Here We Go. A Nice Simple Question  for all you Magpie Fans.

Would You Like To See Notts County F.C. In the Premier League?

His 2023-24 stats

PLD 43

Accurate passes - 1,019/1,474 (69.1%)

Accurate long balls - 98 

Tackles won - 47 

Clearances - 196

Headed clearances - 104

Recoveries - 189 

Ground duels won - 94/155 (60.7%)

Aerial duels won - 132/236 (55.9%)

Right then, here we go. The most important position in Notts' summer recruitment. Baldwin and Brindley have been released and Rawlinson has been transfer listed. That leaves us with Cameron and Macari. One left footer and one right footer. 

In my opinion we need 3 right footers and 2 left footers. The recruitment has to be spot on in this position. They need to be able to defend their box, but also be comfortable to play our style. They have to have the required strength, height and athleticism. We also require more leaders. With that in mind, here is the list.

Notts have been rumoured with Riley Harbottle and it would make sense as he has played under Stuart Maynard at Wealdstone. For me, Will Wright is perfect for us. He can play anywhere across the back 3, he has the height and the ability to play out from the back. He has been a regular for Crawley this season and whilst he has an option for a further year in Sussex, he could be tempted to a move to a team with a higher ceiling. Lucas Ness has some impressive stats, despite not playing a large amount of games at Charlton. He isn't first choice there either, so it would be a decent signing. Tom Bradbury has the height (6'3), the leadership and pace (shown by his goal-line clearance against Burton). Definitely good competition for Cameron. 

I've said that Notts need to look into Ireland and whilst we looked at Conor Keeley, a move never materialised. His CB partner at St Pats, Joe Redmond, would be a great signing. Once again, he's comfortable with the ball at his feet and playing out from the back (76.3% accurate passes) and is good in the air as well, with 67.8% of his aerial duels won. He would bring leadership as well, being St Pats' captain and a former captain of Birmingham's youth team. With St Pats only sitting in 6th place, it would be a good time to move. Nando Pijnaker is a colossus in the air and whilst not blessed with pace, he can play a pass. Sligo are 8th in Ireland and it could be a shrewd bit of business to sign the New Zealand international.

Cameron McJannet and Gavin Molloy are two more left footed centre-backs from Derry and Shelbourne respectively. Molloy maybe difficult to prize away, as Shelbourne currently sit top of the league and he is ever present in Damien Duff's side. McJannet is formerly of Stoke City and has been ever present for Derry in the last few seasons, which has seen The Candystripes be Shamrock's closest challengers. Ruadhiri Higgins is someone who the Reedtz bros wanted as head coach, after Ian Burchnall left, meaning his Derry side will have played a similar possesion based game to Notts. McJannet has been a part of that and despite only being 5'11, can win his fair share of headers too.

I will add Farrend Rawson's stats, according to my metrics, in the replies.

So, played 19, won 5, drew 3, lost 11, gf29, ga34. Not great. It's fair to say we've all got our opinion of Stuart's first few months at the Lane, some more warm and some cold. 

By all means, the results haven't been good enough and neither have quite a few of the performances. However, there is a few things to take encouragement, especially our form from MK onwards and bits said at the fans forum. Overall though, things must pick up if we are to challenge for automatic promotion. Scott Lindsey's record after the season he kept Crawley up was: won 6, drew 6, lost 10, gf22, ga32. Then look at them after he had a summer to recruit and look where they are now. 

To be honest, I've spent the whole month of May evaluating whether Maynard can take us forward. I needed to just forget about the comments on social media in the last few months and pick it apart myself.

He walked into a difficult phase. He took over from a beloved figure at the club, who gave us the season of a lifetime. However, the team had been conceding goals for fun for many months. Sutton (5), Colchester (5), Mansfield (4), Wimbledon (4), Harrogate (3), Tranmere (4), Grimsby (5). Even the games we didn't concede 3 or more in were still silly. 

Donny away. O'Brien, not clearing it in added time, leads to us losing our clean sheet. The 2nd goal against Wrexham (H), both goals against Bradford (H), both goals against Walsall (H). Simple things in the build up or at crucial moments. Even the FGR home game when we won to go top, we were poor, showing the owners were correct at the fans forum about us not performing at a good enough level to challenge for promotion, over the whole season. 

The biggest concern for me, when he was appointed, was the step up. You're coming from a side who were punching above their weight and finishing mid table and flirting with the play-offs on occasions, to a side wanting to challenge for promotion in League 2. It's a big leap. 

