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So it's the 29th February today. We are in a Leap year, when those who have their birthday today is a very special day.
Follows is an explanation why we have a Leap Year every 4 years.
I'm a huge fan of John Bostock, but he hasn't performed well lately, and he doesn't seem to be the same player without Matt Palmer. I don't want to unfairly single him out, as most players are responsible for our recent poor form. I'm curious if other fans think the absence of a reliable replacement makes it harder to bench Bostock.
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Well, he was rested for most of the game and I actually think that Jim did a half decent job and was one of our better performers. It certainly showed after he went off as there was nobody trying to organise or encourage.
Jim O’Brien did provide a temporary solution, but I don’t believe we can depend on him or David McGoldrick to address our deficiencies solely based on their past experiences. John Bostock has the potential to be an excellent player. I believe it would be a top priority to help him regain his best form as he provides significant support in our defence.
It's prediction league time again. These matches all kick off at 3pm on Saturday, and don't forget your jokers!
Preston North End v Hull City
Swansea City v Blackburn Rovers
Cheltenham Town v Burton Albion
Leyton Orient v Bristol Rovers
Crawley Town v Barrow
Grimsby Town v Forest Green Rovers
AFC Fylde v Maidenhead United
Woking v Kidderminster Harriers
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Preston North End 1-2 Hull City
Swansea City 1-1 Blackburn Rovers (Joker)
Cheltenham Town 2-1 Burton Albion
Leyton Orient 2-1 Bristol Rovers
Crawley Town P-P Barrow
Grimsby Town 2-2 Forest Green Rovers
AFC Fylde 1-2 Maidenhead United
Woking 0-1 Kidderminster Harriers
Preston North End 2-1 Hull City
Swansea City 2-1 Blackburn Rovers
Cheltenham Town 3-1 Burton Albion
Leyton Orient 2-0 Bristol Rovers (joker)
Crawley Town 2-0 Barrow
Grimsby Town 1-2 Forest Green Rovers
AFC Fylde 1-1 Maidenhead United
Woking 1-1 Kidderminster Harriers
The results:
Preston North End 0-0 Hull City
Swansea City 2-1 Blackburn Rovers
Cheltenham Town 0-0 Burton Albion
Leyton Orient 0-1 Bristol Rovers
Crawley Town P-P Barrow
Grimsby Town 1-0 Forest Green Rovers
AFC Fylde 4-1 Maidenhead United
Woking P-P Kidderminster Harriers
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@william1984 is this round's top scorer - congrats!
@william1984 - 6
@Dan, @Fan of Big Tone - 5
@Chris, @gtownjohnno, @magpiejue, @Robbie - 4
@cheeky~k8, @DangerousSausage, @Megan_Elizax, @super_ram - 3
@4everapie, @Harry Buckley - 1
@ARLukomski - nul points
---
We have a new leader, as with ten rounds to go @gtownjohnno goes a point ahead of @ARLukomski! But the final word hasn't been spoken. Besides, I'm planning on winning the league after docking you all 100 points on the final day.
gtownjohnno - 177
ARLukomski - 176
william1984 - 161
cheeky~k8 - 158
magpiejue - 153
super_ram - 152
4everapie - 151
Fan of Big Tone - 151
DangerousSausage - 146
Dan - 141
nottsnutter - 125
Megan_Elizax - 124
DonnyNotts - 116
Chris - 115
liampie - 104
upthepies - 90
Joshua - 82
allardyces tash - 70
KingWilliams - 66
TheSkipper - 64
CliftonMagpie - 55
Robbie - 51
thommo - 49
OoooooTommy - 45
NottsCountyKev - 41
JIMBO - 40
jimbob - 38
Nocturnal-Magpie - 38
AmericanPie - 36
Harry Buckley - 35
KB1862 - 22
George L - 6
Canadian - 4
---
The fun continues on Wednesday, when I'll be posting Saturday's fixtures. I'll see you then - have a good week!
Notts travel to Bradford on a Saturday hoping to make amends. How many links can we find between the two clubs.
I’m going to throw out an unusual link Colin Slater started his journalistic career reporting on Bradford City before he became Mr. Notts County.
If that link is a bit tenuous how about that old Notts favourite Mark Stallard who played for both clubs during his career.
