2nd goal for Marine. It looks all over for Macclesfield.

Goal to Macclesfield. Score 1:2

Marine win 2:1 and are promoted to National League North.

Let's hear from the Manager.

Notts are currently standing third from the bottom on 16 points and are now waiting on the last match between 3rd placed Peterborough and bottom placed Leek who are on 14 points, to decide whether Notts could get relegated or not.

Leek have to win at Peterborough to send Notts down.

There is a massive gulf between the bottom four and the rest so hopefully Notts will be safe.

Notts County LFC https://g.co/kgs/4Nt1TDU

Congratulations Bromley.

Talking of Centre Backs on other threads, Webster was always impressive against Notts

I liked the look of Nathan Claxton, hopefully the club is still thinking it over but it sounds like they have a few players in mind.

Nathan Claxton looked impressive. He was one of the trialists that I thought could do a job with Notts. I am not sure if he played against Telford, but hopefully, he is still around.

https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/nathan-claxton/profil/spieler/986971

But @Fan of Big Tone it's May!!!!

Knackered myself gardening yesterday so it’s a rest day today. I’ve got some homemade rhubarb wine on the go, should be ready for Christmas.  

@Piethagoram

It has become clear since Thursday's local elections, that in many parts of the Country, Labour are going to be under serious threat from a certain George Galloway, who's Party is going to eat into Labour support at the next election.

He nearly cost Labour the West Midlands Mayorship, so it's not a forgone conclusion that Labour will get a majority at the next election. In fact BBC and Sky forecast a hung parliament.

Independents in the North have eaten into the Labour vote and taken seats that should have been Labour's for the taking, so all in all, it wasn't the best election for Labour that it could have been.

The Libdems and the Greens did well too at the expense of Labour.

As for London, it doesn't matter who started ULEZ, Khan has expanded it all over Greater London now, not just in a small part of central London where Boris intended it.

And Khan was elected on cultural lines, not just because he happened to be representing the Labour Party and that goes for lots of Labour wins last Thursday & the reason for lots of seats NOT being won by Labour. Again due to George Galloway.

If a large part of the Labour base continue to vote for Galloway, it could prove very bad for Starmer's election hopes.

I think so that we all remain friends and as this was my thread I will close it now, I really didn’t want to start a political debate again as it usually ends in disharmony. I hope everyone understands.

On 04/05/2024 at 15:27, Robbie said:

 

I like Andy Burnham.

The club could do with finding a centre back who is experienced, but at the right age. Ideally someone around 26-27 and have a reputation for being very good at defending. We don't need someone with a lot of pace, provided we retain Aden Baldwin.

I have no issues with players coming in from further down the leagues, such as the National League North or South.

Good players these days are finding their way down there and are taking what chances they can in order to establish their career further. Ideally, if we have some money in the budget, we would seek to sign a player for a fee. Whilst, we could very well rely on the free agents available. I am a firm believer that paying for the right player, in key positions, gives a much-needed boost because they will want to show their worth within the fee paid. This isn't always the case, but we are quite good at spending money well when looking for transfers.

Our issue is within the loan system.

Personally, I think it's a bit early for us to be reviewing who could potentially come in because much can change between now and the pre-season. It's an interesting debate, plus there's nothing wrong with tracking players but with managerial changes and signings, this alone opens so many doors.

I know he is youngish but with experience at Port Vale and Dundee, perhaps he is an option. Thought he was very good when we played Rushcliffe Rovers in a pre season game at Notts 

@Piethagoram

@Wheelbarrow repair man 

Yep. I'm absolutely buzzing that we've finished 14th in League 2. In fact I got the champagne out after I got back from FGR, I was that thrilled. The Reedtz bros obviously have targets and ambitions and I'm glad that we do have those targets and ambitions, but they don't always make them targets public because, as we know, they don't love the limelight. The fans forum is probably the best place to talk about them.

