After the setback in the first game, Notts County adjusted their tactics. The defense on the wings was tightened as Ram and Grosso effectively neutralized Stoke City's attacking players. The team's defensive work ensured that the opponent couldn't exploit their flanks. Meanwhile, the attack slowly began to find more rhythm as the game progressed.
In the 80th minute, Lescott delivered a corner, and Hubner quickly cleared the ball. Without wasting a moment, he sprinted to the center circle, trying to create an opportunity for his team.
However, Stoke City's coach had no intention of giving up three points easily. Upon seeing Notts County push forward, he ordered his team to retreat and tighten their defense. Notts County, still struggling to form a cohesive tactical system, found it difficult to break down Stoke's well-organized defense.
On the sidelines, Löw paced anxiously, shouting instructions to his players, trying to direct their movements and positioning. Time was running out, and his nerves were palpable. He couldn't keep calm, as the pressure mounted.
David, however, sat composed on the bench, as still as an old monk. He knew better than to add to the mounting pressure on Löw and the players at that moment.
In the final minutes, Notts County pushed desperately to break Stoke's defense. But the opposition's solid defensive block left little room to maneuver. This was a common challenge faced by teams—finding a way to overcome a compact, defensive unit was never easy, especially for a team still in the process of finding their identity.
Eventually, Stoke City left Meadow Lane with all three points, securing a 2-0 victory in Notts County's opening game of the season.
When the final whistle blew, the players looked lost, confused by the outcome. It seemed like they couldn't quite understand why they had lost after putting in so much effort.
Löw, however, went onto the pitch to console each of his players individually. Despite the loss, he knew that the defeat wasn't their fault. They had given everything, and it was simply one of those games.
As the players made their way back to the bench, preparing to leave the stadium, David stood up. His voice echoed through the quiet dressing room. "It was just a defeat," he said firmly. "You might feel disappointed, maybe even a bit lost, but keep your heads high. This game is behind us, and we'll fight to win the next one. I need each of you to have that determination. Now, let's go thank the fans together. You played for 90 minutes, and they supported you for those 90 minutes."
David's words resonated with the players. Despite the loss, the fans had remained supportive, never booing or showing frustration. The Notts County supporters were simple people—if they saw their team working hard, they understood the struggles. They knew the team was in the early stages of a journey, and that these difficulties would be temporary.
As David spoke, the players joined together and bowed to the fans. The crowd erupted into applause, cheering wildly. To anyone who didn't know the score, it might have seemed as though Notts County had won the match.
At the post-match press conference, Löw wasn't surprised by the questions from the media.
The first reporter, White from the Nottingham Evening News, started with neutral, almost supportive questions. But as the conference wore on, the tone shifted.
"Mr. Löw," White asked, "since you've taken over at Notts County, you haven't won a single match—five warm-up games and now the opening league match. It seems like Notts County's summer transfers have been a complete failure. Are you taking responsibility for this? Do you think the German coaching style is suited to English football? And are you considering leaving Notts County?"
The question came from a local reporter known for his bad relationship with Notts County.
Löw frowned, his patience wearing thin. "Does the result of a warm-up match really matter?" he responded. "If it does, we might as well only play friendly games every season. Yes, we lost today. It happens. But losing one game doesn't define us. Stoke was simply the better team today, but that doesn't mean it's the end of the world. Should we just give up after one loss? Notts County and I have a contract, and I intend to lead this team to the League Two title and, eventually, to the Premier League."
The mention of a league title made the room buzz. A few reporters exchanged excited glances. This was the story they were hoping for: ambition, defiance, and a promise of future success.
"Mr. Löw," one reporter asked coldly, "I'm afraid I must remind you that, based on today's performance, winning the title seems a long way off. Notts County might even struggle to avoid relegation."
Löw didn't rise to the bait. He was tired of engaging with these hostile questions. "We'll see at the end of the season. I'm confident you'll be interviewing us when we win the championship."
The questions continued, each one more pointed than the last.
"We've noticed Ribéry played a very selfish style on the left today, refusing to pass at all. How do you justify starting him in the first place? Is there any sort of 'inside deal' going on here?"
"Is it true that Juventus are interested in Alonso and Iniesta? Will they leave before the transfer window closes?"
"Why do you continue to play a 34-year-old Italian veteran up front instead of young Spanish striker Villa?"
And then the questions turned personal.
"We've noticed the chairman of Notts County, Pavis, often sits on the coach's seat during games. Who is actually making the tactical decisions in your team? Are you just a puppet for him?"
"Mr. Löw, there are rumors about your sexuality. Can you confirm whether or not they are true?"
The barrage of questions left Löw stunned. He had expected some tough questions, but he wasn't prepared for the intrusive and personal nature of the media's inquiries. It was a rude awakening to the often-cutthroat nature of the English press.
As Löw quickly left the press room, David watched with a hint of sympathy. The young coach had just gotten his first taste of how brutal the English media could be. David knew Löw would need support, and it was up to him to offer that comfort.
"You're laughing," Löw said, his frustration mounting. "They've even called us a couple, can you handle that reputation?"
David couldn't help but chuckle. "If you take them seriously, you've already lost. These guys have no shame. Don't worry, once we're on the right track, they'll have nothing left to say."
