Thomas joins Paul at Notts County

[King Binny]

Ince completes hat-trick of signings at Notts County

NOTTS County's new boss Paul Ince today completed a hat-trick of signings – including his own son Thomas.

After defender Sam Sodje signed this morning, he has made a double loan swoop on Liverpool.

His own son Thomas, 18, an attacking midfielder, has signed on loan until January along with right-back Stephen Darby, who will go straight into the side to face Hartlepool tomorrow night with captain John Thompson suspended.

Ince also hopes to make another two signings within the next 48 hours.

 

[Insignificance]

[quote author=Binny link=topic=42526.msg1209523#msg1209523 date=1288622509]

Ince completes hat-trick of signings at Notts County

NOTTS County's new boss Paul Ince today completed a hat-trick of signings – including his own son Thomas.

After defender Sam Sodje signed this morning, he has made a double loan swoop on Liverpool.

His own son Thomas, 18, an attacking midfielder, has signed on loan until January along with right-back Stephen Darby, who will go straight into the side to face Hartlepool tomorrow night with captain John Thompson suspended.

Ince also hopes to make another two signings within the next 48 hours.

[/quote]

Stupid move by both of them (Paul and Thomas that is.)

 

[Spionkop69]

Why is it stupid? He will get to play games at a higher level until Jan. Better than our reserves.

 

[Mistadobalina]

Good move as his dad will know him better than anyone else. He has got a bit of ability but really needs to keep progressing quite quickly if he is going to make it.

 

[Brizzle]

Its a good move as they actually get to play competitive football!

 

[WhyAlwaysMe?]

I think it's a great move for both.. Ince had a fantastic record with Mansfield and MK Dons.. Shame he couldn't excel with Blackburn..

Mini Ince benefits with first team footy!

 

[Avmenon]

It's a good move for Thomas, not so good for us.

 

[RolandG]

I hope the lads excel and it will speed up their development!

 

[Insignificance]

It is stupid because for Paul you can question his motivation for the move. He is hardly objective when judging if thomas is either the right guy for countys ambitions or if he is up to the task.

For thomas it is a move to daddys safe hands, ånd how ofte is it wise to be protected to a place in the team?

It might be a higher level, but it is not automatically the correct level.

 

[RolandG]

Well only time will tell now won't it? It pre-mature to draw any kind of conclusion and we hardly know the motivation behind the move. Our opinions are pure conjecture at this point.

Let's revisit the thread on conclusion of the loan spell with an assessment.

 

[Richey]

If the loan spell does conclude! Frequently they don't.

 

[Brizzle]

It is only for a couple of months and short term loans in the football league often only last for the intended periods due to a limit on the number of loanees allowed in a squad. Darby will be an instant starter and I think it might even help the attacking side of his game.

 

[King Binny]

Paul Ince is making son Thomas his first signing for Notts County in a swoop on old club Liverpool.

Ince junior is a stand-out midfielder in the Anfield reserves but will be allowed out for a taste of first-team action.

Young Thomas has made good progress through the youth ranks but this will be his chance to prove himself at League One level.

And dad Paul watched him in action for the reserves recently to check on his cuurent form before handing him his senior breakthrough.

Ince has also been done a favour by Liverpool who are letting him take promising right back Stephen Darby.

The Kop kid has played a couple of games but is seen as surplus just now by Roy Hodgson.

Ince junior and Darby will go straight into the Magpies side as Ince senior reacts to losing his first game at home to Southampton.

It will be the latest example of father and sons in football. Ironically Brian and Nigel Clough were one of the most famous family firms at Nottingham Forest.

And Ince played with Darren Ferguson under his father Sir Alex at Manchester United, so it will not be a new experience for him.

 

[zlatan18]

1st team football against grown men is a good move

 

[Insignificance]

[quote author=zlatan18 link=topic=42526.msg1210145#msg1210145 date=1288704472]
1st team football against grown men is a good move
[/quote]

But I assume that Notts Co has other ambitions than giving the managers sons some practice in playing towards grown men? They are a competitive club.

 

[refugee]

[quote author=Insignificance link=topic=42526.msg1210148#msg1210148 date=1288704734]
[quote author=zlatan18 link=topic=42526.msg1210145#msg1210145 date=1288704472]
1st team football against grown men is a good move
[/quote]

But I assume that Notts Co has other ambitions than giving the managers sons some practice in playing towards grown men? They are a competitive club.
[/quote]

He will be picked on merit, he is good enough for that league.

