Surprised this hasn't already been posted on here - Notts have been handed an away tie at Oldham Athletic in the JPT Northern Area quarter final.

The draw in full:

Northern section

Oldham Athletic v Notts County

Chesterfield v Rochdale

Hartlepool United v  Rotherham United

Fleetwood Town v Carlisle United

Southern Section
Swindon Town v Wycombe Wanderers

Newport County v Portsmouth

Peterborough United v Dagenham & Redbridge

Stevenage v Leyton Orient

Ties will be played the week commencing 11th November

No I'm not going to talk about a waterlogged pitch at Britannia Stadium.

We took our eldest Grandchildren to Waterworld in Stoke at the weekend. It's about an hours drive from Nottingham but worth the trip we thought.

We expected it to be absolutely packed after reading the reviews on Trip Advisor but the kids wanted to go because it was somewhere their Dad used to take them so we bit the bullet and made the journey. We were pleasantly surprised to find the car park with plenty of space and no queue to get in, we had considered buying a queue buster ticket on line for another £3 but glad we didn't. It cost £37 for a family ticket but Mrs. H. didn't want to swim so they put an arm band on her and said if she came back when we left she would get a £6 refund.

It's £1.50 for a token for the lockers but they are very big and enough room for 3 people clothes and we got a refund of 50p for taking our token back.

Once inside it is absolutely brilliant for kids, lots of flumes and water slides, including a flume that ends up coming down into a funnel and dropping you vertically into a deep tank, kids have to be a certain height for that one.

There are also rapids which literally sweep you off your feet and take you round into a dark cave like place via a strong current, once inside it was difficult to get out without being swept round again, the kids loved it. Wave machines are also a feature and the gentle sloping shore is ideal for little ones along with smaller flumes and things for toddlers and you can take little ones down the water slides with an adult.

Mrs. H. was happy to sit and watch us with a cup of coffee and her kindle at the poolside cafe and at lunch time we took a break from the fun and joined her for a lunch, me and Mrs. H. had a Pizza Slice with fries and coke, grandson had burger, fries and coke and healthy granddaughter had a ham pannini and salad with a drink of coke, the total cost was around £16.

We stayed 3 hours although we could have stayed as long as we wanted because it wasn't very busy but we had to get the kids back home. At busy periods I think the maximum stay is 3 hours. It was a very good day out and I can highly recommend it for anyone with children or grandchildren they want to entertain on a wet winters day, our grandchildren slept on the way home in the car they were that shattered. Grandad didn't take much rocking that night either.

Due to the International break, there are no championship fixtures this Saturday. So instead of the usual 2 fixtures from each league, it will be 3 fixtures from league one and 3 fixtures from league two.

This Saturday's fixtures:
Leyton Orient v Milton Keynes Dons

Rotherham United v Swindon Town

Stevenage v Brentford

Burton Albion v Southend United

Exeter City v Hartlepool United

Mansfield Town v Bristol Rovers

Good luck everyone

Martin Allen's contract has this evening been terminated with immediate effect by Gillingham. They're currently 16th in league one.

Gillingham fans reaction to this news has been identical to that of our fans when he left Notts. Funny how it always seems to be a unanimous board decision. I dont think chairman like his character, and also I think many get a bit touchy when fans become so attached to a manager.

I'm willing to bet it probably wasn't results based.

Kind of sad to see, I'll always have a soft spot for him for the way he came in and revitalised our club.

Recently, Matt Alexander, son of the late Keith Alexander started writing a blog. I urge you all to give it a read if you haver a chance. He makes some very interesting points, and gives us a real insight into the modern game and particularly the work of agents - something he does himself.

He also wrote a very personal entry about his late father today on Fathers day.

Give it a read when you've got a spare few minutes

Here's the link - http://heythatsfootball.wordpress.com/

I read an article the other day, it included a video by Glenn Hoddle who said we should write off this upcoming contest in his opinion. I couldn't disagree with him more, we have slim chances but where there is pride - there's always a chance. We've got players who can play in Brazil, so I don't see the fuss? Supposedly the only European side who can do well over there is Spain???

Anyway, tonight England take on Monty - I hope they go full out and win comfortably.

Monty have been a side which in previous games have had a crack at us, although it's time to start getting results from these games rather convincingly.

Will you be watching? Thoughts?

Okay, we're lacking debates at the moment.

There's plenty of things we can discuss, just need a mix of people doing so but here's one for now. When should a manager be sacked?

