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New signings' success or failure will always be a concern as will replacing key players in any close season.
But shouldn't be have some faith in the process seeing as all the players we are worried about replacing were signed as part of the process?#radar
To me it gives me more confidence on recruitment than I've had in the club for a long long time.
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The things that a recruitment process by ‘data’ can’t identify is a players character and desire, and the lack of those shown in all the poor performances and capitulations this season make it even more imperative that those qualities are addressed next season. Even more reason that someone with experience is overseeing the recruitment process who has knowledge of the things ‘data’ can’t identify. Recruitment has nowhere been good enough.Originally Posted by laddo
Last edited by keldsyke; 01-05-2022 at 07:11 AM.
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It’s probably an unpopular opinion after yesterday but I wouldn’t change much next season.
The football is good, we score enough goals and I generally enjoy watching this team.
I like IB’s assessment of a game, even when we lose.
We just need to add that bite. Players that do a job when we don’t have the ball. I thought we’d fixed it with Arter but he just isn’t mobile enough.
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Yesterday's result (and many this season) we're not good enough. But I think we're a bit in danger of throwing the baby out with the bathwater here.
The recruitment over the last 18months has actually been pretty good imo. Which is why we're currently in 5th place - only 4 wins off top in a season where the top 2 have got significantly more points than in previous seasons.
I'd try to keep the nucleus of this squad together. We just need a bit of backbone. We need to prioritise experienced NL energetic, competitive and aggressive first-team-ready signings at GK, CB (to play alongside Cameron), CM (to replace Arter) and CF (to replace Wootton).
I'd consider selling and replacing CR or RR if the right offer comes in for them. And the key question for me about IB is not whether he can win the play-offs, but if he can learn from his mistakes and build a team who can play a bit more rough and direct when needed.
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Certainly in our last two home games, we’ve started games with a direct approach, playing the ball into the channels.
So I think IB is certainly reacting to the fact we struggle when pressed.
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Totally agree regarding the intangibles that can't be identified via data. That's where the old fashioned personal recommendations and networking come into play.
However it doesn't change the fact that although the fans can rightly be concerned about replacing our top players with equally impressive players next season but the process worked then when identifying and signing the likes of Roberts, Rodrigues and Wootton. It won't be easy but surely it can happen again? Shouldn't those recent examples give us confidence as fans?
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I think this is spot on. This is the most competitive the NL has ever been and I feel there are only a couple of aspects that need looking at closely if we are to go up next season (we are too fragile at the back to gain promotion this season).
Firstly we need to make sure we recruit the right players. Easier said than done, I know, but as a lot of other posters have alluded to, we need some "bruisers" in the middle who can get stuck in and really grab the game by the scruff of the neck.
I know people are saying we need a proven goalscorer at this level but they simply don't exist (Tshimanga aside). If they are that good, they get snapped up by clubs higher up the pyramid, or need a lot of money to tempt them here.
Overall, I think recruitment has been good - looking at players like RR and Cal who will surely leave this summer for a decent fee + sell on. There has been the odd dud (looking at you, Brunt) but there have been far more hits than misses - especially when compared to the PTSD triggering summer of Trew/Moniz/Branston.
We are heading in the right direction, but IB needs to sort out the leaky defence and quickly. It's been an issue since he arrived and it's concerning that a year or so down the line it hasn't been addressed. As DSR mentioned, we look so much more threatening when playing more direct and less vulnerable faffing about at the back.
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Yes, good discussion.
I'll go back to a topic brought up a few months ago - the need for coordination between recruitment and coaching plans.
IB clearly wanted to base the season on 3-5-2...
But we didn't have a RWB at all til Richardson came
On the left, Taylor has proven to be a recruitment failure, but that was a key position too. As adequate a full-back as DKE is, he's been leading our attack down both flanks at different times this season! Nuts. Chicksen can't do that job either.
It's should be obvious that the recruitment failed to meet the needs of the coaching strategy.
Losing Brindley and Cameron at the same time is awful luck. Just like losing all CBs at the same time was in Oct/Nov
Cameron's unavailability has been a massive and underestimated negative - he's the captain after all.
Fans have got a right to be disappointed with the league position, failure to compete further up the table, and the number and nature of all the defeats. But a combo of bad luck and poor planning is probably more to blame that any failings of IB. Although he's clearly got to motivate better and not be a smartarse with his team selection like he was yesterday.
Last edited by the_anticlough; 01-05-2022 at 08:43 AM.
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The football has been a breath of fresh air when it works but we havn't a plan B when it dosn't.
Without the ball is where we struggle as we havn't enough legs ,physicality or desire to get it back.
We need a few NL type players who are young,quick and hungry to succeed also in my opinion we have used the loan system
when it was proved we didn't have the right players why not get a few in BEFORE the season starts so they can be schooled into
the way we play.
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In his interview he said that Aldershot had big strong pacey forwards that caused us problems, I wonder If he thinks it's what Notts need.
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