9 times of of 10 96 points in any other league gets you promoted, so I totally feel for all the York fans right now.

I think the 2 relegation spots in League 2 give teams a false sense of security at times, but the reality is if you get relegated into the NL it is so much harder to come straight back up - as we know all to well! 3 up and 3 down will actually make it easier to get back into the EFL if you do get relegated.

I think had we not gone up in our season where we got 107 points, it would've sparked some sort of action. But because we won the play-offs, everyone got to say the right outcome happened, so in the end it didn't really matter. I can see this topic and debate dragging for a long while yet.

16 hours ago, Robbie said:

Looks like Stuart Maynard is going to be retained for another season. If that's the case Notts need to increase the number of coaching staff so he can count on plenty of support & alternative ideas & strategies.

That's the very least we should expect. Let's be honest, once Matt Saunders left, things started to go downhill. SM needs experienced staff around him. Otherwise it will be rinse and repeat next season. 

8 hours ago, Fan of Big Tone said:

@Robbie I’m not at all surprised that the owners are going to stick with Maynard, they don’t do knee jerk reaction or listen to keyboard warriors on social media, Maynard said in a recent interview that new coaching staff would be added during the close season and that the reason they didn’t during this season was because they didn’t want to disrupt things, so they stuck with the people the players know.

Perhaps Maynard was forecasting his own downfall!!!! Perhaps a whole new set of coaching staff are on the horizon!!!!

I didn’t actually listen to the post-match interview until now (because I just wanted to forget about the match over the weekend) but it does give me a strong impression that Stuart will be here next season.

He does sound very confident he’ll be here next season, I’m pretty sure the if he was unsure he would’ve probably said so because he is usually pretty honest. He doesn’t mention anything like a meeting with the owners or new director of football to discuss his future...

We desperately need new coaches so I’m glad at the very least that will be addressed. I still find the bit about not adding coaches “because it had the potential to upset the group” a tad strange though. The coaches we would’ve bought in would’ve fit the club’s style, they wouldn’t have bought in coaches with totally opposing ideas!

It's a shame that all those tunnels were not put to good use. A small underground system to service the City & adjoining towns would have been a godsend today. 

Those who made the decision to close it obviously didn't look very far forward in their thinking.

Victoria station & it's adjoining infrastructure was a fantastic piece of engineering & it's demolition was a great loss for future generations.

I remember catching a train at the High Level Station on Arkwright Street (or was it London Road) and getting off at Victoria Station to do some train spotting, I’d be quite young but my brother accompanied me he was five years older.

Well the tooth had to come out, it was infected, the extraction was quite painful in spite of having two injections to freeze it.

I’m just glad the toothache has gone, hopefully I’ll get a better nights sleep.

Morning all and Happy Wednesday, it’s certainly a lot happier for me, I’ve had a good nights sleep and feeling a lot better after having my tooth out yesterday, I’ve lost 4lb as well, I don’t think the tooth weighed that much so it must be the fact that I’ve only had a small portion of scrambled egg since Monday, I’m looking forward to porridge for breakfast.

We had a little rain by the looks of it last night so it’ll be interesting to see if it’s filled up my water butt.

Have a great day everyone.

There was a pool of water on the garden chair this morning. Wasn't expecting some rain last night but it was welcome nevertheless.

It's was a beautiful start to the day again & at the moment I can't see a cloud in the Sky.

The two mating Hawk Moths have gone on their merry way. Apparently mother Hawk Moth will be busy laying her eggs in a safe place.

One of their favourite places to lay eggs are on the leaves of apple trees 

I can now understand who some of the culprits are that have been eating some of the the apples on our two trees all these years.

Hello and a big PoN wellcome from me too @Miles3659.Please make yourself at home and join in.

Hi & a big welcome to our Pride of Nottingham Community @Miles3659

Connections
Puzzle #710

Connections
Puzzle #710





Not my day today.

Connections
Puzzle #710

#waffle1216 0/5

streak: 11
#waffleelite
wafflegame.net

Phew.: Just made it today.