Who can come up with more links?
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Dele Adebola, Paul Bolland, François Zoko, Stephen Darby, Delroy Facey, Richard Liburd, Wes Thomas, Garry Thompson, Alan Sheehan, Ricky Ravenhill, Gary MacKenzie all played for both teams. I wanted to put Gary Liddle to, but someone beat me.
"Every Liddle Helps". ????
1 hour ago, Chris said:Dele Adebola, Paul Bolland, François Zoko, Stephen Darby, Delroy Facey, Richard Liburd, Wes Thomas, Garry Thompson, Alan Sheehan, Ricky Ravenhill, Gary MacKenzie all played for both teams. I wanted to put Gary Liddle to, but someone beat me.
![]()
"Every Liddle Helps". ????
Wow well done @Chris that’s some list. ????
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He should intensify his training efforts and hope for a win this weekend. The atmosphere around the club has become unpleasant, and some fans are exacerbating the situation. Currently, the focus should be on long-term stability rather than short-term gains. In the National League, the ability to sign players at any time supported our improvements and addressed existing weaknesses. Until the end of this season, Maynard or whoever is the manager can only make do, and the right working environment is crucial.
That's a great point. The owners didn't get much wrong in NL but it certainly helped that we could bring new faces in right until the end of March. January was a poor window for incomings although not losing anyone important was a huge bonus.
This is our first season back in the football league and there are several areas where we need to get better. Notts had a fantastic start which saw them climb to the top, but there are reasons for our current struggles. For me, it’s not about Stuart Maynard. I think Luke Williams leaving, in retrospect, is a tough situation to handle and even though Maynard seems like a good replacement, the players are undoubtedly under a lot of mental stress which could affect their concentration. Right now, we’re in a bit of a dip, but I believe Notts can start to climb again. However, it will need us fans who are ready to look past the disappointment.
I would like to wish my old mate and sparring partner @super_ram a very happy birthday. I hope you have a brilliant day, sorry your favourite team lost last night and Derby did too.
Bring out the dancing girls.
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Wishing you a happy birthday, @super_ram! Sending lots of love your way, mate.
Happy birthday, young man! I hope your years of wisdom and lovely family make it a birthday to feel even more blessed. All the best, @super_ram.
Happy belated birthday, @super_ram. ????????
Game 27 - The U's (H)
Team: Sutton United
Date: 27/02/2024
Where: Meadow Lane
What line-up should Stuart Maynard 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.
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1 hour ago, TheSkipper said:Criticising the players is embarrassing; they're trying, and morale is low.
I saw it differently. What happened after we got back to 3-3 was a real concern. When we should have been going all out for the winner, we were totally bossed at home by the worst team in the division. It was like we'd thrown in the towel, the lack of fight was alarming.
No one ever criticises Jodi Jones for his weak marking and defensive duties. The second mistake, anyone else would have faced consequences for. He's a great player, but it emphasizes that errors occur, and scapegoats are formed. Dan Crowley has been truly impressive since joining; if fans can be critical and boo, he certainly has the right to silence them when performing well. If he wasn't, I would understand. Disappointed with the club, players, and fans.
The emphasis must be on improving our defence. I didn’t believe Sutton deserved their lead, but they secured it, and that’s what determines matches. I thought Notts did well to re-enter the game, despite the terrible errors at the back. It demonstrated some resilience, but regardless of the circumstances, Sutton knew they could retake the lead. They can revel in this victory; it won’t prevent their relegation. Terrible winners, but they aimed to turn our fans against our players, which was achieved with ease.
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For a structure made from Lego, it doesn’t get much closer to the real thing than this. It’s quite impressive and looks fantastic! If they were to sell this Lego set, it would likely cost a pretty penny, if not more.
This is fantastic! The stadium looks remarkable in Lego. Truly impressive!
The Lego version of Meadow Lane looks absolutely stunning, a fine remake of one of the best football grounds.
James Cantrell: Centre Forward
James Cantrell (7 May 1882 – 31 July 1960) was an English professional footballer who played as a forward for Aston Villa, Notts County, Tottenham Hotspur and Sutton Town.
Football Career.