In his time at Wealdstone, he helped develop players and improve their game. This includes: George Wickens, Sam Howes, Jed Ward, Harry Isted, Riley Harbottle, Charlie Barker, Miguel Freckleton, Deji Elerewe, Jacob Mendy, Aaron Henry, Ashley Charles, Rhys Browne, Sean Adarkwa, Tahvon Campbell and Josh Umerah. You don't improve players' ability if you're not a good coach. Harbottle is now in the SPL, Howes in League 1, Ward is Bristol Rovers' number 1, Mendy and Isted are both in league 1. Rhys Browne got a move to Woking off of the back of his impressive form.

The signing of Matty Platt offers real encouragement to me. The fact we can take an out of contract player and convince him we are a better place to play football than Bradford shows we have the pull and that Stuart can attract them players, despite only previously managing in non league.

The fact he's not just coached that Wealdstone team to play and finish above where people expect them, but also getting the best out of them whilst being semi-pro and having limited time in training and in video analysis sessions, shows there must be a good motivator in there. A good man manager. This was also mentioned in Tom Williams' interview with Matty Saunders. 

Don't get me wrong, he's got and said things wrong as you'd expect. His subs haven't been great in some games (not helped by poor squad depth due to recruitment) and his post or pre match comments haven't been what I've been seeing on the pitch. I'd just like to see him go into depth a bit more and say when things are poor. I know he wants to protect the players but when we haven't played well (Crewe, Salford, FGR, Gillingham) then say it how it is. 

However, he's right about us not being countered on as much, how we need more structure, how the problems were here before he came in and that we haven't got the required height or physicality to compete.

There is a good head coach in there and I just hope he can succeed. Whether some of us feel good going into next season with him in charge or not, we all want him to succeed because that's what we want for Notts.

Just reading on the Notts Website Macca as been given the Captain's armband for the up coming season. So raises a couple of questions,

1) Does this mean the Board are confident there will be NO Offers from other Clubs, that will cause Macca to leave the Lane?

2) Why?

Firstly I can not believe that no other Club higher in the Football Pyramid would not come in for Macca and surely it would be better to wait until the Transfer window is closed? Before appointing a New Skipper. Or is it that Notts have put on price on him, that has put off other Clubs bidding for him?

Secondly while I have the utter most Respect for Macca, his job is scoring goals. That should be the Be All and End All. He doesn't need the extra pressure of encouraging the Team on the Pitch and as a Forward (unlike a defender) Can Not  see the way  how the Game plan is working, when his only sight should be on the oppositions goal in front of him. A Captain needs to see all his team Mates and be able judge how the Match is progressing, and adapt things accordingly. He needs to be able to shout and make his orders clear and help any new players positionally. A Striker can't do that and be expected to score goals. Or is Stuart Maynard going to change Macca's position? I really Don't Understand the Appointment.  Is this another Stuart Maynard idea? If so it seems Doomed to failure. Matt Palmer as Vice Captain is in a better position to take on the roll of  Leadership. Just leave Macca to do what he Does Best, SCORE GOALS.

This is great news & Matt Palmer has been appointed Vice Captain.

https://www.britishlegion.org.uk/get-involved/remembrance/remembrance-events/d-day

80 years ago today the greatest invasion in history took place as the free world fought back against the Nazis in world war two, I've been watching a lot of the programmes that have been shown on tv in the lead up to today and am amazed at not only the amount of planning involved but the incredible courage of all those involved. So many thousands of lives lost too. I find it hard to believe this all took place less than two years before I was born. Lest we forget

Here's an Idea. Get rid of the Premiership, by that I mean leave the Prem to it's own devices. The EFL need to break away from the FA and control the Championship League 2 and rebrand the National League League 3. Yes I know it isn't that simple but I'm sure Fans on this site and other sites and Football Fans in General could come up with a Blue Print that could work and engage with Fans and let them have a stronger say in the running of their club.

