Jared Wilson talks you through the new season at Notts County FC

Left Pie-On - shirt illustration by Adam Poole
Left Pie-On - shirt illustration by Adam Poole

The full skinny:

What a crazy summer! Last season there was so much infighting between the club board and the supporters trust that most Notts fans were just begging for a buyer to step in and run the club properly again. Thankfully Munto Finance did and we’ve not looked back! The football world has been shocked by the appointment of Sven Goran Eriksson - who had been linked with Premiership and major European jobs. Instead he chose to come to the fourth tier of English football to help resurrect the oldest football league club in the world just in time for our 150th anniversary (2012).

One thing is for sure this season: other clubs in our division are going to hate us now, which is only right as if this had happened to another team in our league we’d have hated them too! We’re now solid favourites for promotion despite not managing a top-half finish for five years. We just need more quality players to come in now to justify all of this - though the ones we have ought to be more motivated than ever!  Also expect to see a rapid increase in attendances (in the short-term at least) from around 5,000 per game to nearer 10,000. Glory fans, hey? Seems weird even saying that about Notts!

On a more serious note, the one thing I hope that all County fans will realise is that a year ago we all agreed that money has ruined football by all of it going to the top teams and not feeding down to the smaller local clubs - which will ultimately end in them closing down. We’ve subverted that model now, but for how long we don’t know. We should never forget those dark days when our club nearly folded in 2003 and if any other clubs find themselves in trouble then we should do what we can to help them. We might be back there one day ourselves.

Pre-match drinking:

Some fans go to Hooters for the big screen TVs and the big jugs (of beer!) on offer - but that’s often full of away fans too. The staple pubs for pies who are not just out to ogle women in orange lycra are The Globe on London Road and or The Navigation Inn on Meadow Lane (which is okay if you don’t mind drinking out of plastic). Wheelers Bar next to the club shop has been fairly derelict except for a few beer pumps for ages, but with our new found riches you can expect to see some improvements to the place soon.

Best County chant:

The Wheelbarrow song is our classic. Simply sing ‘I had a Wheelbarrow… the wheel fell off’ repeatedly to the tune of On Top of Old Smokey. But there are others too - sing along with The Kop to the tune of Anarchy in the UK: “I am a county fan, and I come from Nottingham, Don’t know what I want but I know how to get it, I wanna destroy Forest and Stags!”

Players in:

Controversial striker and former drink-driving convict Lee Hughes has joined from Oldham and will no doubt inspire plenty of hatred from away fans. His new regular strike partner might prove to be former Port Vale and Yeovil forward Luke Rodgers, who has signed a 2 year deal. After lacking leadership on the pitch last season, we’ve managed to sign the former captains of several other clubs in our division including central defender Graeme Lee (from Bradford) and midfielders Ricky Ravenhill (Darlington), Ben Davies (Shrewsbury) and Neil Bishop (Barnet). Talented right-back Brendan Moloney has joined on a sixth-month loan from Forest and former Forest striker Craig Westcarr signed on a free from Kettering. But there are bound to be more players coming through our doors by the time you read this too!

Players out:

Quite a few, but none that will be missed. Player of the year left winger Myles Weston defected to Brentford before the takeover and will no doubt be wondering whether he made the right decision now. We’d have been gutted about that before, but Sven will probably find a much better replacement. Richard Butcher was released after scoring 20 goals over two seasons from midfield - but at times the non-goalscoring parts of his play were frankly appalling. Injury prone midfielders Gavin Strachan and Adam Nowland (aka Mr Glass) have also been shown the door. So too have tiny forward Jamie Forrester and defender Adam Tann.

Last season:

19th – four places off relegation to the non-league!

This season’s prediction:

2nd – I’m not going to jinx us by saying we’ll be champions, but I have put a bet on it. Nothing less than promotion will be acceptable with the resources we have now.

Look out for:

Fans wearing tea towels and belts on their heads as a ‘salute’ to our new Middle Eastern owners. There should be plenty of Sven masks and flags around the ground this season too!

Best fanzine website:

Our main fanzine The Pie doesn’t actually have a website. So you’ll have to get your online jollies from the excellent Notts County Mad instead.

Tickets:

Adult £18 - £20, Concessions £12 and children £5.
Phone the Ticket Office on 0115 9557204 for more details.

Notts County FC Official website


 

The massive Notts County pre-season thread!

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First signing for Notts of the summer is Ricky Ravenhill. Sounds like the kind of hard-tackling midfielder we've been missing for the best part of a decade...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/notts_county/8056804.stm
by Jared May 19, 2009, 10:20:40 am
It's the new Paul Harding!

well i'm going to look stupid if this doesn't come true  laugh
by Stillman May 19, 2009, 02:44:06 pm
There's no Gazza around to give our Ricky a black eye this time though...
by Jared May 19, 2009, 04:42:51 pm
Today we've signed Barnet captain Neil Bishop. So at least now we have two decent looking centre midfield players in the squad.

What's most amusing though is that the last time Ravenhill (playing for Darlington) and Bishop (playing for Barnet) met on the pitch Ravenhill kicked Bishop in the face and fractured his jaw. Hmmmm....
more here: http://barnet.rivals.net/News/pgArticle.aspx?artid=13722_4683983&id=4
by Jared May 20, 2009, 10:18:23 am
A third signing for Notts in three days. This time it's a name that will be familiar to at least half the cities footy fans already. Continuing the glut of ex-Forest players at Notts, we've signed Craig Westcarr...


http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11750_5340190,00.html

I'm a bit underwhelmed to be honest. He's only been signed as cover (and apparantly took a pay cut from non league) but 4 goals in 39 games last season a division below us is not a great return.
by Jared May 21, 2009, 10:33:01 am
He had loads of potential with us, he just never delivered on it. I guess this move is probably his last chance at league football though so you never know it might be the kick up the arse he needs (and he knows McParland really well from his forest days).


by Al (G) May 21, 2009, 11:46:04 am
Fair enough. I hope he delivers and he's on a cheap wage and a 1 year deal, so it can't be that bad a signing.

But the ghost of his former strike partner Spencer Weir Daley lives on and it will take a few good early performances for Notts fans to warm to him.
by Jared May 21, 2009, 11:58:45 am
Butcher goes back to Lincoln: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/lincoln_city/8070353.stm

I'll be putting money on him scoring against us at the first opportunity.
by Jared May 27, 2009, 04:12:12 pm
erm what the f**k?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/notts_county/8082539.stm

Now I didn't see that coming!
by Al (G) Jun 04, 2009, 09:35:30 am
I heard about this very late last night. It's fooking ridiculous and I love it!  slayer
by Jared Jun 04, 2009, 09:36:33 am
Your just another chel$ki now, Nott$ County if you like.

by Al (G) Jun 04, 2009, 09:48:59 am
I'm really really sorry about this. But mixing up 'brought' and 'bought' really winds me up.

This would be really exciting if it happened... I like County - and as long as they stay below us, and don't knock us out of the cups, then I wish them all the luck in the world.

by it's alan Jun 04, 2009, 10:14:45 am
I'm a bit concerned about this. I understand you need to gamble if you want to get promoted these days but I'm uncomfortable with the potential for debt. I don't need to remind the notts fans here what that feels like
by Stillman Jun 04, 2009, 10:17:34 am
ha! sorry i was half asleep when i posted this (I've edited everyone's posts now to prevent me looking stupid).

You should have seen the things i was typing before Firefox added the English dictionary plug-in. It' is slightly ironic that the spell checker doesn't recognised 'Firefox' though.

Yeah as much as these things seem like a great thing at the time you have to wonder what the long term costs could be. Having said that County have been low for so long they deserve some good news and hopefully a positive start to next season. Being able to get together a squad of 18 would be a good start to that.
by Al (G) Jun 04, 2009, 10:18:04 am
They must think they're buying Nottinghamshire. Can't wait to see their faces when they arrive at Meadow Lane and ask why they've been brought to this shithole, and can they have a look at Sherwood Forest instead.
by Lord of the Nish Jun 04, 2009, 10:55:46 am
Quote from: Lord of the Nish on Jun 04, 2009, 10:55:46 am
They must think they're buying Nottinghamshire. Can't wait to see their faces when they arrive at Meadow Lane and ask why they've been brought to this shithole, and can they have a look at Sherwood Forest instead.

Steady on
by Stillman Jun 04, 2009, 11:35:41 am
The current rumour is that at the very back of it all is the Royal Family of Qatar. Buying the club for two major reasons (a) because they like the 'oldest league club' thing and (b) because one of their long-term employees is a Notts lad who wants to move back home and be our Chief Exec (Peter Trembling - former Everton Chief Exec). But this might all be messageboard bollocks...

If it comes off, one thing you can bet your life on is that we'll see Notts fans wearing tea towels and belts on their heads in the kop at the first home game of next season.
by Jared Jun 04, 2009, 11:38:53 am
Quote from: Stillman on Jun 04, 2009, 11:35:41 am
Quote from: Lord of the Nish on Jun 04, 2009, 10:55:46 am
They must think they're buying Nottinghamshire. Can't wait to see their faces when they arrive at Meadow Lane and ask why they've been brought to this shithole, and can they have a look at Sherwood Forest instead.

