Game 2 - The Hatters (H)

Team: Stockport County

Date: 06/08/19

Where: Meadow Lane

What line-up should Neal Ardley opt for? What will be the key areas for the Magpies to get a victory? What do you think the final score will be?

Have your say below, join in with the Pride of Nottingham match discussion.

i have read a lot of comments about the lack of shots on target and concerns about creativity, its only the first game and i do think its safe to say the players need time to get used to each other. i obviously was not at the game but i have seen the highlights and other clips, i think notts just lacked confidence. i would pin it down to opening day nervous and perhaps neal ardley underestimating eastleigh with the formation/tactics.

it happens, we just need to be more confident in the next two home games coming up.

i honestly feel that things will improve, once confidence hits the squad, i feel goals will come but we need to be smarter when playing teams who are quick to suss us out.

Notts have made their 4th and 5th signings of the summer Trialists Dion Kelly-Evans and Damien McCory. 

Welcome to meadow lane lads. 

Whats everyones thoughts.?

What’s everyone’s score prediction for tomorrow’s nights game as we face Stockport at meadow lane.?

Good evening folks. The new season is almost upon us, so it's time for the prediction league again. If you've seen the other thread you'll know that @weymouthPIE has passed on the baton this year. I promise to do my best and not to fiddle the scores (unless I'm losing).

As you may be aware Notts have discovered a new division below League Two called the Vanarama National League. As a Notts forum it'd be a bit strange not to include the league we're playing in in the prediction league so there has been a minor change in format:

At least two days before every matchday I will post a thread with eight matches to predict, two each from the Championship, League One, League Two and the Conference. You then reply with your predicted scores. The cut-off time for posting is kick-off. At the end of it all I'll then post a table with the current standings.

Scoring system: 3 points for a correct score and 1 for a correct result. So if you predict Oldham to beat Bradford 2-1 and they do, you get 3 points; if Oldham win 1-0, you get 1 point. Each round you can also choose one match as your joker - any points you win for that match are then doubled.

So let's get started - I hope to see lots of you taking part!

Blackburn v Charlton

Swansea v Hull

Blackpool v Bristol Rovers

Wycombe v Bolton

Salford v Stevenage

Northampton v Walsall

Chesterfield v Dover

Torquay v Boreham Wood

So This Tuesday night Notts welcome Stockport to meadow lane In our first home match of the season who’s going to cheers on the lads and welcome Chris and Alex to meadow lane. 

Neal Ardley Is looking to add at least 3’more players in the coming weeks as he has his targets already in mind.

whats everyone’s thoughts on this and  who do you think would a good signing for us.

https://www.nottinghampost.com/sport/football/transfer-news/notts-county-transfer-update-neal-3171509

Slocombe 6 - Thought he was comfortable in goal and gives me a lot more confidence than some of our past keepers. 

Kelly-Evans 5 - Tried and worked hard to get back as well as burst forward. Put a good tackle on Michael Green to win the ball back in the first half

Oxlade-Chamberlain 2 - Two wayward passes almost cost us. He isn't a right-back and probably isn't a centre-back. What is his best position?

McCrory 6 - Battled well against Tyrone Barnett and won his fair share of headers. Was the player who usually got us rolling, playing out from the back. No idea if the red card is deserved or harsh

Bird 5 - Improved in the second half after a dodgy first. Can play the high line that you need to play if you have 3 centre-backs

Bakayogo 6 - Notts' biggest outlet for about 15 minutes, bursting down the left, leaving Joe Partington behind. His influence negated after the switch to a 4-3-3

Doyle 2 - Starting to wonder what he brings to Notts' midfield. Red card was stupid. Slows play down. Shouldn't have started

Rose 5 - Was quiet on occasions. Chipped in to win the ball back as well.

O'Brien 5 - His service to Tyson and Enzio wasn't that great and sometimes he dropped too deep. Darted about the pitch like he usually does trying to influence but I think he would be suited to playing alongside Rose whilst either Kellett or Patching take the No.10 role

Boldewijn 2 - Hid from the ball. Definitely a confidence player

Tyson 5 - Wasn't much great service to him but he battled

Subs

Hemmings 3 - Think the reason he didn't start was due to an slight injury picked up in pre-season. Hopefully he recovers because he could be a key player for us this season. 

Turner 4 - When he came on, he was constantly talking with his defence which was good to see. Gives us an aerial threat from set-pieces

Tootle 3 - Had a chance to put the ball across the box late on but instead decided to go back. 

I'd love to pass comment on the goal and some of the chances we had on Saturday, but unfortunately there seems to be no way to see them. Extended highlights and even full match replays were supposed to be part of the PiesPlayer package, yet there is no match footage of any kind on there yet, only the interviews with Neal Ardley that were on Facebook anyway.

On top of that, the National League YouTube channel (which posted highlights of every match last season) is still untouched and the highlights programme only starts next Wednesday, and is on BT Sport only.

Does anyone know if there's another way to see the highlights of the match?

Edit: just found this:

The National League stipulate that clubs cannot publish any match footage on their own digital channels until Monday following a Saturday match, or 10pm the following day for non-Saturday matches. By comparison, the EFL permit clubs to publish match footage at 12pm the day after a match. The club apologise for any frustration this may cause.

