retired_teju

2nd August Notts County vs Crewe
Oh the irony, as we face off against the team we have just had a transfer stand-off with. Here's my first team: Fulop, Richardson, Morrison, Ochoa, Nuno Morais, Flamini, Nisja, O'Hara, Hjalmar, Ebanks, Sparv.
We start very lively, looking to attack at every opportunity. 5 minutes before the break, Nisja heads down for Hjalmar to drive in. Oh the irony! We continue to create bags of chances without killing them off, but my concern is misplaced, as they offer very little in return. We outshot them 15-7 in a fully deserved win. A great start for us, and I'm relieved, since we're notoriously slow starters.

Notts County 1-0 Crewe ATT: 6044

Totally rubbish attendance though!

5th August Plymouth vs Notts County
A lively start for us again, but we fail to take advantage and honours are even at the half. Replacing my tiring front two with the returning Calliste and Rezek does the trick, as the Czech bursts through. His shot his saved but the rebound cannons off a defender and in (52). I go defensive on 65 minutes but they score on 72, which rather ruins things. Then they over commit, Rezek picks it up in the left-back position, and charges the length of the field, ramming it home for what the commentary team describe as "a magical goal". Confidence flows, and we play keep ball. After a long sequence of passes, Saritama produces a remarkable bending shot from 20 yards to complete a very impressive win. We've shown we can perform away from home against a good side. My confidence that we will easily stay up is not at all misplaced.

Plymouth 1-3 Notts County ATT: 17680

9th Notts County vs West Brom
The games come thick and fast. Rezek starts up front. This is a different kettle of fish. They maul us from the start, outshooting us 11-1 in a first half which climaxes with their opening goal. I go ballistic at half time, thinking the lads have relaxed and believed their own publicity, and bring Calliste on for Hjalmar. Better to be lucky than good they say, and my sub breaks through to score a nice finish (67) in an even second half, 4 shots each. I'm happy to get away with a point, which wasn't deserved on our 1st half display, but the 2nd was more encouraging. Fulop saved us in this one.

Notts County 1-1 West Brom ATT: 13533

That attendance is more like it. The gate receipts of 250K are a club record. Unfortunately Morrison is out 2-4 weeks.

12th Norwich vs Notts County
Calliste comes in for the Icelander, and Pipe for an exhausted Nisja. Lloyd replaces Morrison, with Saritama and Jones for the likewise exhausted Flamini and Sparv. Darren Huckerby opens their account 10 minutes in, but a penalty gives us a route back into the game, converted by Ochoa on 27 minutes. Huckerby exposes us again (30). I throw another half-time tantrum, but it doesn't work this time. They score again late on to cap a very poor show from us. Two weeks in a row we have been exposed. We've done very well though to go unbeaten till now.

Norwich 3-1 Notts County ATT: 20227

Between games I sell Andrea Guatelli to Sheffield Wednesday for 150K with a sell-on of 25%. He's a good goalie, but it's a good deal and with the strength of our goalkeeping right now, he's nowhere.

16th Notts County vs Leicester
This home game is televised, and we start out to entertain. The old firm of Ebanks and Calliste are together again up front, and they are on the end of a lovely move, The Big E squaring for the Welshman to tap in (25). I am furious we concede on the stroke of half time, and start bollocking the lads in the dressing room. The second half is atrocious viewing for the TV audience, and the game peters out. Worryingly, we were outshot again.

Notts County 1-1 Leicester ATT: 16522

More record gate receipts, this time 300K. This club is printing money at the minute.

20th Notts County vs Port Vale LG CUP ROUND 1
Every reserve I can find plays this one, and one of them, Jarno Parrika scores on 51 mins. A dreadful game we almost dominate, then Vale score in the 84th minute, and eventually force a shootout. We win it thank God, but I am extremely unhappy with the performance, and warn the reserves they had better buck up their ideas.

Notts County 1-1 Port Vale (Notts C on PEN) ATT: 2124

23rd Southampton vs Notts County
The team: Fulop, Pipe, Lloyd, Ochoa, Brandao, Saritama, Nisja, O'Hara, Calliste, Hjalmar, Rezek. The side has developed a bit. I fancy Ochoa and Brandao as our long-term centre back pairing, certainly Ochoa anyway. He's already been masterful, even in defeats. Flamini has not impressed thus far. I'm not sure our style suits him. He doesn't seem comfortable attacking and tends to just sit there in midfield.
This is a defeat too, a rotten performance by us, though The Saints are not much better. They score after 19 minutes, and awful marking on 47 lets them double their tally. This is getting worrying. I can't seem to get the lads firing at the minute. I'll stick with them for now. Consistency of selection and pattern of play is what's got us here.

