Today's games v Carlton and York

[irishpete]

Saunders & Hodge must be under consideration as they have been here all pre season.God help us

[Freeman25]

Apparently strikers are too scared to come to Notts because they don't think they'll get in the team ahead of Stead and Ameobi...

[jackal2]

We had 6 trialists in those two games. Plus the two Forest players who might be coming on loan, that means at least 8 players under consideration. That's rather a lot just a week before the proper season starts.

IMO what we most need is a quality striker and a backup central defender, and I haven't spotted a quality striker amongst the trialists.

We're desperately short up front. Stead and Ameobi will struggle during the winter months with their ageing legs, and Forte isn't the player some people thought he was. Callum Saunders certainly doesn't have the track record to warrant putting faith in him as the fourth striker and would be "development squad" fodder if we signed him. Alessandra can operate as a forward but isn't prolific and is best as an attacking midfielder. As you say, we still need a really good quality striker, and let's face it we're still waiting for this "wow" factor signing.

[The-Mac pie]

I'm pretty sure the management are aware that we need another striker.
Another 15 goal a season player would make us playoff contenders for sure if not promotion candidates.
But as seasons gone past we don't want to be making bad decisions Signing players that just seem to bring a bad spirit to the team.

[wiseoldmagpie]

My views on the trialists at York:

Hunt - was steady and strong - if we need cover at RB (?) maybe worth a squad place 6/10
Bird - good performance, grew in confidence - possible keep - 7/10
French guy - some decent touches, looks a decent footballer - possible keep - 7/10
Saunders - brief appearance but showed really good movement, good touch, again looked like a decent footballer - 7/10

Other comments:
Fitzsimons - looked competent, great save 1st half - would like to see penalty incident though
Dickinson - woeful
Walker & Alessandra - again looked decent footballers
Hawkridge - less of a player than Adam Campbell on that performance
The rest - did OK
Team spirit/attitude - encouraging

[durhampie]

We had 6 trialists in those two games. Plus the two Forest players who might be coming on loan, that means at least 8 players under consideration. That's rather a lot just a week before the proper season starts.

IMO what we most need is a quality striker and a backup central defender, and I haven't spotted a quality striker amongst the trialists.

Pearce Bird had a good game... if you dont go and watch them then you will never know...