If at first you don't succeed, try... no, there is no try, there is only do NOTTS!!

[Blarney]

MATCH TWENTY-FIVE

NOTTS COUNTY (1) VS OLDHAM ATHLETIC (19)

@ MEADOW LANE

[Blarney]

DECEMBER

A slow starts leads to a tactic change.

Despite the good record things have really been slowing down lately.  The offense has been static and we've just been playing without emotion.  So I decided to shake things up a little.  After our first 3 matches ended with 2 draws and a win, I went into the Pizza err Isuzu Trophy and went to a more traditional-ish style 4-4-2.

At least for the last 2 matches of the month it worked with a 5-1 dismantling of Barnet and then a 3-1 win against Oldham.

So that leaves us 6 points clear of Solihull, 11 points clear of Wrexham and 21 points in the safety zone.

We're just past midway in the season and I'd really really like to finish strong.

[Vakama2619]

59 minutes ago, Blarney said:

MATCH TWENTY-TWO

SCUNTHORPE UNITED (24) VS NOTTS COUNTY (1)

@ GLANFORD PARK

Could've done us a favour and lost this one, looks like we kinda need it

[Blarney]

55 minutes ago, Vakama2619 said:

Could've done us a favour and lost this one, looks like we kinda need it

Can't be worse than reality.  It's been a bad few years for Scunthorpe, falling from League One to League Two to the National League and now relegated again for the 3rd time in 5 years.  Is there any hope in sight?

[Vakama2619]

16 hours ago, Blarney said:

Can't be worse than reality.  It's been a bad few years for Scunthorpe, falling from League One to League Two to the National League and now relegated again for the 3rd time in 5 years.  Is there any hope in sight?

Yes because we were sold last year (thankfully not to your former owner who tried to buy us) and he seems to be decent, hoping for a good playoff push next season although I think we'll be in the NLN for a few years tho

[Blarney]

On 05/05/2023 at 22:13, Vakama2619 said:

Yes because we were sold last year (thankfully not to your former owner who tried to buy us) and he seems to be decent, hoping for a good playoff push next season although I think we'll be in the NLN for a few years tho

One more game and maybe we finally escape the National League.  I was holding my breath there at the end, amazing comeback by Notts.

[Vakama2619]

5 hours ago, Blarney said:

One more game and maybe we finally escape the National League.  I was holding my breath there at the end, amazing comeback by Notts.

Honestly rooting for you lot after the season you had, you really deserve it

[Blarney]

5 hours ago, Vakama2619 said:

Honestly rooting for you lot after the season you had, you really deserve it

Hats off to Wrexham... but if we don't go up it'll be a real travesty.  Our points total would have been enough to win the league in EVERY OTHER SEASON since it's inception.  Just unfair if we're not promoted.  But that's the rules, so we'll see what happens.

[Blarney]

MATCH TWENTY-SIX

OLDHAM ATHLETIC (21) VS NOTTS COUNTY (1)

@ BOUNDARY PARK

[Blarney]

MATCH TWENTY-SEVEN

NOTTS COUNTY (1) VS BOREHAM WOOD (17)

@ MEADOW LANE

[Blarney]

FA TROPHY: FOURTH ROUND

CHESTERFIELD VS NOTTS COUNTY

@ THE TECHNIQUE STADIUM

Edited May 9, 2023 by Blarney

[Blarney]

MATCH TWENTY-EIGHT

CHESTERFIELD (4) VS NOTTS COUNTY (1)

@ THE TECHNIQUE STADIUM

Edited May 9, 2023 by Blarney

[Blarney]

MATCH TWENTY-NINE

SOLIHULL MOORS (3) VS NOTTS COUNTY (1)

@ DAMSON PARK

[Blarney]

MATCH THIRTY

NOTTS COUNTY (1) VS FC HALIFAX TOWN

@ MEADOW LANE

[Blarney]

MATCH THIRTY-ONE

NOTTS COUNTY (1) VS EASTLEIGH (12)

@ MEADOW LANE

[Blarney]

JANUARY

Just rolling along.

