What I tend to look for early on is who looks sharp, how fit the lads are, and how the new signings are settling in. That first in England, before the Germany trips, it will be a real eye-opener, and itβll mostly be about fitness. I just hope no one does anything daft in protest over Martin Patersonβs arrival. He deserves a fair chance and shouldnβt be judged too soon.
Some fans might want us to win by a lot or play really well, but itβs the first game since last season ended, so it might not look that good. Thatβs okay though. What really matters is making sure the players stay fit and get some time on the pitch before the League Two season starts.
I hope Alfreton play nicely and remember itβs just a friendly match. I donβt want to see anyone like Jodi getting kicked or hurt. It would be really bad if someone got injured this early, before the season even begins.
Slowly but surely I can see a team being assembled to aim for the top. Everything seems to be taking on a more positive vibe and just like a jigsaw falling into place. The more attack minded we are, the less time we spend in our own half. Different playmakers are surely going to make us a better team and harder to play against. The number one target now has to be a good number one π. My late father would say a Lev Yashin type would fit the bill, who knows where the future will take us. Keep your faith in all the club are doing as their best should be our best. π«‘
I've read a teeny bit about him and he looks to be experienced, rapid, direct and a good bloke. To add to his bow he's quite versatile for transitional tactics halfway through a game. Few people have suggested that we might look towards a 4-3-3 or a 4-2-3-1 but then change to a 3-5-2 when we need to mix it up, so Cotter (and to a lesser extent Tsaroulla) provide both FB and WB coverage.
Good signing, if not one of the best to give us an indication of what's to come.
He's direct and should be exciting to watch, as he does like being involved and taking players on. I am sure a member like, @Dripsey3 has extensive knowledge regarding Barry Cotter. For those who don't, Barnsley fans quite like him from what I have seen. Mostly because he's a constant attacking threat, I think he will be a great addition to our squad. He should be a great player for us against League Two opposition.
This is worth a read:
The Barnsley FC BBS Fans Forum
Barry Cotter
Straight from the horses mouth in an establishment in tarn (Iβm not saying anymore but anyone whoβs read past posts could probably figure it out, this...
Barry has plenty of potential. He did well in his time in the League Of Ireland. His long throw is a serious weapon. He doesn't just launch and hope for the best. It's fairly accurate. It's a serious weapon to have in our locker. He has plenty of pace and bombs forward but I don't think he enjoys the defensive duties much! Wing back probably suits him best.
Afternoon all. I looked for this thread but couldnβt find one, so I thought Iβd get it started. Hopefully the regular posters donβt mind.
Iβve got the whole week off work. Today Iβm out in the garden, and on Wednesday I plan to head into Nottingham to see what the city centre has to offer. I need to pick up some new clothes, so thatβll be part of the day out. With pre-season not too far off now, Iβm using the week to get things done thatβll be harder once the football kicks back in.
One of those is catching up with mates at Nandoβs. We usually try for Saturdays, but with a free Friday Iβve got the chance to make it happen. Itβs been ages.
The weatherβs lovely today. Thereβs a light breeze which keeps things cool. Iβm looking forward to reading what others have been up to.
busy day today, with a lot of incoming and a lot of exporting jobs to be done. people think that machinery makes life easier in this kind of job, and it does but you have to have your smarts. some days its like a jigsaw or one of them picture puzzles where you have to slide the correct tiles into the right position to reveal what it is. if we dont do this carefully, it can cause more work in the weeks to come, and i really do hate moving big pallets multiple times because someone has taken a corner. the day has been nice, i had a walk from the city centre to the embankment and along there. finding a bench to sit down and eating something i picked up from a chip shop.
i dont think i could have eaten something warm inside, despite it feeling cooler.
Good evening. It's been a decent day weather wise. It's still warm inside the house at 10 pm.
Had to have the plumber to fix the toilet cistern this afternoon. He replaced the workings in the cistern. Nothing to pay because we have plumbing & drainage cover with our energy supplier.
Good news at Wimbledon Tennis.We have 2 players in the last sixteen at Wimbledon, one in the ladies singles & one in the men's.
Looking forward to the Notts friendly match at Alfreton. Their new signing will hopefully be playing in the game.