My thoughts 1 A maximum Cap on Transfer fees. No player to be sold for more than £10 million. 2 Players wages set at a maximum figure of no more than £15,000 a week. 3 Do away with the Transfer window Transfer deals allowed during all the season. 4 Have their own Cup Competitions. 5 All pitches to be brought up to a certain standard. 6 Clubs in the National League be given a chance to play in the EFL League 3 if  they so wish. 7 New owners must meet Strick Regulations before being allowed to purchase a Club. They must guarantee they are able to finance a Club for at least 5 years. 8 A Fund to be organized that all Clubs pay (once) an equal amount into  to combat things such as another Pandemic.  9 Play offs to be discontinued. Each League top 3 up bottom 3 down. It's unfair a team in 6th place can get promoted over a team in 3rd place who may have 10, 15 or more points over the club in 6th place. 10 Clubs should be encouraged to bring through it's own talent and have a minimum of 3 players from their Academy in their Senior Squad.

Those are my ten ideas and yes I know a more accomplished Football Fan could probably pick holes in it, but these are just my thoughts and ideas and I think letting the Premiership go it's own way, will be much better for the English Game in General, and Fans in particular. Now my fellow Magpie Fans it's your turn, lets have your ideas, and if you don't agree with a fellow fan's idea, remember it's their opinion and their entitled to it.  

I'd like to highlight the benefits of following certain sections of the Pride of Nottingham website.

This is a simple way to stay updated on content that interests you, while also keeping track of your favourite parts and members of our site. It requires a bit of time, but it's definitely worth it, and I'd appreciate it if members could spare a moment to do this.

Our community is expanding every month, and everyone has their own preferred method. However, this underused feature makes it easier to stay engaged. You can even opt to receive grouped email notifications instead of individual ones.

Please take a moment to read the below post, as I will list some important areas.

In your opinion who is the Greatest Player of all time and why? Here's a Dozen Names to start with :-

Pele    Diego Maradona    Lionel Messi    Christian Ronaldo

Johan Cryuff    George Best    Ferenc Puskas    Franz Beckenbauer

Gerd Muller    Robert Lewandowski    Bobby Moore    Roberto Baggio

Most players above are there for their scoring power, and other attacking skills. However other are named 

for their Leadership Qualities and an Inspiration to their Team Mates.

Feel free to add players to the List and why they should be on it.

Average losses at EFL 1 are incredible

Sad to read the news that William Anders was killed in a small plane crash yesterday. He was 90 years old.

Anders, the Lunar module pilot,  was one of the 3 Astronauts of Apollo 8, the other two being , Mission Commander Frank Borman & Command Module Pilot James Lovell, who were the first Astronauts to travel away from the Earth, orbit the Moon, see the far side of the moon,  then come back safely to Earth.

I can remember as a boy, watching the extended coverage of the journey on the BBC and being rivetted to the small telly we had over the Xmas of 1968.

On Christmas Eve  William Anders turned his camera toward Earth and captured the legendary Earthrise photo which has become iconic.

Those three Astronauts paved the way for the following missions that landed on the moon.

In a way, those three gentlemen were like the pioneers of old, such as Cook & Raleigh.

The Nottingham Evening Post had a big pullout about the mission, and I kept it for years. It was a very special time and I can remember Patrick Moore, of the Sky at Night programme describing every stage of the mission.

Here is a link about the Apollo 8 mission.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_8

Tonight, Spurs play Manchester City in a game that has much at stake. Manchester City will go top heading into the final game of the season if they win but if Spurs win not only do they give themselves a chance at Champions League football but they would also put their North London rivals, Arsenal, in the drivers seat for the Premier League title. 

There's been a lot spoken about whether or not Spurs could help out their rivals and whether their fans would want that to happen. 

What do you guys think to this situation? Would you still want your team to get the win even if it meant helping your nearest rivals?

Personally, I agree with Ange's take on this situation. I wouldn't want my team to lose even if it benefited a rival team. I'm not sure why anyone would happily sit back and want their team to lose. Plus, Villa dropped 2 points last night so Spurs have a little chance. Had Villa won last night it would have been a different situation and they wouldn't have CL football to play for but even still surely you'd still want your team to get a win.

Always keep an eye out on him. Got Sutton promoted, when on loan from Millwall. Outstanding talent

With the Advance on a almost daily Basis, could there ever be a Time when Football Clubs are Managed or Coached by

Artificial Intelligence?

I’ve just been watching Pointless from a few days ago and one of the contestants called Nev is a Notts County fan his partner in the quiz is a Forest fan.

It’d be great if Nev was a PoN member.

For Notts's 4th Match of the 20/20 season they make a visit to Derby tonight to play Derbyshire Falcons, 7 pm start.

Have you seen the England Squad, that Southgate's named for the Euro's?

What Do You Think?