- Comment on the Richard Montague interview here
- Who should be recruited in January? Read this excellent recruitment doc from member ARLukomski
- PoN member McPie asks have we progressed under Martin Paterson? Join the conversation here.
- PoN member theAnticlough poses a new set of questions about the team, click here.
- Notts confirm Belshaw signing
- 👋🏻 Welcome the newest members of Pride of Nottingham! Drop by and say hello, it’s always great to see fresh faces joining the community. 🫱🏼🫲🏼
- 👀 Check out our activity stream to see the latest content as it happens live. Join in with the conversation on Pride of Nottingham.
- Got thoughts on Notts? Share them and help Pride of Nottingham hit its content target! 🏁
- Reply to and read discussions without leaving your screen. Check out the Pride of Nottingham 'Topic Feed', which brings you all the latest content from our community forum in one place.
Everything posted by McPie
-
Notts’ growth under the Reedtz brother
I think the increased attendance at games is more than just following the general trend in football. Since the brothers took over there has been a gradual momentum building at the club. Although some fans may criticise the off-field investments saying we need to spend more on recruitment, The Nest, Padel Courts and the collaboration with Nottingham University have all been significant contributions to the overall momentum. The general style of play that is being tweaked as we climb the pyramid has also play a role. It's seems that our progress is not just some random approach, but a clear structure for continued success. The owners are intelligent businessman who know what they are doing. They would not be investing money into the club if didn't have a clear objective. Hold on tight, yes there will some bumps in the road, but lets enjoy the ride! COYP!
-
You never know your luck in a raffle
It could well@Mapperley Pie after all we're now in the same league as Huddersfield, so coming back to us could actually be the better option!
-
Players in, Players out, who's your starting 11?
I would expect a couple of attacking midfielders to come in before the window shuts, either permanent or loan signings. I would be surprised to see Grant starting. I think he is a bit like Kouhyar, not a starter, but offers something coming off the bench.
-
Max Sanders to Notts.
From what I understand Max Sanders gets his fair share of yellows, but manages to avoid the reds. Seems to suggest he has a physical side to him, but has enough control not to be reckless. As he is only 27, sounds like an Ollie Norburn-esque player that’s a slight upgrade. He’ll do for me!
-
VAR
VAR is a double edged sword. It’s great when it gives your team a handball in the box that the referee missed or the offside that rules out an opponent’s goal. When it works the other way it’s not so great. Well in recent times we have had two promotions without it, so not having it can’t be all bad. We’ll just have to wait till we’re in the premier league to find out.
-
GOOD MORNING LEAGUE ONE. A PERSONAL VIEW.
You have to give credit to the brothers. We were in the national league with Stockport and Wrexham. They have spent big, while keeping the same manager in Phil Parkinson and until just now Dave Challinor. In the meantime we have had two of our head coaches poached and several of our best players into the bargain. Yet we are now in the same league as Stockport and only one behind Wrexham. The brothers has used our limited resources wisely and as a result we have made steady progress. It has been said how would we manage without Macca, Ruben, McGoldrick, Crowley and Bass? Very nicely thank you and promotion to League 1. We have to trust the process. We can have success, but it needs to sustainable. The next step might take a while to come to fruition, but let’s enjoy the ride! COYP!
-
James Gibbons in...a bit funky?
This is a good signing. It looks like the recruitment team are realising we need more than just young potential talented players. This looks like an "Ollie Norburn" type signing. Natural leader,character not to mention the long throw!
-
Who you signing?
Like your thinking@piedestrian and now we are in league 1 we can attract better quality. Lets hope we can fine some hidden gems and keep the sustainability going!
-
Lessons Learned
Yes it's true @Fan of Big Tone Ifs, buts and maybes don't count for much. In the end it didn't matter we achieved promotion anyway. I think from the three playoff games we already are seeing the value of being difficult to beat, but still playing positively without going gung ho! I think this will be key for a good season in league 1.
-
Lessons Learned
We failed to get automatic promotion again this season. A couple of lessons learned that might have contributed. Firstly there is a saying in football (derided by some) “respect the point.” Looking at the league table at the end of the season is very revealing when we compare the Draw and Lost columns of the top three and ours. Bromley lost 7 drew 15 MK Dons Lost 8 Drew 14 Cambridge Lost 8 drew 16. Notts Lost 14 Drew 8 Interestingly we won 24 matches the same as Bromley and MK Dons and two more than Cambridge 22. Since Ian Burchnall we have had the philosophy of the aim win every game no matter who the opposition is and wherever we are playing. This is a noble aspiration, one which many of us agree with. However sometimes in-game decisions have to be made as to whether it’s wise to “respect the point” rather than keep on taking risks that result in defeat. Another contributing factor to missing out on automatic promotion was our disciplinary record. Notwithstanding losing Jatta, Norburn, Robertson, Nlovu and Hall for a number of games for red cards, it was the impact on the actual games in which they were sent off. If Robertson had stayed on against Bromley we might have won that game. Norburn against Chesterfield after 19 minutes. Surely we get something from that game with 11 on the pitch. And also against Grimsby Nlovu is sent off in the 76th minute and Grimsby score in the 85th. We missed out on Automatic promotion by 3 points. Small margins or our own doing? Whatever the case is, lets hope we have learned the lessons for next season!
-
Who's your Playoff Final Man of the Match v Salford?
The defense was superb again. Three clean sheets in the playoffs! However you only win them when you score goals and Jodi was involved in all three, so he gets my vote.
-
Who's your Man of the Match v Chesterfield (2nd leg)?