Morning all, the rain has by passed us again, our lawn is looking decidedly yellow but Iβm not going to water it as I think itβs a waste of water, when the rain eventually does arrive it will recover.
I was too late waking up to go to the park run so Iβll get on our cross trainer for a bit of exercise and no doubt have a walk with Mrs. T later.
Iβve not seen @super_ram around lately I hope he is well, Iβll send him a message.
You may (or may not) like this game, the idea is to connect words in a certain number of guesses. It can be frustrating because sometimes they throw in American things we donβt necessarily know.
Does anyone else do the word game called wordle, I started doing it in lockdown now itβs part of my morning routine, I canβt get dressed until Iβve solved it. ????
Their owner has finally released a statement but instead of saying how he's working hard to complete a sale he's trying to remove the board of directors... π―
Didn't realise until I was reading another article that owner of Morecambe was one of the owners of Worcester Warriors, who also went bust with him at the helm. I hate to say it but they look doomed.
The MP for Morecambe spoke in parliament and called out the clubβs owners, saying that something needs to be done. It makes me wonder if they spent too much trying to reach the Championship while they were in League One.
I donβt blame Morecambe for having big hopes, but it might explain why theyβre in such a bad place now. I really hope they can come through this and end up stronger.
Even if the worst does happen, a fresh start might help them rebuild. I donβt think theyβll stay down for long, but it would be better if they didnβt have to go through that. Their fans deserve better.
@True Magpie They probably will survive but as another phoenix club that will be put into the 9th or 10th tier of the football pyramid. I hope that situation can still be avoided
I hope one day he finds success with a team where he gets the chance to push on in Europe and really prove himself as a manager.
He speaks well about football, but he moves about a bit too much for my liking. Itβs hard to build something when you're always on the move. I do wish him all the best with his return to AS TrenΔΓn. Hopefully this time itβs a step forward and a proper long-term role.
Finding information on Google and the astrencin.sk site isnβt easy. The website is hard to use and doesnβt seem well organised. Even Wikipedia still shows the old manager. I wondered if that meant heβs taken on a different job at the club.
To be honest, itβs one of the worst sports websites Iβve come across. I do hope Ricardo Moniz does well. I often wonder if things might have turned out better for him if heβd worked under the Reedtz brothers.
I just wanted to share a quick update on the remaining upgrades from the old version of the site. Thanks to the generous support of our donating members, covering the costs has been much easier. A special thanks to @Michael D Pie., someone whose kindness really shines through, not just because they're generous, but because they genuinely care.
Those members who know me well will know I don't like singling people out or giving praise, but Michael has been a significant factor in this process, and it's only right to thank him.
The + Create button, which was scrapped from v4, has returned as a custom mod.
This adds a level of convenience to starting new discussions, among other content, without the need to go to a specific location. It was such a boost when it arrived as a feature and quickly became something noticeably missed since upgrading.
While this is a small update, it should help with content in general and starting discussions as we start to move into the pre-season.
As previously noted, the upcoming game features enhanced automation of match discussions. I will be spending time ensuring the full fixtures get added, alongside the help of my wife @cheeky~k8.
Mood statuses will be returning, with Terabyte informing me recently that he's wrapping up the finishing touches on his app.
Our previous footer will return, but unfortunately the dev working with me on that is currently unable to code at this time. I have enquired about the app which gave subscribers a badge; I am hoping to hear back from the dev with regard to that. The bookmark app, which allowed members to safely store content for future reference, will return momentarily. As should the surveillance system for when discussions need to be moderated to avoid things escalating to a point that they shouldn't.
Guest limits across the site will be something I hope will return, but I have no ETA on that.
I believe limiting guests and encouraging people to register and join in will only benefit the site, and while I will try to make sure guests can gain value from visiting, I would like to give them more reasons to join and become involved.
My focus on newsletters was disrupted due to the sudden announcement that v5 was in beta. While I have tried to send bulk messages from the site, I don't think it warrants the effort. Instead, I will be focusing on the list where members have already approved my sending them the newsletter. At a point, I will make sure a subscription widget is added to encourage more to get involved, but when people join a site, they don't always want to receive emails or notifications, which is a shame because it brings them the community aspects, but it's also understandable that people would not want them.