I'm still marveling at how stifling our defense has been this season.  Most of that can be attributed to Mair, who's here on loan and we'd love to acquire but he's far too expensive.  He's been an absolute rock in the net.  And we welcome the return of Langstaff who was looking rather human for a couple of months but came back strong with 8 goals in 5 league matches and 2 more in our Isuzu Trophy win.  He's just incredible.

I keep waiting for the bottom to fall out, something to go wrong but right now we just seem to be getting stronger.  Wrexham tried to make a push but we just pulled further away.  And with 30 points between us and 8th place... if nothing else we're in the playoffs again.

Here's hoping for a strong finish.

[Blarney]

STATS, ANALYSIS N STUFF

BOARD APPROVAL

We love to see a board that's supremely happy.

SUPPORTER APPROVAL

Man these supporters are hard to please.

FINANCES

Made a little money after we finally got rid of a few players salaries, but still our finances are not good.

LEAGUE PLAYER STATS

Langstaff with a big lead in goals scored now.  He's just on fire.  Tied for 2nd best average rating in the league and tied for best conversion rate as well.  He has to be the Player of the Year so far... and it shouldn't be close.

LEAGUE TEAM STATS

Our offense is sparkling.  First in Goals scored, first in Shots on Target and tied for first in Conversion Rate.  Just relentless up front.

NOTTS PLAYERS STATS

So we finally jettisoned a few guys that were "unhappy" and didn't want to be with the best team in the Vanarama National League.  That cleared quite a bit of payroll for us as well so we were able to bring in some warm bodies to take their place.  Still nobody really of note since nobody wants to come to play for us at the moment, but enough that we're not wearing everybody down.

ATTACKING ANALYSIS

I think I've said our attacking is good.

DEFENDING ANALYSIS

I am still PERPLEXED how our defense can be this bad... or at best ordinary and we just continue to shut our opposition down.  It has to just come down to interceptions and a really really good keeper standing in the net because everything else points to us allowing a lot more goals than we have.

[Blarney]

MATCH THIRTY-TWO

TORQUAY UNITED (18) VS NOTTS COUNTY (1)

@ PLAINMOOR

[Blarney]

MATCH THIRTY-THREE

YEOVIL TOWN (9) VS NOTTS COUNTY (1)

@ HUISH PARK

Edited May 12, 2023 by Blarney

[Blarney]

FA TROPHY: FIFTH ROUND

NOTTS COUNTY VS TONBRIDGE ANGELS

@ MEADOW LANE

[Blarney]

MATCH THIRTY-FOUR

NOTTS COUNTY (1) VS SOUTHEND UNITED (17)

@ MEADOW LANE

[Blarney]

MATCH THIRTY-FIVE

NOTTS COUNTY (1) DAG-N-RED (22)

@ MEADOW LANE

[Blarney]

MATCH THIRTY-SIX

NOTTS COUNTY (1) VS DORKING WANDERERS (15)

@ MEADOW LANE

[Blarney]

FEBRUARY

Playoff spot locked up!

Can we take a moment to be sad that our winning streak was ended by Southend United?  It is somewhat hilarious.  Not that we tied.  But that we're doing so well - 1 loss to this point - that something as ridiculous as a draw makes us sad.  Okay, not really sad... but we've pulled out so many games that I thought we might lose that a draw in this fashion is just a letdown.  If nothing else, it wasn't a loss so the consecutive matches without a loss streak is still going strong.

Can't win them all though.  Even though we're doing our best impression this season to do just that.

Anyway, after our victory over Dorking it was made official that we're in the playoffs.  Even though we've sort of known that for like 2 months now.

I'd say that Wrexham is an absolute lock to be there as well.  It's not exactly following the reality that was this season but Notts and Wrexham are FAR AND AWAY the 2 best teams in the league.  It is unfortunate - as Ryan said in real life - that only 1 club is guaranteed a promotion.

Edited May 13, 2023 by Blarney

[Blarney]

REAL LIFE.

Omg what a match.  Omg.  Unbelievable.  