Cantrell began his professional career at Aston Villa. The inside forward played in 48 matches and found the net on 22 occasions for the club between 1904 and 1907. He moved to Notts County in 1907 where he was converted into the centre forward position. Top scorer in his three seasons at County he maintained a goal every other match ratio in 131 matches and scoring 64 goals in his time there. Tottenham Hotspur impressed by his goal scoring paid a substantial sum for his services in 1912. In a career interrupted by the First World War Cantrell lead the Spurs forward line that won the Football League Second Division in 1919-20 with a then record 70 points. He went on to collect a winner's medal in the 1921 FA Cup Final at the age of 38. He played his last match against Birmingham City just short of his 40th birthday making him the oldest Spurs player to feature in a League match. This record lasted until 6 May 2012 when Brad Friedel appeared for Tottenham Hotspur against Aston Villa in the Premier League. Cantrell remains the oldest outfield player to appear for Spurs. Cantrell played 176 times and scored on 84 occasions in all competitions between 1912 and 1922. He joined Midland League club Sutton Town on 8 October 1923, retiring in 1925.
Honours.
James won a 2nd Division Championship medal 1919/20
FA Cup winners medal 1920/21
After Football.
Cantrell returned to Nottingham where he became a golf professional. He died in Basford in 1960.
Source Wiki.
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Some additional I formation I've found about Jimmy Cantrell on the web.
On 22/01/2024 at 23:42, True Magpie said:One of the FA Cup winners for us? All these players should be honoured at the club, especially if they do open a museum. They have brought the greatest honour to the club, which is the FA Cup win. It will be years before we get that close again.
And what makes the win even more special, it was won in a time when the FA Cup was the creme del la creme, when they played their strongest team and every game was so competitive.
It's not now sadly.
Well he certainly won't be a part timer now. It's always good to have a back up career just in case, but I believe Stuart is going to have a long full time future as a Head Coach now.
its what football is about is it not? a call to showcase your ability and to earth gems from beneath your level. i sometimes think media groups can be insulting towards coaches and players, because of their previous level.
stuart maynard looks to have a lot of people backing him to be a success and i hope it helps.
I sympathise with Stuart Maynard; he has contributed to performance improvements at times, but the players are hindering progress. The situations against Mansfield and Wrexham could have been worse. Attempting to address inconsistency by changing formations and the starting lineup hasn't proven effective. Our owners should permit squad depth to ensure quality, allowing players to be rested and dropped when out of form. Maynard is facing criticism, but the only fault I see is in dropping Aidan Stone.
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@Fozzy Wasn't that Sunderland? Because I remember seeing a few posts of him posting about Sunderland and then Sunderland fans tweeting about him deleting the comments and being confident they were going to sign him.
Maybe it was both clubs but I do agree that someone has obviously come in for him but Notts declined the offer. There was a speculative rumour floating around that Notts had rejected a £3m offer from an unnamed Championship club early in January. So it could be either of those I guess. There was certainly a lot of interest. Bolton, Birmingham, Middlesbrough, Sunderland amongst the main names.
He doesn't appear to be a suitable replacement for Macaulay Langstaff; his current record doesn't seem sufficient. Regarding deleting Twitter, it's a plausible theory, but I doubt he did it for any reason other than to shield himself from the negative tweets about Notts. Fans will express their opinions, and savvy players will distance themselves from such comments. I'd confidently bet on this.
Rewind to 2010, Johan Elmander scored this delightful goal for Bolton against Wolves. Great balance, footwork and finish. It doesn't get talked about as much as it should.
I'll be posting a different goal each day. Feel free to add your own goal of the day. There's bound to be some absolutely beauties to see.
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Now this was a great run and goal by Ricky Villa in the FA Cup final of 1981 for Spurs.
The Coventry Goal shows intelligence and skill by Carr and Hunt to produce an excellent Goal. So what does the FA DO? They BAN It, which proves that those in charge of English Football Didn't have a Clue Then and Still Don't to this Day.
