theAnticlough

Really really poor...Two main reasons for defeat? MP's conservative team selection, not bringing in proven creative players to start the game. Players like Grant and Bennetts are not promotion-level, so these results will happen while we continue with them. To add to all that, Jatta was poor but what the hell was that from Dennis? The worst player on the pitch today. And yeah, Roos' error was awful, but they'd have won anyway. The main problem was with the outfield players.

Platt and the CMs are giving us solidity, but we're suffering from poor creative play and the forwards having one of their sleepier days so far. The tussle for the LWB shirt requires Jones to replace Bennetts asap, and let's see what Jodi can do

Been thinking a bit more about MP's Jones v Bennetts decision - probably the tightest fight for a shirt in the squad at the moment. It's tough, I don't think there's a cigarette paper between them based on this season's performances. Jones probably has the best matches between the pair and a set of the worst as well. Bennetts has been very steady. Jones' claims are more historical, based on seasons MP didn't see. It's fair if he asks JJ to show it all over again. JJ can't come in and give us a 5 or 6 out of 10, when Bennetts can guarantee a 6 or a 7. I'd like MP to gamble and challenge JJ to hit his best form, but it'd be understandable if he went with Bennetts.

Stoke City 1-0 Preston End WBA 1-0 Bristol Burton Albion 1-2 Cobblers Luton Town 2-1 Wycombe Stanley 1-1 Barrow Gills 1-0 Cambridge Eastleigh 1-1 Woking Solihull Moors 2-1 Tamworth Joker

I'd actually be a bit surprised by unchanged this time I think Jones has to start. If he doesn't then Bennetts is first choice and Jones is the back-up and I just don't think that's the case. Bennetts has done fine, but what has he done to become first choice over Jones. But if he does get the nod, JJ can't afford a 'feel-out' 'get up to speed' kind of game. We're not that type of team anymore. Hall will probably have to start from the bench though. Everyone who has left the team for one reason or another ends up with a fight to get back in and that's a really healthy sign Definitely agree that it will be a tough and close game - a real Boxing Day local derby

Wishing all the PON community a very Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year. Nine points please, less than 4 and you can stuff it Santa, no mince pies for you.

Yes, many thanks to Sausage. May the only blanket he's wrapped in this Xmas be fabric

It's an insult to the paying public. Wasting OUR time making us go home or onto somewhere else later than we want. It also signals to youngsters that cheating and lying is normal. Feign injury, feign sickness, don't go to work, don't go to school - fake that you're injured like all those pro footballers do every week.

Attacking Midfield/ Inside-forward is the greatest position of need this window. My dream acquisition? Ruben on a half-season loan! Montague has recruited him before and it's a contender for his greatest ever Notts signing. I can't work out what's happening at Vitoria. I even have a Brazilian contact over there and he wasn't able to find out either! He never features, not even on the 12 strong bench. Ruben slotting in there with Dennis and Jatta as options ahead of him - Palmer and Robbo to find him, would be an ideal fit. There might be all kinds of reasons why this is a non-starter, but as a minimum Monty should at least ask the question.

I'd be more interested to see Kouhyar given a go in Grant's position rather than at WB.

By the 70min mark it looked like JJ had that shirt again and Bennetts had had his run. But then came one of his wasteful spells and it didn't look as certain. But JJ is ready physically and is able to do the job defensively. Bennetts' all-round game is solid but he's a goals and assists desert, so this will be a real test of MPs courage and positivity.

I'll go for Iorpenda over Platt. Tom is certainly showing the confidence boost from the winning goal he got. It's such a bonus for us that we have a CM who can contribute all over the pitch - a lot more troublesome for our opponents than two CMs that only sit. Platt is just about back to his best now. Another that deserves a mention I think is Kouhyar who never lets us down when he comes on. I'd really like to see him given a start to show what he can do.

Yeah interesting challenge for MP for Chesterfield. Does he go for the extra goal threat that Hall and Jones would give over Bennetts and Grant? There's no way he can drop Dennis. Because it's quite a tough away fixture, I reckon he'll start Jones but not Hall.

Ah well, I suppose it's a consolation that we looked so much better than the 1st placed team. Nice game for our Defenders and CMs - to snuff them out and show what they can do with the ball. A tougher game for the forwards who had less space to work in

Dominance of ball and territory. Impressive performances so far from the likes of Platt, Tsaroulla and Iorpenda. Grant has been frustrating.

QPR 1-1 Leicester City Sheffield United 2-1 Birmingham City Doncaster Rovers 1-0 Plymouth Argyle Joker Lincoln City 1-1 Cardiff City Rotherham 1-2 Huddersfield Town Barnet 1-1 Salford City Fleetwood Town 0-1 Gillingham Oldham Athletic 1-1 Tranmere Rovers

Toby Adebayo-Rowling is an ex-player who seems to be really coming into his own this season and is a regular assister for top-of-the-table Dale. It looks like he'll be an EFL player again next season, aged 29, either for Dale or another L2 that will be watching

Great to see an unchanged team again following a win. Small detail...McDonald doesn't make the squad today. I know Ness has done well coming on lately, but I hope RodMac has a cold or something because he still might be a contender for our POTY so far, and should be ahead of Ness in the pecking order. COYP - let's go top and stay there 😛

I agree @Robbie 1) The January window isn't the summer window in that it's more difficult to bring in players who will lead and transform your team and 2) that's the way MP manages his team anyway and we love him for it, based on performance and merit. It's surprising actually how operating on these basic, old-fashioned principles, helps the squad come together. Everyone knows where they stand. Compared to favouritism or the coach thinking they're the important one and can win games thru their schemes and chopping and changing.

Good to see the Analyst's Bar crew still active. I've always enjoyed anything they put out there.

Yet another unchanged line up? Keys to victory? If Roos is Jekyll and Hyde, may Mr.Jekyll turn up again on Saturday. Apart from that, the same as always. As MP says, performance is the player's responsibility. If 11 show up well, we'll be top by 2:30. I can't say I'm confident though. The fixture in Dec '23 still brings back bad memories. Baldwin put us ahead but they totally bossed it in the second half. And 1-2 again on New year's Day. They have about a half dozen players left from then, including Barrett, Weir, Jamille Matt. I think we'll prevent them making it a hat-trick of festive Meadow Lane wins by drawing 1-1.

being Grimsby, just cod and chips

They'll be scared shitless at this point. I know we're supposed to hate them but can't Harrogate go down instead, please?

BBC Radio picked out the right quote. It seems to be true. In the past we haven't had that and sometimes didn't realise. MP has done a tremendous job so far of instilling the right culture at the club. He's turning out to be much more than a Head Coach and is what we were crying out for - a real leader.

For me, it's a tough choice between Dennis and Bedeau. Bedeau was immense today and it was his usual speciality that caught the eye - what an awesome one-on-one defender he is. I voted Dennis though. That's two away wins on the bounce he's won for us now. I thought he ran Roos close for MoM at Bristol Rovers. But I'll vote for him this time. His all round game as an AM was solid, but the goal was spectacular. Freeze the film at when he received it - he had so much to do, scoring would have been a 1% chance. And we wouldn't have got the second if Grimsby hadn't risked all and left just 1 at the back. Matty Dennis has bagged us so many points this season with his goals.