Notts County Squad 2018-19

[DaveSmithRules]

Whatever happens I hope we just sign quality in the right positions for the budget we have.

Centre-back - Signing more than one is fine. But Duffy/ Brisley as a reserve will be a step-up. And there's no point keeping Bird on if he can't get near the squad.

Wingers - Yes. This is the also one position we seem to do consistently well with on loan (Grant, Grealish, McGregor etc). I'd be okay starting next season with Allesandra and Hawkridge in direct competition for one position on RM. I know a lot of fans wouldn't agree, but they got double figures of goals between them last season and would have had more assists with better strikers.

Strikers - Always the most expensive players. Always the hardest to get. We've been linked with so many (Hirst, Bogle, Rose, Toney etc). But we really do need to get at least two new ones in this summer. Stead should be our benchwarmer, not our main man.

[Bohinen]

Whatever happens I hope we just sign quality in the right positions for the budget we have.

Centre-back - Signing more than one is fine. But Duffy/ Brisley as a reserve will be a step-up. And there's no point keeping Bird on if he can't get near the squad.

Wingers - Yes. This is the also one position we seem to do consistently well with on loan (Grant, Grealish, McGregor etc). I'd be okay starting next season with Allesandra and Hawkridge in direct competition for one position on RM. I know a lot of fans wouldn't agree, but they got double figures of goals between them last season and would have had more assists with better strikers.

Strikers - Always the most expensive players. Always the hardest to get. We've been linked with so many (Hirst, Bogle, Rose, Toney etc). But we really do need to get at least two new ones in this summer. Stead should be our benchwarmer, not our main man.

I agree with most of that but fans brought up on Carter, Scanlon, Chiedozie, Dave Smith (if you say) and even Adrian Thorpe aren't going to be satisfied with Allesandra and Hawkridge, who barely reach the byline. We need an exciting winger, and Grant isn't it either.

[jackal2]

I agree with most of that but fans brought up on Carter, Scanlon, Chiedozie, Dave Smith (if you say) and even Adrian Thorpe aren't going to be satisfied with Allesandra and Hawkridge, who barely reach the byline. We need an exciting winger, and Grant isn't it either.

Dave Smith only played one season for us sadly, but he left some memories. He wasn't so much of a jinky winger type, he took the direct route. He reminded me of a clockwork toy, you would set him off sometimes even at the edge of your own penalty area and he would make a bee-line straight down the pitch, only vaguely slowing down when he got to the by-line! I remember the Sirrel Stand (home fans in those days) roaring as he whizzed past them, especially in that famous win against Sunderland to keep us up. And as for his penalty kicks, I've only seen Ray Stewart of West Ham hit them harder or better!

One of my biggest regrets is that having only started going down the Lane in 1989, I missed ever seeing Adrian Thorpe in action. I know many thought we would have been dead cert champions ahead of Sunderland (as it happens!) in Barnwell's first year if Thorpe hadn't been crippled by Doug Rougvie in a game at Brighton.

[DaveSmithRules]

Happily I am old enough to have watched Adrian Thorpe. I was young, but he was brilliant!

Dave Smith and that 5-1 Tranmere game: he was a hero! The fact he ended his career with injury that season is tragic. And why his name must live on here forever with my ramblings.

[optipez]

Grant, Forte and Ameobi scored just under thirty goals between them last seaon, Stead scored nine, and will likely score less next season.
Goals from all over the pitch got us into a great position first half of the season but dried up second half to a degree.
We absolutely have to find a combination of players who can add forty goals if we are aiming for the automatics next season based on goals scored by the top three this season.

[jackal2]

Grant, Forte and Ameobi scored just under thirty goals between them last seaon, Stead scored nine, and will likely score less next season.
Goals from all over the pitch got us into a great position first half of the season but dried up second half to a degree.
We absolutely have to find a combination of players who can add forty goals if we are aiming for the automatics next season based on goals scored by the top three this season.

Most successful teams do have goals from all over the pitch, and we did remarkably well in that regard last season. However, it did cover up the very poor return of our strikers, and it's one of the reasons why I think the appearances-based extension clause in Stead's contract was a mistake. If it had been a 15 or 20 league goal target for an extension, that would have made more sense. As it is, we've kept hold of a player in clear and obvious decline, albeit never lacking in effort.

