Centre Backs for Notts this summer?

[Piethagoram]

 

[Robbie]

We don't need young upcoming centre backs.

We need to be looking for experienced, tough, strong, tall, centre backs that are strong mentality, that can lead from the front, are good on the ball, & have plenty of physicality about them.

We need to be recruiting from league 1 or from the upper echelons of league 2. Stockport, Wrexham and Mansfield may be looking to offload players after promotion. We could look there for recruitment opportunities.

We tried playing, what we were led to believe, a good up and coming centre back with plenty of mobility like Warner and it didn't work out for us.

If a player doesn't have a club, I wouldn't be interested. Recruiting from the National League should be a no no too.

Notts need seasoned professionals in those vital roles next season, players who are prepared to lead by example, and on the pitch.

Notts need to be much more smart with their recruitment for next season. We can't afford any slip ups this time with recruiting players that are simply not good enough at this level.

[Wheelbarrow repair man]

Nail hit fully on the Head Robbie. Experienced Defenders the Blood and Guts Type of Player who would strike fear into opposing attackers. Players that can do a proper job defending the Notts Box so not every single Notts player needs to come back and defend leaving some of the Magpie strike force up field  to take advantage of a quick counter attack. And I'm Fed Up Of Saying This. Notts Need A Leader On The Pitch an Experienced Captain who can shout order and get the Best Out of His Team while they're on the Pitch. But just as important as a tough defence a Goalkeeper  who can dominate his box and area, and doesn't go for a walk to almost the half way line when Notts are attacking.

[Super_Danny_Allsopp]

1 hour ago, Robbie said:

We don't need young upcoming centre backs.

We need to be looking for experienced, tough, strong, tall, centre backs that are strong mentality, that can lead from the front, are good on the ball, & have plenty of physicality about them.

We need to be recruiting from league 1 or from the upper echelons of league 2. Stockport, Wrexham and Mansfield may be looking to offload players after promotion. We could look there for recruitment opportunities.

We tried playing, what we were led to believe, a good up and coming centre back with plenty of mobility like Warner and it didn't work out for us.

If a player doesn't have a club, I wouldn't be interested. Recruiting from the National League should be a no no too.

Notts need seasoned professionals in those vital roles next season, players who are prepared to lead by example, and on the pitch.

Notts need to be much more smart with their recruitment for next season. We can't afford any slip ups this time with recruiting players that are simply not good enough at this level.

This doesn't make any sense with our recruitment model. Searching for the best players currently under contract in L2 and L1 = £££. That's Wrexham's model, not ours.

Why not the NL? Macari had a loan at the Irish league, they're hardly worlds apart. Langstaff, Scott came from below the NL. Crowley was a free agent. 

[Wheelbarrow repair man]

Because Super_Danny_ Allsop if Notts are to improve than money needs to be spent.  Lewis Macari is an excellent player  but just look at his playing Pedigree. The Recruitment team struck lucky with Macca and Cedwyn and Dan Crowley didn't come from the National League, but for every Gem they've unearthed they have signed their fair share of players  that clearly are not League 2 standard. And with Successful Teams you'll usually find a mixture of Both Young and Experienced Players.

[Robbie]

@Super_Danny_Allsopp

If a Club wants to challenge for promotion from league 2, those Clubs have to have better players than the average,

Our attacking players including our midfield, such players as Robertson, Crowley, Palmer, Langstaff, Jones and Jatta are better than the average, 

Notts need better than the average in our defence and goalkeeping areas too. 

Notts don't have to employ Wrexham's model to get better players, Notts can still recruit smart from League 2 or the higher leagues.

Just bare in mind that Notts's recruitment success has only been around 50% successful. Notts can't afford to recruit 6 players and only 3 turn out successful this time around.

Notts already have players that won't make the grade already. They don't want to add to that list.

[Ohh Tommy Johnson]

To be honest we need both up and coming and experienced defenders.  The latter for effect now, the latter to future proof the side.  I would like us to bring in a couple of seasoned defenders, keep Cameron (and play him LB) and possibly Baldwin (depending on how true the rumours of him being a disruptive influence are) and then a young Macari type defender and / or NL defender who has potential and / or a Bostock / Jones type who may be recovering from as  situation, who may not be first team every game at the start of the season, but pushing for a regular spot in about a year's time.

I think one of our issues in the past few months has been fatigue as we haven't been able to rotate, so I would hope we plan for this going forwards.

[Robbie]

@Ohh Tommy Johnson

What about our U 21 players?

I can only think of Sanderson & Mahovo who have been on the bench or played for the first team this season.

I know that Brooks as played for the first team, Mahovo is a promising defender and so is Sanderson, as an attacking midfielder, but no one else seems to be on the cusp of breaking through .

