When we were at school my sister learned one instrument after another (she eventually became a music teacher) while I never bothered with it all. I've regretted in since though. Just before Christmas I walked into Aldi for a pint of milk and when I walked out again I was the proud owner of a brand new nylon-string guitar. I practice every day but frankly you couldn't mistake me for Jimi Hendrix yet.

Obviously an Aldi guitar isn't the creme-de-la-creme and I'm looking to acquire a steel-string guitar in the near future. I'm on the lookout for an affordable model (I don't want to be scared to take it anywhere) but also decent quality. Do any of you play and have any tips?

Do any of you play any other musical instruments?

I was just reading this story published by CNN. http://edition.cnn.com/2016/01/28/entertainment/most-popular-movie-stars-u-s-feat/

Tom Hanks has covered some interesting characters and is a well timed actor, he can really portray them honestly and in a way that makes you relate to the on scene story. I am wondering what the members of PON think since it seems a little quiet around here.

Who is your favourite actors/actresses?

What do you make of this decision? Will Gary MacKenzie help improve things at the back and do you have any concerns regarding the amount of first team games he's featured in recently? Discuss...

Don't forget to read up about Gary MacKenzie - Here | Also, check out our 'deadline day transfer' topic - Here.

Voting as concluded for the poll, we now move onto the winners.

I would like to thank each member who has logged in, contributed and of course voiced their opinion on the site. It's good to see more joining in, along with acknowledging the people who make PON the community it is.

This month is the first time we have opened up voting for multiple categories, it's something myself and @cheeky~k8 felt was only right - as team members do a lot (often not included) and newpies are also overlooked at times. This is only natural, yet it's time to put it right.

NewPie of the Month - @Elite_pie

With 36.36% percent of the votes - Well done to Elite for being named the first NewPie of the Month. However tough the running was, I do feel Elite is a good choice personally.

Thanks  to @Piethagoram, @ohstanleyaborah and @tarquinbeech your contributions have been top notch - I also hope you aim high for February.

Team Member of the Month - @Joe Jones

This is the one I'm personally unsure about as I have tried to keep him on his toes! Haha!! However, JJ has been long due some acknowledgement - He's helped me a lot and the site is better with his hard work. I'm often told off for thanking him, so I am pleased the folks of PON have took to voting for him this time.

JJ received 40.91% percent of the votes.

Also, once again thank you to the members who help by forming the team here.

Now, it's the main one.....

*Drum Roll*

Member of the Month - Riverleeno (sorry I can't tag you as I write this)

Richly deserved - top contributions and the voice of reason. Our Riverleeno has been a brilliant signing and 45.45% confirms that. Well done buddy!

--

Now let's continue to go from strength to strength - onwards & upwards and just remember, things may not be going to plan on the field. We are first and foremost a community, our passion and loyalty speaks volumes - so try not to be down about things.

Also, please take time to congratulate the members who have won.

You Pies!

I'm taking a hiatus from Notts at the moment, but I felt I would be letting PON down if I didn't continue with the match thread so on we go.......

Hartlepool aka The Monkey Hangers. If Monkey Hangers is unfamiliar to you, then google Hartlepool and monkey hangers for the bizarre story surrounding this nickname. In fact the Hartlepool mascot is actually a monkey and there's a statue in the city of a monkey as well I believe. Right I got distracted, back to the actual game itself.....

Hartlepool are 22nd (7 places below Notts). They have 24 points (12 less than Notts). They have scored 23 goals (a whopping 17 less than Notts). They have conceded 41 goals (a surprising 5 less than Notts given the points difference between the sides). 

Hartlepool have won 1 (Wycombe at home), drawn 1 (Cambridge away) and lost 3 (Plymouth and Exeter at home and away to Stanley) of their last 5 games. They are in a relegation battle and are in real danger of being relegated. They are clearly in need of a goalscorer. 

Hartlepool play a 4-5-1 formation. They are shaky in defence. Their midfield put in plenty of effort, but there is no real player of quality in there. Rakish Bingham will probably start up front on his own. He works hard but isn't much a threat. Billy Paynter is their top scorer, but he started on the bench in their last game. If Hartlepool are behind, then Paynter will join Bingham up front and they'll go to 4-4-2. If they are being hammered, they might resort to 4-3-3 and Scott Fenwick will come on up front. 

Hartlepool aren't short of players who will scrap but they are a limited side. Man for man, Notts are superior in every position IMO. If Notts show the same battling qualities as last week, then the result will inevitably be a resounding home win. This is a home banker if there ever was one. 

