Can Notts Get Promotion in 2025?

[Robbie 𝕏 @Robbie_NCFC]

Well my fellow PON Members. That is the question. Can Notts get Promotion in 2025?

Notts have made a great start & with a quarter of the season completed they sit in 3rd position in the table on 26 points, with just 2 losses in 14 matches.

Notts have shown improvements in the defensive area that has seen them only concede 12 goals in the league, which is less than 1 goal a game on average.

Notts have continued to demonstrate, that although  they lost Langstaff before the beginning of the season, they haven't lost their potency up front, with 22 goals scored in the league up to now.

Notts have all the all round attributes to make a challenge this season, & it is entirely possible that a team with 90 points could get automatic promotion, Notts are well on the way.

I think it is possible for Notts to get automatic promotion this year. They do have some tough games coming up this month, starting at Doncaster.

If they can get through these tough matches this month with a reasonable points tally, & get some of their best players back from injury in January, the promotion charge will be on.

Thoughts?

[Fan of Big Tone 𝕏 @mainstandpie]

Yes if we can keep relatively injury free and maybe make a couple of judicious signings in January I think promotion could become a reality, I certainly hope so.

[ARLukomski 𝕏 ARLukomski Instagram declanweliczko_arlki]

A few key things need to happen for the answer to be a yes.

1) Pick up wins against promotion rivals. Our record is mixed. We've lost to Gills and Vale, but beat Wimbledon. We've drew to Chezzy if you want to count them. We've got Donny, Walsall, MK and maybe Crewe in that.

2) Signing a striker and a winger (to play wing-back) who both have pace. The one thing we lack in our side is pace. Whilst some will say we've replaced Macca already with Jatta, to me they are different players. We need them runs in behind to stretch teams who sit deep. If we had Macca and Jatta together this season, we'd be laughing.

3) A strong mentality. This is something I've wanted for so long in a Notts team and Luke Williams brought it. That promotion team were mentality monsters. A similar thing is going to be needed this season. I love how we've started doing a huddle before ever game.

4) More consistent performances. Whilst we have only lost 2 out of 14, I still think Notts can play a lot better than they have been. The Grimsby, Bromley and Harrogate performances are the standard. Stu and the players will know we can play better. Hit them consistent performances and autos is a real possibility 

[Wheelbarrow repair man]

Yes.  But it may Not be Automatic the Magpies may have to rely on the Play offs and another Wembley visit. I  say this because despite the Fact Notts have produced some Excellent Performances with the size of the Injury list at the Lane, I  still can't shake the Feeling that at some point the Injuries to Key Players is Going to have some sort of effect on the Squad and Match Results. I could be Wrong and I hope that I am, but even with the return of Jodi and the others it's going to take time for those players to become Match Fit once again and that may have a Negative effect on the Magpies Automatic Promotion Bid.

[Chris Website URL Visit Site 𝕏 fmcj10 Instagram fmcj10]

I think it's very promising.

Notts always tails off towards Decemeber usually, New Year being a very crucial point, and I think it's a good thing that Jevani Brown is starting to come into it more. With the lack of options between Jatta and David McGoldrick, we need someone to step in when one or the other needs resting. We have a tendency to play McGoldrick to the point where he really would benefit from time out, and usually that hits us when we most need him the most.

He's handled it well this season so far, McGoldrick as his second half of the 2023-24 season I wasn't all that bothered about keeping him, for another year, and thought he would be more of a 'bench/impact player'.

There's no doubt he's been one of the best things about this current campaign, so with Brown coming into things more, it's encouraging that we aren't so isolated with options up top. Jatta will get goals, but my concern is those games where we need the striker to be more involved. That's not his style of play, so I think we have done well to be where we are now considering allowing Macaulay Langstaff and Junior Morias to go, without a replacement hasn't yet caused us any major issues unlike losing Matt Palmer to injury did last season.

If we can get to the January transfer window, still being in the top 3 and without being 5–7 points off from the league leaders. I think this would give a real sense that automatics is possible, we could continue to be in the running with them, but I do think it's far more likely that we'll be behind the champions come the season ending. Whilst playoffs isn't a negative, I would hope we avoid them. As, I feel if we are serious about this current campaign, then we need to avoid wasting what start we have made, and use the previous season as an example of how we can further challenge for an automatic place.

