Looks good in terms of needing a leader, as it states he is and has been captain numerous times before and being street smart in relation to game management, I think this is what we needed more of. But a bit concerned that Preciously has had a knee injury and currently has a calf injury.

I'm very exciting about this signing by Notts. Looks like we have signed a leader on the field that has captained teams that he has played for.

He's an aggressive deep lying central midfielder that is very good under pressure. Someone that we needed for some time.

He's technically skilled with strong range of passing ability. He's good defensively & has the ability to initiate attacks.

He' has good ball control & the ability to retain possession & he has a stella work rate too.

If he stays fit I think he will be a great asset to the club off the field as well as on. I don't think opposing teams will be able to bully this guy easily.

He can create goals; my concerns are his fitness and injury record, but it makes sense as to why we have sought Dr. Rhodes. I mean, it's a very good signing for League Two; he's still good enough to easily be playing in League One, but I am still mindful.

I don't want to knock the signing, but I was hoping we would bring in a player that would have a good record with scoring goals in midfield. Ollie could very well get 5-10 goals, which would be great. I guess we will have to see exactly how he fits into our team and how we get the most out of him. He was a very good player for Shrewsbury Town, so maybe he will shine more in League Two. It's a good signing; I am happy.

@Chris I know there will be concerns about Ollie's fitness, but I am sure that Notts have done all the due diligence they can on this player & have been assured that he will be ok.

I'm surprised we've signed another central midfielder. At the moment, I don't see how Ollie Norburn fits in. We already have plenty of options in that position, which could be useful if changes are needed.

It might allow him time to get up to pace, but with Matt Palmer and Scott Robertson, among others, there's going to be strong competition. Who will be playing further forward? We still need attacking midfield options, as David McGoldrick’s departure leaves a gap, along with Dan Crowley.

On paper, this looks positive, but I’ll reserve judgement on how good the signing really is.

1 minute ago, Robbie said:

@Chris I know there will be concerns about Ollie's fitness, but I am sure that Notts have done all the due diligence they can on this player & have been assured that he will be ok.

Of course, we have done well with working with injured players in recent years. Perhaps hindered more so, since returning to League Two, yet it's good the club has acknowledged this with the recent appointment of Dr. Rhodes.

I’m hopeful about Ollie Norburn joining Notts, especially as he’s known for his leadership. But, the fitness concerns are legitimate.

I’m truly thrilled about Ollie Norburn's potential contribution to the squad. His ability to handle pressure and maintain ball control is exactly what Notts requires. However, I share the apprehension some of you have regarding his past injuries. Maintaining his fitness will be crucial, and I trust that our new member of the staff Dr. Rhodes will be instrumental in ensuring Ollie’s longevity on the field. With Matt Palmer and Scott Robertson also vying for a spot, competition will certainly be fierce. This could very well push the entire squad to up their game. It’s an exciting addition, but I’ll keep a cautious optimism until we see him consistently perform week in, week out.

The only real question mark is fitness. Ollie ticks all of the other boxes. I'm happy!

i can understand the concerns about his injuries and at his age, he will be starting to fall in terms of his ability but the experience players like him bring not just to the starting 11 but dressing room can make an impact. i think we will have weighed up all the concerns about ollie, and decided that he would still be a key player for any league one team. so, i do think its a good signing for us. notts just has to make sure we play him when its best and hope he can bring his leadership to the team in a strong way.

It's great to see everyone chatting about Ollie Norburn’s signing!

All the different views really show how we’re both excited and a bit cautious as fans. Sure, his past injuries are something to think about, but when he's fit, his stats are pretty solid. Moving up from League One to League Two, he brings some skill and leadership we could really use.

It's true that we could use more midfielders who can score goals, but Ollie might just step up to that. How he clicks with the other midfielders will be key, and maybe we’ll see some new tactics pop up. On the bright side, every new signing is a bit of a risk, so keeping our expectations realistic while still being hopeful seems like the best approach. Can’t wait to see what happens next!

A solid signing for us! Let’s hope he can avoid injuries and truly shine in League Two with his experience.

