With Alex Bass now off for a reported ‘substantial fee’, McGoldrick choosing not to stay, and Slocombe stepping into coaching, it’s left us without some big figures. No like-for-like Crowley replacement either, so you can’t help but feel we’ve taken a few steps back.

I’ve no doubt the recruitment team are hard at it, hunting down the right names to patch things up and give the squad more balance and depth. But it’s a tall order.

It might take a couple of eye-catching signings to really lift spirits and get fans believing again. The optimism’s taken a knock, and plugging gaps isn’t just about bodies, it’s about quality too.

If anyone from the club does check in on sites like PON, hopefully they realise the right signings could do wonders. It’s not just about replacing talent, it’s about showing ambition.

After being impressed with how Walsall did last season and how we have a good connection with Stoke City. I would have been tempted to enquire about bringing Tommy Simkin in on loan as a temporary replacement for Alex Bass. I would love for us to go in for a young keeper like Simkin, but I think Stoke will value him at a fee where we might want to invest further throughout the squad.

The main areas for me would be the keeper situation and an attacking midfielder.

I can understand the calls for Will Jarvis to play in that role, but I also see how immense he can be playing out wide and cutting in. That seems very natural to him, to want to take players on and work his way into striking range.

Jodi Jones and Will Jarvis out wide could make life difficult for the opposition, but until Jodi gets his confidence, I think we should allow him to be a super-sub. Maybe we do need to look at someone who can play as an AM/ST.

Ethan Chislett could have been a good target, but he has signed for Kaizer Chiefs. Aldeershot, AFC Wimbledon and Port Vale - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethan_Chislett

Here are a few players I would be tracking if I were Notts.

Jökull Andrésson: Keeper.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J%C3%B6kull_Andr%C3%A9sson

Sam Tickle: Keeper.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Tickle

Harry Chapman: Attacking Midfielder.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Chapman_(footballer,_born_1997)

Matt Daly: Attacking Midfielder.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matty_Daly

Chris Long: Striker
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Long_(footballer)

@ARLukomski @Piethagoram, Fancy giving your two pence on it, then? Who do you think could fit the bill or help fill the gaps?

Be interesting to hear your take. There's plenty to think about with how things are shaping up.

I would leave it to the Notts recruitment team right now. I'm sure they are working their socks off to bring in the players that will strengthen the squad.

They will have list of players that they have an interest in. They will have been approaching clubs who are offloading players, free agents, & those player's agents & talking to them at length. Some will turn down approaches but others will be interested at the right price.

We have to bear in mind that Notts won't be prepared to pay over the odds for a transfer / signing on fee & salary, it's just not what the brothers do.

Along with permanent transfers, I think that the Club will be looking for a loan deal for a season long agreement once again, probably from a PL club. A young, strong, attacking midfielder with lots of potential could be on the cards this time.

I’m not too worried, yet, there’s still plenty of time to bring in players and truth be told we don’t need to add massive numbers, almost like the finishing touches now but they are important ones. We have just made it a tad harder with Bass moving on but it's a lot easier to replace players over the summer than in January. I’m confident we’ll get a decent replacement.

I still think we are a relatively attractive club to a lot of players. We can actually back up the claim of developing players because we’ve sold a lot them in the last couple of seasons. To us fans it’s always depressing, but for a player it would seem like a wise move.

I would be interested to know why we perhaps don’t take more advantage of loaning in young players from Leicester, Derby & Forest. It seems ideal to me, some really good players there, the parent clubs can easily keep an eye on them and no-one needs to worry about moving.

@Robbie, @menzinho, It’s more about chatting and sharing ideas on who might be a good fit, rather than trying to tell Notts what to do.

I doubt any of the names I’ve thrown in are on the club’s radar, but it’s always interesting when people throw out a name you hadn’t thought of.

I'd hardly consider myself as educated on the topic of some players but...

Hubert Graczyk - Keeper from Man Utd (probs loan)

David Button - Keeper free agent - released by Reading

Sayouba Mandé - Keeper - Ivory Coast internation - free (from what I can gather)

Kai Kennedy - AM/LW from Queen of the South

Sylvester Jasper - ST from Śląsk Wrocław

Nathan Butler-Oyedeji - ST free agent - released by Arsenal

James Balagizi - CM from Liverpool (loan)

James Olayinka - CM from Waterford - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8YYGLH5QBw

Salah oulad m'hand - CM free agent - released by Arsenal

Cameron Congreve - AM from Swansea (loan)

Dru Yearwood - CM - played for Nashville, Red Bulls NY, Arsenal https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dru_Yearwood

I was just giving some of my general thoughts, @TheSkipper because I don't really have much knowledge outside of the potential obvious choices, but I'm enjoying reading the suggestions from other members.

Jack Payne from Colchester would be the perfect replacement for Crowley and potentially even Didzy playing in a No.10 role. I don't think there are many better than him in this league for that position. But I can't see that materialising because we'd have to pay over the odds to get him and I don't think he wants to move out of the M25 circle...

@piedestrian, David Button, and Kai Kennedy would be excellent signings for us.

On 02/07/2025 at 17:52, menzinho said:

I was just giving some of my general thoughts, @TheSkipper because I don't really have much knowledge outside of the potential obvious choices, but I'm enjoying reading the suggestions from other members.

