The Notts County 'Massiz' (Bantz 'N Debate)

[jacobncfc]

Keep a closer eye on these guys, don’t let £2 tickets blindside everything else!

Tough season to come I reckon but the most important thing is the immediate future of the club is secured, mind you still got some really good players in that squad so you never know.

Think everyone would be happy with a season of consolidation tbh. Find a way to be solid enough to get Boldewijn, Dennis and Hemmings into the game and we may have a shot, though.

 

[Conker]

Think everyone would be happy with a season of consolidation tbh. Find a way to be solid enough to get Boldewijn, Dennis and Hemmings into the game and we may have a shot, though.

Is there a better overall striker in non-league than Hemmings? He can easily do a good job for a promotion chasing L2 side as proven with Mansfield.

I’m sure there will be a few better poachers, because that’s not his strongpoint but his ability to lead the line will be miles in front of anyone at this level I imagine.

 

[jacobncfc]

Hemmings is great, would’ve been our player of the season IMO had there been any justification in giving one. Would be an asset to any League Two side but I doubt any would pay a fee and match his wages. Same goes for Boldewijn, but if they’re both happy to stay (would surely have left by now if they were going to) then they should be among the best players in the division.

Could argue similar for Kristian Dennis, but we basically saw nothing from him last season.

 

[Youpies]

We need some serious expectation setting. Our team is in poor shape. It basically could be one of those football manager challenges where you have to save a team from relegation.

14 games in the first two months when you barely have a team is going to be hell. Whack a few on 1 year deals with options and see how it goes will probably be our approach

 

[jacobncfc]

Don’t try and do too much would be my approach. Assuming O’Brien and Tyson have signed, I think we’re fine in midfield and attack really.

Put everything we have towards plucking an experienced, dominant centre back and a left back from somewhere.

 

[Youpies]

Think the age old problems of pace and strength still haunt us Jacob. We need some big lads who can mix it and someone other than Enzio to offer some pace

 

[Optipez]

All the flaws from last season are still with us. No target man for the others to play off, no central defensive pairing, Tootle still injury prone, Dennis two pre seasons interrupted with injuries, left back iffy and central midfield isn't very athletic or creative.
That is a weak spine and as Ardley said on Saturday he needs some men signed, ideally before Saturday.
It's great to be talking about players and football again but I think we're some way from being competitive. Set pieces and crosses did for us last season and will this as it stands without three or four grizzled extra men.

 

[jacobncfc]

I still maintain that our biggest problem last season was having too many players and changing the side desperately every week or two. That and something going desperately wrong with Nolan’s pre-season where we were the most unfit team in the league.

The defence and crosses is clearly a problem, though, and is the first thing which needs addressing along with a vaguely competent goalkeeper.

A target man would be useful, but I think Doyle, Rose and O’Brien is a combative midfield which would be fine at this level and there is enough creativity and goals in Tyson, Boldewijn, Dennis and Hemmings.

 

[Millerbri]

Absolutely delighted that County have been saved. It would have been tragic to lose our oldest league club.
As someone who supports a team that has been in your position I wish you a speedy return to the Football League.

 

[chipmunx]

Absolutely delighted that County have been saved. It would have been tragic to lose our oldest league club.
As someone who supports a team that has been in your position I wish you a speedy return to the Football League.

As County are not a league team any more should they still have the title as "oldest league club"?

 

[LongEatonPie]

As County are not a league team any more should they still have the title as "oldest league club"?

Absolutely not, it was stupid to have that as a title anyway. It would have been better, less of a mouthful and carried less of a risk had we said "Oldest Professional Club"

I still don't know if the banners have been taken off the stands, at least the away fans won't see it either way.

 

[Millerbri]

As County are not a league team any more should they still have the title as "oldest league club"?

I get your point but they will surely get the title back at some point in the future?

 

[EnglishRed]

As County are not a league team any more should they still have the title as "oldest league club"?

Yes I believe that is now Stoke City.

 

[Wooderson]

Transfer embargo lifted!

 

[Luke Imp]

Good news, Notts.