I would say the match was pretty much similar to the first leg in that there was wasn't much quality on show for either side in the final third. Defensively we were very good again. My vote therefore goes to Lucas Ness. Not just for the headers won but what I particularly like is his reading of the game. He so often nips in to win the ball before the attacker has received the pass. We need to get him tied down to a longer contract!
-
Who's your Man of the Match v Chesterfield?
When the penalty was awarded, I thought here we go again. Then when we scored first, I thought it’s only a matter of time before they equalise and go on to win. But we held firm did a professional job in a good first leg played away situation. At the heart of that performance was Rod McDonald. He’s my MOTM.
-
Early thoughts on Chesterfield
We all hope this playoff campaign ends well. We all want to be optimistic. The problem is we have been here many times before. When it comes to the big games, we don’t seem to have the mentality to see it through. There is no question we have the talent, but on these occasions when it really matters it’s the strong mentality that gets you through. In the National League playoffs, we didn’t play particularly well in either game, but we prevailed. So we can do it. Let’s hope we can do it again. COYP!
-
Who's your Man of the Match v Bristol R?
I’m not a big fan of Conor Grant, but thought he had a decent game yesterday. However, like many have said Tsaroulla was the standout candidate. He is starting to get in some very good positions in and around the box giving him more opportunities to score. Looks like it something the coaching staff have been working on. So he is my choice for MOTM.
- The Summer Transfer Business: Who stays, who goes, and who comes in?
-
Automatic Promotion: Is it still possible?
Notts can definitely beat Bristol Rovers, but it's hard to see Salford and Cambridge both slipping up with so much at stake. If we don't get automatic promotion, it's important that we focus on getting the win. Momentum and confidence going into the playoffs is vital!
-
Who's your Man of the Match v Colchester.?
I thought we defended well yesterday. Colchester didn't register a single shot on target. Had we been more clinical in front of goal we could have won by more. The fact that Nick Tsaroulla contributed to a good defensive display and was clinical with his finish, he gets my vote for MOTM.
-
EFL Awards 2026
EFL League Two manager of the season: Andy Woodman (Bromley) Player of the season: Aaron Drinan (Swindon Town) Young player of the season: Daniel Kanu (Walsall) Apprentice of the season: Ollie Dewsbury (Bristol Rovers) Team of the Season: Mathew Hudson (Oldham Athletic), Kelland Watts (Cambridge United), Jack Sanders (Milton Keynes Dons), Omar Sowunmi (Bromley), Harvey Rodgers (Grimsby Town), Mitch Pinnock (Bromley), Liam Kelly (Milton Keynes Dons), Isaac Hutchinson (Cheltenham Town), Sammy Braybrooke (Chesterfield), Aaron Drinan (Swindon Town), Callum Paterson (Milton Keynes Dons). No Notts player anywhere in these awards. I think that just about sums up our season! Notts players and staff should be be motivated by that and go out to prove a point in the remaining games left (including playoffs) of the season and fight hard for promotion. COYP!
-
Can Notts reset for the Playoffs?
I would fully expect us to be in the playoffs, but I'm struggling to see how we can win them. We have gone back to being easy to play against, predictable in the way we play. We just seem to have lost our way. Of course anything can happen so we have to hope, but if we fail, then I think during the summer we need a re-think of our whole footballing strategy and philosophy. How ironic that our defeat yesterday handed promotion to Bromley without even kicking a ball. There has to be something wrong when Bromley can get promotion with their limited resources and we with bigger crowds and better resources fail.
-
Who's your Man of the Match v Barnet?
I initially went for McDonald, but with two goals conceded it just took the the shine of it. But great to see him back! So my pick is Iorpenda, not his best game in a Notts shirt, but he epitomisies the desire and will to make something happen especially in a team performance that was lacking ideas and quality.
-
Match Discussion: League Two - Barnet FC (A)
Ironically, as bad as the defeat last week was, Cambridge are by no means home and dry. They know they can still be overtaken and the pressure is on. What we need to see from Notts is a will and desire to go and get three wins. If we do that even if it’s not enough for promotion, I think most fans will be happy with that and the Cambridge disaster will be forgotten. However, ending the season with a whimper, many will feel let down and expect big changes for next season. We know wins in football are not guaranteed no matter who you are, but the will and desire to try is the bare minimum. COYP! Let’s do this!
-
Who's your Man of the Match v Cambridge?
I agree@YoopEyes the award motm doesn't apply to this game. Just watched back the full match replay and Cambridge aren't even that good. They are another Bromley. Physically strong players that get the ball into the box at every opportunity all 4 goals from set plays. It seems a sad fact of life that trying to play football in League two doesn't get you promoted.
-
Match Discussion: League Two - Cambridge United (A)
Going into a key game against a team like Cambridge at this time of the season without the likes of Platt, Jatta and Jones was always going to be difficult. It was definitely a below strength team, but to play for 50 minutes or so with an extra man and not have a single shot on target is unacceptable. Two of our players for the future that came on today didn't have an impact. If we are want to get promoted, we are going to have a look at our recruitment policy. There needs to be more focus on the here and now. Focus not just on technical ability but also on mental strength, winning mentality. If we do get promoted this season, the summer recruitment will be even more important than ever.
-
Who's your Man of the Match v Newport?
I thought Ndlovu was very good today held the ball up well and pressed and fought for everything. Belshaw made some important saves. For me though it has to be Lucas Ness. He has come into the side recently due to injuries to Platt and McDonald under a lot of pressure and done really well. For me he has been close to mom on a few occasions already, so today it’s a well deserved award!