Rivelino free kick goal for Brazil v Czechoslovakia, 1970 World Cup
there is not a single issue happening at notts right now, its more a collective of problems which could have been avoided but has turned into a giant mole in. i dont think stuart maynard is much responsible for the current poor form, i dont think luke williams would have done much better. the shine has gone off this season, there is little for the players to fight for and morale in the camp is clearly at the lowest since the reedtz brothers arrived. its not the end of the world to be average, i dont complain that we are not in a promotion race. i am concerned that we cant seem to win games but again this is less maynard but the players themselves.
have the players stopped fighting for the highest possible finish? maybe the enjoyment has burst and its become mundane for them? or could they be going through the motion in an endless loop of little sign of getting back to better form?
the weirdest thing right now is how much better we look away from home compared to the last handful of games at meadow lane. what do you think can turn the season around? what can help our form? simply a few back to back wins? i am very curious to explore this.
Well liampie for what it's worth here's my two pennies worth. Not only as Stuart Maynard got to get the team winning again, But He As To Lay The Ghost of Luke Williams. What I mean by that is Williams achieved almost iconic status at Meadow Lane, his man management skills were second to none, the impact he had on the Players and Fans alike was truly remarkable. He also got the Magpies Promoted back to the EFL and then coached them into the upper reaches of League 2 and at one time Notts were Top. That is one hell of a Burden for any incoming coach let along a guy, who just undertook his first steps into Professional game management.
It would appear that to some Fans that Luke Williams could do No Wrong, it is only the seasoned Notts Fans who noticed the flaws in Williams coaching ability, the way the Magpies shipped goals, his point blank refusal to change things, his continual hope that if Notts had three goals scored against them, the Notts forwards would score four, it was all wrong and results like the home match against Mansfield showed the inadequate game plan which he had.
It is also true the players have nothing to fight for this season, where as last season Notts were in the title fight to the Death. Does that mean the players have come discouraged? And have they adopted a couldn't careless attitude, if that is the case, these players need rooting out and dropping, because there is nothing worse than a divided dressing room and someone upsetting the balance. Stuart Maynard needs to stamp his authority on the Squad, he is the man in charge and the players need to know it. Notts may not make the playoffs but the players have a responsibility to Us The Paying Fans, to do their best every time they cross that white Line. Play your best for the Fans the Badge the Shirt and Club.
I believe the Notts players have everything to fight for this season.
1) They have to fight for the fans, the Head Coach, themselves, their reputation and last but not least, the club.
2)They have already scored 66 goals in this league which is joint second best. They can still go for a very high number in the last 13 matches.
3)By winning tonight they can technically make Notts safe from the drop.
4) A play off place is still achievable if they put a run together, support Stuart and just play how Stuart wants them to play. For each other.
The fans have a vital role to play tonight too.
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@super_ram I always wondered why he never hit the ground running as much as he could or should of at Derby. He's certainly capable of bagging goals but it never worked out for him at Derby but if he wasn't being used well by Lampard, it's understandable as to why he never did as well as he could have.
I was as baffled as a cat in a dog show, with recent chants about signing an estate agency. And a hotel? Last time I checked, we weren’t rolling dice and passing GO. But hey, if we start handing out Monopoly money, count me in!
potential replacement for if they lose paul mullin? its a good signing but marriott has been heading in this direction which takes some of the hype tint of it. he should fit in well with wrexham and i think he will do well.
It's that time again ... get your predictions in by 3pm on Saturday, and remember your jokers!
Blackburn Rovers v Norwich City
Cardiff City v Stoke City
Barnsley v Derby County
Blackpool v Bolton Wanderers
Accrington Stanley v Crawley Town
Barrow v Bradford City
Dagenham & Redbridge v Halifax Town
Southend United v Aldershot
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Blackburn Rovers 1-2 Norwich City
Cardiff City 1-1 Stoke City
Barnsley 1-2 Derby County
Blackpool 1-1 Bolton Wanderers
Accrington Stanley 2-0 Crawley Town (joker)
Barrow 1-2 Bradford City
Dagenham & Redbridge 3-1 Halifax Town
Southend United 1-1 Aldershot
Blackburn Rovers 2-3 Norwich City
Cardiff City 1-0 Stoke City
Barnsley 2-2 Derby County(joker)
Blackpool 3-1 Bolton Wanderers
Accrington Stanley 1-1 Crawley Town
Barrow 3-2 Bradford City
Dagenham Redbridge 2-1 Halifax Town
Southend United 4-2 Aldershot
What's the scores, George Doors?
