Well ladies and gentlemen, it's squeaky bum time. Notts and Wrexham have identical win, draws and losses. Wrexham are ahead on goal difference. + 20 to + 18. Notts beat Wrexham 1-0 at Meadow Lane earlier in the season. Both teams have 3 games left. Both are on unbeaten runs and both know that a win here will put them 4 points ahead of 8th place with 2 games to go. Wrexham had a magnificent 3-2 win at Boreham Wood. They were 2-1 down in the 87th minute and their playoff hopes were in real danger. 3 minutes later they had won 3-2 and their playoff hopes had received a massive boost. That will give them momentum and confidence. Notts are coming in after a 2-2 draw with Bromley, but knowing they did enough to win the game. Notts should be confident based on recent results. It's a difficult one to call but I think Notts will nick it 2-1. A draw wouldn't be the worst result for both teams given that both have very winnable games next weekend. 

Slocombe 8 Confident in dealing with the inevitable high balls

Brindley 6 Never comfortable in defence but played positionally well to limit space

Ellis 8 Stood up to be counted, one great block

Chicksen 5 Sloppy passing again played us into trouble. 

DKE 6.5 Effort but final ball quality lacking

Miller 6.5 Good movement down the left flank

Doyle 7 Cool head, cool coach

JOB 6.5 Good running

Reeves  8 a worthy strike to win any game

RR 7.5 Occupies defenders by being further up, allows the room for our midfield trio to move into that space. Taken off as a precaution on a yellow

Wootton 7 Well marshalled by their defence

https://www.nottinghampost.com/sport/football/football-news/alex-lacey-notts-county-injury-5425593

Remember when the FA Cup rounded off the season? It was the showcase of English football, watched by millions around the globe. Those days are gone but every now and then the FA Cup rises from the ashes and we get a feeling of what it was like in its heyday. Yesterday was one of those days. Leicester won the FA Cup for the first time. Fans were there to witness it. Grown men cried. Grown women cried. Kids cried. Gary Lineker went bananas. It was fitting that it a wonder goal won it. Just for a moment, I was 10 again, a happy time, sat in front of the telly watching the game I would grow to love. It was magical. 

Doyle has been a key link in moving to the backroom so far imo.

Would you employ him as full time assistant next season?

My slight concern is with him still being a player...has he got the contacts of who is available etc...compared to an older hand who knows the managers and agents well? (Or does that work in his favour that he knows more players still in the game?) Obviously we've got F Radar, but surely there is room for the previous knowledge as well and with IB not knowing the lower leagues as much, does he need a veteran assistant (not the laughing clown before anyone suggests him for a third spell lol)

I'm leaning towards keeping Doyle myself as Assistant, but we shall see...
 

The excitement was tangible. The ancient civilisation had disappeared thousands of years ago amid a terrible climate catastrophe. All they left behind were ruins. But now the archaeologists crowded around the mysterious metal box. Such boxes had been found before, but this one was unique in that it still functioned, even after the passing of millennia. What message could the ancients have in store? An image flickered on the screen - two black and white birds sitting atop a stripy shield. Perhaps these were the deities worshipped by this long-lost civilisation? And finally, like a hand reaching through the ages, a decipherable message: "the PON prediction league champion for 2020-21 is ..."

Fancy writing yourself into the history of mankind (and PON)? Or just want to make up a position or two before the music stops? Here's your chance! The three Championship fixtures kick off at the earlier time of 12.30pm on Saturday, and the rest at the usual time of 3pm. Oh, and remember your jokers!

Blackburn Rovers v Birmingham City

Derby County v Sheffield Wednesday

QPR v Luton Town

Carlisle United v Walsall

Port Vale v Mansfield Town

Salford City v Leyton Orient

Halifax Town v Boreham Wood

Wrexham v Yeovil Town

Bromley are a point behind us with a game more played. They really can't afford to lose tomorrow. That could play into Notts's hands. Bromley are on a 3 match unbeaten streak. It's going to be a tough game for sure but Notts are in fine form so it should be a home win. 3-1 to Notts for me. 

How happy are you with the way this season has gone so far?

With 5 games remaining I think Notts has done well to manage the injuries and COVID issues with postponements. I do feel the Neal Ardley situation could have been handled better, he should've been given the rest of the season but I think Ian Burchnall can still finish inside the playoffs. I find it hard to say what I would have one differently, I think Ardley could have done better to strengthen the strike force in hindsight. In addition to replacing Caper Sloth who walked, I think if he stayed we might have had a bit more about us in midfield.

