Dripsey3

Didn't realize this. Thought he was still on loan at Bradford. He did well for Hartlepool in his time there. He might well start up front instead of Bingham. I don't think Ronnie Moore will risk 4-4-2 as it will give Notts too much room in midfield. If Notts are allowed to play it around, Hartlepool won't be able to compete. @Piethagoram is correct, Notts should concentrate on what needs to be done to win the game and not worry about Hartlepool. In all honesty, Hartlepool are the ones who need to worry about stopping Notts.

I'm taking a hiatus from Notts at the moment, but I felt I would be letting PON down if I didn't continue with the match thread so on we go....... Hartlepool aka The Monkey Hangers. If Monkey Hangers is unfamiliar to you, then google Hartlepool and monkey hangers for the bizarre story surrounding this nickname. In fact the Hartlepool mascot is actually a monkey and there's a statue in the city of a monkey as well I believe. Right I got distracted, back to the actual game itself..... Hartlepool are 22nd (7 places below Notts). They have 24 points (12 less than Notts). They have scored 23 goals (a whopping 17 less than Notts). They have conceded 41 goals (a surprising 5 less than Notts given the points difference between the sides). Hartlepool have won 1 (Wycombe at home), drawn 1 (Cambridge away) and lost 3 (Plymouth and Exeter at home and away to Stanley) of their last 5 games. They are in a relegation battle and are in real danger of being relegated. They are clearly in need of a goalscorer. Hartlepool play a 4-5-1 formation. They are shaky in defence. Their midfield put in plenty of effort, but there is no real player of quality in there. Rakish Bingham will probably start up front on his own. He works hard but isn't much a threat. Billy Paynter is their top scorer, but he started on the bench in their last game. If Hartlepool are behind, then Paynter will join Bingham up front and they'll go to 4-4-2. If they are being hammered, they might resort to 4-3-3 and Scott Fenwick will come on up front. Hartlepool aren't short of players who will scrap but they are a limited side. Man for man, Notts are superior in every position IMO. If Notts show the same battling qualities as last week, then the result will inevitably be a resounding home win. This is a home banker if there ever was one. I have a feeling Notts will break out this week and ease to a 4-0 victory. Why you might ask? Because the quality of the Notts team means someone is going to get a beating at some stage and well Hartlepool are the most likely candidate.

There's a simple reason why Luton fans are mostly happy. They are making progress under a highly rated, well respected manager. Their season has mirrored Notts when you think about it. Favourites for promotion, languishing below mid table, sacked their manager, appointed a relatively unknown manager. The game could have gone either yesterday. I said after the Wimbledon game that JF wasn't to blame, yes his tactics were awful, but he didn't appoint himself. I think the job is too big for him but time will tell. Hartlepool at home next week is about as easy a fixture you can get at the moment. York away after that, should be another 3 points if the last 2 away games are anything to go by and then Hartlepool away, could be another 3 points. 7 out of 9 would make a statement. Lastly, I think Tony Hateley might be right, a break from all things Notts might be a good idea. Maybe leave it to the newbies like yourself. I was going to Barnet away (I live in Ireland) but I changed that to Barnet vs Yeovil yesterday. Better for my blood pressure. Time to start enjoying football again. Sorry, last thing, I meant no offence asking if you knew JF personally. I didn't realize that this had been asked before. I don't insult members on here, I'm confident any random member will confirm that.

9 points from the next 3 games is more than achievable and that's what I expect. The real tests come after that. Your cheerleading of JF is admirable, I wonder if you have some sort of personal connection which naturally would make you biased in your opinions.

JF's Neanderthal tactics seem to work away from home. Now all he has to do is figure out how to win at home. Whether he has the know how to achieve this is another question.

Thank you. Keeps me occupied!

