click above to read the thread

i have noticed some fans speculating that this could be ross fitzsimons, matt tootle and some of the younger players.

i am curious to see who thinks it could be.

https://www.nottinghampost.com/sport/football/football-news/notts-county-boss-neal-ardley-3241957

Neal Ardley reveals Notts County player turned down loan exit.

Magpies chief still trying to free-up money to invest in the squad.

Neal Ardley has revealed how one of his Notts County players has refused a loan move away from Meadow Lane.

The Magpies boss had been hoping for outgoings in order to free up some money that would allow him to move in the transfer market to improve his squad with a target man and a winger.

After the Reedtz brothers saved us from possible extinction only a few weeks ago, there was an outpouring of gratitude. We were so thankful to be starting the season at all, with no dodgy property developers, no Smurthwaite and no points docked. Notts fans everywhere pledged to be patient as the culture of chopping and changing had gone on too long.

Now it was obvious we wouldn't settle for just existing for very long, especially if (as expected) our results didn't turn out too great. It's inevitable that when we start losing against teams we always considered beneath us frustration would take hold. But three matches? Really? At Eastleigh we fielded a team of strangers, against Stockport we had two centre halves who were signed the day before. Wins at that stage would have been little short of miraculous, regardless of what the opposition is called. I think many thought we would just start winning automatically, but in reality it will take us weeks to work out what our best team is, a process other clubs go through during pre-season.

That's not to say we should just accept anything though. We will need to see some evidence that the individuals in black and white are becoming a team and of course we simply cannot afford to get into the habit of losing again. At some point we'll be able to judge the work Neal Ardley has been doing and whether his team are good enough. It's my hope that he can stabilise us and we can use this squad as a foundation to build on in the future. Whether that'll happen I don't know yet.

Thoughts welcome below!

I wonder just how many of the signings are down to Football Radar.

I think the recruitment this season has been excellent, you can see the players settling in and what they bring to the team. Last season things looked good only on paper, most massively let us down as they failed to play well as a team.

https://www.nottscountyfc.co.uk/news/2019/august/booty-signs-120819/ 

https://www.nottscountyfc.co.uk/news/2019/august/thomas-signs-100819/ 

I think Neal Ardley is risking upsetting the balance.

Does anyone else think the setbacks might be caused due to his refusal to use what we have at the club already?

I think we could all see that a winger would be useful to sign, however, Ardley doesn't seem to play them and Matt Tootle is more than good enough to start at right back. So, why does Notts need another? It's obvious that he won't be staying at Notts but I do think enough is enough now.

With only Enzio Boldewijn and Sam Osborne who play there, do you think we need to bring in another wide player?

I know Regan Booty and Jim O'Brien have alternated on the wing in recent games but none of them are natural wingers and at Yeovil on Saturday, both never really got down the channels often (obviously because none of them really want to be playing there).

With only 2 actual wingers in the squad do you think we need to bring one in?

Slocombe 6 - Not much wrong with his performance. Not much to do 

Kelly-Evans 8 - Got down the right very well and despite Sutton targeting him for his lack of heights, it didn't phase him and put in a fighting performance 

Rawlinson 6 - Solid. Dealt with Sutton's forward threats well. 

Turner 7 - Commanding as normal from the human fridge freezer. Good confidence on the ball when he brings it out of defence.

McCrory 6 - Shaky first half but settled down afterwards. Supported the left wing in the second half as Notts grew into the game more

Doyle 6 - Recycles possession as he does and put in a good shift. Controls the play

Rose 6 - Poor first half in which he couldn't pass a science test never mind a football. Better in the second half like most of Notts' players

Booty 6 - Shouldve scored in the first half with the goal at his mercy. Always looks for the forward ball which is good to see

Boldewijn 5 - Drifts in and out of games despite showing what he's capable of on occasions 

Wootton 7 - Dominated their centre half and held the ball well. Won most flick ons and scored a beauty. A good days for work Kyle

Dennis 6 - His usual bag of hard work but how he hasn't scored from close range is beyond me

Subs

Thomas 6 - Came on and worked hard. Linked the play alright and was lively

Shields 5 - Had a short few moments on the ball when he came on and looked lively. Don't remember him receiving the ball afterwards

Graham N/A - Came on and covered for Rawlinson late on in the game

The rumour mill suggests that Matt Tootle is out of favour by manager Neal Ardley.

It looks like he his destined for the exit door with the signing of Dion Kelly-Evans and the formation preferred by Ardley. I am alone in thinking this would be a real shame?

https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/notts-county-alan-hardy-former-owner-why-club-failed-i-got-seduced-industry-and-chased-success

I felt some doubt behind his signing, I think it's only natural after Notts has this habit of panic buying. However, yesterday was the first game I've seen him play for us and on the back of things I've heard or been told at Harrogate, for a player who's only 21-years-old, he reminded me a lot of what qualities Alan Judge brought to the club all those years ago when we played in League One.

I'm not suggesting that they're the same, both are different players in their own right, but you could see Booty was keen to stamp his ability on the game and came close to scoring with some long distance efforts.

His footwork, ability and drive to get forward was very pleasing to see.

