Do we need another striker? With the transfer window closing on Monday, Dennis and Jatta are the only two fit and available strikers at the club. Nobody knows what's happened with Traore. 

I personally think we need another strong, physical striker who can dominate aerially as this will then allow Dennis and AJ to play off him and make runs in behind. Even though Jatta is 6ft 4, last season he only won 35% of aerial duals.  

Here are three options I’d recommend to Roberto Gagliardi 

 

Option 1 – Joe Ironside  

The 31-year-old Englishman has been out of favour at Doncaster. After playing 39 games for them in their title winning season, contributing 4 goals and 1 assist, he is yet to feature in a league matchday squad. He’s only played a total of 43 minutes in Doncaster’s two EFL Cup fixtures. Last season Joe won just under half of his aerial duals. Despite being a physical presence up front, he went the entire season without picking up a card! Although he won’t have the resell value the owners want on new signings, I think he would be a very clever addition.  

 

Option 2 – Jayden Stockley  

Like Ironside, Stockley has fallen out of favour at Port Vale. After contributing 18 goal contributions in his 38 matches in Vale’s promotion winning season, he has been an unused sub in 2 league games, only playing 90 mins in their EFL cup game against Blackpool. This summer Stockley has fallen down the pecking order as Vale have signed three forwards, could this indicate an exit? If we look at his stats, he won 57.3% of aerial duals. For me Notts are crying out for a player like this, someone who’s just able to be a physical presence at the top of the pitch.  

 

Option 3 – Ollie Pearce 

I must include him! The man who’s scored 104 goals in 151 games for Worthing and York in the National League and National League South. This season, he’s already contributed a goal and an assist in four games. But there seems to be a sense of chaos around the LNER stadium as manager Adam Hinshelwood has been sacked, only four games into the season and there are also a few murmurs that Pearce could be on his way out the club. For the past three seasons he’s scored 25+ goals, in this time he has also dealt with a step up in league. Only downside might be his age, but he’d be a striker who will score you goals! 

@Charlie_ncfc . Yes is the answer to your Question, in fact it may be two strikers, despite A.J Playing Saturday he may still move on the last Day of this Transfer Window (though it seems unlikely, there's still a possibility). Options 2 & 3 would be decent additions. Stockley's 57.3% aerial dual victories shows he's a Menace in the Opponents Box and he could easily knock Down balls to both Dennis and Jatta. As for Pearce you Can't Ignore a Player who has scored 104 Goals in 151 matches. But knowing Notts they probably will. But in the End it all boils down to Money and if the Brothers are prepared to put their hands in their pockets.

if we do manage to keep hold of jatta, it would be nice to sign another striker so that we can try to get the most out of the matthew dennis and jatta duo. the signs are very promising and the two could pay off playing together, even if it means one is playing as an attacking midfielder. it would mean we do need a backup, but i think this is the case already. i am hoping we do sign one more even if we manage to keep all our current players.

jayden stockley has always done well against us, he looks pretty tool and reads the line well which helps to beat the defence.

Alassana Jatta jumps quite late for someone his height, and it stood out when he came on against Tranmere Rovers. It doesn’t help that he lets defenders pull him back either, which makes it harder for him to win the ball in the air. He’s much better when the ball is at his feet, where he can use his strength and control.

I think Notts could do with a striker who’s good in the air and can score with his head. He doesn’t need to be someone who gets loads of goals, just someone who chips in with a fair few and gives us another option up front.

Joe Ironside and Jayden Stockley play in a similar way, but I think Ironside is better at playing on his own. He seems stronger when he's up front without needing help.

I don’t know much about Ollie Pearce, but I’ve seen people talk about him online. Some fans seem to like him, so maybe he’s good.

I don’t think the club will sign someone who’s already played loads of games. It feels more likely they’ll go for someone younger, like Charlie Whitaker.

He’s the kind of player who wants to get into the first team and learn. But finding someone who fits what the club wants isn’t always easy.

I have been wanting Notts to sign another striker before the end of the transfer window. It could still happen in the final hours, but personally, I don't think Notts will.