Luton actually have 2 reasons to dislike Notts. In 1991, we beat them and condemned to relegation from the old first division. We were already relegated but it was nice to leave on a high. Then we relegated them out of the football league after they had that massive points deduction. Football is a funny old game...... Notts beat Luton 3-2 at home back in September. Izzy's double had Notts 2 up, but the inevitable last 20 minute collapse meant Luton were level going into injury time. Late drama saw a Luton player sent off for a last man foul and Noble fire in the resulting free kick to give Notts victory. Both managers have since been fired. Luton are 15th in the table on 34 points (2 places and 1 point above Notts). They have scored 40 goals (2 more than Notts) and conceded 38 goals (8 less than Notts). They have won 1, drew 2 and lost 2 of their last 5 games. They beat Mansfield away, drew with Portsmouth away, drew with Cambridge at home and lost to Bristol Rovers and Wycombe on the road. They haven't conceded a goal in their last 2 games. Nathan Jones was appointed manager on Jan. 6th and has yet to taste defeat. Mark Tyler is the usual GK but he went off injured against Cambridge and missed the game at Mansfield. Justham stepped in and kept a clean sheet against Mansfield. Alan Sheehan joined Luton on loan before the Mansfield game and played at CB. Another ex Notts player Paddy McCourt scored the opener and set up the second goal at Mansfield. Jones has made Luton hard to beat. He has 2 midfielders sitting just in front of the back 4. His favourite formation is 4-2-3-1. 3 attacking midfielders sit behind a lone striker. I don't think they will change a winning side so Craig Mackail-Smith will start up front. McCourt, Ruddock & McGeehan should be the 3 attacking midfielders. Ruddock and McGeehan will play in the wide positions, leaving McCourt in the middle. Ruddock and McCourt are the danger men. McCourt is incredible when he is on form. I expect Notts to sit back like they did against Crawley and hope to score on the break. I don't think that will work against a side as defensively organized as Luton. We would be better off taking the game to them IMO. Put them on the back foot. My prediction? 2-0 to the home side if we persist with the negative style adopted by JF. It won't trouble decent sides like Luton.

Wimbledon have really impressed me. Neal Yardley is doing really well with a small budget. A fine example of what club should be. As for Notts, well I don't want to depress myself even further. JF is not at fault here. If anything he's as much a victim of poor decision making as the fans are, Notts supporters deserve better.

I know I'm supposed to wait for the match thread to appear in the forums, but I can't wait. No doubt a virtual punishment awaits me....I can take it....... We lost 2-1 at Wimbledon back in September. Hayden Hollis gave us the lead but 2 goals in the last 5 minutes meant a deserved victory for the home side. Hayden gave an interview where he said he had a plan to deal with The Beast, but it clearly didn't work as The Beast scored a last minute winner. Not too many can handle The Beast so we'll forgive Hayden.... Wimbledon are 8th in the table, 8 places above Notts. They have 39 points (6 more than Notts). They have scored 38 goals (same as Notts) and conceded 32 goals (12 less than Notts. They are on a 5 game unbeaten run. They have dispatched Cambridge, Exeter and Mansfield in their last 3 games and have looked mighty impressive in doing so. Wimbledon have been using a 4-3-3 formation but they abandoned that at half time against Mansfield as they were 1 down at half time. They went to a 4-4-2 formation and dominated the 2nd half. I think they'll go back to 4-4-3 at Meadow Lane as the wide pitch will allow them to get the ball wide and get crosses in or diagonal balls to open Notts up. They are dangerous because they have options. They could go down the long ball route to take advantage of Notts defensively. That worked back in September. Wimbledon's main creative force is Tom Elliott. If it is 4-4-3, he'll play on the right side. His ability to pick a pass is something Notts have to be aware of. Their main goalscoring threat is Lyle Taylor. He has 10 goals so far. He's full of confidence at the moment. If Wimbledon go 4-4-2, expect Azeez to start. He's a pacey player and knows where the goal is. He will make an appearance at some stage if he starts on the bench. George Francombe is injured which is good news for Notts. Wimbledon are a well drilled side. They are difficult to beat. Playing at Meadow Lane won't faze them. It's up to Notts to make it uncomfortable for them. The Beast destroyed Notts back in September. Hopefully he starts on the bench. It will be interesting to see their line up. If The Beats starts, expect a direct approach. If he doesn't, they'll attack us out wide. It should a fascinating battle. Who'll win? I haven't a clue. It's 50/50. I'll sit on the fence and go for 1-1.

Barnet vs Crawley will be tasty. There's a rivalry there. Wycombe vs Oxford is another interesting one. A real test of both sides promotion ambitions.

Blair Adams is flying at Mansfield. Miles better than Audel, who to be fair is a CB playing at LB.

Oxford will take advantage of our defensive frailties. They have plenty of firepower. A draw would be a great result.

Yeovil are 5/1 to win away to PNE tomorrow night! I'm surprised given that PNE are going through a sticky patch and Yeovil beat Bradford on Saturday.