DangerousSausage

The current Manchester United Manager will have a lot more free time soon and would do well at a proper club! Is Agent Trev a decent source @Piethagoram? A lot of rumours sites just regurgitate message board speculation.

I hope I'm jumping the gun and will be able to delete this thread, but the signs aren't good. So ... who would you like to succeed LW if he goes and who do you think the owners would go for? Ian Burchnall has been seen at the Lane against Donny, but that doesn't necessarily mean he's in the frame - he's assistant manager at Wolves and might have been keeping tabs on Ollie Tipton, who played that day. Any other ideas or names?

In terms of points, we definitely can. 80 points will pretty much always get you a playoff spot. We're currently on target for 74, which might be enough too but isn't always. However, we've got a lot of work to do. We need more quality at the back and more competition everywhere. If LW leaves that'll be a hammer blow as the players clearly love working with him and we'll need to find a worthy successor. And that raises the chances of us losing important players this month. Ideally you'll have one or two areas for improvement during the transfer window. This season hasn't gone as smoothly as hoped and I think we've got a bit too much to do to fix the issues we have.

Game 27 - The Mariners (A) Team: Grimsby Town Date: 13/01/2024 Where: Blundell Park What line-up should we opt for? What will be the key areas for the Magpies to get a victory? What do you think the final score will be? Have your say below, join in with the Pride of Nottingham match discussion.

Oh dear, this looks nailed on doesn't it? It felt on the cards after LW's non-committal response to the last round of rumours. Apparently Ian Burchnall has been seen at the Lane as well. If he does go, I hope he doesn't take our players with him. Several of them joined the club specifically because they like his methods.

In some German states, 6 January is a bank holiday to celebrate the three kings who visited baby Jesus. As we all know, they gave him gold, frankincense and prediction league points. Which brings us onto this round: send in your predictions by 3pm on Saturday, remembering your joker, and see how high you can score! Burton Albion v Wycombe Wanderers Exeter City v Carlisle United Bradford City v Crawley Town Salford City v Forest Green Rovers Swindon Town v Colchester United Altrincham v Barnet Dorking Wanderers v Oldham Athletic Southend United v Halifax Town

Bristol City 0-1 Millwall Middlesbrough 1-3 Coventry City Cambridge United 0-2 Leyton Orient Derby County 2-3 Peterborough United Crawley Town 3-1 Swindon Town Stockport County 0-2 Mansfield Town Oxford City 1-2 Dorking Wanderers Wealdstone P-P Maidenhead United --- Six of the seven games that went ahead were away wins. And that means it was one of the lowest-scoring rounds ever - but congratulations to this week's winners @magpiejue and @Megan_Elizax! @magpiejue, @Megan_Elizax - 5 @4everapie - 4 @DangerousSausage, @super_ram - 3 @Robbie - 2 @ARLukomski, @cheeky~k8, @Dan, @DonnyNotts, @Fan of Big Tone, @gtownjohnno, @william1984 - nul points --- Not a lot of change this week, but I'M IN THE TOP FIVE and our two winners both gained positions. And @Robbie is off the bottom! Can he escape the relegation zone? ARLukomski - 141 gtownjohnno - 132 cheeky~k8 - 121 4everapie - 120 DangerousSausage - 115 william1984 - 114 nottsnutter - 112 Fan of Big Tone - 111 super_ram - 111 magpiejue - 109 Dan - 107 Megan_Elizax - 98 liampie - 97 Chris - 96 upthepies - 90 Joshua - 80 DonnyNotts - 79 allardyces tash - 67 KingWilliams - 66 TheSkipper - 58 CliftonMagpie - 49 thommo - 49 OoooooTommy - 45 NottsCountyKev - 41 JIMBO - 40 jimbob - 38 Nocturnal-Magpie - 38 AmericanPie - 36 KB1862 - 22 George L - 6 Robbie - 6 Canadian - 4 --- The next round is coming up on Saturday, so the fixtures are already online! Thanks for playing and see you then!

I agree with pretty much all of the above. All season I've had the impression that the percentage of the opposition's shots on goal that end up in the net is far too high. I don't think the defence and either keeper truly have confidence in each other, and it shows in some of the decision making on display. I think it's a given that we'll try to strengthen at the back, but I'm less sure about the goalkeeper position as we've got three senior keepers already. I think Brooks will get his chance soon, but ideally I'd like to see a new face here too.