-----My Thoughts-------

I've been defensive of some of our dismissal's in the past, for me I think there's an obvious time to depart with a manager. It's been a bit harsh for some of the managers who have managed to reach near the play-offs and although some might have agreed, a couple I did not - However Curle did have to go in my opinion.

No body can deny the start of the season's been hard, we've also been unlucky but for me it's when progression seems to have been paused or halted for a considerable amount of time. No signs of character or know how - We go behind and look very unlikely to get back into the game. Our football is very slow at times, often without direction (unless you actually consider hitting the ball to the flanks a game plan). Frustratingly the players don't seem to know what to do with the ball, I wrote my thoughts on what I felt was going wrong (it can be read on the home page).

CK cannot take all the blame, however for me he's the one who should fix it.

To answer my questions... A manager should be sacked for poor results, showing no signs of turning things around and when the players clearly have lost confidence to the point it becomes a blame game.

I think CK's reached this point myself. You?

 

By Sheffield Utd. Now there's a surprise.............................NOT!!

http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/436061/Sheffield-United-sack-David-Weir-as-manager

Callum featured in Scotland's U21's side yesterday, he played a total of 87' mins which seen his side defeat Slovakia's U21's 2-1. Goals by Stuart Armstrong 31st minute and Stevie May. Tomas Malec scored for Slovakia goal in the 68th minute.

I'll add Sky's Match Report below.

Although here's a snippet 'while his Parkhead team-mate Callum McGregor - currently on loan at Notts County - saw a lot shot blocked by Legiand after May put him through.'

Also, after the match Callum was interviewed. It's very pleasing to see him clearly delighted and it's nice to see someone who's on loan bring credit to the club which gave him the push he needed in his career.

[center]http://youtu.be/Tld8X4Q1qkU

Is anyone watching The Dome on Channel 5, it's about a American town that gets covered in an impenetrable dome and the occupants are trapped inside.

It's an adaptation from a Steven King novel, I wasn't sure when it started but I'm quite enjoying it now.

I see that the club are now putting highlights of matches on their YouTube channel, so why I am paying £37.99 for Magpie Player?

Seems to me I can get all the goals on the youtube channel and I'm not bothered about the interviews because they are always the ones that are broadcast on Radio Nottingham.

Walsall took them to pens, 2-2 and obviously Wolves won but we played well against Walsall - Yet Wolves will be a totally different game and one I have to say I am not overly fussed about. I think Notts can continue to perform well, it will be interesting. I can see more watching it via sky, although I hope a good following goes and supports Notts.

Wolves are 3rd in the league, I am a little surprised by this as I expected them to do a Sheffield United and struggle (not a this season Sheffield United tho)..

Notts will have to be wary defensively and despite it being it being the JPT, the game will yet again showcase the club to it's fans.

It's vital they put in a Tranmere/Crewe performance or even a Liverpool one, battle them! COYP!!

Thoughts?

I've had to start a new thread about my blogs because Joe told me off for being negative and calling it boring when it wasn't (in his opinion).

Anyway, here is another edition of my really interesting blog, this time I am talking about playing as children in and around Meadow Lane.

http://prideofnottingham.co.uk/community/blog/5/entry-50-blog-3-play-time/

This is a fantastic offer, one I hope the fans will take up. It's certainly one I hope encourages fans to flock in support, I know we haven't done that well but it's important we turn things around and it's even more required to see Meadow Lane busy. It's not the same seeing games without a busy ML and it's ultimately where we need to keep pushing aswell as the league.

£10 - Adults
£1  - Children

I don't care if this goes below my season ticket price, I want to see the fans come out and more of them at Meadow Lane. I hope the club continue to push for fans to return!



COYP!!

It was good to see that the players made an appearance in the MLSB after Saturday's match, I think this is a brilliant idea and credit to the club for arranging it. It fosters a bond between the players and the supporters which is good. Gone are the days when the players used to catch the same bus home as the fans and mix with them, so anything like this really helps.

I also liked Martin Allen's ideas, he had the players who weren't in the squad sit with the fans and also in the warm up they would go over and applaud the fans before the game plus lots of birthday visits to young fans, we need more of that sort of thing too.

Was anyone in the MLSB after the match?

Europe



Rest of the World



Thoughts?

I have been on several sites associated with Notts County. I have been on the Notts County Mailling list for a long while, probably since its inception in the early days of the internet before forums. I am more of a lurker on there and enjoy reading the various viewpoints of the contributors but I never felt really comfortable posting my thoughts, I tried a few times but didn't get much response and a lot of the posters seemed to be more knowledgeable than me and therefore I felt my input was unworthy.