In the second half, he even had two spells where he took on 4-5 players and totally out-skilled them in order to create a good chance. I actually compared him to Donga He. ????????

If he continues, I firmly believe he will become a fan favourite and a player unlike Michael Doyle that we can actually build a team around.

What do you think? Are you impressed with him?

http://priceoffootball.com/football-finances-serpents-kiss/

Game 9 - The Moors (H)

Team: Solihull Moors

Date: 03/09/19

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.

So the new shirts are now out and on general sale which is your favourite  and which  do you think you will buy. And will you get it personalised with a number name and the arm badges and a sponsor. 

Slocombe 3 - Two mistakes gifted Yeovil two goals and put gloss on a scoreline which it didn't deserve

Kelly-Evans 7 - Constantly got down the right and put some decent crosses in. Should've scored

Graham 6 - Distribution is ok

Turner 5 - Commanding when needed but gifts Wilkinson the 2nd on a green and white plate

McCrory 6 - Like DKE, got down the wing and helped the attack. 

Doyle 6 - Helped start attacks for Notts. Constantly recycles the ball.

O'Brien 4 - May as well have spent the afternoon shopping 

Booty 5 - Quiet

Boldewijn 5 - Misplaced passes and spent too long on the ball when another option was on. Showed flashes of good play 

Dennis 6 - Worked hard and made runs in behind giving an option to the midfield. Should have scored when he went round the keeper

Thomas 6 - Like Dennis, his movement was good and his hold up play is fine but hitting the bar from 5 yards out is embarrassing 

Subs

Wootton 4 - Control is fine. No real impact but not much time to make it

Rawlinson N/A - Came on for Graham. Just came on to fill the void left at centre-back.

Game 8 - The Glovers (A)

Team: Yeovil Town

Date: 31/08/19

Where: Huish 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.

Time to get your crystal balls out again - the next round of fixtures kicks off on Saturday at 3pm, so feel free to post your predictions (even if you're new) and don't forget your jokers...

Millwall v Hull

Sheffield Wednesday v QPR

Rotherham v Tranmere

Peterborough v Sunderland

Port Vale v Cambridge

Scunthorpe v Carlisle

Ebbsfleet v Aldershot

Torquay v Hartlepool

Midnight is the EFL's deadline for Bury and things look extremely bleak for them. The EFL have stated that their ownership situation hasn't changed and that no takeover appears to be advanced. Their idiot chairman has insisted that he has the money to fund them yet also begged for 2.7 million on the radio. The EFL have suspended five matches and understandably have to act soon. It looks very bleak and my heart goes out to them.

In 2006 we nearly went out of the league, it famously went down to the last day. Our opposition on the final day happened to be Bury, who also had a (remote) chance of going down and needed a draw to be sure of survival. Kasper Schmeichel played for them on that day. The draw ultimately saw us both stay up, and at the end of the match the jubilant away fans were serenaded with a chant of "we're staying up with the Bury".

Fingers crossed something comes up for them and they can put this nightmare behind them.

Notts have mutually terminated the contract of midfielder Andy Kellett.

A bit of a wasted signing for Notts, last season he looked good when given short spells and his creativity/direct approach could have been made useful. This is a lot more disappointing than the departure of Will Patching but it does make a lot of sense.

I feel like Notts would be more relaxed if the players could build on taking the lead, defensively we are much better than last season and low blow such as the Stockport County/Wrexham levellers will happen.

Going 1-0 seems to invite the opposition teams to attack.

If Notts could just be a bit more clinical on goal, as creatively we do look better and looked very lively against Wrexham. I just can't see us losing a 2-0 goal lead, confidence would lift I feel.

The squads been assembled quite well IMO, there's only a real need for a tall striker that can be a target man.

What does everyone else think?

I think it was a mistake to allow the likes of Mike Edwards, Alan Smith and Shola Ameobi to leave Notts last season. Something most fans would agree with I think, Ameobi wasn't replaced and the club lacked some with the ability to take the rough and tough. Edwards and Smith formed a culture club, they was good people to have behind the scenes. However, I am inclined to believe allowing Jon Stead to leave ahead of the National League campaign will allow the club to re-identify itself. The signings of Kane Hemmings and Kristian Dennis wasn't give the proper chance to settle, early spells they did look quite good but fitness impacted that from establishing further in my opinion. Stead due to his hard-working approach became the player we relied upon too much, allowing him to leave should give a fresh change up top.

Provided that the club injects pace which was majorly lacking last season I do feel the change will benefit the club.

You can't rely on someone at that age to play week in and week out without seeing them become inconsistent. He did well don't get me wrong, but every manager fell back to selecting him instead of getting more out of others.

What's your thoughts? Will Notts miss Jon Stead next season?

i was just thinking about this seasons recruitment compared to the players we have released, some of the out of contracted players like lewis allesandra are doing well and are scoring for the new clubs. will patching and andy kellett never earned much game time for notts, such as waste of potential and money.

do you feel its better to have a big squad with depth or a small team with quality?

its really a tough ask for any manager, being able to rotate players due to fitness/injuries and still have a competitive squad.

i personally think the healthy squad size is around 25-28 players covering each position at least twice.

Game 7 - The Magpies (H)

Team: Chorley

Date: 26/08/19

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.