Steady on

haha.
Meadow Lane isn't a shithole, it's a nice ground, I like going over there.
by it's alan Jun 04, 2009, 11:53:37 am
Best hurry up with your Kaka bid, eh? Chelsea might steal him from under your noses.
by JazzBamigboye Jun 04, 2009, 12:27:51 pm
You know the last time we bought a player for more than �10k was in 2001 (Steve Mildenhall)? And since then we've only paid for two more Scoffham and Canham at about �5k each.

If this goes through i'd expect that to change fairly dramatically, fairly quickly.


by Jared Jun 04, 2009, 12:31:24 pm
Be really good if you got promoted, there will be some big clubs in League One for a while yet... Leeds, Southampton, Norwich, Charlton knocking about there next season, and they can't all get promoted next year.


by it's alan Jun 04, 2009, 12:36:19 pm
Quote from: Jared on Jun 04, 2009, 12:31:24 pm
You know the last time we bought a player for more than �10k was in 2001 (Steve Mildenhall)? And since then we've only paid for two more Scoffham and Canham at about �5k each.

If this goes through i'd expect that to change fairly dramatically, fairly quickly.



Hey -  wonder if we'll break the tony agana record?  slayer
by Stillman Jun 04, 2009, 12:45:00 pm
Quote from: Stillman on Jun 04, 2009, 12:45:00 pm
Hey -  wonder if we'll break the tony agana record?  slayer

How much was Agana? Somewhere between �680-900k (depening on which report you believe).

It won't happen next season. But if (and hopefully when) the takeover does come off I would expect us to be able to afford a proper million pound player one day. Maybe in 3-5 seasons time.

Fact is that you can buy success in our division quite cheaply. 3 or 4 players at �100-250k each and a bit of decent management and we're up, basically. You could almost certainly buy the top strikers in our division (Lester, Holt, Bishop, Reid, LeFondre) for those amounts, anyway.

Then if you have bought well (like Peterborough did) the gap between being decent in League 2 and League 1 ain't so big either. It seems much easier to get promoted from League 1 having got promoted into there than relegated, anyway.

Apparantly the overall company that is buying us is worth �7billion!!!  Shocked
by Jared Jun 04, 2009, 02:13:44 pm
i thought it was 750k but that is probably based on uncle colin's info. if we can get the numbers up to 8000 (eight through the gate!!) i'll be a happy man
by Stillman Jun 04, 2009, 08:17:41 pm
The latest rumour doing the rounds is that Warnock might come back to us. Sounds far-fetched that he'd think about leaving Palace for League 2, but he has actually been on Sky Sports tonight saying how delighted he is to hear about the takeover and how much he loves the club. He could be showing his hand..?

Personally I want to see Charlie given a chance with some money, but the dream team would be both of them together. We love Warnock at the lane and it would seriously stoke up the local rivalry as from what I understand most Forest fans hate him from his blades days.

Oh and Central News ran with a story tonight that the investors plan to build a hotel and casino in some land we own behind the kop stand. They've also stated that they want Championship football within 2-3 seasons. Seriously!  Shocked
by Jared Jun 05, 2009, 01:41:04 am
I would love it if warnock came back. Love it. Everybody else hates him but I don't care, this could be brilliant. OK it probably won't happen but think about it, we've been nowhere since fat sam slung his hook. I think we've earnt the right for a time to dream!
by Stillman Jun 05, 2009, 09:57:41 am
Quote from: Stillman on Jun 05, 2009, 09:57:41 am
I would love it if warnock came back. Love it.
Keegan Alert!!!

I, for one, hate Neil Warnock... nothing made me happier than when we got our first away win of this season by beating Palace at Selhurst Park.

But in the Football League, Warnock will bring you results. There's no doubt about that.It might not be pretty but Im sure the 'Pies on here would rather see their team play 'competitive' football if it meant they progressed up the league(s).

I'm excited about this takeover, even as a red.
by it's alan Jun 05, 2009, 10:34:22 am
I think it's been quite a while since County fans have seen much in the way of 'pretty' football anyway.
by Al (G) Jun 05, 2009, 10:50:19 am
Before he managed Sheff Utd, in fact before he'd managed anyone except for Scarborough and had just started at Notts County I met Neil Warnock for the first time. I was ten or eleven years old and I was on a family holiday in Scarborough, walking across the beach with my family. I noticed a load of men in the same black training gear kicking footballs about on the sand. Could it be?

I got closer and recognised Tommy Johnson and started shouting to my dad. I'd been going to see Notts for a few seasons with him and I couldn't believe my luck!! I ran over as quickly as I could.

I wasn't the only kid there. There were three or four of us. As soon as he found out were were Notts fans he instructed the players to let us join in with the training exercises and we had a kick around for a good half an hour. Then the players signed us some autographs and Warnock showed us that weird thing he does with his belly (ever seen it? It's his party piece...) where he uses his stomach muscles to create a washing machine spin effect.

Then he gave us some tickets for a pre-season friendly they were playing against Scarborough the next day. It was a great day in my childhood and I have a friend who goes to the matches who was there too.

That's one (but by no means) the only reason I love Neil Warnock!
by Jared Jun 05, 2009, 10:55:05 am
Quote from: Alan on Jun 05, 2009, 10:50:19 am
I think it's been quite a while since County fans have seen much in the way of 'pretty' football anyway.

To be fair, i'm not sure when the last time you actually saw us play was, but Charlie McParland's team started last season with some brilliant passing football - as is his strong belief. It just didn't get us many wins as our strikers were too crap to finish the chances. Then everything deteriorated somewhat, but he definitely tries to get his teams play in the right way and never with hoofball.

Besides all this stuff about Warnock being pure long-ball is bollocks anyway. Long ball to me is boring hit and hope from defence straight to attack stuff with a big striker on the end of it putting away one chance in three. Like we were under Steve Thompson with Jason Lee and Andy White up front (now that was truly horrendous football).

Warnock loves his wingers and quick breaks - or at least he did when with us. He's a pioneer of getting players to the wing and using the crossing game - with a big man in the middle heading them down or in. Under Warnock we had players in midfield like Mark Draper and Phil Turner - who were guys with silky skills. I've seen a bit of his teams since and I don't think it's bad football - or even long ball in the 'Wimbledon under Bobby Gould' sense.

Anyway, enough defending of Warnock from me. Be amazing if he did come back in some role. But todays announcement is that Charlie is definitely staying for now.
by Jared Jun 05, 2009, 11:05:13 am
Last time i saw county play i proceeded to shit and vomit until i was pretty much completely empty and looked like a ghost.... reason enough not to want to go back any time soon!

I'm not saying you've been playing horrible football, just not what you'd call pretty. To be fair i'd say Barcelona are probably the only team who play pretty football at present.
by Al (G) Jun 05, 2009, 11:31:23 am
Both times I saw Notts this season, they played some tidy football.
Certainly not just long-ball... good use of the wide players, and some half-decent passing round midfield.

The whole argument about "nice" football is bullshit in my opinion anyway. Seeing my team score goals and win is what I want when I go through that turnstile; and if that happens, I'm happy!
But that's a whole different debate I guess.
by it's alan Jun 05, 2009, 11:39:18 am
Quote from: Alan on Jun 05, 2009, 11:31:23 am
Last time i saw county play i proceeded to shit and vomit until i was pretty much completely empty and looked like a ghost.... reason enough not to want to go back any time soon!

Aha, fair play. You obviously tried our catering then. Yeah... agreed, i'd probably rather eat dog shit.
by Jared Jun 05, 2009, 11:47:51 am
haha, actually i didn't eat at the ground so it wasn't the fault of NC catering, I never did work out why it was.

Must have been the season before the one just finished though (with all the NTU students).
by Al (G) Jun 05, 2009, 11:49:46 am
We're now making some serious International News too!

Al Jazeera - http://english.aljazeera.net//sport/2009/06/2009659103574415.html
Reuters Africa - http://af.reuters.com/article/sportsNews/idAFJOE55404020090605?feedType=RSS&feedName=sportsNews
New Zealand Sports - http://nz.sports.yahoo.com/football/news/article/-/5631164/notts-county-latest-english-target-middle-e
New York Times - http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2009/06/04/sports/sports-uk-soccer-england-county.html?_r=1&ref=soccer
Yahoo (USA) Sports - http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news?slug=reu-englandcounty&prov=reuters&type=lgns

Weird! I always know the 'oldest league club' thing was a big pull, but in all honesty i'd got to the point of thinking the world didn't care. Very glad to be wrong...


by Jared Jun 05, 2009, 12:03:24 pm
Quote from: Jared on Jun 05, 2009, 11:47:51 am
Aha, fair play. You obviously tried our catering then. Yeah... agreed, i'd probably rather eat dog shit.

They didn't even have Chicken Balti Pies last time I was there. Bad times.



by it's alan Jun 05, 2009, 12:06:42 pm
Sky Sports News Coverage





Particularly hilarious for the way they've inadvertantly stitched up our Chairman. The camera cuts the Y off COUNTY in the stand. And his heads right in front of the O.  laugh
by Jared Jun 05, 2009, 12:21:58 pm
So who's buying them, then? Mustapha Shitteam?
by Lord of the Nish Jun 05, 2009, 12:30:40 pm
Haha!