Welcome back Notts County!

[Vakama2619]

6 hours ago, Blarney said:

REAL LIFE.

Omg what a match.  Omg.  Unbelievable.  

Welcome back Notts County!

Honestly deserved after the season you had, good luck in the EFL next year.

[Blarney]

Back to the fun stuff....

let's finish the season!

[Blarney]

MATCH THIRTY-SEVEN

BROMLEY (11) VS NOTTS COUNTY (1)

@ HAYES LANE

[Blarney]

MATCH THIRTY-EIGHT

ALDERSHOT TOWN (14) VS NOTTS COUNTY (1)

@ THE RECREATION GROUND

[Blarney]

FA TROPHY: QUARTER-FINAL

NOTTS COUNTY VS BRACKLEY TOWN

@ MEADOW LANE

Edited May 14, 2023 by Blarney

[Blarney]

MATCH THIRTY-NINE

BARNET (18) VS NOTTS COUNTY (1)

@ THE HIVE

[Blarney]

MATCH FORTY

NOTTS COUNTY (1) VS SCUNTHORPE UNITED (24)

@ MEADOW LANE

 

[Blarney]

MATCH FORTY-ONE

ALTRINCHAM (5) VS NOTTS COUNTY (1)

@ MOSS LANE

[Blarney]

FA TROPHY: SEMI-FINAL

NOTTS COUNTY VS WREXHAM

@ MEADOW LANE

[Blarney]

MATCH FORTY-TWO

NOTTS COUNTY (1) VS WEALDSTONE (18)

@ MEADOW LANE

[Blarney]

MATCH FORTY-THREE

WREXHAM (2) VS NOTTS COUNTY (1)

@ THE RACECOURSE GROUND

[Blarney]

MATCH FORTY-FOUR

NOTTS COUNTY (1) VS WOKING (15)

@ MEADOW LANE

[Blarney]

MATCH FORTY-FIVE

MAIDSTONE (13) VS NOTTS COUNTY (1)

@ GALLAGHER STADIUM

[Blarney]

MATCH FORTY-SIX

NOTTS COUNTY (1) VS YORK CITY (4)

@ MEADOW LANE

[Blarney]

FA TROPHY: THE FINAL

EASTLEIGH VS NOTTS COUNTY

@ WEMBLEY

[Blarney]

MARCH AND APRIL (and MAY)

THE SEASON ENDS

It was basically wrapped up before the final 2 months... but you still have to play the games.

We had already earned a spot in the playoffs and after the Scunthorpe game we were crowned Vanarama National League Champions.  We had little to play for at that point other than pride and a chance to set records.  We also still were in the FA Trophy hunt.  Honestly, we had sort of skated through the competition, having a relatively easy schedule against lower level opponents.  Even in the Quarter-Final match I sat almost all my big name players since we were playing Brackley (who?).  It almost cost us as we went to penalties but we pulled it out.  Losing to Altrincham was disappointing as it broke our unbeaten streak but I had to rest Langstaff and Scott and other key players as we were up against Wrexham just a few days later in the semi-finals of the FA Trophy. 

And I wanted that win.

So we lost the unbeaten streak but we won against Wrexham and then we won in the finals as well, so it all was for the best.

We got the double.

And then Wrexham rightfully earned promotion by winning the playoffs.  I imagine that Chesterfield and others will be happy to see both those teams gone next year just as they will be in real life.

Edited May 14, 2023 by Blarney

[Blarney]

RECORD BREAKING SEASON

2 losses is a new team low and National League record

114 points is a new team and National League record

52 goals in league play. (He scored 42 in real life which is amazing btw)

Wrexham can sing "we've got Mullin, super Paul Mullin" all day long.... Notts has Langstaff and I'd rather have him.

59 total goals is obviously a new Notts record... that will probably never be broken.

AND DULY-EARNED AWARDS

A clean sweep.

Player of The Year.  Golden Boot.  Manager of The Year.

Now, if only I could get a new contract.

Seriously?

If they don't give me a new contract I'm going to give up.

