The Chesterfield Town manager has been suspended pending an investigation into allegations of misconduct.

Oh dear... Never really came across as a nice guy and from what I've gathered on twitter some people are suggesting he's a bit of a bully - nothing has been clarified yet though so it'll be interesting to see what happens and how it will impact Chesterfield's season.

Before I get into it, I agree with what IB said in yesterday's interview about us having chances we should have taken in the first half and Grimsby being the better team in the 2nd half. That is correct. He's changed it up before earlier in the season, when we went on a bad run and I hope we change it up again. However something needs to be said about us a whole. 

I don't think we act like we want to go up. We are regarded as a "big fish" in this league and we need to start acting like it without the self entitlement. No less than 100% every week. Other clubs who were relegated into this league had that mentality: Leyton Orient, Tranmere, Bristol Rovers etc. Other teams who had this further up the system: Bolton in League Two last season, Villa in the Championship, Newcastle in the Championship. 

We've got to realise and the players have to realise that we're Notts County in the National League and being 8th is unacceptable. I don't think we have the self entitlement like a certain Wrexham, but it's more a self congratulatory mindset of "we've been on a good run that'll do" kind of thing. It's the sort of thing where we go "Oh it doesn't matter, we'll still score in a bit or we'll get points next game." We're allowing ourselves to take the foot off the pedal too many times. No less than 100% on and off the pitch to get out of this league. 

The club needs to look at itself and realise it's unacceptable to be "just hoping to get into the play-offs." Not being cocky or arrogant, but we are the biggest fish in this league and scraping into the play-offs isn't good enough. I'm not saying either that we should be beating teams in this league just because we are a bigger club than them. I'm saying that a lot more hard work and a ruthless mentality, is needed to achieve promotion and win against whoever the opposition is. It was the same throughout last season and we only really got going in the second half of 2019/20 as well,. There's not been a siege mentality of hard work and high standards for a long time and it needs to change. 

The PON prediction league continues on 12 February. Will you run a celebratory lap like Sir Charlie, or will you find yourself looking on glumly like those Florist fans in the Kop that day? There's only one way to find out. Kick-off is 3pm on Saturday, and remember your jokers.

Millwall v Cardiff City

Nottingham Florist v Stoke City

Cheltenham Town v Fleetwood Town

Morecambe v Gillingham

Barrow v Stevenage

Sutton United v Forest Green Rovers

Barnet v Wealdstone

Eastleigh v Yeovil Town

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/60042276

Notts were poor in the second half against Grimsby. We didn't deserve anything from the game and that's the way it panned out. The last time Notts actually put together a decent performance for the entire game was at home to Wrexham. Being honest, if that continues, we won't make the playoffs. Barnet at home is a chance to put things right. It's a must win game for so many reasons. Anything other than a win would be a disaster. I'll go for 2-1 to Notts. I expect a response from the team. It's time they stood up and took responsibility. 

The Chinese philosopher Confucious once said, "Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall." And on that bombshell, here's the latest round of the prediction league. These matches kick off on Tuesday at 7.45pm, and remember your jokers!

Derby County v Hull City

Stoke City v Swansea City

Lincoln City v Morecambe

Portsmouth v Burton Albion

Harrogate Town v Crawley Town

Northampton Town v Newport County

Stockport County v Chesterfield

Wealdstone v Yeovil Town

Game 28 - The Moors (A)

Team: Solihull Moors

Date: 12/02/2022

Where: Damson Park

What line-up should Ian Burchnall 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.

Jaros 6 a quiet day at the office, nothing he could do re the goal conceded

Richardson 6.5 Much improved into getting into attacking positions. Defensively sound too

Chicksen 7 Good performance getting down the left side

Cameron 7.5 Captain on and off the field (latter for the wrong reasons). Nearly cost a goal immediarely after half time. Peach of a pass to Eli

Brindley 6.5 Only real criticism is his choosing the wrong option

Palmer 6.5 Tik Tok, metronome

Francis 6 Some very good, some slack passing too

Roberts 7 Peach of a goal

Ruben 6.5 Ability to win the ball upfield very noticeable

Sam 8 Bible reading...shots of power recalling Rachid Harkouk resurrected

Wootton 6 Still quiet but needed that goal

Game 27 - The Mariners (H)

Team: Grimsby Town

Date: 05/02/2022

Where: Meadow Lane

What line-up should Ian Burchnall 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.

