StarkMallard

Isn't this just a revival of the old Welsh Cup? The likes of Cardiff and Wrexham used to play in the Cup Winners' Cup all the time, and this sounds very similar. I don't really see why not - if the FAW has an extra European spot, it's up to them how they use it

Guy Branston was a rock in my Notts team on Football Manager. He captained the team to promotion and was one of the first names on the team sheet. So I was thrilled when we signed him in real life. Finally the no-nonsense defender we needed. He spent 45 minutes losing his man and kicking the ball into the air, got subbed off at half time and spent the rest of his loan "injured", thus going down in Notts folklore in a different way. He was a decent player in his prime though, who made hundreds of League appearances and played in the Championship. We've had many other players who played far more games for us but were never close to League standard.

Welcome to a hopefully higher-scoring prediction league round! Due to all the postponements last week, I've decided to add a couple of extra fixtures this time. If they're postponed as well, tough as always, kick off is 3pm on Saturday and remember your jokers! Coventry City v Bristol City Luton Town v Preston North End Crawley Town v Burton Albion Mansfield Town v Wycombe Wanderers Reading v Stockport County Grimsby Town v Chesterfield Swindon Town v Barrow Eastleigh v Altrincham Forest Green Rovers v Rochdale Halifax Town v Dagenham & Redbridge

The line about his "expectations" says it all really. Very disappointing that he'd rather play for the franchise than fight for promotion with us, they've clearly offered him and Notts a lot of money. On the club's part it's risky selling another player to a rival when he was under contract, it could easily come back to bite us. In his position we're now relying on two promising but as yet unproven young players and Curtis Edwards, who has spent months injured. On the other hand, it can't be good for the harmony of the team carrying a player who doesn't want to be here, however good he is.

The results, such as they are: Swindon Town 0-0 Crewe Alexandra Boston United 2-2 Ebbsfleet United All the rest - POSTPONED --- With only two games actually going ahead, points were at a premium. However, this round's clear winner was @cheeky~k8, who not only got both results right, but also the scores - just in the wrong order! --- This predictably has zero effect on our standings, but here they are anyway! --- Join us on Wednesday, when I'll be posting Saturday's fixtures and hoping more of them actually go ahead! We usually lose a few fixtures due to postponements every season, but because there were such a lot this time I might add a couple of extra fixtures on next time. Thanks for playing, well done to those of you who won points and see you next time!

Sounds promising, but as always the proof of the pudding is in the eating. We've signed some quality players in this position under our current regime so I'm hopeful. With Whitaker and Jarvis both playing in Crowley's position, I wonder if there's any truth to the rumours that Crowley is leaving? I hope we hold onto him until the summer at least and have some genuine strength in depth for the run-in.

Of course we need extra bodies in defence after the injuries we've had. This one sounds promising and I hope he does well.

Yes, it's a bit of a double whammy isn't it - the smaller club loses out on a replay, while the big club has much more strength in depth to swing extra time their way.

That's impressive! Never doubted him.

Technically no more than he had before as this is his second go ????

The minute the club posted that there wasn't going to be a pitch inspection because of course it'll go ahead we knew what would happen. Shambolic from Grimsby. Hope there was at least a nice (if bracing) seaside trip @ARLukomski!

Only two of the games actually went ahead, so I might not need to use all my fingers when I count the scores up! It's pretty frustrating as all of these games were on when I picked them on Thursday night. Oh well, the show must go on.

Saturday 3pm is kick-off, don't miss out! @allardyces tash, @ARLukomski, @Blake, @cheeky~k8, @Chris, @CliftonMagpie, @DonnyNotts, @Fan of Big Tone, @Harry Buckley, @JIMBO, @Joshua, @JustLikeJuve, @liampie, @NottsLoyal, @NottsTastic, @OoooooTommy, @Robbie, @super_ram, @The Heff, @TheSkipper, @thommo, @upthepies

I had a hastily scheduled visit to the UK at the weekend and the start of the week. Maybe it's just the places I hang out in, but I was cold all the time! It's such a relief to be in the warm again. Then there was the journey. The trip there took me seven and a half hours door to door (via Manchester), so not bad at all. The return journey took over 13 hours, with me arriving home just before midnight and starting work the next morning. I have been completely exhausted all week. It's not been as cold in Germland, but we are hovering around zero degrees this weekend. No doubt it'll be a bit chilly in Grimsby too - wrap up if you're going!