Blackburn Rovers 1-1 Norwich City
Cardiff City 2-1 Stoke City
Barnsley 2-1 Derby County
Blackpool 4-1 Bolton Wanderers
Accrington Stanley 0-1 Crawley Town
Barrow P-P Bradford City
Dagenham & Redbridge 0-1 Halifax Town
Southend United 4-1 Aldershot
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Unfortunately, this round's teams had the cheek not to play the way we thought they would and we didn't get many points. But congrats to this week's joint winners @magpiejue and @DonnyNotts!
@DonnyNotts, @magpiejue - 5
@Harry Buckley, @Robbie, @william1984 - 4
@4everapie, @allardyces tash, @cheeky~k8, @liampie - 3
@Chris, @Fan of Big Tone, @gtownjohnno, @nottsnutter, @super_ram, @TheSkipper - 2
@Megan_Elizax - 1
@ARLukomski, @Dan, @DangerousSausage - nada, nichts, zilch.
---
It's fair to say we've got a title race now, while my play-off prospects are looking as bleak as Notts'...
ARLukomski - 176
gtownjohnno - 173
cheeky~k8 - 155
william1984 - 155
4everapie - 150
magpiejue - 149
super_ram - 149
Fan of Big Tone - 146
DangerousSausage - 143
Dan - 136
nottsnutter - 125
Megan_Elizax - 121
DonnyNotts - 116
Chris - 111
liampie - 104
upthepies - 90
Joshua - 82
allardyces tash - 70
KingWilliams - 66
TheSkipper - 64
CliftonMagpie - 55
thommo - 49
Robbie - 47
OoooooTommy - 45
NottsCountyKev - 41
JIMBO - 40
jimbob - 38
Nocturnal-Magpie - 38
AmericanPie - 36
Harry Buckley - 34
KB1862 - 22
George L - 6
Canadian - 4
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Our next round is on Saturday, so expect the fixtures to appear tomorrow. Thanks for playing everyone!
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Even though I’m a season ticket holder, I won’t be attending. I’d rather stay at home or watch it somewhere else. Is there any news on whether Sky will be broadcasting the game? It would be a missed opportunity if they didn’t.
Wrexham ticket purchased✅
And @Piethagoram, about the sheep, It's the best grass-cutting method, it’s as traditional as apple pie. Who needs a lawnmower when you’ve got nature’s own grass trimmers, right? And the best part? They work for free!
https://www.wrexhamafc.co.uk/teams/staff/staff/aidan-davison/
Ex Notts, shame #Notts isn't mentioned @Dry Nelson Ray... media staff ???? ????
no wonder i have never heard of him, was he signed as cover? one a appearance is not a lot of games to play.
Well, who would’ve thunk it? Not me, that’s for sure! It’s like finding out you share a birthday with a celebrity. Even if it’s just for one game, it’s a connection that’s worth its weight in gold. ????
Game 34 - Red Dragons (A)
Team: Wrexham
Date: 17/02/2024
Where: SToK Racecourse
What line-up should Stuart Maynard 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.
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14 games left.
Can we get 9 wins and 1 draw out of those 14 to finish on 75 points which should be enough, as we will be playing many of our rivals for that 7th playoff spot?
It's a tall order but still very possible.
Has to be a must win against Crewe on Saturday.
CMON I PIES.
As iFollow decided not to work for me or many other fans (and their "support" staff failed to fix it or even respond), I relied on the radio. Apart from a second-half wobble it sounded like we played well, but in tighter games like this we always seem to come up a little bit short. Wrexham play percentage football that isn't great to watch, but it's effective and that's what we lack sometimes.
As for the handball, it was one of those situations where even VAR wouldn't give you a definitive answer. I think McGoldrick dramatically raising his arm out of the way led to the loud shout of "handball", which in turn influenced the ref.
This date was circled on my calendar with a big, red marker. It was like waiting for Santa to drop down the chimney. Notts? They played like they had rockets strapped to their boots. Edge-of-your-seat moments? There were more than a popcorn flick. The players showed a hunger for the game that would put a starved lion to shame.
Sure, luck might have played hide and seek at times, but the performance? It was like watching a blockbuster in IMAX. Here’s to hoping Stuart Maynard can sail through the storm and lead you to a grand finale.
Good luck with the rest of the games!
