Not too chuffed to be honest given all of the players we're going to be missing due to internationals. Jack Grealish, Callum McGregor and Greg Tempest will be off playing for their under 21 sides, while Andre Boucaud will be away, plus Danny Haynes is unavailable through suspension. Letting the game go ahead is just asking for a mauling really, and I'm dissapointed the club didn't make the call.

The longer Shaun Derry has to work with this squad the better. It seems to me that we're only letting it go ahead so we'll get a bigger crowd than we would on a Tuesday night

It's a little odd how players fall down the pecking order, I also can't pretend to understand how some get the nod and some continue to fall with regards to selection. Seeing young Murray got me thinking, as a club which requires goal scorers - I feel we have enough to make do. Enoch, Arquin and Haynes are strong contenders for any club in our league, they're players other clubs perhaps would be able to get the most out of.

Last season Enoch and Arquin seemed goal shy.

It was refreshing to see the minutes and appearances where Tyrell Waite got the nod. I was very pleased when he scored from the header, as his hard work deserved that.

I can't say I understand why we haven't featured him? He ran at defences, looked calm, passed nicely and made movement. Very keen in his appearance to play and do well.

Why do we stick to backing players who are inconsistent, whilst managers seem very patient to see the magic they do process. The exact same thing could be said about Zoko, although I don't see why we don't try Tyrell Waite. He always seemed value for what he probably earns, his efforts deserved rewarding but it seems he's fallen further down the pecking order - especially with the arrival of Coombes (who is a different style of player).

I really can't understand it, can you? Thoughts?

Hartlepool are currently an in-form team within League Two, we seem desperately destined to hang around the mix and quite possible to fall into the division ourselves. This is now Shaun Derry's responsibility, no one can yet say how he will do and it's only opinions which divide us right now.

He seems to have a grasp on what he would like to do, speak passionate and seems to know where we are falling short. Can we judge him after Saturday? I don't think so.

They are a very capable side, one I said last year I could see winning us. This year, I expect the game to be a little closer but they have depth in their squad which could punish an unwary defense and even rock us. It depends how Shaun handles the game, hopefully he start with a common formation and take the game as it comes.

For anyone who doesn't care about the F.A Cup (this season or at all) - I think it's vital we go as far as possible, yes I'd like us to focus on the league but with dwindling gates, which I expect to fall a little more. A decent cup run might help us keep a competitive budget for next year.

Notts 2-1 win.

Thoughts?

Due to it being FA Cup 1st round weekend, there are no fixtures in league 1 or 2, so instead of the usual 2 fixtures from each league we will have 3 from the championship, and 3 from the FA Cup 1st round. The first 3 are the championship fixtures

This weeks's fixtures:
Barnsley v Doncaster Rovers

Charlton Athletic v Leeds United

Middlesbrough v Watford

Lincoln City v Plymouth Argyle

Rotherham United v Bradford City

Wycombe Wanderers v Crewe Alexandra

Good luck everyone

What a terrible thing to happen to Hucknall Olympic athlete Andy Turner, if he wasn't distraught enough at the sudden death of his mother, some lowlife robbed the house while he was at her funeral! What a sad world we live in.

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/blogs/world-of-sport/gb-olympic-athlete-robbed-during-mother-funeral-081619394.html

Well, Bud Abbott, who single handedly gifted Notts 6 points a season, may be an idiot (IMO) and total football genius (see the 6 points a season bit).

But for now he is our idiot.

So I guess he will have to have my support (ouch that bit hurt)

COYP

This is an email I received from Notts County this morning.

Dear Tony

I asked the media team here at meadow lane if they would assist me in sending out a letter to supporters just to say hello as much as anything and to reassure you how much it means to me to have been given this opportunity to manage Notts County Football Club, my club.

You may be one who has voiced support for my appointment, you may be one who has declared indignation at my return to Meadow lane as manager at the current time, I haven't had to look too hard to find examples of both!

For those that have offered support, I would like to thank you wholeheartedly for your backing, it really does mean a lot to me. For those that disagree with my appointment, I offer you my word that I will be doing all that I can to win you round, but I would couple this with a very simple observation, which is that this club is, and always has been, stronger when everyone involved is pulling in the same direction.

Notts County is a community club, we musn't lose sight of that. I know what it means to support this club and I know what it means to play for this club and I will be instilling that in my players, because I want to see pride, passion and belief in the shirt from every single member of the squad when they are asked to take to the field, it's what this club demands and what you, the fans, deserve.

