In my view, Manchester City will clinch the league. I reckon Liverpool might struggle due to Jurgen Klopp stepping down, and I believe Spurs will outperform them, securing second place. I predict Arsenal will end up in 4th place, with Manchester United trailing behind in 5th place.

@Robbie

Well I'll say one thing Fella. I Admire your confidence in Chelsea if Poch had been in charge Maybe 6th. The Trouble is they change their Manager more times than the average woman changes her mind. I reckon top ten finish at Best (outside the top 6).

Champions: Arsenal

Runners-Up: Manchester City

Third Place: Liverpool

Fourth Place: Spurs

Fifth Place: Chelsea

Sixth Place: Aston Villa

FA Cup winner: Manchester United
League Cup: Crystal Palace

We can only hope he can manage to stay fit and showcase the best of his ability.

That said, I have seen a lot of criticism about his pre-season performances and how disinterested some of our fans are with the signing. I am more inclined to reserve judgement, as you get those who are doubtful or extremely negative - then people who leap overpraise.

I do think on paper, he looks more like a cover and squad member signing. Yet, I haven't see him play and he may settle with us. Notts has worked well with players in recent years who have had injury issues.

To be frank, the signing seems quite ordinary. Given the depth of talent brought in during the transfer window, it’s hard to see how he’ll get a chance to play. His injury history and lack of football are concerning. The decision to sign him appears risky. Can we really afford to have a player sit out the season if the worst happens? It’s a bit disappointing, but I hope this feeling will fade once we see Robbie Cundy in action. I sincerely hope he turns out to be a good signing.

@thommo

Cundy playing against Boston tonight.

Now that he’s gone, everything else is irrelevant unless news about the deal and its inner workings comes out. We won’t know anything for certain, and it’s all pure speculation. There’s no harm in discussing it, but it’s all hearsay and opinions.

@DangerousSausage is correct, we wouldn’t have had much say in the matter and we can’t confirm if there were any release terms.

I believe that Macaulay Langstaff requested and wanted the move to happen. He’s performed well in his two-year stint with us, with many memorable moments. It’s a sign that we can nurture talent, make good use of them, and sell them on for a profit.

9 hours ago, Robbie said:

@Scotty @Wheelbarrow repair man

In my playbook, if a player is worth £2.5 million you sell him for at least £2.5 million.

Why would you sell a player for £750K if they are worth £2.5 million then hope to earn more if the player is sold on?

Doesn't make a lot of sense to me but perhaps I'm reading it wrong.

Notts may just as well have loaned Macca out to Millwall for a season, Millwall pay increased wages to him, & Millwall could have also paid Notts a fee for every goal he scored.

If Millwall then wanted to buy him, pay Notts the £2.5 million,plus add ons for selling him on.

I'm suggesting the £2.5 million will be reached. £750k up front payment. Millwall pay Macca £300k up front signing on fee, which also accounts for the after tax wages that Notts are liable to Macca for, which means we are not taxed on that money.

When Macca plays so many games for Millwall, Notts get another pay day.

when Macca scores so many goals for Millwall,  Notts get another pay day.

Most importantly, when Macca is sold to a Premiership outfit, or gets there with Millwall. Notts have another significant pay day.

This is how some football deals are structured now.  Also the brother are very circumspect and don't share what is rightly sensitive data.  Notts will have several significant pay days to come. 

Q

On 28/07/2024 at 12:35, allardyces tash said:

Now that he’s gone, everything else is irrelevant unless news about the deal and its inner workings comes out. We won’t know anything for certain, and it’s all pure speculation. There’s no harm in discussing it, but it’s all hearsay and opinions.

@DangerousSausage is correct, we wouldn’t have had much say in the matter and we can’t confirm if there were any release terms.

I believe that Macaulay Langstaff requested and wanted the move to happen. He’s performed well in his two-year stint with us, with many memorable moments. It’s a sign that we can nurture talent, make good use of them, and sell them on for a profit.

This is largely how I feel, we have to move on, and I don't really care much about the fee now.

I'm more determined to see us continue our journey and grow further as a club, whatever the deal is. It's now set in stone, nothing can change it, and we need to make sure we use whatever funds it did give us wisely.

By what he said at his interview, I don't think he's come here to sit on the bench. He wants a first team place. I think this could be potentially, a very good signing for Notts.

Brighton fans are saying he was on the cusp of being a regular in their first team.

Question will be if he can cope with the physicality of league 2.

