Robbie

We are starting to see many statements by EFL and non league clubs, condemning the FA for abolishing FA Cup replays. There are calls for non league clubs and EFL clubs to withdraw from the FA Cup next season. If this actually happened it would be truely something to see with the smaller clubs in the Country saying enough is enough There are more Clubs in this Country than the 20 in the Premier League, and EFL and Non League clubs should have their say The minority must not rule the majority.

Weather for Friday

@DangerousSausage Agree. The FA are still sucking up to the big 6 or 7 that qualify for Europe every year. It's a big coincidence that European competitions are being expanded while domestic competitions are being slowly squeezed to accommodate the extra European matches. What about excluding clubs from all the domestic cup competitions the following season if they qualify for Europe, then reinstate FA Cup replays? In the end I believe that there will be a European super league in the future. All the FA did a few years ago was to delay the inevitable.

I am with Tranmere too. I think this decision is very concerning for the whole football pyramid. Smaller clubs down the pyramid are going to suffer financially once again, while the rich clubs, the top six in particular, will be able to concentrate on European competition. Non league clubs rely on the FA Cup every year to earn extra revenue by getting to the first round & meeting league clubs. Fighting to earn a replay was a way of increasing that revenue. This decision takes that away. A non league or lower league club that reaches the 3rd round could meet a Premier League club and earn a lucrative replay, but that is being taken away too. This decision was always primarily about protecting the interests of the big clubs in the Premier League, who have fixtures in Europe that will earn them lots of money. A long run in Europe can prove very lucrative for a PL club financially, & they've always complained about extra fixtures (replays) in the FA Cup being detrimental to a successful European campaign. This decision is going to divide football even more between the haves and the have nots.

There will be no FA Cup Replays from the first round proper onwards next season. I don't think this is a good move, Do you?

@menzinho @DangerousSausage I think there were times this season when the team should have been instructed to just grind a result, especially against the better teams, but unfortunately that is not the playing philosophy of the club at the moment. I also don't think that this team know how to grind a result out even if they were told to. That's why we need to recruit some players that are hard, physical, can tackle and have plenty of energy.

Notts will be playing for pride on Saturday, so Notts have plenty to play for. Key areas will be our defence and midfield, that was lacking at times against Stickport Notts need to carry on from the much better second half performance against Stockport and carry it through on Saturday. We will have to see if Jatta and Macari are fit for Saturday, Robertson should return to the starting lineup. I would be inclined to start with Scott for Langstaff alongside Jatta, if Jatta not fit would put Scott with Langstaff. I would play Austin for Bostock. Notts need to play with high intensity and pass through the lines quickly and incisively. If we play to our strengths, Notts should have too much up front for Colchester. I'm hopeful of seeing a 3:1 win for Notts.. My team if fit Ashley-Hamnond, Macari, Cameron, Baldwin, Nemane Jones, Austin, Robertson, Crowley, Scott & Jatta Bench Slocombe, Langstaff, Rawlinson, O'Brien, Randall.

@Wheelbarrow repair man We know the defence isn't good enough. We know the recruiters didn't get it right with our defence. We know Williams skidaddled and caused all sorts of disruption when he left, and he never addressed the problems, he had input on recruitment and got that wrong too with the defence. But the recruiters have got things right too, as an example, Macari, Robertson, Jatta, Scott, Crowley and Langstaff are big success stories. We've scored 88 goals, and we will score goals next season too. Just cast your mind back, Mansfield had big heartache last season when they missed out on the playoffs by one goal, but they recruited, strengthened the squad, and this season they have gained automatic promotion, Stockport had to strengthen their side after missing out last season, and Wrexham have done the same. Stuart has already said that they know where they are lacking and what needs to be done. We just have to have some patience and have some confidence that things will be put right. I think next season, a realistic goal will be making the playoffs if we can, but even if we don't, so long as we are making progress that will be a positive development.