 

[King Binny]

Commenting on the signing of his son, Ince the elder said: "I've brought him in because he's a damn good player. He's got pace and will add a bit of quality to the squad."

He revealed: "There were a few clubs interested in him. I tried to get him for the rest of the season but they [Liverpool] want him back in January."

Ince believes that his new signings will freshen up the club and increase its quality. He also aims to sign more players in January, if funds are available. As for the two other targets who the new Notts manager aims to capture imminently, their identity remains a secret. All Ince would say is that ‘they are good players, and have played at a higher level.'

 

[King Binny]

Substituted in 72th min vs. Gateshead in FA Cup 1st Round

Most notably, his son, forward Tom Ince, and full-back Stephen Darby, who are both on-loan from Liverpool, came into the starting 11, along with Liam Chilvers and Lee Hughes.

Ince almost grabbed a debut goal in the opening 10 minutes, when Hughes controlled Stephen Hunt's diagonal ball into the box with his chest. Ince collected and unleashed a strong, first-time volley that forced visiting goalkeeper Tim Deasy to parry away.

Ince also grazed the bar from distance, rounding off a charging run into the final third.

Karl Hawley's deflected centre almost found the bottom corner and Ince's bending strike flew narrowly wide of the angle.

Gary Mulligan almost crept in, only for Darby to hook the ball away from him at the last plausible moment.

 

[King Binny]

BEING the son of Paul Ince, who played for three of the most famous clubs in the world, Manchester United, Liverpool and Inter Milan, and captained England, Thomas Ince knows he has a lot to live up to. He is audaciously ambitious, however.

Ince jnr was born in the same year his dad made his England debut, in 1992, and was only five when he played on the biggest stage of all, in the World Cup in France in 1998.

Still, he remembers it vividly, and it inspired his own dreams of being a footballer one day, and emulating his dad.

The 18-year-old certainly has promise. He has been at Liverpool for the past few years and graduated from their academy to make his debut for the Reds in a Carling Cup tie earlier this season. He also travelled to Italy with their first team for their Europa League tie in Napoli last month, before joining his dad at Notts County on a two-month loan deal from Anfield.

"Ever since I can remember I always wanted to be a footballer," he said. "Luckily, I'm all right at it, so I have a chance to pursue my dreams.

"I always went to watch my dad when I was a kid, and it only inspired me seeing him play for some of the top clubs in Europe, and the world.

"I remember going to the World Cup in 1998. Seeing my dad play in a World Cup was unbelievable.

"I have the same aspirations. It's going to be hard for me, but I believe in my ability. With a lot of hard work a long the way, with the right people guiding me, and I can't ask for anyone better than my dad, I believe I can do it.

"He has been a massive influence. He used to come and watch me play whenever he could, and we are always talking about football at home.

"He has helped me every step of the way in my career."

Ince, a left-footed attacking midfielder, helped Liverpool reach the final of the FA Youth Cup last season, but they lost to Arsenal, who were inspired by Jack Wilshere, at Anfield.

"It's fantastic being at a club like Liverpool," he added. "I've been there for five or six years now and I love it.

"We got to the final of the Youth Cup, but Jack Wilshere ran the show and we lost. You only have to look at where he is now, playing for the Arsenal first team, and England.

"It gives all young players, like myself, hope of being a success.

"In the last few months I've been training with the likes of Steve Gerrard and (Fernando) Torres.

"Every time I walk onto the training pitch and see players like that I have a big smile on my face.

"I felt a bit intimidated at first but they are welcoming guys. I look up to players like that, and the other top international players at Anfield, and try to learn from them.

"The gaffer, Roy Hodgson, has been brilliant. He's shown a lot of liking to the young lads at the club, especially me, and I can't ask for more than that.

"He has brought me into the first-team squad and gave me my debut, which was a good experience."

Despite his understandable joy at training with Gerrard and Torres, two world-class players, Ince was still eager to leave Anfield to gain first-team experience in the Football League, and when his dad was appointed the Magpies manager at the end of last month to succeed former Notts defender Craig Short, who was sacked after only 17 games, he wanted to move to Meadow Lane.

Ince jnr made his debut on Saturday, impressing in the 2-0 win against Gateshead in the FA Cup.

