Saturday's Fixtures:
Fulham v Sheffield Wednesday
Middlesbrough v Derby County
Oldham Athletic v Colchester United
Southend United v Doncaster Rovers
Mansfield Town v Accrington Stanley
Yeovil Town v York City

 

Oxford thumped us 3-1 in the league in August. Notts were level at half time but Oxford blow us away in the second half. Roy saved a penalty to limit the damage. 

Oxford are going along nicely in the league. They are sitting in 3rd place. They have 45 points (15 more than Notts). They have scored 36 goals (one more than Notts) and conceded 19 goals (a whopping 21 less than Notts). It doesn't take a genius to see why Oxford are 3rd and Notts aren't. 

Oxford have lost only 1 won of their last 5 games. They usually go with a 4-4-2 set up. They like to build from the back. They have pace and power in their side. Sam Slocombe in goal is under rated IMO. He got his chance and hasn't looked back. Skarz and Baldock are 2 of the best full backs in the division. Mullins is rock solid at CB. Sercombe and Lundstram are a fantastic partnership in the middle of the park. Roofe is their danger man up front. It's hard to know who will partner Roofe. I think Taylor will start but it might be Hoban. 

Oxford are a well balanced side. One of the best in the division IMO. We won't get a more difficult opponent as we already found out in August. As they are a more settled and balanced side, I think they will beat us. 2-1 to Oxford. 

Happy 2016 one and all!!!

As the title suggests where are the best placed to bring kids up in Nottingham? Likewise where are the really bad areas? 

Tis time for goodwill to one and all and time to wish you all a Happy New Year. May 2016 bring you what you wish for.

(To be fair with a new manager coming in and on the my other interest, Simon Danczuk being suspended and probably deselected, it looks good to me!)

Time for a PoN hug and everyone make up! 

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.