Ed Francis mark II seems like a good signing, but players like him always need to be pushed. I think he’ll integrate well and should get game time in matches where we want to rest others. I’m pleased we have a defensively-minded midfielder. There’s talk that Curtis Edwards can play anywhere in midfield, and we also have Scott Robertson, which gives us plenty of options.

He looks like a signing that should grow in his role and improve further with the time given, it's not one of those signings which would create a natural buzz, but I see no reason why he would be a good addition to our team.

Good to have the midfield strengthened with the arrival of Jack Hinchy.

it would be nice if alex bass can help us keep a high amount of clean sheets, along with the new defence but it would be nice to top this again. i think we need another striker though.

YEAH Stick That In Your Pipe And Smoke It PEP !!

Great achievement, it does show that last season wasn't all that bad. We just struggled at points when other teams were finding their own form and the more Notts struggled, the less creative we seemed. Yet this shows that we were still very attacking minded!

8 hours ago, CliftonMagpie said:

Whether it’s a pre-season friendly or not, @super_ram, your team has disappointed us. Could you help us make sense of this result? Did you field all young players? We need some explanation for this outcome. ????

Believe it or not my team could very easily have been 2 goals up in the first 5 minutes. Wednesday's game is one of  the reasons why we have pre-season games .Yes, a very embarrassing night but my team are still virtual strangers playing a well organised team who have had extra weeks to gel. There was plenty of individual excellence but football is a team game. I expect a much improved TEAM performance against  Shrewsbury on Saturday and also let's see what happens on 13th August when Chesterfield visit Pride Park  for an EFL cup game.

we will let derby off the hook this time, i know the result is a lure to make them believe they can do better in the league. when they struggle, we will thank you for inflating their confidence.  

Just to clarify, when I saw @super_ram last. I told him off about the defeat, and how his beloved Derby County had let us Notts fans down.

Disgraceful performance by the Rams, but I do like @liampie's logic. ???? 

Reinforces the need of a Football Regulator in the UK

https://www.indy100.com/sport/bordeaux-football-club-professional-status

its crazy what is happening with football clubs, but it shows how important it is to try to avoid over spending. i think this type of thing is better than seeing the club fold completely.

It's a sad thing to see a club fall, but it's their time to get things right. There's no reason why they couldn't become stronger for this and given their fans the oppatunity to make a difference would harbour a togetherness.

Chris Kiwomya deserves a great deal of recognition for bringing the duo to Meadow Lane, as I remember reading that it was his suggestion. We’ve had a number of good loan players, but none quite like these two for a while. It’s unfortunate that we didn’t have a stronger squad, as they could have been the missing piece in a promotion push back to the Championship. Instead, they helped us maintain our position in League One.

there was a picture of them spending time whilst on international duty a few years ago, someone tweeted jack and he retweeted it saying they were catching up and had been talking about those days.

I told Jack's father when he got his first international cap, that we were proud of him.

Callum McGregor also deserves a lot of praise for how he's forged a career. He was heavily linked to Sunderland before they fell down the leagues and wasn't playing for Celtic. I always felt he would have benefitted more from a move to a good English club (not Sunderland). However, he's proven that his ambition and desire to be an important player for the club he supports and loves has paid off.

It's been nice seeing their careers; both had incredible talent when they came here on loan.

If there is anyone to blame for the footballers being tired it is the FA Premier League as far as I'm concerned.

We've talked about this in previous threads. I totally agree @Wheelbarrow repair man that the Champions League & Europa League should be knockout only, & only champions of the top leagues should represent their league in the champions league.

Europa League, which should  be changed to the Europa Cup, should be runners up or cup Winners only. No other versions of the Europa league should be allowed.

Future Euro international tournaments should be held at the start of the European season, after players have had a month's rest from the previous season.

If the top players can't make it, then I'm sure there will be plenty of takers who want to represent their Country.

the premier league has done a lot more to ensure good english players are coming through, there could always be more but i think it was far worse in the early 00s. one injury to the midfield i remember being made into a major issue, whereas now we have a lot of good midfielders. the fa needs to try to continue putting money into the grass roots.

I'm sick of hearing about why the players feel they didn't do well, or why they are tired. I do believe clubs need to make sure they only play fit players, instead of playing someone who is in need of rest. Issue, most players will still want to play. Some just want to play and if tiredness impacts their performance then excuses are thrown out.

There are times I feel we over play Aaron Nemane, his peformances massively dip when he looks knackered and considering how much running he can do in a game. It's only natural, it's just a case of he's very rarely rested - it took his form to dip last season for him to be given the time. I don't think ability shines as much when you are needing a rest, so the fault falls in various ways.

