CliftonMagpie

@Piethagoram, I didn’t and don’t have any issue with you joining in. Apologies for not responding sooner. I didn’t realise you had mentioned me and I’ve been away from the internet due to football yesterday and family matters.

Despite the room for improvement in defence, Notts’ performance left me with a positive impression. They held their own for the majority of the game. It’s important to concentrate on the bright spots from the match. We controlled the ball well, and Stockport was successful in intercepting our attacks, which kept the excitement high. I trust the players are satisfied with their efforts. I’m hopeful that the club will delegate the responsibility of the players’ press conference this time. We can gather our strength and come back stronger on Boxing Day.

I came away from the match feeling pleased with Notts’ performance. They played well for most of the game, even though there’s room for improvement in the defence. We must focus on the positives from the match. We had a good amount of possession, and Stockport managed to block everything, keeping me on tenterhooks. Hopefully, the players are content. I hope the club lets someone handle the players’ press conference this time. We can regroup and give it another shot on Boxing Day.

A forward shouldn’t be scared of the other team, and Macaulay Langstaff’s eagerness shows he’s ready. I hope he can quieten the supporters calling for Luke Williams to be dismissed.

It’s remarkable how much stronger we are with Macaulay Langstaff leading the attack. He tirelessly chases every ball. Having a striker who’s dedicated to defending when needed, but also has a knack for scoring, is impressive. He’s a dynamic striker with a well-rounded game. I’m glad he’s found his scoring form this season.

I believe our players should have a break this Christmas, no matter their performance. The less stressed and more grateful they are, the harder they’ll work, in my view. We’re very fortunate to have Luke Williams. He sets high standards and lives by them. He’s the perfect person to lead us to League One, even if it takes some time.

His first goal was fantastic. It’s unfortunate that he had to leave the game against Walsall due to an injury. He seemed quite strong, especially when it came to tackling. He brings a unique element to our defence, and we hope he continues to develop.

I think it’s unlikely, but each player mentioned would easily improve us and would be a fantastic loan addition. I do agree, Forest will most likely want a portion of their wages paid. But then I can see the benefit of loaning out a player who is out of favour until the end of a season with a recall clause [yes this would upset us]. But it could see the player fight for his place or attract interest in a transfer come the new transfer window.

In my eyes, defenders are defenders. The only difference is their positional awareness and I don’t think that is the issue. I think it’s largely about confidence and mental strength to handle pressure. But I don’t understand how we manage to put the most amount of pressure on ourselves. I suppose it would make more sense to play 3 solid centre backs, who can form an alliance and rely on each other. Instead of players forced into the position, but I do think defenders are defenders regardless of where they are primarily played.

I think it’s a strange appointment and the sacking seems to be just a move to bring in someone for the sake of it. Steve Cooper has done well with Forest. They can spend as much money as they want on the players they sign, but they are only at a certain level compared to other established Premier League teams. Cooper has done well so far. I don’t see how Nuno Santo is a step up. He’s been lucky in English management to have moved from Wolves to Tottenham because he hasn’t looked anything special and just a very generic manager.

I enjoy the first two original Home Alone films. They’re Christmas classics that I watch every year as a tradition. But my favourite is The Grinch starring Jim Carrey because it captures the Christmas spirit well. It’s much better than the animated one released a few years ago. I would put that in my top 5 worst Christmas films, along with Deck the Halls.

Brilliantly answered by none other than @Piethagoram. Tony appeared lost with my hint, but Fozzy guessing Chi Chi Mendes was a good attempt. I’ll post another round on Saturday. I’ll confirm the exact time later, but I reckon I should be available around 7pm. Points Table: @Fan of Big Tone - 8 @Fozzy - 5 @Piethagoram - 2 @super_ram - 2 @KB1862 - 1 @liampie - 1

In the days before Christmas and on Christmas Day itself, my family comes to Clifton. I stay at home until about 1:15 to 1:30 in the afternoon. After that, we all gather at my grandparents’ place or at the home of whoever is hosting the Christmas dinner. It’s usually my grandparents, but sometimes other family members do the cooking. After our meal, we typically play board games together until about 7 to 8 in the evening. Then, we go home to enjoy the rest of the night.