That's fair enough; I just thought trying to coax some suggestions might be interesting. I should have thought that some might not have knowledge outside of Notts or the wider leagues. Jack Payne would be a great signing, a very hard-working midfielder. One year left on the deal, too, which could make it more tempting to accept a fee for his services.

Another name to suggest is Jack Bridge, although more of a wide player than a central midfielder. He could play either side, maybe even higher up, as he does have goals in him.

Jack Bridge - Player profile 25/...

Jack Bridge - Player profile 25/26

David Button, Jack Payne, Sylvester Jasper, Chris Long, and Jack Bridges would be good choices to fill the gaps we’ve got.

Bridges is more of a left-sided player, but that could actually help. It would let Jodi Jones move into David McGoldrick’s role, or even give Will Jarvis a go there.

Nick Tsaroulla and Kellan Gordon could do a job down the right.

Chris Long would bring the kind of experience we’ve been missing up front. Jasper would get a chance to prove himself in English football, and David Button’s know-how in goal would be a big plus.

Even at 36, Button could be a smart signing and a good mentor for young Harry Griffiths.

Thanks for the heads up about this @BromPie. I was in the middle of replying to this yesterday before my phone went walkies and me to never see it again.

I do think improvements are needed to the squad and strong additions as well. The statement a few days ago indicated the look for 2 new goalkeepers, with one being Alex Bass' replacement.

Goalkeeper starter - Ellery Balcombe (Brentford), Tommy Setford (Arsenal), Luke Southwood (Bolton), Viljami Sinisalo (Celtic), Vicente Reyes (Norwich) or Stephen McMullan (Fleetwood)

Goalkeeper back-up - Killian Barrett (Sheffield Wednesday), Jake Eastwood (recently released by Grimsby), Joel Coleman (recently released by Bolton), Luke Hutchinson (Bolton) or Toby Steward (Portsmouth)

At this moment in time, I still think we are short in a number of areas. As well as the keeper situation, I still think we need a right-footed centre-back to add a bit more depth.

Centre-back - Timothy Eyoma (recently released by Northampton). Eyoma played 24 times for Northampton despite only signing in November, having had a previous spell at Lincoln. A very capable stand in, if anything happens to Platt, Bedeau or Ness. He won 43 of his 71 ground duels last season with a pass accuracy of just over 71%. Also made 115 clearances.

With Jodi Jones deployed on the right and Will Jarvis on the left, with Kellan Gordon on the right and Nick Tsaroulla on the left, plus the addition of Maz Kouyhar (who I think will go out on loan anyway), I believe we are in need of a left sided option defensively.

Wing-Back option - I had suggested two here before my phone disappeared. Harry Boyes has since joined Southend, so that leaves George Cox (recently released by Swindon). 4 assists in 26 appearances for Swindon last season, creating 23 chances and playing 119 passes into the final third. Defensively he made 42 recoveries and won 55.2% of his ground duels. I would also consider Ben Jackson from Barrow after a superb season in 24/25, however he may want to be a starter, which may be difficult in our formation set-up, if we stick with a 3-4-2-1.

Further forward, I think we need an attack minded centre-mid who can unlock defences, especially low blocks. Whilst we have many options in the centre at the minute (including new arrivals Tom Iorpenda and Ollie Norburn) I believe we are lacking in the department. Scott Robertson is injury prone and Curtis Edwards isn't the player we need in a promotion fight from League 2, for want of a better explanation. Jack Hinchy may go out on loan as well.

Centre-midfield - Charlie McCann (Forest Green Rovers) - Someone I have wanted us to sign for a while now. 11 goals (FGR's top scorer last season) and 5 assists. Has excellent work rate and a good passing range. Only has 1 year left on his deal so we should move in now, before he gets more interest.

What is 100% certain is the need for attacking midfielder who can make late runs into the box and bring the ball forward. We cannot go into the season with Conor Grant because, with all due respect, he isn't good enough. Mai Traore may slot into this role sometimes, but we'll see about that come pre-season and the first games. I still believe we need a striker with pace in the Langstaff mould up top.

Attacking midfield - Joe White (Newcastle United), Boris van Schuppen (FC Eindhoven), Conan Noonan (Shamrock Rovers) or Cameron Congreve (Swansea). White scored 6 goals and assisted twice, creating 137 chances and making 163 passes into the final third. It's unlikely he'll get game time at Newcastle with their endless riches. van Schuppen scored 11 goals and got 12 assists in 33 appearances in the Eerste Divisie (the same league we signed Ruben from), creating 47 chances. Noonan has excelled on loan at Waterford with 3 goals and 4 assists in 19 appearances. He's also made first team appearances for Shamrock. Another player to look at before interest in him grows. Congreve we know about from his time at Bromley, scoring 5 and assisting 6 times, creating 43 chances.

Striker - Jack Stevens (Solihull Moors) or Jake Young (Stevenage). With most of the options from the recruitment doc nearly gone, I'd take one of these two. Stevens contributed 12 goals and 4 assists in 24/25 and 17 goals in all competitions the season prior. He presses high and works extremely hard and has good positional awareness. Young had a great loan spell with Swindon a few years ago with 16 goals in 25 appearances. He only started 11 games last season and despite his tall frame, is best when he plays on the shoulder of the last defender.