Efficient Recruitment

[RetroPie 𝕏 @Retro_Pie]

The club's current owners have been around for almost six seasons now. We all know how much the Reedtz brothers have restored pride in the club, attracted new fans, and invested in all the right areas.

What are your thoughts on their recruitment from their first season to now?

Obviously, they didn't have much time to work at the beginning with the takeover stalling and how quickly the club had to prepare. We also don't know how many of the signings brought into the club were Neil Ardley's focus or the board's. Some, on paper, look more like Ardley's type of player to me.

We can single out where signings have failed and praise where they have succeeded. But, as a whole, I think the club is recruiting a lot more efficiently. I also believe the Reedtz brothers are largely responsible for attracting players who want to play for the club because of the environment they have built and nurtured over time.

I await your thoughts on this before I share my own in detail.

[Blink1862]

Let's face it, the previous owners in Trew and Hardy neither knew what it took to find and encourage good players nor harbour a supportive fan community. I would fear a fan zone under them, especially the Trews. While a live game of Cluedo might be fun, I wouldn't want the politics causing alienation of the fan base.

To get on the subject, I think you can see the stats side of the recruitment coming into it now that things have settled. The club is doing wonders in identifying players. Some haven't worked, like Will Randall. I think that's more down to the player than the recruitment itself. There will be fails and duds, but when you are winning games, it's a lot easier to foster that winning mentality.

The first season, we signed what we could. The campaign after that, the real squad building started to take place and in time it led to investing properly into the team.

With the current campaign being the best season, I feel the recruitment can't be faulted. A strong focus on fixing the goalkeeping and defensive issues, adding to the wider weaknesses, especially in terms of the ability to defend. Yes, I would like to have had Macaulay Langstaff replaced earlier, but I think waiting until January made the board realise what funds remain would be best spent going for promotion. It's nice to read and feel optimistic about every signing, without worrying if they will fit or do well. That's a big, big improvement, don't you think?

[RetroPie 𝕏 @Retro_Pie]

I would be inclined to agree that the earlier signings were a mixture of what we could attract at the time and the newly appointed staff members and board learning the process. The recruitment at Notts right now means we are able to sell players and not always offload them for free or mutually agreeing their releases. Though this is an area I would like to see reduced given more time.

[menzinho]

I think the recruitment has always been good to be honest. I think it’s hard to compare being in League 2 to the National League because the quality of player you are able to attract gets better as you progress up the leagues.

Our recruitment in the National League was, overall, very good though. It helped massively in the National League that we didn’t have a transfer window so we had the opportunity to sign players before EFL clubs. Cal Roberts being the first example of that. It was also a sign of things to come and the main idea around our recruitment; we’re happy to pay a fee for a player if we think they will become even more valuable in the future.

It's hard to say how much it's improved, because I think just being in League 2 opens up more doors. I'm sure the recruitment process has developed in terms of its strategy and we'll have been able to analyse why certain players didn't perhaps turn out as expected but ever since the Bros have come in we’ve signed lots of quality players.

[liampie]

i am glad notts did not get into the habit some national league clubs do, with paying more and restructuring deals in the efl or losing the players completely. i do think over the years things are improving and its good to see us being able to give some players a chance at league football but also look for quality and players who are established at this level. i think when we were last in league one we rushed to sign the wrong players and tended to think of ways that never really would work. we have not seen this under the reedtz, the wages and fees are spent mostly wisely and even in the national league we signed some excellent players above that standard. jodi jones, john bostock etc.

[Robbie 𝕏 @Robbie_NCFC]

I believe the Reedtz brothers have done a tremendous job since they took over. They knew exactly what they wanted to do, business & footballing wise.

Their recruitment has been largely successful from recruiting the right Head Coaches to player recruitment.

I think that the Owners have been learning & getting much better in the way they recruit over the years too.

An example of this was letting valuable players like Kyle & Ruben go on a free, when their contracts ran out. I don't think this will happen in the future.

It is clear that they believe in recruiting cheaply & developing players at every level of the club. Some players will be retained & some will be sold on for profit, & the cycle will continue to keep the club on an even keel financially.

[Scotty]

The football recruitment paradigm that Notts have is based on an established, finely-tuned footballing engine. 

That engine will be set up to play in a certain manner.

