes do happen, and common sense doesn’t always come through. That’s why we have the chant, “I had a wheelbarrow, the wheel fell off,” because it feels like Notts were the ones who gave it to us that way. All jokes aside, the club is bound to get things wrong now and then, but I’d like to believe they’ve taken something from the experience. I can’t imagine the Reedtz brothers were pleased with the reaction or the letdown.

Hello, @BridgyPie. 👋🏻We are excited to see you join us. Welcome to the community!

Archie Mair would be a smart choice. He’s still got room to grow and improve as a keeper. He already has a strong link with the club, which makes him feel like a natural fit. Signing him could work out well for Notts. There’s real potential there.

The pace of the match has increased, though not every game is this back and forth. It was a fantastic final. At times it felt like walking football, but the quality was still easy to see. Once the goals started going in, the match really came to life. I've watched older World Cup matches, and even when you already know the outcome, they can still be good fun to watch.

Happy Birthday, young man. I hope you are celebrating in style. All the best @Fan of Big Tone.

I'm after a strong, traditional home shirt for Notts. Thick stripes, but not too chunky. It always amazes me how Newcastle usually gets it right with their home shirts. If we go for something like the 2002 design or even the 1998 one, I'd be more than happy with it.

I haven't been to the cinema in at least a decade, or at least I don't remember going before that. There's something nostalgic about watching films on TV now, so I’m happy to wait for them to be shown there. I usually check an online TV guide and pick out films to watch at home. I can't be bothered with all that streaming. I had Netflix back in the day when it was the main service, but they're all overpriced now.

@menzinho, that's a good point, and it could be the reason. Maybe Notts wants to announce the head coach along with the full team. But then, surely starting with the head coach and assistant would make sense? I guess it depends on how Notts wants to restructure. It’s possible the club is looking to hire new coaches, and some of the current staff might be negotiating their exits. We'll have to wait and see.

Footballers come and go, and when a signing like this happens, it's natural not to know what to expect. Sometimes, though, these signings bring something different to the team. We can be quite predictable, and as long as he has the ball control expected at a professional level, he should do well. If he's not good enough, he won't get much game time, but I'm sure he'll be eager to impress.

It's a fantastic retro shirt! Match Winner has clearly taken time to produce the kit properly. A lot of retro kit makers rush their designs, importing them from China just to cash in on nostalgia. To make something high-quality, you need to care about the details. Match Winner has done that here, it looks great.

Luke Williams coming back? I don’t see it happening. If he were returning, surely the discussions wouldn’t be dragging on. If we keep hoping for it, we might just end up disappointed or fixated on a head coach we prefer. Most likely, the Reedtz brothers will go for someone unexpected, but hopefully the fan base will get behind the decision.

The bridge is showing its age. It needs much more than a fresh coat of paint, but it’s a landmark worth restoring properly. It’s an important route for drivers, and it deserves real investment.

I don’t use Discord, but I’ll take a look when I have some time. I’m not very familiar with WhatsApp, Discord, and other similar platforms.

I'm surprised we've signed another central midfielder. At the moment, I don't see how Ollie Norburn fits in. We already have plenty of options in that position, which could be useful if changes are needed. It might allow him time to get up to pace, but with Matt Palmer and Scott Robertson, among others, there's going to be strong competition. Who will be playing further forward? We still need attacking midfield options, as David McGoldrick’s departure leaves a gap, along with Dan Crowley. On paper, this looks positive, but I’ll reserve judgement on how good the signing really is.

You would think the news would start rolling in by now. We've announced three games in Germany, Alfreton for the first team, and Basford likely for the reserves. The updates should flow naturally, yet somehow, what are the odds that by Friday at midnight, there’s still no word on the head coach appointment?

There I was, convinced Notts had a head coach all lined up, adamant that the club must embark on a proper German tour and refusing to sign the contract until at least three clubs had been booked in. Then again, maybe the Reedtz have just been busy tinkering with the training ground and reshuffling the coaching setup before making their move. Priorities, eh?

It's a true underdog story, and I really hope it ends happily for the players who want to go further in their football careers.