I still feel that the players can put the poor results behind them and crack on with finishing in the playoffs.

That would be my minimum expectation I think but I wont call Burchnall if this does not happen. I just hope he gets the balance with the squad right and retains as many of the good players the club has without re-starting all over again.

Most fans should be content enough with how things have gone I feel.

Notts 1 up inside 10 minutes. Jim O Brien. Notts have started very well. 

Manny Parry

https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/maidenheadunited/teams/6424/player/manny-parry-873094

Although he gave away the penalty, thought he played well

Slocombe 7 Calm and assured. Always great positioning

DKE 7 Hard working as usual

Rawlinson 6 Defensivly sound

Ellis 6.5 Reads the game so well, good positioning

Chicksen 6 Some passing played team mates into trouble. Defensively did OK

Miller 7 A wing back that can beat his man .

Doyle 7 "Pirlo" passing especially for the first

Reeves 6  One major error went unpunished. Kept the midfield ticking

JOB 9 Certainly proved "legs" have not gone. Read the game well and got into those positions to do the damage

RR 8.5 Forward position helped his game and that of the team. Cool finish for the 4th

Wootton 8 one hundred per cent effort from 1st to last

https://www.nottinghampost.com/sport/football/football-news/notts-county-maidenhead-player-ratings-5403219

There's been a lot of calls on social media for his departure, if you've read Twitter at all - there's fans with their handle as BurchnallOut (hash tagging it too).

Its a bit more self-destruction if anything.

The Reedtz brothers won't sack him this early, I don't think he should either (despite his appointment/start bring very underwhelming).

My personal thoughts so far, he's desperate to have a few of his own signings in the squad. He hasn't really influenced the players and performances haven't been great either.

Hopefully, the win over Sutton can be a turning point.

Yet the departure of Ross, I had hoped someone experienced with assisting Burchnall would come in.

I think the squad has suffered poor form due to pressure, it's a confidence thing for me. It wasn't Ardley, Burchnall might be okay in the next campaign but the signs so far don't look promising.

Some fans have stated facts about the amount of wins, compared to defeats, but we need to face it that this season is out of our hands. We can only hope we can make the most of the chance of reaching the play-offs, knowing Notts - we'll still do it or miss out after losing to Weymouth.

Give Burchnall time, Ardley haters got him out but at what cost?

Maurice Ross..... GONE.... No explanation....... My thought is the wrong 1 as gone!!!!! 

Game 43 - The Bees (A)

Team: Barnet

Date: 08/05/2021

Where: The Hive 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.

Game 42 - The U's (H)

Team: Sutton United

Date: 03/05/2021

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.

Slocombe - 7 - We miss him everytime he's injured. Excellent shot stopping and command of his area.
 

DKE - 4.5 - Love the blood and thunder of DKE, but it's daft to make that challenge in the situation. 
Rawlinson - 5.5 - First goal isn't his fault as he is isolated against the fastest man on the pitch. Still looks uncomfortable on the right of the back 3.
Ellis - 6 - Collectively need to defend their 2nd better. Won his fare share in the air and gets the penno.
Chicksen - 6 - His good touch and ability to pass help as part of this back 3.
Miller - 6 - He was actually pretty decent going forward. Typically naiive at the back to get the yellow.

Doyle - 5 - Not his finest game. Some key passes, but he's at fault for the first where he just stands on the ball. His lack of legs to get back quick enough exposes us at times.
Reeves - 6 - Looked a lot better going forward and being positive. Gives DKE a hospital pass for the second off.
Rodrigues - 10 - What a player. They didn't know what to do with him, absolutely immense performance.

Wootton - 6.5 - Anonymous in the first half, improved thereafter. Very happy (and relieved) he gets his goal. Got absolutely nothing from the ref and probably unlucky not to have a second (ref again!).
Knowles - 2 - A boy playing a mans game. 

Subs:

Sam - 6 - Not polished, but put himself about and helped in freeing up Wootton. Marginal call for the offside goal.
Brindley - 6 Got forward well. 
Turner - N/A


 

Apologise for the members who have tried to post since yesterday, but wasn't able.

The cache system had corrupted and, required clearing.

Thanks to @DangerousSausage for bringing this to my attention, the issue should be resolved for everyone. If you can't post, please clear your browsers cache as this may affect parts of the site which requires JavaScript to work.