In my opinion we need a quality centre-forward of the Bogle ilk and two pacey support/poacher types with real finishing ability if we are going to build on the strengths of the current squad and push for the title next time. I don't care if they come from the leagues above or below us, or from other league Two teams, that's the scouting team's job to get right. But we need the sort of goal power which will nick us games when other parts of the team aren't playing or scoring so well.

[i961pie]

[QUOTE=hissingdwarf;38899274]TO be honest the wings worry me a little. Hawkridge and to a lesser extent, Allesandro, are weak links and neither are first teasers imo.

Couldn't agree more, at least one decent centre back, a creative midfielder and decent winger plus a couple of pacy strikers required imo.

[iamITK]

TO be honest the wings worry me a little. Hawkridge and to a lesser extent, Allesandro, are weak links and neither are first teasers imo.

Fill the keeper slot with a young lad.
Two new CBS as has been said. Hard, fast and composed. (Not Duffy!)
Wingers. Massive weakness at the club.
The obvious strikers.

Id have Hawkridge and Allesandra as the two back ups, and bring in one either side, ideally with stupid pace, as first choices.

[LaughingMagpie]

I agree with most of that but fans brought up on Carter, Scanlon, Chiedozie, Dave Smith (if you say) and even Adrian Thorpe aren't going to be satisfied with Allesandra and Hawkridge, who barely reach the byline. We need an exciting winger, and Grant isn't it either.

You are quite right, we have had some good proper wingers in the past. What we had this season was right sided or left sided midfielders who couldn't beat a traffic cone and I include Grant in that. He would make a better number 10 just behind the front 2.

[MAD_MAGPIE]

Too soon? Sorry Collin, Forte, Smith, Curtis et al. But I'm actually a bit excited about Nolan's cull and hopeful that he can use the money left over wisely to build a proper well-rounded squad to compete next season.

So, assuming the players we’ve offered new contracts to re-sign here is the squad for next season and the gaps I’d like to see filling…

GOALKEEPERS

GK – Ross Fitzsimons
GK - Branislav Pindroch
GK – TBC

Surprised to see Collin released, but will be happy to see his wage spent up front and Fitzsimons given a chance as number one.

DEFENCE

DR - Matt Tootle
DR - TBC
DL - Dan Jones
DL - TBC
DC - Shaun Brisley
DC - Richard Duffy
DC - Pierce Bird
DC - TBC

Youth: Harry Bugg and Declan Dunn are both defenders too, tho not sure where they play.

Would love to see a pacey central defender join us and in terms of full-back cover I’d prefer to see a couple of young loanees along the lines of Bola from Arsenal, than old uns like Nicky Hunt.


MIDFIELD

MR - Terry Hawkridge
MR – Lewis Alessandra
ML – TBC
ML – TBC
CM - Elliott Hewitt
CM - Noor Husin
CM - Liam Noble
CM - Michael O'Connor

Youth: Alex Howes

Apart from replacing Jorge Grant (the pre-Christmas version) we barely need to strengthen here tbh. And if we had more goals up front we'd have been less reliant on him anyhow.


FORWARDS

CF – TBC
CF - Jon Stead
CF – TBC
CF – TBC

Youth: Remaye Campbell and Sam Osborne

Like many fans, I really hope we spend most of the money on new forwards as clearly that’s where we really need it. Ideally three new ones that are all better than Stead. Pace and power needed. And younger legs.

COYP!

Good work. Well done. Let’s keep this thread updated as players sign.

As I’ve said on another thread if Jon Stead is here then he will be the ultimate professional and bring lots of experience for whoever comes in. He got 13 goals this season which is good, so I would hope that with his age as well we don’t need to rely on him and he can be an impact player or play for an hour and not have to play two games a week.

I’m also pleased Matt Tootle has signed. I think he’s derserved his two year contract. He’s also a bit of a character so will be good to have in the dressing room. He’s made the right back slot his own.

It will be interesting to see how O’Connor and Hewitt work in midfield. If O’Connor can be next seasons Ryan Yates this can only be beneficial. Plus there are options with Hussin and Noble as well to mix things up.

If only Ameobi had been two or three years younger it would have been great to see him play some more for us. He still had his premiership quality and skill. But we can’t rely on two forwards with a combined age of 70+

The challenge now is to bring in better players than the ones that were released.