Major news will still go out as per normal, but I will be focusing more on a newsletter and encouraging fans to follow areas of the site in order to get email updates.
The latest discussion widget from the old site, unfortunately the dev that had been working on its return isn't able to code right now, therefore I have asked another dev to take it on.
There's no ETA on this, but it is of the highest priority.
Aside from this, there are little things and some new features that I want to add in time. They are as follows:
A proper league system. Additional ways of showing upcoming games, fixtures, and results. Squad page, which is more detailed than what I have created. History and stats. Prediction League system. Enhanced member profile picture gallery (upgraded from previous versions). The PONcast player, featuring the inaugural Notts podcast, will make its comeback at a later date. A member page that displays the total content reach, along with historical records on specific dates, featuring additional statistics for members.
I would like to thank all the newcomers, returning, and regular members for their support. It is appreciated, and no effort goes unnoticed by me.
I really value everything that goes into this website. It's a breath of fresh air and I feel proud to be part of the community.
I do wish I could do more, especially when it comes to helping out with the site's costs. But I understand that itβs not all about money. In a world where running a website brings lots of bills, itβs just nice to know there are people out there who are in a place to help. Thanks to everyone involved. I appreciate the update and all the effort that goes into keeping the site going.
@Chris has done a great job updating the site & fixing things when there have been a few glitches. It's great to see the site so busy with new members getting involved & seeing older members back too
PON is a place that opens its arms to all and when you need a little uplifting, want to share a few words, join a meaningful conversation and maybe a quiz or number game, this is the place to come. All you participants, without your subjects, replies and encouragement, where would we be. The wonderful people who selflessly give their time and make PON what it is, deserve our praise and thanks. Keep up the good work. COYP.
Absolutely spot on. PON truly is a home for thoughtful discussion, friendly banter, and that warm sense of belonging we all look for in a community.
Itβs built on the kindness, wit, and input of its members, whether youβre starting a thread, dropping a quick reply, or simply taking part in a quiz for a laugh. Every bit adds to the welcoming atmosphere weβre so proud of.
Letβs keep leading by example. By being encouraging, inclusive, and open to all, we make sure PON isnβt just the community we know and love, it becomes one others are drawn to as well. Hereβs to everyone who gives their time and heart to keep it going.
I saw it online and had to make sure it was real. At first, it felt like one of those made-up stories someone posts as a bad joke. I was shocked when I found out it was true. Itβs really sad news. Diogo Jota was a really good player, and it feels so unfair.
He will be missed a lot, and hearing about this just makes everything feel even sadder.
I heard some teachers talking about it too, and like you, my first thought was the same. Itβs really upsetting.
Sadly, you do come across false stories now and again, so itβs important to stay careful. As soon as I saw it confirmed on the BBC Sport site, I had to pause for a moment. Itβs such a sad situation.
With Alex Bass now off for a reported βsubstantial feeβ, McGoldrick choosing not to stay, and Slocombe stepping into coaching, itβs left us without some big figures. No like-for-like Crowley replacement either, so you canβt help but feel weβve taken a few steps back.
Iβve no doubt the recruitment team are hard at it, hunting down the right names to patch things up and give the squad more balance and depth. But itβs a tall order.
It might take a couple of eye-catching signings to really lift spirits and get fans believing again. The optimismβs taken a knock, and plugging gaps isnβt just about bodies, itβs about quality too.
If anyone from the club does check in on sites like PON, hopefully they realise the right signings could do wonders. Itβs not just about replacing talent, itβs about showing ambition.
@piedestrian, David Button, and Kai Kennedy would be excellent signings for us.
On 02/07/2025 at 17:52, menzinho said:
I was just giving some of my general thoughts, @TheSkipper because I don't really have much knowledge outside of the potential obvious choices, but I'm enjoying reading the suggestions from other members.
That's fair enough; I just thought trying to coax some suggestions might be interesting. I should have thought that some might not have knowledge outside of Notts or the wider leagues. Jack Payne would be a great signing, a very hard-working midfielder. One year left on the deal, too, which could make it more tempting to accept a fee for his services.
Another name to suggest is Jack Bridge, although more of a wide player than a central midfielder. He could play either side, maybe even higher up, as he does have goals in him.