Over-mining, or the overuse of any natural resource, is a problem. Sooner or later, these resources will deplete, and we’ll have to depend on something else. If the money earned from these resources is spent wisely, things can remain as they were. However, many places don’t manage their funds well. When crime escalates and the authorities become corrupt, it can ruin what is still a beautiful place.

i know argentina used to be quite wealthy but i did not really know why or what changed it. there was a film a few years ago that was released where the main character moved to buenos aires in the 1880s as a way to escape being wanted in the uk. it was supposed to be based on a true story.

The photographs appear stunning. a time trip back to when life wasn't such a busy headache.

It's a shame that this type of class wasn't upheld, as I am sure it could have been a lot more popular than Paris in modern times. I have seen documentaries on YouTube about how rough Buenos Aires is now. Certain parts are very sketchy. And a place to steer clear of.

I’m on the fence about Luke Williams. While I think he’s a competent coach and agree with many of the previous points, I’m aware that his return could be a step backwards. On the other hand, it could also lead to further success. It felt like Williams had the potential to propel Notts forward and climb the leagues. Even though he left for Swansea City, his departure was understandable and he left with our blessings. His decision to move closer to his family was sensible. However, if he were to return one day, I would hope that the Notts board would insist that he settle in the area.

no from me.

i dont mind that he left, i dont hold it against him because hes nearer to his family and getting us back to the football league is a job well done. but when you have a manager that leaves during a poor spell, is given an opportunity where he was not successful with elsewhere, staying for the season and trying to fix the defence would have made me reconsider my stance now.

he left, we really needed strong leadership and whilst i really dont blame him for leaving. i think there could always be a possibility that it could be repeated. i also think we are more inclined to move forward.

I hope that Stuart Maynard grows in the role as our head coach and manages to maintain his position for a few seasons, it would give us stability and make sure we are heading in the right direction, but football is a points based business, you have to win games and meet the standards outlined by the club.

Personally, I am very thankful for Luke Williams. He's a good coach and I wish him success. If he finds himself without a club and Notts are seeking a new head coach - I wouldn't be against him returning. I would prefer we moved on, no disrespect to Williams. I enjoyed hearing him speak about the players and things in general, but I am more hopeful we can identify people who bring something different.

I wasn't very keen on the reaction he gave to the players after we conceded two goals, I think against Forest Green. For me, this was the point where our season started to turn negative and further blows by losing Matt Palmer didn't help, but defensively we weren't as bad as we became after the 'talk' that took place after the final whistle.

It's harsh to blame him outright for the defensive issues we have, but it's fair to say he never seemed to have the answer. He got the best out of our players, but lost it after that point from the defence point of view. I would rather see the club look to bring in someone who wouldn't be likely to repeat defensive issues. Good defenders are essential due to the tactical setup implemented by Williams. I just don't think it would make sense to re-hire someone who wasn't able to tighten up the goals we leaked. Perhaps he could see how things were changing, but I do feel we lost confidence from a talk which wasn't needed.

Welcome to Notts Carter Foxe. Great to see an exciting young player joining Notts. Good luck.

good to see another youngster step up to a pro deal, but it goes to show that we need to start making these deals count for something. so many get a deal, only to be released without much chance.

Good to see a youngster, such as Cater Foxe get their first professional deal. I hope it gives him something to strive towards and maintain a passion for the game. It's very easy for some young players to fall out of love with football.

You have to use these things to push yourself further.

I don’t often go for walks; I usually walk out of necessity. However, from time to time, I should make an effort to find places where I can escape. Going for a leisurely stroll can only be beneficial, offering relaxation and a chance to embrace the surroundings. This is a contrast to simply trying to reach a destination and navigating through crowds.

clifton has some nice areas, the town centre of beeston is a nice area to walk around on the weekend. plenty to do also. my favourite place is wollaton park though, but wollaton as an area does have some nice walking routes even if you stick to the streets.

The Wollaton area is a really nice place to walk, especially Wollaton Park and the woodland area, which you can walk by two reasonably large lakes. I used to have regular walks with my brother around Wollaton.

One of the concerns surrounding places like The Arboretum is the presence of students engaging in drug use and other illicit activities, as well as homeless individuals consuming alcohol. I no longer like walking there, as the smell of weed is horrendous. The Forest is a nicer place to walk, since it's very open and less hidden. Most of the places I have walked are locations I stumbled across with my family.

The Embankment is a lovely area to walk. You can walk on the other side and bypass the City Ground to a nicer area where you can get lost.

