"It's true that the Notts County striker line and midfield setup appear picturesque, but everyone knows it's defense that wins championships. Even the sharpest attack is worthless if the backline resembles a sieve. Without a dependable defense, Notts County's idiot chairman has doomed the team! He clearly doesn't understand football. Mark my words, relegation is inevitable."
The latest scathing article from the Nottingham Post hit newsstands with brutal ferocity, once again targeting David's grand rebuild of Notts County.
The criticism carried a semblance of logic, and for both Nottinghamshire and even Nottingham Forest fans, it seemed convincing. Forest fans, however, couldn't bring themselves to celebrate just yet. They had this nagging feeling that they were about to witness another Nottingham Post humiliation.
Their intuition proved correct. In the latest edition of the Nottingham Evening News, more transfer announcements for Notts County hit the headlines:
- Ricardo Carvalho, the primary center-back of Portuguese powerhouse Porto, brought in for €4 million.
- Joleon Lescott, the commanding center-back from Wolverhampton Wanderers, for €400,000.
- Khalid Boulahrouz, nicknamed "The Cannibal," signed for €300,000.
- Andreas Westman, at €1.2 million, a versatile defensive maestro.
- José Bosingwa, a dynamic full-back, for €450,000.
- Fabio Grosso, the Italian full-back purchased for €100,000.
- Philip Lahm, on loan from Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich.
Throw in two talented young goalkeepers, Diego López and Ben Foster, and suddenly Notts County's defense had undergone a transformation that left critics stunned.
At this point, Notts County fans were overwhelmed with pride and excitement.
For years, they had longed for a competent management team with ambition—a chairman willing to build a brighter future. Now, with David's forward-thinking signings, they could hardly believe what they were witnessing. The lineup wasn't just well-rounded; it was full of promise.
This wasn't simply about competing in League Two. Notts County was laying the groundwork for sustained success that could see the club thrive for decades to come.
For Nottingham Forest fans, however, this was a bitter pill to swallow. Their beloved Nottingham Post had been wrong again. As much as they tried to mock their rivals, they couldn't help but begrudgingly acknowledge the strength of the new lineup. One fan muttered sarcastically, "Well, if this team can't get promoted, League Two must be the next Premier League!"
The attentive among the footballing world couldn't help but tally up the staggering amounts Notts County had spent.
In total, the club had invested €38.98 million in transfers that summer, including Portuguese playmaker Deco, temporarily loaned back to Porto. When converted, that amounted to nearly £25 million—a figure unheard of in the lower leagues of English football.
For comparison, the sum was enough to purchase any club in the league outright, stadium included.
What shocked the media even more was when this figure was put alongside the Premier League's spending:
- Manchester United led all clubs, splashing £46 million to acquire stars like Verón (£28 million) and Van Nistelrooy (£19 million).
- Arsenal followed closely with over £27 million invested in player acquisitions, reinforcing their squad for a title challenge.
- Notts County, remarkably, sat in third place. Their spending even outpaced Chelsea, whose net spending, after selling several players, amounted to only £23 million.
Suddenly, Notts County—a third-tier club—had spent more money in the transfer market than most teams in England's top flight.
In some quarters, Notts County began to be thought of as a quasi-Championship team, long before the season began. With this investment, pundits believed even a mediocre coach could bulldoze through League Two with this group of players.
Yet again, the Nottingham Post found itself humiliated in the face of Notts County's relentless ambition. But instead of conceding, the paper doubled down, publishing yet another scathing critique of the club's strategy.
"Theoretically, Notts County's squad looks promising. But what good is theory in the cold, unforgiving conditions of League Two football?" the article read.
"The issue with young, high-value talent," it continued, "is instability. Young players are prone to inconsistency, and their mental fragility often leads to on-pitch collapses during difficult moments. When adversity strikes, who will provide stability or leadership in this fledgling squad?"
It didn't take long for Notts County—and the Nottingham Evening News—to deliver another stinging counter.
The paper triumphantly unveiled the signing of Dario Hübner, the veteran Serie A striker and former Golden Boot winner. At 34, Hübner was hardly a long-term investment, but his reliability and experience were beyond question.
Some fans joked that Hübner was old enough to be a playing coach. But when they looked at his stats—17 goals in 31 matches in Serie A last season—there was little else to laugh about.
Even the Nottingham Post, for all its bravado, couldn't deny Hübner's credibility. The paper grudgingly closed its criticism of the signing, unwilling to risk further embarrassment.
With the final pieces in place, Notts County fans felt vindicated.
While skeptics could nitpick the team's youthfulness or unproven composition, fans now realized they were part of something extraordinary. The squad wasn't just built to dominate this season; it was built to grow, evolve, and eventually challenge for greatness.
True success wouldn't be instantaneous, but the faith in David's vision had never been higher.
A breakdown of Notts County's transformative summer became a viral topic among football fan circles:
1. Attack: Villa, Kuyt, Di Natale—a dynamic trio.
2. Midfield: Alonso, Sneijder, Iniesta, Ribéry, Meireles—a future engine-room generation.
3. Defense: Carvalho, Lescott, Boulahrouz, Lahm—proven and promising.
4. Experience: Hübner—a talisman for leadership and goals.
This wasn't just a rebuild. It was a revolution.
As the summer wound down, the ridicule aimed at Notts County faded away. Even the Nottingham Post seemed reluctant to continue its public feud.
The players—young and old, inexperienced and experienced—trickled back into the club's facilities for pre-season preparations. The first day of training saw a mixture of nerves and excitement, as this unlikely group began to forge its identity.
David watched from the sidelines, content. The results would take care of themselves.
For now, it was time to focus. Notts County's journey to the top was just beginning.