Southampton 2-0 Notts County ATT: 22907

Hjalmar will miss 1-2 months with a rib injury. It's ok. You want strikers? We got strikers.

25th August Fulham vs Notts County
A frantic month of games finishes in West London. Richardson and Ebanks replace Pipe and Hjalmar. Suddenly, everything clicks again. Calliste cracks in a ferocious shot after 56 minutes, following some ordinary defending. I want the points, so I go defensive, yet we keep creating. The Welsh striker has another fierce shot saved, but
O'Hara is on hand to chip in and seal the points (82). I tell the lads they were fantastic. This was particularly sweet for me. The Fulham fans gave me a very foul-mouthed reception, angered apparently by me turning them down in the Summer. I was barracked throughout the whole game, but just smiled at them when we sealed the win.

Fulham 0-2 Notts County ATT: 16980

The board were excited by the style of our win, and delighted by the fat profit of 522K for the month.

retired_teju

3rd September Brandao will miss 2-3 months with a hip injury, Ebanks is out a month with a bad back, and Calliste will be out 1-2 weeks, as will my Italian centre back Vitale. We do have a terrific squad, but this is getting serious.

6th September Notts County vs Brighton
I end up playing Rezek and Parrika up front. Nuno Morais and Sparv also come in. We never get going in this one. The visitors score a soft goal early on, and despite having plenty of chances, it stands up as the winner. It was a rotten performance from a severely stretched squad. We didn't deserve to lose though to the bottom club, who offered very little other than the goal that won it.

Notts County 0-1 Brighton ATT: 13113

After a run of poor results (though I don't remember them having a poor result against us), Peter Withe is sacked by Southampton. Riggy is the hot favourite, and I reckon the time has come. I'm preparing myself for the worst. Other times he was just in the running. Now he's the favourite.

Here's the league table so far:

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre"> | Pos | Inf | Team | | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 1st | | Portsmouth | | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 16 | 10 | +6 | 17 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 2nd | | Norwich | | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 14 | 7 | +7 | 16 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 3rd | | Leicester | | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 12 | 11 | +1 | 16 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 4th | | Crystal Palace | | 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 10 | 5 | +5 | 15 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 5th | | Fulham | | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 17 | 7 | +10 | 14 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 6th | | Derby | | 8 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 14 | 9 | +5 | 13 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 7th | | Sheff Utd | | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 12 | 14 | -2 | 13 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 8th | | Coventry | | 8 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 15 | 11 | +4 | 12 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 9th | | West Brom | | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 12 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 10th | | Sunderland | | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 11 | 9 | +2 | 11 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 11th | | Doncaster | | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 12 | 11 | +1 | 11 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 12th | | Notts Co | | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 11 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 13th | | Reading | | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 11 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 14th | | Nottm Forest | | 8 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 12 | 9 | +3 | 10 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 15th | | Hull | | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 8 | -2 | 10 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 16th | | Wolves | | 8 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 11 | 12 | -1 | 9 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 17th | | Stoke | | 8 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 10 | 17 | -7 | 9 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 18th | | Ipswich | | 8 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 10 | 11 | -1 | 8 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 19th | | Plymouth | | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 10 | -2 | 8 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 20th | | Southampton | | 8 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 8 | 10 | -2 | 7 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 21st | | Crewe | | 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 10 | 14 | -4 | 7 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 22nd | | Brighton | | 8 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 12 | -6 | 7 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 23rd | | Bournemouth | | 8 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 9 | 17 | -8 | 5 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 24th | | Lincoln | | 8 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 9 | 18 | -9 | 5 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| </pre>

It could have been better, but we'll take it for now. An upturn in form is around the corner, I'm sure of it, simply because we haven't scored much so far, and that is the strength of this team.