Quote from: Jared on Jun 05, 2009, 12:21:58 pm
Sky Sports News Coverage





Particularly hilarious for the way they've inadvertantly stitched up our Chairman. The camera cuts the Y off COUNTY in the stand. And his heads right in front of the O.  laugh

by Al (G) Jun 05, 2009, 12:47:38 pm
Good things dont' happen to to Notts, i'm wary.
by Ardency Jun 06, 2009, 06:50:31 pm
every dog has his day ardency, we've got to believe that this might go right. Imagine the possiblities: prawn sandwich fans at the lane. It would give us something new to moan about, at least  laugh
by Stillman Jun 06, 2009, 09:37:47 pm
Quote from: Alan on Jun 05, 2009, 11:31:23 am
Last time i saw county play i proceeded to shit and vomit until i was pretty much completely empty and looked like a ghost....

psmlololololololol

(yes im drunk)

and fuck warnock.
by timmy Jun 06, 2009, 11:56:11 pm
Quote from: timmy on Jun 06, 2009, 11:56:11 pm
Quote from: Alan on Jun 05, 2009, 11:31:23 am
Last time i saw county play i proceeded to shit and vomit until i was pretty much completely empty and looked like a ghost....

psmlololololololol

(yes im drunk)


ha

one of my favourite stories ever. reb had to rescue you from the toilet. mega.

(i'm not drunk)
by theonelikethe Jun 07, 2009, 12:17:32 am
Looks like this has now taken a major step towards going through as the Supporters Trust have now agreed to let Munto takeover. I think all that has to happen now is that the football league agree to ratify it and it should all be completed within two weeks.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/notts_county/8125876.stm

In return it looks like they're going to build us a statue of Jimmy Sirrel and Jack Wheeler outside the ground. Oh and the newspapers have today confirmed that the family behind it is the Al Thani family (aka the Royal Family of Qatar) who are the fifth richest family in the world! So basically we're extremely minted!!!
by Jared Jun 30, 2009, 09:52:07 am
This is great news, and such a lovely day too. All that's needed now is to tempt mark hateley into the management hot seat and that's me 100% happy!
by Stillman Jun 30, 2009, 10:39:09 am
Good news, County.

In related news, Forest have signed McGoldrick in a four year deal. Anther quality local lad and Fernwood attendee.
by seamus flannery Jun 30, 2009, 01:52:42 pm
Forest have also signed pacey winger, Paul Anderson, from Liverpool, for �250,000.

Absolute bargain - Swansea were in talks with Liverpool, but at a figure closer to �750K

As for the County news, good luck, I hope it goes through.

I've already pencilled in my dates with Meadow Lane this season. I'll be there in the weeks where Forest have breaks; and that coincides with the visits of Burton Albion and Chestefield. Two decent games for a neutral, yeah?

It would be good if County could make some glamorous signings and batter a few local rivals.
by it's alan Jun 30, 2009, 02:53:27 pm
I think we paid 250,000 as we'd already paid 300,000-500,000 for the loan last year.
by Al (G) Jun 30, 2009, 02:56:27 pm
We're playing a Liverpool XI on 31st July which I might pop down for
by Stillman Jun 30, 2009, 03:14:04 pm
Big day for us. I addition to the takeover, we've just signed former Bradford Captain Graham Lee, 31, as our new centre-half.

Also the rumour is Brendan Maloney is going to sign on a 6month loan for us from Forest tomorrow. Having seen him play against us for Chesterfield, i'd be very happy with that!
by Jared Jun 30, 2009, 03:32:59 pm
Quote from: Stillman on Jun 30, 2009, 03:14:04 pm
We're playing a Liverpool XI on 31st July which I might pop down for

Its a Friday night, I could be tempted as long as the price is reasonable.

You've got Derby the Tuesday before that as well, which I will be at.

And us the Saturday before that.

Meadow Lane 3 times in 6 days, blimey.
by it's alan Jun 30, 2009, 03:42:13 pm
All our friendlies are a tenner to get into.

You like Moloney then Forest fans?
by Jared Jun 30, 2009, 03:47:32 pm
Yeah he's shown good signs.
by Al (G) Jun 30, 2009, 04:33:30 pm
Quote from: Jared on Jun 30, 2009, 03:47:32 pm
All our friendlies are a tenner to get into.

You like Moloney then Forest fans?

Yeah, he had some good appearances with us. Would do him good to play competitively ever week.

He looks a bit funny when he runs, seems to have gangly arms and legs that just don't look sturdy when he's on the move. But he's not slow, and he's composed on the ball. It was him breaking from defence that set up Joe Garner's 40 yard lob at Southampton last year.

He'll be decent at League 2, yeah. Look after him.
by it's alan Jun 30, 2009, 04:42:41 pm
Moloney will do a job for you, coming along nicely. Presume if we're letting him stay out to play, then we've got Gunter's loan sorted, which will be nice.

So ... are there really no misgivings about the supporters' trust just giving away its majority holding to some random bunch of bankers in return for vague promises to be nice? I fear it may all end in tears.
by Albert Herring Jun 30, 2009, 10:55:53 pm
Quote from: Albert Herring on Jun 30, 2009, 10:55:53 pm
Presume if we're letting him stay out to play, then we've got Gunter's loan sorted, which will be nice.

I really hope that is the case, he was brilliant with us last season. Would do our back four no end of good.

Quote from: Albert Herring on Jun 30, 2009, 10:55:53 pm
So ... are there really no misgivings about the supporters' trust just giving away its majority holding to some random bunch of bankers in return for vague promises to be nice? I fear it may all end in tears.

I've never really got to grips with how ownership of clubs actually works. But yeah, when I read about the County takeover, I had these exact same thoughts.
Hopefully it works out okay, and they get promoted (just once so they are still a division below Forest).  Would be nice to see them get bigger crowds and a bit of stability.
by it's alan Jun 30, 2009, 11:56:53 pm
Better still, they could get promoted twice and be a division below Forest.
by Albert Herring Jul 01, 2009, 12:16:50 am
Quote from: Albert Herring on Jun 30, 2009, 10:55:53 pm
So ... are there really no misgivings about the supporters' trust just giving away its majority holding to some random bunch of bankers in return for vague promises to be nice? I fear it may all end in tears.

You wouldn't be the first to come up with conspiracy theories, but if you look deeper into it, it all makes more sense.

The shares the Supporters Trust owned were worth about �250k and bought and given to the Trust us in 2003 by a rich Notts fan called Haydn Green, who was pretty much on his deathbed. There were rules around his gifting of the shares at the time that they couldn't be sold on.

So when the wealthiest backers we've ever known come in and try to buy us, something has to give. Munto have said they're prepared to put in millions and millions into the club (at least seven figures a season), but they want a 100% share in the club to protect their asset. Which makes sense if they're about to try and do a Chelsea or a Man City and pour enough money into us to get us into the Championship and beyond in time for our 150th anniversary.

So basically we had to gift the shares or the takeover would not have gone through (or would at least have taken a lot longer with legal red tape - by which time they may have moved on to buy someone like Southampton who they also looked at). A lot of questions were asked (rightly so) but the three main things that sealed it for Munto were:

a) John Mounteny - a shareholder who owned 10% of the club and has been on the board for decades (since before the Pavis era) encouraged the Trust to do it, to the extent he also agreed to gift his shares too after meeting the people involved. He's a loyal Notts fan and a succesful businessman around these parts and you'd trust him as much as anyone not to fuck the club over.

b) This happened quite late on, but Munto appear to have offered to build the fans statues of Jimmy Sirrel and Jack Wheeler in exchange for the shares. Which is something we've wanted for ages, but could never afford on our own. Apparantly they've already spoken to the bloke who did the Cloughie one about it. If it's along the same lines that's �140,000 gift back to the fans right there.

c) If we want to see the club succeed we don't really have any other option. In theory I like the idea of a fan-owned club, but it hasn't worked for us. We haven't finished in the top half of the table for about 8 years. We've spent a grand total of �10k on players since 2001 and i'm sick of paying �18 a game to watch crap. Sick of it to the point of not really wanting to go anymore - and i'm a loyal fan. Clubs need a bit of money to generate money and this could be big for us.

At the end of the day, now it's been confirmed that the Al Thani's are behind it then all this talk of property developers is totally blown out of the water. Does anyone really think the royal family of Qatar are going to be bothered about a stretch of land in Nottingham that might be worth a couple of mil if the economic climate was better? Particularly when they're involved with other sports foundations worldwide and are bidding to host the Olympics in future. The bad PR they'd generate from closing down the oldest league club in the world would never be worth a quick buck to them. But the postive PR they could get from taking the oldest football league club in the world to (somewhere nearer) the top could be worth millions and millions.