Edited May 14, 2023 by Blarney

[Blarney]

END OF SEASON

We made a little money this season, I don't know why the owners are pinching pennies and crying poor.  Give me a new contract!!!!

100 goals is a nice number.  Our attacking was obviously good.

Leady by superstar Macaulay Langstaff. First in average rating.  First in Player of the Match awards.  First in goals.  Top 3 in Shots on Target and Conversion Rate percentage.  And winner of the Golden Boot and Player of the Year awards.

Some exciting news.  We managed to sign Mair and we got Langstaff to sign a new contract with us as well... albeit with a 250k release clause.

[Blarney]

GOALS GOING INTO THE NEW SEASON

Get a new contract... duh.

Get rid of dead weight.  We signed quite a few young players that we need to give playing time to.  We weren't necessarily "old" to begin with but we did have/do have quite a few "bad" contracts with some older players that aren't quite up to EFL standards.  So my main goal this season besides staying employed is to lose the dead weight and tread water in League Two while I navigate through these young players I signed and see who has a future with the club or not.

Stay afloat.  Like I said we have to navigate some rough waters here.  I do not want to go down but I need to build up the future here.  We can't go forward with the way the club is right now.  Many changes need to be made.  So while I'm testing out new players and see who's potentially here long term.. we need to make sure we're winning enough to keep the supporters and ownership happy.

Get better facilities.  Our facilities are terrible, especially our youth facilities.  These have to improve.  The board is going to have to put money into the club and these facilities.  We will never improve if our facilities don't improve.  Our youth intake this season was horrible.  Fortunately I was able to make other moves in free transfers to bring in some "hopefully" quality players.. but going forward we need to develop internally.

[Vakama2619]

5 hours ago, Blarney said:

MATCH FORTY

NOTTS COUNTY (1) VS SCUNTHORPE UNITED (24)

@ MEADOW LANE

 

You're welcome

[Blarney]

1 hour ago, Vakama2619 said:

You're welcome

I honestly felt bad that it came against your club, but it was going to happen regardless.

I think in real life (realizing this is fantasy but still) Chesterfield and a couple of other clubs are good clubs, with some talented players.  But anything other than Wrexham or Notts winning this league even in a fantasy setting just isn't realistic barring some major injuries.  Both clubs were/are just stacked... especially at this level. 

I was a little irked today watching the broadcast when one of the announcers though made reference to the other teams in the league wanting Notts to go up alongside Wrexham if for no other reason than to get them out of the league so it would be more competitive and said it was due to the money being thrown around.  Notts hasn't thrown money around.  Wrexham has thrown money around... but they have it to throw around so crying about it is stupid.  Notts made some shrewd transfers in bringing in guys like Langstaff and Scott on top of the other talent they already had there, they're not spending any more money than most other clubs are.  And then brought in Jones and Mair on loans to help out.

Langstaff was brought in for a transfer fee of 50k and makes less than 1k a week compared to Mullin making somewhere around 4.5k... and Langstaff is arguably better.  He certainly was this season.

It just seems sour grapes to whine about the other clubs not being able to compete because of the money being thrown around... to the point of several clubs wanting to implement a salary cap.  Ridiculous.

Edited May 14, 2023 by Blarney

[Blarney]

NEW FORMATION/TACTIC

I don't even know what to call this... it's a 5-1-2-2.

No idea if it's something anybody uses but we're going to try it.  So my thinking is that we may be slightly outclassed moving up a tier.  Last season in the National League I was playing a pure, fast-paced all-out attack.  And it worked.  I very seriously doubt that will fly this year but I don't necessarily want to "park the bus" either.  I made quite a few moves in the off-season to bring in more defenders and actually consider it somewhat of a strength to the club - or at least hopefully it will be if some of these lads work out.  But it was a concerted effort because I knew I was going to have to play more guys back and be better on the defensive side.  Dinzy, Robby and Cully will be my mainstay on the line with newcomers Linton and Bryan-Waugh in the wing-back positions.  Bryan-Waugh is slightly out of position as he's a right-defender but we're going to use him there and see how it works.

