DangerousSausage

So, the new kit is here. How do you find it? 

I'll offer my opinion - it's awful. The various patches on the arms are way too fussy and the multicoloured logo on the front is dreadful. And why no stripes on the back? It's surely not a problem with pinstripes. 

If we'd gone with white arms and a monochrome sponsor's logo, we'd have had ourselves a deal, but not this. On the plus side, however, the shorts are black, and we can all relive the glory days of consecutive 80s relegations...

Oh well. If we win promotion wearing a naff shirt, I'll take that. 

My gut feeling is that he won't leave before the end of his contract. I doubt any League Two club can afford him (Donny's transfer income was probably used to plug losses elsewhere), and he'd be an expensive risk in League One, especially with only a year to go. But if we don't go up this time, he's gone. 

37 minutes ago, menzinho said:

I do feel for Gateshead’s fans, losing your two top strikers to the same club, their optimism about the season will have taken a big hit. Like Langstaff, Scott is clearly ready to play at this level now. Seems all very similar to when we signed Roberts so I’m confident he’ll cope with the step up.

Good points there. They were probably resigned to losing Langstaff as he was out of contract, but selling Scott too smacks of a lack of ambition on their part. It also indicates that we must have made them a pretty tasty offer (or he had a release clause).

The parallel with Roberts occurred to me too - he was also released by a higher club and ended up playing far below his level. 

Sounds a shrewd decision to buy both halves of an established strike partnership (remember our failure to bring in Brian Deane along with Tony Agana?). And I doubt he was cheap. Looking forward to seeing what he can do!

This looks very much like we're planning to play 352 to me, but these two, Roberts and Rodders won't all fit in the starting eleven. 

He'll have been part of the Scott deal then. Hope he gets his career back on track at Gateshead, but it's a big shame we never saw what he can do. 

This appointment doesn't fill me with confidence. This is probably spectacularly harsh, but the 25 per cent win rate and the less than impressive references from Swindon fans leave a big question mark in my mind. I'm a bit worried that we've got another manager who thinks we can tiki taka our way out of the National League when it's very obvious we need to be more direct at times. 

Swindon have had a tough few years, while at Notts he'll inherit a team that isn't too many tweaks short of a title push. I hope Luke Williams can repay the faith the owners have invested in him and show us just why he got the job. 

We've had some news on the striker front today. Firstly, Eli Sam has cancelled his contract to pursue opportunities elsewhere. By the sounds of it, we won't be seeing him in England again. I can't say I really blame him given the lack of minutes here. He was really unlucky to get injured just as the goals were flowing this season though. All the best to him, shame we didn't quite get the best out of him. 

https://www.nottscountyfc.co.uk/news/2022/june/elisha-sam-departs-010622/

And the new arrival is Macauley Langstaff from Gateshead, who scored 32 goals last season. Sounds a similar type of player to Kristian Dennis from what I've heard. It's good to see us signing promising players on their way up, just hope he's more Cal Roberts than Sean Canham. 

https://www.nottscountyfc.co.uk/news/2022/june/macaulay-langstaff-signs-010622/

Could also be a good bet @menzinho. There's one thing I am sure about - yesterday's announcement that it'll take a couple of weeks to pick the new manager has put the Luke Tisdale rumour to bed. Him leaving his job at Coventry would indicate that he's already got a job elsewhere, and we haven't picked anyone yet. 

I'm struggling too to be honest. John Askey has just won promotion with York and likes attacking football. Luke Tisdale has just left Coventry's under 23 team, but would we really go for a novice? Everyone seems to be expecting someone from leftfield, but I'm not so sure. Last summer we changed our recruitment strategy slightly, with more players joining with experience of the NL. Perhaps we'll be looking for the same thing in the manager, if possible.

Dynamite? I'm not sure. Paul Tisdale hasn't exactly had the glittering career since leaving Exeter, and his son is a youth team coach. I don't think either is what we're looking for. Would prefer someone on the way up, but with experience at this level.

We're back on the merry-go-round and need a new manager. As Michael Doyle is also rumoured to be off too FGR, we'll need a whole new management team. Who would you like to see take over?

The current bookies' favourite appears to be Bromley's Andy Woodman. Not sure how I feel about that. Boreham Wood's Luke Garrard is also among the favourites. I'd have thrown Pete Wild's name in the ring, but Barrow appointed him yesterday.

Understandable really. For all his fighting spirit, DKE had turned into a bit-part player, and Lacey's injury record is a bit of  problem for us. He played 58 games in three seasons for us, and has only managed more than 30 in a season once in his career. And his is a position where you don't want to be chopping and changing too often. He'll resurface in the NL at the very lowest.