At present, he is due to return to Anfield in January, but is open to the possibility of extending his loan until the end of the season.

"I said to the gaffer (Hodgson) I felt like I needed to get some first-team action and he totally agreed," he said. "There is a big squad at Liverpool with a lot of talented players. Hopefully my time will come in the future. I have got to be patient.

"I've come to Notts County, which is a club with a lot of ambition. Hopefully in the short time I'm here I can do well, and go back to Liverpool a bigger and better player.

"If I'm doing well and everyone feels it would be good for me to stay here until the end of the season then I will welcome that."

 

[King Binny]

Paul Ince has done his son a huge favour by bringing him to Meadow Lane on loan. He now has the opportunity to get some regular first team football under his belt, putting him firmly in the public eye, and helping him to further impress those at Anfield.

Thomas has wasted no time in this respect, making an outstanding start at County on his debut against Gateshead in the first round of the FA Cup on Saturday. In what was a fairly dull game overall, he made an immediate impact with his pace and eye for goal. Playing in an advanced central role just behind Lee Hughes, Ince could have had a first half hat-trick.

On seven minutes, the Gateshead goalkeeper saved well from a powerful left-footed volley, nine minutes later, Ince fired a 30-yarder just over the crossbar, and finally he shot inches wide of the right-hand post on the half hour mark.

Praising Thomas’ performance, whilst acknowledging that his son may be feeling awkward in these early days at County, Paul Ince said: "I'm very pleased for him. It's not easy for him with the father and son thing. I wanted people to see he is a good player and he was unlucky not to score a couple of goals.â€

The Magpies manager added: "He's a young lad but he has good awareness. He's a clever player and he will find space, and he's got a bit of pace, which we're lacking.â€

Ben Davies, County’s leading goalscorer this season, who netted yet again on Saturday, was also impressed with Ince junior. He said: â€It was a tough game for him to come in to. There was not much space and it was a bit frantic, but he played well."

Davies obviously thinks Thomas Ince is a quality player who can add value to the Notts squad, stating: "He has looked good in training since he joined the club, and so has Darbs [Stephen Darby].They have both come from Liverpool, so they have had a good education.â€

I think Thomas Ince can make a name for himself, no doubt about that. Judging by his first half display against Gateshead, he is not letting the pressure of being the gaffer’s son get to him. Furthermore, he has already begun to justify his father’s decision to sign him on the basis that he believes his son to be a talented player who can help the Magpies, so surely there can be no accusations of nepotism.

The good news for County is that although Thomas is due to return to Anfield in January, he is open to a loan extension until the end of the season.

He explained: "I've come to Notts County, which is a club with a lot of ambition. If I'm doing well and everyone feels it would be good for me to stay here until the end of the season then I will welcome that."

On the back of Saturday’s performance, Thomas will be firmly in contention to make his League debut away at Exeter City on Saturday. However, he may have given his dad a bit of a tough decision to make, as Craig Westcarr, a leading light for County this season with seven goals, is likely to return.

However, this is the sort of headache that makes managers happy, and if Thomas Ince continues his promising start, the Notts County fans will be happy too.

 

[Whitey85]

Thanks for these little snippets you keep finding Binny.

 

[StevieM]

"The gaffer, Roy Hodgson, has been brilliant. He's shown a lot of liking to the young lads at the club, especially me, and I can't ask for more than that."


So we can add pedophile to the list of Roy's crimes...

 

[DHSC]

Thomas has wasted no time in this respect, making an outstanding start at County on his debut against Gateshead in the first round of the FA Cup on Saturday. In what was a fairly dull game overall, he made an immediate impact with his pace and eye for goal. Playing in an advanced central role just behind Lee Hughes, Ince could have had a first half hat-trick.

Reading that I would assume that he had scored 2 goals in the first half but it turns out he didn't get a SINGLE goal.

But fair play to the lad.

 

[King Binny]

Scored the breakthru' goal for Notts County vs MK Dons yesterday.

Thomas Ince's late screamer set his father Paul on the way to a 2-0 victory over his former club MK Dons as Notts County picked up back-to-back league wins for the first time this season.

The Magpies dominated before and after Ince junior's 86th-minute opener, with fellow substitute Lee Hughes making sure of the points six minutes later after Aaron Wilbraham was sent off for a second bookable offence.

