hello Notts County fans

I'm coming to the County Vs Swansea game and im looking for some fans to interview for youtube as I do a series called "the 92" where I visit every team in the football league talking about their club.

The interview lasts about 2 minutes and my average views are about 100 so not to many people.

Search the groundhopper on youtube to get a taste of some of my videos - suggest to watch Northampton town, AFC Wimbledon or Fulham to get a feeling how these videos will work

If you're interested reply to this message or message me on twitter @groundhopperyt

cheers

On Saturday I was at Gladbach - Augsburg in the Bundesliga. It was the first time I have been at a top level game where the referee was female - Bibiana Steinhaus. She was promoted this season to the top level after a few seasons in division 2. Before the game i was chatting to friends and all were in agreement that they were looking forward to her controlling the game as they rated her as a good ref. Afterwards, I have to say I agree. She got the big decisions right and seemed to like to let strong tackles go if possible, she's not a picky or fussy referee if this game was anything to go by.

The most interesting thing was that I didn't hear any reference to her gender from the crowd, even when disputing her decisions. She was just called 'schiri' (ref). The fact that she is a women didn't seem to matter to crowd, players or coaching staff. In the end you just didn't notice it.

Could this happen in UK? If the reaction from the kop to the referee last night is anything to go by, I very much doubt it. Goodness knows how much more abuse there would have been if the ref had been female. Maybe (hopefully) I'm wrong, but in this country we seem to blame everything on the referee and I fear that a female ref would be an even easier target for the mindless and clueless abuse that abounds at ML at times.

So for the time since the new area at County we have lost two home games back to back normally that wouldn’t be a problem but as the loss at the weekend and now tonight. the chasing pack are licking their lips another slip tonight I’m finding it hard to not panic based on our record in the past. but this is new area I keep telling my self .. so I try to remain positive and calm. I really think tonight’s loss will boot them up the back side as Nolan won’t except it .. let’s hope for a quick recovery and some points on the board.

Who was your man of the match for Notts County against Crawley Town?

Kevin Nolan - 0 - 4-4-2 was working, he should have learned from the Exeter game that 4-5-1 is not the right formation for our squad. I think this is where we lost the game.

Fitzsimons - 0 - He's a good 'keeper, but what was he thinking???  Huge fine needed. If we miss out on something by one point at the end of the season...

Hunt - 5 - Average

Duffy - 6 - Central defenders were too exposed by the absence of Yates and Hewitt in centre midfield. did what he could.

Brisley - 6 - See Duffy

Jones - 5 - a curate's egg of a performance. His pace got us out of jail a couple of times.

Noble - 3 - anonymous

Husin - 3 - where was he supposed to be playing?

Virtue-Thick - 0 - I know where he's on loan from, but he has to realise we don't play in red. Send him back now.

Grant - 6 - more involved than before, looked likely to score or create a goal.

Alessandra - 7 - my MOTM - involved all the time.

Stead - 5 - He's not a lone striker, but did OK in the circumstances, if we ignore the missed sitter. Good player when he has support.

Subs - 5 - brought on too late.

Hodge is only young and it’s only for a month I think the time at Alfreton may help him in his development especially if he gets first team.

Game 27 - Red Devils (H)

Team: Crawley Town

Date: 23/01/18

Where: Meadow Lane

What line-up should Kevin Nolan 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 speculated within the last PONcast that Kevin Nolan's use of Callum Saunders might have been an effort to see what he can do at this level, just in case the club can't or doesn't sign a striker.

With 2 signings made so far in January (3 if you count Liam Noble) - all these players are midfielders. Matty Virtue replaces Ryan Yates who failed to make Scunthorpe United's bench yesterday. Noor Husin sounds like a very decent signing as there's a lot of praise sorrounding how good he can be, however one area we as supporters have being cry for all season is a striker.

I'm siding more within the 'I don't expect a striker to join', however I hope we do.

Don't get me wrong, I think we could manage but if we desire to improve further and also rival Luton for the title. I think this is the area where the prime focus should have been.

What do you think? Cast your vote and comment below.

So, who do you think will gain promotion?

1st: .......... (Champions)
2nd: .......... (Runners Up)
3rd: .......... (Last Automatic Place)
Play-Off Winners: ..........

Also, who do you think will be doomed to relegation from the Football League?

23rd: ..........
24th: ..........

Let's see who predicts the closest come the end of the season.

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/sport/its-my-1-000th-game-and-im-still-addicted-but-i-was-shafted-over-england-9wnklmczf

Confirmation in his own words, that he was poached by Bolton

Name: Meet the Fans 17-18 - Exeter City (21/01/2018)
Category: Meet the Fans
Date Added: 2018-01-21
Submitter: Chris

Pride of Nottingham was at Meadow Lane for Notts County's 2-1 defeat to Exeter City and interviewed several Magpies fans ahead of kickoff.

Questions asked include how Alan Hardy and Kevin Nolan have done in their first 12 months, whether Matty Virtue will be a good replacement for Ryan Yates and whether they are happy with the transfer business conducted so far.

If you would like to feature in future Meet the Fans videos, get in touch! Feel free to submit potential questions below and we will look into asking them. 