Brindley has a contract offer but he won't necessarily accept it. He might also get offers from L2. If he stays, I could imagine him and Cameron moving out wide to make way for a more aerially commending CB pairing.

It's probably been sorted for a long time. It would have been nice for him to stay loyal, but let's be realistic - if we were 13 this coming October, he'd have been sacked. Loyalty cuts both ways in football. If I were him I'd probably do the same.

I'm slightly disappointed but I think this is an opportunity for us now. Like under Neal Ardley before him, we've lacked a ruthless streak under his tenure and this is our chance to find a manager who can instil it (without throwing away everything we've done over the last couple of years). 

Hope he enjoys his veggie burgers

1 minute ago, gtownjohnno said:

Did anyone else think that the published attendance was a bit shy... I thought it was nearer 14000 than just over 12000.. 

 

I was watching it on a tiny little rectangle on my old smartphone, but that looked about right to me. The Family Stand was mostly empty, and the corners of the Main Stand also had lots of empty seats. The Lane always looks fuller than it is because of the black seats.

I can't really say all that much as I've seen much less of them. In the aftermath of yesterday, it's tempting to sweep the decks and start from scratch, but then you're in danger of throwing the baby out with the bathwater. Of the list above, if Brooks isn't ready to challenge for the first team he'd likely go out on loan again, and Sam might prefer a move elsewhere to get more regular football. As for additions, we need mentally strong players who know this level and can help get another 10% from their teammates.

There's no chance of us holding on to Wootton, but we could turn that to our advantage. In a way, having him has hobbled us in the transfer market as prospective new additions have been all too aware they'd be playing second fiddle to him. At least now we have the opportunity to get a couple of new faces in and have some real competition in that area of the pitch.

An even bigger question is who the manager will be, if the rumours of IB going to FGR are true. Hopefully Keven Nolan was just there to watch the match...

Thought I'd wait a day until waxing lyrical here. Our team always seems to find new and creative ways to twist the knife.

It was a ragged performance alright. All our creative outlets were isolated and we were unable to sustain any pressure. For all Grimsby's possession and pressure (and they were definitely the better side), Slocombe had little to do apart from dealing with crosses, and we were seconds from beating them. I doubt Wrexham are worried on last night's evidence. Richardson's foul was unnecessary and stupid, but was also precisely what can happen if you allow yourself to drop deeper and deeper when under pressure. The further away you are from your own goal, the less likely it is that something like that will happen.

So now I feel utterly sick of it again. A lot needs to happen if we're going to challenge for top spot, we've had three goes at it now and haven't come close, and I despair at the thought of another play-off "campaign". This time our top scorer is leaving and possibly the manager too, and it's not a given that we'll be in the top five every season - we could quite easily end up treading water like Yeovil, for instance. And, as if it isn't dystopian enough, you have the prospect of Florist playing in the PL and the Stags taking on Derby and Barnsley while we play Dorking (no disrespect intended). But we have to pick ourselves up again. We need to add some steel (also of the mental variety), learn to mix it up a bit more and work out how to keep clean sheets. Then who knows. In the meantime, I think we all need a summer off.

23 hours ago, 4everapie said:

I hope they achieve promotion

I wouldn't really mind it myself, but in the event that we go up, League Two would be a little less beige with them in it. Even if every village idiot in Nottinghamshire does tag along for their big day out to Meadow Lane. It'd also be pretty sobering to see them two leagues above us (in the worst-case scenario), but it's up to us to get our house in order.

On the other hand, if they do go up we might see a repeat of their legendary bus parade of 2013...

Can't say I agree @menzinho. Whether they have 2,000 or 4,000 in the ground is irrelevant, it's up to the home fans to drown them out, and 4,000 aren't necessarily louder than 2,000. Also, football is a spectator sport. Our club jealously protecting some empty seats so we can have fewer Lincolnshire folk in the ground singing about fishing is just wrong. It would be like Wrexham only giving us 1,000 tickets if we get through (although at least they can fill the seats themselves).

Gut feeling is we'll win this. The nerves are really starting to build now.

Eintracht sealed the deal then! The final was an old-school battle of attrition. Frankfurt edged it over the 90 minutes and had the better of the chances, but were hanging on in extra time. In the end it was a nerve-wracking penalty shoot-out and further proof that bringing a player off the bench solely to take a penalty is a really naff idea.

As you might guess, Frankfurt has gone completely loopy and has collectively downed tools for the last couple of days. I'm really chuffed for them. They lost their manager, director of football and top scorer in the summer and flew out of the German cup in the first round, and still came away with their first European trophy in my lifetime. And Waldhof Mannheim were the only team to win a cup tie against them this season!