Judge, prior to being subbed for Ince, fired over twice, as his team became more dominant.

Ince's arrival was a key moment in the fixture, because he was the one to finally break the deadlock - in spectacular style. A headed clearance fell to the winger on the edge of the box and didn't hesitate in lashing it, first time, into the bottom corner.

Notts County 2-0 M.K Dons - Thomas Ince GOAL! (1-0)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/paulfletcher/2010/12/can_paul_ince_cut_it_at_notts.html#279512

Paul Ince seemed determined to keep his emotions in check after son Thomas scored his first goal in professional football on Saturday afternoon to put Notts County in the lead late in their match against MK Dons.

It was a brilliant left-footed strike from Thomas, an 18-year-old currently on loan from Liverpool, and it ensured that a game meandering towards a goalless draw was transformed into a victory that saw the Magpies record back-to-back wins for the first time this season.

His dad quipped afterwards that he did not want to talk about the goal because he was sure he would spend the rest of the evening hearing all about it. But there was much for the manager to be pleased about as he assessed a result that lifted the Magpies out of the League One relegation zone and up to 19th in the League One table.

 

[Judge Jules]

A couple of times I've stood more or less where that vid was taken from.

Good on the lad. He should enjoy himself at County and hopefully it'll stand him in good stead.

 

[King Binny]

SUPER-SUB Thomas Ince revealed he wants to stay at Notts County for the rest of the season, after firing them to victory against MK Dons and out of the relegation zone in League One with the first goal of his career.

The 18-year-old is currently on loan at Meadow Lane from Premier League giants Liverpool until next month, and was the Magpies' hero when he came off the substitutes' bench and scored a stunning 20-yard volley to put them 1-0 ahead in the closing minutes against the Dons.

Notts' star striker Lee Hughes scored an equally superb goal in injury time as Notts won 2-0 to climb out of the bottom-four to 19th place in the table, as they secured back-to-back wins for the first time this season.

Ince said: "I'm over the moon for myself and the team. It's great to be able to come on and score an important goal.

"As soon as I saw the ball dropping I decided to hit it. I focused on hitting it cleanly and keeping it low, and luckily it went in. I don't think their keeper even saw it.

"It's definitely one of the best goals I have scored, and it's special too, being my first goal in first-team football.

"My mum was in the stands too. She was crying when I saw her after the game because she's proud of me.

"I'd love to start every game but it's hard because there are a lot of good players here. My dad is trying to build a strong squad.

"I don't mind coming on for ten to 15 minutes, if I can do what I did against MK Dons."

Ince believes he would benefit hugely from staying at Meadow Lane for the rest of the campaign.

He added: "I'd love to stay here for the rest of the season. I've come here to learn and I feel like I'm beginning to really benefit from being here.

"Come January if a deal can be done, I'd be very happy. I want to be a part of this team.

"It will give me such a confidence boost, and hopefully I can build on it and get a few more now."

Redknapp played with Ince's Dad, Paul Ince, who is now manager of the Magpies and took his son on-loan from Liverpool last month.

In his column for the Daily Mail, Redknapp wrote "What a buzz that must have been for my old mate Paul Ince to see his son Thomas scoring an 86th-minute cracker in the 2-0 win over MK Dons.

"Incey is settling in at Notts County and deserves another chance as a manager. He has lots to offer the game. He'll enjoy having Thomas there on loan, but they will both hope it's for the short term, so the lad can return to Anfield and make a breakthrough."

 

[King Binny]

Ince's good form continues as County makes it 3 wins in a row, albeit this latest 3-1 win being an FA Cup match.

In first half added time, Tom Ince helped to create a comical third with some inventive trickery.

During five minutes of added time, following a fantastic leaping parry by Stewart to keep out Hughes, Ince created Notts' third, as a host of step-overs led to full-back Stephen Purches collapsing to the turf. This allowed the winger space to fire in a low centre, which ended up being turned into his own net by Cummings.

Creating an own goal with his skills, to give Notts County their 3rd goal:
Notts County 3-1 AFC Bournemouth, Thomas Ince skill leads to goal. (3-0)

 

[HC]

haha, gutted.

 

[Delinquent]

What a shit defender. What do they say? Keep your eye on the ball?

 

[King Binny]

Haha. On a sidenote, they'll be facing Sunderland in the next round. Will be great if Ince manages to get a start.