9th September Crystal Palace vs Notts County
We are unchanged, I have no real choice. They score on the half hour, then we miss a penalty on the stroke of half time, which sums up our luck right now. I encourage the lads and Rezek scores a great diving header (61). We look set for a deserved point, then the home side score from a seemingly innocuous attack, much to my annoyance. We are being punished, it's cost us 2 points in the last 2 games. But what can we do? The squad is struggling badly with injuries and that's just a fact of life. Nisja joins the list after the game, out 1-4 weeks with a knee problem.

Crystal Palace 2-1 Notts County ATT: 19155

13th September Sheffield United vs Notts County
Filipe Morais replaces Nisja. We are very lively in this one, creating lots of unfinished chances. Just a minute before half time, O'Hara stings the goalie's fingers, and Rezek puts in the rebound. The fact that I go defensive straight away shows you my mindset. We still create though, until Richardson is sent off for two yellows with 10 minutes left. Worse follows. Ochoa gets an injury which we later find will keep him out for 1-4 weeks, and we've used all our subs so we're down to 9 men!! We hang on for the last 5, deservedly so, since 11 vs 11 we were better than them today.

14th September Steve Thompson calls me on Sunday afternoon. It's official, Mike Rigg is the new manager of Southampton. It's bittersweet. Riggy and I get ****ed that evening, which is not emotional or any of that crap, we just have a good laugh. He jets to the South Coast tomorrow morning for a press conference, and to take up the new role.

I'm bombarded with questions from journalists, so much so that I have a mini press conference at Meadow Lane. Here's the highlights of what I said.

On Riggy leaving
Let's be honest, it's been coming. He's totally outstanding, and will make a great manager. I'm just glad we had him for as long as we did. And surprised we had him for as long as we did.

It's a huge hole to fill, and actually no-one can replace Riggy. He wasn't just the best assistant manager I could ever have, he's also a very close friend of mine. So I've lost one of my mates as well as an assistant.

We'll carry on of course, but there's a very large space to fill here. I wish him all the best, because he's a top coach, and a top man as well.

16th Everton vs Notts County LG CUP RD 2
Vitale replaces Ochoa, Calliste replaces Parrika and I'm forced to play Yeates on the right wing. Pipe replaces Richardson and Tandy plays on the left. 7 first teamers are missing. They swarm us to start with, but against the run of play, Rezek scorches through to score. I go defensive, and The Toffees make little impression. Then the Czech striker scores a near identical goal just before the break. Just before I was due to sub him, Calliste heads in (52) and our illustrious opponents are limited to a "consolation" goal 8 minutes from time. Fulop was busy, but many of their shots were airy fairy and not really troublesome, whereas our finishing was described on Five Live on the way home as "utterly ruthless".

Everton 1-3 Notts County ATT: 20132

After a half hearted search for a new assistant, I promote the ever more impressive Robert Pires to the post of assistant manager. I know he'll do well, the players are a little bit in awe of his achievements as a player, and listen to everything he says.

20th September Notts County vs Doncaster
Pipe and Vitale stay in, with Richardson moving to right midfield. Rezek scores a goal of the season candidate, a mazy run then a ferocious blast from 30 yards to get us underway. Tandy gets himself sent off at half time though, forcing us to go defensive. It doesn't stop us, Rezek capping a marvelous performance with a cross for Calliste to tap in (68). Their 90th minute strike is little more than an interruption to the flow. I'm delighted with the lads' class and fight afterwards.

Notts County 2-1 Doncaster ATT: 12607

Fulop will miss 1-2 weeks, and Tandy is suspended for a match.

23rd September Notts County vs Bournemouth
Briland and Filipe Morais replace Fulop and Pipe. The also recalled Sparv crosses for Calliste to score (14), then Filipe Morais gets a second (19). Not much happens apart from that, and we cruise to a very straightforward win. Vitale puts in a very impressive MOM performance.

Notts County 2-0 Bournemouth ATT: 12861

27th Hull vs Notts County
Rezek thunders in a "scorcher" after 50 seconds, before I'd even sat down in the dugout. They score (23) but we get a penalty on 35, which Vitale misses but then scores his own rebound. The Tigers equalise in 1st half injury time, which is always guaranteed to get me in a fury. Our deserved win is sealed though on 71 minutes, when Saritama plays in Calliste, who executes a lethal finish.

Hull 2-3 Notts County ATT: 21666

The fast developing Luca Vitale will miss 1-2 weeks with a gashed head.