I have a feeling Notts will break out this week and ease to a 4-0 victory. Why you might ask? Because the quality of the Notts team means someone is going to get a beating at some stage and well Hartlepool are the most likely candidate. 

Good! At least one decision the club has got right. Small comfort though with Jimmy going.

I see some members have awards next to the user info on screen and inside profiles.

What was your first PONaward?

Currently I do not have any. 

This discussion got me thinking 

So I want you to unwind to period whereby a rumour of a player signing may have helped the club which did not actually happen. If you dont recall a rumour that you feel may have helped Notts, why not mention a player who you feel would have done at a certain point instead?

I would like to give a warm welcome to @fazza, @manchester ncfc, @Seriouspie, @Cookieguy, @J Wallhead and @Littleweed71.

Some of which have been long due a welcome, however I can only apologise for not noticing sooner. It would be nice to learn a little bit about yourselves, provided you would like to share it with the community.

I hope you all enjoy being apart of Pride of Nottingham. You Pies!!

This is also an FA Cup weekend so don't forget to do your predictions for that league too.

Saturday's Fixtures:
Bristol City v Birmingham City
Rotherham Unted v Charlton Athletic
Rochdale v Burton Albion
Swindon Town v Barnsley
Leyton Orient v Cambridge United
Plymouth Argyle v Wycombe Wanderers



 

Why Notts County are going downhill

Hi all, over the past few years we have seen our beloved club dissolve slowly and now it has come to a point where the fans are turning against certain people and have no clue who to blame. Each fan has suggested ideas on social medias on how we can move on and make the club ‘big’ again, however, 80% of the ideas seem to have been thrown back into our face, forcing fans to not attend games and become very frustrated with how the club is run.

The Trews

There is no doubt that the Trews have had a massive impact on our team and helping our club from going into administration after the Munto season. A huge part of the fans praise them for putting 7 million pounds of their own money into our club by just paying off debts. But since then, what have they done to help the club move forward?

They have sacked manager after manager without giving them a fair shout, EG: Shaun Derry, he did the unforgettable and kept us in league one in the 2013/14 season which at the time, seemed like a dream to most fans. He had an unbelievable start to the 2014/15 season sitting 3^rd in the league in October, runner up for manager of the month too, fans saw faith in him, but unfortuantly he did make mistakes and he did get us relegated that year, but if I was Ray Trew, I would of kept him on as we had seen what he could do in league 1( especially with the budget ricardo had, compared to derrys ) , but no, they decided to get rid of him and hire Ricardo Moniz… Now Shaun Derry is manager of Cambridge United in League 2 and is doing brilliantly, same goes for Keith Curle and Carlisle, while Notts crumble in 17^th Position. Having already sacked moniz back in early January, the Trews had a chance to bring in  an experienced manager to try and secure notts a promotion spot. The likes of Mark Cooper, John Sheridan and Malky McKay where all potential managerial appointments, but no… They choose the most out of the blue manager ever… Jamie Fullarton, all because he had a good interview? Another words it was the cheap option as we all knew…

Guy Branston

This guy… WOW. As Head Of Recruitment, you would expect he would know what he is doing and what to look for in a player, to some fans this does not seem the case. He has appointed over 40 players in the past 2 YEARS! How many of them have paid off? He clearly doesn’t have an eye for appointing talented players who would fit in well with our team. A lot of fans are against him on social medias and we believe that he should of gone when Moniz did.

Jamie Fullarton

Fair enough this man has only had 2 games in charge, but in that time he has managed to stop our dreadful away form, play 5 players out of position against Wimbledon and cancel Jimmy Spencer contract!? We understand Jimmy wasn’t a regular starter, but when you have players like Izale mcleod up top who is lazy ( yes he scores goals but jimmy could from 5 yards out aswell. ) it makes you think why is Jimmy not on the bench? Same with Genaro Snidjers? He should be starting week in week out, he had the chance to play Snidjers at LW on Saturday but chose to play Blair Adams there?! Where is Aborah? No where to been seen since Fullarton took charge! He isn’t going down well in fans’ eyes.

So… what needs to change?!

-NewarkPie

The Lady Pie has been confirmed as the latest addition to the Liverpool who are adding some real depth to their squad, the signing includes a fee which is believed to be a record for us.

I am a little disappointed because she's a good player, as will @Joe Jones (yet for a different reason).

However, if it means we add strength ourselves and of course it provides Alex a chance to settle somewhere she feels at home (since Liverpool is her own town club) you cannot really grumble. Good to her!

Thoughts?

To read more about the departure of Alex Greenwood, you can read all about it - Here.