Notts are 6th in the Under 21 South Division behind clubs like Long Eaton U 21 and Matlock town U 21. Not good for a club that should be leading their division to be honest.

We should be seeing more of our young talent coming through, but we don't hear much about the rest of our U 21 players

Notts used to have such a good youth policy in the past and we've had some very famous players like Needham, Stubbs, Yates, & Kilcline who have come through our youth teams to become legends for the Club.

Oh how could do with one of  them right now

 

 

[Wheelbarrow repair man]

Spot on Robbie. If Notts aren't going to encourage it's young talent what's the point of having a Youth Team? It seems that the Club gets hold of young Talent and once they reach a  certain level they get repeatedly sent out on Loan without even getting a sniff of playing for the first team or even sitting on a the bench. Then the young player gets fed up and goes elsewhere or retires from the Game. Which loan players have performed well at Notts in recent seasons? I would say Jodi was a Gamble which paid off handsomely and Lewis Macari was coming to the end of his Stoke contract and he had nothing to lose by throwing in his lot with Notts. Perhaps the last two loan plays to make any real impact in the Black & White stripes were Ryan Yates and Jorge Grant way back in 2017/2018? If I remember right the last Notts player  to come through the ranks at the Lane and play on a more or less regular basis was Curtis Thompson.

Ohh Tommy Johnson I'm afraid I don't agree with you regarding Cameron in my opinion he's to slow, get a player with speed and he's left for Dead. Every time Baldwin gets the ball it seem the crowd hold their breath waiting for him to fall over and give the ball away. And if like you say he's being a bad influence he needs, to be shown the door .

Edited April 23 by Wheelbarrow repair man

[Robbie]

@Wheelbarrow repair man

Your right regarding who not to retain 

Macari is the only senior defender I would keep now.

As for those other defenders I'm sure they would do a great job at a lower level. They did a reasonable job for Notts in the NL.

The Club has to decide if the present defenders (not including Macari), could become good squad players or not, would they be as good as or improve on the first choice defender they replaced during a game from the bench next season?

If they, by coming on would weaken the team then I think that they should not be retained next season 

The recruiters are going to be very busy this summer.

[Wheelbarrow repair man]

Have I read that right Robbie, if the Club wants to bring in better players the answer to that question is No ?

That all rather confusing really.

[Robbie]

17 minutes ago, Wheelbarrow repair man said:

Have I read that right Robbie, 

No I'm not saying that at all.

Sorry if I've made myself unclear.

What I am saying is Notts will be bringing in better players, 

If Notts decided to keep some of our present defenders, and they were on the bench ready to replace those new defenders, would they weaken the team by coming on and I think they would.

That's why Notts need to be a bit ruthless in the summer.

 

[Ohh Tommy Johnson]

I think the system we have used exposes our defenders.  Maynard has made some changes and Cameron, at least, has looked a lot better (and, Stockport aside we have kept 2 clean sheets and been much tighter).  Baldwin would be OK if we can get someone to keep him on task, so I would keep Macari, Cameron and Baldwin,  I don't think we need a huge rebuild (and given the way we play wholesale changes may make us less effective at the start of the season anyway).  I would replace Brindley, Rawlinson and Warner and add one to the midfield to replace JoB (even if he stays he will be a bit part player). 

All that said, losing Jones, Macca and Crowley will probably necessitate a change in style anyway, as I doubt we would be able to replace Jones and Crowley like for like.

[Robbie]

We never had any outlet for our defenders till Jatta arrived. If he does become our main striker things may change tactically anyway

A lot of us keep saying kick it out if in doubt or just kick the ball upfield.

I know that in our present style the management like to keep possession by playing out from the back, but it can be a high risk strategy, however Jatta has given the team a new dimension to exploit, which might help our defenders, 

We will need to use that tactic of kicking upfield to Jatta to take the pressure off our defenders  and just keep our opponents guessing so they don't press so high onto us all the time.

We could also do with a long throw specialist to exploit Jatta's height in the box too.

[Wheelbarrow repair man]

Ohh Tommy Johnson I'm not so sure even if we lose Macca Jodi and Dan that the style of play will change because it seems the "Model" will remain in place because it worked in the NL so it'll work in League 2, even if it Doesn't being Stubborn and Reluctant to Change  things around could prove costly for Notts next season. Continual interference from upstairs certainly wont help Stuart Maynard.

Trouble is Robbie if we lose Jatta to injury (as is the case at the moment) that outlet is closed. Could Scott take that role? I don't know because I don't know how tall he is, he's not as tall as AJ but I think he's bigger than Macca.

