Match Talk

Before the start of the season, this would have been seen as a battle between promotion favourites. If you said Notts would be 22nd and Luton 17th at this stage, the fans would have laughed at you, but that is the reality of it. Luton won their first league game last weekend. They are still in the JPT and only lost on penalties to Stoke in the LC so they have shown glimpses of how good they can be. Their main threat is Craig Mackail Smith but they have quality throughout their side. Danny Green in Midfield is a real threat. Liam Noble is back and it couldn't come at a better time. This has the makings of an absolute cracker. Goals galore I feel, but I think Luton are…

So, picking up my old style of these threads, memories of plastic pitches aside - what does Luton Town remind us of. For me, ID cards, David Pleat hop-skipping-jumping with Brian Horton, exective boxes that looked like a bus shelter, and - obscurely - Rob "hot prospect from Loughborough university studying Geography" Matthews netting a brace against them towards the end of 91-92. This was part of our easter revival where we beat Coventry and Norwich in a mini-run, but ultimately was fruitless and simply helped drag Luton down with us to the "new" Division One. So, onto the players. It look a bit of thought this week, but there must be quite a few players that have …

With eleven new first year scholars added to the squad, the young 'Pies got off to a slow start to the season with decent performances without the necessary cutting edge with defeats at Doncaster (0-1) and Burton (0-2). Last week in the first round of the League Cup they went through with a penalty from Jack McMillan and now face Oldham at home in round two. Today's game saw Notts face Grimsby at Arnold Town's ground - with both teams looking for their first points of the season. Notts were 'out of their blocks' the quicker of the two teams taking control of the game right from the off with some neat passing football. The first goal came after only ten minutes w…

Just wondering what all your thoughts are on the match against Crawley having to be rearranged. Do we find it good or bad and why?

We got Sheffield Utd away. That is the worst draw we could have got. Even their 2nd string is decent enough.

Will Notts be up for this? can we get revenge? I am curious as to what will happen if we lose again, I know its early days and we need time but confidence will be at an all time low if we get beaten by our closest rivals again so soon.

Back to the bread and butter stuff after last night's trip to Villa. Morecambe are one of the clubs tipped to struggle by the bookies. They have an identical record to us. 1 win, 1 draw, 2 defeats. They managed a 3-3 draw at Portsmouth last weekend, a game they should have won really, they lead 3-0 after 38 minutes but allowed a last minute equalizer to 10 man Pompey. Before that they had only managed to score once in their 3 league games. One goal proving enough to beat Accrington at home. I expect this to be a tight game. Morecambe aren't blessed with prolific goalscorers but we don't exactly have a tight defence. I can't see us keeping a clean sheet. 1-1 draw for me…

The last time we played Morecambe, Sol Campbell had made his first and only appearance for the club. Can you name one player, staff or personal connected? I'll start with Nicky Fenton.

McLeod should make his debut in this game. I'd imagine Villa will field a weakened side, hopefully we get to see Jack Grealish. RM might go with his strongest side, Noble will be suspended so at least one change. Our defence is poor but Villa are not exactly prolific. 2-1. McLeod to open his account.

I can't create a poll folks but please do add a comment below, I will total 'em tomorrow and from our social pages and then name the motm as voted by the fans. Who was your Man of the Match v Villa?

First port of call, I will throw one obvious and that being Jack Grealish. Yet, I can name a further 6 players/coaches. I won't, Instead I will by adding Martin O'Neil.

The bookies and experts say Accrington will be struggling against relegation this season. Mind you, they say that every season and Accrington are still in League 2. No wonder they are called the club that wouldn't die. Accrington have got off to a decent start, 4 points from 9. Luton were lucky to escape with a draw and they beat Mansfield. They lost 1-0 at Morecambe, another relegation favourite. Accrington are one of those teams where the sum of their parts is better than their individual parts. Their manager John Coleman is one of the best in the division. They have scored 3 and conceded 3 so far. Accrington knocked us out of the FA Cup last season. They drew at …