So there is no footage because the Bananarama League wants to keep it exclusive to the BT Sports highlights programme, which doesn't even exist yet... 

Game 1 - The Spitfires (A)

Team: EastLeigh

Date: 03/08/19

Where: Ten Acres

What line-up should Neal Ardley opt for? What will be the key areas for the Magpies to get a victory? What do you think the final score will be?

Have your say below, join in with the Pride of Nottingham match discussion.

Trial-list Nathan Tyson has joined the magpies after a successful trial period and becomes the 6th summer signing. 

So I thought as the national league is still new to us and some of the teams and grounds  are not like ours I thought it might be nice to see the away grounds we will be playing at this season. First up is silver lake stadium the home tomorrows Opposition Eastleigh.   

Eastleigh Football Club have played at the Silverlake Stadium since 1957. Previously known as the Sparshatts Stadium, it has a capacity of 5,192.(3,210 seats)

Afternoon all, hope everyone had a good summer. 

I must apologize for being rather late with this, been a busy summer. 

Unfortunately I must inform everyone that I am going to be unable to commit to running the prediction league this season. I have run it for 6 seasons since we started it but nowadays I'm working full time, groundhopping and travelling a lot, it's difficult for me to find time and even remember to add up all the scores, update and post the league table. Granted its not a massive job but takes a good half hour each time at least. 

So its time to pass this over, that's if the interest in having this is still there. 

Thanks to all who have taken part over the years and I will gladly take part this year, and if any would be "runner" requires any help then so please feel free to chat to me! 

James

GK - Slocombe, Fitzsimons, Culverwell

RB - Tootle, Kelly-Evans 

CB - Turner, Bird, Oxlade-Chamberlain 

LB - Bakayogo, McCrory

CM - Rose, O'Brien, Doyle, Crawford, Howes

W - Boldewijn, Osborne

CAM - Kellett, Patching

ST - Hemmings, Tyson, Dennis, Campbell

Still think we need more depth at centre-back, a target man striker, a tall centre mid and maybe a winger 

The signings keep coming Jim O’Brien is once again a magpie ..!! That’s number 7 In 24 hours.

what’s everyone’s thoughts.?

Notts make third summer signing in goalkeeper Sam Slocambe.

whats everyone’s thought.?

So Notts County start there new season campaign on Saturday away at Eastleigh who’s going.? 

So Notts county have released a 11 second video entitled first medical complete.  But is it Dion Kelly-Evans

So the women’s World Cup hosted by France is almost apon us the tournament starts on the 7th June as host France face South Korea at 8pm in the opening game. 

The lioness start their tournament in group D on Sunday 9th June against Scotland kick off 8pm. 

Then they face Argentina on Sunday 14th June finally rounding off there group again Japan on the 19th June. 

I have sourced three prizes for the prediction league, which I have listed below. The first three members to finish top will get a chance to claim the artwork of their preference.

If two finish in first place like last time, I'll simply do an old fashioned coin toss to see who chooses first.

This is the first time that PON has given a prize for this competition and I hope you all enjoy taking part, good luck folks!

Prize 1 - Our Pride, Our Passion print - This is a poem written by myself and bespoke into a wonderful unique print.

Prize 2 - Kindly donated by the very talented Luke Williamson.

Site - https://www.lukewilliamsonart.com/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/LtWilliamsonArt

Prize 3 - This has been donated by our friend Matthew Wood Designs

Site - https://www.matthewjiwood.com/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/matthewjiwood

Pride of Nottingham would like to wish all both Luke and Matthew all the very best with their amazing artwork! Thanks for the support guys.

According to bbc Alan Hardy has confirmed this afternoon that the sale of the club to the Danish consortium  is finalised and completed.

So it’s finally done the two Alan’s are heading out of meadow lane and we have our club back. 

 How dose everyone feel .. time to crack open the beers.

As a bit of relief from all the doom and gloom, I thought I'd murder your eardrums instead.

Here's a song about Lukas Podolski.

And here's Gazza. Top that.

From the official Notts County website:

Notts County owner and chairman Alan Hardy has provided a further update on his attempts to find a buyer for the club.

I am very pleased to say that, following hugely constructive talks today and over the weekend, I am extremely confident that a sale will be completed ahead of our upcoming court hearing on 10 July.

Conversations with a group who I am certain have Notts’ footballing fortunes at heart are now at an advanced stage and I am sure supporters will be delighted to hear their plans for the club.

Apologies, once again, that I am unable to reveal any identities. At the request of all parties, this remains private business until formalities are completed. I can, however, confirm that we have ceased talks with the group associated with Alex May.

Should our talks progress further as planned, I will be liaising with the prospective new owners to rectify the current situation regarding player and staff salaries at the earliest opportunity. I deeply regret being unable to fulfil this obligation to my employees and hope - and expect - there will be a speedy resolution.

I am also aware that a great deal of cynicism is likely to come my way in response to this update, which I can understand following an immensely frustrating and disappointing chapter in the club’s history.

However, I felt it was only right to bring supporters up to speed following the significant developments of the last few days.

Alan