⚽ Match Thread vs. Shrewbury Town FC 01.12.23 [FAC R2]

[MAD_MAGPIE]

I don't think it's a case of "no recruitment", but more "phased recruitment".

Self-evidently we invested heavily in attack-minded players in the summer. We took advantage of an exceptional opportunity to sign a player who wouldn't normally be found at our level in David McGoldrick, who even in taking a pay cut will still be a high earner by Notts' standards. We also signed Dan Crowley, who again won't have come cheap for wages, but who has proven to be an exceptional signing.

This investment probably came at the expense of investment in the defence, to a degree, but those are the resource limitations we face compared with, say, Wrexham, who might have more money to upgrade all parts of the team in one go.

We've got a team with plenty of attacking threat and goal-power, which has been key to making us very competitive in this league, but it probably means we'll have to wait for the January transfer window, and next summer (when certain out of contract players depart) in order for sufficient wages to be freed up to recruit the kind of quality in defence/midfield that we gained in attack last summer.

We're no different to most other League Two clubs in that respect, you have to evolve the squad gradually, in phases. You can't just write out cheques or sustain a wage budget to address all areas at once, especially when you're trying to recruit real quality.

Lots of good points raised here. I know I've said this on here before but I think it's important to keep reminding ourselves to look at the league leaders Stockport. We have scored two goals more than them, but they have conceded 16 less goals than us. They are a year in front of us as this is their second season since getting promoted. So they have had two summers and a January transfer window to build a title challenging team. We've had a summer. It's a gradual process and double promotion in the professional game is something that is not easy. It's hard, difficult and challenging.

Wrexham are only a point in front of us and have only conceded five less goals and scored the same.

Barrow have got the best defence in the league, but can only dream of the firepower we have in Langstaff, Crowley and McGoldrick. They've been at this level three seasons.

Mansfield tough to beat as they've only lost once but have drawn plenty. They've been at this level a number of years and past two seasons finished 7th & 8th.

No team at this level is perfect and at the moment we are in the top six mix with three places for automatic promotion and only a point behind 2nd place. If we are still a point behind 2nd place in March as we come to the business end I'd take that now.

[Old_pie]

Lots of good points raised here. I know I've said this on here before but I think it's important to keep reminding ourselves to look at the league leaders Stockport. We have scored two goals more than them, but they have conceded 16 less goals than us. They are a year in front of us as this is their second season since getting promoted. So they have had two summers and a January transfer window to build a title challenging team. We've had a summer. It's a gradual process and double promotion in the professional game is something that is not easy. It's hard, difficult and challenging.

Wrexham are only a point in front of us and have only conceded five less goals and scored the same.

Barrow have got the best defence in the league, but can only dream of the firepower we have in Langstaff, Crowley and McGoldrick. They've been at this level three seasons.

Mansfield tough to beat as they've only lost once but have drawn plenty. They've been at this level a number of years and past two seasons finished 7th & 8th.

No team at this level is perfect and at the moment we are in the top six mix with three places for automatic promotion and only a point behind 2nd place. If we are still a point behind 2nd place in March as we come to the business end I'd take that now.

Stockport, Wrexham and Barrow are all more ahead of us as they took the top spot in their promotion seasons hence could get on the recruitment bandwagon a month or so earlier. We were a bit in limbo till the Wembley win and a hence behind the curve. I'd be pretty sure we missed out on a couple of targets because of that.

[MAD_MAGPIE]

Stockport, Wrexham and Barrow are all more ahead of us as they took the top spot in their promotion seasons hence could get on the recruitment bandwagon a month or so earlier. We were a bit in limbo till the Wembley win and a hence behind the curve. I'd be pretty sure we missed out on a couple of targets because of that.

That is a good point and worthy of consideration.

I don’t blame the club for taking up the offer to sign McGoldrick as we are privileged to have him with us. Likewise the signing of Crowley has transpired to be an inspired signing. Let’s remember we lost Rodrigues so needed someone to replace a key player in that kind of role and whilst they are different players you need that creativity. Then we also have to remember the new deal or terms for Langstaff and the contract for Jones.

The club could have gone in the opposite direction but we all know that scoring and creating goals is the hardest thing to do in football. So if you’ve got the talent in the building you are halfway there. Plus the above players are assets to the club.

As for the defence it was morally right that the club gave the likes of Slocombe, Rawlinson, Brindley, Cameron and Baldwin a chance to prove themselves at this level. They all had played a part in getting us back to where we belong.

A team is always developing, always evolving. I also think that peoples expectations of double promotion need some realism that it’s not that simple. Players that may be available in January for me might be a stop gap or a try before you buy scenario a bit like Jones and Bostock last season. For me the summer will be when the strengthening in that area may be at its strongest because there will also be players out of contract.

For me if we can keep in the top seven I’ll be happy for our first season back. I do wonder if there is anxiety with some of our fan base that if we don’t go up again this season we will lose our manager and best players and everything will fall apart.