Game 13 - The Railwaymen (H)

Team: Crewe Alexandra

Date: 15/10/16

Where: Meadow Lane

What line-up should John Sheridan 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.

Just seen this on Radio Nottingham Facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/BBCNottinghamSport/?hc_ref=NEWSFEED&fref=nf

Saturday's Fixtures:
Derby County v Leeds United
Queens Park Rangers v Reading
Bolton Wanderers v Oldham Athletic
Rochdale v Bury
Carlisle United v Hartlepool United
Plymouth Argyle v Portsmouth

May mean that American and Danish interests have ended?

The title has nothing to do with outlook of Temple of Sin supporters..but the excellent play currently at the Nottingham Playhouse. Pedro gets an honourable mention...and of course Inspector Resnick is a long suffering Notts supporter through and through. Just disappointed that the plays programme features an advert of the six toilet rolls shirt from across the river. Pity Notts couldnt advertise their shop to compliment the play's Notts County influence

In one way the League One table is making for very pleasant reading. AFC Wimbledon have gone above MK Dons for the first time since having to start at the bottom of the pyramid after Wimbledon FC chose to decamp to Milton Keynes. I've been following AFCW's progress since they were founded and am chuffed for them.

It would still be a bit simplistic to say that it's a wrong righted though - there's a long way to go, and in any case MK Dons are still enjoying a stolen and unearned league place. But that horse has bolted.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2016/10/12/brentford-fc---the-club-thinking-outside-the-box/

Always impressed by their set play coaching set ups. Combine this with Southampton's TV analysis of scouting European lower league talent.

I managed to speak with Smudge in the Wheelers Suite before the match. The question I asked was as a player / coach who has been here for a few seasons, are you able to see why things go wrong? He thought and was considered in his reply. Basically he said last season, the footballing philosophy is the MOST important criteria which has to run from youth team through to the first team. Ricardo set the footballing vision , which in the end, just needed a little tweaking to achieve success. Instead the trigger happy Board unfortunately appointed a guy that was the polar opposite of everything that was trying to be achieved, both in style of play, man management, training etc. "Players are simple beings...they need simple instructions" but when you have such a drastic change, you get a car crash situation just waiting to happen and it did big time.

I wanted to delve deeper into the Kevan Yates coaching situation but he had to move on. Actually Smudge has gone up in my estimation, he is intelligent from a footballing sense but I do wonder now, how much of a coaching impact he has, on what followed this evening.

Collin 4... missed corner for first goal, only positive one excellent throw out..pity he doesnt release more quickly. 

Tootle 3.5.  Little influence of any substance, several misplaced passes of head in hands proportions

Dickinson 3.5 Referee gave him benefit of the doubt, could have been easily a straight red for an early challenge

Duffy 4 another Port Vale player where you have to ask, did he ever play in a higher League?

Hollis 3.5 ..back to usual expectations

Forte 5.5 MOM... offered some good skill second half

Laing 4 ..Like K. Pearce, was looking forward to his second spell at Notts... but disappointed as his "quality" seen first time, appears to have vanished

Richards 5... One of the few positives from last night. Let down by his so called fellow midfielders who were anonymous

Rodman 3... Why? Why 3, no "Why" is he even on the pitch. Stanley ( sorry @Elite_pie) offers far more than this guy. Seems to be JS's love child, cannot be dropped despite some tepid performances

Burke 2... even that rating may be overly generous. If you want a person to go missing, he is your man. Appalled by his attitude following Morecambe's first goal, with his "not me guv..it was him". Get rid

Stead 4.5 Should have scored within first 30 seconds .... lack of midfield service, didnt help matters. Whole midfield as a unit last night forgettable, 

Subs

Collins 4.5 added pace, good run and shot which was well blocked

Oliver 5... powerful header, a little too late

Audel 4.5 offered more going forward, but not confident enough when he got into a shooting position. Mobility did help the side though.

Game 11 - The Shrimps (H)

Team: Morecambe FC

Date: 01/10/16

Where: Meadow Lane

What line-up should John Sheridan 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.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/oct/09/world-football-endemically-corrupt-player-transfers-agents?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

There were alleged illegal approaches in the time of a young player at Notts who played during Sam's era. I can only say alleged....

These are two positions which I notice being mentioned in terms of positions that Notts still require, now I was doubtful of Collins making any sort of impact but I would actually welcome him being given a run in the squad - I think he will only grow in confidence and I actually prefer him alongside Jon Stead.

Prior to signing him I would have said we do, yet until Oliver leaves (he's okay but he isn't a goal scorer) I don't think we do require a striker.

