https://mobile.twitter.com/GillsInTheBlood/status/1102983688491552771

So earlier @DangerousSausage said something on his post that was very interesting about next season needing to be a reset year. I have to say I agree with him most definitely need to sort out the ownership situation and the players. Because  we have some players who we need to get rid of cause they are a waste on wages and not pulling there wight. A new realistic plan needs to be put in place for county but only a years plan at a time. So much that needs resting next season no matter what league we are in. 

As many of you will know I have somewhat split loyalties. Having moved to Germany 12 years ago, I acquired a second team (SV Waldhof Mannheim) - a former Bundesliga team that has fallen, Notts-style, on hard times.

After a decade in the Bundesliga in the 80s, they were relegated in 1990 and were relegated again and stripped of their licence by the German FA in 2003. They were thus relegated to the fourth level - the state-level Oberliga Baden-Württemberg - for the first ever time. This wasn't like League Two or even the Conference, this was village clubs playing in front of small three-figure crowds. And worse, Waldhof simply couldn't get out of it. Protests, boycotts and home crowds of 600 followed. The club looked finished.

After qualifying for the Regionalliga in 2008 (which was now also the fourth level thanks to a reorganisation), Waldhof again ran into financial problems and were again sent packing to the Oberliga (now the FIFTH level) in 2010. The club had to start from scratch - discussions were held about dissolving the first team and instead restarting at the sixth level, or giving up the 26,000-capacity Carl-Benz Stadion and moving back to their old and dilapidated Alsenweg ground. In the end they stayed put and a new manager had to put together a completely new squad on what was called a "micro budget". The goal was consolidation. Instead, the new team thrillingly chased down the leaders, overtook them in April and sealed promotion in front of a crowd of over 18,000 (a record for a fifth division match).

Today, after three failed attempts at promotion in the play-offs (there was no automatic promotion in the Regionalliga until this season), Waldhof sit eight points clear at the top of the Regionalliga after beating their nearest rivals Saarbrücken at home in front of a crowd of more than 14,000. I was there, it was belting and it inspired me. There is still a lot of football to be playing, but Waldhof are now in a fantastic position. If they finally gain promotion to the third division, the club will be resurgent and the city will be fully behind them. The sky is the limit.

So what can Notts learn from this? Even if relegation happens, there is a way back and the future can be brighter. Waldhof have plumbed depths they've never known before not once but twice in the last 15 years, but there's a way back. Just look at these pictures, think about where they've been and remind yourself that could be Notts in a year or two, whatever happens this season. The fight for our future doesn't end in May - it's only just starting. Let's make it a good one.

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Coventry City need to convince the EFL where they will be playing next season because they have been in a legal battle with rugby team The Wasps for years over playing at Ricoh Arena. They play be out of the league if they fail to do that.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/amp/football/47331084

I’ve got it on good authority that Neal Ardley isn’t interested in playing Notts county forward youngster Remaye Campbell. Despite him scoring in the reserves and under games and playing really well. But it seems that Harry Kewell wasn’t interested in him either the only person was Kevin Nolan. Apparently Kevin was a mentor to him and the youngsters but since his departure that mentor ship has since stopped. Now I know people may say it due to Kevin we are in this predicament and the new managers need to focus on survival but youth is the key for next season and if they are not getting the support or chance or mentor ship what can we do. 

So my question is Would you give Remaye Campbell a chance in the first team.? 

We're waiting confirmation but it looks like Chris has gall stones.We had a phone call from @cheeky~k8 this afternoon telling us Chris had gone to the docs with severe stomach pains.She dropped @Ellie_Pie10 and Ava off at our house and joined up with Chris at the docs.We also had to look out for @super_pie who had his phone turned off.Not long after we were told Chris had been sent to QMC. where he had several tests.Much later @cheeky~k8 rang to tell us Chris was being transferred to The City Hospital and that @Magic magpie had come to our aid and was on his way round to our house to take our grandkids home so they could  sleep in their own beds.So thank you very much Mark for your help.Updates will follow.

Scholfield 6 - kicking not the best, did make one good save from a deflected shot.
Tootle 6 - still not the Tootle of last season, but did ok.
Stubbs 7 - didn't do much wrong, looks a good player in the making.
Duffy 7* - I know Duffy has his critics, but his reading of the game makes him our best option in central defence.
Milson 7 - looked solid, he has made the left back position his own.
Enzio 5.5 - can't fault him for effort, but we struggled to get him involved in the game and he missed by far our best chance.
Rose 6 - did a decent job in stopping them build attacks.
Alles 4.5 - had the first touch of an elephant and still can't beat a man.
Vaughan 5 - I though passing was supposed to be his plus point? He struggled to do even the simple stuff.
Doyle 6 - always made himself available for a pass, but his set pieces were poor.
Hemmings 6.5 - did as much as could be expected as he was often left isolated up front.

Mackail-Smith 5 - I was hoping he would be brought on, but not his best day.
Patching 6.5 - some good moments in the short time he was on.