Finally I refer back to the excellent topic Retain Release Sell Keep by ARLukomski regarding Notts and I'll say I agree with him Notts need to be Brutal in the Summer there really needs to be a Massive clear out because it's been painstakingly obvious a huge section of the current Magpies Squad is Not League 2 Standard. And just because one or two players have performed "better" in their past few games doesn't mean they should be kept, their whole season performances need to be looked at. Because if players are retained that aren't good enough then Notts are Going To Struggle. We the Fans are Aware of this lets just hope the Powers That Be are aware of it also.

[Robbie]

I have always gone on the premise that teams have to treat each single match differently.

A side should be able to modify their style depending on what the strength of the opposition is, whether the opposition is playing a passing game, or they go direct, or rely on dead ball situations, free kicks or corners, whether they use the high press or sit off Notts.

Every game brings different challenges but I have seen Notts play the same whatever the strength of the opposition in certain areas or how they set up against Notts

Notts just have to be much more flexible with their style. For example, Notts need to be able to grind out a result if necessary against the strong teams 

When Notts have changed their short passing style and gone long they have been successful on occasions.

Successful teams have to be adaptable and flexible to meet every match challenge.

Notts just have to be much more adaptable & flexible next season. If Notts are too predictable, we will find trouble for ourselves once again.

[ARLukomski]

I've already started the list for players in the summer @Piethagoram. The CB's list is long

[Simon Clark]

The club has said - including Williams - that our academy suffered massively by being NL as the better players went to local league sides, so it will take a while to build this up again.

From the limited time I've seen them (first team cameos and one youth game), none of them are that close to being in a side which hopes to go up from L2 apart from maybe Brooks.

McGregor is an interesting one for me. Been heavily involved in the last 2 pre seasons and then nothing.

Cisse looked very exciting when he came on, can he be another Nemane? (Ideally the Nemane of April 2024)

Sanderson, Gill, Mahovo all need good game time. I'm sure their games are improving in training but sitting on the bench and watching won't improve them. Although I'm not sure how much a loan to Long Eaton does either.

[Robbie]

@Simon Clark

I believe that Notts should put as much resource into their academy as is financially possible to attract young talent.

Clubs like Notts have to have a successful youth policy that can nurture young talent and ensure that a conveyor belt of young players do get to the point where they are ready to move up to the first team.

In the past Notts used to have a very good reputation for nurturing young talent. I just hope we can get that back.

[Piethagoram]

@Robbie Beg to differ. The rule changes in recent years, basically mean Prem League clubs can come in for any youth player and pay a relative pittance in compensation. 

[Dripsey3]

We know the style of football is not going to change so the right CBs are essential. I'll admit I'm worried about the future. Recruitment has to be spot on in the Summer. If we do lose Langstaff, then that money needs to go towards the best CB that money can buy. 

[Fozzy]

Some interesting comments, personally I’m not against us signing a young CB from the National League, but that must be in addition to two experienced CB’s from the football league. That way we will be addressing the here and now and also looking to the future.

As for the summer:

We’re strong up front and that doesn’t need any work unless it is to replace existing players, but we need to re sign Scott.

Midfield first choice will be strong (assuming Matty returns to his best), but we still need to add depth to it, as we have basically had to make do and mend in there too many times.

Defence: Critical that we sign 3 Centre Backs and preferably 2 proper wingbacks/full backs. 

Goalkeeper: Have to get rid of one first, but we’re desperate for a big, vocal and imposing keeper that’s not afraid to leave his line to claim crosses.

Will be interesting to see who leaves this summer as I doubt it will be as many as the fans want.

Regarding young players, as @Piethagoramsays. The premier league get to cherry pick any outstanding future talent now so there is little point in putting huge resources into the academy, it would be better spent on Premier League cast offs. From what I have seen of our current young players, I can’t see any of them being good enough (exception being Brooks who is now in his twenties).

[Chris]

The club could do with finding a centre back who is experienced, but at the right age. Ideally someone around 26-27 and have a reputation for being very good at defending. We don't need someone with a lot of pace, provided we retain Aden Baldwin.

I have no issues with players coming in from further down the leagues, such as the National League North or South.

Good players these days are finding their way down there and are taking what chances they can in order to establish their career further. Ideally, if we have some money in the budget, we would seek to sign a player for a fee. Whilst, we could very well rely on the free agents available. I am a firm believer that paying for the right player, in key positions, gives a much-needed boost because they will want to show their worth within the fee paid. This isn't always the case, but we are quite good at spending money well when looking for transfers.

Our issue is within the loan system.

Personally, I think it's a bit early for us to be reviewing who could potentially come in because much can change between now and the pre-season. It's an interesting debate, plus there's nothing wrong with tracking players but with managerial changes and signings, this alone opens so many doors.

[Piethagoram]

I know he is youngish but with experience at Port Vale and Dundee, perhaps he is an option. Thought he was very good when we played Rushcliffe Rovers in a pre season game at Notts 

[ARLukomski]

@Piethagoram