At the end of the day right now is the most exciting time for County fans since Big Sam left us. Hopefully now we'll win some games and maybe within a decade start to actually challenge Forest again. But if we are sucessful we also have to make sure we don't forget where we've come from!
by Jared Jul 01, 2009, 10:54:25 am
It's not really a conspiracy theory, more a cock-up theory. I have some mates with some standing in the fan-owned clubs movement, such as it is, and they are not best pleased. But I can see the superficial attractiveness (like I can see the superficial attractiveness of winning promotion to the prem for Forest, although it would probably be hideous if we got there)
by Albert Herring Jul 01, 2009, 12:30:38 pm
Yeah i'd not be worried about a conspiracy at all, it's exactly as you just said, will it work, will they actually commit enough money to make a difference and what happens if that money still doesn't help you progress?

If they want to sell what happens if there's no one interested, with the additional expenditure i can't imagine the supporters trust would be able to buy it back again.

Impossible and stupid to say no to though.
by Al (G) Jul 01, 2009, 01:36:14 pm
Quote from: Albert Herring on Jul 01, 2009, 12:30:38 pm
But I can see the superficial attractiveness

Eh? Why is it 'superficial'? Before these guys came in I would have taken �3million from anyone just so our club didn't fold in a few years. It just so happens a much better long-term offer came in.

If your passion lies with supporter-owned clubs and the grass roots game (rather than superficial things like having money to buy players) you shouldn't be a Forest fan mate. Your club loses money hand over fist and is about �50million in debt to Doughty and a few mill in debt to us all as council tax payers. Would you be happier if Forest hadn't bought any players for cash this summer? Would you prefer to 'keep it real' like Southampton currently are?

Notts as a club is more or less debt free and Munto appear to want to keep it that way and run it as a legitimate business. So by spending �10million to get us to the Championship they can probably double their outlay within a few years as most Championship clubs are worth about �20million. We already have the stadium to play aat that level in place.

You all have valid points that we could easily cock it up though. But having not signed a player for more than �5k since 2001 and not having finished in the top half of the table since then we have a much better chance now than ever. Plus if we look likely to cock it up then McParland will have to go, nomatter what he did in his playing days for us. His managerial record is very poor so far and if we start like we ended last season i'd expect him to be gone by the end of August. Really hope that doesn't happen though... Go on Charlie! slayer
by Jared Jul 01, 2009, 02:36:02 pm
you know up until your last couple of posts on this subject jared i have been very 'down' about the whole idea, i've been viewing it very cynically. but you are right, we have spent 10 years doing f all with f all resources. Great escapes too many times to mention, crooked despotic american con-men and more. Something, for once has come along that is good, and this could really really work.

No disrespect attached to Forest fans here chaps, but if this investment was coming your way the EP would be loudly trumpting it out of its arse for months
by Stillman Jul 01, 2009, 03:20:46 pm
Big up Stillman!  thumbs

The fact is we're never going to become a Chelsea or a Man City etc. Nomatter how rich the new owners are, they've already signalled their intent to be frugal with great resources by buying what is on paper a small club with bigger potential. Any Notts fans who are talking about anything like that at the moment are just delirious with excitement and well wide of the mark.

As far as i'm concerned I see this as a good chance for us to return to our most recent 'glory days' (ie having a bit of money and winning lower division titles under the likes of Warnock or Allardyce). When I started supporting Notts in the mid-eighties i'd never seen us lower than what is now League One - until we got relegated in 1997. Since then we've been there more often than not, but don't forget that we were in the top division the year before The Premiership came into force. We haven't always been a 'shit' club, we just have been for most of the last decade.

Personally I doubt we'll sign anyone for more than �100k this pre-season, unless they decide to pay slightly over the odds for a very proven striker like Grant Holt for around �300k. Fact is we might not pay any fees at all. Canny League Two transfers are all about getting the best players available on frees. The fact that we've already signed the former captains of rival clubs like Bradford (Lee), Darlington (Ravenhill), Barnet (Bishop) and are also in for Shrewsbury skipper Ben Davies shows we're adding leaders to our ranks on the cheap. We just have a bit more flexibility in the wage budget to attract them in. Also nice to have the resources to maintain a youth team again and a training ground (for the first time ever)!
by Jared Jul 01, 2009, 03:41:54 pm
A shame Myles Weston decided not to re-sign for us though.  Sad
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/brentford/8126713.stm

I'd have been well pissed about this had the takeover not happened. He won player of the year from the manager last season (fact is he should have come second behind Hamshaw) and we always get stung by tribunerals. I reckon we'll get about �50k plus add-ons for him in the end. Yet the boy played in the same England youth team as Theo Walcott a few years ago!
by Jared Jul 01, 2009, 03:50:28 pm
I'm just a red team glory hunter at heart, with Forest-supporting credentials that go all the way back to 2005, so I have no personal experience of ten years of bumping along the bottom. My connections with fan-owned clubs are purely via mates, though; some of whose feelings stem from experiences of dealing with owners which are worse than Notts's. I'm just trying to make sense of two lots of conflicting messages.
by Albert Herring Jul 01, 2009, 11:33:08 pm
i really hope it works out for county, it would be ACE for nottingham if you were up there with forest
by daley thompson Jul 01, 2009, 11:47:49 pm
From the supporters trust website;
Quote
Who are the Directors and shareholders of Munto Finance Ltd - and who ultimately controls it (or if it's a subsidiary company, who has ownership and control of the ultimate parent company)?

Answer: It is a special acquisition vehicle, managed by a bone a fide Investment Trust.

Oh for fuck's sake.
by Lord of the Nish Jul 02, 2009, 12:09:25 pm
Today we've signed Shrewsbury skipper Ben Davies. He's been one of (if not the) best midfielder in our division over the last 2 seasons. 14 goals from midfield last season and 16 assists for Grant Holt too (who the rumour is we're after next).

http://www.nottscountyfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10426~1711623,00.html
by Jared Jul 02, 2009, 04:30:20 pm
It's official, the takeover has now gone through!  thumbs

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/notts_county/8149656.stm
by Jared Jul 14, 2009, 12:48:24 pm
I came here to post that. Good news, bet you're all glad it's finally gone through, yeah?

I'll see you in a few weeks for the Reds' trip to Meadow Lane

No doubt we'll bring out the old classic that we sung at Man City in January
 "you might be rich but you're fucking shit"

On a serious note, pleased it's all sorted out.
by it's alan Jul 14, 2009, 01:23:30 pm
Lots of rumours that the club are set to unveil a brand new club badge tommorrow. I would have thought that would have been right down their list of priorities to be honest. We need strikers more than anything!!

Apparantly it's going to be like the old school 50's club badge with the castle and maybe even robin hood on it.


by Jared Jul 20, 2009, 09:05:42 pm
Sven to be our next manager? Unlikely i'd say...
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/2546145/Notts-County-go-for-Sven.html
by Jared Jul 21, 2009, 12:53:53 am
I also read a rumour that County were going to make a bid for Super Robbie Earnshaw. I had to laugh.

Is it true the 'Pies are after Jack Lester, placing a �50,000 bid for him recently? He'd certainly do a job but I think you'd have to pay more than that for him.

Can we have a score prediction for Saturday??

Based on a full-strength team, I would go for 3-1 Reds.


by it's alan Jul 21, 2009, 08:54:41 am
The Sven thing has made the Telegraph too. They might have asked to talk to him, but he'll never come. I doubt he'd even drop down to the Championship. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/leaguetwo/nottscounty/5876737/Sven-Goran-Eriksson-lined-up-for-Notts-County-job.html

Rumours are that we've put bids in for both Jack Lester and Grant Holt. At this rate we'll be able to field half an ex-Forest team against you:

GK - Hoult
RB - Moloney
CB - Thompson
LW - Fairclough
F - Holt
F - Lester

I think the Earnshaw rumour is off that wanky footballrumours site where you can post anything, basically. Probably a Notts fan trying to wind up Forest.

I'd go for 3-1 to the reds too. I know it's disloyal, but our team just aren't good enough yet. Or 3-0 if we fail to sign any strikers before then. What we have up front right now is a non-league strikerforce, basically.
by Jared Jul 21, 2009, 09:58:12 am
Quote from: Jared on Jul 20, 2009, 09:05:42 pm
Lots of rumours that the club are set to unveil a brand new club badge tommorrow. I would have thought that would have been right down their list of priorities to be honest. We need strikers more than anything!!

Apparantly it's going to be like the old school 50's club badge with the castle and maybe even robin hood on it.




Whoomp here it is. I like it a lot! Though it's a blatant tie-in with the Juve badge...

http://www.nottscountyfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10426~1728423,00.html
by Jared Jul 21, 2009, 10:01:29 am
Is better than your old one. What's the 'H' in the middle about?
by New Jersey Manufacturers Insurance Co. Jul 21, 2009, 10:38:57 am
Shitting hell, even some of the respectable papers are carrying the Sven story. And i've just heard from a good source of mine at the club that it's a done deal.  Shocked

The Times - http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/football_league/article6721474.ece

The Telegraph -
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/leaguetwo/nottscounty/5876737/Sven-Goran-Eriksson-lined-up-for-Notts-County-job.html

by Jared Jul 21, 2009, 10:40:48 am
The post reckon he'll be announced as director of football within a day or two: http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/homesport/Sven-Goran-Eriksson-set-Magpies/article-1182511-detail/article.html

so not manager, still seems crazy!
by Al (G) Jul 21, 2009, 10:42:48 am
Quote from: Alan on Jul 21, 2009, 10:42:48 am
The post reckon he'll be announced as director of football within a day or two: http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/homesport/Sven-Goran-Eriksson-set-Magpies/article-1182511-detail/article.html

so not manager, still seems crazy!