Yes! A new player announced! ???? wait, oh no, its just the kit guy ????.

Still, all the best to him though.

@Pies79 just for now, if we are hit with injuries who knows if he will put a kit on for himself. ????

welcome to notts! ewan coleman.

It's a bit strange how we don't report on staff changes, as it is important to keep fans updated and in the loop. I am sure it's due to time and being busy, but these things are always best confirmed by the club itself.

I wasn't aware the club needed a kitman, but it's good to see we have one.

I also agree that it's nice to fit in people who are Notts within these types of positions. Mark Draper and Tommy Johnson taking part in our training sessions was a laugh. Did Tommy Johnson not scout for us? I know he went on to be a scout for clubs like Blackpool.

Before we sign any new players, some funds should be reinvested into the squad. I believe it’s more crucial to use a portion of the money to extend the contracts of some players. For instance, Jodi Jones needs a new contract. It would be beneficial to keep him here, and he would make a good vice-captain. Some funds could be allocated to recruit a striker, another attacking player, and a defensive midfielder. I’m not too concerned about a training ground, as the club can extend an agreement to use existing facilities. However, it would be lovely to have our own training pitches one day.

The club could consider making the stands more inviting. A fresh coat of paint and perhaps some inspiring artwork could be added. Not exactly in the style of the family stand, but something more like what the club did under the Trews with the walls near to the suites. It showcased a lot of history of the club.

after reading the roku site being listed for sale, i do think it would make a good place for us to own and have as a training facility which could be ran open to the public too, as a means to bring in extra revenue. i think that is more likely if the reedtz bought it themselves, i would have thought it would be out of our reach as a club and using macaulaylangstaffs fee would take the majority if not all of it. i honestly think the transfer fee could be better spent on signing a few more good players and keeping most of it for the next season.

offering new deals to certain players would make sense.

Ensuring we can afford the likes of Jodi Jones, would be a good option so that we can offer him a new deal instead of sitting on it.

I am not against the idea of some going towards buying player(s) but teams may try to get inflated fees because they know we have money. I think this will make it a task to replace Macaulay Langstaff, as the temptation to ask for x2 more knowing the bidder has money but is also trying to replace a goalscorer - might make them ask for silly amounts, partly in hope of retaining them but also maximising their profit.

A training ground would be costly, but there's land for sale.

Where the factories used to stand, near to BBC Nottingham and opposite the train lines, has a large amount of land which could be transformed into a decent base to train. I am not sure what the area/street name is called. Most of the old factories have been knocked down, but if it's true that Notts are looking at the Roku site then that would be more ideal as it would involve less work.

If it provides training facilities for the players, & can also make money for the club, I'm all for buying it if Notts have the finances to do it.

Most probably, the sale of Macaulay will part finance the initial outlay.

i could see our owners buying it themselves, allowing notts to use the facilities but i cant see it being owned by the club. its too much for a league two team. it would not be a bad idea to buy it, keep the facilities open to the public and have time slots where notts would train but i do only see it doable if the reedtz buy it themselves. 

Before Roku bought it, I always felt the area would be a great place to have a training ground. I know Notts did partner with Roku to use their facilities, so some people around Notts may be familiar with it. If our owners could make it happen, it would tick a lot of boxes.

The issue with fitness centres is they're competing against a trend of newer places offering cheaper prices.

So, I am not surprised to see them selling up. It's not that far from the Rushcliffe Arena, which is a very popular leisure centre. It would be a dream to see the Roku site become ours, but I can't see it happening.

I didn’t watch the match and this is the first I’ve heard of it, but South American teams do have fans who can get a bit wild if they feel cheated. I find it ironic that Argentina feels hard done by, considering they have cheated multiple times in major international competitions. So, a decision didn’t go their way; they should move on and accept it. I suspected that Spain’s second goal might have been offside in the Euro 2024 final, but I won’t lose sleep over it.

var could be the death of football, but even without it. argentina fans are very hostile. the amount of times i have read about trouble happening in a south american game either for clubs in argentina, brazil, peru etc or the international teams. its pathetic behaviour to riot.

Has anything come of this trouble? I searched Google to find articles about how Morocco players were attacked by Argentina fans. That's disgraceful, something FIFA should look into also, as their fans shouldn't be allowed to travel to the next World Cup in my opinion.

Whatever was the right decision with VAR, you don't riot or attack people because you feel the decision is wrong.