Should a part break down, it is repalced with a similar part, in this case player.

where once football clubs recruited a manager, gave them money to spend on new players. All good if he is successful. But often they are not. He is paid off, new manager is recruited and history repeats itself, with variation versions of footballing style changing with managers.

Keeping the football style means that Notts do not have these problems. The recruitment team can work with the data supplied from  Football Radar which brings in the likes of Macca, Cedwyn, Reuben, Jatta and now Traore. Apply this to any position at Notts and you'll see how we recruit.

Lets once again count our blessing and rejoice that we have what we have.

Long live the recruitment team!

Edited February 5 by Scotty

[Chris Website URL Visit Site 𝕏 fmcj10 Instagram fmcj10]

I think there is an evolution in the approach that Notts has taken under Reedtz. I think initially the focus was just to support the manager and become familiar with the club. Using the knowledge introduced to identify players who would give us a solid footing going forward.

The likes of Damien McCrory arriving was very promising, and I think he was somewhat underrated because he did contribute to the stability the club needed to move forward, as did the arrival of Sam Slocombe, who was easily the best keeper we had during our National League years. No player will avoid mistakes; I think even Elisha Sam showed the club's willingness to make the wage budget work.

Each season in the National League, even now we have seen a steady improvement in the focus of those we signed. Players like Lewis Macari, with a great level of potential, could have been missed if Luke Williams hadn't given him time. Additionally, he made significant strides in his development under the guidance of Stuart Maynard. Earlier in the season, I remember writing an article about how Macari didn't want to miss a game and how he felt he had improved.

This is a significant thing for me in recruitment; we are identifying players who can come in on loan, but then when they establish themselves, we do try to buy them. So, there's a real incentive for a player to do well, especially if they want regular football. I could say the same about Kyle Wootton, as I have Macari. I didn't think we would sign him permanently at the time, and when we did. It showed that we are stronger in negotiating with clubs, whereas before it seemed impossible.

We then give them a platform to showcase their ability, and develop them, and this is resulting in the club managing to attract fees. I used to feel we had a culture of giving players away 'cheaply' and whilst some might feel we didn't get good money for Macaulay Langstaff, I do feel the club took his age into consideration and how much he wanted to try life out in the Championship.

When you recruit players who give their all, bring success and play a part in the feel-good factor, I am less disappointed when they leave. Whereas I don't like how Dan Crowley left us. I think all his reasons and excuses are disrespectful.

The positives in the recruitment are that we can weed out players whose heads get turned; we are not afraid to sell and then reinvest. Importantly, the recruitment doesn't come at the cost of development off the pitch; they go hand in hand. So, all that nonsense about 'The Nest' when we were struggling a bit just seems daft and ungrateful, given the direction we are heading.

Our improvements with recruitment are the biggest reason why we are having success and moving forward as a club. If we want to retain this ambition, or even reach the championship, then the focus needs to be exactly as we see it now.

16 hours ago, menzinho said:

I think the recruitment has always been good to be honest. I think it’s hard to compare being in League 2 to the National League because the quality of player you are able to attract gets better as you progress up the leagues.

It's certainly been much better, but at times we have made poor decisions, which will happen. Some of the poorer signings do come down to the players themselves, so I do agree with earlier comments about Will Randall. Yet despite the good, I do think it's wasteful signing players for a fee and never really giving them a fair chance. While others seem to be treated much better.

Obviously we don't know why this is, what happens behind the scenes, or on the training ground.

Yet there are baffling signings, which will always happen in football because no club has perfect recruitment 90% of the time. I do feel the resources we have in the budget to buy players should only be spent when we are prepared to fully invest in that player - something I don't think we have done with the likes of Junior Morias.

Despite all this, we are a million miles away from the guessing games and gimmicks that we have seen. Hardy loved signing players with whom he could pal up with. Before that, every season we had a fresh gimmick, and that never brought stability. Right now, we are establishing a squad and doing what I have always felt was best. Those days when, each season, we would end up with a virtually new squad or tied to players who don't offer anything, are long gone.

Which is one positive for mutually agreeing on release terms with players, but it is a waste of time for both parties.

[StanfordPie]

Efficient recruitment is indeed pivotal for a football club's success. By identifying and acquiring players who fit the team's tactical approach and culture, clubs can enhance on-field performance and foster a cohesive unit. This strategic alignment not only optimises resources but also builds a foundation for sustained success. Something that Notts is currently having success with.