I tried Mad and posted a few times on there but only got abuse for my trouble and there seemed to be a very nasty element who were only interested in causing trouble, the moderators seemed to allow anything so I decided that wasn't for me.

I then tried the YouPies, which later became MagpieWeb, I really wanted that to succeed and did my best by posting as much as I could but in the end I was talking to myself and the owner seemed to lose interest so I had to reluctantly give in and began my search for a suitable site to talk about my favourite football team and came across Pride of Nottingham, I can't remember how I found it, I think it was a retweet by Mrs. Trew.

Almost from the moment I joined I felt at home, I was a little tentative at first after having bad experiences particularly on Mad but I soon began to feel at home. Everyone is so friendly and I was made to feel that my input was genuinely valued and now it is one of the first places I go to check when I get on line in the morning.

So I just wanted to say thank you to all concerned for making this a great friendly site, to Joe who started it all, to his family who come on and join in with the chat and banter and to all the other contributors who have helped to make this my favourite Notts County forum, long may it continue and prosper.

And if you are a visitor who is just having a look round, come along and join in you won't regret it, I know I haven't.

This is another positive move by the club and should be applauded in my opinion.

Free travel to away matches for under 16's.

http://www.nottscountyfc.co.uk/news/article/free-travel-for-under-16s-1100366.aspx

The big day! I feel I will be saying this for sometime, although Saturday will the big promotion £10 adults and £1 for children. It's a shame the offer couldn't included away fans, it might have the away end full but I guess it makes sure we at least bring in some normal finance. Yet I do hope fans come down, even if it's a case of taking up the offer and meeting up old friends. It's a great deal!

Notts will have to put aside the disappointment of last Saturday against Carlisle, they need to be stronger at the back and on the break.

I honestly feel we would have won if these two areas had been spot on, it certainly wasn't a lack of effort on goal for me because Gillespie had a great game - Despite him showing a lack sportsmanship.

Crewe - Cannot be written off, they have a good system and for sure they can pass, although Mathias Pogba also is one to watch.

Notts - Will have to be stronger, I'm unsure about Leacock personally. Some have mentioned they would give Manny Smith a chance, even at the expense of Gary Liddle. It might be wise to remain unchanged, although I think a few a starting to notice that Deano isn't looking the same right now.

I can't say I see a win, part of me says a draw but I think Crewe will take the game.

Thoughts?

I've just noticed we have another new member, so welcome @connorpie I hope you like it here.

The home game against Oldham has now been rearranged to a Tuesday night 29th October. There will probably be 1,000 less people there than at a Saturday fixture but that is the price we pay for having internation players I suppose.

Done a little blog about my trip to watch Bristol Rovers v Fleetwood Town yeterday, so feel free to have a read if you get chance:

http://prideofnottingham.co.uk/community/blog/3/entry-49-my-trip-to-bristol-51013/

Would be nice to get a few new people joining in this week. You can have a look at the other threads for an example of how it all works but basically I post 6 fixtures every week and you just have to post your predictions in this thread. You get 3 points for a correct score and 1 point for a correct result. So for example:

my prediction: Notts County 2-0 Crewe Alexandra

Notts win 2-0 - 3 points

Notts win, but not by a score of 2-0 - 1 point

There aren't many big scores so it won't take any time to catch up if you start this weekend. One good score shoots you right up the table.

This weekend's fixtures:
Burnley v Reading

Derby County v Leeds United

Peterborough United v Preston North End

Walsall v Bradford City

Bury v Newport County

Oxford United v Southend United

Good luck everyone

I hope our old mate@liampie is ok, I've not seen him around lately.

If you read this Liam are you ok mate? We miss you.I

Today is the day that my 5 year old Grandson makes his first (I hope) visit to Meadow Lane.

It is something I have dreamt of for a long time our eldest Grandchildren lived away so I never got chance to introduce them to the highs and lows of being a 'Pie.

So this will be really special for me, it can go one of two ways, he will either hate it and after five minutes proclaim in a loud voice that "this is boring I want to go home" or he'll love every minute and when it's finished say "that was great Grandad, when can I come again".

I will bring some of his books, a packet of sweets and crisps but if you see a dejected old(ish) man dragging a screaming 5 year old out if the ground after 10 minutes you will know which option George took.

Wish me luck.