Funny that the post got scooped by everyone on this story, though - Including this little old forum. Not seen it yet, but I bet it's Paul McKenna on the back page today talking about how excited he is about next season etc.
by Jared Jul 21, 2009, 10:47:05 am
Quote from: New Jersey Manufacturers Insurance Co. on Jul 21, 2009, 10:38:57 am
Is better than your old one. What's the 'H' in the middle about?


Robin Hood?

Article on the new badge here: http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/homesport/Notts-County-unveil-new-logo/article-1182505-detail/article.html
by Jared Jul 21, 2009, 10:49:05 am
Okay, here's one that is definitely not true. Beckham's on his way apparantly: http://www.4thegame.com/club/notts-county-fc/news/241919/eriksson_linked_with_becks_move.html

 laugh
by Jared Jul 21, 2009, 10:52:35 am
Quote from: New Jersey Manufacturers Insurance Co. on Jul 21, 2009, 10:38:57 am
Is better than your old one. What's the 'H' in the middle about?

'Hope'

They should have replaced the castle that doesn't exist anymore with the Broadmarsh Centre. And the purple spoils it.
by Lord of the Nish Jul 21, 2009, 11:09:32 am
More on Sven

Guardian - http://www.guardian.co.uk/global/2009/jul/21/sven-goran-eriksson-notts-county-football

Daily Mail - http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1201097/Sven-Goran-Eriksson-sensation-Notts-Countys-bid-appoint-England.html?ITO=1490

Yahoo News - http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/21072009/58/league-eriksson-close-notts-county-move.html

Footy 365 - http://www.football365.com/story/0,17033,8652_5446001,00.html





by Jared Jul 21, 2009, 11:26:57 am
and here...
http://www.teamtalk.com/football/story/0,16368,2483_5446012,00.html

What the hell is going on? slayer
by Ardency Jul 21, 2009, 11:41:46 am
Now the main article on BBC Football homepage:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/default.stm
by Jared Jul 21, 2009, 11:46:56 am
Its on Sky Sports News now, they say its gonna be announced tomorrow!
by Ardency Jul 21, 2009, 11:54:04 am
There's been rumours for weeks on Notts Messageboards that we were after Glenn Hoddle or Dennis Wise in the same role. But if this comes off it trumps all of them.

party party party partypartypartypartyparty
by Jared Jul 21, 2009, 11:56:07 am
Hm...failed to take the best England team in ages any further than the quarter final of a tournament with tedious, let's-nick-an-early-goal-and-sit-on it, sacked from Man City, and made a right balls-up of managing Mexico.

Wouldn't County's money be better spent on someone with proven experience in getting clubs out of a division full of cloggers first?
by Lord of the Nish Jul 21, 2009, 12:09:28 pm
No. The first priority must be to make Nottingham football sexeh again.
by New Jersey Manufacturers Insurance Co. Jul 21, 2009, 12:13:59 pm
Quote from: Lord of the Nish on Jul 21, 2009, 12:09:28 pm
Wouldn't County's money be better spent on someone with proven experience in getting clubs out of a division full of cloggers first?

Agreed. It's bizarre but there might be more to this than meets the eye:

a) Our new owners are minted, so money isn't a problem.
b) We're struggling to attract certain 'top' players to the club right now because we're in the 4th division and bringing Sven in will help with that.
c) If Sven is still getting paid off by Man City and Mexico he probably can't accept another manager's job. But DOF is a bit different. Plus according to some of the stories he's being offered shares in the club and might even have been a partner in this at the bidding stage.
d) Munto are blatantly after the worldwide publicity. It appears they've already cancelled our 3-year sponsorship deal with Vandanel and are getting Adidas or Nike on board for the new kit to make it more 'sellable' worldwide etc.
by Jared Jul 21, 2009, 12:27:44 pm
PS - Personally I would have preferred Warnock still!   Undecided
by Jared Jul 21, 2009, 12:28:42 pm
COUNTY FANS - Get your Sven masks ready for the friendly games over the next couple of weeks: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sportacademy/bsp/hi/football/pdf/sven.pdf
by Jared Jul 21, 2009, 12:40:20 pm
Good article in WSC about why we don't need Sven. They're right to be honest, but I wouldn't say no... http://www.wsc.co.uk/content/view/3764/38/
by Jared Jul 21, 2009, 12:46:27 pm
I really want this T-shirt, by the way;


by Lord of the Nish Jul 21, 2009, 12:53:50 pm
http://www.aftonbladet.se/sportbladet/fotbollsbladet/internationell/england/article5541810.ab

Trans: 'It's bullshit'

Note to Notts County: don't get Puma to do your new kit. Look at what they've done to Reading. Hello, sailor...


by Lord of the Nish Jul 21, 2009, 01:35:29 pm
That is a terrible kit for Reading. But having said that we've had worse...


Early nineties away shirt


Mid nineties tartan away


Barcode effort early 90's home

The sad thing is I own all 3 of these!

by Jared Jul 21, 2009, 03:16:29 pm
pure class jared

I have the yellow away kit with polo neck and large embossed badge over the front. At the time i though "this is the best away kit I have ever seen". Every now and then i dig it out from the back of the wardrobe... it is truly awful  laugh
by Stillman Jul 21, 2009, 03:29:28 pm
You know you've arrived when football365 start ripping the piss out of ya: http://www.football365.com/story/0,17033,8751_5446717,00.html
by Jared Jul 21, 2009, 03:51:15 pm
YOU PIES!!!!!!

 slayer slayer slayer slayer slayer slayer slayer
by Piethagoras Jul 21, 2009, 04:59:59 pm
the new badge would be ok if it wasn't for the purple!

Can't believe you've got Sven, I thought my Dad was joking when he told me, I think its a good move (for county), I rate him.....

As long as your the 2nd club in the city I don't mind all this. But once you start competing with Forest, I'll probably hate you just as much as Derby.
by ketch Jul 21, 2009, 06:25:45 pm
Quote from: ketch on Jul 21, 2009, 06:25:45 pm
As long as your the 2nd club in the city I don't mind all this. But once you start competing with Forest, I'll probably hate you just as much as Derby.


Hopefully that won't be too far away.

Sven and Tord Grip confirmed as new Director of Football and General Advisor at the club: http://www.nottscountyfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10426~1729552,00.html
by Jared Jul 22, 2009, 12:56:19 am
just watched Sven saying he's facing his greatest ever challenge. Looks like he's heard about Palais girls, then.
by Oddp Jul 22, 2009, 12:24:30 pm
Truly we are living in interesting times.

Quote from: Lord of the Nish on Jul 21, 2009, 12:09:28 pm
Hm...failed to take the best England team in ages any further than the quarter final of a tournament with tedious, let's-nick-an-early-goal-and-sit-on it, sacked from Man City, and made a right balls-up of managing Mexico.

Wouldn't County's money be better spent on someone with proven experience in getting clubs out of a division full of cloggers first?

Yes, except that seems logical, and logic isn't really playing a big part in this saga - look at the big mysterious 'H' in the middle of the new crest. Why is it there? Who knows? It's not particularly logical to buy all your closest rivals' captains - funny, yes, but decent strikers might have been more sensible. Now this - weird, sure, but has bought massive amounts of column inches and presumably has made it easier to attract players to the club. Also, depending on how many organisations are still paying Svennis off, he might have been available pretty cheap, who knows? It's all kind of attention seeking behaviour though, innit? Which might not be good for the long-term health of the club, but promises plenty of lulz for the disinterested observer.
by New Jersey Manufacturers Insurance Co. Jul 22, 2009, 12:56:39 pm
Just got back from Meadow Lane, bit of a strange experience!!

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=106315&id=593215915&l=d13eed50d3
by Ardency Jul 22, 2009, 01:42:00 pm
Jade - check your facebook mail mate!
by Jared Jul 22, 2009, 01:53:29 pm
Quote from: New Jersey Manufacturers Insurance Co. on Jul 22, 2009, 12:56:39 pm
Yes, except that seems logical, and logic isn't really playing a big part in this saga - look at the big mysterious 'H' in the middle of the new crest. Why is it there? Who knows?

Hmmm. There's a lot of conjecture about this right now. The 'official line' from the club is that it's a H for Robin Hood - shaped a bit like a bow and arrow too. Apparantly Robin Hood was actually on the original badge too - in place of the Magpies (glad they changed that!) - and also the purple bit originally came back from the designers red. That would not have gone down too well either!

Unconfirmed rumours are now surfacing, however, that since we're now owned by the Royal Family of Qatar - the Al Thani's - there's also a case that it could stand for House of Thani (does look a bit like a H and a small 't' together). More about the House of Thani here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_of_Thani

Quote from: New Jersey Manufacturers Insurance Co. on Jul 22, 2009, 12:56:39 pm
Also, depending on how many organisations are still paying Svennis off, he might have been available pretty cheap, who knows?