David Button, Jack Payne, Sylvester Jasper, Chris Long, and Jack Bridges would be good choices to fill the gaps weβve got.
Bridges is more of a left-sided player, but that could actually help. It would let Jodi Jones move into David McGoldrickβs role, or even give Will Jarvis a go there.
Nick Tsaroulla and Kellan Gordon could do a job down the right.
Chris Long would bring the kind of experience weβve been missing up front. Jasper would get a chance to prove himself in English football, and David Buttonβs know-how in goal would be a big plus.
Even at 36, Button could be a smart signing and a good mentor for young Harry Griffiths.
Thanks for the heads up about this @BromPie. I was in the middle of replying to this yesterday before my phone went walkies and me to never see it again.
I do think improvements are needed to the squad and strong additions as well. The statement a few days ago indicated the look for 2 new goalkeepers, with one being Alex Bass' replacement.
Goalkeeper starter - Ellery Balcombe (Brentford), Tommy Setford (Arsenal), Luke Southwood (Bolton), Viljami Sinisalo (Celtic), Vicente Reyes (Norwich) or Stephen McMullan (Fleetwood)
Goalkeeper back-up - Killian Barrett (Sheffield Wednesday), Jake Eastwood (recently released by Grimsby), Joel Coleman (recently released by Bolton), Luke Hutchinson (Bolton) or Toby Steward (Portsmouth)
At this moment in time, I still think we are short in a number of areas. As well as the keeper situation, I still think we need a right-footed centre-back to add a bit more depth.
Centre-back - Timothy Eyoma (recently released by Northampton). Eyoma played 24 times for Northampton despite only signing in November, having had a previous spell at Lincoln. A very capable stand in, if anything happens to Platt, Bedeau or Ness. He won 43 of his 71 ground duels last season with a pass accuracy of just over 71%. Also made 115 clearances.
With Jodi Jones deployed on the right and Will Jarvis on the left, with Kellan Gordon on the right and Nick Tsaroulla on the left, plus the addition of Maz Kouyhar (who I think will go out on loan anyway), I believe we are in need of a left sided option defensively.
Wing-Back option - I had suggested two here before my phone disappeared. Harry Boyes has since joined Southend, so that leaves George Cox (recently released by Swindon). 4 assists in 26 appearances for Swindon last season, creating 23 chances and playing 119 passes into the final third. Defensively he made 42 recoveries and won 55.2% of his ground duels. I would also consider Ben Jackson from Barrow after a superb season in 24/25, however he may want to be a starter, which may be difficult in our formation set-up, if we stick with a 3-4-2-1.
Further forward, I think we need an attack minded centre-mid who can unlock defences, especially low blocks. Whilst we have many options in the centre at the minute (including new arrivals Tom Iorpenda and Ollie Norburn) I believe we are lacking in the department. Scott Robertson is injury prone and Curtis Edwards isn't the player we need in a promotion fight from League 2, for want of a better explanation. Jack Hinchy may go out on loan as well.
Centre-midfield - Charlie McCann (Forest Green Rovers) - Someone I have wanted us to sign for a while now. 11 goals (FGR's top scorer last season) and 5 assists. Has excellent work rate and a good passing range. Only has 1 year left on his deal so we should move in now, before he gets more interest.
What is 100% certain is the need for attacking midfielder who can make late runs into the box and bring the ball forward. We cannot go into the season with Conor Grant because, with all due respect, he isn't good enough. Mai Traore may slot into this role sometimes, but we'll see about that come pre-season and the first games. I still believe we need a striker with pace in the Langstaff mould up top.
Attacking midfield -Joe White (Newcastle United), Boris van Schuppen (FC Eindhoven), Conan Noonan (Shamrock Rovers) or Cameron Congreve (Swansea). White scored 6 goals and assisted twice, creating 137 chances and making 163 passes into the final third. It's unlikely he'll get game time at Newcastle with their endless riches. van Schuppen scored 11 goals and got 12 assists in 33 appearances in the Eerste Divisie (the same league we signed Ruben from), creating 47 chances. Noonan has excelled on loan at Waterford with 3 goals and 4 assists in 19 appearances. He's also made first team appearances for Shamrock. Another player to look at before interest in him grows. Congreve we know about from his time at Bromley, scoring 5 and assisting 6 times, creating 43 chances.
