Slocombe - 2 - I have a great deal of sympathy for him. It's a poor touch, but he should be told there's a man near. He doubles down on that error and dives in, trying to rectify his mistake. The bottom line is, however, he gave away a penno and got himself sent off after 16 minutes, hence the rating.

DKE - 9 - Charlie Slater: "That is the most DKE tackle I've ever seen" ????????

Rawlinson - 9 - Epitomised the team effort by sprinting out like a man on speed to the edge of the box to close down an incoming shot.
Lacey - 9 - Hero.

Barnett - 9 - Slotted in like he's played there the whole season. Athletic, fast. Keen to see more of him in a 'normal' game.
 

Enzio - 9 - Really in form. Dangerous going forward and apparently he can even play centre mid.

Reeves - 9 - In the opening few minutes he played a terrible pass and I thought 'oh here we go'. From then on in he absolutely bossed the midfield, sometimes on his own.

Rodrigues - 9.5 - Criticised his shooting the last few weeks and then he unleashes that rocket. Some may say the keeper should get there, maybe he should, but there's some bend on that shot. As close to a perfect performance as you're gonna see.

Wootton - 9 - Beautifully curled in the third, never in doubt. Won an incredible amount in the air and it was nice to see somebody with a bit of pace alongside him.

Knowles - 9 - Offers something different that nobody else really gives us (probably apart from Thomas who has left). He is direct, pacey and sometimes a little naiive, but it was  nice to see what he can offer us.



Schmeichel Doyle 'The Monk' - 10 - 84 year old Michael Doyle, 4 foot nothing, makes his debut as a goalkeeper. What a guy. His complete shithousery probably gets in the head of their striker taking the penalty. 


 

https://www.lancs.live/sport/football/football-news/hayhurst-interview-quitting-professional-football-16816162

"Hindsight is a wonderful thing but looking back Hayhurst would probably have made the decision to stay with PNE."

Wes Thomas has left the building. He hadn't been playing, and had been training on his own due to the COVID-19 situation. Now, inevitably, he's asked the club to terminate his contract, which Notts have reluctantly accepted. He played 38 games in the famous black and white and occasionally green, and scored 10 goals. All the best to him for the future.

That leaves us with Wootton, Effiong, Sam and Knowles up front. Do we need to get active in the transfer market?

Hello you beautiful black and white people! Another bunch of fixtures for the prediction league kick off at 3pm on Saturday. You get one joker each!

Barnsley v Derby County

Millwall v Sheffield Wednesday

Ipswich Town v Blackpool

Peterborough United v Crewe Alexandra

Scunthorpe United v Oldham Athletic

Crawley Town v Harrogate Town

Eastleigh v Solihull Moors

Maidenhead United v Boreham Wood

It was quite an eventful cup tie and one Notts made hard work of. 

Havant, to their credit, pressed us well and had good energy levels despite not playing for a while.

Notts got it down the wings quite a few times in the first half and it was our best opportunity of opening Havant up. It worked for the first goal and we got in numerous times down both flanks but they came to nothing. Chicksen could've had two before half time. His 2nd effort really should have ended in a goal. Poor connection with the ball after taking a touch and then trying to lob the keeper after a good ball from Lacey. Miller should've also scored when he was in acres of space and somehow took about 250 years to shoot.

I didn't think Jim O'Brien had a good game. Lost the ball too much and when there was space to go into, he passed backwards. Matty Wolfe's runs from deep helped us and that's what one of the centre midfielders (whoever starts) should be doing more. Jimmy Knowles put himself about and his run contributed to the first goal and then he scored the penalty to equalise. The back four had a difficult time. Lacey and Turner, in my opinion, looked uncomfortable on occasions and Turner had a difficult time with Tommy Wright. Didn't help that no Notts players bothered tackling any Havant player in the second half and were happy to let them run forward with the ball. 

Rodrigues was good when he came on and got Notts on the front foot again, bringing the ball forward and drawing fouls. The second of them free-kicks won us the penalty. However he does need to learn how to shoot in the 18 yard box and not dribble past everyone. Nothing much to say on Jordan Barnett as he had a quiet game. Looks like he's got a decent left foot on him. 

Luke Pilling ????????

Altrincham
Alistair Smith - Mansfield Town (CM) - Free
Joe Piggott - Wigan Athletic (ST) - Loan

Barnet
Courtney Baker-Richardson - Barrow (ST) - Loan

Boreham Wood
Krystian Pearce - Solihull Moors (CB) - Free

Bromley
Courtney Duffus - Yeovil Town (ST) - Undisclosed

Chesterfield
Martin Smith - Salford City (CM) - Free
Grant Smith - Wealdstone (GK) - Free
Gavin Gunning - Gloucester City (CB) - Free
Adam Przybek - Ipswich Town (GK) - Loan

Dagenham & Redbridge
Mo Sagaf - Free Agent (CM) - Free

Dover Athletic
Oliver Webber - Crystal Palace (GK) - Loan

King's Lynn Town
Tyler Denton - Chesterfield (LB) - Free

Notts County
Jordan Barnett - Oldham Athletic (LB) - Free

Solihull Moors
Kyle Howkins - Newport County (CB) - Loan

Torquay United
Max Sheaf - Hull City (CM) - Loan
James Hamon - Truro City (GK) - Loan
Joe Lewis - Swansea City (CB) - Loan

Wealdstone
Josh Meekings - Free Agent (CB) - Free
Deshane Dalling - Queens Park Rangers (W) - Loan
Harry Isted - Luton Town (GK) - Loan
Joseph Olowu - Arsenal (CB) - Loan
George Langston - Watford (CB) - Loan