29th September Big news. I receive a bid of 2.5 million for Marton Fulop from Sparta Prague. With Lewis arriving soon, and the Hungarian having previously been a malcontent, I accept. It's risky, but we have two outstanding prospects to come in. It makes sense, to me anyway. I was expecting him to leave in January, but for some reason he goes straight away.

That gives us an eye-popping 3.1M profit for the month, and a 5.5M transfer budget for me. Very pleased with September, the end of it anyway.

retired_teju

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre"> | Pos | Inf | Team | | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 1st | | Crystal Palace | | 13 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 20 | 8 | +12 | 28 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 2nd | | Norwich | | 13 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 22 | 12 | +10 | 26 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 3rd | | Fulham | | 13 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 24 | 9 | +15 | 24 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 4th | | West Brom | | 13 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 17 | 10 | +7 | 24 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 5th | | Portsmouth | | 13 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 23 | 16 | +7 | 23 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 6th | | Notts Co | | 13 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 18 | 15 | +3 | 23 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 7th | | Derby | | 13 | 5 | 7 | 1 | 18 | 11 | +7 | 22 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 8th | | Reading | | 13 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 17 | 12 | +5 | 22 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 9th | | Leicester | | 13 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 21 | 20 | +1 | 22 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 10th | | Stoke | | 13 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 18 | 21 | -3 | 21 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 11th | | Coventry | | 13 | 4 | 7 | 2 | 22 | 17 | +5 | 19 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 12th | | Plymouth | | 13 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 17 | 18 | -1 | 18 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 13th | | Sheff Utd | | 13 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 18 | 22 | -4 | 18 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 14th | | Sunderland | | 13 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 17 | 16 | +1 | 17 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 15th | | Crewe | | 13 | 5 | 2 | 6 | 17 | 22 | -5 | 17 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 16th | | Doncaster | | 13 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 22 | 21 | +1 | 16 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 17th | | Southampton | | 13 | 2 | 7 | 4 | 13 | 15 | -2 | 13 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 18th | | Nottm Forest | | 13 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 17 | 19 | -2 | 12 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 19th | | Hull | | 13 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 8 | 16 | -8 | 12 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 20th | | Ipswich | | 13 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 15 | 20 | -5 | 11 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 21st | | Wolves | | 13 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 17 | 23 | -6 | 11 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 22nd | | Lincoln | | 13 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 16 | 26 | -10 | 8 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 23rd | | Brighton | | 13 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 9 | 22 | -13 | 8 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 24th | | Bournemouth | | 13 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 14 | 29 | -15 | 8 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| </pre>

retired_teju

4th October Nisja and Ebanks are back in training, which will certainly give a boost to our injury ravaged squad.

7th October Joe Lewis arrives and goes straight into the team in goal for the next match.

8th October It's hello to an old friend in more ways than one. I'm having a conversation with Riggy on the phone about how things are going at Southampton, and he mentions that he's surprised that he can't get anyone to take Lee Barnard off his hands, despite the fact that he's only asking 90 grand. He's not the only one who's surprised. I didn't even know he was for sale, let alone at that paltry price. I delegate a lot at the club and hadn't checked the transfer list for a while. (For those that don't remember, Barnard scored 30 goals for us in my first season at the club on loan from Tottenham. I lost out on signing him permanently to The Saints, but it seems he made little impression there.)

I feel like I'm fleecing my old mate, but business is business, and I have enough respect for his opinion to reckon that he knows what he's doing.

Things move quickly, and it tunrs out that Barnard is keen as mustard to come and play for me. He will join in January for 85K on a 3.3K/week contract, and could turn out to be a hell of a signing.

11th October Notts County vs Lincoln
The 21st placed Imps should be easy meat for us in the form we're in. Ochoa returns, and squeezes Nuno Morais out, with Vitale retaining his place. Saritama is on international duty, the disappointing Flamini gets another chance.
My arrogance is misplaced as we produce a baffling 1st half display. Despite good possession, we are outshot 9-1 by a decidedly average side, and I deliver the bollocking of all time in the dressing room. We turn possession into chances in the 2nd half, but just as frustration is setting in, Jan Rezek gets on the end of a teasing 85th minute cross, and heads in a hugely relieving winner. The ground explodes in ecstasy, if that's not putting it rather dramatically. Our 5th straight win.

