JustLikeJuve

It’s great to be welcoming another new member. Welcome to the Pride of Nottingham, @theAnticlough.

What I tend to look for early on is who looks sharp, how fit the lads are, and how the new signings are settling in. That first in England, before the Germany trips, it will be a real eye-opener, and it’ll mostly be about fitness. I just hope no one does anything daft in protest over Martin Paterson’s arrival. He deserves a fair chance and shouldn’t be judged too soon.

Hello and welcome to the site and community. We’re really pleased to have you here, @MikeWood.

He looks a solid signing, but I do always keep in mind that loan players don’t always give it everything. Still, I think Barry Cotter will add some energy down the flank. This might even free someone else up to take that attacking midfield slot we’ve been hoping to fill. I won’t guess who that might be, there are a few possibilities, and knowing Notts, we might still bring someone else in for the role. Welcome to Meadow Lane, Cotter!

Excellent blog, really enjoyable to read. I’ll be keeping an eye out for the next part in the series. I think the squad will come together once a few more players are brought in. It’s vital we replace Alex Bass smartly, if we manage that, this team should be strong enough for the Play-Offs. A few extra quality signings could give us the edge to push even further. I’m quietly confident. As long as we don’t lose any more key players and we keep strengthening, we’ll be alright. I don’t buy into this talk of relegation.

Nicely written, Michael. Thanks for sharing your poem, it’s great to read something about Notts for a change.

Afternoon all. I looked for this thread but couldn’t find one, so I thought I’d get it started. Hopefully the regular posters don’t mind. I’ve got the whole week off work. Today I’m out in the garden, and on Wednesday I plan to head into Nottingham to see what the city centre has to offer. I need to pick up some new clothes, so that’ll be part of the day out. With pre-season not too far off now, I’m using the week to get things done that’ll be harder once the football kicks back in. One of those is catching up with mates at Nando’s. We usually try for Saturdays, but with a free Friday I’ve got the chance to make it happen. It’s been ages. The weather’s lovely today. There’s a light breeze which keeps things cool. I’m looking forward to reading what others have been up to.

He was just being greedy, with no real plan, only trying to make some fast money. It’s not surprising he got caught behaving like that. Some people fall for things far too easily. It really proves how important it is to use proper, trusted ways to check if a product is real or not.

Have a sensible discussion, share your opinion or dive in deeper. You should find the Pride of Nottingham to be an excellent place to visit. Welcome to the community @BridgyPie.

Welcome to PON @Ash, its good to see you have introduced yourself.

Wigan are still a big club, and it should be a great match for the fans. It won’t be easy though, as they’ve still got some strong players. It’ll be a good test for us to see how we match up against a side like that.

Hello, welcome to PON @MejustMike. ☺️

Happy Birthday, @Fan of Big Tone. Have a great day, and have a beer on us! 🍻

With a few exceptions, most new films don’t feel entertaining or interesting. A lot of them are generic, almost copies of past movies. One exception is Novocaine. It’s a little predictable, but it’s fun and easy to follow. There are some genuinely funny moments that don’t feel forced and will make people laugh. These kinds of films are rare now. It’s almost as bad as what TV puts out.

Hello, @Alan Underwood. Welcome to the community here, given the time you will like PON.

Hello, @Sheffield Pie. Welcome to the community here, given the time you will like PON.

Hello, @STAT. Welcome to the community here, given the time you will like PON.

I sit in the Kop, and it’s a big part of my matchday experience. The walk into the ground, with all the fans queuing at the big gates, really shows how far we have come.

I don’t watch any U21 football, but maybe I should start. If players are organised and have some freedom, passing and creating chances should come more naturally. It sounds like I’m missing out. More fans should watch them, as they are the future first-team players.

Hello, @SRK1862. Welcome to the community. PON is a great site for us Notts fans.

Hello, @Oliver Reedtz. Welcome to the community. PON is a great site for us Notts fans.

Hello, @battman. Welcome to the community. PON is a great site for us Notts fans.

Having someone with this kind of experience handling performance can really change the game. Keeping the players in shape and ready to go is super important for a successful season, so it’s awesome to see the club putting money into this part of things.

I’ve been thinking about how League Two clubs bring in foreign coaches, and honestly, it’s a bit complicated! Here’s my take on it, in simpler terms: First off, these coaches need something called a Governing Body Endorsement (GBE) from The FA, which is pretty much the biggest challenge. The FA wants to see that the coach has tons of experience (like managing in a decent league for several years) and has the top coaching qualification, which is the UEFA Pro Licence. If they don’t meet those requirements, there’s a panel that can review it, but honestly, I think it’s tough for League Two clubs to get any exceptions. Then, the League Two club itself needs to get a special Sponsor Licence from the UK government before they can hire someone from outside the UK. Once they have that and the coach gets the GBE, the club issues them a "Certificate of Sponsorship," which is basically just a reference number. After that, the coach has to go for an International Sportsperson visa. This means filling out an online application, gathering a bunch of documents (like their passport, the GBE, the CoS, proof of English skills), and paying some pretty steep fees. They also have to provide fingerprints and a photo. Usually, if they’re applying from outside the UK, it takes about three weeks to get a decision. So, how likely is it for these coaches? If the manager ticks all the boxes for The FA’s strict GBE rules, then I’d say they have a good shot. But if they’re banking on that “exceptions panel,” it’s a much tougher road. Basically, it's all about showing they’re “elite” and can genuinely help improve English football, which might be a bit of a stretch for League Two sometimes.

George Foreman was one of the few boxers who truly changed their life for the better after retirement. A class act.