I might be wrong on this, but as I understand it all League 1 and 2 clubs are wage capped. Up to 60% of your previous seasons turnover can be spent on players wages and 15% on staff wages. As a (very) rough estimate i'd say our turnover last season was probably �2-3million, which leaves around �400k per year for staff wages. So unless they have found a way around this, there's no way Sven is on �40k a week. Probably not even a tenth of that. What is certain is that he and Tord Grip have been given shares in the club - the size of which depends on our success on the pitch. Which sounds like a good deal to me!

If I hear any more i'll let you know. Also we've just signed Lee Hughes though. Not sure i'm happy about that. He's a good player, but his history goes against our 'family club' ethos somewhat.
by Jared Jul 22, 2009, 02:04:43 pm
Oh yeah, every silver lining has a cloud. There are lots of rumours that David Platt will be joining us in some capacity too. Laugh it up Forest fans.  Sad
by Jared Jul 22, 2009, 02:09:24 pm
Quote from: Jared on Jul 22, 2009, 02:09:24 pm
Oh yeah, every silver lining has a cloud. There are lots of rumours that David Platt will be joining us in some capacity too. Laugh it up Forest fans.  Sad

aaahh jeeez. Still if you want the rainbow you've gotta put up with the rain. You know which 'philospher' said that? Dolly Parton. And people say she's just a big pair of t**s.

Courtesy of David Brent
by Stillman Jul 22, 2009, 02:36:55 pm
Click here to view this gallery: Anyone for Svennis?



As local football goes barmy with Notts County appointing Sven Goran Eriksson, we nipped to Meadow Lane for the Swede\'s unveiling

Please use this thread to comment on the above LeftLion photo gallery
by LeftLion Jul 22, 2009, 02:41:44 pm
Thanks to Ardency for the photos!

You can now see the whole Sven press conference on BBC at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/8163302.stm
by Jared Jul 22, 2009, 02:54:56 pm


New badge, nicked off NCM Mad.
by Jared Jul 22, 2009, 03:04:00 pm


New county badge does anyone know what the purple shield with the H looking thing on represents?
by 诺丁汉 Jul 22, 2009, 03:06:37 pm
Why not read the thread and find out!
by New Jersey Manufacturers Insurance Co. Jul 22, 2009, 03:14:10 pm
New badge does this meen County are getting a new kit?
by 诺丁汉 Jul 22, 2009, 03:32:46 pm
Quote from: 诺丁汉 on Jul 22, 2009, 03:32:46 pm
New badge does this meen County are getting a new kit?

Yes mate. But like most football clubs we do each season anyhow...
by Jared Jul 22, 2009, 03:40:18 pm




Sven meets Notts fans for the first time - video by itsjoshmeowd
by Jared Jul 22, 2009, 03:41:11 pm





Nice video about Sven. Shame about the music though...  Undecided
by Jared Jul 22, 2009, 03:42:17 pm
Amusing Guardian piece: http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/jul/22/sven-goran-eriksson-press-conference-notts-county
by Jared Jul 22, 2009, 03:44:53 pm
Quote from: Jared on Jul 22, 2009, 03:40:18 pm
Quote from: 诺丁汉 on Jul 22, 2009, 03:32:46 pm
New badge does this meen County are getting a new kit?

Yes mate. But like most football clubs we do each season anyhow...

I know but usually on a rotation of 1 every two seasons but with a new badge that would suggest all kits got changed.
by 诺丁汉 Jul 22, 2009, 03:47:04 pm
Quote from: Jared on Jul 22, 2009, 03:41:11 pm
video by itsjoshmeowd

That kid is brilliant.  He's about 14, right? Comes on a few Forest forums for the banter, he makes me laugh. I also saw he had a photo-blog of all the away games he goes to up on a general footy forum, and he puts most supporters to shame.


by it's alan Jul 22, 2009, 03:51:32 pm
Fair enough. We change our sponsors most seasons to be honest anyway.

From what i've heard the new kit will be Nike and the Vandanel production and sponsorship deal has been cancelled and they've been paid off basically.
by Jared Jul 22, 2009, 03:52:11 pm
Quote from: it's alan on Jul 22, 2009, 03:51:32 pm
That kid is brilliant.  He's about 14, right? Comes on a few Forest forums for the banter, he makes me laugh. I also saw he had a photo-blog of all the away games he goes to up on a general footy forum, and he puts most supporters to shame.

Agreed. He hasn't missed a Notts game for like 5 years (home and away). And we've had plenty of games you'd fany missing in that time! Gawd knows how he can afford it all on his pocket money though...
by Jared Jul 22, 2009, 03:53:27 pm
I bought my tickets for the friendly today.

Really looking forward to it. There will be some cracking banter.

Will loads more County fans come out of the woodwork after all of these recent developments??




by it's alan Jul 22, 2009, 03:55:28 pm
Quote from: Jared on Jul 22, 2009, 02:04:43 pm
Unconfirmed rumours are now surfacing, however, that since we're now owned by the Royal Family of Qatar - the Al Thani's - there's also a case that it could stand for House of Thani (does look a bit like a H and a small 't' together). More about the House of Thani here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_of_Thani


Okay a bit more blatant and unfounded rumour mongering for you on this.

As I said the original design came back red. Which could have been the Qatar red of their flag:


However, the new purple could be the Qatar Royal Purple - "it is also worth noting the colour is close to the royal purple - a dye that was originally manufactured by crushing snails on a Qatar island."
From here: http://www.qatarvisitor.com/index.php?cID=412&pID=1425


by Jared Jul 22, 2009, 03:58:18 pm
Quote from: it's alan on Jul 22, 2009, 03:55:28 pm
I bought my tickets for the friendly today.

Really looking forward to it. There will be some cracking banter.

Will loads more County fans come out of the woodwork after all of these recent developments??

Haha! We have a few songs lined up ready for ya'll. My favourite is "You've lost that big club feeling..." - i'm sure you know the tune!

And yeah, i'm sure a few fans will come out of the woodwork now. But I don't want to be too hostile to them. The fact is our actual fanbase is more like 10-12,000 than 4,500 but most of them were put off by the dross football we've had on offer for years! Besides we could do with the company. Our stadium holds 22,000!!

by Jared Jul 22, 2009, 04:00:52 pm
Quote from: it's alan on Jul 22, 2009, 03:55:28 pm
I bought my tickets for the friendly today.

Really looking forward to it. There will be some cracking banter.

Will loads more County fans come out of the woodwork after all of these recent developments??




I can't wait for all the plastic fan grief i get when i go down for the liverpool game. literally can't wait for that. Sure i've been a bit slack over the last 2-3 seasons. We've been s**t. That's my excuse!

I don't think a lot of 'new' fans will appear because i'm just not convinced this is a big footballing town. When forest were kings of europe they still couldn't attract leeds or villa based crowds, they certainly couldnt maintain these during the leaner years. Not a critisim mind, statement of my belief that people in this city generally don't care as much as other cities. There are others of course such as Bristol.
by Stillman Jul 22, 2009, 04:01:58 pm
Stillman - where do you sit? I have a season ticket with 2 mates in the Pavis. Just a few seats across from Uncle Colin. Drop me a PM if you want to hook up with some nice non-knobhead Notts fans for beers before or after the game sometime!
by Jared Jul 22, 2009, 04:17:52 pm
Jared - normally the sirrel (I used to write into the football post letters page under the moniker 'Y-Block collective') but due to my advancing years and old man tendancies the pavis becomes an ever more appealing prospect. Got a few old mates coming down for the Liverpool game so once i have details will sort out the PM

God, uncle col. I hadn't thought about that. All this excitement can't be good for him.
by Stillman Jul 22, 2009, 04:25:18 pm
Quote
Eriksson is considering taking former Nottingham Forest boss David Platt to Notts County as part of his revolution. (The Sun)

HAS THIS BEEN POSTED YET!?

Surely he wouldn't dare enter nottingham again...
by Al (G) Jul 22, 2009, 06:13:44 pm
i'm surprised the sun isn't calling it the svengolution. but then it sounds a bit crap compared to rafaution.
by Stillman Jul 22, 2009, 07:13:45 pm
Quote from: Jared on Jul 22, 2009, 04:00:52 pm
Quote from: it's alan on Jul 22, 2009, 03:55:28 pm
I bought my tickets for the friendly today.

Really looking forward to it. There will be some cracking banter.

Will loads more County fans come out of the woodwork after all of these recent developments??

Haha! We have a few songs lined up ready for ya'll. My favourite is "You've lost that big club feeling..." - i'm sure you know the tune!

And yeah, i'm sure a few fans will come out of the woodwork now. But I don't want to be too hostile to them. The fact is our actual fanbase is more like 10-12,000 than 4,500 but most of them were put off by the dross football we've had on offer for years! Besides we could do with the company. Our stadium holds 22,000!!


Oh yeah, I'm all for welcoming new fans. And welcoming back old fans too.

Does piss me off when we have big games and the ground is full of people singing "Forest Til I Die" and then you never see them again. But I guess that applies to any club, anywhere.

