In another thread, @Chris mentioned that he'd like our next Wembley appearance to be in the play-off final, and it sent a shiver down my spine. The play-offs are our most likely route back to League Two, but I hate them. I joined the party too late for Neil Warnock's triumphs, but in time to see us get our bellies tickled by Bradford in 1996. On top of that, I follow a team in Germany with a pretty catastrophic play-off record themselves.

1995-96 - Bradford 2-0 Notts, League One play-off final. There were three times as many Bradford fans there, and they knew they were going to win. We were pants.

2015-16 - SV Waldhof Mannheim win the Regionalliga Südwest (fourth level), but miss out on promotion to the third division after losing the home leg 0-2 against a superior Sportfreunde Lotte side. I was there. The joy.

2016-17 - Waldhof had a promotion play-off again, this time against SV Meppen. After two 0-0 draws, Meppen won on penalties.

2017-18 - A double header! Notts were well beaten by Coventry (with a bit of help from the ref) and Waldhof made it a hat-trick of play-off defeats by losing at home to Uerdingen (the match was abandoned 10 minutes from the end with the score 3-1 to Uerdingen after home fans starting firing fireworks onto the pitch).

2019-20 - Notts reached a first Wembley final since 1996 and I couldn't go because of The Situation. We lost.

2020-21 - Torquay v Notts. We lost.

It could be eighth time lucky, I know. And it's by no means certain that we'll make the play-offs at all. But if we're in the top seven, please let us be first!

Slocombe...  not happy...we need clean sheets to progress

Slocombe 3.5 The old adage, form is temporary, class is permanent is wearing a bit thin. A truly woeful blunder handing Altrincham their equaliser, then coming and missing a cross ( or was it from a corner). Having said that, an outstanding save towards the end which may have taken the game to penalties.

Brindley 4 Slater commenting on the amount of balls where we have lost possession... is getting a bit tedious

Rawlinson 4 On the commentary "Rawlinson isnt being pressed as they know about his passing ability (or lack of is strongly hinted)

Cameron 5 The best of the back 3

Palmer 6.5 The guy reads the game, sensible passing choices, never wastes possession

Vincent 6.5 Energetic, tries to make things happen

Parsons 6.5 More effective first half as most of the good play was coming down the left hand side

Richardson 6.5 Conversely better 2nd half, we really do like scoring when he gets into the advance positions to square across the box. The ball to Wootton for his goal shows the type of player he is, not a hit and hope moment

Rodrigues 7 (MoTM) Calmly taken penalty. A real mix bag of good and bad stuff, but when it's right, we really do click. The defence splitting pass in the buildup for Wootton's goal!

Wootton 6.5 Only on for 1st half, but he will be a big miss if he leaves

Mitchell 5 Anonymous for long periods,one soft shot..but only produced a decent effort in the last 5 minutes of normal time

Subs

Lacey 6

Roberts 5.5

Francis 5 

Game 19 - The Spireites (A)

Team: Chesterfield

Date: 21/12/2021

Where: Technique Stadium

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 4.5  marked down for inability to see the better ball out to the defence

Brindley 4 choosing wrong options, got caught in possession in a dangerous position

Lacey 6 Best of the defence, can pass a ball

Cameron 5.5 Goal, yes but subject to defensive lapses too

Taylor 5.5 Always left with the feeling he should deliver more

Richardson 8 (motm) His slide rule pass for Wooton, absolutely perfect. There were times he was demanding the ball, but not getting it

Palmer 6.5 Wrongly given motm by the sponsors. Tidy performance

Vincent 7.5 The amount of running this guy does is unbelievable. So many runs not picked out by passes though

Roberts 7 Caught in possession, led to Southend's goal. Calm finish to make it 1-1

Ruben 6 Quieter game, booking may mean he misses Chesterfield

Wootton 7 Two goals, perhaps should have been more. Great rob  to set up Roberts for Notts first

Another Saturday, another prediction league round, another chance for unparalleled glory (or at least some points). You know what to do - send in your predictions by 3pm on Saturday, and remember your jokers!

AFC Bournemouth v Blackburn Rovers

Hull City v Bristol City

Fleetwood Town v Gillingham

Sunderland v Plymouth Argyle

Bristol Rovers v Rochdale

Stevenage v Carlisle United

Grimsby Town v Chesterfield

Yeovil Town v Barnet

Game 20 - The Shrimpers (H)

Team: Southend United

Date: 11/12/2021

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.

After a week's break thanks to that strange "cup" competition other teams play in, we've got a busy week for the prediction league coming up. These fixtures all kick off at 7.45pm on TUESDAY, so I'll need your predictions by then, and remember your jokers!

Accrington Stanley v AFC Wimbedon

Charlton Athletic v Ipswich Town

Cheltenham Town v Cambridge United

Portsmouth v Sheffield Wednesday

Exeter City v Northampton Town

Leyton Orient v Swindon Town

Newport County v Sutton United

Southend United v Maidenhead United

I've just been through how to setup notifications for @Iateallthepies and, I realised he still has a generated image that the site creates when a new user signs up.