A dull game which neither side did enough to win. I suppose we are a point closer to Yeovil, but we have to be far more creative if we want to stay up. The most disappointing thing is that in the last 20 minutes we struggled to get out of our own half.

So tomorrow afternoon Notts welcome Morecambe to meadow lane after the 3-1 win on Tuesday night hopefully the lads can follow up on this. 

Who’s coming to meadow lane tomorrow to cheer the lads on. ?

Just for a laugh, I wondered if anyone could come up with some funny username suggestions that are Notts themed?

Post your best suggestions.

Schofield - 6 - I know he made the mistake, but under testing conditions he managed well, especially when compared to sir-flap-a-lot Collins, who was lucky not to gift Notts a couple of goals. 

Rose - 6 - A number of times his positional awareness was questionable, and he got away with it a couple of times, either through his own skill or falling over. 

Stubbs - 8 - Solid as a rock. Deffo the best loan signing we've made,
Duffy - 8 - Solid, experienced, managed the defence. Well done.

Milsom - 5.5 - Was being skinned a number of times when Thomas came on, and luckily Thomas is **** and doesn't have a right boot that when Milsom stood about 30 yards away from him in the box, he could only slice a poor attempt on goal with his left peg. 

Alessandra - 6 - Tried and almost got on the end of a couple. Twisted into trouble more than once.

O'Brien - 7.5 - Played well.
Doyle - 8 - Back to his best.
Vaughan - 7.5 - Used the ball well and even contributed defensively. Well played. 

Enzio - 5 - Not really involved, lost the ball a few times but stuck to the task. 

Hemmings - 9 - Brilliant hold up play and linking with the midfield. Deserved his 2 goals, penalty was excellent.


Bird - 6 - Came on, headed it, kicked it. Exactly what was needed. 
Ardley - 8 - Tactics spot on and team selection good (albeit somewhat forced through illness/injury)

 

Game 38 - The Shrimps (H)

Team: Morecambe

Date: 16/03/19

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.

anyone seen it? its a good drama show about a children’s entertainment. its on sky atlantic.

So how will the pride of Nottingham community be spending there Sunday.?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47570578 

7th shortest reign in English football behind: Leroy Rosenior (10 mins), Dave Bassett (4 days), Kevin Cullis (7 days), Martin Ling (9 days), Nicky Adams (13 days), Paul Hart (28 days)

who would you say is the best signing from january?

i think all of the seasons have been decent, they have helped the issue mostly is the bad form of the pre existing players but who for you stands out the most. let us know why too!

So with the 3-1 win over Carlisle Notts are off the bottom of the league 2. If we can win at home on Saturday against morecombe it could be permanent. I know it’s not much and could be short term and not out the relegation zone but surely it gives us hope. With a bit of a morale booster which guys we all deserve a bit of.   

Nott have finally got three points in the league as we have beaten Carlisle. Hemings gets two goal giving him 12 goals of the season one being a penalty his second time in two game. A error from schofeild gave Carlisle hope but Colin’s came up for a free in injury time  county clear the ball and Alexandra runs it through midfield in to an empty net and makes it 3-1 .. job done and  Carlisle are the first team Notts have beaten both home and away

Tuesday night:
Blackburn Rovers v Wigan Athletic
Sheffield United v Brentford
Barnsley v Sunderland
Walsall v Portsmouth
Macclesfield Town v Exeter City
Port Vale v Yeovil Town

Mine:
Blackburn Rovers 2-1 Wigan Athletic 
Sheffield United 2-1 Brentford
Barnsley 1-1 Sunderland (joker)
Walsall 0-1 Portsmouth
Macclesfield Town 1-2 Exeter City
Port Vale 1-0 Yeovil

Game 37 - Cumbrians (A)

Team: Carlisle United

Date: 12/03/19

Where: Brunton Park

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.

When Newport completed the great escape and stayed up in 2016-17:

At this stage they had, PLD 35, W6, D11, L18 and had 29 points. The same record and number of points we have at the moment after 35 games

They were also on their 3rd manager of the season and had rebuilt the squad heavily in January like us

Birmingham at this stage last season (2017-18)

PLD 35, W8, D6, L21. They had spent heavily in the summer (like us) and it failed. The squad's fitness had been an issue all season (like ours). 

They were also onto their 3rd manager, they had struggled to score goals and their goal difference was in the -30's (like ours). 

Both managed to stay up

Newport's run in their last 11 games: WLDLWWWLWLW - Newport finished on 48 points. 19 points from last 11 games. 

Birmingham's run in their last 11 games: LLWWWDLLWLW - Birmingham finished on 46 points. 16 points from last 11 games

This season is gone and we are relegated. I'm not gonna even bother going into the off-field issues.

The problem is, the no-hopers that we have contracted (and there are a ton of them) are going to be with us next season. We will be in the national league, with 2 squads on L1 wages that can't perform to National League standards. It will be another 1-2 years before we can offload these leeches, and who knows if we have any money left by that point to be able to build a squad worthy of this club.

Apologies for the depressing outlook, just can't see it any other way.