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. 

 

Game 28 - Red Imps (A)

Team: Lincoln City

Date: 13/01/18

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.

Who was your man of the match for Notts County at Lincoln City?

Saturday's Fixtures:
Birmingham City v Derby County
Burton Albion v Queens Park Rangers
Milton Keynes Dons v AFC Wimbledon
Portsmouth v Scunthorpe United
Exeter City v Coventry City
Wycombe Wanderers v Colchester United

Hi, I have a spare adult ticket for Lincoln tomorrow, sadly one of us can know longer go, if you would like to take this for face value let me know, first come first serve. 

The first quarter of the season it was fair to say Adam Collin was a much improved goalkeeper than the previous season and then he got injured..

In stepped Ross Fitzsimons who has been excellent in the games he's played and it looks like a great bit of business from Kev.

And then we've got the mysterious Branislav Pindroch who hasn't played many games.

So my question is with all three goalkeepers fit, who would be your choice to play and why? 

My choice would be Fitzsimons as he's been solid in his games so far and it would be unfair to drop him as soon as Collin is fit. 

This is really poor handling and communication for me.

I realise that he's Forest's player and that they can do what they want, however they entered an agreement with us and our loan period of for the season. Don't get me wrong, I do think we'll be okay if it's true (still can't find anything that confirms it - part from people saying it is) - I just think it's the wrong thing to do.

Obviously I wish Ryan Yates well, he's a very good young player but if Forest have gone against our agreement - we shouldn't develop any of their players on loan in the future.

This kind of thing does happen, I just don't agree with it.

Thoughts?

I personally would like to wish Haydn Hollis well, however the decision to join FGR has me stumped. Does this make us even with them after the Noble sega? haha...

We certainly need a new CB regardless if Hewitt can cover there.

Thoughts?

Got to say after todays result got a few worries about Notts. Not throwing the toys out of the pram as I think we have had an unbelievable season and a great year but we can't afford to slip up now we've got ourselves into this position.

- Our lack of strength in depth
- We've only won two of our last six
- We’ve only won away once since we lost to Mansfield
- Our lack of a permanent goalscorer
- Lack of cover at Cb

Need a striker, centre back and winger in the transfer window. Grant plays a lot better with Jones behind him. Alessandra a lot better than Hawkridge on the wing. 

Need additions in January if we are to keep our place in the top three as the chasing pack are closing in.

Get voting for Jon Steads goal to take him above Eric Lichaj

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/football/42607843

So the draw for the fourth round of the FA Cup is done and dusted, and Notts County will face either Premier League strugglers Swansea City or Championship high-flyers Wolverhampton Wanderers at Meadow Lane!

Happy with the draw? Share your thoughts!

FA Cup - The Bees (A)

Team: Brentford

Date: 06/01/18

Where: Griffin 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.

Kevin Nolan has confirmed that several Notts County fringe players are likely to leave Meadow Lane on loan.

He mentioned Haydn Hollis and Curtis Thompson - do you think these are the only two that should leave, or do you have anyone else in mind?

Let's hear your thoughts!

Happy new year! Let's hope 2018 is a successful year for Notts and a happy and healthy year for us all. Looking in the history books, it is the 20th anniversary of Big/Fat Sam's promotion season and the 60th anniversary of our relegation to the third tier under Tommy Lawton.

On a personal note, I'm moving to Darmstadt next month so I'll be a little bit closer to Meadow Lane!

Sky Sports has officially tipped Notts County to win the League Two title this season!

They've run all of the teams through "a system called Elo, originally set up to rate chess players. It takes into account form, who your team still has left to play, and how well a team has done in previous seasons."

This is how the Sky Sports Predictor see the final L2 table:

What do you reckon?

Personally I think it's flattering to be held in such esteem by the biggest sports outlet in the world... but at the same time, let's hope there's no "Manager of the Month" type curse at play.

Kevin Nolan is the best manager to tell the players: "yeah that's nice, but no. Ignore and just crack on with your job."

But we as fans can gloat... especially considering who's in last place and how far down Mansfield are!

Fitzsimons 7 A second clean sheet, some good saves. Just one missed cross but overall, a keeper that gives an impression that he is hard to beat

Tootle 6.5 Defensively positioning excellent

Duffy 6.5 Steady. Took a professional booking for the team

Brisley 7 Reads the game well

Jones 7 Gives momentum for offensive work

Yates 6.5 a more subdued performance in front of a watching Graham Alexander

Hewitt 6 all the energy as usual, just wished he had a more controlled pass at times

Hawkridge 5.5 Caught a few times being too slow in decision making. Makes up for in terms of effort.

Grant 6 Could have killed the game but keeper made a good save. Again drifts in and out of the game

Alessandra 5.5 Losing possesion too often

Stead 7 Had a good chance in first 3 minutes but made up for it for an exquisite finish in the second

Subs

Noble 6 a yellow card welcome back but was good to see him back

Smith 6 "The General" looking so much fitter

Walker 6 

Who was your man of the match for Notts County at Brentford in the FA Cup third round?

Game 27 - Red Devils (H)

Team: Crawley Town

Date: 06/01/18

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.

New Year's Day Fixtures:
Bolton Wanderers v Hul City
Sunderland v Barnsley
Charlton Athetic v Gillingham
Rochdale v Blackpool
Accrington Stanley v Morecambe
Luton Town v Lincoln City

ased on a mean of 5

Fitzsimons 7 So great to have a keeper to come out and claim difficult balls. Held nerve in the last minutes

Tootle 6.5 What a difference a year makes. Worked very hard

Duffy 6 a needless booking but kept his head. Some good blocks

Brisley 6.5 Solid as usual

Jones 6 Didnt get as forward so much but held position well

Yates 6 played astutely

Hewiit 5 too many wasteful passes despite his running to cover the midfield. Needless booking

Allesandra 5.5 a good first half but seemed to slow in the second

Grant 6 another match passes him by but when you need a few seconds of quality, he does provide it

Stead 6.5 took a battering but stood up well. Smashed the penalty well

Forte 5.5 wasted a great chance. Not one of his better performances

Subs

Saunders 5.5 still have doubts if he can physically cope with L2