That's the off the field stuff sorted, just need some players! This season is already a write-off, though, I imagine. Too short a time to get things sorted on the pitch, although there's no transfer window so you can still continue to tweak as the season progresses.

 

[GTFCfish]

As a few other posters have alluded to on here this season will probably be a write off and then go full whack at promotion next season.
Great news that it’s finally sorted out.

 

[GodsGift]

Nah, this has got backs-against-the-wall promotion job written all over it.

I'm willing to stick my neck out and predict keeping Boldewijn, Dennis and Hemmings alone will see you finish in the top half. Ardley seems the right sort for a dogfight as well.

 

[Luke Imp]

Nah, this has got backs-against-the-wall promotion job written all over it.

I'm willing to stick my neck out and predict keeping Boldewijn, Dennis and Hemmings alone will see you finish in the top half. Ardley seems the right sort for a dogfight as well.

He didn't do a great job at that last season, bar their three game run against us, FGR and Mansfield!

 

[GodsGift]

He didn't do a great job at that last season, bar their three game run against us, FGR and Mansfield!

True. But once the rot has set in it's very hard to get out of it.

 

[Wooderson]

I’m not sure the season is a write-off, especially with there being no window. As mentioned above, we probably already have some of the best attacking and midfield players in the division, defence still a massive issue though.

 

[TheEndIsNigh]

The new owners still think promotion is a possibility, so hopefully this season is far from a write off. The fact that there’s no transfer window is a big plus.

Everything looked set fair this time last year and look how that turned out, so no reason why this can’t be equally surprising. Bit worried whether Ardley’s got it in him though.

 

[LongEatonPie]

Embargo now lifted and focus getting at least 2-3 in before Saturday.

 

[LongEatonPie]

Yes I believe that is now Stoke City.

Our neighbours were very quick to take that on a technicality that Stoke City weren't always called Stoke City or was that Sheffield United I forget.

 

[jacobncfc]

Stoke claim it but there’s very little evidence to support it. Neither will make a big thing about it anyway as if we do get promoted back at some point it’ll be ours again.

 

[jacobncfc]

True. But once the rot has set in it's very hard to get out of it.

The club wasn’t set for a backs against the wall effort last season. The fans hated the owner, were completely pissed off with the players and there was no sense of togetherness at all.

This summer has changed that - even though it’s the same manager and players, I think there’s a new found respect for them after the way they’ve gone about things. It should be much easier for Ardley to create the kind of atmosphere/feeling you need.

 

[Optipez]

Ardley's signings last season were all proper men, Doyle, O'Brien, Rose, Stubbs, Mackail Smith. They all put a shift in and I've every faith in him finding four more to strengthen the defence and to lead the line.
No transfer window is a massive bonus for us this season and I've gone from utter despair to believing that we can put out a competitive team within a couple of weeks.
Still think it would be for the best to shift Boudwijn and or Dennis on though. They must be swallowing a fair old chunk of the budget and I've not seen much fight or desire from either of them.

 

[NCFC Kim]

I get your point but they will surely get the title back at some point in the future?

Since we were relegated we've taken to using 'world's oldest professional club' which sounds much better. If we get back into the league at some point I hope we keep on using it.

 

[RavenBish]

I feel like with all the Hardy drama this summer, it’s been overlooked that we’ve finally got a chance at being a decent team by the mere fact JON STEAD HAS FINALLY GONE.

2 centre backs, a left back and we’re alright I think. Although I wouldn’t say no to another option on the wing.

 

[chipmunx]

Don't be too surprised if you struggle at times this season - it's a hard league to get out of and a very hard league to get out of at the 1st attempt;- but I think your fans will be much happier to be in a situation where it takes a couple of seasons rather than how things could have been with the former owner...

 

[Youpies]

I wouldn’t be surprised at all. Look at all the other league clubs who’ve been tipped to bounce back and spent many years down here.

There’s still a lot missing. Get the feeling some players still capitulate when the going gets tough. Until we bring in some big nasty bastards I’m very much in the pessimist side of Notts fans in this thread

Edit: No one has mentioned how terrible Ross Fitzsimons is btw. Let’s not forget we urgently need an experienced keeper