...but turning the clock back to 1994. The striker had firm interest from Notts and Blackpool, but instead of Cote d'Trent, he went to Cote D'azur...namely Marseille. He was chatting about this on TalkSport, this afternoon

I don't think we're gonna sign miles Addison as much as I'd like us to due to his height size expierence powerful centre back.

Southend were intrested and had him on trial a while ago I just belive he will go to league one club 

Id also like banton aswell but it's looking more increasingly both will be let go soon unfortunately 

Absolute Radio are promoting 'Mental Health Takeover Thursday' and have just aired two interesting discussions on the subject.

They've spoken to Clarke Carlisle and Rachel Bruno (Frank Bruno's Daughter).

Most people will have a concern close to their heart, for me it's depression. It's something I struggle with, sometimes it's fine but when I swing it doesn't matter - the low can be extreme. What I find is people are 'quick' to judge mental health sufferers, I have worked with people with brain injuries and I was scared that this would make me 'flip' but I enjoyed 2 years where I didn't even dare to feel 'depressed' and honestly, I enjoyed making their lives better.

I would spend my free weekends taking residents to Notts games, including a blind lady who hated football and was scared of being hit by a ball - yet she went with me.

Though I do find it sad when people judge you, plus when your trying to open up people dismiss you and that can be dangerous.

On the other hand you can pretend they understand when they don't.

I can understand this, but he was a decent pro and wouldn't have hurt to keep him for the rest of the season.

Many leagues are fairly boring were there is a group of or just one team(s). Which league do you think is the most boring? 

http://www.nottinghampost.com/Notts-County-trainee-takes-exciting-project-USL/story-28655331-detail/story.html

@tarquinbeech Maybe your nearest Notts neighbour

Gary mackenzie apparently signing on loan?

http://www.nottinghampost.com/Notts-County-set-sign-Gary-MacKenzie-loan/story-28646336-detail/story.html

Welcome to PON @golden-magpie! Good to see you getting involved. Could you tell us a bit about yourself?

Luton actually have 2 reasons to dislike Notts. In 1991, we beat them and condemned to relegation from the old first division. We were already relegated but it was nice to leave on a high. Then we relegated them out of the football league after they had that massive points deduction. Football is a funny old game......

Notts beat Luton 3-2 at home back in September. Izzy's double had Notts 2 up, but the inevitable last 20 minute collapse meant Luton were level going into injury time. Late drama saw a Luton player sent off for a last man foul and Noble fire in the resulting free kick to give Notts victory. Both managers have since been fired. 

Luton are 15th in the table on 34 points (2 places and 1 point above Notts). They have scored 40 goals (2 more than Notts) and conceded 38 goals (8 less than Notts). They have won 1, drew 2 and lost 2 of their last 5 games. They beat Mansfield away, drew with Portsmouth away, drew with Cambridge at home and lost to Bristol Rovers and Wycombe on the road. They haven't conceded a goal in their last 2 games. Nathan Jones was appointed manager on Jan. 6th and has yet to taste defeat. 

Mark Tyler is the usual GK but he went off injured against Cambridge and missed the game at Mansfield. Justham stepped in and kept a clean sheet against Mansfield. Alan Sheehan joined Luton on loan before the Mansfield game and played at CB. Another ex Notts player Paddy McCourt scored the opener and set up the second goal at Mansfield. 

Jones has made Luton hard to beat. He has 2 midfielders sitting just in front of the back 4. His favourite formation is 4-2-3-1. 3 attacking midfielders sit behind a lone striker. I don't think they will change a winning side so Craig Mackail-Smith will start up front. McCourt, Ruddock & McGeehan should be the 3 attacking midfielders. Ruddock and McGeehan will play in the wide positions, leaving McCourt in the middle. Ruddock and McCourt are the danger men. McCourt is incredible when he is on form. 

I expect Notts to sit back like they did against Crawley and hope to score on the break. I don't think that will work against a side as defensively organized as Luton. We would be better off taking the game to them IMO. Put them on the back foot. My prediction? 2-0 to the home side if we persist with the negative style adopted by JF. It won't trouble decent sides like Luton. 

7am here and I just found the goals on Youtube.......great goal from Stead, did someone "spike" his half-time cuppa?

Saddened to hear of the passing of Terry Wogan.Great on the radio and absolutely brilliant with his Eurovision Song Contest commentaries.RIP Terry.

Just had a look at Facebook to find out that Jimmy Spencer has terminated his contract.

http://www.nottscountyfc.co.uk/news/article/jimmy-spencers-contract-mutually-terminated-2926464.aspx

Thoughts? :s

Good luck Alan at your new club