Weymouth
Dominic Revan - Aston Villa (CB) - Loan
Andy Dallas - Cambridge United (ST) - Loan
Joan Luque - Maidstone United (W) - Free
Pierre Fonkeu - Grimsby Town (ST) - Free

Woking
Jonte Smith - Free Agent (ST) - Free
Malachi Napa - Oxford United (W) - Loan
Moussa Diarra - Havant & Waterlooville (CB) - Undisclosed

Wrexham
Dior Angus - Barrow (ST) - Free
Tyler French - Bradford City (CB) - Free

Yeovil Town
Max Hunt - Carlisle United (CB) - Undisclosed

https://www.nottscountyfc.co.uk/news/2021/february/jordan-barnett-announcement-010221/

welcome to pon @SpellbindingCaskey

Game 22 - The Terras (A)

Team: Weymouth

Date: 30/01/2021

Where: Bob Lucas Stadium

What line-up should Neal Ardley 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.

happy 21st birthday @Megan_Elizax ????

Game 23 - The Lilywhites (H)

Team: Bromley

Date: 02/02/2021

Where: Meadow Lane

What line-up should Neal Ardley 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.

I feel it in my fingers, I feel it in my toes. Football is all around me, so here's another round of fixtures for the prediction league. Submit your predictions and your jokers by 3pm on Saturday, good luck!

Birmingham City v Coventry City

Blackburn Rovers v Luton Town

Charlton Athletic v Portsmouth

Lincoln City v Doncaster Rovers

Bradford City v Barrow

Forest Green Rovers v Cheltenham

Boreham Wood v Eastleigh

Hartlepool United v Sutton United

Slocombe 8 - Critical saves at vital points. Man of the match

Kelly-Evans 6 - Got forward like he always does. His usual solid self

Rawlinson 7 - Good distribution and won everything

Lacey 6 - Too many passes went astray in the first half but resilient defending

Miller 7 - Always got forward when the opportunity presented itself. Attacking threat adds another piece to the puzzle

Doyle 5 - Nearly cost us it all with a stupid pass to Weymouth in our own half. Grafted 

Reeves 6 - Too many backwards passes again when there was a good option on further forward. Comfortable on the ball

Boldewijn 6 - Good running in the first half and a few opportunities came down his side

Rodrigues 6 - Work rate was again very good and was picking up space early on

Sam 7 - May have had a slice of luck for the goal but it came from running at the opposition which is good to see. Linked the play nicely

Wootton 6 - Battled away but nothing came for him

O'Brien 5 - Ran about when he came on. Did what he needed to do

Effiong 5 - Like O'Brien, closed out the game for Notts

Jamie Ward

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

Maybe in the twilight of his career now. He was always a standout player against Notts in his early years, surprised in a way he is not still in the EFL and presume Solihull are rewarding him handsomely.

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

Not missed from Notts...brutal but fair.

https://uptheterras.co.uk/2021/01/30/welcome-pierre-fonkeu/

Looks more useful than Tom Walker.. perhaps we have missed out... Some good feet shown by him

Slocombe 7.5  Calm and assured handling

DKE 7.5 Tremendous thunderbolt off the post and pass to Knowles

Rawls 7 Rekindled good understanding with Lacey, seems a shame Ardley broke the partnership for the playoff final

Lacey 8 Tidy defence but can pass a ball

Miller 6.5 Some dodgy defensive moments but going forward made good use of the ball

Reeves 4 Continual sloppy passing , so many square that were easily read

Doyle 6 Midfield king pin from the back, wise head in extra time

JOB 4.5 generally made no headway offensively. Too slow

Enzio 6.5 One moment of brilliance but generally ambles forwards not looking for the ball.

Wootton 7 Got to be there to score

Effiong 5 Ordinary, not really in the game

Subs

Knowles 6.5 

Ruben 8 Touch of quality to take out 2 Solihull defenders to set Wootton up on a plate

hes done well when he came on tonight, he did superb to get the ball forward for the 2nd goal. i know hes young and learning but he seems to useful to have if not only to come on from the bench.

Game 21 - The Moors (A)

Team: Solihull Moors

Date: 26/01/2021

Where: Damson Park

What line-up should Neal Ardley 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.

Time for yet another round of fixtures - these are for Tuesday and kick off at 7pm (except the Dover match, which kicks off at 7.45pm). Good luck, and remember your jokers!

Bristol City v Huddersfield Town

Millwall v Watford

Wigan Athletic v Blackpool

Rochdale v Oxford United

Newport County v Carlisle United

Salford City v Cambridge United

Torquay United v Sutton United

Dover Athletic v Barnet

https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/boreham-wood-prospect-sorba-thomas-looks-to-the-future-after-failed-approach-from-charlton-athletic-during-transfer-window/

Looks like they turned down a significant offer from Charlton Athletic

and for their goalscorer:

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

Dion Kelly-Evans has been superb this season, he's taken the chance to start regularly playing in an unnatural position. What are you thoughts on him potentially being replaced? If Chickensen isn't fit or good enough, then I am perfectly happy with seeing a replacement personally but otherwise I would rather see another winger arrive or central midfielder.

This is a superb article on Kelly-Evans.

the trip to wrexhams racecourse ground will be televised on bt sports, this should be a good bit of income for the club and this season notts has done quite well when the main stream cameras have been present.

https://www.nottscountyfc.co.uk/news/2021/january/wrexham-on-bt-210121/

is covid/suspended games impacting notts?

what are your thoughts on the current form, does stopping and starting impact the players or do you see it more as an excuse? [maybe its a mix of the two in your opinion].