Have you sorted out the Kop End yet? Are you allowed to use the top half again?
Obviously that's where most of your noise comes from... so if you're only allowed to use half of it, could be a quiet day for you lot seeing as we will I expect us to near-on fill the Sirrel again
by it's alan Jul 23, 2009, 10:30:45 am
have you all forgotten that Sven is a bit of a headbanger? or have we done that already?
by floydy Jul 23, 2009, 10:37:46 am
Quote from: it's alan on Jul 23, 2009, 10:30:45 am
Have you sorted out the Kop End yet? Are you allowed to use the top half again?
Obviously that's where most of your noise comes from... so if you're only allowed to use half of it, could be a quiet day for you lot seeing as we will I expect us to near-on fill the Sirrel again


I don't think we have as yet. Agreed, it could be a full house after this weeks news...

There are (unconfirmed) reports we're going to make 1 major 'marquee' signing before the start of the season. Talk of Didi Hamman or Mark Viduka joining us. Which would be mad, basically!

However the first doubts about our owners and their money are starting to surface. I'm not too worried just yet though: http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/jul/22/sven-goran-eriksson-notts-county2
by Jared Jul 23, 2009, 10:38:16 am
Quote from: Jared on Jul 23, 2009, 10:38:16 am
Quote from: it's alan on Jul 23, 2009, 10:30:45 am
Have you sorted out the Kop End yet? Are you allowed to use the top half again?
Obviously that's where most of your noise comes from... so if you're only allowed to use half of it, could be a quiet day for you lot seeing as we will I expect us to near-on fill the Sirrel again

I don't think we have as yet. Agreed, it could be a full house after this weeks news...

Yeah, I do think the big news at Meadow Lane will draw Forest fans out to the match. I also think the ambition shown by our board will spark a bit more passion into our fans who might otherwise not have bothered.

Will be funny but ultimately a bit shit if you can only use half of your Kop this weekend.

As for the actual season, it would be great if your attendances went up.
Whenever I go to your games, I always sit on the Kop, and there's usually a fair bit of noise from there. But it's just a bit sad to see the Pavis and the Sirrel so empty.
by it's alan Jul 23, 2009, 10:51:08 am
Jared your time has come. Everytime I step over a zebra crossing I think not of the Beatles, but you and your beloved County. I can't stop laughing. Sven's not here for the cash just adds to the comedy. Hopefully it will be good news for the city and we can get back to them good old days when you watched County one week and Forest the next. The next two years are going to be very interesting, maybe you will sign ten strikers like Man. City and get Ossie Ardilles to fit them into an uber attacking formation. Who'd have thought it, duck. Can't wait to hear what Mr. Needham has to say. Can't wait for the next LeftLion meetings...
by Bookasaurus Jul 23, 2009, 04:01:06 pm
Quote from: Bookasaurus on Jul 23, 2009, 04:01:06 pm
Hopefully it will be good news for the city and we can get back to them good old days when you watched County one week and Forest the next.

I might get shit from my fellow pies for this, but i'd quite like that too duckeh!
by Jared Jul 23, 2009, 04:26:28 pm
Quote from: Jared on Jul 23, 2009, 04:26:28 pm
Quote from: Bookasaurus on Jul 23, 2009, 04:01:06 pm
Hopefully it will be good news for the city and we can get back to them good old days when you watched County one week and Forest the next.

I might get shit from my fellow pies for this, but i'd quite like that too duckeh!

If we all did that, neither County nor Forest would ever take fans to away games.


by it's alan Jul 23, 2009, 04:45:35 pm
Quote from: Bookasaurus on Jul 23, 2009, 04:01:06 pm
maybe you will sign ten strikers like Man. City and get Ossie Ardilles to fit them into an uber attacking formation.

Yes Yes Yes!!! This has to happen. Now.
by BassRooster Jul 23, 2009, 07:31:33 pm
FOREST FANS, to the tune of 'Where's your mama gone?', all together now...

WHERES YOUR FANS COME FROM?
by 诺丁汉 Jul 24, 2009, 09:47:37 am
Where were you when... Where were you when... Where were you when you were poor?
I'm only kidding.

Actually I'm not, so let's hope County don't get ahead of themselves considering Forest fans did chip in to keep their club alive  thumbs
by it's alan Jul 24, 2009, 09:54:21 am
Quote from: it's alan on Jul 24, 2009, 09:54:21 am
Where were you when... Where were you when... Where were you when you were poor?
I'm only kidding.

Actually I'm not, so let's hope County don't get ahead of themselves considering Forest fans did chip in to keep their club alive  thumbs

No one at notts has forgotten that (DJ's offering stands out in the memory as particuarly generous) although there are some grumblers, as with any club. However I reserve the right to get ahead of myself thank you. I have had a lifetime of being patronised by forest fans, and I am going to enjoy what happens next very much! (assuming we are succesful of course)
by Stillman Jul 24, 2009, 10:04:41 am
From another forum;

Quote
There was an email read out on Sky Sports News yesterday from a Manchester United fan from Nottingham. "This appointment," he snivelled "has me thinking I should support County."

Weirdly, they didn't read mine out: "I pity all County fans, the daft club selling cunts. When all this Sven inspired japery goes tits up in 18 months time, I'll shit my fucking lips."

by Lord of the Nish Jul 24, 2009, 10:05:34 am
Quote from: Stillman on Jul 24, 2009, 10:04:41 am
No one at notts has forgotten that (DJ's offering stands out in the memory as particuarly generous) although there are some grumblers, as with any club. However I reserve the right to get ahead of myself thank you. I have had a lifetime of being patronised by forest fans, and I am going to enjoy what happens next very much! (assuming we are succesful of course)

I'm sure the decent fans amongst you remember it. But when all the new fans turn up / re-appear from the woodwork, and start chanting "I don't care about Forest, they don't care about me" from your Kop (like they do every week); will any of your fans have the good will to explain why they shouldn't take that attitude?

I'm starting to sound bitter now, urgh, sorry.

Reading two interesting things on various forums

1) County have ended their ground-share agreement with Nottingham Rugby Club, despite the money that changed hands between the two clubs?

2) You are expecting a 20,000 bumper crowd this weekend. What's the chances of this, do you think?




by it's alan Jul 24, 2009, 10:19:53 am
Quote
1) County have ended their ground-share agreement with Nottingham Rugby Club, despite the money that changed hands between the two clubs?

Interesting that, i suppose it was going to happen. Where will the egg chasers play now? They can't go back to ireland avenue, it's got barrett homes all over it now. I hope they haven't been left in the lurch by this

Quote
2) You are expecting a 20,000 bumper crowd this weekend. What's the chances of this, do you think?


I think maybe 10-13k. Which would be fantastic. I don't think we've ever had anymore than around 18k in the new stands. When first built i think the original capacity was 20k but i don't think we're allowed to fill it to that. Not sure though



[/quote]
by Stillman Jul 24, 2009, 10:27:01 am
Well there were about 10k there for this fixture last season, about 5000 from each club if I remember rightly? So I would expect around 13K+ based on everything that's been going on.

All of this has got to vastly increase my chances of seeing a decent scrap after the match, right?


by it's alan Jul 24, 2009, 10:30:58 am
Billy Sharpe to county according to the star...
by Al (G) Jul 24, 2009, 10:51:05 am
Quote from: Alan on Jul 24, 2009, 10:51:05 am
Billy Sharpe to county according to the star...

Fucking hell, he could destroy League 2.

Scored over 50 in two seasons at Scunthorpe at League One level. Think he scored  30 of those in one season as well.


by it's alan Jul 24, 2009, 11:00:00 am
Yeah, Sharpe is a massive one on the rumour radar. Talksport even reported it as a done deal earlier, but that's not true just yet...  Wink
by Jared Jul 24, 2009, 01:06:12 pm
Quote
In WSC 42 (August 1990) a Notts County fan, Julian McDougall, complained that no one disliked his club. Especially not the Forest fans who turned up to support their local rivals at a Wembley play-off final against Tranmere, telling him "It's good for Nottingham, mate". "What do you have to believe in," he wrote, "when the club whose demise you most want to see celebrate your promotion with you?" This may be about to change with the appointment of Sven-G�ran Eriksson as County's director of football with a five-year plan to reach the Premier League. We suspected that this was an enormous hoax by the entire national media, possibly connected to a reality show or a one-off edition of Jim'll Fix It. But it really does seem to have happened. And if there's been a better name for an investment fund than Munto Finance, we've not heard it. There are so many ways in which this could go wrong that it doesn't bear thinking about. So, good luck to everyone involved, with the possible exception of Munto Finance.

by Lord of the Nish Jul 24, 2009, 02:53:03 pm
I used to know Julian, he used to be in the meadow club quite regularly before kick off
by Stillman Jul 24, 2009, 02:55:37 pm
"No-one hates us, no-one hates us, we don't care..."
by Albert Herring Jul 24, 2009, 04:18:19 pm

I must say, what with this and all the pictures of the Nottingham Riviera getting big play in the papers, Nottingham owned the silly season last week.
by New Jersey Manufacturers Insurance Co. Jul 25, 2009, 10:52:34 am
Forest vs County BBC report - just putting it here for posterity. Wink
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/notts_county/8169146.stm

Looks like we might be signing Matt Ritchie, a new left winger from Pompey! He played against us on loan to Dagenham last season and gave our defence a pounding:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/notts_county/8172861.stm

FRIENDLY AGAINST DERBY TONIGHT! HOPEFULLY WE CAN MAINTAIN OUR WINNING STREAK AND GIVE FOREST FANS SUMMAT TO SMILE ABOUT TOO!



by Jared Jul 28, 2009, 03:02:28 pm
Heh, break a leg (preferably one of Kris Commons's). But we were smiling last weekend.

