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DangerousSausage

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Everything posted by DangerousSausage

  1. How absolutely tragic. He got married less than two weeks ago too. My thoughts go out to his family.
  2. What a great message, he's a class act. Hope to see him in football again soon.
  3. What a crazy time that was. It was so obviously dodgy in hindsight, but at the time I was desperate for it to be real but also somehow wholesome and above board. If it had been real, it would have broken my heart to see us turn into the kind of soulless club Man City have become. I wanted us to become a Fulham, to play the big boys but hold on to our identity. All moot now anyway. That's putting it lightly. According to a podcast about the saga, he sat Sven in a restaurant in Qatar or somewhere and arranged for a bloke to come in dressed as the king while all the waiters stood and clapped! It was Ray Trew who ultimately paid for it all. That season could have ended the club, but instead we had a fantastic season with excellent players with our next owner footing the bill. Shame we ultimately squandered it.
  4. I hope you're proven right @Robbie and we can have a good laugh at this thread once the season's over! Selling players on for a profit can be a risky strategy as it puts pressure on the club to recruit equally high-quality replacements for less money. I hope we've got some good irons in the fire.
  5. Interesting post @piedestrian. I agree that Jatta was brought in to replace Langstaff, who everyone knew would be leaving sooner rather than later. I think Jatta's form tailed off because he was overplayed and we had no alternative to him, but that's a separate issue. I don't think we replaced Crowley adequately, but maybe Jarvis or Grant can step up after a full pre-season. However, the Bass sale is a bit different. By the board's admission the offer came out of the blue, so now we're suddenly looking for a new number 1. It clearly won't be Griff, but we'd do well to get an upgrade on Bass. We have started pre-season training with one striker and no senior goalkeeper and an awful lot of work to do. Talk of asset stripping is way OTT though. The club is a long way short of breaking even and is dependent on yearly funding from the owners. If they wanted to cut their losses, they'd sell up.
  6. A couple of hours after my last post here I suddenly came round to @ARLukomski's thinking. As I said yesterday, we'll have to see what rabbits RG can pull out of the hat but I'm not feeling very confident so far. And now we've sold the best keeper in the league and are suddenly looking for a replacement just when teams are reporting back for pre-season training. This doesn't look like the carefully planned recruitment that was sold to us. Also, signing players is never an exact science, sometimes players just don't settle at the club. The more gaps we have to plug, the more likely it becomes.
  7. That's a good tip @Piethagoram! I'd never heard of Tranzer before but it's a good idea. Deutsche Bahn should really offer one-month tickets but there you go. For anyone else who's got a Deutschlandticket subscription (so pretty much anything apart from Tranzer), just remember to cancel before we play Darmstadt and you're good to go. The ticket is then still valid for July. I should have mentioned the Quer durchs Land ticket, which can really pay off of you're in a group, but it's only valid for a day.
  8. In struggling with the heat too - yesterday it was 35, today it'll be 36 and tomorrow it'll be 38. It's still 26 or 27 outside when I go to bed. We've got shutters outside our windows, so that helps keep the heat off a bit, but the evenings are still uncomfortable. Luckily it'll be cooler from Thursday onwards (cooler being the high 20s). I hate these conditions. It's OK when you're on holiday with a pool and an air conditioned room, but it's crap if you actually have to do stuff. I much prefer autumn.
  9. I can sympathise, I've also been messed about with holiday requests in the past (which is even more annoying when you've got flights to book). But I can recommend visiting this corner of Germany even without football, there are some beautiful places here. It's nice to be able to drink beer in the stands, but many clubs only serve light beer (2.5%) inside the stadium. I can't remember whether Darmstadt are one of them.
  10. Reading the story again, it looks like we're aiming to recruit a replacement for Alex Bass and then a further goalkeeper later in the window. Looks like Griffiths is considered one for the future then. I'm still not happy. It opens up another completely unnecessary gap in the squad.
  11. Here I am trying to be Mr Balanced, meanwhile the club sells the best goalkeeper we've had since Bart and replaces him with a youngster without a single senior appearance to his name! Absolutely crazy. And then Gagliardi talks about having competition. Good luck at our club Harry, and remember the disappointment at this decision is no reflection on you.
  12. That's a good signing for them. He didn't always catch the eye for us, but we looked a better side with him in the team.