Löw wasn't in the mood to laugh, but David's words offered some relief. The road ahead would be difficult, but the press would eventually lose interest if the team proved themselves on the pitch.
It's easy to get discouraged when a team loses, especially when the competition seems to be outpacing you. However, in the long 46-round English Football League season, the real winner will be determined by consistency, not the outcome of just one or two games.
Still, it stung a bit that Notts County lost, while their local rivals came out on top.
Nottingham Forest had crushed Sheffield United in their Premier League opener, dominating the match without allowing the home side any chances to fight back.
It was easy to dismiss Nottingham Forest's victory, as they were in a different league altogether. But Manchesterfield, a team that Notts County would be facing this season, was another story.
The Pozzo family had transformed Manchesterfield by bringing in 14 Italian players, making them an immediate contender. In their first match of the season, they comfortably defeated Northampton 2-0. Manchesterfield fans, already proud of their team's new lineup, began to mock Notts County, suggesting that their spending spree was futile. They believed the Italian bosses had worked magic by merely loaning out young players from Serie A, which gave Manchesterfield the firepower to leap from relegation candidates to potential champions.
Notts County fans, however, had to console themselves with the thought that their team's lineup, although not yet in sync, would come together over time. The money spent by Notts County would bear fruit in the end, while Manchesterfield's quick fix would prove unsustainable once the loan players were forced to leave next season.
The Football League had already decided to introduce a new rule limiting the number of loan players per matchday to five, with no more than four from the same club. This new regulation, effective next season, would ensure that Manchesterfield couldn't rely on their current setup for long. Notts County fans had something to cheer about after all, confident that when the dust settled, their team would still stand strong.
In the second round of the league, Notts County traveled to face Bristol City, a team that had impressed in their opening match with a 3-0 victory over Swindon. The result, however, was predictable, as Notts County struggled again, losing 1-0.
This loss was different from the first, though. This time, the team wasn't completely outplayed. The only goal came after Ribery, too focused on individual dribbling, lost possession and allowed the opposition to break on a counterattack.
With two consecutive losses to start the season, Notts County found themselves near the bottom of the standings. The media, always hungry for a story, focused more on the results than the team's efforts on the pitch. Criticism was rampant, and not only was Coach Löw under fire, but even David, the club's chairman, was dragged into the controversy.
However, the harshest criticism was reserved for Ribery. His individualistic style was hurting the team, and fans and media alike began to see him as the main culprit in their disappointing start to the season.
Although Iniesta had recovered from his cold, his fitness was still a concern, so Löw kept Ribery in the starting lineup. But the winger seemed to be stuck in his old ways, playing a solo game instead of adapting to the team's needs. The result was a paralyzed left wing, and the goal conceded was a direct result of his poor decision-making.
David knew something had to change. He couldn't understand how a player with Ribery's talent—someone who had won the Golden Ball before—could fall into such a pattern. But he also understood that, like any young player, Ribery still had much to learn.
After training one day, David called Ribery to his office. Ribery entered nervously, fully aware of the criticism he had been facing. The weight of it all made him feel unsettled, and he feared the worst.
David, however, noticed Ribery's unease and couldn't help but smile inwardly. Despite his age, Ribery's face was mature, worn, and showed little sign of the tension he was feeling.
"Frank," David began, placing two glasses of water between them, "I think you might know why I asked you here today."
Ribery's heart skipped a beat. He was afraid of what was coming next. Is Notts County going to sell me? he wondered.
Ribery had come a long way from his humble beginnings in the French lower leagues, where he had struggled to survive, let alone imagine being a professional footballer. When Notts County had bought him, he had signed his first proper contract and earned a respectable salary. If the club sold him, he worried there might be few opportunities left for him.
David didn't know what was running through Ribery's mind, but he could sense the tension. He quickly continued, trying to ease the mood.
"I think you're playing too much like you did before," David said gently. "When you were playing for yourself, there were a lot of habits that didn't work in a professional setting. Now that you're here, you need to play as a professional."
Ribery, though nervous, was listening intently.
"I don't understand why you're unwilling to pass to your teammates. In the two games you've started, the left-wing attack has been essentially paralyzed because of it," David continued. "Your dribbling is fantastic, but you can't beat everyone on your own. The opposition knows you won't pass, and it makes you much easier to defend against."
Ribery lowered his head. He knew David was right. In his previous playing days, it had always been about individual glory, never about teamwork. Now, he had to adjust.
David paused, giving Ribery a moment to process what he'd said. "I've always had high hopes for you, Frank. I see the potential for you to become a star—someone like Figo or Giggs. But remember, no true superstar plays for themselves. The game is about the team."
Ribery nodded earnestly. The weight of David's trust and expectations hit him deeply. It was the kind of support he hadn't received before, and it made him feel like he could achieve more.
"I'll work hard to fit into the team, Mr. Chairman," Ribery said, his voice filled with determination. "I won't let you down."
David smiled, pleased with the response. "I'm counting on you. In future training sessions, focus on improving your teamwork. You'll need to develop strong relationships with your teammates. That's just as important as individual skills."
The conversation ended on a positive note. Ribery seemed eager to change, and David believed he could. Whether Ribery would follow through, only time would tell.
Paragraph comment
Paragraph comment feature is now on the Web! Move mouse over any paragraph and click the icon to add your comment.
Also, you can always turn it off/on in Settings.
GOT IT