What are your expectations for next season?

[laddo]

A Wes Thomas type player? He stretched defences on a regular basis, worked hard but wants clinical enough.

[the_anticlough]

A Wes Thomas type player? He stretched defences on a regular basis, worked hard but wants clinical enough.

I wouldn't think of him as an example, Laddo. He was already 32/33 and was more of a target man really, working across the line rather than threatening to get in behind it (and yeah, his finishing was woeful)

Warnock had the 4-3-3 spot on

Lund - hold up play
Bartlett - threat in behind
Johnson - creative spark, wide play

We have the first and third, we need something like the 2nd IMO! Maybe it could be Knight at some stage.

[jacobncfc]

It is.
Personally though, I'd like to see all 3 playing along with a new player who gives that threat of getting in behind the defence (which none of that great trio give us really, strangely enough). That would stretch and pin back teams out who want to press us. So a new CF/wide attacker of that type would be near the top of the shopping list, just behind that physical box-to-box midfielder and the combative, aerially-strong CB!

Rodrigues and Roberts are similar in that they'd thrive by playing with a runner (which Wootton isn't really). If fit, I'd like to see Ruben as the most advanced/attacking of a midfield 3 to allow some real pace to be brought into the side.

Yeah I agree, we need that kind of option, just not sure we’ll be able to play all four at the same time very often.

The one transfer rumour I’ve seen (from Leigh Curtis) is Andy Dallas, a striker who was on loan at Weymouth, did well in the second half of last season and is just that kind of player, which bodes well.

[BigFatPie]

I think we're looking at a front three of Wootton with Roberts and Rodrigues playing off him in quite fluid positions. It's a pretty exciting prospect.

.

A fit Roberts and Rodrigues together is such an enticing prospect it’s bound not to work in practice! Could be another Lampard/Gerrard situation.

Also, I’d be surprised if Wootton didn’t attract a few EFL offers and for IB to accept them. I’m not sure he’s a fan.

[ncfcog]

Also, I’d be surprised if Wootton didn’t attract a few EFL offers and for IB to accept them. I’m not sure he’s a fan.

Nots sure I would say IB is not a fan, he's spoken highly of KW's performances since he's been here.

[Chilwell_Pie]

With the amount of gaps appearing in the team that ended last season my expectations for next season are not high. Having finished 3rd then 5th whilst the budget was relatively cushioned by parachute payments then can only see us dropping further unless recruitment this summer is near perfect.

Minimum: Avoid relegation

Expected: Mid table

Goal: A push for further play-off heartache!

[irish_pie]

At least we will have a settled team for every game, unlike Ardley who was forever changing it. If Sutton can win the league, then there is no reason with a settled side that we should not...

Could not agree more... Sutton were no world beaters but went up on pure merit, lets hope we can do the same

Minimum 2nd or 3rd
Expected..Promotion
Goal.. To finally win a league again

[irish_pie]

A Wes Thomas type player? He stretched defences on a regular basis, worked hard but wants clinical enough.

Still without a club Laddo? Cant find anything about him online... would you take him back?

[Jampie]

Updating my view on this:

I think we're going to have a mixed/wobbly start to the season but finish very strongly, second half of the season onward I expect us to be very strong.

I'll be staggered if we don't make the playoffs.

I won't be surprised by promotion either way.

However, I think with the mass of new signings, especially younger players on 2+ year deals, I think we have a better chance of going up next season. The squad's had a LOT of turnover, but is now comprised of players that fit IB's assault-football style.

[nw6pie]

Minimum: Somewhere in the top 7
Expected: Somewhere in the top 3
Goal: Champions

On paper at least, our recruitment this summer seems strong but there are plenty of unknowns…

1. Can Ed Francis/Matt Palmer be an upgrade on Michael Doyle/Jake Reeves? Despite Doyle’s age, he was a key player and made the team tick - especially when we remembered how to get over the halfway line. Francis is relatively inexperienced and never played at this level; can he handle the rough and tumble of the National League? Palmer’s experienced, meanwhile, but can he get his career back on track?

2. How do we get Ruben and Cal in the same starting XI if we’re playing 3-5-2? Or do we need to go 3-4-3 to get them both in?

3. Are we physically robust enough yet to cope with the Bromleys/Torquays of this world, who launch the ball into your box at any given opportunity via free kicks, corners and long throws (we conceded a few from the latter last season, which seems criminal)? A fit Alex Lacey is *****ly important.

I’m confident, though, that if we get the rub of the green with injuries, this will be the most entertaining Notts side we’ll have had in many a year.