Striker - Jack Stevens (Solihull Moors) or Jake Young (Stevenage). With most of the options from the recruitment doc nearly gone, I'd take one of these two. Stevens contributed 12 goals and 4 assists in 24/25 and 17 goals in all competitions the season prior. He presses high and works extremely hard and has good positional awareness. Young had a great loan spell with Swindon a few years ago with 16 goals in 25 appearances. He only started 11 games last season and despite his tall frame, is best when he plays on the shoulder of the last defender.
Iβm now the supporter of league two's richest team as we have been taken over by middle eastern multi-millionaires. Whoo hoo! We'll soon be in our rightful place above the red scum.
Oh dear, my red friends have never let me forget it.
I always thought Kasper came in on a free transfer. I remember reading that he signed for a million, but over time I started to think that mightβve been a lie from Munto. Back then, clubs could probably get away with saying they paid a fee without much proof. @TheSkipper, if you ever feel like looking into it, I think itβd be a good read. I understand why you might want to steer clear of Munto stuff though, it has been covered a lot.
The Munto era was wild. It brought loads of attention to Notts and even helped bring some fans back. But over time, a few of those fans drifted away, either because of how the club spoke to supporters or because of the drop to the National League. I sometimes wonder what might have happened if the takeover never went ahead. In another universe, maybe Notts couldβve been the ones replacing Bournemouth or Brentford.
I always thought Kasper came in on a free transfer. I remember reading that he signed for a million, but over time I started to think that mightβve been a lie from Munto. Back then, clubs could probably get away with saying they paid a fee without much proof. @TheSkipper, if you ever feel like looking into it, I think itβd be a good read. I understand why you might want to steer clear of Munto stuff though, it has been covered a lot.
I pitched it earlier today; my editor is thinking it over. Even if he doesn't like it, I might persist in my personal time. It would be a lot easier to use my media credentials. At least from the investigative angle. I might reach out to Peter Trembling, but he may want to distance himself from it now. He clearly was the pawn behind it all and probably was clueless as to Russell King's lies.
It's interesting, as I remember reading about it on the official site and a different post other than the one headlined "Pre-season update βΉοΈ" of Nick Tsaroulla training. So, did I dream this, or has the club actually removed updates??? I can't say I am overly bothered, but it wouldn't be the first time the club has had a knee-jerk reaction to negative updates and the loss of a player, resulting in a media PR tidy up.
i dont care, it could be either but you just hope whatever it was it was not out of spite or pettiness. as professional clubs that is not the way to be acting and it would be disappointing from either perspective. if it was cancelled because the date no longer worked, i would hope it was something more like that but honestly it changes nothing. i am more interested about this mystery game we have behind closed doors. it makes me wonder if we actually do have a game.
club wants to be private, no time, no location. that is the real mystery!
As the old saying goes, whatever will be, will be. Itβs not a big deal in the grand scheme of things. Still, I find it odd that a club would want to keep a friendly game private. Itβs only a kickabout, not a top-secret mission. Who do they think they are, MI5 or the Met Police FC?
i hope he gets a chance to restart, i dont doubt that hes a good coach but professional football is hard and even harsher when you arrive at a club who cant maintain the togetherness that could have made the difference. i think had not more fans turned, he might have been given longer and i think that a lot after afc wimbledon beat us at their ground was vocal on the clubs socials it made it hard. he deserves another go, i hope he finds a national league team that he can rebuild and maybe earn promotion with. the main things is to learn about his management in games. the statement from him is nothing i would not expect from a level headed person.
Iβve always respected Stuart Maynard. Even when things were a bit iffy, I never doubted his dedication to Notts. It was good to hear his words again. He might feel a bit hard done by, and I wouldnβt blame him. But the way he focused on the positives shows real class. I wish him all the best in his management journey. I actually thought he mightβve gone back to Wealdstone.
Stuart Maynardβs farewell was well done. Itβs a good way to leave, especially at a club where some fans never gave him a real chance. I hope he gets another shot and proves himself in the EFL one day. What he did at Notts might not be seen as a failure by other teams, even with the big hopes we had.