I don't expect everyone to be behind me as manager from the outset, I have a lot of hard work ahead of me to prove myself in this new role, but I would expect everyone who calls himself or herself a Notts County fan to be behind the club, because it helps nobody if we are divided.

My first game in charge will be this weekend, as we travel to Hartlepool United in the FA Cup and I know that it hasn't been the happiest of hunting grounds for Notts in the past, or indeed for our managers!

But what a great lift it would give everyone involved with the club if we could get a win and get our name in the draw for the next round. I don't know about you but waiting for our number to be drawn out on a Sunday afternoon is one of the things I genuinely love about football, there's a real buzz about it.

It will be a hard game, I know that, Hartlepool are in decent form at the minute, but we have plenty of talent in the squad that I have available to me and I will be calling on the lads to show that they are better than our current league position suggests.

I would like to thank in advance, any of you that are making the journey up to Victoria Park I know what a difference a vocal travelling support can make to a team.

I'm sure you've heard a lot of what I've said before and some you will be thinking that this is just recycled rhetoric, but I hope to be a manager that can connect with the fans and I felt it important to make contact at this early stage so that we can look to move forwards together.

All I can say is that this is my club and I would not have taken this role if I didn't think I could be successful, I am not coming into this blind or naive, I am determined and focussed and want what I hope you want too, a successful and thriving Notts County Football Club.

Let's get this club moving.

Shaun

Neil Warnock has inferred that there has been interference from above in the last few years.

Surely not, I mean in a position like ours, who in their right mind would go to the lengths of employing a manager on a salary, when the board could do it themselves...

Do you need coaching badges to work at our level?

Has anybody heard of these rumours before now?

Thoughts?

Sean Derry has been confirmed in the last few moments as the new manager of Notts County.

Yes he's inexperienced and it's a MASSIVE gamble, but Derry as a fan will not want to see players fail, and he'll have plenty of passion. Plus him and Greg Abbot will never let this lot get away with murder as they have been, and for that I'm in.

Welcome aboard Sean We hope you enjoy your probably short stay with us.

Hi Craig

Welcome to the site, look forward to chatting.

Good to welcome you on a winning night.Please join in with the discussions and banter

Welcome to PoN @countylad-mattie

Nice to see you join us buddy! Mattie is a regular on PoN's wall, so it's great to see him join the community. No doubt regulars of the fan site will be glad to see another new member around the place and I look forward to reading your comments/posts bud!

Thanks for joining us! YOU PIES!

I can recall my Grandfather telling me he had passed away, someone he thought a lot about and as a child - I had a lot of respect already for the great man for this reason. Usually some children aren't as interested but I loved his stories, including Granny Pies! He was a true gentleman.

R.I.P Tommy Lawton.

Shaun Derry is now the odds on favourite to come in as player manager with (according to Colin Slater on radio) an old head working alongside him as Director of Football.

I'm not sure about this appointment (if it happens) Shaun Derry is a very good player IMO but he has no experience as a manager, having said that everyone has to start somewhere don't they. Now if the "old head" were to be Neil Warnock, then I would be excited.

Apologies for being late putting it up this week, been a bit buisy sorting stuff out after getting home.

This week's fixtures:
Nottingham Forest v Blackpool

Wigan Athletic v Huddersfield Town

Crawley Town v Brentford

Peterborough United v Leyton Orient

Oxford United v Bristol Rovers

Portsmouth v Exeter City

Good luck everyone

How I wish "Bomber Bradd" was in the team now. What a player.

Happy Birthday Sir Les. 

It's been a pretty busy day for me, although Cheeky and I discussed this yesterday. There's been quite a few highlights this past month, we've seen some new members join and the chat room on match days taking off - much to the dedication of a certain lady member. I'm really glad to see it picking up!

So, I would like to thank each and every one of you for your contributions.

This Months Member of the Month goes to.... @Pies4u

I've really enjoyed reading his opinions and comments, this past month he's been a real highlight to our community (as many members are - especially previous MotM).

Keep up the good work!

Please take time to congratulate Pies4u and let's see who is in the mix for next month, YP!

I've done another blog about my childhood living in Grainger Street, off Meadow Lane, if you are interested in why politics and elections would feature in my childhood then you can read the blog here.

http://prideofnottingham.co.uk/community/blog/5/entry-55-blog-5-elections-and-politics/

The more I think about this, the better it sounds. Maybe it is just me, but it would be a masterstroke of an appointment, IMO

Top quality Coach, can deal with egos, anybody in our squad, has access to the best managerial advice around, will bring on youth, is out of work, is looking to get into management.