I miss the feeling of potential victory, as now it seems like we’re destined to lose, and I have a feeling it will be due to our own mistakes. Stockport County could have a great game against us if we don’t show up or play our best. I would have predicted a draw before our recent form, but now I feel they will win. They have everything in their favour, and we’re still in a slump with no signs of getting better.

Celvin Miller wasn’t the greatest of signings, but there was something about him that makes clubs willing to take a risk. It won’t be long before he moves on to another club. It’s a pity he doesn’t care more about his career to truly focus on being a valuable asset to a club. He has the talent, but perhaps not the motivation.

I’m not particularly concerned about Lewis Macari. I believe it’s a decent signing, but not the solution to our issues. He’s a future regular, but for now, he deserves to be used as needed. I’m happy with the signing, but I hope it won’t be an expensive fee to make him a permanent player.

I’m not particularly concerned about Michael Doyle. I don’t think Woking is a place where he’ll learn and stay for a long time. I give him a maximum of 12-14 months.

Round 18: Clue: I am a father whose daughter has chosen to tread the same path as I did. Her given name is far simpler to articulate compared to mine. I had the pleasure of a brief period with Notts County. Can you guess who I am? Points Table: @Fan of Big Tone - 8 @Fozzy - 5 @super_ram - 2 @KB1862 - 1 @liampie - 1 @Piethagoram - 1

I don’t think we’re doing too badly, despite recent results being poor. It’s more about the performances. We’re not winning ugly, and the attractive football we used to play that allowed us to control games has diminished, but that’s football. We can’t demand Luke Williams’ dismissal, but we can question decisions, the players’ attitudes, etc. It’s all about making fair comments, not immature ones.

This is something that’s been necessary for years, especially when you’re at the top of the stands. Sometimes you need something to grip, particularly when it’s cold or slippery. It’s not just the Pavis stand, the KOP is also steep and challenging for some.

I understand that Christmas can be a challenging period for some, so I wanted to extend a hand to the PON community. If anyone is struggling or would like to chat with someone who's always ready to listen, please feel free to send me a private message. In the meantime, how about we engage in a general chat about topics not related to football? I'm aware that Tony usually posts about the weekends, but I thought we could discuss what everyone is planning for Christmas and the New Year? To get the conversation started, we can then shift to any topic that comes up. The main goal is to have a discussion where we all listen to each other.

Looking forward to the next round, well done to all and let’s aim for more than 7 points in the upcoming round. Let’s add a bit of excitement. I might not stand a chance, but it’s all part of the learning process.

A regular round of ‘Guess Who’ will be posted between 5pm and 6pm. @Fozzy @Fan of Big Tone @Piethagoram @DangerousSausage @super_ram Please continue to send in your guesses and join in the fun. Hopefully, this will lift spirits amidst the recent disappointment surrounding Notts.

When Notts loses, we fans don’t get to hear from the players, which prevents us from gaining a clear understanding of a player’s thoughts. I realise this is mostly done to protect the players, but for a club that claims to want an open dialogue with the fans and encourages players to connect with the fans, I’m not keen on the club avoiding player interviews just because we lost a match. Negative comments will appear on social media regardless, and I can’t help but think they could be handled more effectively if done.

I believe everyone needs to take a breather, concentrate on what has previously brought the club success, and try not to focus too much on past mistakes. There was always a possibility that we would go through a period where defeats would start to creep in. We’ve gone from believing we can win any match to losing ones we shouldn’t on paper. To keep our season on track, the players must start paying attention to Luke Williams - although perhaps he needs to take a step back to fully understand what’s happening.