On 18/02/2024 at 08:16, Piethagoram said:How potentially dangerous for the guy with crutches. @Dry Nelson Ray Also when entering the stands, you expect to see seat numbers displayed so the supporters can be directed more easily to their seats. There was nothing. An international stadium? You are having a laugh.
You’re absolutely right. This is like finding a plot twist in a movie that you didn’t see coming. The head of security and the senior stewards should’ve been on this like white on rice. And the seats? We need to get that sorted faster than you can say “popcorn”. Shaun Harvey and Fleur Robinson will be in the loop quicker than a rollercoaster ride. And our stadium operations manager? They’ll be briefed too.
On 19/02/2024 at 05:42, Piethagoram said:@Dry Nelson Ray Perhaps you can write to the EFL and ask that the game should now be recorded as 1-1 You can make a good point for football and for us ????
As for Billy, sounds like he’s feeling the sting of the game’s outcome. But hey, I’ll make sure to pass his comment to Paul. It’ll bring a smile to his face faster than a kid in a candy store. After all, a little laughter goes a long way, right?
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It wouldn't surprise me if it was included as an Easter egg by the man himself. There are probably other scenes with other references that are yet to be unearthed. I would love to see a better close-up picture!
Up the Super Notts! It's fantastic to see a mention of us; it's clearly a reference to the club but with a logo that's free from copyright restrictions.
On 15/02/2024 at 08:34, Piethagoram said:
Nathan’s got it! It’s like he’s a detective and the logo was his case. Notts County? They played like they were on fire! I mean, if socks could talk, those ones would be saying, “Wow, what a ride!”
Unlucky result!
On 22/02/2024 at 21:29, super_ram said:Why no Ram @Dry Nelson Ray ?
And Easter eggs? Who’s to say I didn’t slip in a little something for my ram buddies? It’s like a treasure hunt, but instead of a map, you’ve got a remote. So keep your eyes peeled and enjoy the show!
On Tuesday night Notts take on Sutton United. How many links can we find between the two clubs.
Rob Milsom has had a couple of spells with Notts and moved to Sutton in 2019.
How many links more can we find?
Bad news again for Football.
More financial problems in our Football Pyramid.
This week, Torquay United have signalled they may be heading into administration becoming the latest non-league club to face serious problems in recent months.
We have a serious problem in our Football pyramid. There doesn't seem more than a few weeks go by when we hear about another club in trouble.
What can be done,.Should the FA, Premier League and EFL get involved, or it is just inevitable that Clubs will be left to their fate?
https://thefsa.org.uk/news/torquay-united-latest-non-league-club-in-trouble/
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The Trouble is Robbie, that the FA Don't Care as long as they've got their Premier League and all the money it generates and Top clubs also don't give a damn about any other clubs then their own and as they've proved before the EFL don't give two hoots about the Lower League Clubs.
Unfortunately you are right about that @Wheelbarrow repair man No doubt if Torquay do go under a new phoenix club will rise up again, to play again probably in the Southern Counties league or equivalent.
I hope it doesn't happen and the club find a buyer who is prepared to invest in the club We will have to wait and see.
Torquay probably overspent a few years back when we played them in the playoffs, allowing some of those key players to leave on a free and not selling them (even if it was a small fee) just seemed to be something that their ambition couldn't quite match. They haven't been the same since, very poor fortune.
Game 35 - The Railwaymen (H)
Team: Crewe Alexandra
Date: 24/02/2024
Where: Meadow Lane
What line-up should Stuart Maynard 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.
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1 minute ago, DangerousSausage said:I can't say too much about the match as I only saw the end of it when it was already done and dusted. Under LW we could gloss over days like yesterday as we'd had a good start to the season and were sitting near the top. Now the table tells a more realistic story.
We had a soft start to the season that probably led many of us to think we're better than we are. But as soon as we started playing the current top six or seven we started to struggle, and it hasn't changed. We are just not effective enough at either end of the pitch to decide tight games in our favour. We've won just four games by a single goal this season. It's not a new problem, but it''s one that Stuart Maynard hasn't got to grips with yet.
