samwatto2008

So as I write this on the 26/08/18 Kevin Nolan has been sacked following a termination of his contract by the NCFC board following a 3-1 loss to Lincoln City. After around 18 months in charge it was with Mr. Hardy’s best interests to part ways with the ex- West Ham, Bolton and Newcastle midfielder. I am writing this article to understand the thought process behind his sacking, will we miss him? And is promotion still achievable? During Nolan’s time with the Magpies he managed 85 games with 35 being victories, 23 draws and 26 lost. With recent form the Scouse came under constant fire from media and fans. Notts County managed only 8 wins in 28 games in the football league which could be compared to relegation form at parts. However, it was not all doom and gloom for Kevin which as Notts fans we should remember. The reason I have called it an era in the title is because in my opinion it was. Kevin Nolan restored one thing with his time at Notts which we had not had for a while and that was HOPE. Nolan grabbed the team by the scruff on the neck on their knees in January 2017 and turned a 10-game losing streak into promotion form to keep the magpies up. He also brought some amazing talent in Jorge Grant, Ryan Yates and Josh Clackstone. Since then Ryan has now exceeded a 500,000 price tag and Jorge Grant has now moved up in leagues. Clackstone now plays regularly in the Championship with Hull City and Kevin Nolan has contributed to their careers and made them better players. Nolan also reached his first play off as a manager last year in the 2018/19 season which as fans we were extremely happy with but also disappointed as his decline in form as a manager cost us automatic promotion. It definitely was a era in my opinion because he was the first manager under Hardy that actually achieved something and provided the fans with some memories we will never forget and for that we can’t thank Kev enough. Will we miss him? My answer is 50/50. I think Yes because he was a very strict manager with high standards which reflected on the pitch. Last year we played with heart and desire and he made every player work to wear the Notts County shirt. I also think No because his off-pitch attitude has been rumored to be unprofessional and lazy. I also think he has lost passion for the game which reflected on the touchline in recent games. Kevin Nolan could’ve done so much more to turn around his bad patch but decided not to. He became arrogant and in denial about problems within the team. So overall I think it was best for him and Notts County to move on. Is promotion still achievable? My honest opinion, No. It is not the fact we have lost 4 game sin a row but we now have to go through a transition period with an new manager and set of backroom staff. I think it will take another few months for the team to gel and settle down unfortunately, and in this league, you have to hit the ground running otherwise It will eat you up and spit you out and then next thing you know you’re bottom of the league. It depends how well we do under Chettle but before you know it we could be in serious trouble and then we will once again be in a fight to get into the play offs. It is paramount we turn this form around soon to restore the faith in Hardy and the signings. I am sure everyone from PON sends Kevin Nolan their best wishes for the future and really hopes to see him succeed. On a personal note, Kevin Nolan is the manager who brought me back to Meadow Lane after 2 years away from the sport and in turn got me involved with PON so for that I can’t thank him enough and the work he has done at the club has not gone unnoticed and in my opinion should be remembered forever for what he has done for Notts County. My first game I attended in 2 years was against Mansfield to watch this man’s managerial debut and I am now proud to say I am once again a season ticket holder to this amazing club. It’s because of the faith, hope and determination that was restored into Notts County by Kevin Nolan. Thanks for everything Kev. Whether you were Nolan IN or OUT, I would like to hear your thought on the sacking and where you think the club goes from here. Also, one memory that stands out over the past 18 months under Kevin Nolan. Mine would be the Jonathan Forte equalizer against Cambridge. Thank you for reading PON. Share your thoughts about this feature article on Pride of Nottingham by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining in the chat with hundreds of fellow Notts County fans. Fancy showcasing your brand or business on Pride of Nottingham? Click here to find out more about sponsorship and advertising opportunities with us.

Our signings so far! Who are they? Where do they come from? Why are they the chosen ones? With Notts County being considerably active in the transfer window, I thought I would shine a light on the players we have signed so far and see what they have on their CV and what they can offer to our setup. Having signed 5 players so far it seems promising down at Meadow Lane and with a lack of squad depth at the moment it seems the transfers wont stop there. So first up… Tom Crawford – Tom Crawford is a central midfielder who was acquired from the recently relegated Chester FC for an undisclosed fee. He is currently 19 years old with 17 apps in the National League. In those 17 apps he has 1 goal and 1 assist. With only National League experience it is making Notts fans wonder where his future lies within the Notts County setup. He has made 1 appearance for England C which is a promising sign for the youngster. I think he can slot in quite well into a CM or RM role if needed. I fully expect to see these sorts of signings starting in the Carabao Cup and the Checkatrade Trophy fixtures as a minimum. Kristian Dennis – Kristian is a central striker who has most experience in the 4-4-2 formation. He was acquired from recently relegated Chesterfield for an undisclosed fee. Having back to back relegations with Chesterfield does raise eyebrows however scoring 21 goals in all competitions last year is a massive achievement and goals is something we have been lacking. Dennis is 28 years of age with 82 games played in the football league. He can play with both feet and will be a key player to the squad for next season. Andy Kellett – Andy Kellett is labelled as a midfielder, in particular the LM spot on the pitch. He can also slot into LB if needs be as he told the Notts County media upon arrival at Meadow Lane. Kellett is 24 years of age being 5ft 7 he is known for his quick feet and pace ability. He has just over 60 appearances in the football league and has scored 7 goals in that time. Again he was relegated with Chesterfield following a loan spell from Wigan, but upon his return he found his name on the released list following Wigan’s promotion. He could be vital to our line up next year maybe filling in for Grant who has returned to his parent club. Kellet is also a young talented player which Notts County have been reluctant to gamble on in the last couple of years. Will Patching – Patching who is also 19 years old was signed from Manchester City and agreed a 2 year deal with the Magpies. He never made a first team appearance but was a regular in the U18’s and just recently made a few starts for the U23’s at City. He is known for playing in the No. 8 / No. 10 role for City and is highly rated for his passing ability. He has represented England U18’s with 2 appearances and also gaining 16 appearances for the U17’s. He prefers his right foot with a eye for goal on the edge of the box. Kane Hemmings – An unexpected signing by Notts County fans but my word it was a joy to behold upon announcement. Kane Hemmings was bought from Oxford United for an undisclosed fee. Previously on loan at Mansfield Town he has had plenty of league experience and goals to go along with it. His CV consists of Scottish Premier League experience and League One. Hemmings has played 84 times in the EFL scoring 17 goals. He is quick and strong player that is favoured to start along side Dennis. He has most of his experience in the Scottish Leagues however has proved himself in England too. He is 26 years of age and quite frankly fancies to score from anywhere on the field. So far I think Notts have done a fantastic job with the signings, I thought I would break each player down a little and give an insight to what they are capable of and what type of player they are. We certainly have brought the average age of squad down by a lot which is heading in the right direction. Also I have noticed we are offering players contracts longer than 1 year which gives us an option to sell if they are performing well. I can’t remember when we last made money off a player, so it is good news we are tying these players down. Ideally I think we need 2/3 more quality signings then maybe a few players just to fill out squad depth or promote some youth players to come through the system. Let us know your thoughts below. Share your thoughts on Pride of Nottingham by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining in the chat with hundreds of fellow Notts County fans. Fancy showcasing your brand or business on Pride of Nottingham? Click here to find out more about sponsorship and advertising opportunities with us.