No, that particular saying isn't associated with Hardy, but it depends on who says it and whether they have the right tools to carry it out. It is working for clubs such as Brighton, Brentford, Plymouth, Stockport etc. However it didn't work for clubs like Darlington, Forest Green, Salford, Fleetwood and Dagenham. You can't built sustainability and success on sand. You have to have an ethos and a way of working. An identity, a philosophy to work towards and that's what the successful clubs have. We have the right infrastructure to build from and it worked in getting us out of non-league. 

Chris and Alex said they wanted promotion from the National League, but it's not a guarantee due to circumstances out of their control. If you set the target, then don't reach it, then fans get annoyed. Then we wonder why did we come out and say we wanted to be in this league (let's say the Championship for example) in this many years time (let's say 5 years). Us fans would just be annoyed because we've been promised things that haven't materialised. 

Ruben said if Burchnall was still in charge and Williams didn't come in, he probably wouldn't have been at Notts in 2022/23. He could have gone a few times but stayed. If he had no loyalty, why was he with us for 3 seasons? 

@ARLukomski

Regarding Ruben as you have stated if Burchnall had still been in charge at the he probably wouldn't have been at Notts. It wasn't the fact that No other team were interested in him then? Luke Williams came in and we all know about LW.s Man Management skills so it was easy enough for him to convince the guy to stay. During Notts Promotion Push and Incredible day at Wembley was Ruben's best season in a Notts shirt but despite that and the Fact Luke Williams was still in charge as soon as the offer from Oxford came in it was bye Notts I'm off. He wasn't at Notts for 3 seasons out of Loyalty, he was at Notts because no other Club was interested in him and playing for the Magpies  gave him the Ideal window to display his Talents, until an offer came in from elsewhere. He was offered a New Contract  before the January Transfer window which he refused to sign, what Notts should have done is put him on the Transfer List in that Transfer Window, then   they may have gotten some money for him, instead of him leaving on  a Free.

@Wheelbarrow repair man

@ARLukomski

Ruben left at the first good opportunity and so did Luke Williams.

The one thing I would say about Ruben is that he did stay long enough to watch us get promoted, and he scored a vital goal in the playoff final too.

However, Luke couldn't have left at a worse time, his timing was not the best, with Notts sliding down the league. I believe Luke undid a lot of the good he did for Notts by his leaving.

I think Luke Williams going may have been a big factor in Notts not getting to the playoffs with all the upheaval it caused. 

I say upheaval because Luke's Management style was totally different to what we have now with Stuart and I believe the players took time to adjust to it.

Unfortunately, there is hardly any loyalty in football nowadays, that's why I wouldn't be surprised if Macca, Jodi and Dan decided to leave if a good offer came in.

If they have to go, I hope that they won't leave until they have at least helped Notts to get promoted to league 1 first.

We were owned by Albert Scardino after Derek Pavis, he was a prize-winning journalist who'd been based in London. You might remember his henchman Peter Storrie. The funding he was relying on (from GM I think) eventuality fell through and we ended up in administration, so he was only chairman for a matter of months.

I remember him talking about the English league system, and the ability to go from the bottom right to the very top, in glowing terms. Many of the current breed in the PL have a different attitude, they'd scrap relegation in a heartbeat if they could get away with it. 

I remember Albert Scardino, he tried to get “8 through the gate” i.e. a regular 8,000 attending gates, it never happened, I wonder what he’d think now with 11,000 regularly turning up?

I think that Notts can celebrate that we have very good owners, who have a pragmatic and cautious approach when it comes to financial matters.

Notts's owners certainly do not believe in a quick fix and instant success, that could easily fall apart just as fast.

That's why I believe Notts County are in very good hands. Long may it continue.

@Wheelbarrow repair man

We were talking about the American connection seeping into English Football.

I didn't know much about who owned Ipswich, but I did some digging and learned that Ipswich is part owned by an American Equity fund, that took a £105 million stake in the club a few years ago

Ipswich became one of the richest clubs in league one, then in the Championship.

No wonder they have achieved back to back promotions, and no doubt other Clubs like American owned Wrexham will follow.

Is this good for Football? Many people say it is, but I disagree. I don't like the way our game is going.