We seem to have missed an opportunity to strengthen our back line over the last couple of transfer windows. But the root of the problem goes back further: Ian Burchnall inherited a team that looked terrified to leave our half of the pitch and placed a lot of focus on being braver and taking more risks. Since then, every time we've signed a player (even defenders), the feedback from fans of their previous clubs has been the same: "he's great going forwards, but a bit dodgy at the back". It's given us a few years of brilliant football, but now we're lacking players who simply focus on the bread and butter of preventing the opposition scoring.
We should definitely mix it up more during games to keep the opposition on their toes, but trying to turn into a long ball team with our skillful but physically weak team is a recipe for disaster. Until last season we played with a target man in Kyle Wootton - it would be handy to have an option like him again for League Two, but that ship has sailed this season sadly.
I agree, we just need to mix things up. Be less predictable, stop playing into the hands of our opponents, who are all playing in a similar way against us.
I think SM is trying to do that already to be fair. Luke Williams tended to stick to his favoured team and formation, and after a while the opposition knew exactly how we were lining up. SM has tried to switch things around - but do that too many times and you'll end up with confused and nervous players in unfamiliar positions.
I've reached the point where there's zero time for me to be patient in passing the ball back, nobody seemed to try to make a forward run, and it took things quickly against Notts. Crewe were by far the better team, although their dark arts frustrated me because did they need to do it? Notts made the game very easy for them to cope with, I am not sure the time-wasting and players dropping like flies made much difference. If anything, it gave Notts more time after the 90 minutes when they did turn up to do something - which by that point it was always too late. It's difficult to feel sorry for anyone in this situation because everyone played very poorly.
Whilst, I don't think Stuart Maynard deserves to be taking all the blame. He's reaching a point where it's difficult to overlook some of his current issues which I do honestly feel are being caused by the players.
Jodi Jones, Macaulay Langstaff and Aden Baldwin are the only players I felt did enough to warrant a positive mention. Baldwin prevented numerous attempts on goal, Langstaff didn't stop trying and everything that seemed to be bright came through Jones.
Crewe scored two very easy first goals.
I still don't like seeing teams attempting to interfere with the keeper, it's gone beyond the presence of being there and a light bit of pushing to something on a whole different level. I've seen officials give free kicks just for a push. Yet there's no excuse for any of our players for switching off, it was a well worked goal by them and anyone who could have done something simply became a bystander. Our players need to stop watching the game at times as if they're not actually on the field and be more aware of what they can do in order to defend situations.
Crewe's second goal is by far more irritating. Major communication error between two players, one of which should have left the ball clearly for the other to deal with - without appearing to try to hold the other's hand.
I have seen one of said players get far more comments thrown his direction, but the player who wasn't going for the ball and didn't go for the ball. They made the situation very dangerous and are at fault, as anyone with a pair of eyes can see by the point the header was in motion. It became a risk of injury or collision which turned it into a comical error. Why can't we get that close to marking the opposition? Doing so to our own player is just void of responsibility.
Then an unfortunate bounce straight to a Crewe player, to which again, Notts were ball watching and not the player.
I honestly didn't see contact made for the penalty, I saw it in slow motion and I thought the Crewe player clipped their own heels in order to try to get our keeper sent off. There was time for him to easily lob an open net. Even watching the highlights and going frame by frame I am unconvinced it was anything but that.
It doesn't really matter, we had nothing to suggest that we could make a game of it. Usually by the 70th minute Notts tend to get a surge and therefore look better and whilst the changes helped to make us more attacking minded. The damage had already been done, pushing for our first, left us open for their third, and it was game over by that point.
You have the game finished by the 90th minute mark, to which all of a sudden we become brighter and play as if we have half an hour to go.
Crewe didn't make it difficult for us to play, we did. There should be no false credit to Crewe, because it comes down to us not being good enough. The thoughts of the players, whether it be about morale, focus, or their uncertainties regarding Maynard, are of great importance. They let us down and this is the first time I felt there was little in their defence of how we played. I believe the players are letting Maynard down too.
The signs are that we aren't capable of reaching the playoffs, that is fine.
If some of the issues is pressure, Maynard must find a way to take it off the players shoulders but if they can't help themselves - I am not sure if he can do anything to change it. Given the opportunity, I would go Neil Warnock mode on them at full time. Perhaps, even Sir Alex Furguson.
Premier League clubs are meeting later this week to discuss replacing profit and sustainability rules with new financial fair play regulations
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Chelsea and Manchester City are two teams whose owners directly transformed them into much bigger clubs by pumping in money. According to the Sky Sports panellist, it's like 'supercharging'.