Yesterday Notts' Youth team travelled to play Burton Albion at The Defence 6th Form College at Woodhouse, a lovely set up with a number of excellent pitches - a 28 mile trip for the Burton players - but only 6 miles for me! It looked a tough game in prospect with Burton the early league leaders with maximum points from two games while Notts had none from their 1-0 defeat at Doncaster a fortnight earlier. Notts put out a young team with six of the starting eleven being first year scholars. They gave a good account of themselves though with goalmouth chances at both ends but the teams went for their half-time drink with the score still 0-0. The second half saw …

Accrington Stanley, who are they? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgYP1d5nN2o Well, Stanley are the next side to visit Meadow Lane this season, our results have been mixed, but this would be a good fixture to get back on track... Now then folks, playing and coaching staff links between the two clubs... My starter would be Andy Parkinson... over to you!

Evening everybody, I have to say I'm proper ashamed of the County players for their "performance" against Mansfield. Mind you, you know what local pub teams are like... lose their heads when they get an early goal int that right?

Oxford are one of the favourites for promotion. They have assembled a strong squad. They are unbeaten this season. They drew at home to Crawley, won 4-0 at Brentford and dug out a 2-2 draw at Luton. Oxford have a few danger men. Hylton, Roofe, Hoban and Sercombe. I doubt we'll keep a clean sheet. I actually think our style is better away from home. I think this has all the makings of a cracker. 1-1 is my prediction. Spencer rescuing a point for us.

hi all, been really slack lately (Pie In Shanghai) so thanks to all for filling these great threads in. SPin a bonus on relegation, at least we've a raft of new teams to play this game with... Anyway - Oggsfud invokes memories of = Milk Cup (love, oxo!), Dean Saunders, Ray Houghton and John Aldridge. Game wise, the only game I recall is the last game of 93/94, following the exploits of Dyjkstra, we needed to hope Derby lost their last game and we needed a win at the already relegated side based at the Manor ground by 7 goals. Needless to say, I think we lost.... So thin on the ground for players - my sole effort tonight is Nigel Jemson. Wiki tells me 14 games…

Not many good moments here, the better team does look to have won. >https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VoCiHhRuhk

The first fixture most Pies fans would have been scanning the fixtures for when they were published. The same goes for Mansfield fans I expect. Notts County away is their biggest game of the season, it's the one they would love to win most, a win in our backyard. Even though it's a Friday night, it's possible the attendance could break 10K. Mansfield will bring 3K or more and with the bright start by the Pies, the home crowd will be well up on last season. Mansfield recruited well in the off season, they have put together a decent squad. They will be disappointed with their 1-1 draw at home to Carlise. That's a side they should be beating. They were beaten 4-1 away to…

Anyone got a spare space in the car tomorrow night I'd give you petrol money Live in chilwell

I, as many of the other 7K Notts fans in attendance last night, have woken up today with a very sour taste in my mouth. The same sour taste as if you were to consume a HUGE packet of Haribo Tangfastics as you cried yourself to sleep and leave yourself asking.. "Is this real?" Yes we played bloody woefully.. For a game as important as this, not only it being our first home game where we get to put our stamp on the home form in this league but a chance at early bragging rights. This was a derby that only one team turned up for and FULL credit to Mansfield because they gave one hell of a performance both on and off the pitch, it was an absolute incredible performance from t…

Well folks... our neighbours, there will be heaps of players and staff to go at here I think... Keith Curle and Kieron Freeman are my openers. Who can you name?

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Our attention now switches to the Capital One Cup, and opponents Huddersfield... there pre season has been a bit of a mixed bag, and they opened up with a 2-0 defeat away at Hull City. The last time the two teams met was in January 2012 at the lane, with the match ending in a 2-2 draw, with a goal each for the Hughes's, Jeff and Lee. Here we are looking for connections between the clubs, be it coaching/managing and players.... I will start us off with Sam Allardyce and Jimmy Spencer As a side note I have just noticed that his name actually contains the word lard ... no wonder he is known as fat sam

Well done on your start & we'll probably see each other again in L1 2016/17 because we're clueless!!!