There's not much that we really need, and I believe squad wise we do have the quality, but every other team come January will be trying to strengthen themselves. I feel this season would be a waste if we didn't try to ensure we aren't limited. A winger and striker on paper, is all we need and whilst a prolific goalscorer doesn't grow on trees or is easily found, we could benefit from someone who is different and can contribute with them.

[Fozzy]

We can, but I think we are still 3 to 4 players short. Definitely need another winger/wing back, that is a given. Would like another striker with pace, and/or another attacking midfielder. Finally, I’d like to see another keeper brought in as backup to Bass.

Goals have dried up a fair bit since JJ became injured, so really grateful that the defence is really starting to gel.

[liampie]

we have the foundations of a promotion winning team, but we have to keep form and continue to turn games into 3 points, even when we are not playing all that well. its a slow race, that cant be rushed. if we can end this year in the top 3, i fancy our chances of we can slightly strengthen. i think any potential recruitment will be the difference of autos, or playoffs. if we keep in the pack, january could see us compete for the title but i do think our form needs to be better for that. just games like doncaster, a draw is decent but had we won it then it would be a big part in achieving more.

[waldorf]

You wouldn't be a football club if you didn't hope or believe your team could get promoted. I suggest waiting until the new year to review performances then. It’s easy to get carried away, but in short, yes, it’s still too early to make a definite call.

[menzinho]

Before the season started I was just hopeful that we'd be challenging for a play-off spot, so to have basically been in and around the autos this season has been a pleasant surprise. That said it is all very close, there's only 8 points difference between 2nd and 15th at the moment! So a lot can and will change with 2/3rds of the season left to play.

I'm still not sure we'll finish in the top 3, I hope we can and I think it is achievable. We've faced some good teams so far and no-one has really out played us. Also going into the second half of the season we'll have Jodi back, that will be a massive boost.

[BromPie]

If we keep losing vital points, I would be inclined to say we won't make the automatics. Before the Crewe game, I must admit I really thought we had a chance. The injuries to the squad are a concern because that is the impact we are facing, as other teams are finding and maintaining form. It would help to make Meadow Lane the fortress the club has spoken about and achieve more home wins. As with away games, we should be able to get good results if Stuart Maynard can adapt his tactics slightly. Currently, I feel we might flirt with good positions in the playoffs but fall short of qualifying for them. If January sees us strengthen, who knows? If we can pick our form up despite the injuries and inconsistent performances, then we should be okay. I don't think promotion is a matter of life or death. I would rather go up knowing we have the quality to survive in League One, so that part is crucial. However, I think there's a lot of doubt right now. We always tend to find the winter months hard, and going into January is a patchy spell. If we can avoid this to some degree, I would fancy our chances a lot more for promotion.

[ARLukomski 𝕏 ARLukomski Instagram declanweliczko_arlki]

I'm going to add more to the transfer cauldron pot of ingredients. I'd say we need two strikers (one for the here and now and one for the future), two wingers and an attacking midfielder

[Chris Website URL Visit Site 𝕏 fmcj10 Instagram fmcj10]

I think we are a bit fortunate that we haven't drifted down the table a little with the defeat to Crewe and this past Saturday's draw, not that I think we have done badly at all. Yet I think we are riding the wave of injuries and tough games, which sooner or later, Notts will need to either try to see out games with more efforts on goal or find a bit of luck on the pitch instead of off it.

We're quickly approaching a difficult period, so sooner or later we'll see how the season could pan out a little more clearer.

If Notts are able to stay within the front-runners, which I don't think we will simply due to the fact we need a bit more quality in the finishing. I do feel very inclined that we'll still finish in the playoffs, and that is fair progress. It might not please everyone, but it should give us the foundation to be more ready for League One no matter what happens. There's every chance we could pull together, return to winning ways and build a strong bit of form. Yet, performance wise, if we don't score we do tend to see a bit of inconsistency.

I'm not writing off the season, just updating my thoughts as I still believe January will be the point that will confirm - especially with potential signings if we will or not compete for a higher place.