retired_teju

3rd September Notts County vs Rochdale
Pipe and Morais are on international duty, Smith and Sheridan in. Harkins makes his debut in centre midfield.
This is the worst performance since I took charge. We're outshot 14-4, which is simply embarrassing at home. Harkins was poor on his debut, and Gill is out 2-4 weeks after he did a groin.

Notts County 0-2 Rochdale ATT: 7249

We are 3rd with 13 points from 7 games.

10th September Notts County vs Stockport
Stockport are struggling in 21st, but we are ravaged by injuries. Gill goes to left back for the injured Ullathorne Edwards plays at centre back. Lee Grant debuts as a defensive midfielder, and while Morais is back, Pipe returned from his international game injured.
Despite this, we dominate, but need a late penalty from Barnard to win 1-0. They never threatened but threatened to hang on for a draw. Under the circumstances, a good result.

Notts County 1-0 Stockport ATT: 6654

We're 2nd with 16 points from 8 games.

14th September Signed Adam Green D/WB/L from Fulham on a 3 month loan. He looks very handy. Kenny Cooper has returned from his thigh injury, and is a certain starter if he's fit (I may have forgotten to mention he missed the last couple of games). Pipe is also available again too.

17th September Orient vs Notts County
They are riding high in 4th, and with all the good chances, eventually score shortly before half-time, doubling their lead in the 56th. Hurst responds almost immediately, but a defensive blunder late on gives them a 3-1 lead. An icing on the cake goal in the dying minutes leaves us thoroughly thrashed and totally humiliated.

Orient 4-1 Notts County ATT: 5074

An unnamed County player reports my anger to the press afterwards, and as they say in politics "I can neither confirm nor deny that."

We're 5th, 16 points from 9.

24th September Carlisle vs Notts County
Cooper returns for Hurst. Lee Grant gives us the perfect start, powerfully heading in a 1st minute corner. They are all over us till half time, but we stand firm. Then Pipe gets sent off with nearly half an hour left. We circle the wagons, going defensive, then ultra defensive, and very professionally strangle the life out of the game.

Carlisle 0-1 Notts County ATT: 3245

The top 4 are all level on points, with us in 4th.

Pipe's sending off earns him a one game suspension, and a one week fine from me.

27th September Notts County vs Lincoln
I once lived in Lincoln (been round the block a few times even though I'm only 30ish) and spent the odd Saturday at Sincil Bank. No sentiment here though.
Dean Smith is in for the suspended Pipe Halfway through the first half, Barnard caps a nice move, heading in from Palmer's cross. They equalise with ten minutes left in the half, and that's your lot. A rotten game, and despite the draw, I tell the team they were embarrassing, which doesn't go down very well with the lads. Too bad. New signing Adam Green got a 4, so I don't think even he was expecting a pat on the back.

Notts County 1-1 Lincoln ATT: 6786

September disappears into the rear view mirror with our league standing boosted to 3rd, 20 points from 11 games. The board receive a profit of 107K, which I'm sure they will eagerly re-invest in new players...

retired_teju

1st October Mansfield vs Notts County
Pipe returns for this local-ish derby. An even, rotten 1st half. In the 89th minute Barnard latches on to a goal kick, chips it over Kevin Pressman and in off the post from 25 yards. We survive an awful defensive error for an apparently deserved win, in a quite dreadful game.

Mansfield 0-1 Notts County ATT: 4689

8th October Notts County vs Wrexham
Pipe and Morais bugger off on international duty again! Smith and Sheridan in again, with Hurst deputising for the oft injured Cooper, who seems to have something wrong with his thighs.
In another awful 1st half, we hit the bar, and I feel like hitting the bar. Instead, I give the team a rocket. It has little effect; despite getting a man sent off we can't score. Then a minute from timeAdam Green flukes in an attempted cross, and we get the 3 points. Lovely.

Notts County 1-0 Wrexham ATT: 7531

As we ascend to 1st place with 26 points from 13 games, the media start dubbing us a "surprise package". Not really. It's not as if there's many good teams or players in this division, judging by the rubbish I've watched so far.

15th October Northampton vs Notts County
Pipe and Morais are back in. We knew this would be tough, against a 3rd placed team tipped for promotion. A poor goal defensively inside the first 5 is followed by a long range shot 20 minutes later to make it 2. We're getting killed out there and I tell the team they're clueless. The 2nd half improves a little but a dreadful error by Morais gives them a 3 goal win they were full value for.

Northampton 3-0 Notts County ATT: 5263

We drop to second, with 26 from 14.

18th October Notts County vs Woking LDV
Every possible reserve is in for this one. Steve Scoffham gives us a seemingly comfortable lead, until an embarrasing collapse in the last 12 minutes sends us crashing out. Having said that, I'm not exactly devastated.

Notts County 1-2 Woking ATT: 2028

22nd October Shrewsbury vs Notts County
The first team are back out for this visit to the basement dwellers, but we go behind 12 minutes in. We equalise before half time with an own goal, then Cooper bulges the net with a terrific solo goal, a great run and rasping shot. I tell the lads not to get complacent, but 10 minutes from time, the Shrews score to draw a game we should have won.

