TheSkipper

Great pictures, as always @Chris. I am glad you took some. Hope to see some more on Sunday!

I have seen footage and pictures of Jeff Astle playing. He really does deserve to be listed in the Pride of Nottingham Alumni series. Such a quality player, who could jump with such grace and height that he could find the back of the net. I believe he was very prolific with scoring goals with his head, which is a shame that it caused his illness later on. His career will always be a shining example of a true great footballer, supported by his loving family and the research they continue to do.

As draws go, Notts were solid and looked very comfortable. One thing I would like to praise is the number of times we showed hunger for winning the ball back. Sometimes it became scrappy and difficult, but we persisted as a team and overcame most of those incidents. By retaining the ball, it gave us a good platform going forward. I really hope this is a sign of more to come under Stuart Maynard. The Reedtz have given the club the focus to improve in the back line and goalkeeper positions, and I think it shows.

I thought he did well with the little time he had against Tranmere. I think the signing will help, but I'm sad to see Aaron Nemane leave. Still, I welcome Conor Grant as a new addition. His first interview came across well, and I hope he gets the chance to thrive in our squad.

Notts looked solid in defence, with very little trouble from a team full of tall and physical players. Alex Bass looked top-notch, staying calm and composed. Jodi Jones had a tough time, especially in the first half. He kept getting kicked to the ground, often without the ball, but he handled it well and put in a good effort. The subs made a difference, leading to a clean sheet and a promising performance.

It would be nice to start well and put on a good showing, but as long as we don’t lose, I will accept it. Some fans might question my ambition, but I quietly fancy our chances of winning. I am aware that it sometimes takes time for things to click. We are a new squad defensively, so this needs consideration. Tranmere are looking decent. They should be up for the challenge, and the opening day is always a tough match for both sides. I’ll leave the team selection to Stuart Maynard, though I will give my thoughts on that selection and how they perform based on how the game unfolds. I am looking forward to the game. It should provide a good insight, even though it’s early, into what we might expect over the course of the season.

Excellent in-depth look at League Two, @menzinho. To cover the basics, I agree that there have been many good signings for various teams, and it looks like the bigger prospects are gearing up for the promotion challenge. Looking at our squad, I still feel we could use one or two additions, but I am also hopeful that some of the young players may get a chance in games we are controlling well. It feels like now is the right time to play our youngsters. If we can build a good run and maintain it, then a lot of pressure would come off Stuart Maynard. I think it’s paramount that we start well, but sometimes things do take a chance. My money for automatic promotion is on Gillingham and MK Dons.

Barrow 2-1 Crewe Alexandra Gillingham 1-1 Carlisle United Harrogate Town 0-2 Bromley Salford City 3-2 Port Vale Altrincham 1-0 Woking Boston United 2-2 Rochdale Halifax Town 1-3 Barnet Southend United 2-1 York City (Joker)

The dugout is more for players. Only the manager/head coach can be in the technical area, and the assistant is usually nearby. A coach usually doesn’t have much involvement during games, so he will probably be watching from the stands. It’s not like we have first-team staff that are paid to be idle.

The Premier League is a joke and always will be. Some clubs are treated differently, and it shouldn’t be this way. Manchester City, being one of the biggest teams to bring in revenue, gets some unfair advantages. Manchester United did before them. The only big team I think has been nailed and sometimes punished worse is Chelsea.

It’s been an adventure, one where it seemed like we might spend seasons in the National League beyond the four years that we did. I would say this achievement alone is their greatest one yet, considering the limited promotion spots and the number of times we stumbled in the playoffs. It’s no easy feat! The drama around the club has mostly been fan-produced, which is a huge relief compared to the drama during the Hardy/Trew eras. Christoffer and Alexander Reedtz have meant business, invested their money, and not made any false promises. They have allowed their staff to run the club, and I praise them for their loyalty towards the managers. I do think Neal Ardley was pushed a bit unfairly, but they can spot a potential good head coach. I just hope Stuart Maynard manages to remain in his position and help bring us further success. The past five years have been like a dream, seeing how Notts has transitioned on the pitch. I hope we continue to strive for attractive football because it’s a big part of what makes our club appeal to casual and floating fans.

From a productive point of view, the results haven’t been great in pre-season, but more value will have been taken from the games. Most featured two teams, usually one weaker than the other. It showcases which players can make a difference and who has limited capability. These are vital things going into a season. Positives: Depth in terms of quality Possible game time for youngsters who get a chance Goal scorers across multiple positions Plenty of creativity Improved defence A solid young keeper Jatta in good form Matt Palmer will be a massive plus once match fit Scott Robertson/Palmer duo Curtis Edwards’ experience Negatives: Fairly small squad again Potential pressure on youngsters Matt Palmer might still need time to come back fully (match fitness wise) Some injury concerns for potential players Lack of defensive cover out wide Unsure if the squad can handle the demand of fixtures Will Stuart Maynard be able to afford to rest players?