I would much prefer to see a ball winner and someone who can absorb pressure, so I still think DM or a CM that can break up the ball would be useful. With Richards making good ground in the development squad - it begs the question would he provide this role? If he could establish himself as a first team regular perhaps so, yet we also have the frozen out and A.W.O.L option in Curtis Thompson (he covers a lot of ground and can be shaped fairly easy IMO). A steady performer until he got injured and since Ricardo left, we just haven't see him much.

Yet I do think its clear we require another rock in the defence, however I am unsure if it should be a CB or RB.

Thoughts?

It's the big game for us, last year Notts let us down both home and away but with Mansfield in poor form themselves this time - I except the game to be more lively. At the end of the day, form goes out of the window in local derbies although it can help. We need to go in being prepared and avoid underestimating the Stags.

I am slightly more optimistic about the game, I think we will be fired up but I am just curious if we can actually take our a game to them.

Will Notts win? We are the current favourites but that means nothing too. I'm going for 2-2 draw as my prediction.

What line-up should John Sheridan choose? Should Loach start in goal? Predictions?

Pity Notts County Media department are asleep / on holiday / couldnt give a damn

Montel Gibson was sent off for 2 yellow cards

Saturday's Fixtures:
Gillingham v Oldham Athletic
Rochdale v Southend United
Scunthorpe United v Northampton Town
Hartlepool United v Crawley Town
Luton Town v Crewe Alexandra
Yeovil Town v Wycombe Wanderers

http://www.nottinghampost.com/mansfield-town-3-notts-county-1-magpies-layer-ratings/story-29790067-detail/story.html

Fortunately in a way, I couldn't make it, so leaving NEP ratings instead 

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/oct/10/dundalk-stephen-kenny-ireland-europa-league

A good read

Sigh... once again it's a quiet news day in the world, so they cart out these stories designed to elicit a reaction from "body positive" campaigners or first-world problem whingers.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-37573886

A recruitment agency has been criticised for advertising jobs only for "attractive women", as well as specifying bra size.

Matching Models in London describes itself as "an international temp agency for beautiful and talented people".

It advertised for a personal assistant with "a classic look, brown long hair with b-c cup".

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) called it "appalling, unlawful and demeaning to women".

Thoughts?

Hi Guys,

Just a quick one.
Tomorrow, one of our mates (probably ex mates now) is one of the mascots. Stags fan.
He's 35 and this is part of a joint Birthday / Wedding present.
Any support you can give us in ridiculing the guy would be much appreciated. Booing / jeering his every touch etc.

Also, he's good mates with the County keeper so there may be a bit of fun there too.
Enjoy the game. Safe journey to all of you. 

Jon Stead has certainly made a good start to the season hasn't he!

Well, how many goals can he score for us this season?

I found an article that sings his praises, worth a read if you have a second!

https://www.the-newshub.com/football/lower-league-goalscorers-six-of-the-best-to-watch-this-season?utm_content=buffer285e2&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

The club are giving fans an opportunity to give their thoughts on the (in my opinion) scandalous proposals for re-structuring the Football League.  I would urge all Notts fans (whatever your views) to spend 5 minutes on this survey giving your thoughts. The Greed League don't give a **** about clubs like ours, and some of their plans are very disturbing. It's no good whining once it's happened, so let them know what you think NOW.

http://www.nottscountyfc.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/notts-county-whole-game-solution-3306101.aspx?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/17474674

With England playing Malta, just wondered  how Dan Bogdanovic career went post Notts. A little research yielded 2 other players signed by Curle at the same time, that I have forgotten. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Bogdanović

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Harris_(footballer)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nico_Yennaris

Nico has done well at Brentford but injuries seem to have disrupted his time there

i am a fussy eater, i prefer fresh food and often will avoid mcdonalds, burger king, kfc but i do like some of their meals. i would rather grab a subway or something.

what about you?

Hello!

There's an EFL podcast called Not The Top 20 Pod (NTT20) and I just wanted to make you all aware of it. We cover all three divisions, and we're the only EFL dedicated podcast apart from Sky's non-opinion pod.

On today's episode we awarded John Sheridan our L2 Manager of the Month for September AND Jon Stead Player of the Month as well. A Magpies double!

"Far too good for League 2..." Go to 58:20 here to listen to the whole Notts County segment: https://soundcloud.com/ntt20pod/10-s...ong-came-polly 

If you like the podcast, you can subscribe on iTunes using this link, and every podcast will drop onto your phone: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/...112915286?mt=2

Finally, please do follow us on twitter here: twitter.com/NTT20Pod for updates on the pod and discussion about the EFL throughout the season.

Caption time! Let's get your suggestions for what could complement this photo of Notts County's dashing managerial duo!

Don't be afraid, just have your say by commenting below.