CliftonMagpie

On Saturday, I went to see the friendly against Notts. On Sunday, I worked overtime and finished around 4 pm. Lately, all I seem to be doing is working. I have no complaints because I know that having a job is something I am fortunate to have.

I have been very busy with work commitments, but I will be returning to this. I don’t want to say that I will have the next clue or round-up, then struggle to do it. Keep your eyes on this.

The first squad didn’t really get going, but Macaulay Langstaff did well to score his chance. I think the midfield missed John Bostock and Jodi Jones, as Matt Palmer struggled to play his usual game. He wasn’t bad, he was just marked and pressed, which limited him and what he could do on the ball. I think the younger players in the defensive areas caused a lot of the problems, but it was nice to see them out there. I would have preferred to see Notts put out a stronger squad, then bring on the youths.

This isn’t really newsworthy, as it doesn’t mention any changes or anything of interest to us. It’s just a press release promoting the partnership, and since I don’t drink at the ground, it doesn’t appeal to me for that reason either.

The decision made by the FGR chairman is strange and one that he will be paying for. The club has become somewhat of a joke. Hiring Ian Burchnall, with Michael Doyle in League One, they needed someone with more experience and stronger leadership skills. I hate to say it, but they will be relegated if they don’t appoint a proper manager. I’m not being sexist, but if you’ve never managed before, you need to have something special about you. I don’t think this quality is found within but rather appointed.

Welcome to PON, we are a very friendly community that loves talking Notts. Thanks for joining us, @rohan.

Welcome to PON, @MagpieRob. Thanks for joining us, would you care to tell us something about yourself?

Bless him, I think he’s led a sheltered life and probably has issues with his parents. We shouldn’t criticise him, his struggles are very real. He has my deepest sympathy.

The home shirt is different but nice. I’m not sure I would buy it, but I do like it. The away shirt is just quality; I want to get that one.

Yes, I think this is the best way forward. There’s a lot of unnecessary information in the programme, so reducing it will bring out the quality. I’m not sure Notts needs to see the programme as a profit-making venture, as I don’t think this is normal these days, but breaking even is important.

I’m looking forward to the game, even though the sunshine has now disappeared. I think we’ll want to focus on our ball retention against Stoke City, while defensive threats will show how our existing players will cope. If we can play our passing football against them, I think they may struggle, but they do enjoy long throws and hoofing the ball.

Hello, welcome to the Pride of Nottingham @stutheumpire1862. It's great to have you here.

Hello, welcome to the Pride of Nottingham @Michael D P. It's great to have you here.

Hello, welcome to the Pride of Nottingham @Paul Manterfield. It's great to have you here.

Notts County’s preparations for their pre-season games against Stoke and Forest underline their hunger for success. The team is ready to measure up against tough adversaries, and key figures like Macaulay Langstaff have been providing insights into their meticulous groundwork. Langstaff’s confidence in his team’s abilities shines through, despite the formidable opposition they’ll be facing. With the newcomers fitting in well and adapting quickly to the team’s style of play, Notts County is eyeing strong showings against Stoke and Forest as they progress with their pre-season preparations unflinchingly.

What a guy! There is no doubt that he's a threat, even if he does score tap ins or takes someone else's goalscoring opportunity. That's what a striker does, they make sure his team scores. I thought he did well against an aggressive Nuneaton Borough.

It was a nice trip. I enjoyed watching the teams and observing how the squad interacted with one another. The coaching before and after the game was particularly interesting. I believe this is an often-overlooked aspect of the club’s success. Everyone takes their role seriously, which helps prepare the players on the pitch. I cannot single out any one performance, but it was wonderful to see the youth players feature. I hope we see more of them during the season.

Instagram isn’t a social media channel I use. I don’t see the point in sharing pictures frequently. I prefer reading, so Threads sounds interesting. If they do all the things Twitter fails to do, I can see it working. You have to give and take, rather than trying to charge the earth.

I think League One and Two will be the exciting divisions to watch. I don’t think the National League will be anywhere near as interesting. The Championship seems very basic on paper; it would be nice for a struggling team to do well. Maybe even see the likes of Sheffield Wednesday up there, but with them sacking Darren Moore, I don’t see it happening.

I wouldn’t have guessed that Stoke City would donate all of their half of the friendly to the British Heart Foundation. It’s a nice gesture, and I hope that Notts does something similar.

This season won’t be anything like last season, which was a once-in-a-lifetime type of season. It will most likely come down to a couple of sides. I don’t even think Chesterfield will find it easy. I can see all the teams having average spells, which will make it more interesting.

Good luck to Michael Doyle. I think he will do well working with younger players. It’s a role I wish Notts would talk Jim O’Brien into, although he’s already doing it with Sheffield United. If we could get him and maybe David McGoldrick to help out, we might start seeing some youngsters mentally ready for first-team football. I think the club should explore this. Michael Doyle should be perfect in his role with Portsmouth.

At first, I was disappointed for Tiernan Brooks when Aidan Stone was signed, but this could be just what we need to push Brooks closer to the starting 11. I think he’s the ideal long-term replacement for Sam Slocombe, without having seen Stone play, of course. On paper, our midfield is strong and well-equipped to attack. Defensively, we should have improved, but I still think this is an area where we can add some depth. I know we have Richard Brindley, but I prefer him out wide, although he will most likely be a centre defender in the 3-pairing that Williams prefers.

Welcome to the Pride of Nottingham, @NottsCountyKev.

Andy Dallas should be in demand with various clubs. I am somewhat surprised that Tranmere Rovers haven’t gone in for him. I don’t know if teams are put off because Solihull Moors want more than most are willing to pay, but that would leave me wondering why Gillingham.