Notts County’s Pre-Season: A Recap of the Squad’s Progress

this past pre season has been better in my opinion in terms of preparation than playing a bunch of local non league teams where the manager does really get the chance to see where potential problems are. the stoke city game shown how we needed to adjust against teams who are stronger and much better on the ball than us. nottingham forest gave us the chance to see how we could adapt and you could see that they were just starting out but we kept them closely marked.

i do agree that each game as given luke williams things to think about, i think against teams in league two we should be more comfortable on the ball.

This season could be an exciting one for Notts indeed. The pre-season revealed an impressive combination of sustaining a defensive stronghold and executing smooth attack strategies. Especially with the depth of the squad, and the evident team chemistry, it appears there is a high chance they'll rise to challenges. The diverse recruitment made for fitting substitutes for each position, suggesting a healthy rotation system.

Pre-season has gone quite well. I like what I see and I think any issues with players working together will improve over time. There are already signs that players are linking well and good results will help Notts push on during the season. These games are all about preparing for the league and I think we look ready. Good write-up!

There are valuable lessons to be learned from playing games like the one we just played. Winning all the friendlies 2-0 or 5-0 won’t reveal as much. Starting against a smaller club allows the team to ease back into playing, while the bigger games show where the squad stands and what needs improvement. Without being tested, there can be no learning or progress. Notts have already shown promising signs in pre-season, particularly with how well David McGoldrick has integrated.

The team’s ability to adapt to different formations has been a key takeaway from the pre-season. The ease with which they switch between a 3-4-2-1 and a 4-2-3-1/5-2-2-1 formations is impressive. Employing these tactics against teams such as Stoke City and Nottingham Forest could lead to a successful season.

Good read, this @Chris. I’m glad to see that coach Luke Williams is not intent on ‘completely ripping up everything’ from last season. There is a need for consistency as well as innovation, and in a new season, the understanding of what works and what needs improvement can make a significant difference. Williams is clearly doing a great job of striking that balance.

Yes, I agree. Luke Williams has used the friendlies to gain a better understanding of where his squad stands. It’s positive to see how he has managed the games. Notts did well in parts against Shrewsbury, but I believe they will improve from here. The squad has a lot of depth and plenty of options.

I would also like to see more of Junior Morias and Will Randall.

The work Williams has done in instilling mental resilience in the players is commendable. The emphasis he's placed on 'defensive duties' and the players handling the pressures of challenging matches is crucial if they are to consistently perform well. It's more than physical practice; psychological preparedness is often underestimated, but it's clear that's not the case here.

It’s clear that Williams’ tactics are working wonders, particularly when you consider how well the team performed against Forest. I can’t wait to see more of this tactical brilliance throughout the season! 

The addition of Ollie Tipton on loan has definitely strengthened the defence. Along with McGoldrick’s more advanced role and increased support from the midfield, the team is showing a solid balance between attack and defence. If they keep improving like this, we’re in for an exciting season.

It’s fantastic to see how seamlessly the new recruits, Dan Crowley and David McGoldrick, have integrated into Williams’ system. They’ve both shown themselves to be valuable additions to the team, and their contributions have already made a noticeable impact. With these strong new players on board, there’s a real sense of optimism and excitement for the upcoming season. Here’s hoping that their performances continue to impress and that the team as a whole can build on this positive momentum to achieve great success.

As usual Williams has meticulously planned and prepared fantastically well for the coming season, each pre season match has seen a different challenge which has given him a chance to try different systems and players in different roles. I think we can look forward to the new season with quiet confidence.

I agree that all the pre-season friendlies gave the club and Luke Williams an insight. I think this is a very fair and detailed article, one that I wholeheartedly agree with. I believe the club will have decided the friendlies based on giving the players a real test. One thing I hope we do next season is play the two home games nearer the end.

Obviously, this will be down to Stoke and Forest availability, but ending the pre-season away from home after having a solid test against two strong teams would lead to consistency going into the season, in my opinion.

This was a very good article, gaffer! The pre-season has been more successful than some fans might think. We lost to Stoke City and some fans lost their minds over it, but that’s just the nature of fickle fans. Every club has them. But if we go on to do better as a result of what we learned from that game, then those same fans will be the first to forget what they said.

They’ve probably already forgotten or deleted their comments, just so they can say “I knew this would happen” later on. I’m thankful that Luke Williams doesn’t pay any attention to social media.