  13. Some interesting points in this thread. I don't know whether Paterson was truly the first choice (although he may have been first choice following the interviews). From the board's point of view, RG is chiefly responsible for assembling the squad while the head coach's duties don't start until the players report in for pre-season training, so there was no rush. However, I wonder if our lack of a head coach caused us to miss out on transfer targets. If I were a player, I'd ideally want to know who's going to coach me. So that bugs me. We have some serious quality to replace and we haven't done it yet. However, there's a month to go and what truly matters is the squad we have in August. I'm a bit nervous too but it's too early to write MP and RG off. Regarding coaches, coaching players who played in a different position to you is part of the job. Our last three head coaches didn't even play professionally. A lot of talk about coaches from fans is just conjecture because from the outside you just don't know. There are former players unable to elicit more than a grunt, and there are people who never played at all who have excellent tactical knowledge. What matters is what happens on the pitch, and we haven't kicked a ball yet.
  14. Playing really well too, but we've missed some good chances to double our lead. We know how this ends. Germany's coach looks like a cross between Like Williams and Pierluigu Collini! PS GOAL!
  15. Thanks for the update @Ash, it'll be interesting to see it in action. It's a bit strange that it's at the back. I much prefer to stand at football. However, it should also be a way to make tickets more affordable as it raises capacity. But if the prices and capacity remain the same, what you've basically got is a seating section you're officially allowed to stand in. I hope this will be changed in coming seasons.
  16. The advantage of Brazil is that he already speaks the language @TheSkipper! Very interesting move for him, I'll keep tabs on him. I don't know how he performed at Oxford, but he was in their first 11 pretty much all season, which is a massive step up in just two seasons. Good luck to him at his new club.
  17. It'sThanks for the feedback everyone! @Piethagoram, I think most people who are flying will have booked by now, but there are always stragglers! I wouldn't quite agree there, even though they're clearly the biggest name. The friendly has fallen under the radar a bit as two weeks later they're playing a friendly against AS Roma at the Fritz Walter Stadion. We've also been waiting a long time for ticket details. For the other two, there'll likely be a typical pre-season crowd and atmosphere, but at least you'll see the inside of a German ground. The Kickers game is being used to mark an anniversary (so maybe they'll make an event of it), and it'll likely be the most competitive game of the three. Last season, Darmstadt played (and beat) Coventry in front of a crowd of 4,500 (including 500 Cov fans). However, that was on a Saturday and not midweek like our game. They'll be tough opposition as they play in a higher league and started training two weeks earlier than Notts. Kaiserslautern offer stadium tours, apparently you can make private bookings for groups of 20 people. It's a fabulous stadium too. This page has a couple of email addresses to write to: https://***.de/de/stadion/stadionfuehrungen-2/
  18. Newport away is a bit meh as the opener. We've got a good Boxing Day fixture for a change, but sadly away, at Chesterfield. Oldham away is in January so take your thermals. Bristol Rovers at home on the final day could be spicy. Now that Mansfield, Doncaster and Bradford are gone, the league is a bit beige with few real highlights. But we've only got ourselves to blame for that. I've changed the post title.
  19. He's head coach there @gtownjohnno and was a coach before. The vast majority of managers were coaches previously. I think goalkeepers can be at a disadvantage in terms of tactical awareness compared to a former midfielder, but it very much depends on the individual. I wouldn't write anybody off as coach due to the position they played in.
  20. True @Fan of Big Tone, but he was put on the spot in that interview and couldn't really spill the beans. His answer was quite emphatic though. Plenty of former goalkeepers have gone on to be a manager. The current Florist boss was a keeper and it didn't do him any harm.
  21. Well done England, I'll definitely watch the final. Time to try out my new England shirt!
  22. This is a bit strange and unexpected. Talk of him being interested in the top job are just conjecture, he wasn't even assistant head coach until a couple of months ago. It was probably in the offing though. That would explain why he wasn't mentioned when the new coaching team was announced. Perhaps he never had any intention of being part of the new team for whatever reason.