[Benji]

17 hours ago, menzinho said:

I think the recruitment has always been good to be honest. I think it’s hard to compare being in League 2 to the National League because the quality of player you are able to attract gets better as you progress up the leagues.

I agree that a well-structured recruitment process contributes significantly to a club's achievements focusing on players whose skills and mentality align with the team's objectives, clubs can create a harmonious environment that promotes both individual and collective growth. His approach ensures that each addition strengthens the squad's overall dynamics.

[allardyces tash]

While each transfer window is different, Notts had plenty of opportunity to learn during the National League years when the Transfer Window was always open. This gave the club a chance to see how bringing in some risky players would work.

I think over the years, there have been significant improvements, and we have always managed to bring in one or two players that we never would have dreamt of before. Take Jodi Jones in the National League, for example, despite his injury concerns. I never thought we would sign him, but recruitment has been strong, bringing in good players and helping the squad settle together.

It shows good players that things are being well managed, and it's not always about who offers the most money.

[Chris Website URL Visit Site 𝕏 fmcj10 Instagram fmcj10]

*Side Note: I am sorry; when I shared the link on social media, I mistakenly used mine, as I had sent it to someone previously. Thinking I had the main URL, I published the discussion on Facebook, X, Bluesky, and Threads. This wasn't intentional, and I apologise to @RetroPie and all the members who have made this an excellent discussion.

I actively encourage people to read the very first post, which might be missed due to my mistake.

To jump to the top, simply click the embedded post here.

[John Wardle]

Think it could prove to be an advantage over other teams in the division being able to get players like jatta and Traore as defenders in the division don’t know much about them or how to defend against them . 

[RetroPie 𝕏 @Retro_Pie]

Brilliant responses, and no worries @Chris. It's an easy mistake, and I thank you for sharing the discussion on social media. I hope it gets more exposure and we see more replies from fans.

To follow up on @John Wardle, I agree. League Two teams won't know much about them, but our squad's depth gives us the advantage of being able to throw in different players who could make an impact. This is a benefit of good recruitment and having a strong squad where all players have a chance to make an impact in the starting 11.

[TheSkipper 𝕏 TheSkipperNCFC]

I have no doubt that the club always tries its best to sign the best possible players, even when they do turn out to be panic signings. I, for one, would rather the club tries to add cover than choose not to add strength when it could be included.

I think this is why Notts have started offering some players shorter deals. This is a good idea as it allows them to renew or let the player find another club. It is easy to give the likes of Matt Palmer much longer, though I seem to think he initially signed on a one-year deal and then extended to more. He has signed three extensions now? I believe this is correct. Under previous regimes, he would be one of those players we would have lost and signed by a rival. Yet we have hung onto him and he is establishing a great career here, well worthy of leading us out as captain.

The recruitment has been very good. As I mentioned, the club is signing with intent and seem to balance the wages as a means to avoid overspending. I think lessons have been learned from last season when Palmer was injured, which gave our recruitment the biggest eye-opener it has had since the Reedtz took over. I also think that we realised just how much we rely on Palmer, which is why Scott Robertson was a welcome signing to give us something similar. Robertson, although injured now, looks to be a great asset when in form. Early on, I thought he and Palmer would be the future. Yes, we haven't seen it much, but there is still time once he fully recovers, which will likely be next season.

The squad we have now, if promoted, I don't think the club would have to address much. A backup keeper, a few players here and there, and maybe another striker to add to the goal threat, but we are seeing how the recruitment is making a difference. Should the recruitment team have pushed for a replacement for Macaulay Langstaff, I think it has worked out well, with January being when we look to further fuel our bid to finish in the automatics. Looking outside the UK, it is a big market and not every club in this league could pull of a signing a player like Mai Traore or Alasanna Jatta.

[Piethagoram 𝕏 @piethagoram]

January 2011 Notts sold Ben Davies to Derby County

"Inefficient recruitment" 2011 to the Reedtz Bros!

Reedtz Bros sales:

Cal Roberts

Lewis Knight

Tiernan Brooks

Macauley Langstaff

Aaron Nemane

Cedwyn Scott

Dan Crowley

Coaching staff

Birchnall

Williams and others

That's "Efficient!"