26 September was the day on which William II was crowned king of England (in 1087) and on which Albert Einstein introduced his theory of relativity. More importantly, however, it's the day of round 3 of the PON prediction league.

So, as usual, simply post your predictions to the following carefully selected fixtures no later than 3pm on Saturday, 26 September. You have one joker each. Good luck!

Cardiff City v Reading

Derby County v Blackburn Rovers

Fleetwood Town v AFC Wimbledon

Portsmouth v Wigan Athletic

Swindon Town v Burton Albion

Cheltenham Town v Grimsby Town

Salford City v Forest Green Rovers

Southend United v Morecambe

Very simple, who do you consider to be the best player from the following positions - plus who is the most hardworking.

Keeper:

Best - 
Most Hardworking -

Centre Back:

Best - 
Most Hardworking -

Wing Back:

Best - 
Most Hardworking -

Midfielder:

Best - 
Most Hardworking -

Winger

Best - 
Most Hardworking -

Striker

Best - 
Most Hardworking -

Perhaps, this will lead to an healthy discussion on the depth of the Notts squad. Along with some appreciation for players who do their utmost to represent the club. 

Slocombe 7 Solid, looks an EFL keeper

Brindley 4 Never confident in defending, to be able to read the game

Chicksen 4 Too many misplaced passes, hurried

Rawlinson 6 Top Man

Graham 6 King Pin at the back

Doyle 5 Tried to instigate things

Reeves 6 Good but midfield look like strangers

Roddy 7 Some good glimpses of things to come

Thomas 4 Just not sure, whether another year is catching him up

Wootton 5 One feels he should be doing better, needs to up the work rate

Roberts 6 Marked man and dispatched with a cynical tackle

It's time for round two! The rules are the same - simply add in your predicted scores, nominating one joker, by 3pm on Saturday. It's only the second round, so there's still plenty of time to get involved if you missed the first one. Good luck!

Middlesbrough v AFC Bournemouth

Rotherham United v Millwall

Charlton Athletic v Doncaster Rovers

Shrewsbury Town v Northampton Town

Oxford United v Sunderland

Crawley Town v Scunthorpe United

Exeter City v Port Vale

Newport County v Barrow

Due to rising Corona cases, is the current news circulating. The argument is that NL clubs can't survive without crowds.

This really is beginning to frustrate me now. What have the authorities been doing since March?! A rise in cases is expected, we have to learn that we must continue with life and live with this virus. If you look at the sheer density of fixtures, a delay of even 2 weeks will cause havoc. A delay of more than a month, you can forget about finishing the season in its present format. 

I know that BT Sport have some arrangement with rights to broadcasting etc..., but surely some deal could be made where clubs can stream live to their fans for a price, with a small percentage going to BT if needed?  This revenue from streaming won't replace matchday revenue, but it will allow the season to progress even when the cases of the virus are high.

https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/sport/football/portsmouth-fc/former-portsmouth-and-notts-county-man-lines-local-non-league-side-2977340

https://www.nottscountyfc.co.uk/news/2020/september/away-kit-launch-160920/

Glad to see that Jake Bugg is back on board. For me it's decent, I prefer the home kit, but that is usual. Could see it being a bit bright for some?

A fantastic interview with Paul Mace:

https://writeupkb.wordpress.com/2020/09/09/same-old-england/

Many happy returns to @ARLukomski, hope you and @meg_walshx have a great day.

https://www.nottscountyfc.co.uk/news/2020/september/adam-chicksen-signs-100920/

Not a massive surprise, but nice to get it over the line and really gives us depth across that back line:

RB:
Brindley
(Kelly-Evans)

CB:
Rawlinson
(Graham)
Lacey
(Turner)

LB:
McCrory
(Chicksen)

That depth will obviously help with the well publicised Saturday-Tuesday schedule that we are faced with for the majority of this season. Bolton fans (at least on their forum) were surprised to see him released and thought he was a decent player, despite their own tricky season. Bradford fans (again on their forum) thought he was dreadful, probably partly due to him being part of the season they finished dead last in L1. Again, this is still two steps above where we are at the minute, so even a poorer L1 LB will be better than most of what you will find in the NL. 

 

Foden and Greenwood have been sent home from the England camp and will not feature in the game against Denmark tomorrow night.

Both lads were deemed to have broken protocol by meeting girls at the hotel.

There's a video doing the rounds supposedly the girls on the phone to them arranging the meet. 

Now I understand that boys will be boys and these lads have a lot to learn. But, there is this 'Pandemic' going on so they should be remaining in their 'Bubble' anyway. Secondly, they're on England duty and have a responsibilty to conduct themselves in a specific way having been given the chance. They may not be given another chance based on this and there future could be hampered by this. 

Southgate & Harry Kane should of done more as Manager and Captain, they should have been roomed up with experienced players as opposed to eachother for guidance. 

