True Magpie

@Joshua we have 6 subscribers as of now. The plan is to gift 4 prints across each platform: Facebook, Twitter (x.com), and Instagram. Instagram is very relaxed. Chris wants it to focus more on art, edits, and opinions rather than news. Closer to the time, messages will be sent to potential winners for them to accept and let us know what they would like to say to the judges. If they don’t want a print, someone else who does will get one. Fans can still buy the prints if they really want one, so we’re not concerned about that.

Chris has been kindly giving fans prints, often just to make someone’s day. I think there’s room to reward dedication and fans who are part of the community, so I’m speaking with him about ideas. This came up, and I think it’s going to be nice to see fans rewarded for being part of the community. Notts has a vibrant fan base, with many good people representing the club. Our gaffer goes above and beyond.

Great to see 6k season tickets sold. I wonder how many have taken up the club’s membership offer? I think the numbers make for a great sign that Meadow Lane will continue to be well supported, even by casual fans.

I am not that keen on retro shirts myself, mostly because the shirts tend to be off. Due to copyright and branding, you will never get a close enough remake that will be endorsed by a professional club. Some of these fake ones with the Adidas logo, Match Winner, etc., are wrong despite being closer to perfect. Clubs shouldn’t target the supporters, though. This just alienates the fan base and could lead to some fans being unpleasant to their own supporters just for wearing a shirt. It’s down to individual preference if someone likes something, and nobody should say otherwise. Even though I don’t personally like them, I can see why people do and why some would buy cheap fakes just to feel closer to their club. Most might even be unaware that it breaks copyright, but I would assume most did. Chasing a Chinese manufacturer would be difficult, so targeting fans is the easiest route, and people tend to do whatever is easier.

There are many rolling hills and stunning picturesque scenery, even for the smallest Italian football teams. Their achievement to reach Serie B is nothing short of a miracle, and the book Joe McGinniss wrote is very interesting. If you like football stories, I would recommend it to PON members. Italian football has been plagued with match-fixing. Throwing their final game of the 96-97 season ultimately led to them folding.

I would use that image instead of the one from last season. I always think if you put effort into having a nice team page, all the photos should look equally good. Poor James Sanderson stands out by a mile. It could be safe to assume he’s on his way out on loan.

Are expectations good or bad? Does the pressure of aiming for promotion create unnecessary stress? Should the players handle this demand? And what’s the balance when things aren’t going as planned? I think, in general, expectations are good, though less so when fans are unrealistic. For a club, having a target can help show where the squad and coaching team stand. Targets should be flexible, as signings in January might strengthen other clubs, which is part of the process. From a fan's perspective, I see ambition as a healthier approach. I want Notts to reach the playoffs or higher if possible, but I can reflect on results and how the team performs before reviewing. If we’re not quite ready, I’d rather see the club become strong enough for League One.

I’m not complaining, but I don’t see why the Game Changer software couldn’t have been smoother from the start. They sell the app, site, and add-ons to clubs, and I imagine it costs a fair bit of money. That said, some issues are normal, but the number of problems since launch is a bit worrying, considering it’s a standard package used by all their clients. It was probably not set up correctly or something.

As we are now making progress with the league underway and no one else seems to be predicting these positions, I will close this topic and remove it from the featured list.

It’s all about creating chances, hitting the target, and making them count. I hope the game is wide open, with both teams really trying to make it entertaining. There’s a chance it might be slow, with both teams holding back, but in that case, you hope someone will show their skill. Our match and the MK Dons vs Bradford game are the biggest on this opening day.

Great write-up! I wouldn't count Notts out so quickly; we've got some excellent quality and game-changers across the squad. I'd be disappointed if any team didn’t believe the playoffs are possible. Automatic promotion might be harder for most, but that’s why early form is so important. My money’s on Gillingham, Port Vale, and MK Dons.

I have no memories of the old Spion Kop scoreboard, but I do think preserving its history and the memories of fans is very important. I would welcome seeing more comments from fans here on PON who may have had the experience.

Count me in! I might not be the best, but let’s give it a go and see how we do.

It was a good friendly, entertaining, and I don’t think we have much to worry about at this stage. There are a handful of players who didn’t make the game, so I would be curious to see if they actually make the bench or start against Tranmere. Peterborough were always going to win this friendly. A high-scoring match should give us more confidence rather than affect morale. It’s how you look at things, I suppose, but Jodi Jones played at his very best.

I don’t want this to be taken in a way that people will think I am ungrateful, but the best things that Chris and Alex Reedtz have done are off the pitch. All the projects off it are nothing more than a bonus, but a welcomed one at that. Structuring Notts to be successful has been their main goal, with improving player recruitment and making sure the club progresses on the pitch. It’s not all been plain sailing, but we have seen a continuous level of progression. In football, you want to see your club adapting like this. Too slowly, you risk not seeing your hard work pay off, but too quickly can lead to instability. As a business model, I would rather have Notts’ approach under the Reedtz than any club that feels they can force their way into the top leagues by spending money alone.

Champions Arsenal Runners Up Manchester City Third Place Liverpool Fourth Place Manchester United Fifth Place Tottenham Hotspur Sixth Place Newcastle - Relegated Southampton, Ipswich Town and Brighton - FA Cup West Ham League Cup Liverpool

I’m hoping for a striker, another attacking midfielder, and possibly another winger to join our ranks. The recent standard has been a bit lacklustre, and I believe a couple of quality signings could boost my confidence. I’m not too worried about our defence; I think we’ll be solid once the season kicks off. However, I do have some reservations about Robbie Cundy; he needs time to acclimatise.

John Bostock is a fantastic signing, a player of real quality who should feature prominently for Solihull Moors. They didn’t perform to their potential last season and needed someone like Bostock to steady the ship. I hope he thrives there.

Our academy’s level becomes apparent when they face bigger teams. This might be why the club is hesitant to give our young players more serious roles, but individuals can flourish in a good side. Losing to Derby’s U18s isn’t a disaster; they’ve produced some excellent talent. All we can do is encourage them to keep going and wish them well for the upcoming season.

To be honest, I’m not overly impressed with the signing. If he stays injury-free and can compete with the starting centre backs, then I might have to reconsider my initial opinion. However, this seems like a squad player signing, which makes me lean towards signing a young, upcoming, injury-free player. I do hope he settles in and performs well.

Ed Francis mark II seems like a good signing, but players like him always need to be pushed. I think he’ll integrate well and should get game time in matches where we want to rest others. I’m pleased we have a defensively-minded midfielder. There’s talk that Curtis Edwards can play anywhere in midfield, and we also have Scott Robertson, which gives us plenty of options.

I’m more than happy to join in with this. It sounds like a fun community activity, so count me in! The changes to the guessing rules should make it fairer for those who can’t be online as much as others. This should make it easier to have a friendly competition.

It’s a friendly match, so I’m not too bothered about who plays. I just want the players to get some game time so they’re ready for the upcoming season. With league games slowly approaching, it’s important to ensure most of the squad is at the right level. The result isn’t a concern for me, but I do hope the lads put in a good performance.

Looking at his pre-season photos, he seems like an incredible talent. From the footage, he appears ready to be more than just a squad number. Has James Sanderson participated in the pre-season? It seems like the club only focuses on one main player for potential first-team inclusion, apart from less significant games like the EFL trophy.

It’s such a missed opportunity. He looked good in the pre-season, but it makes me think that changes are on the way and the club might have identified another striker. It’s a shame for Junior Morias. Despite his small size, he was lightning quick and always made a nuisance of himself. I don’t think many fans can really criticise him based on the number of appearances he made for us, as he always got involved when given the chance.