From Sky Sports News:

All 72 EFL clubs have agreed to implement three-year bans for supporters found using smoke bombs, flares and fireworks in a bid to “put an end to the dangerous use of pyrotechnics”.

The clubs have signed up to a new Chairman's Charter looking to stop the use of any pyrotechnics within EFL stadiums amid concerns for supporter safety.

Fans could face consequences if they attempt to take a banned item into a ground or if they are found to have discharged pyrotechnics within a stadium.

Are you pleased about this rule coming into place?

Notts County have been knocked out of the EFL Trophy thanks to last night's 2-1 defeat at Lincoln.

And I'm glad. Obviously I don't like to see Notts lose any game, but being knocked out of that farcical competition is a massive relief.

Would you have liked to see Notts go as far as they could or are you happy to be out of it?

FA Cup - The Pirates (H)

Team: Bristol Rovers

Date: 03/11/17

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.

Who was your man of the match for Notts County against Bristol Rovers?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-5058155/Manfield-star-Danny-Rose-eyed-Notts-County-Coventry.html 

Can't see it happening but would be a good signing. 

In a recent interview with the Post, Nolan joked about being out of shape, not being able to play for Notts, and despite stepping up his training, showing no willingness to do so.

Do you think Nolan should at the very least aim for a few minutes on the pitch, maybe later on in the season, or are you happy seeing him leave it all to the full-time players?

http://www.randersfc.dk/ricardo-moniz-er-ny-cheftraener-i-randers-fc/

Going through the interweb I came across this image which baffled me to say the least.

Notts County branded cola?

Can anyone shed light on this? Did Notts release their own brand of cola, or is this just the print of cup that they poured drinks into?

EFL - The Imps (A)

Team: Lincoln City

Date: 07/11/17

Where: Sincil Bank

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.

As it's Halloween, we thought we'd get into the spirit of the feast by remembering the Notts County players and managers who truly were a cut below the rest.

Who makes your Notts County Halloween Horror XI? Let us know!

Notts County defender Matt Tootle linked up with Notts County Football in the Community during Mental Health Awareness week and talked about his struggles with mental health.

i know its early but i thought i would get the question out there any way. do we need to strengthen in january?

if we do, surely some of the players within the squad need to be released to make room? i do think we need a striker but maybe we can get a way with just that. i cant see notts signing many players, we already have a few loans and liam noble will be available to play in january anyway.

Game 16 - The Exiles (H)

Team: Newport County

Date: 28/10/17

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.

In terms of Notts County fixtures, October is now over and done with, and it's been a case of mixed fortunes this month.

I wrote at the start of the month about how a relatively easy month on paper could have caught the Notts players out due to complacency and, at certain times, it seemed like that's just what happened.

So from 5 League Two games - a possible 15 points - we've got 8, but crucially finished the month on a high note with a much improved display and a 3-0 win over Newport in the last game.

What would you rate the month out of 10? Let us know!

Fitzsimons 7.5 Apart from one error in not coming for cross which Shola expected him to claim, looks a very good keeper

Tootle 7 Always feel that something is going to happen when he delivers into the box. Manned up in tough encounter

Duffy 6 Rightly booked

Brisley 6.5 Does the simple things right, don't take any chances like clearing the ball well

Dicko 6.5 Much more confident now

Hawkridge 7.5 Energy, energy energy with some nice play too

Yates 6 Battles well to win 2nd ball

Hewitt 6.5 One great run to put in covering tackle when rest of side was beaten for pace.

Grant 7 the side needs some  class and Grant does provide it in patches

Stead 6 Looks short of pace and unlucky with one flick finish in the second half

Shola 7.5 reminders of Lee Hughes control of the ball. always looking to bring players into play

Subs

Walker 7 ...nearly goal of the season shot

Forte 6.5 movement but perhaps needed more time

Hunt 6 slots in well to cover Toots

Saturday's Fixtures:
Norwich City v Derby County
Reading v Middlesbrough
Portsmouth v Bradford City
Wigan Athletic v Blackburn Rovers
Forest Green Rovers v Morecambe
Mansfield Town v Exeter City

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

I've read a few comments now about our lack of a plan B and our reliance on long balls. At the same time, the squad rotation this season has shown that we do have a number of interesting options this season.