So that's both Florist and Mansfield in play-off finals. We need to make it a hat trick. I've got a gut feeling they'll both go up, but that isn't really based on anything. Just making the final is a fantastic achievement for Mansfield after looking like they were going to flirt with the NL early in the season.

How are we feeling about this? Is anyone crossing their fingers for the Stags, or are we hoping they'll fall flat on their faces?

Play-off eliminator - The Mariners (H)

Team: Grimsby Town

Date: 23/05/2022

Where: Fortress Meadow Lane

Monday night is the big night! So it's time it had its own thread

How do you think we'll do? What team should we put out? And have you got your tickets yet? I've already reserved a place in my armchair

I'm feeling encouraged by our strong home form. Grimsby are on an unbeaten run away from home, but over the season as a whole they were only the ninth best away team with 30 points from 22 games. They also appeared to lose some momentum once their play-off place was secure. But the play-offs are completely different to league games, so none of that counts any more. At least we can rest assured that we'll be taking the opposition very seriously, which was somewhat lacking in the odd game this season.

Not happy with the club capping the number of away tickets at 2,000, I don't ever remember us doing that before and it could well end up with away fans in the home ends, all for the sake of keeping the JS stand half empty.

For the sake of completeness, the table:

Can I put on record my annoyance at Dover finishing with one point? It makes my OCD itch.

On 16/05/2022 at 13:27, Dripsey3 said:

So the first round of the playoffs are: 

Notts County vs Grimsby Town 

FC Halifax vs Chesterfield

The NL will be delighted with Notts vs Grimsby. The attendance should be over 10K. Halifax could be a sell out as Chesterfield don't have far to travel. These could be the best playoffs in NL history. You have 4 decent sides in the first round. Any of those 4 are capable of winning promotion if things go their way. Then you have Wrexham and Solihull waiting in the wings. Obviously we hope Notts go up but I'd hate to be the one trying to predict the winners of these playoffs. 

Seconded! I'm expecting a crowd of 15,000 at least for ours (considering the amount of time Grimsby fans spend on social media bragging about how many fans they've got, they'd better bring a good following!).

But predicting play-offs is a waste of time, the games are so tightly contested and so many things come into play. Wrexham last badly on the final day and you have to wonder whether missing out on the final day has interrupted their momentum somewhat. But on the other hand, it could have the opposite effect. Obviously I want us to go up, but if we don't, I'd prefer to have Wrexham out of the way for next season. I don't want to attempt to win the NL title against a club that are splashing out millions.

2 minutes ago, 4everapie said:

Can I have a full seasons recount week to week sure I should have more than my final score.

I know what you mean, I can't shake the feeling that my score is 49 points lower than it should be. But nah, the sausage's decision is final

The final results are in!

AFC Bournemouth 1-0 Millwall
Sheffield United 4-0 Fulham
Exeter City 0-1 Port Vale
Leyton Orient 0-1 Tranmere Rovers
Mansfield Town 2-2 Forest Green Rovers
Solihull Moors 3-1 Dagenham & Redbridge
Wealdstone 2-1 King’s Lynn
Yeovil Town 2-2 Boreham Wood

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This week's highest scorer is @super_ram - congrats to you!

@super_ram - 10
@GrannyPie - 8
@Dripsey3, @4everapie, @gtownjohnno, @nottsnutter - 5
@Dan, @DangerousSausage, @magpiejue - 4
@barnet11uk - 3
@Megan_Elizax, @ARLukomski - 2

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So finally we come to our final rankings. Massive congratulations to @Dripsey3, who has won the prediction league with a record 259 points! All that squeaky bum time turned out to be worth it in the end. @Dan finishes second just nine points behind, and @super_ram has seen off a late challenge from @4everapie to claim third. As for me, like Man United I'll have to make do with a Europe League spot.

Dripsey3 - 259
Dan - 250
super_ram - 237
4everapie - 230
gtownjohnno - 217
DangerousSausage - 211
Megan_Elizax - 189
magpiejue - 187
ARLukomski - 185
nottsnutter - 184
jimbob - 182
GrannyPie - 181
barnet11uk - 169
Chris - 106
KB1862 - 52
liampie - 50
Joshua - 34
Feral Fox - 29
allardyces tash - 21
TheSkipper - 16
CliftonMagpie - 10
Alex - 7
Canadian - 4

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So that's it! @Dripsey3 wins the special prize, a real hen's tooth (collection only). I hope you've all enjoyed playing, and at least occasionally revelled in the feeling of being a football genius! Thank you all for taking part, and I hope to see you all back to do it all again in August