This is pretty harsh given that the recruitment team has also brought us players like Rodders, Jones, Reeves, Palmer, Wootton, Langstaff, Scott, Crowley etc. Some of whom weren't on anybody else's radar. Gosling was a gamble worth taking, while Morias was injured when he joined us and has struggled for fitness ever since. Signings are always a gamble to an extent, but our record on loanees has been patchy. Maybe the experience of being in and around the first team squad has been good for Ollie Tipton, but it hasn't really benefitted us. We're crying out for competition in a few areas, so we don't need players who aren't really in contention for a spot.

We do need someone experienced at the back to settle us down, organise the other defenders and hopefully to have their composure rub off on the rest of them. However, if we can get a player like this in addition, I'm all for it. We need a proper shake up at the back and I'm not sure one new face would be enough.

We were going to have a trip to the outlaws and celebrate with them, but I caught a cold a few days ago and don't want to pass it on. So it looks like a quiet one at home tonight with a bottle of sparkly we were given five years ago! Have a great time everyone, and don't blow yourselves up

This is very true, League 2 today is a world away from what it was when we were relegated into it in the late 90s. The standard then is more akin to today's National League. Some of the players we have and the football we are playing are out of this world, enjoy every minute of it!

The favourite isn't always the best Craig Short for fighting on the pitch in a suit and tie like a drunk wedding guest. Could have been a decent manager is given the chance too. Neil Warnock for being an all-round legend. Met him away from Notts and football a few years back and he seemed a lovely bloke too. Martin Allen and Sam Allardyce for the way both of them turned the club round during their time in charge and left it on the up. Sam gets a bonus point for the old-school tache. And Luke Williams, no explanation needed!

These matches all kick off at 3pm on New Year's Day - don't miss out! @4everapie, @allardyces tash, @AmericanPie, @ARLukomski, @Canadian, @cheeky~k8, @Chris, @CliftonMagpie, @Dan, @DonnyNotts, @George L, @gtownjohnno, @JIMBO, @jimbob, @Joshua, @KB1862, @KingWilliams, @liampie, @magpiejue, @Nocturnal-Magpie, @NottsCountyKev, @nottsnutter, @OoooooTommy, @TheSkipper, @thommo, @upthepies

The results: Coventry City 2-2 Swansea City Millwall 1-0 Norwich City Bristol Rovers 2-1 Charlton Athletic Burton Albion 1-0 Shrewsbury Town Cheltenham Town 2-2 Reading Harrogate Town 0-2 Tranmere Rovers Newport County 1-1 Crewe Alexandra Salford City 0-3 Grimsby Town --- Congrats to @Dan, who wins this round! @Dan - 10 @gtownjohnno, @super_ram - 9 @DangerousSausage, @magpiejue, @nottsnutter - 4 @ARLukomski, @Fan of Big Tone - 3 @4everapie, @cheeky~k8, @liampie - 2 @Megan_Elizax, @william1984 - 1 @Robbie__64 - nul points --- This is the latest table - @ARLukomski's lead is narrowed a little, and the race for third is on! ARLukomski - 141 gtownjohnno - 132 cheeky~k8 - 121 4everapie - 116 william1984 - 114 DangerousSausage - 112 nottsnutter - 112 Fan of Big Tone - 111 super_ram - 108 Dan - 107 magpiejue - 104 liampie - 97 Chris - 96 Megan_Elizax - 93 upthepies - 90 Joshua - 80 DonnyNotts - 79 allardyces tash - 67 KingWilliams - 66 TheSkipper - 58 CliftonMagpie - 49 thommo - 49 OoooooTommy - 45 NottsCountyKev - 41 JIMBO - 40 jimbob - 38 Nocturnal-Magpie - 38 AmericanPie - 36 KB1862 - 22 George L - 6 Canadian - 4 Robbie_64 - 4 --- We have more fixtures on 1 January, and they're online now. Mark the new year by climbing up the table thanks for playing everyone!