From watching fourth division football in Germany I've become a bit of a fan of the 4-2-3-1 system. At that time the manager knew that was how he wanted to play and picked the players to suit it. I think Notts have the players to fit it too.

In the centre you have two holding midfielders protecting the defence and another one behind the striker. This gives you an extra man in the centre and helps you dominate midfield. So for the holding position you could have two of Hewitt, Milsom and Yates, or one of them alongside Walker or Thompson. Plenty of options there and can be adapted according to the opposition. Grant or Noble would be ideal for the number 10 role as they could link up the attack and get into shooting positions.

But what you really need for this formation are two wide players who can cut in and support the striker up front when you're on the ball and cover the full backs when you're not. Rather than just playing down the byline like traditional wingers they'd look to cut inside and link up with the striker rather than just crossing to him. For that you need two players who are good on the ball, creative but who also cover a lot of ground and are willing to muck in defensively. I could see Alessandro and Hawkridge doing this. I don't rate Forte as a winger but I'd rate him in this role. Then of course there's Grant if Noble are playing as number 10.

Finally you need a striker who can play with his back to goal and bring others into the game. That's Stead's speciality. And with Grant, Alessandro and Hawkridge supporting him he'd have more options too.

It's a good system for playing football. With two conventional strikers your second striker spends most of the game chasing flick-ons and scraps and has little impact on the game. It makes more sense to utilise that man in midfield instead to help us control the game more, especially when we have so many options in that area.

Possible team:

Fitzsimmons

Tootle - Brisley - Duffy - Jones

         Milsom - Thompson

Alessandro - Grant - Hawkridge

                 Stead

What do you think?

Last night, I caught-up with the BBC documentary: "Sir Bobby Charlton at 80". For anyone who's not yet seen it, the documentary followed the ups and downs of this Legendary footballer's career and also featured other (younger) footballers talking about their time working with, and around him.

A very interesting ethos that Sir Bobby appeared to have been taught when he first arrived at Manchester United (and which he gladly passed on to the likes of Beckham, Giggs, Cantona and any others who followed in his footsteps at Man U) was that "behind all the gardens, yards and terraces of the local Manchester area, were men and women who did shift work in factories and worked extremely hard all week long, to then utilise a part of their hard-earned money to come to Old Trafford 'to be entertained' by the football played. Charlton, said the younger men, a) never failed to forget it and b) never failed to pass it on to the younger lads.

In view of the recent comments by KN regarding Notts fans, which clearly (to me) demonstrates that perhaps Charlton's ethos is currently 'unimportant'; 'doesn't matter' 'forgotten about' or 'disregarded' at Meadow Lane, who's right?

Is it Charlton for believing - to this day, as he continues to represent Man U - that his job WAS/IS to 'entertain paying fans' or KN who appears not to like fans criticizing his decisions, having a voice or whatever else he was trying to say in his recent 'rant?

I'd be very interested to hear too, whether others think this 'respect' for fee-paying supporters is 'old school'; needs to be reinstated or doesn't/shouldn't matter, today?

does anyone else think the constant changes made by nolan has impacted the recent run? i think its a big part of the issue.

we seemed fine when the changes was being made for the reason of injuries or to give players a rest but recently we are making them needlessly imo.

Can you name five things that you have learned so far during the 2017/2018 season from a Notts County perspective?

Use the template above to list your answers, please do try to explain the thoughts behind it - I think this will be interesting. Lets try to keep this constructive, yet don't be afraid of being branded as negative.

Ross Fitzsimons has performed admirably since taking to the Notts County goal in the absence of the sidelined Adam Collin.

When Collin returns from injury, should he be slotted back in between the sticks for the first team, or should Fitzsimons be kept in the starting XI?

EFL - The Stags (H)

Team: Mansfield Town

Date: 24/10/17

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.

Game 15 - Cumbrians (A)

Team: Carlisle United

Date: 21/10/17

Where: Brunton Park

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.

Saturday's Fixtures:
Barnsley v Hull City
Bristol City v Leeds United
Blackpool v Wigan Athetic
Bradford City v Charlton Athletic
Newport County v Mansfield Town
Swindon Town v Wycombe Wanderers