#waffle1216 X/5

Gutted I’ve lost my streak of over 100 

streak: 0
wafflegame.net

#waffle1216 3/5

streak: 78
#wafflediamondteam
wafflegame.net

Wordle 1,432 4/6

Wordle 1,432 4/6

Wordle 1,432 4/6

Your Monday Weather 4cast 

Your Tuesday Weather 4cast 

Your Wednesday Weather 4cast 

He had one season where he played quite a bit in the Championship but he’s struggled since then. He needs to playing regularly, dropping down to the NL would give him more of a chance of reviving his career.

We are in a bit of a tough scenario when it comes to signing a new keeper, because they are basically going to be second choice. I think the recruitment team would have excelled themselves if they can find someone better on half Bass’ wages. Yes a new keeper will have hopes that they could become our new number 1 but the chances are he’ll be sat on the bench for most the season; a tough sell!

Good analysis @Chris . Like when #Notts lost in the playoff final against Bradford at Wembley, 1996!, the feeling this season and of that season, we weren't no where near good enough. A better Dan Crowley replacement could have made the difference

@Chris said "I was disappointed that Stuart Maynard didn't implement wise changes earlier".

This was one of the issues I had with Stuart's management decisions in relation to substitutions throughout the season.

Stuart's substitutions always appeared reactive rather than proactive & much of the time the substitutions were just too late to make a difference.

For me this came from his perpencity to er on caution & playing safe instead of being bold & being prepared to take a gamble to change the course of a match.

Overall, we got what we deserved. Our start was really positive and aggressive, just what we were hoping for really. Then Wimbledon scored out of nothing and it knocked the stuffing out of us. From that point on the home team were much the better side. We were uninspired and it was painfully obvious how much quality we were missing.

Having to go into a match like this without Jatta and McGoldrick is a fitting end to a season plagued with departures and injuries. We performed the juggling act well enough to make the playoffs, but with a fit Jones and a motivated Crowley still at the club we'd have gone up automatically. Alongside the four I've mentioned, we've also lost Langstaff and Nemane since the summer, and on Saturday it was painfully obvious that we didn't have adequate replacements.

SM was very proactive in making changes when he started, but has become increasingly cautious. Bringing on a defensive midfielder late on when we should have been throwing the kitchen sink at the opposition says it all (not that having both Traore and Morias on the pitch would have made any difference anyway).

Reaching the playoffs was a marked improvement over last season, but we're just not good enough for L1 yet. 

Interesting story. A battle that  possibly led to the formation of the Scots under one ruler.

I found out an Interesting fact about  Ecgfrith the defeated Anglo Saxon king. He probably introduced the earliest Penny coinage.

"Ecgfrith appears to have been the earliest Northumbrian king, and perhaps the earliest of the Anglo-Saxon rulers, to have issued the silver penny, which became the mainstay of English coinage for centuries afterwards.

Coins had been produced by the Anglo-Saxons since the late 6th century, modelled on the coins being produced by the Merovingians in Francia, but these were rare, the most common being gold scillingas (shillings) or thrymsas.

Ecgfrith's pennies, also known as sceattas, were thick and cast in moulds, and were issued on a large scale"

Source Google.

I feel for him. I don't think anyone can question his effort and desire.

From day 1, it has always been a 'management team', each with their own qualities to complement the others. 

In January, for whatever reason we will probably never find out for sure, 2 of them left without being adequately replaced. 

In any job, whatever it is, if you ask 1 person to do the job previously done by 3, they will become less effective.

Our most creative player in Dan Crowley was sold without being adequately replaced. I understand the reasons why, the money was reportedly excellent for a player with 6 months left and he wanted to go.

Those 2 factors weakened the second half of the season for even an experience coach / manager, so I'd like to see what he can do with an experienced and strong coaching staff. 

His big disadvantage is that he doesn't have the same charisma to carry fans along as some other managers have, and he will be under a lot of pressure if we get off to a slow start.

@Simon Clark said, "His big disadvantage is that he doesn't have the same charisma to carry fans along as some other managers have"

That's maybe so with a lot of Notts fans.

For me it's not about the amount of Charisma a Manager has. Luke Williams has presence & Charisma but he couldn't stop the team leaking goals before he left.

