Where would we be without George?

[KintoreMagpie]

Just wondered what everyone?s opinion is of where Notts would be in the league table if, like Nathan Lowe?s return to his parent club from Walsall in January, Spurs had recalled George Abbott then. I doubt very much we would be in 4th place as George has been a consistently good performance even when the Notts? displays have been disappointing. I suspect that we might only be only competing for a play off position with automatic promotion a distant dream.

Am I wearing rose tinted specs where George is concerned or, is there anyone else in the squad who might have stepped up had GA left in January, enabling us to be in our current position?

[ncfcog]

Just wondered what everyone?s opinion is of where Notts would be in the league table if, like Nathan Lowe?s return to his parent club from Walsall in January, Spurs had recalled George Abbott then. I doubt very much we would be in 4th place as George has been a consistently good performance even when the Notts? displays have been disappointing. I suspect that we might only be only competing for a play off position with automatic promotion a distant dream.

Am I wearing rose tinted specs where George is concerned or, is there anyone else in the squad who might have stepped up had GA left in January, enabling us to be in our current position?

I think you're spot on, I feel him being recalled in Jan would have had an ever worse affect than that which we experienced with Yates going to Scunny. Unbelievable player for his age and will definitely be playing higher up the period next season. I have this dream that that might be with us but even if we go up I can't see him playing any lower than Championship, and that's no less than he deserves.

[drillerpie]

Agree that they will want to have a look at home in the Championship and yes, we would have been really struggling without him.

[irishpete]

I think you're spot on, I feel him being recalled in Jan would have had an ever worse affect than that which we experienced with Yates going to Scunny. Unbelievable player for his age and will definitely be playing higher up the period next season. I have this dream that that might be with us but even if we go up I can't see him playing any lower than Championship, and that's no less than he deserves.

I actually think he could be loaned to Notts again. Spurs will see how he is developing & the style we play suits him. The big one for me is, the player needs to be enjoying himself on & off the pitch, the rest follows when you are. Ask DC or ML if they are happy enjoying life on & off the pitch

[the_anticlough]

We learned last year that what you have in CM is crucial to running systems like ours. It was when LW lost Palmer and Bostock that the form collapsed.
Hinchy and the gradually recovering Palmer couldn't have kept us up there since Jan. Abbott's presence gives a lot of confidence to other parts of the team too. He's got a winning mentality and loves his football and that's infectious

[LeftPeg_Pie]

I think you're spot on, I feel him being recalled in Jan would have had an ever worse affect than that which we experienced with Yates going to Scunny.

Hard to disagree with this. Yates leaving was so pivotal and Abbott going would have had a similar impact.

He is an excellent all round footballer who can do a bit of everything. His energy levels in the press are a different level.

I actually thought he was a little wasteful in possession at times last night, but there is no doubt that he has been an outstanding addition and outstanding performer this season.

It will be fascinating to see where his career goes.

[Boomerangpie]

If Abbott had been recalled in January, and looking at the alternatives within the squad, there would have been a big fall off in the team?s performance. That?s not a hot take obviously but whenever you lose a top performer you suffer as a result and as we have seen this season.

I also believe our tippy tappy style of play played a big part in a player such as Abbott coming to Notts in the first place. That shouldn?t be overlooked, a clear benefit of adopting a passing style

[M0ufMk3]

We learned last year that what you have in CM is crucial to running systems like ours. It was when LW lost Palmer and Bostock that the form collapsed.
Hinchy and the gradually recovering Palmer couldn't have kept us up there since Jan. Abbott's presence gives a lot of confidence to other parts of the team too. He's got a winning mentality and loves his football and that's infectious

The Gillingham loss played a part in convincing me. Horrendous "welcome to big boys' football" non tackle by Gillingham player (Clark) in the first few mins which put George on the track. [imho a yellow and a half but got nothing from an awful ref]. Cue, five minutes or so later and dirty Gill loses out in a 50/50 where George went in with a hardness that belied his build, age, and experience (but said everything about his courage and attitude) which left the Gill crumpled and in no doubt who was top dog. The crowd near me was on its feet applauding.

[matt_magpie]

The guys going to have a fantastic career, he?s got a bit of everything and his attitude is bang on. I?d say he?s been more impactful than Yates and Grealish and definitely for me a better player than Yates was when we had him.
IF we go up we have a chance of getting him back if we don?t I think there?s zero chance unfortunately.

[Woodypie]

I saw him at the early season home game v Accrington and posted about how impressed I was with him (and McGoldrick) then. Maybe the Bros, if they believe in buying cheap and selling for lots, could rattle their piggy bank harder and buy him now and sell for a fortune in 2 year's time? It would be a relative cheap, of course.