It’s evident how frugal the Nottingham Forest owner is, trying to avoid paying the increased ground rent for the City Ground. If Forest were to relocate, it would be absurd. On the other hand, I can understand why Bradford City might want to seek alternative arrangements, given they’re being held to ransom over these fees. It’s unfortunate, as their ground is such an iconic stadium. They wouldn’t want to find themselves in the predicament Coventry City faced a few seasons ago. But at that price, can they really afford to keep paying? The state of the pitch leaves much to be desired.

credit to their owner for keeping the fans close to the stadium but surely it would be better spent on the squad? i hate seeing clubs detached from their home. its just not right and being forced to pay a silly fee seems to be a way to get back at the club. i assume a former owner kept hold of it?

It's an insane fee to be paying, but I have to respect their decision not to move away from their home.

I can't say I remember much about their ground struggles, but I know they have had a tough time in recent years due to it. The thing is, if they find somewhere else to play - the ground will only fall further into decay. It might also prove harder for them to get it back in the future. I really hope the problem is resolved, as you can't keep paying that sort of money every season and have a successful team on the pitch.

Clifton All Whites has always had a strong connection with Notts. Several of our players have come directly from them, while others have ended their careers there. Tony Cuthbert had a successful stint with Notts, didn’t he retire a few seasons ago? Pedro Richards was a fantastic talent, although before my time watching Notts games. David McVay was one of my father’s favourite players. It’s unfortunate that the website is hard to navigate without scrolling over certain sections.

i know from speaking with other fans from clifton where i am originally from that notts has always had close ties with clifton all whites from one time to time.

You learn something every day! I wasn't aware that Tony Cuthbert had played football. ???? 

I'm off to google him now... 

i have never used bulwell train station but i have been past it on the tram to hucknall and on trains heading to mansfield. despite the town, the station looks quite nice for a small town.

It's nice to see a historic picture of the area largely undeveloped and looking much different to what I am aware of.

I too, like Bulwell's train station. It's a shame that the surrounding area lets it down. The bogs park used to be a lot of fun for my kids, but they ruined it by trying to distract teenage idiots. Just a sign of growing older, as I used to like Bulwell a lot.  

defending seems to have always been a notts issue. is it don o riordan calling for calmness? i think its the third goal 44 seconds into the clip.

There will always be good and bad days, good teams will force mistakes and pressure is very difficult to handle when you are at the moment. I do like watching videos of Notts playing back in the day, you can appreciate the players more.

My Old Mum used to say  People Take Me has They Find Me, And If They Don't Like It They Needn't Come Again. And you're Right Each to their Own

no its never happened to me but i know my mum is a very proactive cleaner and does not like seeing other peoples houses a mess when she visits. not that she would say anything. but she might at times just start to try to tidy things up. its quite funny because she cant help it.

We only have family and close friends over, and these days it's not very often at all. @cheeky~k8 will make sure the house is tidy, but she does this without the prospect of anyone coming over. She just doesn't stop finding things to do, so the house is kept on top of itself.

If we had people coming over, we certainly would make sure it was how it should be.

A positive message is something to bear in mind when starting a new day. However, my own tend to resemble this song a bit more.

When I worked on Monday morning the only thing on my mind was Friday.

It's been a beautiful warm day today. Was just the day for some hard work inside 

Wife wanted some deep cleans done this week so today helped with taking the washable curtains down to wash. My job as been to clean around the windows and clean the Venetian blinds. 

Four rooms done, just the curtains to put back up, so the wife is pleased.

Wood pigeons continue to strengthen their nest in our American Lilac bush. Looks like the eggs are have been laid. Mother sitting in the nest.

Time for tea I think.

@Wheelbarrow repair man.

According to Google 

Clubs in League Two are limited to a 22-man squad, although that number does not include goalkeepers or players who were under the age of 21 at the start of the calendar year.

So Notts can still play players above the 22 allowed who were under 21 on 1st January.

That's why it's important to have good juniors to come into the side like Sanderson & Reynolds.

22 minutes ago, Robbie said:

Clubs in League Two are limited to a 22-man squad, although that number does not include goalkeepers or players who were under the age of 21 at the start of the calendar year.

Thanks @Robbie, that implies that Hinchy won’t count as one of the 22 for this season as he was only 20 on January 1st.

I don’t pay much attention to friendly matches, and the results don’t concern me. My focus is on understanding how the team is shaping up. Despite a 2-2 draw, I see more positives than negatives. Notts demonstrated some excellent football against a respectable York team. I believe that with a few more players and the starting 11 finding their footing, we’ll be in a strong position by the season’s end.