@Robbie

It will be interesting to see how long American Owners stick around if their club doesn't hit the Targets they set. Take Wrexham the Ultimate Target is the Premier League but by when ? 2026/2027 is the fastest they can get there providing of course, they are Promoted in successive  years and aren't hit by losing Major players through injury or all manner of Problems which may hit the Club. It was said that if Wrexham hadn't been promoted then Phil Parkinson would lose his job. What Head Coach would want to work under those Conditions and such Pressure?

What if Ipswich come straight back down again? Will their American Part Owners want to keep putting money into the Club? In hope of a Return to the Premiership or just cut their losses and go and  Invest Elsewhere?

@Wheelbarrow repair man

Most teams that are promoted to the PL  on the whole, come straight  back down again.

Just look who's in the bottom 3 this year, & I would bet on two of those clubs getting promoted straight back next season if all three are relegated, (Sheffield U are already relegated)

It takes several seasons to get established in the PL like Brentford, Brighton, Bournemouth, & Fulham have, so it will still be very hard for Ipswich to survive next season.

Will the owners be patient and stick it out, being a private equity Company?

The jury is out on that one

@Wheelbarrow repair man

I agree. If a high offer came in Notts would have to let him go, because it's important that we have to have a balanced side for all the reasons we have discussed.

Hopefully a good percentage of that money would go toward strengthening the side. If it's going to happen, I'd rather it be sooner rather than later.

We already have excellent strikers and attacking midfielders at the club, so although losing Macca would be a big blow, we would still have a great attacking unit even without him 

I think he probably will. He very likely has a minimum fee release clause in his contract, so if a really big bid comes in it would trigger it. And it's a short career. However, it's summer and the market is full of strikers who are proven at a higher level and available on a free transfer. If you look at it that way, why should a Championship club pay a seven-figure fee for a player who's never played higher than League Two?

He definitely deserves a stab at playing in a higher division. I just hope it's with us.

I was always more hopeful he'd stay, because I too think there's a very limited number of clubs who could afford him and realistically want him. In my opinion I think most Championship clubs would view him as a risky signing as he'd be jumping up two levels. And in League 1, a lot of clubs would love him but not many could afford him.

I've always thought Macca is very happy here and the interview just confirms that for me, I'm even more hopeful he'll be around next season too!

Harrison Male has left Dorking. Good shot stopper, 1v1. Bit small for a keeper so may not command his box and not seen his distribution. Won all the awards for Dorking in a relegated side. 

Would you take any of these players (released by Wrexham) for Notts?

I’d be so tempted by Aaron Hayden, if it wasn’t for his awful injury record. Is it just bad luck? I’d look into a bit cos he’s scored 19 goals for Wrexham in about 80 games which for a CB is insane. Most of them would’ve been headers too, and that’s an area where we struggle.

If we’re looking for a JO'B replacement, Luke Young would be a very good option. Played lots of games, very experienced, although he actually reminds me of Michael Doyle more…

Chris Con-Clarke of Altrincham looks ready to step up a level, not sure he’s needed but if Jodi went I’d go straight in for him.

And I’ve been watching the Bunch of Amateurs series which follows Dorking, Harrison Male is definitely a terrific shot stopper but I agree his smaller size does mean he’s not that commanding of his area. He's good on the ball too as Dorking always try to play out from the back. If I had to liken him to a well-known keeper I’d say he reminds me of Jordan Pickford.

Congratulations to these ex Magpies who play for Boston United and are now National League.

Jordan Richards & Jimmy Knowles.

That league has had some horrific fixture pile ups at the end of the season. I think at least 2 of them had to play 12+ games in the last month.

Great to see Bury at Gigg Lane as well.

Makes you wonder what might have happened if the Salford owners have invested in a club like this instead of one which openly wanted to be non league (from watching the documentary on Sky, which seems borne out by their low attendances).

This isn't good news for Bury fans. Bury thought they would get an allocation of 700 but have been informed they can only have 200 tickets. Their League should intervene.

Heartbreak for Bury. 

In the play off final they lose 3:2 on penalties after drawing 1:1 at full time.

They stay in the North West Counties League for another season.