Was just checking the Notts site for the fixtures and lo and behold a new signing!

https://www.nottscountyfc.co.uk/news/2020/september/knowles-signs-100920/

A young striker on loan from our second-dearest neighbours (not sure how I feel about that). Very young and little first team experience, but you could say the same about last season's loanees and they did pretty well.

A proper old school name too...

Does anyone know much about him?

Can't say he impressed me overly against Ilkeston at LB, but apparently he is a CB? He played again against Alfreton, seemed to do OK.

Does anyone know much about him? Is he close to pushing for a place in the first team squad? 

I've done some googling, and it seems that he was at Chesterfield's youth team, and played against Knowles a year or so ago:
https://the66pow.blogspot.com/2019/08/mansfield-town-2-v-chesterfield-2-efl.html

Maybe somebody that pays closer attention to the YT knows a bit more about him?

Been sitting waiting for the match to come on live via the clubs YouTube channel, this will be the first real game that I have seen since the playoff final.

The line-up, Notts look more geared towards creative passing and setting the tempo. All the players having a touch, which in a friendly is important. It's all about fitness.

With the announcement of Adam Chicksen, Notts seem to have indicated that we're done in the transfer market. I like this approach, that we are satisfied with our squad even though there is still 3 weeks left until the season begins. Although it is very difficult to gauge some of the new signings, with many being trial by Youtube / judging on 45 minutes again Ilkeston Town, I thought it could be interesting to gather some initial thoughts on the make up of our squad. 

Goalkeepers:

Sam Slocombe - 8 - Consistent keeper that does most things well. Very confident in him behind our backline. 
Luke Pilling - 5 - A bit of an unknown. Released from a team relegated from L1, but never given a chance. Apart from a loan to the 7th tier, not much else to judge him on.
Jake Kean - N/A - Emergency backup but main job is a coach.
Tiernan Brooks - N/A - Notts have already indicated he will be going out on loan to get some first team minutes. Fair enough.

Strengths: Starting keeper is very strong (Slocombe), but suffered an injury last season which he, and we, will be keen to avoid a repeat of.
Weaknesses: Backup keeper is a bit of an unknown.

Defenders:

Right Backs:

Richard Brindley - 7 - He's a good fullback at this level, but he does have some limitations as highlighted in the playoff final.
Dion Kelly-Evans - 7 - Tenacious player that will offer good rotation with Brindley. Be interesting to see which of them has the most apps come the end of the season.

Left Backs:

Damien McCrory - 7 - He's a good fullback at this level, but he does have some limitations as highlighted in the playoff final.
Adam Chicksen - 7 - Played at a higher level fairly consistently, good player for rotation with McCrory.

Centre Backs:

Adam Lacey - 9 - Really good player. Not only is he good defensively, but also he is so cool and collected with the ball, a rarity.
Connell Rawlinson - 8 - He just looks like a CB. Big, strong, looks like he catches his dinner at night before collecting the wood to make the fire. Does the simple stuff well and also has developed a knack of stepping out of the back 4 as another dimension to his game.
Ben Turner - 6 - He's big and strong, but too slow and clumsy with the ball at his feet. Additionally, if he's turned, he's done. Injury prone.
Sam Graham - 6 - I know many are a fan, but I've seen enough of him to suggest that he's prone to big mistakes, both with us and when he played with CCM in the A-league. Hope he proves me wrong with more (error free) game time this season.

Strengths: We have a stable back-line that is largely the same as last year, with only one addition (Chicksen). The starting back line is strong and there are very able deputies in both fullback positions.

Weaknesses: The backup options at CB could be a weak point. There are a few players there that are liable to either repeat or long-term injuries (Turner, Graham and McCrory last season alone).

Midfielders:

Michael Doyle - 7 - Relishes that 'quarter-back' role that we saw him play so often. Still a strong player, but a fast, high-pressing team can overrun him, as seen in the play-off final. Needs a strong runner next to him at times.

Jim O'Brien - 6.5 - He's a good player that can pick a pass, but sometimes he looks a bit predictable and slow. I can't see a Doyle-O'Brien central pairing working; they would be easily overran. Could form 2 of a 3, though. Injury prone.

Jake Reeves - 8 - From some of the highlights online, combined with the thoughts from other teams' fans and his performance against Ilkeston, he looks a very good signing that will inject that energy and pace that was so lacking in the play-off final. Coming back from a relatively recent long-term injury, so will need to keep an eye on that.

Casper Sloth - 6 - Despite being arguably the most prestigious of the squad, we don't really know what we will get from him. Can he rediscover form, or will his (reported) bad attitude get in the way? Could take time to get up to speed. 

Strengths: 3 midfielders with plenty of know-how and experience above this level. The weakness last season has been identified and filled with Reeves. 

Weaknesses: Sloth is a bit of an unknown and I'm not sure O'Brien - Doyle works. 

Attacking Midfielders/Wingers:

Cal Roberts- 10 - A class beyond this league or even ones above us. Destined for bigger things and I doubt Notts can keep pace with him beyond this season.