Stuart has done a great job for the reasons I've already specified elsewhere. My concern is his management of the team, the way his team plays, his obstinacy to play just one way, his use of substitutes, & is cautious mentality.

I wouldn't disagree with you, but a lot of fans forgave Williams far more easily than they forgive Maynard. 

You make good points in your last paragraph and this is why I'd like to see the experienced coaching staff around him. For the last 4 months, he hasn't really had much to bounce off.

On 18/05/2025 at 10:36, ARLukomski said:

Keep

Alex Bass, Jacob Bedeau, Matty Platt, Lucas Ness, Lewis Macari, Rod McDonald, Matty Palmer, Jack Hinchy, Scott Robertson, Jodi Jones, Will Jarvis, Nick Tsaroulla, Mai Traore

Release

Sam Slocombe, Tyler Miller, Robbie Cundy, Kyle Cameron, Adam Chicksen

Transfer list

Conor Grant, Curtis Edwards, Junior Morias, Kellan Gordon

Offer 1 year

David McGoldrick, Sam Austin

Undecided 

Charlie Whitaker

Sell

Alassana Jatta

Loan out

Ryley Reynolds, Madou Cisse

 

Take the armband off Matty Palmer as I think it's made him play worse. He's not a captain and I think taking off of him will relieve some pressure and he actually won't mind.

I'll have a recruitment doc out soon

I believe we should retain Conor Grant, while I'm uncertain about Curtis Edwards.

The rest I agree with.

I don't agree with the comments about Matt Palmer, but someone more suitable to command and organise the squad would be wise. Palmer has been decent all season, and isn't a bad captain, but he's not a strong leader. Leadership like David McGoldrick shines, but he has experience and is a strong leader. The signings we make need to add more leadership to our group.

Quality, experience and strong leadership.

I know the list has been announced but - regardless of contract - mine would be to keep:

Austin

Bass

Bedeau

Jarvis

Jatta

Jones

Macari

McDonald

McGoldrick

Ness 

Palmer

Platt

Reynolds

Robertson

Whitaker

That leaves plenty of room for quality signings and gives a depth of squad we've been missing this season. I fully expect some of our contracted players to move on although I also expect players like Grant and Edwards to play far more games next season than I'd want. But 'd be delighted for them to prove me wrong!

I wonder how Morais got a 3year contract???....after last Saturday's  spellbinding 8 minute cameo surely we have seen the last of him!!!!!

It was an overcast & much colder day as late here. Thankfully the rain kept off & I managed to get a couple of hours gardening work done.

Spent the late afternoon watching three westerns from the forties & fifties. Two starring Henry Fonda, with Dana Andrews & Anthony Quinn in supporting roles in one & a young Anthony Perkins in the other

The third film starred Richard Widmark from 1956. They were three good stories that I'd not seen before. All three had good endings too.

I haver no issue with Luke going to Swansea. As a working man who has worked away from home, he had the opportunity to wake up in the same house as his family. No brainer. 

Luke Williams isn't the answer, with all respect and appreciation for what he did. He's far too attacking-minded. Stuart Maynard isn't perfect, but if he gets a stronger squad and manages to figure out the best starting lineup/when to make changes, I think he would be fine.

Williams decision to move made sense, but he left us at the worst time and is at fault for the slump we experienced.

The move made sense from his personal perspective. I doubt he could have turned our season around, and he probably knew we were overachieving somewhat. The magic created from promotion could have worked, but in truth it seemed to be fizzling out. I also strongly believe that Williams wouldn't have done any better this season. I think the defensive improvements would have been more focused in midfield and up top.

That's my opinion, this romance with him returning I won't buy into.

Stuart Maynard is our head coach. Yes, he is frustrating, but most managers/coaches are. I don't hold him responsible for not achieving promotion, nor do I blame the players. I think whilst we could have gone up, we simply weren't quite ready. It's life as a football club, I am afraid, but at least we have good owners now who are trying and a squad which does care about the future.

@Chris I agree that Luke Williams isn't the answer. 

I can understand that Stuart Maynard is a very likable person & I would say he is a safe pair of hands who has improved the team markedly since Luke left.

Stuart has also been unfortunate with the number of injuries to key players, which upset the form & the flow of the team during the season.