Notts County 1-0 Lincoln ATT: 11109

14th October Notts County vs Ipswich
Last year's sparring partners are finding the going tough up here, and are in 21st place now themselves. Calliste is played in by Rezek to score, after a period of sustained possession and pressure by us. But The Tractor Boys equalise soon after (27). I give the lads a rocket, more about the goal conceded than the actual performance. To their credit, they dominate the 2nd half. We outshoot them 16-4, but find their keeper impenetrable, and long before the end I realise that this is not going to be our night. Our win streak finally ends, but it's put us in a mighty strong position to confound the pre-season predictions.

Notts County 1-1 Ipswich ATT: 15043

O'Hara is out 1-2 weeks with a facial injury, and Ochoa will miss the same period with a thigh strain.

18th October Coventry vs Notts County
Nuno Morais replaces Ochoa, and Nisja replaces O'Hara. Rezek jinks through and finishes inside the 1st minute, then Flamini executes a perfect through ball for Calliste to shoot in hard and low (14). Rezek skins them down the left, then crosses for Calliste to finish a blitzkreig 20 minutes of quite awe-inspiring football. The home side are bound to get back into it of course, and pull one back on 32. I go defensive at half-time, and we start to look nervy. Even more so when our hesitancy allows another goal on 67, and I think we've completely blown it. However, they start to flag badly, and we come back into it more. Relief is my overbearing feeling as we hang on for a 3 points we thoroughly deserved. Maybe I was too timid, and went defensive too early, but we got the 3 points, and looked like world-beaters in the first 20.

Coventry 2-3 Notts County ATT: 30626

22nd October Plymouth vs Notts County LG CUP RD 3
Plenty of reserves in, even though this is a big game. Hjalmar produces a lovely pass to play in Saritama who drives in from the edge of the box, something he is very good at. Tandy gets in a very penetrating cross, and Ebanks heads in for a very satisfying first 9 minutes. We look very dangerous from thereon in, but I go defensive on the hour. They come back into it a bit, and score on 78. I instruct the lads to get forward again, and we dominate the last 10 minutes, holding out for a very deserved and professional win, against a pretty good side.

Plymouth 1-2 Notts County ATT: 6848

We play Swindon in the next round. Not glamourous, though on the other hand an excellent chance to progress.

25th Wolves vs Notts County
Pipe and Saritama retain their places. In a dull 1st half, they score with their first kick (35). We keep plugging away, but we're awful, and Nuno Morais getting sent off for two yellows 10 minutes from time seals our fate. We were rotten. So were Wolves actually.

Wolves 1-0 Notts County ATT: 27727

On the Sunday night, Forest fire Gary Megson and a sequence of events transpires that puts the Nottingham football scene in turmoil.

By coincidence, the day after I am attending a local sports awards ceremony for disabled kiddies. Everyone from the local scene is there, including my old sparring partner Nigel Doughty the Forest chairman.

We're on much better terms than we used to be, and chat for a while about this and that. Then he throws me an awkward question. Would I be interested in the Forest job? Without thinking, I say the same thing I always say: I'll talk to anyone that's interested in me. I guess he took this as an application, and in light of what happened over the next week or so, it was a stupid thing to have done.

All hell breaks loose in the media the next day, rumours flying around that I am going back to Forest. Steve Thompson is furious and rightly so, especially when he reminds me that this Saturday's game is at home to...Nottingham Forest!

He demands to know what the hell is going on, as does everyone else I seem to bump into. I tell the players at training that I'm not going anywhere. They've read the papers and are concerned, so I say that to concentrate minds on the game on Saturday.

Refusing to talk to the media, I lock up our training sessions, and lay low until Saturday, reaching the ground early to avoid any potential trouble with journalists or supporters. As the atmosphere builds toward the game, shivers go up and down my spine. It's a full house out there, and the crowd are seething with all the intrigue of the past week. So while speculation swirls, I give the lads a real Winston Churchill team talk, telling them to win this game for those fans, and show everyone why I would never even consider leaving the best bunch of players I have ever worked with. Everyone's effing and blinding, and the lads go out in a lather, with me reminding them not to get into trouble with the ref, but to be impassioned.

As I head to the dugout, there is a little bit of barracking, which is disappointing, but the genuine fans give me a huge ovation, and start chanting for me to stay. The atmosphere is supercharged. An old bloke behind the dugout asks me if I am staying, and I shout "you better f***ing believe I am," which gets a raucous cheer.