We have durty Stoke tomorrow so we'll probably have half the squad out injured until Christmas.
by Albert Herring Jul 28, 2009, 04:59:04 pm
Click here to read this article: Left Pie-On: August



Other clubs in our division are going to hate us now, which is only right as if this had happened to them we�d hate them too!

Please use this thread to comment on the above LeftLion article.
by LeftLion Jul 29, 2009, 05:41:58 pm
Goals vs Forest:





Goals vs Derby:






by Jared Jul 30, 2009, 04:45:24 pm
Has anyone noticed how dramaticly this thread has slowed growing since the sven hype died down???

FOOOOREST!
by 诺丁汉 Jul 30, 2009, 11:07:44 pm
that might be because there are only about 4 people, including me, who support notts on here who post. face it, we're the dominant force in world football now
by Stillman Jul 31, 2009, 09:48:51 am
Sven was at the Playhouse last night.
by Lord of the Nish Jul 31, 2009, 09:49:44 am
Quote from: 诺丁汉 on Jul 30, 2009, 11:07:44 pm
Has anyone noticed how dramaticly this thread has slowed growing since the sven hype died down???

FOOOOREST!

Has anyone noticed how Forest fans are beginning to look like they're a bit rattled by us these days, rather than not giving a shit?  Smiley
by Jared Jul 31, 2009, 10:59:10 am
A: Oh Sven was at the playhouse last night?
B: Oh really stillman?
A: Yes I was talking to him afterwards in the cast bar about our upcoming champions league qualifier, and he admitted he was probably going to sign lionel messi this week.
B: Wow! things are really going well over there aren't they.
A: Sure are. I'm sorry you went out of business, but at least you can come and watch us. Have you been down to watch AFC Forest at ladybay yet?

*** THE LAST BIT IS A JOKE OBVIOUSLY I DON'T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN ***

by Stillman Jul 31, 2009, 11:13:30 am


Haha! Check out this Guardian Sven photoshop gallery...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/gallery/2009/jul/30/sven-goran-eriksson-gallery?picture=350935655

by Jared Jul 31, 2009, 12:54:59 pm
"Hot Panty Sensual Club"  laugh
by Stillman Jul 31, 2009, 01:39:32 pm
This well funneh.  Grin But a bit of a dis if youre a Forest fan.




by Jared Aug 01, 2009, 01:33:12 am
That's awful. A very badly produced rip-off of the 'Michael Jackson is Dead' clip. You can't read half of it.
by seamus flannery Aug 02, 2009, 02:07:58 pm
There was a whole host of parody 'Downfall' clips before the Michael Jackson one. But I agree that they are now getting tedious.
by Daysleeper Aug 02, 2009, 06:33:03 pm
First time i've seen a parody of these Hitler vids, so fair enough. Probably is more tedious after the 10th time.
by Jared Aug 03, 2009, 10:49:00 am
I hated doherty before it was fashionable!  slayer
by 诺丁汉 Aug 03, 2009, 11:18:38 am
#T% - Are you talking about Nigel Doughty or Pete?
by Jared Aug 03, 2009, 01:03:00 pm
Quote from: seamus flannery on Aug 02, 2009, 02:07:58 pm
That's awful. A very badly produced rip-off of the 'Michael Jackson is Dead' clip.

hahahahahahahahahaha MEMEFAIL

















































The subtitles could have been done better though, you're right.
by New Jersey Manufacturers Insurance Co. Aug 03, 2009, 01:21:56 pm
Did anybody go to the liverpool game? Hughes needs to reign in that temper of his, and we've got some keeper issues imo, overall though i was quite impressed and have much optimism for the season.
by Stillman Aug 03, 2009, 01:58:07 pm
First time I've been on here since the friendly game.

Fair play to County, played with a lot more heart than us and deserved the win.

Was great to see so many fans come out (mainly for Forest, but that's to be expected  Wink).

Shame on the girl with chlamydia, haha.
by it's alan Aug 03, 2009, 02:03:17 pm
Quote from: it's alan on Aug 03, 2009, 02:03:17 pm
Was great to see so many fans come out (mainly for Forest, but that's to be expected  Wink).

According to the stats given out by Notts, Forest brought 5500 fans and County bought 7200. And that takes into account the few hundred Forest fans who went through the home turnstiles too. They reckon they let in just over 5000 through the Sirrel turnstiles, hence 500-1000 of them having to migrate to the family stand.

Was nice to see such a good turnout though. And obviously nice to beat you (again). Wink


by Jared Aug 03, 2009, 03:05:20 pm
Quote from: Stillman on Aug 03, 2009, 01:58:07 pm
Did anybody go to the liverpool game? Hughes needs to reign in that temper of his, and we've got some keeper issues imo, overall though i was quite impressed and have much optimism for the season.

Yeah I did. Hughes will quite blatantly get sent off a couple of times this season. But the young Liverpool team were very dirty and he had a point. The ref didn't seem bothered at all either. And one (of the 2) goals he disallowed for us was blatantly not offside - as the replays clearly show.

Both our keepers have been awful in the pre-season. 5 out of 6 goals conceded could have been avoided!! Sven call Kasper Schmeichel asap!

You're right to be optimistic though. It's the best Notts team i've seen in years and now they're talking about getting another 5 players in as reinforcements.


by Jared Aug 03, 2009, 03:08:31 pm
We've just signed Karl Hawley from Preston. Looks like there was a fee involved and everything. Him, Hughes and Rodgers are gonna kick some ass for us up front this season... he was the best player in the division 3 years ago and he's only 27 now!

http://www.nottscountyfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10426~1742186,00.html
by Jared Aug 03, 2009, 04:46:08 pm
Turns out Sven is only on �250k a year basic. According the The Mirror, anyway. I bet Billy Davies is on more than that.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/2009/08/06/sven-goran-eriksson-s-notts-county-salary-is-only-250-000-a-year-115875-21575690/
by Jared Aug 06, 2009, 02:10:26 pm
Erm... certain news sources are reporting that we're about to sign Sol Campbell.  Shocked

http://www.clubcall.com/notts-county/magpies-switch-england-legend-928688.html

http://www.eatsleepsport.com/notts-county/magpies-swoop-for-england-legend-928688.html
by Jared Aug 06, 2009, 03:37:13 pm
The club themselves however have come out and said they aren't... nor are they looking to sign Casper Schmeichel...

http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/homesport/Notts-8211-Sol-Campbell-target/article-1241921-detail/article.html

;)
by Al (G) Aug 11, 2009, 10:46:56 am
Oh and neither is Hamann.

http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/homesport/McParland-Hamann-coming-Notts/article-1238939-detail/article.html


by Al (G) Aug 11, 2009, 10:48:34 am
We don't really need the boggers to be honest. Don't get me wrong - I wouldn't say no. But you wouldn't want to pay them �20k + a week when other first-team players will be on less than a grand. Might be bad for team morale and that. Though if I could choose from the three, I would definitely go for Kaspar. He's actually played at this level a fair bit before and looked decent. Plus he has years and years ahead of him.

Apparantly we have two Swedish u21 Internationals playing for us in a trial game tomorrow night. That sounds promising. As does Matt Ritchie.

It'll be amazing when we sign some more players. Our first-team is good at this level aready, but our reserves are a bit weak and we still only have 19 players in total (which is only just enough to fill the bench these days). You have to assume anyone we bring in now will be at least as good as what we have. Also we still have no left winger at all (Ben Davies has been playing there, but he's actually a centre-mid) and no right-back to call our own (just Moloney on loan). Still a few gaps to be filled then...



by Jared Aug 11, 2009, 12:39:26 pm
Some of the press we get nowaways is mental!

Sol Campbell zu Notts County? - http://goal.com/de/news/968/transfermarkt/2009/08/11/1433798/sol-campbell-zu-notts-county


by Jared Aug 11, 2009, 12:59:34 pm
Quote from: Jared on Aug 11, 2009, 12:59:34 pm
Some of the press we get nowaways is mental!

Sol Campbell zu Notts County? - http://goal.com/de/news/968/transfermarkt/2009/08/11/1433798/sol-campbell-zu-notts-county

Mental perhaps Jared, but now a REALITY!

http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/homenews/EXCLUSIVE-Sol-Campbell-talks-Notts-County/article-1273344-detail/article.html

Having said this i find it unlikely he'll choose to come here given his "ambitions"



by Stillman Aug 21, 2009, 09:45:39 am
http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/football/Backe-Notts/article-1447342-detail/article.html

never heard of him. Still the Sun must be loving the pun-potential "Guess who's backe" "Backe for good" "Backe-up offa me" etc

I want Steve Coppell. This news does not please me
by Stillman Oct 23, 2009, 11:56:53 am
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