However, I come back to the safe pair of hands description. Yes, he has improved the defense & Notts have conceded 30 odd goals less with 16 clean sheets, & his team have a goal difference of 19.

The trouble is the lack of positive results against the top ten teams. His team is just not aggressive enough for this league. The team mirrors his personality, & there is no leadership on the pitch.

It needs someone who is going to take the job by the scruff of the neck & produce a team that is strong physically & can hold their own against the toughest teams in the league. 

It also needs someone who can implement a plan A,B & C. Notts are just too predictable & play only one way.

I would like to see a Manager who's League 2 smart with experience,skill,& personality who can lead from the front. Who is prepared to take a risk when necessary & look to bring positivity rather than negativity.

Tea is taken.

Notts are 305 for 5. Lead by 48 runs

Notts are 347 all out.

Durham need 91 to win from 18 overs.

It's an agonising defeat for Notts as Durham get a last gasp win which inflicts Notts first defeat of the season.

Durham 92 for 3 win by 7 wickets 

Hi & welcome to our PON Community @Andrew Fairhurst

Welcome to PoN from me too, @Andrew Fairhurst.Enjoy.

Welcome @Andrew Fairhurst. I hope you will enjoy your time here.

Good morning happy Sunday, the sun is trying to peek through the clouds, how are we all this morning, feeling sad, resigned, philosphical? I’m sure we’ll get over it, no one died. We’ll be back next season cause that what we do.

Anyway last night I watched Eurovision which I actually thought was half decent this year some good songs and fantastic stage production.

Today we’ll have a walk and later we’ve got some pork steaks and sausages to put on the bbq.

Have a great day everyone.

It was overcast here all day. Can't remember the Sun coming out at all. It was still reasonably warm nevertheless.

We've had a quiet Sunday here. Watched a couple of films this afternoon, "Rebecca" with Laurence Olivier & Joan Fontaine. 

The 2nd film was "Dangerous Crossing" with Jeanne Crain & Michael Rennie.

The Poll has now closed.

The last Pride of Nottingham's Man of the Match award for this season goes to Goalkeeper Alex Bass.

I wonder if it’s worth leaving the poll open longer next season to give people more time to see it. Only two votes this week and no vote from you @Robbie 

@Fan of Big Tone At the very least every member of the PON team should be casting a vote.

This is the first vote I've missed, however it wouldn't have made a difference to the result because I would have voted for Alex Bass too.

In the beginning I used to extend the vote, however it was agreed to keep the vote open to 9pm the next day after the match which I have done.

It may be worth looking to extend the vote a further 24 hours from the start of next season to allow more time to cast a vote 

I understand members are disappointed because we lost, but even in defeat there can be a good performance like we saw from Bass on Saturday. 

The players deserve our support whether they win, lose or draw a match.

I've been disappointed with Traore I think we paid a fee for him didn't we? Maybe after a pre season he will come good but he certainly hasn't hit the ground running like Jatta did.

I might be wrong but I feel Traoré hasn't settled into playing League 2 football.

I've come to the conclusion that Traoré & Morias should be loaned out next season or just sold on.

The fact Viking, who are a very good top division Norwegian side, identified and signed Traore a few years ago does give me hope he'll come good. It is harder for overseas players to settle sometimes, I think because Jatta came in a did so well when he arrived everyone kind of expected the same to happen with Mai.

The case for Stuart in my opinion.

The Club has improved from last season. Progress has been made. Defensively much better, 16 clean sheets, 37 less league goals conceded. 14 defeats compared to 21 last season.The owners like him. Guided Notts to the playoffs despite all the injuries.

The case against.

Less goals scored compared to last season. Offensively not as potent. Over half the goals scored are by just two players. Relies on a plan A, no plan B & C. One style of play only. Unwilling to change style of play.

When a player is out of favour, he stays out. Use of substitutes poor & too predictable. He's too cautious, his inclination is too hold on rather than make a game safe. He isn't prepared to gamble. He's too nice.

The Club's lack of success against the top 10 teams proved to be a big factor with Notts not getting promoted.

In the end it's up to the owners to decide about the Head Coach's future, & I'll stick with whatever  their decision is.