The game is frantic and highly charged, with very little good football. Then on the stroke of half-time, Commons gives them the lead. I give the lads another impassioned sppech in the dressing room. Straight away, Rezek crosses for Calliste to send 3 sides of the packed house into raptures. After another high-octane move, Nisja squares for Ebanks to give us a 56th minute lead, and a crowd scene even more frantic than the last. I go defensive and they pour forward, but Russell Hoult makes a wretched mistake outside his own box, allowing Calliste to chip in sensationally from 45 yards.

The game is sealed, and I can honestly say the atmosphere was unbelievable, more so than the promotions. Fans are shouting "you can't leave now!" as we head off the field.

Notts County 3-1 Notts Forest ATT: 20260

I give an inflammatory press conference in the heat of the moment after the game. "We're Number 1 in Nottingham now all right!" I crow. Barely able to disguise my delight I savour every moment of a great win, and it's obvious to all that I'm going nowhere.

Jan Rezek is interviewed on the telly saying I gave an "inspirational" team talk. We certainly turned it around after the break, and the players were fabulous, as we outshot them 15-6.

Gate receipts of 375K were a new record, although we recorded a 219K loss for the month.

retired_teju

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre"> | Pos | Inf | Team | | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 1st | | Fulham | | 19 | 12 | 3 | 4 | 41 | 16 | +25 | 39 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 2nd | | Stoke | | 19 | 12 | 1 | 6 | 31 | 23 | +8 | 37 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 3rd | | Norwich | | 19 | 10 | 6 | 3 | 30 | 18 | +12 | 36 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 4th | | Crystal Palace | | 19 | 10 | 4 | 5 | 28 | 16 | +12 | 34 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 5th | | Reading | | 19 | 9 | 7 | 3 | 24 | 15 | +9 | 34 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 6th | | West Brom | | 19 | 10 | 4 | 5 | 25 | 17 | +8 | 34 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 7th | | Portsmouth | | 19 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 32 | 22 | +10 | 33 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 8th | | Notts Co | | 19 | 10 | 3 | 6 | 26 | 21 | +5 | 33 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 9th | | Derby | | 19 | 6 | 11 | 2 | 25 | 18 | +7 | 29 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 10th | | Sheff Utd | | 18 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 27 | 27 | 0 | 29 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 11th | | Southampton | | 19 | 6 | 8 | 5 | 24 | 21 | +3 | 26 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 12th | | Doncaster | | 19 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 30 | 28 | +2 | 26 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 13th | | Leicester | | 19 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 29 | 32 | -3 | 26 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 14th | | Coventry | | 19 | 5 | 9 | 5 | 30 | 32 | -2 | 24 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 15th | | Sunderland | | 19 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 24 | 25 | -1 | 22 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 16th | | Wolves | | 19 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 30 | 32 | -2 | 22 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 17th | | Ipswich | | 18 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 25 | 27 | -2 | 21 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 18th | | Plymouth | | 19 | 5 | 5 | 9 | 20 | 31 | -11 | 20 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 19th | | Nottm Forest | | 19 | 4 | 7 | 8 | 26 | 28 | -2 | 19 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 20th | | Crewe | | 19 | 5 | 4 | 10 | 18 | 30 | -12 | 19 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 21st | | Bournemouth | | 19 | 4 | 3 | 12 | 21 | 38 | -17 | 15 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 22nd | | Brighton | | 19 | 3 | 5 | 11 | 21 | 37 | -16 | 14 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 23rd | | Hull | | 19 | 3 | 5 | 11 | 13 | 30 | -17 | 14 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 24th | | Lincoln | | 19 | 3 | 2 | 14 | 22 | 38 | -16 | 11 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| </pre>

retired_teju

Some might say we've made a surprisingly good fist of this division, but I always thought that if we played to our potential, we'd be somewhere in the upper half of the table.

The challenge is to maintain it of course. 33 points is a hell of a good start, and 5 more wins will see relegation off the agenda. Once that's done, which I know it will be, we can focus on other things.

I'm already thinking about January. None of my thoroughbreds are likely to leave, unless I get blown away by an offer from Chelsea or something, but the squad does need pruning in some areas. We've had a great run of successful signings; now is the time to move up a level.