This got me thinking...

I know some users won't understand how to change their display picture, they might not have time but I am happy to assist anyone who would like to make their own more personal.

Just let me know what you'd like, if it be a player, manager or a photo of yourself.

If you'd like something editing, please just mention it.

Any photos you would like to have used, please send them to [email protected] - I'll upload them for you via the ACP here.

@heraldmagpie @NCRichie @Wilfordpie @Joshua @gtownjohnno 

[I'm not singling the above out, they're the remaining users of the past 24 hours who don't have a display image].

I don't have any plans, other than taking pictures for a friend's birthday party. It feels weird that Notts aren't playing at this time of year, it just doesn't feel like a normal Saturday at all.

How will you be spending your free Saturday?

Settle in for a big promotion Battle. Sign a striker and I'm convinced we can get there. We have everything else

I had not realised Andrade had ended up at Stevenage

https://www.stevenagefc.com/news/2021/august/bruno-andrade-new-signing-transfer-news-stevenage-fc-football-club-sky-bet-league-two-efl-english-football-league-thursday-26-august-2021/

Have you ever used the mood feature?

I used to notice the changes a fair bit, especially after games. I have re-enabled the feature, after having some small issues after the last major upgrade. It's now back, with a change of icons and a few extra moods!

Currently, I feel mischievous, but I am not saying why.

You'll need to get @GrannyPie to tell me off, in order to explain further. ????

What is your current mood set to and why?

Why does Notts have a very loose approach to contract renewals?

The business model that has been spoken about regarding recruiting players, that will attract bids would be fundamentally flawed if we allow the likes of Kyle Wootton, Ruben Rodrigues and Matt Palmer to leave on frees.

I am now starting to wonder if Cairo Mitchell is a direct replacement for Kyle Wootton.

In my opinion, renewals should be handled the moment a player is likely to extend their existing deals. Not only does it keep their value high, but it spreads confidence within the club and gives the fans something to get behind. I don't understand why Notts or Ian Burchnall has this loose approach to handling negotiations. I think its more likely players will leave, surely we want them to feel wanted and secure with longer deals?

Aaand we move straight on to Saturday's prediction league round. If you fancy getting some points and climbing up the table, get your predictions in by 3pm on Saturday, and remember your joker!

Peterborough United v Barnsley

Stoke City v Blackburn Rovers

Bolton Wanderers v Cheltenham Town

Plymouth Argyle v Wigan Athletic

Northampton Town v Leyton Orient

Swindon Town v Harrogate Town

Grimsby Town v Boreham Wood

Wrexham v Bromley

I've done some new wallpapers, 1-10 of this seasons squads. I do have others backlogged that I never found the time to release, which I will be looking into. I am happy to take on your favourite player, the wallpapers are one of the ways I give back to fans.

Do we have any quiz masters here? or, just anyone who enjoys a good quiz?

I know @super_ram would fall within this category, as we both enjoy taking on the pub quiz machines and, used to play various quiz games.

this is quite the shame as i hoped we could extend his stay, he looks a very solid upcoming keeper and the way hes been doing, i think sam slocombe would have had to wait to get back in goal due to the performances.

https://www.nottscountyfc.co.uk/news/2021/november/patterson-kean-announcement-191121/

Game 18 - Daggers (H)

Team: Dagenham & Redbridge

Date: 27/11/2021

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.

Bit late but as we've got no match to look forward to at the weekend we can drag the chat about the last match that bit longer!

Slocombe 6 – Good shot stopping but not able to deal with their corners.

Brindley 7 – One dodgy pass that gave them a chance but other than that he was relatively comfortable all game.

Lacey 7.5 – Thought he was solid all game, dealt well with their balls into the box.

Cameron 7.5 – Same as Lacey, couple of good runs on the ball too and great leap for the goal from the corner.

Parsons 6 – Never going to easy for him having only had one training session with the team, decent defensively but didn’t cause them any problems and wasn’t much of an outlet for us.

Taylor 7 – Solid defensively, plenty of good forward runs too. Should have been more composed to square it to Woots at the end.

Palmer 7 – Positioning is always good, tidy on the ball, he is really our key player in midfield at the moment. 

Vincent 6.5 – Lots of running and energy, not everything came off for him though. Good reactions for the goal but I think it was going in anyway.

Roberts 6.5 – Almost feels harsh considering the assist but I though he was largely one bit of good play, one bit of poor play in CM.

Rodrigues 6.5 – Never really impacted the game like he can. Got into some good positions in the box and probably should’ve scored one of his two big chances.

Wootton 7 – Usual running and endeavour, held the ball up well and took his opportunity when it came.

Subs

O’Brien 6.5 – Thought he helped us push on and get the winner, worked himself into some good spaces and although not every ball came off he tried to play forward.