
Originally Posted by
Hoppie
I think I like ‘money ball’ and when I say that I draw a large distinction between the recruitment approach and the playing style.
Aside the fact the current team now has multiple players that could play at a higher level and command a transfer fee (when was the last time someone departed Notts mid contract for a fee? not including youth players), the focus on financial returns also draws you to the right type of signing IMO.
To mind there’s broadly three categories of player that you’d think should improve your team:
1. Players that have played at a higher level.
2. Players still capable of playing at higher level.
3. Players that have the potential to play at a higher level.
Notts don’t have the kind of money needed do favour option 2 (a la Wrexham, although I’d argue Marty Palmer fits that description), so do you a) pack your team full of guys that this year aren’t good enough to play in the league above and next year not enough to play at your level either? or b) go for younger players that may not be quite there right now but could develop and take the club with them? Too many teams, Notts included, have pursued option a) in search of immediate success but when I stop and think about it, it stands to reason that the clubs league position is going to follow the trajectory of the playing staff? And then we wonder how 25 years of option A) leads you from the championship to the national league?
So In summary 1 doesn’t work, 2 is unaffordable to what the hell let’s try 3. If I was being critical mind, a bit of 1 and 2 along with 3 wouldn’t go a miss - who knows you could end up with the ability to see a game out 😉