Good points @Ash . Regarding a Younger Striker wanting to Learn, I Don't know why one of the Notts Academy players aren't given a chance, after all you would think the Academy Coach would have an idea about one or more of his players who were worth a run in the First team, but it appears that bringing on Young Academy Talent is something Alien to the Notts D.O.F and the Head Coach.

Mai Traore’s injury is a concern. Notts paid a fee, and he hasn’t featured yet. With only two strikers at the club, it’s hard to see how this setup works. Losing Matt Palmer and Scott Robertson showed how thin the squad can be. A third striker would give us more cover. The names mentioned in this thread are all decent options, but I don’t expect Notts to spend. A younger forward might come in to play off the bench. That’s fine, as long as he’s good enough.

I was referring to this season when I mentioned Mai Traore. We only saw brief moments from him last year, and I do think he still has something to show. But based on what we’ve seen so far, I feel Notts should look at other options. It’s not about giving up on him, but the team needs to be practical. If he’s not fit or ready to contribute, then it makes sense to bring in someone who can. The squad needs depth, and relying on potential alone isn’t enough.

Some good names in there, I think if these were like prizes on offer for Notts I'd go for Ollie Pearce. I'd back him to continue scoring like Macca did when he stepped up from the National League.

I think getting a proven goal scorer in would be tricky though, we've arguably got 2 right now in Dennis and Jatta they can score 20 goals each. I wonder if potential strikers would be put off knowing they would be 3rd/4th choice as right now we can't guarantee they'd go straight into the first 11.

I'm still backing Traore to come good, when it comes to signing centre forwards our recruitment in this area has been really impressive overall. Could Luker or Jarvis be another option upfront? I do think it's a shame we haven't got anyone in the B team that is around first team ready, that would be ideal for a fourth striker.

Not a forward but Peterborough are open to offers for Chris Conn-Clarke, an attacking midfielder with an eye for goal who was superb at Altrincham in the National League. I think he’d be a really good number 10 for us, a kind of replacement for Didzy/Crowley but we have a lot of players already in this position.

We do now....strong rumour of Jatta swopping the Magpies for the Magpies. 2 mill. mentioned!!!!

I don’t get why we’re sticking with just three options up front. Mai Traore looked more comfortable in attacking midfield than he did as a striker.

Away to AFC Wimbledon, he didn’t seem switched on at all. He was walking about like it was his first game. If Alassana Jatta had been fit, I think we’d have had a real chance of taking it to penalties.

We definitely need another striker. There’s not enough depth up top.

Joe Ironside signed for Tranmere Rovers, and he is the striker from the list I am most aware of, and I think he could have done well had Notts been interested. It's a shame we didn't make a move for another striker, but the feeling was that the club was happy with the squad as it is. I just hope they don't regret the decision, because it's something we have done in the previous two League Two campaigns.

On the plus side, we just need to build momentum and hope we can get back to a fully fit squad with more players available because I really do believe Will Jarvis will show his doubters that he is a good player.

7 hours ago, menzinho said:

Could Luker or Jarvis be another option upfront?

Jayden Luker appears to be a strong contender. Jodi Jones has also played as a striker. He did against us for Coventry City when they had injuries back in the day.

I still think we need another striker, but it looks like a young player will be used instead. That’s a bit disappointing, but I’d rather see someone from our own club get a chance. What’s annoying is how we’ve let other young strikers go without giving them a proper try. It wouldn’t be fair to do that again. If he’s going to help now, we should help him grow into a good option for the future. I just hope we don’t let him do well, then sign someone else and put Traore up front instead.

I thought Mai Traore looked decent against Fleetwood. He was more involved and seemed to read the game well, even though it was just a short appearance. I think every club should have at least four strikers, even if one is a young lad still learning the ropes.

@NottsTastic, yeah he was the best of the subs. Seemed a lot more up for it

We’ll have to see how Mai Traoré gets on now the transfer window’s shut. There’s not much room to bring anyone else in, so I’m puzzled why MP asked for signings when it seemed unlikely. Was it just a distraction, or maybe wishful thinking? I’m not sure, but Traoré needs to prove himself now.