Welcome to the Pride of Nottingham site and community forums, we are delighted to have you and I hope you enjoy being a member of PON. Would you care to tell us a little bit about yourself?
It's great to have you here @BridgyPie, all PON needs is more members contributing as and when they can, but really we are all about the Notts community. I do hope you continue to settle in and find the site enjoyable. Welcome to PON!
@BridgyPie, it great to see you joining in and having your say. I can't encourage you enough to continue, because you should find we can have sensible discussions and so many fantastic posts to read. Welcome to PON!
Your story could make a great piece on the gaffers fan features, he's done a few in the past and yours sounds like one which would be excellent to include.
Have we seen a landmark moment in Asian Club Football, when one of the top sides in the Saudi Arabian Pro League, Al Hilal, has beaten an English club, Manchester City in the last sixteen of the Club World Cup by 4 goals to 3 after extra time?
Lots of money has been thrown into the Pro League over the last few years & many of their Premier Division sides have been buying top quality players from around the World.
This result last night clearly shows that the Pro League is now to a very high standard & the league's top teams can compete with the best in Europe.
Will this development be good or bad for football. Could it lead to the eventual formation of a European Super league or even a World Super League at the expense of the English Premier League & the rest of the football pyramid?
None of these leagues last forever. If anything, they end up doing more harm than good to football. It feels like a fantasy league, with no real heart or passion behind it. Just big money and flashy names. Thereβs always some country that spends too much for a while, but it never really helps the game in the long run. The only good thing is that it pulls big names from the Premier League. That gives other players a chance to step up.
Itβs a bit embarrassing for Man City, but weβve seen before that theyβre not unbeatable. Teams managed it last season, so itβs not a complete shock. Itβs a big moment for the Saudi side, though I do wonder how much effort City really put in. Pre-season games can be a bit odd like that.
Itβs a shame that some fans canβt seem to understand this is what progress looks like for a successful club. When youβre moving forward, tough decisions have to be made. Until we reach the level of clubs higher up the ladder, weβre going to lose players in this way. Yet no one seems to mind when weβre signing players from teams on our level or below.
Alex Bass has moved on. Heβs left a thoughtful farewell message, and the club has made back more than what we paid to bring him in. Of course, itβs disappointing to lose someone of his ability. But once the initial emotion fades, you realise itβs just part of the game.
It was a good message from Alex Bass. Waiting a bit before sharing it was a smart move with how some fans have been feeling.
I really hope no oneβs giving him a hard time. This is a great move for him, and the truth is not every player will stay longer than a season, no matter how much we wish they would.
He left in the right way. Players come and go, itβs just how football works.
i am glad that alex bass put out the message, i know its a small thing and some fans will be salty but there is no need to be bitter. he deserved the move, even after just a single season and the cash could be reinvested in gaining us promotion. i wish him well at peterborough, it would be nice to see them gain promotion to the championshop and have him as their number one.
7 hours ago, Pies79 said:
Maybe we should have kept Tyler Miller? Or maybe he didn't really impress on thetraining field.
I hope some signings are coming soon, as the squad feels quite thin again and if we have injuries like last season we may be in trouble.
supposedly he would have signed if we gain promotion but he did not want to be stuck in league two. its quite the drop, but had we known alex bass was on the radar of peterborough united we might have been able to tempt him. then again, he might not have liked not getting the chance to start, with the game bass missed and sam slocombe started it might have made him wonder why he signed.
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What I tend to look for early on is who looks sharp, how fit the lads are, and how the new signings are settling in. That first in England, before the Germany trips, it will be a real eye-opener, and itβll mostly be about fitness. I just hope no one does anything daft in protest over Martin Patersonβs arrival. He deserves a fair chance and shouldnβt be judged too soon.
Some fans might want us to win by a lot or play really well, but itβs the first game since last season ended, so it might not look that good. Thatβs okay though. What really matters is making sure the players stay fit and get some time on the pitch before the League Two season starts.
I hope Alfreton play nicely and remember itβs just a friendly match. I donβt want to see anyone like Jodi getting kicked or hurt. It would be really bad if someone got injured this early, before the season even begins.
It's Matchday. Notts v Alfreton Town. CMON U PIES.