Forgot to post this, last week

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omar_Sowunmi

Always a stand out player, when at Yeovil v Notts

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Byron_Webster

Former Millwall stalwart 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Bush_(English_footballer)

Journeyman tag maybe, but was superb against Notts

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Érico_Sousa

Best player on the pitch

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michee_Efete

It's round 30 - two thirds through and things are getting serious. Kick-off is Saturday at 3pm - remember your jokers and good luck!

Blackpool v Bristol City

Hull City v Preston North End

Burton Albion v Sheffield Wednesday

Shrewsbury Town v Fleetwood Town

Leyton Orient v Colchester United

Scunthorpe United v Oldham Athletic

Halifax Town v Bromley

Maidenhead United v Eastleigh

Jaros 6 great penalty save, the real problem is in front of him

Brindley 5.5 Some good runs first half and a good block too. Caught out by a poor square pass too. Whole defence went missing in the 2nd half

Lacey 5 Lucky to escape a red. Ability to influence passes from the back limited

Cameron 5 Never a penalty... again our organisation at the back at fault on dead balls

Taylor 5 better 1st half. final ball not there

Richardson 5 effectiveness decreasing week on week.

Palmer 5 unable to influence game

Brunt 4 needs to take the ball and make things happen. It didnt happen

Ruben 4.5 Looked to have taken a knock. Missed a good header chance

Roberts 6.5 The only real bright spot. Took his goal well..just found it difficult 2nd half to get into the game

Wootton 4.5 Marked out, tried to drop deeper but had zero effect

https://www.carlisleunited.co.uk/news/2022/january/contract-experienced-forward-signs-for-united/

Colin Slater, the voice of the club for so many decades, has passed away aged 87. Condolences to his family and everyone who knew him. 

People talk about legendary players and managers, but it was Colin who was at our side through all those moments of triumph or (more often) non-triumph. It'll be difficult to imagine Notts without him. 

Here's a nice piece the club published about him. 

https://www.nottscountyfc.co.uk/club/hall-of-fame/colin-slater-mbe/

Real question whether 2 Bromley players were offside after Cheek's flick on. Cameron's marking of Cheek, not particularly good in this instance

Slocombe 5.5 Some good saves but another set piece where the opposition scores

Brindley 6.5 Another strong performance

Lacey 6 Not quite the distribution needed.

Cameron 6 Tried to push forward

Taylor 6 Checks too many times but helps out defensively

Richardson 6 Space limited to run into

Palmer 6 Kept dropping deeper in trying to make things happen

Brunt 5.5 Too slow in build ups, doesnt help his game

Ruben 6 Fantastic first 25 mins, struck a post...faded

Roberts 5.5 denied the space

Wootton 5.5 Marked out of the game

Hi again, it's time for round 29! These matches kick off at 3pm on Saturday, and remember those jokers...

Hull City v Swansea City

Middlesbrough v Coventry City

Lincoln City v Burton Albion

Sheffield Wednesday v Ipswich Town

Bristol Rovers v Walsall

Tranmere Rovers v Forest Green Rovers

Dagenham & Redbridge v Halifax Town

Woking v Yeovil Town

Game 26 - The Lillywhites (A)

Team: Bromley

Date: 29/01/2022

Where: Hayes Lane

What line-up should Ian Burchnall 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.

Slocombe 6 Probably the busier of the 2 keepers, which says a lot, given Notts had the bulk of the possession

Brindley 7 Had a good long range effort, generally read the defensive situations very well

Lacey 6.5 Had his hands full with an awkward #9

Cameron 5.5 Missed with a free header from a corner. Some poor passing too

Chicksen 6.5 Comfortable and could be considered unlucky to be subbed

Richardson 6 His least effective game for us. Final ball just wasn't there

Vincent 5.5 Busy but things didn't happen to him, subbed at the break

Palmer 6.5 Unusually, too many mishit passes in the first half.  Much better 2nd

Rodrigues 5 Well shackled. Found it hard to influence against tight defending

Roberts 5 Just seen in patches. Tried to set himself up in the final moments, cutting in but the room wasn't there and the chance was lost

Wootton 5 Marked out of the game.

Subs

Brunt 6 Added impetus but could do nothing to really break the lines

Sam 6 Immediate poor touch but showed his awkwardness. Couldn't quiet get his shot well hit on the turn

Parsons 5 Struggled to make a telling influence