Some good ideas there @Robbie, but I quite like the big clubs joining in in the third round. That way, a big draw in round three is a reward for progressing, rather than a lottery. But replays should definitely return and I'd also look into fining clubs for fielding weaker teams - if it's possible in the Trophy, it can be done in the FA Cup too. Poor attendances aren't new though. I remember us playing Cambridge at home in the early 2000s and there were less than 3000 people there. It was so quiet approaching the ground I actually thought it had been called off.

Blackpool 2-1 Cambridge United Shrewsbury Town 0-3 Huddersfield Town (joker) AFC Wimbledon 2-0 Cheltenham Town Gillingham 1-1 Fleetwood Town Swindon Town 0-2 Crewe Alexandra Boston United 1-1 Ebbsfleet United Oldham Athletic 1-1 Eastleigh Southend United 1-1 Halifax Town

The results: Norwich City 2-1 Coventry City Sheffield Wednesday 2-2 Millwall Exeter City 1-2 Bolton Wanderers Lincoln City 0-0 Stevenage Stockport County 1-2 Mansfield Town Barrow 0-2 Harrogate Town Colchester United 0-2 Accrington Stanley Doncaster Rovers 1-2 Port Vale --- Congratulations to this round's winners @4everapie and @Dan! --- It's as you were at the top with @super_ram still ahead, but @Dan and @4everapie continue to climb and @Fan of Big Tone has almost reached the top half of the table! --- Round 26 is online now, with the matches kicking off on Saturday. Have a go! Once again, thank you all for playing!

Like the trains, just slightly behind schedule - this round's games all kick off at 3pm on Saturday. Unlike on the trains, you get a joker each. Good luck! Blackpool v Cambridge United Shrewsbury Town v Huddersfield Town AFC Wimbledon v Cheltenham Town Gillingham v Fleetwood Town Swindon Town v Crewe Alexandra Boston United v Ebbsfleet United Oldham Athletic v Eastleigh Southend United v Halifax Town

Hi everyone - as I've just spent a few days in the good ol' U of K, I'm running behind with this. I'll post matchday 26 now and count the points for round 25 today or tomorrow. Sorry for the delay.

Cedwyn didn't lead the line for us in L2 like I hoped he would, but as far as I'm concerned he's a club hero. I hope he succeeds in everything he does. On our side, with Morias' loan being extended and now this, I'm expecting at least one new striker to arrive this month.

I think we could make the play-offs just by consistently beating the teams in the bottom half of the table, but it wouldn't bode well for when we get there. That record seems a bit better than it was last season, but we need to win more than we lose if we want to seriously compete for the automatics. These are tight games and we need to find a way to win them regularly - last season we were just too leaky at the back, this time our injuries affected our attacking strength for a good stretch.

Oops, missed it. Only 363 days to your next birthday @Piethagoram

Norwich City 1-1 Coventry City Sheffield Wednesday 2-0 Millwall (joker) Exeter City 1-2 Bolton Wanderers Lincoln City 1-1 Stevenage Stockport County 1-2 Mansfield Town Barrow 1-0 Harrogate Town Colchester United 2-1 Accrington Stanley Doncaster Rovers 2-1 Port Vale

What a poor article that is. We were never called Nottinghamshire (the earliest reports refer to us as "the Notts Club") and weren't founded in 1864. And surely a proper blue plaque should be put up at the site of the Meadows Cricket Ground, where the match was actually played, rather than a railway station in Sheffield?

It's time to gaze into the crystal ball once again to round off a busy festive season. All of these matches kick off at 3pm on Saturday, and remember your joker! Norwich City v Coventry City Sheffield Wednesday v Millwall Exeter City v Bolton Wanderers Lincoln City v Stevenage Stockport County v Mansfield Town Barrow v Harrogate Town Colchester United v Accrington Stanley Doncaster Rovers v Port Vale