Enzio Boldewijn - 7 - A fantastic option to have and a potential game changer, but then again so inconsistent. Will still scare the life out of some defences.

Ruben Rodrigues - 7.5 - It's a punt from Notts, but an exciting one. A bit of research all comes out positive, so does trial by Youtube and 45 minutes for Ilkeston. Looks to be positive and able to thrust through those annoyingly stubborn defences, a trait we will need this season. However, bit of an unknown especially in this country and at this level.

Strengths: Cal Roberts. The other 2 aren't too shabby either. Blessed with talent in these positions.

Weaknesses: Depending on formation, it could be considered we lack a bit of depth here, although it has been mentioned O'Brien could fill in here too, plus Wes Thomas and the other strikers, I would imagine.

Forwards:

Kyle Wootton - 8 - Impressive that we saw how good he is and went out and paid a fee to have him here permanently. Strong, holds up the ball well and brings others into play. Also can find the net. 

Wes Thomas - 7 - Pacey and direct.  Stretches teams that try to push up high by turning them around. Finishing ability sometimes lets him down. Not going to give us 30 goals a season, but could reach double figures.

Elisha Sam - 6 - Trial by Youtube shows that he is a young, exciting player. Although he's a big bloke, looks skilled with the ball at his feet. Looked raw at Ilkeston and could take a while before we see what he is capable of. Bit of an unknown. 

Jimmy Knowles - 5 - Strange signing. Couldn't get many games at a poor L2 side, but described as a tenacious, pacy striker who won't stop running, which could be very useful to bring on off the bench with 10 minutes to go. However, he has come here for game time, but will be 4th choice behind the above 3, plus potentially Roberts/Enzio/Rodrigues, depending on formation. Doesn't make much sense for me.

Strengths: Very good all-round striker in Wootton and a pacey dribbler in Thomas. Potential to mix it up with the height of Sam. The attacking midfielders above can also fill these forward positions as needed.

Weaknesses: We don't really have the 'fox in the box' or natural finisher that we had in Dennis. Could be argued that we rely heavily on the fitness and form of Wootton. Sam and Knowles are of unknown qualities. 

 

Overall:
 

Average Ratings:

Goalkeepers:  6.5
Defenders: 7.125
Midfielders: 6.875
Attacking Midfielders: 8.167
Forwards: 6.5

Analysis:

The average rating of the keepers' is simply an unknown backup quality, similar to the forwards. Here, Notts are taking a bit of a gamble. It also highlights how these players' with an unknown quality will impact the overall squad; if 75% of these are hits, it's a very good squad, but with 75%  being misses, it becomes just a good squad with limitations, especially given the amount of games. This could be the difference between promotion, and not. 

We have some very good attacking midfielders and this is our strongest position, closely followed by the back 4. 

Here's a reminder for you all - the Bananarama League fixtures are out on Wednesday!

A bit of a mammoth programme awaits us, with the season starting in October and finishing at the end of May - that's 34 weeks to fit in 46 league games, plus cup competitions. That'll put teams with bigger squads at a big advantage, and the few part-timers at a big disadvantage.

It's also possible that up to five substitutes will be allowed - FIFA has permitted it, but the Premier League rejected it a few weeks ago and will go back to three. This means that the National League will fanny around before the day before the season starts and will then decide against it.

Who are you hoping for on the first/last days? Are there any fixtures you're keeping an eye out for?

I watched this on the live stream provided by the club (and a very good live stream it was too!). What did you all make of it? Did any of you go?

It was good to finally watch a match with fans there! The match itself was little more than a warm-up exercise against very limited opposition, but it did give us the chance to see some of the new signings in action. Reeves was the one who really caught my eye - technically strong, always involved, set up both goals and generally made us tick. I was expecting him to look rusty, but he looked about ready for the season to start.

Rodrigues looks a very attack-minded player, had some good ideas and caused them plenty of problems. Him, Sam and Sloth all looked comfortable on the ball, but obviously were ring-rusty and need games to get on the same wavelength.

Adam Chicksen played at left-back for us, and by the sound of it will be offered a contract. I can't say he leapt out at me, but looked comfortable enough.

Oh, and we had Richad Brindley playing at centre-back. He looked comfortable, but Ilkeston didn't really ask too many questions of us. But with Turner and Alex Lacey both set to miss some of pre-season, we do look a bit thin in that area.

Hi everyone  I hope it’s Ok to post on this group. I'm a PhD student at Nottingham Trent Uni and I'm carrying out research into how people use online sports betting features (e.g., in-play betting, cash out) and the impact of gambling advertising. 

I was just wondering if there were any Notts County fans who could help with my questionnaire please? I'm looking for people who bet on the football and/or other sports to do my survey (10-15mins). If anyone could help out, it would be really appreciated. There is a prize draw giving away 5X£50 Amazon vouchers. 

Please could you let me know if you're interested in taking part and I will send you a link to the survey (I don't think I'm allowed to post in on here)

Thanks in advance

LizHere's a link to the survey if it works: SURVEY LINK