Bristol City 2-0 Millwall Middlesbrough 2-0 Coventry City Cambridge United 2-1 Leyton Orient Derby County 1-1 Peterborough United Crawley Town 1-1 Swindon Town (joker) Stockport County 1-1 Mansfield Town Oxford City 1-2 Dorking Wanderers Wealdstone 2-0 Maidenhead United

In 2024 it'll be the same procedure as every year - send in your predictions before 3pm on Monday, and remember your joker! Bristol City v Millwall Middlesbrough v Coventry City Cambridge United v Leyton Orient Derby County v Peterborough United Crawley Town v Swindon Town Stockport County v Mansfield Town Oxford City v Dorking Wanderers Wealdstone v Maidenhead United

I missed the first half, which was probably why it was so great but that's a fantastic result. Doncaster and Morecambe might not be the best the division has to offer, but you can only beat what's in front of you, and we've done it in style. It was so important to string a couple of results together, and the clean sheets are the cherry on the cake.

As an artist called Whigfield nearly once said, "Friday night I feel the air is getting hot". Mind you, she also said "da ba da dan dee dee dee da nee na na na". Either way, these matches kick off on FRIDAY NIGHT at 7.45pm - don't miss out! @4everapie, @Fan of Big Tone, @Chris, @Megan_Elizax, @upthepies, @Joshua, @DonnyNotts, @allardyces tash, @KingWilliams, @TheSkipper, @CliftonMagpie, @thommo, @OoooooTommy, @NottsCountyKev, @JIMBO, @jimbob, @Nocturnal-Magpie, @AmericanPie, @KB1862, @George L, @Canadian

The loanees you mention have been outstanding. And let us not forget Ryan Yates, Jack Grealish and Callum McGregor. However, we remember them because they were good. For every smash hit there are at least a couple of flops who are quickly left on the sidelines and forgotten about. But as you say, the risk to us is low when they're brought in to complement what we've got and provide a bit of competition - if it doesn't work out, they go back and it's not the end of the world. It's when you absolutely rely on inexperienced loanees that you run into trouble - I still remember trying to stay in the Football League with two loanee centre halves and a loanee keeper, all still in their teens.

You do have the bragging rights of Doncaster though. And there's always the next round

Coventry City 2-1 Swansea City Millwall 0-2 Norwich City Bristol Rovers 1-1 Charlton Athletic Burton Albion 2-0 Shrewsbury Town (joker) Cheltenham Town 1-1 Reading Harrogate Town 1-3 Tranmere Rovers Newport County 1-2 Crewe Alexandra Salford City 0-0 Grimsby Town

I feel sorry for the bloke, and judging what I've seen of them in two games they're doing well to be seven points clear of the relegation zone. For them it's about finishing above two other teams, I don't think they've got the players to do any better than that. That said, calling it a "good start" is wishful thinking.

I find offering my soul up to the devil gets me the odd point or two @Robbie__64. Eternal damnation in the fires of hell is a small price to pay for sixth place in the prediction league. But @cheeky~k8 just guesses hers.

The results: Hull City 0-1 Sunderland Watford 1-4 Bristol City Exeter City 1-0 Wycombe Wanderers Fleetwood Town 1-1 Carlisle United Barrow 2-2 Stockport County Bradford City 2-2 Morecambe Altrincham 1-2 Halifax Town Southend United 0-2 Barnet --- Not many points this round bar two big winners who both landed their jokers. Congratulations @Fan of Big Tone and @william1984! @Fan of Big Tone, @william1984 - 10 @Dan - 5 @4everapie, @liampie, @Robbie__64 - 4 @cheeky~k8, @DangerousSausage - 2 @ARLukomski, @gtownjohnno, @magpiejue, @Megan_Elizax, @super_ram - 1 @DonnyNotts - nul points --- @william1984 jumps into the top five with that result. Welcome also to our new boy @Robbie__64, who starts off propping up the table - but maybe not for long! ARLukomski - 138 gtownjohnno - 123 cheeky~k8 - 119 4everapie - 114 william1984 - 113 DangerousSausage - 108 Fan of Big Tone - 108 nottsnutter - 108 magpiejue - 100 super_ram - 99 Dan - 97 Chris - 96 liampie - 95 Megan_Elizax - 92 upthepies - 90 Joshua - 80 DonnyNotts - 79 allardyces tash - 67 KingWilliams - 66 TheSkipper - 58 CliftonMagpie - 49 thommo - 49 OoooooTommy - 45 NottsCountyKev - 41 JIMBO - 40 jimbob - 38 Nocturnal-Magpie - 38 AmericanPie - 36 KB1862 - 22 George L - 6 Canadian - 4 Robbie_64 - 4 --- If your crystal balls aren't worn out already, the next round is on Friday the 29th and the fixtures are already online! Thanks for playing and see you there...