I am currently with Virgin Mobile, my contract is:
Texts: Unlimited
Data: 500mb
Calls: 1000 mins
30 days rolling contract cost: £8 a month

As I am a BT landline customer I am entitled to this package:
Texts: Unlimited
Data: 2gb
Calls: 500 mins
12 month contract cost: £9 a month

I phoned Virgin and told them I was thinking of moving to BT, they have now offered me:
Texts: Unlimited
Data: 1Gb
Calls: 500 mins
30 days rolling contract cost: £6 a month

I don't use the phone for calls very much so the minutes are not an issue, I did however need more data for when I am away from home but in the end I opted to carry on with Virgin since they doubled my data allowance and dropped the price by £2 to £6 a month quite good value I think. The 30 day rolling contract is also good as I am not trapped in a long contract.

Monday's Fixtures:
Preston North End v Hull City
Reading v Brentford
Scunthorpe United v Rochdale
Sheffield United v Bradford City
Bristol Rovers v Leyton Orient
Mansfield Town v York City
 

Morecambe beat Notts 4-1 in August. A strange game. 2 late goals put a gloss on the scoreline. Notts didn't take their chances against a patched up home side.

Morecambe are on a poor run of form. 1 win in 7 in all competitions. Beaten by York in their last league game. Their game vs Mansfield fell foul of the weather today.

Morecambe are 18th. 2 points behind Notts. They have scored 38 goals (5 more than Notts) and conceded 39 (1 more than Notts).

Barry Roche is a decent keeper at this level but the defence are woeful. Barkhuizen will cause problems in midfield but his partner in crime Mullin is either injured or suspended. Miller up front could pose a few problems. Morecambe play a 4-2-3-1 formation. Teams have adjusted to it and it's not working as well as earlier in the season.

Let's be honest, anything less than a home win would be disappointing. Both teams are woeful at the back so there should be goals. 4-2 to Notts is my prediction.

Am I the first to take their Christmas tree down? I don't really see the point of it after Christmas Day and Boxing Day. It makes me smile when I'm driving round at night and these people have lights all over the house still lit up when Christmas is over, what a waste of electricity!

Am I just an grumpy old bugger or has anyone else taken their Christmas tree and trimmings down?

Don't say it's bad luck because I don't believe in that either, I walked under a ladder today too.

Oh Stanley Aborah Oh Stanley Aborah signed a new deal great news as I'm sure a lot of teams would of been looking at him 

Just shows you're jobs never safe Mark Cooper was today in the stands at the game I think the curtains are closing slowly now 

Players /Coaches /Managers I'm not going to lie I can't think of any at the minute but I'm sure you all can let the game begin

This round will take place on Boxing day, with round 24 taking place on Monday. All being well I should post Monday's Fixtures on Saturday night.

Boxing Day Fixtures:
Bristol City v Charlton Athletic
Sheffield Wednesday v Birmingham City
Colchester United v Southend United
Wigan Athletic v Sheffield United
Leyton Orient v Portsmouth
Luton Town v Wycombe Wanderers

Good luck and a merry christmas to everybody!
 

I'd better do this now as I may forget tomorrow (Christmas day). The 25th isn't just christmas day it's my lovely other half's birthday.So happy (?)birthday @GrannyPie.I'm not saying which birthday it is, but The Beatles sang it to me a few years ago.

Just a quick reminder that the game Vs Pool is off due to waterlogged pitch.

Players /Coaches /Managers/

The curse could make another appearance this Boxing Day could moniz be another victim of it ?

Anyways il start it off with former Notts player 

Gary Liddle made 247 appearances for Hartlepool and was a great player for us also a big loss 

If you are in need of some Christmas cheer to make you laugh this Xmas Eve, just look at the Notts headline in The Post.

Roy Carroll says he has banished all talk of the playoffs amongst the players to keep their feet on the ground.

He seriously needs to look at their recent performances and take off the heavily rose tinted glasses if he seriously thinks play offs are with in reach. Closer to the relegation zone Roy. Sorry to break it to you.

Maybe a new manager and backroom staff might help!

Does anyone know how long Elliot is going to be out for?

Don't panic not Notts!

If you're a fan of Dad's Army you probably saw this 'We're Doomed: The Dad's Army Story' last night on BBC2. I recommend it on catch up if you didn't see it. Funny, and also moving I thought in places.

The dreaded away game again for Notts. A trip to Hartlepool after a feast of turkey and stuffing, quality street stuffed in the pockets and a turkey sandwich in the bag, nursing a hangover.

As away games go, Hartlepool is one of the more winnable ones. They have lost 13 games this season. They are 21st in the table with 20 points (9 behind Notts). They have managed to score only 20 goals (13 less than Notts) and have conceded 35 (3 more than Notts).

Hartlepool have lost their last 2 in the league but have made it to the 3rd round of the FA Cup after a lucky 2-0 win at home to Salford.

I'll be honest, I struggled to come up with quality players for Pool. Michael Woods in midfield isn't bad, Scott Fenwick up front could be a threat. Billy Paynter is decent but is either injured or suspended. Good news for us.

Hartlepool play 4-3-3 at home. They may lack quality but they give every game a real go. Plenty of endeavour. Ronnie Moore won't accept anything less.

This is a game that Notts should win. Anything less would be disappointing. We miss Noble for sure. His all action style is made for a game like this. 2-1 to Notts is my guess.