I think most decisions always tend to benefit the bigger clubs, as the Premier League want to keep eyes on the product, and they understand that players will only sign for teams where they believe theirs a chance of having success. Success is measured quite differently, although ambitious footballers want to win leagues and cups.
Buying a club and rapidly investing isn't something I feel is safe, if City's owner pulls out they will need to massively reduce their cost of running. So, I feel the changes are being suggested to benefit owners of this nature and further give them funds to outspend the lower teams. It's a sad situation, as teams do tend to chase the Premier League and that can come at a cost of overspending.
The fans are then punished by seeing their team deducted points or, if they manage to fall within the rules - they risk the long term future of the club. It's part of what is ruining the game. It always has and always will be, but they could use more common sense to make clubs fall within a percentage of their income, ensuring teams operate at a reasonable rate.
The top clubs will always splash the cash, they've got it and want to remain in Europe. It's more about how they can stop overspending. I do think this change would make it easier for City to ignore their overspending and in a way that they get away with it.
Breaking News.
So Everton's punishment has been reduced. Their points deduction reduced to six from the 10 originally given them.
This now takes them above Forest, but they may still get another points deduction, because there is still a decision to be made on further Everton FFP transgressions.
And Forest are under investigation too. They await a possible points deduction.
It could turn out that both may get relegated due to points reductions late in the season
What a complete and utter farce, these fair play rules are.
And how long are we going to wait for a decision on Man City?
Good morning, are we all looking forward to the weekend? I know I am, tonight it’s curry night and now my stomach has healed we are having one of our favourites lamb and spinach. Cooked by Mrs. t’s own fair hand.
Tomorrow I’ll be down the lane of course cheering on the boys to a sensational win (he said hopefully).
Sunday the family are coming round to help us devour a leg of lamb which will be marinaded beforehand with herbs and spices, mmm should be good.
Whats everyone else doing this weekend or what have you been doing if you’re reading this late?
Interesting you tell us about Friday night being your curry night. Not a Fan myself, but my brother in law and his wife are. They went to a newly opened Indian place and couldn't decide what to have, so they asked the waiter what he would recommend, he suggested Chicken Tarka, well they both heard of chicken Tikka but not chicken Tarka, they asked what the difference was and were told Tarka was a little 'Otter. I'll get my coat
I remember when I was a little lad I went down to the barbers, it was a right pokey little place with only one chair. There were three blokes in front of me, and after each one had had his Hair Cut the Barber said, Anything for the Weekend Sir ? Two said yes while the third said he was fine. Then it was my turn once I'd had my Hair Cut the Barber said Anything else Young 'un ? I said Yes can I have something for the Weekend ? He gave me a Kite.
I Loved that Kite and that's how I'd spend my Weekends.
the usual for me, i will be at meadow lane tomorrow.
no plans for after the game as of now, but i might go call by my dads to see what hes doing. sunday will be the usual routine of fetching shopping for my mum, then wait for sunday before going back home to beeston. i am glad to have two days off from work. a little time to relax and kick back.
Please join me and welcome another family member,my lovely,cheeky grandson, to Pride of Nottingham..Hello @Harry Buckley it's good to see you've joined the original Magpies and you've already joined in with the Prediction League.Show us all how it's done.
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Hello, @Harry Buckley. It's good to see you joining your family here. Welcome to PON! I hope to see you contribute to the community.
Hello, welcome to the Pride of Nottingham @Harry Buckley. ????????
Welcome to PON @Harry Buckley. ????????
I was born in the very bad winter of 1946/47,not a leap year ,but that's another story.My old Ram supporting mate, Gordon, shares my birthday but is one year younger.Apparently if he had been born an hour later he would be celebrating his 19th birthday today.
I think leap year day should be a bank holiday. I did an extra day's work on Thursday without any extra pay, and we even had to do actual work and not just muck around all day. It's just not on.
Also, I went to school with someone born on leap year day, so by my count she'll be about ten now.
i think the way seasons are going and the current weather, months will make their own mind up on what is summer and what is not. but leap years are interesting, things like this and turning the clock hour backwards. at what people did someone figure these out? ????