I have a philosophy of signing players who are capable of playing at a division higher than the one you're in, a contingency for success if you will. We've got the cash now, and the wage flexibility. I want to start signing impact players, top flight guys. This may be pie-in-the-sky, but I have sent the scouts out to see what's around. I already have one target in mind. Sunderland's Julio Arca is still fannying around at the Stadium of Light. Their club are going nowhere in our division, and I am contemplating a big bid for him. This is exactly the sort of guy I am thinking of, not really a household name, but a very highly-rated player who can and has done a solid job in the Premiership. Watch this space.

retired_teju

Well if you haven't all completely forgotten about this story, here's another update!

1st November Derby vs Notts County
Talk about after the Lord Mayor's show. Following the highly charged previous week is one of the most boring games I have ever been associated with. This is of course a local derby too, but that doesn't stop it from being chronic. We are poor, I almost think that as the home side they are even worse. However, we are outshot 11-7, and they clinch the points with a scrappy goal on 16 minutes.

Derby 1-0 Notts County ATT: 33577

Rezek will miss the next game through suspension, Lloyd has injured his wrist and is out 1-2 weeks, while Calliste injures himself playing for Wales and may miss up to a month. Fortunately there's a 2 week break to our next fixture, a home game with 15th placed Sunderland.

Forest hire Ray Wilkins, a thoroughly good bloke, as their new manager. It occurs to me that that c**t Nigel Doughty just used me to destabilise our club. I would not go back there now, which is just as well because they don't actually want me.

15th November Notts County vs Sunderland
Sparv replaces Rezek, with Hjalmar deputising for Calliste. A shaky start by us results in an 8th minute lead for them, but Hjalmar strikes back 5 minutes later. They re-take the lead on 22, and then we have a perfectly good goal disallowed. I have a feeling we are not getting anything and I am right. Two things are garbage here: our performance, and the result. Sunderland were even worse than we were, and somehow came away with a win.

Notts County 1-2 Sunderland ATT: 14998

22nd November Reading vs Notts County
Rezek is back for Sparv, while Lloyd is dropped and replaced by Morrison. We concede after 90 seconds, then again after 7 minutes, in a quite woeful display of defending. I lay into the lads at half-time, but it doesn't prevent us shipping another goal on 65. Hjalmar scores a "consolation" from the penalty spot on 83, only for Vitale to be sent off straight after, followed by an almost instantaneous goal for them. I go nuts in the dressing room, locking the doors, and having a right go at the players. As far as I am concerned they are cruising, and if they don't have the appetite for success, I'll get the players that do. They seem a little bit shocked.

Reading 4-1 Notts County ATT: 23348

Ebanks will miss 2-4 weeks with a thigh strain, while Lewis could miss two weeks with a hand injury.

26th November Swindon vs Notts County LG CUP 4th RD
Briland, Brandao, Lloyd, Tandy, and Pipe are drafted in, with Rezek pushed up front. I instruct Flamini to drop back in front of the back 4 as a genuine defensive midfielder. We've been shipping too many goals, and his game is not suited to a straight 4-4-2, so perhaps it will kill 2 birds with one stone. It's still 4-4-2, just a more cautious role for him.
I'm not surprised when the home side take a 15th minute lead, nor am I surprised by how sloppy the goal was. This has become our trademark of late. Hjalmar converts a penalty he won after 26. Then 8 minutes later, Pipe crosses dangerously for Rezek to head home. After the break, Tandy goes on an endless mazy run, before delivering a killer pass for Hjalmar to net easily (47). Nothing much else happens in a dull 2nd period, except for sub Parrika heading in a cross on 68. We had them quite easily, but I was unimpressed, since that's precisely what we should have done. Having said that, we did clinically despatch them, so maybe I am being a little bit hard on the lads.

Swindon 1-4 Notts County ATT: 4048

We'll play Man United or Bolton at home in the next round, which should be a decent moneyspinner either way.

I decide to release Emmet Friars. He showed flashes of promise, but his contract is expiring, and he's a mile down the depth chart. Football is a hard business.

