This summer we would usually be looking forward to the World Cup, but we'll have to wait until November due to FIFA's decision to award it to the footballing hotbed that is Qatar.

As everyone surely knows by now, the regime in Qatar isn't the most savoury one; an army of foreign workers has been called in to build the necessary infrastructure and the construction of the stadiums has come at a tremendous human cost. Like the 1978 tournament, the 2022 World Cup will be an example of sportswashing - a dictatorship using sports to boost its reputation and distract attention away from human rights abuses.

This begs the question of how football fans here should react (it would have been nice if UEFA or the national FAs had done something, but that ship has sailed). The most obvious would be a boycott, but given the sheer pulling power of the World Cup that could be doomed to failure. Otherwise, the tournament could be used to shine a very bright light on the Qatari regime and to make the attempted sportswashing of the regime's reputation blow up in its face. I'm not sure exactly what form that could take though.

It might all sound very political, but this tournament is mired in politics anyway now. Personally I'm not sure I can stomach watching it, but I know many more will. Thoughts?

Polish your crystal ball and guess the results of these eight Proper Football Matches (not some silly tournament in the desert)! At the time of writing, all of these matches kick off at 3pm on Saturday, although it is possible that the odd kick-off time will change. Oh, and don't forget your jokers. Good luck!

Middlesbrough v Luton Town

Stoke City v Cardiff City

Bristol Rovers v Port Vale

Lincoln City v Wycombe Wanderers

Newport County v Doncaster Rovers

Salford City v Walsall

Halifax Town v Barnet

Maidstone United v Altrincham

Game 23 - The Magpies (A)

Team: Maidenhead United

Date: 10/12/2022

Where: York Road

What line-up should Luke Williams 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 4 : Memories of Dorking rekindled. 

Adebayo Rowling 5.5 Maybe the state of the pitch affected his forward runs

Brindley 5 : Always confident of taking the ball out of defensive situations but final pass from that, always seems a bit panicky

Baldwin 4.5 Some long passing going astray and a tendency for a critical error, a la Rawlinson

Cameron 7.5 Mr "Assist". 

Chicksen 5.5 I never really appreciated his talking and shouting instructions throughout the game

JOB 6 Sometimes his through runs do not get spotted

Palmer 7 Mr Consistency

Ruben 7 Great goal though seemed to tire towards the end

Castro 6 It was a cross but the curve on the ball fooled Maidenhead, a good goal

Langstaff 8 That winning goal worth the extra points. Sheer class

Just watched it..... Quite enlightening... Lots of relevant interviews but as expected they were quite diplomatic.... Will the answers ever be revealed!!!!!!! 

Game 22 - The Iron (A)

Team: Scunthorpe United

Date: 03/12/2022

Where: Glanford Park

What line-up should Luke Williams 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.

The prediction league is back! Send in your predictions before the earlier time of 12.30pm on Saturday (remembering your joker) and you might get some points. So without further ado...

Derby County v Sheffield Wednesday

Shrewsbury Town v Lincoln City

AFC Wimbledon v Grimsby Town

Gillingham v Salford City

Leyton Orient v Bradford City

Barnet v Wealdstone

Gateshead v Aldershot

Maidenhead United v Dorking Wanderers

There's not been much said from my end, things have just quietly been done and, to a degree, I haven't forced the same level of commitments I have shown in the past seasons. I care immensely about this community, the Pride of Nottingham and of course Notts County.

I have mentioned that things have been difficult, both mentally and physically. Which I do not want to go into further because there's really no need, aside from saying the past few years has been challenging for us all. This said, if I don't discuss things about PON itself - then moving forward won't be as easy. Simply because the standard I set myself hasn't been consistent.

There's not much I plan to do before the New Year.

But, I will be focusing on slowly putting out content and of course finding that balance required to maintain such a community.

I am extremely grateful to see that members are continuing to post, this wouldn't be the first community to fall silent due to a lack of direction. But, it's not been the case. My approach for 2023 will be to keep it simple, as there are aspects of the Notts community that I miss, and I want to find time to reimmerse myself back into it.

I want to have things that keep me busy, focused and excited. It's a shame that we're having a great season at a point where I haven't had my A game but, I do stress PON isn't about me - it's about Notts fans and us as a community.

Publically, I feel I need to discuss things and hopefully this will act as some means towards that.

Keep safe everyone,

Chris

Hi again! The top two divisions may have paused because of some tournament that's being held to polish a dictatorship's image, but the Proper Leagues (and the National League too) are carrying on. So it's business as usual for us. Kick-off is 3pm, and remember those jokers!

Cambridge United v Accrington Stanley

Port Vale v Charlton Athletic

Bradford City v Northampton Town

Newport County v Gillingham

Salford City v Carlisle United

Chesterfield v Solihull Moors

Maidstone United v Oldham Athletic

York City v Wealdstone

Game 20 - The Glovers (H)

Team: Yeovil Town

Date: 19/11/2022

Where: Meadow Lane

What line-up should Luke Williams 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.

With no NL transfer window, should Notts be looking at any potential signings from Southend?

Key quote : ""I'm not going to lie, If Ian Burchnall would have stayed I think I would have left because I had him for a year and a half and I didn't think, after being with a manager for so long, that he would make me an even better player," Rodrigues said.

http://www.nottshistory.org.uk/articles/sneinton/sm59_07-12.htm

https://www.eastleighfc.com/report-spitfires-0-2-notts-county/