Be sure to subscribe, share, like and comment - your support is greatly appreciated. 

Visit us on: 

Website: https://prideofnottingham.co.uk/

Community: https://prideofnottingham.co.uk/community/

Don't forget to register on our site, look out for us on social media and at live games. COYP!

Meet the Fans 17-18 - Exeter City (21/01/2018)

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Game 29 - The Grecians (H)

Team: Exeter City

Date: 20/01/18

Where: Meadow Lane

What line-up should Kevin Nolan 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.

Anyone heard any rumours about potential signings since we are crying out for a striker and centre back but Notts seemed to remain about as active as a turned off TV

Who was your man of the match for Notts County against Exeter City?

Fitzsimons 6 Couldnt do anything with goals conceded

Hunt 5 Sponsors MotM don't make me laugh. Doesnt match Toots for the quality balls delivered. Had a good chance in the 2nd half but shot wide

Hewitt 6 Wonderful challenge to deny a certain goal

Brisley 6 Bruised from a challenge...maybe a doubt for the next game?

Jones 5.5 Got into good forward positions but the final ball found wanting

Husin 5 Non descript debut with too many side balls. Hopefully will become more confident

Virtue 5.5 Yes, there is a defence splitting pass player here but needs more of Gerrard type tenacity. Caught out for Exeter's second

Grant 5.5 More involved from Noble's distribution. Shooting boots off colour today

Noble 6.5 great defensive work at the end of the first half...made things tick in the second

Stead 6 needed support which was lacking in first half...well taken penalty

Alessandra 5 disappointing...needs to make himself available to receive the ball

Saturday's Fixtures:
Norwich City v Sheffield United
Sunderland v Hull City
Northampton Town v MK Dons
Plymouth Argyle v Wigan Athletic
Coventry City v Swindon Town
Yeovil Town v Chesterfield

Ladbrokes have tipped Notts County to continue their sterling work this season and ultimately clinch promotion from League Two.

Describing Kevin Nolan as a "managerial gem", they look at the stats around the Magpies and the players at their disposal (although they may need to update the Ryan Yates bit).

Great to see national sites thinking Notts will go on to great things this season, alongside Sky Sports thinking we'll win the title outright!

http://news.ladbrokes.com/football/league-two/kevin-nolan-and-notts-county-primed-for-league-two-promotion.html

i think its safe to post this now.

next season for notts should be one of those seasons where we will be able to tell just how far kn can take the club. if we fail to continue the success of this season now, at least the squad is not that far from being complete and if we do gain promotion i feel the same applies to establishing ourselves as a decent l1 team.

i think there will just be more offloading than we require which seems interesting even at this point.

On Tuesday night, the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) awarded its first goal in English football.

Kelechi Iheanacho, playing for Leicester City against Fleetwood Town in their FA Cup third-round replay at the King Power Stadium, latched on to a Riyad Mahrez pass and fired into the net in the second half.

The linesman initially flagged for offside, disallowing the goal, but a review via VAR showed that the Nigerian striker was onside when played in by Mahrez and so the decision was overturned.

VAR seems to have had some teething problems in the last few months but this successful decision shows it may be on the right path.

However, a lot of fans have been moaning about it online - saying it slows the game down, it's inaccurate, even that "bad decisions are part of football and will usually even out".

Funny, I don't remember this being said when perfectly good goals were being disallowed, or shots that hadn't even gone into the net were given as goals by inept referees.

So yeah, let's get your thoughts - is VAR a good or bad thing?

I know it's early days, one outing has been had and we didn't really maximise the midfield as much as we could - as by all accounts we just took to bypassing the midfield (not only Notts fans have said this to me).

However, I am hearing and reading positive signs about Virtue and how he looks to be a vastly different payer than Yates is.

It would suggest to me that if Virtue can do more of a defensive job, whilst being more creative on the ball - we should have an excellent replacement on our hands. The only concern I had was the potential he could be bullied or shoved off the ball (due to his frame/size). Yet I am hoping we continue to see what qualities he has, since Liverpool fans highly rate him.

Thoughts?

So, Forest have said that Jorge Grant can remain with us on loan until the end of the season.

This is positive news for us! As there's no doubt how much of a major loss a natural goal scorer and forward thinking player would be - we seem to have replaced Yates well. The midfield seems strong, so surely this must take some of the pressure off Kevin Nolan?

What do you think about the decision? Is it odd that Grant stays for you - considering clubs are rumoured to be interested in buying him? Does it make the Yates recall more bizarre?

Let us know by commenting below..

Well a good year in charge for big Alan at Notts to celebrate The Crewe match on February 3rd is £2 , another top initiative, well done big fella.

Sorry if this is in the wrong place but it made me smile and maybe you too.

Follow the link:

https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2017/mar/16/aitor-karanka-middlesbrough-sacked-tactics-clashes-players

or any Google search with "Karanka attack attack attack" in it will bring more smiles.

If he doesn't get success early,  then I think he is toast.

Rumoured.... same reporter as the Yates fiasco. Reporting a 500k bid.

Whilst we will lose Grant, I don't begrudge Grant leaving the scum permanently. Apparently he has a release clause at the above amount.