Shrewsbury 2-2 Notts County ATT: 3444

We slip to 3rd, with 27 from 15.

25th October I transfer list the recovered Julien Baudet and offer him to clubs. Scunthorpe are straight in, and he is gone by the time our next match rolls around for 18k.

29th October Notts County vs Peterborough
Scully is in for the suspended Palmer Cooper opens our account in the 8th minute. Just 2 minutes later, a nice move has the Posh defence in disarray, and Harkins slots into an empty net. A long cross finds their keeper out of position again, and Barnard heads in (26). Then a fantastic team move, and clinical finish from the same man gives us a 4-0 start with 10 minutes left in the half. On the hour they pull one back, butCooper finishes another great move on 67, then gets a standing ovation when I sub him. Posh get a late "consolation" goal (what a stupid phrase, as if they're saying "well we got hammered but at least we got that late goal which really consoled us!"). I tell the lads they were sensational, and that's no bulls**t. They were.

Notts County 5-2 Peterborough ATT: 7572

30 points from 16 games is enough to propel us back to 1st. The board are delighted, I'm delighted, everybody's delighted! (except Peterborough). A profit of 52k for the month is further cause for...delight!

retired_sarahjk_2000

Great stuff, im....well, delighted all is going so well.

KUTGW

retired_teju

thanks Steve, I have played a full season now, and will keep updating as often as I can.

retired_teju

3rd November I manage to offload striker Gavin Gordon to Chester for 10k. Not much to say about that.

5th November Notts County vs Canvey Island FA CUP RD 1

After a poor start by both sides, Morais crosses for Cooper to slot home after 23. The Londoners equalise after 47, which most certainly wasn't in the script, but Barnard restores order with a great strike just after the stroke of the hour, then we lock it down with a 12 yard shot from Harkins ten minutes later. We made heavy weather of it, though we were never in danger of losing.

Notts County 3-1 Canvey Island ATT: 6160

8th November. More offloads. Lewis McMahon is shipped to Rochdale for 20k. Stacy Long goes to Scunthorpe for 18k, and Chester pay 14K for Scully. No particular reason for dumping them, other than it would get me some transfer dough, and they were far from assured of new deals at the end of the season.

12th November Notts County vs Grimsby
Cooper and Morais are on international duty, which has proved a recipe for disaster, and sure enough, a 12th minute gaffe by Wilson allows them to open the scoring. Pilkington saves a 22nd minute penalty, but they make it 2 ten minutes before the interval. Hurst gives us hope 2 minutes before the break, then on 52 minutes, Barnard levels the contest with a fabulous cross shot. A late goal for us is disallowed, and we have to be content with a draw. A fine fightback though.

Notts County 2-2 Grimsby ATT: 7440

We're still top, 31 points from 17.

I decide to do the next report in the style of Donovan Robertson, as a tribue to the great anti-racism and stalking campaigner, and because I was seriosuly ****ed off with the result.

Bury win 2-1 dead angry.

26th November Notts County vs Torquay
Morais and Cooper return, and from a Cooper rebound Barnard taps us in front. Torquay equalise (18). Barnard trumps this with his second (43), but they reply with a fluke equaliser 5 minutes after half-time. Barnard (who else?!) completes a magical hat-trick on 54, but they equalise immediately. The magician will not be denied however, as Barnard heads home a sweet cross for his 4th! We survive 20 minutes after the sending off of Morais to win the game. The Tottenham starlet striker just would not be denied!

Notts County 4-3 Torquay ATT: 7095

We consolidate atop the league, with 34 points from 19.

28th November I engineer the sale of Kelvin Wilson to Plymouth for 650k. I reckon he's a bit over-rated, and when they match a figure I pluck out of thin air, I grab the cash for my transfer kitty (well, 200k of it anyway).

Even without this windfall, the club reaps in a profit of 98k to finish November.

retired_aurie

A good season so far mate.
Keep it up and you should outperform Forest soon

retired_teju

thanks axeman, no question I will get plenty of satisfaction when I overtake them

retired_teju

3rd December Oldham vs Notts County FA Cup RD 2
Sheridan comes in for the suspended Morais, and Edwards for Martin. Oldham take the lead after 11 minutes, but Cooper hits them on the break in the 40th. They strike back almost immediately, then go 3-1 up 2 minutes after half-time. A poor performance by us, and a comfortable win for them. A 3rd Round tie away to Man Utd would have been lovely, but it's not to be.

Oldham 3-1 Notts County ATT: 4402

6th December Wycombe vs Notts County
Morais returns to the team. A penetrating cross from Green is headed in by Barnard for his 20th of the season after just 5 minutes. David Pipe doubles our lead from the penalty spot after half an hour. Then with a Wycombe player dismissed for a professional foul soon after, we see out the game and collect the 3 points as worthy winners.

Wycombe 0-2 Notts County ATT: 3542

We're heading the table, 37 points from 20.