Baj will move back to his more normal position as a defensive-midfielder where he excels.  Aryeetey was outstanding in the midfield last year and will hold that spot this season and Gower is a newcomer that will be at his side trying to push the ball forward to Langstaff and Scott.

I don't foresee scoring the same number of goals that we did last year obviously but I think out attack will be 'okay' and out defense should be well improved.  I just want to stay in the game and see if we can just manage to push a few more goals in over our opposition over the course of the season and hope for a mid-table finish at worst.  I can see a way through to be even better given the talent at the club but on the other hand things could go horribly wrong and we're fighting to stay up.

That's the fun of going up a level.

So let's play the games and see what happens.

[Blarney]

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE LIVE

Will Sirrel - the manager of the newly promoted Notts County Football Club - recently sat down for an interview with Nottinghamshire Live to discuss the past season and what the promotion back to the Football League meant to the club and to him personally.  Here's some of the comments he made.

Let's start off with how you're feeling now that the season is behind you and you're getting ready to lead Notts County into League Two.

I assume one of these days I'll come down off this high.  It's truly a dream come true.  It was a magical season for the players and for the supporters.  Honestly I feel as happy for them as I do every player on the team.  We put in the work but the supporters have been there willing this to happen for the past 4 seasons.

Is this any vindication to some of the comments made about your hiring at the start of the season?

From my viewpoint no, because I never cared about any of that.  You can't take this job and have doubts so worrying about what anybody else was saying about me or my ability was never on my mind.  That's not to say that I never care what anybody has to say, for instance I care what the fans have to say, I read what they're saying... but reading it, taking it in and sometimes agreeing with them, is different than letting it affect you or believing what they say at times.

So no statues at the front gate yet?

I think it's a bit early to be talking about that.

But maybe down the line?

*smiling* If we're talking hypothetically then obviously I hope that I'm here long enough to earn something like that.  My grandfather did and it's obviously something in the back of my mind.  Not necessarily a statue or anything like that... but the opportunity to be mentioned in the same breath for what he did for this club.  Because if we get to that point then that means I've accomplished everything I set forth when I signed here.  I told the fans then and I'll say it again now... this was the first step.  We accomplished that.  We are back in the Football League.  We're in League Two.  They should be excited, we're excited.  But this is only a step and there's a long way to go.

I would suggest that some fans already think you've earned that, but we'll move on.  So will we be seeing anything different from the club this season?  New faces?  New tactics?

I'd say so.  I won't go into too much detail obviously but yes.  Part of our growth is getting better in every aspect of the game and as we go up the ladder we obviously need to make changes.  Some will work, some probably won't... that's the game.  Last season we were all about attacking.  We pushed the ball up the pitch and we took it to our opponents every chance we could.  And I guess you could say it worked.  We're here now, so it worked.  Do I think that same attitude or tactic will work this season?  Probably not.  Does that mean we go back to the drawing board and change everything that worked last year... not really.  It's more of learning to flow to something different.  Make small changes.  And some of those changes may be the personnel on the field.  We're always looking to improve.  And we're always looking to give opportunities to people to make us force a change.  Every person on that pitch understands that.  Nothing is given.  It's earned.

Well congratulations on a great season and good luck going forward.

Thanks.

Edited May 14, 2023 by Blarney

[Blarney]

LEAGUE TWO PREVIEW

Budget

No worries here.  Plenty of wage budget with the youngsters I've signed not costing me a lot.  And we actually have some transfer budget to work with even though we don't really plan on spending it.  It at least gives us room to maneuver around and do things.

What do the bookies think?

Well they like Wrexham to make the playoffs.  And they like us to survive mid-table at least.  That's better than predicting we're going to fight for relegation.

They do love Langstaff and that I'm happy about.

But they don't love him enough to pick him as the top player... something hopefully he'll make them regret by the end of the season.

[Blarney]

SEASON TWO:  LEAGUE TWO:  MATCH ONE

NOTTS COUNTY VS HARROGATE TOWN

@ MEADOW LANE