Ollie Norburn was always a standout during his time at Shrewsbury, the kind of player who brings resilience, composure, and leadership to any squad. He’s had his fair share of setbacks with injuries, but his career speaks volumes, more than 200 EFL appearances and the captain’s armband at several clubs is proof of the influence he carries. His presence on the pitch is exactly what teams need to keep things steady in the middle.

If he can shake off any rust in pre-season and get back to full fitness, his impact in midfield could be a game-changer. His ability to dictate play and bring structure to the team will be invaluable, and having someone with his experience leading from the centre can make a real difference. There’s every chance we’ll see him playing a vital role in how the team controls matches this season.

I'm not normally one to knock new signings, but....

A mega part of last season was our injury record. So far we keep signing players who are treatment room specialists or are currently crook!

We’ve needed someone with proper leadership for ages, especially since losing a few experienced heads in recent seasons.

Ollie Norburn feels like the right kind of character, someone who sets standards and keeps the tempo up. His time at Shrewsbury and Blackpool shows he’s more than capable, and even with his injury record, you can tell managers trust him by how often he’s been made captain.

A year with the option of another is clever too, gives both parties something to work towards. I’m excited to see how he gels with our current squad, especially with the younger lads who could really learn from him.

So the big positives for me are the leadership skills and how he's a player who does get stuck in and is not going to be phased by the physical side of this league.

But I agree with @allardyces tash it now feels like we have too many deep lying midfield options. Hinchy, Palmer and Norburn will all surely want to play the same position will they not? I've no idea how if a Palmer Norburn partnership would work either, would they be too similar?

Ollie Norburn brings a wealth of experience from the lower leagues, and that kind of know-how is invaluable. He’s not the type to grab headlines with flashy play, but his ability to organise, communicate, and add resilience to the team will make a real difference. Success isn’t just about skill, it’s about mentality, and he’s got the leadership qualities that can shape a winning side.

His time under quality managers and his stint in the Championship have only strengthened his understanding of the game, and that influence will naturally spread throughout the squad. If his calf holds up and he gets a solid pre-season under his belt, he could be a key factor in making the team more structured and composed heading into the new campaign.

This sounds like a good signing to be - someone wily, experienced and with a bit of aggression sounds like just what we need. After a season in which we always seemed to be down to the bare bones, the talk about injuries doesn't sound great, but Norburn managed 39 and 27 games in the two seasons after his serious knee injury in 22/23. Hopefully we'll get the best out of him.

With him, Palmer, Robertson and Hinchy competing for two spots (and let's not forget that Abbott has left), I'm assuming this is our central midfield completed.

6 hours ago, Robbie said:

he has a stella work rate too.

Nothing wrong with the odd tipple!

The short-term deals mean we won’t be stuck with players if they don’t fit in. I get why there are questions about his arrival, but he hasn’t kicked a ball for us yet, and it’s important to focus on what he could bring. Writing players off too soon can be unfair. I think Ollie Norburn is a fantastic signing.

4 hours ago, Super_Danny_Allsopp said:

I'm not normally one to knock new signings, but....

A mega part of last season was our injury record. So far we keep signing players who are treatment room specialists or are currently crook!

It could be why the club is aiming for a stronger, more creative midfield with plenty of options. I see your point, but players need time to settle, and we can only hope he makes an impact while wearing our colours. His previous clubs might not have brought out the best in him, but that doesn’t mean we won’t.

If a player has real quality, they’ll show it regardless of injury troubles. It all comes down to how those setbacks affect them, and while it’s a concern, we’ve seen players like Jodi Jones overcome similar issues and thrive at Notts.

I hope Ollie has the same impact and helps strengthen the midfield. For all the criticism Matty Palmer faced as captain, we’ve clearly signed someone who can lead on the pitch even without the armband.

A leader, tough tackler and a bit of grit. Someone who's played at a higher level and has the knowhow to get us up. Exactly the sort of signing we've needed in the middle since we got promoted.

As for the rehab, we've got a doctor now. Doctor David