Since finishing work, I have been finalising one of my articles for PON. I need to put a bit more effort into my blog again. Like Liam, I am looking forward to going to Tranmere.

It was a good pre-season friendly, a lot of intent and good chances by both teams. The result means little, so I would caution less worry over the 4-3 finish. I would say, it shows that we can be competitive with good teams, and it's all about form. If we learn to finish the chances we get against League Two teams, we should be fine. Now we can start building the first 11, focus on performances and form. The first few games will only be a good insight as to how we are adjusting defensively and how Stuart Maynard sees which players have what roles in the squad.

Yes, I will try my hardest not to miss around!

Tranmere Rovers have a good side on paper, just like we do. They have a great manager in Nigel Adkins, who has experienced most of it within the EFL. Stuart Maynard must be hoping that the quality we have brought in during the close and pre-season will be enough to make our defence less prone to mistakes. I don’t think either team will slip up, but quality will show by the final whistle.

This situation underscores the importance of thorough health screenings in football. It’s a dreadful thought that Colby Bishop might have only discovered his condition while playing, which could have been too late. I’m grateful that sports are adopting measures to safeguard players and not merely viewing them as replaceable. I hope Colby makes a comeback and continues to excel for Portsmouth.

Given Jatta’s impressive performance in the pre-season, I believe he deserves recognition as our primary striker and should be awarded the number 9 shirt. While shirt numbers might seem insignificant, they can be used to instil confidence or boost a player’s morale. Some teams practice this, and players take pride in honouring it. I see no reason why we shouldn’t do the same.

This was news to me, but I’ve noticed that Buenos Aires used to be a favourite destination for the wealthy. I wasn’t aware that the area itself was affluent and wealthy. This is quite interesting to learn.

Chris Kiwomya deserves a great deal of recognition for bringing the duo to Meadow Lane, as I remember reading that it was his suggestion. We’ve had a number of good loan players, but none quite like these two for a while. It’s unfortunate that we didn’t have a stronger squad, as they could have been the missing piece in a promotion push back to the Championship. Instead, they helped us maintain our position in League One.

Perhaps the EFL should appoint a third-party financial regulator who has the authority to scrutinise a club’s expenditure without any restrictions. However, they should only be able to report concerns and must sign a non-disclosure agreement to prevent them from leaking information to the media or social media, including fan accounts or third-party ones. I don’t anticipate any changes like the ones suggested, but there must be many worthwhile suggestions worth exploring.

York shouldn’t pose as much of a challenge, no disrespect intended, but this would be a pre-season friendly that I would hope Notts could control more easily. We are getting closer to the start of the season, and while the result isn’t important to me, the performances are increasingly so. We need to see our starting eleven at their best, match-fit, and ready to kick off the campaign. I hope we can display a bit of flair and creativity against York. I know it’s a pre-season friendly and these matches are meant to be relaxed training games, but I honestly would like to see some form starting to develop, along with standards in the players’ individual performances.

I wouldn’t be opposed to the club wanting Luke Williams to return, but I believe that even if Swansea City were to dismiss him, a League One club at the very least would consider offering him a new opportunity. His departure was understandable; it was a difficult time for us, but it made sense for him. If he had left when we were performing well, it would have made things much easier for Stuart Maynard. I fully support Maynard; he seems to be a competent coach, and I hope he can achieve the results to solidify his position. However, when his time comes to an end, as it does for all managers, I wouldn’t reject Williams if he were available, although there might be better-suited head coaches at the same time.

This piece of history has taken a turn with the potential work to find a partner to rebrand soft drinks. I don’t think it’s a bad idea at all, but it’s likely to take time to reach an agreement. It’s unlikely to be cans, but bottles would be ideal. If Notts managed to bring back County Soft Drinks, it would benefit us fans over the current options, which are always increasing.

It would be nice to add another striker, but I don’t think we need to spend money in that area. Unless the club wants a marquee signing to replace Macaulay Langstaff, but I think Jatta will do just fine. So, a solid backup to compete against Cedwyn Scott and Junior Morias would be welcome. Some fans are suggesting David McGoldrick could be the fourth striker, but I’m not sure. He wouldn’t be a regular starter for me. The majority of the remaining squad space is to add depth. A defensive midfielder would be welcome, but we don’t need to spend money to fill most of the remaining places. Having our own training ground would be nice, but potentially expensive. Beyond buying the land, you have to spend money to improve the facility, and this area can spiral into hundreds of thousands.