  23. [Quietly closes the Google Translate tab]
  24. As Notts are going on a European tour in a couple of weeks, I've put together some information for travelling fans (or anyone else who's interested). Happy reading! SV Darmstadt 98 The β€œLilien” currently play in Bundesliga 2 but have been up and down the leagues a lot in recent seasons. After being reprieved from relegation to the fourth-level Regionalliga at the end of the 2012/13 season, they embarked on an improbable success story, with two consecutive promotions taking them to the Bundesliga for the first time since 1982. After another short foray in the Bundesliga the season before last, they finished in the bottom half of last season’s Bundesliga 2 following relegation. Darmstadt’s Bundesliga adventures have helped them grow their support base. Their BΓΆllenfalltor ground, which used to be a typical old-school German ground with a running track and an open terrace along the touchline, has been completely rebuilt in recent seasons, with a curiously unambitious capacity of 17,800. They fill it for most home games. The city and region Darmstadt has a population of over 160,000 and is about 20 miles south of Frankfurt. Today, it draws a lot of students and calls itself the β€œcity of science” as an important location for the chemical industry and the European Space Agency. It was heavily bombed by the RAF towards the end of the Second World War, wiping out its old town (which was not rebuilt as in other cities) and leading to great loss of life. The city isn’t much of a tourist destination in itself – few traces of its old town remain and the city centre is scarred by the ugly Luisencenter shopping centre. But if you’re into 1920s architecture, the MathildenhΓΆhe UNESCO World Heritage Site is within walking distance of the city centre and is worth a look. The city also has an attractive palace (Schloss) at its heart, complete with beer garden. Right opposite it on the market square (Marktplatz) is the Ratskeller pub with its own microbrewery, which makes the best beer in Darmstadt and traditional food. This is also a pre-match haunt of Darmstadt fans. The city’s nightlife begins and ends with the nearby Goldene Krone pub, which often hosts live music. If you're in town a few days before the match, you're in luck - Darmstadt's Heinerfest is on from 3 to 7 July, a city festival with live music and all manner of attractions. The rural Odenwald region is just to the east and is worth exploring if you’ve got a car. Michelstadt is small but worth a visit if you’ve got time. To the south is the Bergstraße (the β€œmountain road”), which runs along the mountains at the edge of the Odenwald. There’s a string of interesting towns here, from Bensheim to Weinheim and finally Heidelberg with its popular old town. To the west there’s the attractive city of Mainz too. Matchday The ground is a short tram ride out of the city centre – just remember to get off at Merck-Stadion rather than BΓΆllenfalltor. This will drop you right in front of the ground behind the main stand, where there will hopefully be a range of sausage-based snacks to choose from. If you walk to the right of the main stand, you’ll find the LilienschΓ€nke pub which serves Krombacher beer, which is sadly not local but still quite palatable. 1. FC Kaiserslautern Kaiserslautern are a big name in Germany – the Red Devils are a founder member of the Bundesliga, were not relegated until 1996 and claimed their most recent Bundesliga title in 1998 after being promoted straight back. In total, they have won four German championships and two cups, and were losing cup finalists last season. They currently play in Bundesliga 2 and are managed by Torsten Lieberknecht, who has led both Darmstadt and Eintracht Braunschweig to the top flight. The ground holds just short of 50,000 (and they can absolutely fill it) and was partially rebuilt for the 2006 World Cup. Walking up the hill on a matchday does feel a bit special. However, our friendly will be held on one of the training pitches in the shadow of the stadium. The town and region Unlike other clubs their size, Lautern are not a big city club: Kaiserslautern has a population of around 100,000, making it somewhat smaller than Mansfield. As such, the club draws its support base from throughout the Palatinate (Pfalz) region, all the way to Ludwigshafen 50 miles away on the banks of the Rhine. I've been to Kaiserslautern a couple of times - it feels a bit like the back end of nowhere and to be honest it didn't keep me entertained for long. However, the Altstadtfest is on from 4 to 6 July, with live music and a celebration of 125 years of ***. The town is also in the middle of a wonderful wine-growing region. Bad DΓΌrkheim isn't too far away and hosts the world's largest wine festival every September; it's a good place to try some of them out. Neustadt an der Weinstraße is Lincoln's partner town and is absolutely beautiful. The largest US military base outside the US is situated in nearby Ramstein (not to be confused with rock band Rammstein). The Palatinate region also has its own cuisine. One thing to look after is Saumagen (β€œsow's stomach”), which is pork meat, potatoes and herbs stuffed into a pig's stomach, which is then cut into slices and fried. It's a bit like a large sausage. This can also be served in a bread roll and tastes far better than it sounds! Stuttgarter Kickers Kickers were founder members of Bundesliga 2 in 1974 and enjoyed a couple of seasons in the top flight in the 1980s and 90s. Since relegation from Bundesliga 2 in 2001 they have