It appears Alan Smiths contract is up this year and Plymouth Argyle are intrested in taking him this is a odd one to me .

thought they'd go for Stanley or Noble.

Link below 

http://m.nottinghampost.com/Notts-County-midfielder-Alan-Smith-attracting/story-28402398-detail/story.html

Seems to me Scot Bennetts mind is made up on staying at Newport permenatly there is a link listed below read if intrested and make of it what you will.

Sounds like he doesn't wanna come back 

http://m.southwalesargus.co.uk/sport/14156689.I_d_love_to_stay_if_I_can__says_Newport_County_loan_star_Scot_Bennett/

Anyone else watched the new series from Amazon's own stable?

I'm on episode 5 now and it is superbly shot. Excellent drama, but great attention to detail and very well acted.

I think the past two years have been a real game changer for the new kids on the block such as Netflix and Amazon. They have proved themselves again and again to be up there, if not better than the traditional tv producers from U.S.

Next season will be another new squad as I think some players out of contract won't stay in League 2.

I also think we will be lucky to hold on to aborah in Januray as he's far to good for a team 16th in league 2 and will get a lot of intrest from league one teams and a lot of teams at the top of league 2 will be intrested.

I also think Adams will not want to come back when he has a better chance of playing league one football with Mansfield at the moment.

I can also see Izale wanting out and Stead as they wont want another season in league 2 could easily both get a league one club.

Noble Murray Spencer Thompson I think are all out of contract Spencer has been treated badly in my opinion hel be wanting a move Murray is easily a better player then this league Noble is a risk but he can get goals and if he's a free don't be surprised to see him leave.

I reckon a lot of the better players we have will want out next year and if Sheehan has sense he will hold out for the best offer because he doesn't deserve  league 2 football 

....are vital. They will define if we have any aspirations to get out of this league or if we will be settling for mid-table mediocrity/avoiding relegation. 

15th Dec - Wycombe (A) - 10th (With 2 games in hand on most)
19th Dec - Carlisle (A) - 6th
26th Dec - Hartlepool (A) - 20th
28th Dec - Morecambe (H) - 16th
2nd Jan - Oxford (H) - 2nd

So, bearing in mind our away form is atrocious, our next 3 games are all away. Wycombe and Carlisle are definitely in the mix for the play-offs. 

Morecambe and Hartlepool are the easier fixtures on paper. I can't remember Notts ever doing well at Victoria Park. I had a quick google, and it seems we haven't beat them at their own place since 1959. This is followed only 2 days later by Morecambe.

Oxford are obviously having a good season.


I'm not optimistic looking at that list. If we can get  9-10+ points from that lot, then we might be on to something. Any less, we have a very low possibility of making the play-offs, barring an unbeaten Jan/Feb/March. 

Passed away today at 87. Great innovator in many ways, a sad loss to the game.

Saturday's Fixtures:

Bolton Wanderers v Fulham
Ipswich Town v Derby County
Millwall v Gillingham
Scunthorpe United v Sheffield United
Northampton Town v Portsmouth
Wycombe Wanderers v Oxford United

Apparently childish mistakes was the reason we lost link down below for anyone who hasn't yet read this.

http://m.nottinghampost.com/Childish-mistakes-costing-says-Notts-County-boss/story-28398076-detail/story.html

Good luck to anyone who hasn't seen the Carlisle goals yet what a joke bunch of goals Rember last year when we was sponsored by jongulers comedy club I think it was.

Well they should of had that sponsor this year around absolutely shocking I mean who allows ibhere all the time in the world to score.

Terrible goals terrible play but don't worry moniz some still believe in you even if we slip to 18th they'll still believe in you.

Me personally I hope you go fast cause you're living on borrowed time it's disgraceful after 5 months were still struggling to get above 12th

Carlisle is still recovering from the recent flooding so this game has been moved to Deepdale, home of PNE. So is it actually an away game or a game at a neutral venue? Let the debate begin. Notts have the advantage of actually playing at Deepdale recently so that might go in our favour. It's going to be strange for Carlisle. Our former manager Keith Curle is in charge of Carlisle, the second former manager we will face and it isn't even Christmas yet! Mind you, at the rate Notts go through managers, I'm surprised we aren't playing a former manager every week.......

Carlisle are 6th in the table. A lofty position for a team many had predicted to struggle this season. KC has done an excellent job. They are on a 4 game unbeaten run. They have 34 points (5 more than Notts). They have scored 39 goals (6 more than Notts) and conceded 37 goals (2 more than Notts). The 37 goals against is the 2nd worst in the division, only York have conceded more (44). They are still the FA Cup after a whopping 5-0 defeat of Welling in the second round. All in all, it's been a fantastic season so far for Carlisle. 

Carlisle play a 4-5-1 formation, fairly defensive on paper but in reality they seem to believe attack is the best form of defence. Their defenders may not be able to defend but they certainly know where the net is. They have scored 12 goals between them so far. Danny Grainger plays LB but is a real threat with set pieces. Their midfield is nothing special. Gary Dicker is decent enough. Their front line is the real threat. Jordan Ibehre has 10 goals in 14 games this season. He will probably start. If things aren't going well, expect Carlisle to bring Derek Asamoah off the bench and revert to 4-4-2. 

The law of averages say Notts have to win on the road at some stage and this is the game we'll do that IMO. It's not really an away game, it's more of a neutral venue. Both teams score for fun but can't defend so 3-2 to Notts in an absolute thriller from start to finish is my prediction. Notts winning it late on.