True Magpie

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.

If I wanted to make costly changes, I would want the maximum fee from the club’s perspective. There was no need to accept a bid just to cover previous expenditure due to The Nest and the pitch revamp. It would have been more beneficial to wait and see if any other bids came in. I don’t think there would have been a shortage of teams interested in Macaulay Langstaff. It’s more likely that the club had a good offer, but the upfront fee is misleading. The problem with transfers these days is that they are always undisclosed and tend to remain private. Journalists also cause headaches with their speculation. Even if they are right, they might not know the inner agreements. Even if Notts sold Macca to assist with the changes, then so be it. We are a club that requires smart business decisions. Yes, it’s sad to lose such an important player, but the club’s current model shows that recruitment is much more focused on quality, with a few exceptions. We have had more hits than misses, and that’s my takeaway from this.

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In the National League, he was a standout player. At the start of last year, he seemed decent in League Two. There were some good moments, but largely it was disappointing. If Notts is looking for defensive cover in midfield, they could probably find someone better suited. I hope he finds a new club soon.

I don’t view it as a criticism of the young players who were on the pitch when the goals started coming in. I also believe the penalty was more a case of their player pushing into Chicksen and then falling over. It’s challenging to keep up with games when there are numerous changes, and while some fans might see this as making excuses, for a young player it’s much tougher. Once a goal is conceded, it impacts how you play and it can be easier for the attacking team to capitalise on this. All things considered, it’s not a bad result.

It’s evident how frugal the Nottingham Forest owner is, trying to avoid paying the increased ground rent for the City Ground. If Forest were to relocate, it would be absurd. On the other hand, I can understand why Bradford City might want to seek alternative arrangements, given they’re being held to ransom over these fees. It’s unfortunate, as their ground is such an iconic stadium. They wouldn’t want to find themselves in the predicament Coventry City faced a few seasons ago. But at that price, can they really afford to keep paying? The state of the pitch leaves much to be desired.