tended to flit between the third and fourth level. They've never won a major honour, but they were runners-up to the German championship in 1908 and reached the cup final in 1987. The ground sits on top of a hill just outside the city centre next to the TV tower. It holds 11,000, with the team drawing an average crowd of about 5,000. The city and region Stuttgart is the capital of the south-western state of Baden-WΓΌrttemberg; with over 600,000 residents, it is by far the largest city of our tour. It's best known as one of the birthplaces of the motor industry and is home to Mercedes and Porsche. Stuttgart is more leafy and sprawling than Frankfurt and its residents (Schwaben) are famous for being careful with their money (kind of like Yorkshiremen with flash cars). They're also proud of their food – KΓ€sespΓ€tzle (egg noodles served with onions and cheese) is from here but is now popular across Germany. Maultaschen (β€œmouth bags”) are pasta dumplings filled with meat or spinach. The story goes that they were used to cheat God by concealing meat on the days when you're not supposed to eat it, leading to their nickname Herrgottsbescheißerle (β€œGod cheaters”). Although heavily damaged in the war, the city offers plenty of nooks and corners to keep you entertained. Other places worth visiting nearby are TΓΌbingen, Esslingen and Ulm, home of the world's tallest church tower. You can also go up the TV tower next to Kickers' ground. Travel Airports There are a few airports in this region, but hurry if you haven't booked yet! Lufthansa fly to Frankfurt from Birmingham and Manchester, which is very handy for the first game in Darmstadt. Despite the name, Frankfurt Hahn is some 120 km from Frankfurt. It's a long way from the railway network and is only served by a few coach services a day, so your journey could be a long one. Nonetheless, it's very cheap to get to with Ryanair from Stansted. There's a highly irregular bus service from Hahn to SaarbrΓΌcken, which has a direct rail connection with Kaiserslautern (you can find it here). The bus to Frankfurt takes over two hours and can be found here. Karlsruhe Baden-Baden is a small airport that is also served by Ryanair. There are fewer flights from Stansted, but it's closer to the railway network – a regular bus service takes you to nearby Rastatt or Baden-Baden, which both offer a rail connection to Stuttgart. Stuttgart Airport offers flights from Heathrow operated by British Airways as well as some Lufthansa and Eurowings connections. It's a simple underground ride from the city centre. Public transport All three grounds are accessible via public transport: Darmstadt: Take the tram no. 9 to Darmstadt Merck-Stadion. It's about a ten-minute ride from the city centre. Kaiserslautern: The ground is about a 20-minute (uphill) walk from the main railway station, so it's probably not worth your while looking for a local bus service. According to the official *** website, the bus stops Lasallestraße, Kantstraße and Hegelstraße are closest. Stuttgart: Take the U7 underground to Waldau (GAZI-Stadion) and you're there. Alternatively, any bus to Fernsehturm would take you straight to the TV tower and is just as close to the ground. The match tickets for Darmstadt and Stuttgart do not include public transport. This will probably be the case for Kaiserslautern too. You'll therefore need to get your own tickets. - If you're staying the week and getting around via public transport, it'll probably be worth your while buying a Deutschlandticket. This costs €58 per calendar month and covers all local and regional transport (but not ICE, IC or EC trains). However, bear in mind that this is a subscription and you'll have to cancel it again by 10 July if you don't want it to renew for the following month (you'll still be able to use it for the remainder of the month after cancellation). You can get one in the DB Navigator app or online. - In Germany, local public transport is governed by region – in Frankfurt, Darmstadt, Wiesbaden and Mainz this is RMV, in Kaiserslautern, Heidelberg and Mannheim VRN and in Stuttgart VVS. If you're not getting a Deutschlandticket, I recommend downloading the RMV/VRN/VVS app and buying your tickets online there. - You can pay bus drivers for single tickets, but this isn't possible in trams or underground trains. Ticket machines are disappearing fast too. Don't consider not paying – penalty fares are enforced! Where to stay If you're looking for somewhere to base yourself for all three games, Karlsruhe, Mannheim and Heidelberg offer reasonable connections to all grounds. Karlsruhe has the best connection to Stuttgart, but makes for a longer connection to Darmstadt and Kaiserslautern. Conversely, Heidelberg and Mannheim have a direct connection to both Darmstadt and Kaiserslautern, but make for a longer trip back from Stuttgart. Heidelberg has a famous old town and palace to explore, but the old town is some distance away from the railway station. Like Frankfurt, Mannheim has a much more gritty city feel but also its share of highlights and offers some mighty fine Turkish restaurants. One final tip: if you've got Lonsdale clothing, you're best off leaving it at home. The brand has unfortunately been adopted by the local neo-nazis, so you might get some funny looks! If you have any questions, fire away in the comments. Otherwise, gute Reise and see you in Darmstadt!
  25. Spot on @Robbie. He's had a tough couple of seasons and I'd like to see him do well somewhere. But maybe not against us!

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