10th December Notts County vs Darlington
It looks like they've got about 14 players on the pitch as they maul us in the first half. Then a wretched mistake by their goalkeeper allows Cooper to give us the lead (36). I am not confident we'll hold on so I go defensive, and we hold on for a somewhat fortuitous win. Despite the result, I tell the lads they were awful. Still we're top, with 40 from 21 games.

Notts County 1-0 Darlington ATT: 7864

13th December Adam Green returns to Fulham after his loan. He was all right, but didn't pull up any trees.

17th Oxford vs Notts County
Dan Martin replaces the departed Green at left back. In an even worse performance than last game, we lose very easily to the 7th placed side, if only by a goal. We slip to 3rd. Slightly worrying performance.

Oxford 1-0 Notts County ATT: 5908

26th December Cheltenham vs Notts County
Ah the Boxing Day fixture! The lads have been safely locked away over Christmas, while I have been lying face down in a gutter all Christmas week. Mike Whitlow comes in for the injured Edwards. The lads are under severe pressure first half. They get a rocket from me, but it doesn't stop us going behind (58). Then the home side get a man sent off, I go all out attack, but we lose again, to another crap performance. I do the hair dryer again at full time, just to make me feel better. This team is way off form. Still 3rd, with 40 points from 23.

Cheltenham 1-0 Notts County ATT: 4867

28th December Notts County vs Chester
Martin is back at centre defence, while fit-again Ullathorne resumes at left back. Chester lead after 5 minutes, but a great Morais cross allows Gill to head home a 21st minute leveller. Barnard, played through by Cooper, gives us the lead (61), but then gets sent off for diving (88). I go very defensive, and we hang on for a worthy win.

Notts County 2-1 Chester ATT: 6614

We're still in 3rd, with 43 points from 24. The club makes a profit of 81k for the month of December.

retired_teju

It's a happy New Year, as my unwanted players hit the road (see earlier transactions) The Kelvin Wilson cash certainly gives me a serviceable, if unspectacular transfer budget, and the greatly reduced wage bill should make us extremely profitable. The club is currently 1 million in the black.

I think I've done quite enough to merit a new contract. Vexed that an offer is not forthcoming, I make a proposal to the board which is roundly rejected. Hmm. Not such a happy New Year for me then.

My only other act before the next game is to promote young Irish DC Emmet Friars from the reserve to senior squad.

2nd January Rushden vs Notts County
Friars goes straight in and Hurst replaces the suspended Barnard.
After a game of head tennis, the aforementioned Hurst races through to score (20). They equalise on 37, and despite relative domination from us, that's the way it stays. We remain in third.

Rushden 1-1 Notts County ATT: 4262

4th January Notts County vs Bristol Rovers
Chris Palmer is unfit, so James Tandy deputises. The West Country men score early, but Harkins levels from a Barnard rebound (32). Six minutes later Barnard squares for Cooper to give us the lead. We press, and Barnard seals the deal in the 87th. Three points that our recent play has fully merited.

Notts County 3-1 Bristol City ATT: 7480

We're back atop the league! 47 points from 26 games.

6th December I sign promising creative midfielder Jamie O'Hara from Tottenham on a Bosman. We'll see how he goes next season.

7th January Notts County vs Barnet
Palmer is back in. A rotten 1st half ensues, and I get irritable in the changing room. It doesn't help, and the game yawns its way to a draw.

Notts County 0-0 Barnet ATT: 7528

It costs us 1st place. Thanks f**k we get a week off now to rest and recuperate.

9th January Young Chelsea centre back Adrian Pettigrew becomes my second Bosman signing to look forward to for next season.

14th January Boston vs Notts County
Hurst is in for Cooper. A Harkins bullet header from a corner puts us in front after 9 minutes. Boston equalise on 20, then take the lead (36). A 51st minute penalty seals our fate. A poor result and performance. We're still second though.

Boston 3-1 Notts County ATT: 6314

Will finsih this month later as we're all being sent home from work early!! ha ha

retired_teju

21st January Notts County vs Macclesfield
Smylie is in for the suspended Harkins and Cooper for Hurst. A dire first half, I get angry but it seems to have little effect. Then they get caught time-wasting and Barnard crosses for Cooper to score with just a minute left. I go defensive. It's a poor match but I don't care.

Notts County 1-0 Macclesfield ATT: 7098

28th January Rochdale vs Notts County
They are all over us in the first, and take the lead (12), then after a Cooper shot is saved, Barnard taps in (30). Then a rotten mistake by Martin gifts them the lead (40) and 3 minutes later, we are wide open at the back and they make it 3. Very poor, and I lambast the lads. We're hanging on in 3rd, with 51 points from 31 games.

Rochdale 3-1 Notts County ATT: 3531

29th January I sign DR/C Nathan D'Laryea from Man City. He turned me down earlier in the season, now he joins next season on a Bosman. So does Richard Jones MC from Man Utd. He's a highly rated player and could do good things next year.

30th January I sign Nathan's brother Jonathon D'Laryea on a 3 month loan. He's a defensive midfielder. We'll see what he's got, I can sign him on a Bosman if he pans out.

The board profit by 54k this month