29th November Notts County vs Portsmouth
Our unchanged side tackles the 7th placed club. They put us under heavy pressure to start with, then Rezek cocks up a great chance to give us an undeserved lead. We finally concede on 31, but almost straight away a great cross from Tandy forces their defender to put through his own net.
The game turns in the 37th minute when they score a complete fluke goal, an innocuous cross deflected past a hapless Briland, then they rub it in with another goal 2 minutes before the break. I'm so disgusted I don't even go into the dressing room, and Hjalmar's 86th minute "consolation" doesn't spare the lads from an absolute roasting after the game. If they thought I was angry at Reading, they didn't quite believe the fury that I had that Saturday evening. Robert Pires told me to cool it once or twice, but I kept coming back in for more. I have never been so furious with a sequence of results in my career, simply because the performances give the impression that the players don't give a s**t. That makes me boil. And I refuse to take that home to the wife and kids. I'm going to let the players have it. All of it.

Notts County 2-3 Portsmouth ATT: 12911

The month ends with a profit of 194K. League table to follow.

retired_blueroses

Top story glad it is still going

retired_teju

Thanks Fatious, I have loads more and hope to update today. I was just about to post November's league table, when like a fool I accidentally deleted it. Suffice to say we haven't gone up any places from last month.

retired_teju

managed to recover the table here it is.

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">| Pos | Inf | Team | | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 1st | | Fulham | | 22 | 15 | 3 | 4 | 47 | 17 | +30 | 48 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 2nd | | West Brom | | 22 | 12 | 5 | 5 | 31 | 20 | +11 | 41 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 3rd | | Norwich | | 22 | 11 | 7 | 4 | 35 | 21 | +14 | 40 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 4th | | Portsmouth | | 22 | 11 | 6 | 5 | 37 | 26 | +11 | 39 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 5th | | Stoke | | 22 | 12 | 2 | 8 | 32 | 27 | +5 | 38 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 6th | | Reading | | 22 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 28 | 19 | +9 | 37 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 7th | | Crystal Palace | | 22 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 34 | 24 | +10 | 36 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 8th | | Leicester | | 22 | 10 | 5 | 7 | 33 | 32 | +1 | 35 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 9th | | Coventry | | 22 | 8 | 9 | 5 | 37 | 35 | +2 | 33 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 10th | | Notts Co | | 22 | 10 | 3 | 9 | 30 | 30 | 0 | 33 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 11th | | Sheff Utd | | 22 | 9 | 6 | 7 | 29 | 32 | -3 | 33 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 12th | | Doncaster | | 22 | 9 | 5 | 8 | 38 | 33 | +5 | 32 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 13th | | Southampton | | 22 | 7 | 10 | 5 | 31 | 26 | +5 | 31 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 14th | | Derby | | 22 | 6 | 12 | 4 | 26 | 21 | +5 | 30 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 15th | | Wolves | | 22 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 40 | 37 | +3 | 29 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 16th | | Sunderland | | 22 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 27 | 30 | -3 | 25 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 17th | | Ipswich | | 22 | 5 | 8 | 9 | 30 | 35 | -5 | 23 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 18th | | Plymouth | | 22 | 5 | 8 | 9 | 22 | 33 | -11 | 23 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 19th | | Nottm Forest | | 22 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 30 | 33 | -3 | 22 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 20th | | Brighton | | 22 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 26 | 39 | -13 | 21 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 21st | | Crewe | | 22 | 5 | 5 | 12 | 20 | 37 | -17 | 20 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 22nd | | Bournemouth | | 22 | 5 | 3 | 14 | 24 | 47 | -23 | 18 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 23rd | | Hull | | 22 | 4 | 5 | 13 | 19 | 35 | -16 | 17 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 24th | | Lincoln | | 22 | 4 | 3 | 15 | 29 | 46 | -17 | 15 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| </pre>

I'm really irritable with the way things are going lately. We give one great performance and then rest on our laurels, as if there is a culture around the place that we're pleased with mid-table. I won't tolerate that.

It's not as good anymore now that Riggy has gone. He was a rock at this club. Pires is still settling into his role, but will inevitably suffer in comparison to the person he replaced. He's competent, but we don't have the same sort of rapport, because he's just not the type of person to go the pub. It's all a bit formal and stilted, which I suppose is the way it works on the continent.

Changes will be made in January. Not necessarily people leaving, because it might be hard to get their true value, and I don't do giveaways. However, there are some people in a comfort zone here, and some new faces around the place will certainly turn up the heat on them.