Wouldn't be cheap, but would the outlay be worth the result, who knows... I reckon it would work, would it bring back the dwindling numbers, I think it just might.

Thoughts?

FORMER Nottingham Forest and Notts County player Hamza Bencherif is having a trial at Mansfield Town.

The 25-year-old is a free agent and Stags boss Paul Cox said: "He's come in for a little runaround with us and we'll take a good look at him.

 

"He's got a good background at this level of football.

"He's played at Macclesfield where I thought he was excellent.

Full Article - Here

He's a player I honestly thought would do well with us and without making excuses, I felt the lack of game time, position changes and the situation with managers didn't help - although this is football. He came back from time to time and looked useful but never really cut it at our level and over period of time he slumped again.

I think the point where I felt he wasn't good enough came at Swindon last year, none the less I wish him well at Mansfield.

He's a good player in League Two, much different and if he can rekindle his Macclesfield Town days. He will no doubt be able to make the transition up with a team he's established in

Hope it works out for both. Thoughts?

Ian Barraclough, an ex Notts player who is now managing in Ireland with Sligo Rovers apparently so at least he has some experience.

He says he would be interested.

http://www.goal.com/en-ie/news/3942/ireland/2013/10/30/4370164/sligo-rovers-manager-ian-baraclough-says-he-would-consider

This game see's two sets of fans traveling to the ground, something I don't think people should even joke about. As if Notts lost Meadow Lane or couldn't play their, well it would quite saddening.

Coventry are shooting up the league, they're playing pretty good stuff and for a side who's notably had to adapt. I say good on them!

Franck Moussa - A player I would have Sheehan or Liddle man mark.

Notts could do with the win, I feel very optimistic about it and I think it will be a tight game. If Notts can throw themselves into blocking chances or quickly cut them out, I think there's no reason why we couldn't start a little run of wins which would be great for confidence and of course the new manager (whoever that may be).

Hartlepool (FA Cup) - Wolves - Shrewsbury

Possible 4 points from the latter two games and the Hartlepool game should see us progress, if we've learned from last season!

Thoughts?

Yesterday I was surprised when I checked my messages and noticed a young fan had sent me this.



Really welcomed submission - One in which I really like.

Thoughts?

We have just got back from a Thai restaurant, it was first time we have ever tried this kind of food but our son was treating us after we did a spell of looking after the grandchildren while they were away. Since it wasn't our money we thought we would try something different. We entered the restaurant not knowing what to expect, will we have to eat with chopsticks? What will the food be like? Will we like it?

Well I can report it was thoroughly enjoyable, we decided to have a set meal banquet which gave us a taste of a lot of different things and no we didn't have to eat with chopsticks. Phew

Have you ever eaten out of your comfort zone, what is your favourite food when eating out?

Come on I'm nosey and want to know.

I've been pretty harsh on Hodge, I think it's due to being concerned he might be considered. I am grown up and passionate enough to accept this if it was to be considered - At the end of the day I just want Notts to be doing well.

Hodge - I watched his original interview, I wasn't impressed but I've just watched his Coventry Preview. He conducts himself well, I quite enjoyed hearing his views and I hope he can come a way from this experience knowing he did his best but importantly ended the role with a good record. He spoke about belief and getting the players to preform for each other, it would be nice to see them working as a unit more (especially at the back). I think the defensive line really need to communicate more and cover each other, as mistakes will happen. Steve Hodge really shouldn't be judge! I'll sing extra loudly tomorrow to make up for it.

McMillan - I really like this chap, he's quite interesting. I have to say I haven't watched anything with him, although I do watch the youth teams performances - I don't however listen to the coaches views but I will from now on.

His interview regarding the youth team is a good watch, it's interesting to note he finds battling for 3 real points to be more enjoyable. I'd personally love to be a youth team coach, you can see he's got some good qualities and expresses his thoughts pretty well. He mentioned he told the lads that the ball doesn't get to Danny Haynes quick enough and that he needs to get there, don't take any time and get a shot a way. It was nice to see that he wants to get along with the players also, though I hope whoever becomes our next manager draws a line and acts as the manager (not a friend - It doesn't mean they shouldn't get along, just draw the line and then kicking 'em up the behind won't be an issue).

You Pies! What do you think about Hodge and McMillan?