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Notts County - Montague on his return, budget, the Januar...

Notts County director of football Richard Montague speaks with David Jackson.

Turned down offers for players (plural) last January. Wonder who it was other than Jatta. Bass or Jones maybe.

Good that they turned down bids. Though I'm absolutely fine with us selling for top money. It's actually the biggest sign of the progress we've made, being a 'selling club' instead of a 'couldn't give them away' club.

At least they will only sell if they have time to get adequate replacements.

An interesting takeaway from that interview for me was that if a player, for example, a striker was to be sold it might not follow that another striker would replace that striker.

If the team could be strengthened in another area that may produce more goals, for example, in the AM or wingback areas, it may not need a like for like replacement.

I would have thought that sort of thinking would only come into play if one striker was sold & not two.

On other parts of the interview, pleased that the club plan to bring in another experienced goalkeeper to challenge Roos.

Personally I hope that the club doesn't sell anyone, but just strengthens the squad. It would be a big blow if one or both of our strikers were sold on.

42 minutes ago, Robbie said:

An interesting takeaway from that interview for me was that if a player, for example, a striker was to be sold it might not follow that another striker would replace that striker.

Yes I found that interesting @Robbie im not sure how that works really, if say Jatta goes and they bring Traore into the attack and buy a good midfielder who can create chances it doesn’t necessarily follow that Traore will instantly turn into a 20 goal a season striker.

I hope we manage to keep Jatta and Dennis but if we do lose one or both we need a like for like replacement surely?

Credit @ARLukomski

I think that having an exceptional number 10, like for example Ruben, who scored 48 goals in 120 appearances for Notts & Dan Crowley, who scored 19 in 64 appearances, can be just as valuable as having a striker who may not even get into the side on a regular basis.

I haven't heard the interview yet but have read some of the summaries. It's long been the club's mantra that every player has his price. It's the reality of football and it's good that the club is honest with us. If someone is sold, it's crucial that we sign a good replacement or otherwise tweak the squad such that we don't miss him - selling a player for 500k but then missing out on promotion is a false economy.

I'd normally agree with @Robbie that we don't need a like-for-like replacement, the NL years taught us we can be just as potent with one striker if we have a good number 10 behind him. But we're currently extremely stretched in the strikers department with only two viable options (sorry, I don't rate Traore at all), and we've been able to gloss over it so far as both Dennis and Jatta have been scoring and have remained injury-free. But if we go into the second half of the season with Dennis and Traore as our only options up front, we're not serious about promotion. I think we need another option up top, but can't really expect a "marquee signing" if Jatta and Dennis both remain.

Also think we need a new keeper. As good as Roos is as a shotstopper, his habit of staying glued to his line as crosses come in or punching balls that could easily be caught makes me nervous. Also, Griffiths evidently isn't seen as a candidate for the number one shirt, so he could do with some match practice on loan elsewhere.

2 minutes ago, DangerousSausage said:

I haven't heard the interview yet but have read some of the summaries. It's long been the club's mantra that every player has his price. It's the reality of football and it's good that the club is honest with us. If someone is sold, it's crucial that we sign a good replacement or otherwise tweak the squad such that we don't miss him - selling a player for 500k but then missing out on promotion is a false economy.

I'd normally agree with @Robbie that we don't need a like-for-like replacement, the NL years taught us we can be just as potent with one striker if we have a good number 10 behind him. But we're currently extremely stretched in the strikers department with only two viable options (sorry, I don't rate Traore at all), and we've been able to gloss over it so far as both Dennis and Jatta have been scoring and have remained injury-free. But if we go into the second half of the season with Dennis and Traore as our only options up front, we're not serious about promotion. I think we need another option up top, but can't really expect a "marquee signing" if Jatta and Dennis both remain.

Also think we need a new keeper. As good as Roos is as a shotstopper, his habit of staying glued to his line as crosses come in or punching balls that could easily be caught makes me nervous. Also, Griffiths evidently isn't seen as a candidate for the number one shirt, so he could do with some match practice on loan elsewhere.

@DangerousSausage 

R.M said we're after an experienced keeper to challenge Roos for the No 1 spot

2 hours ago, DangerousSausage said:

Also, Griffiths evidently isn't seen as a candidate for the number one shirt, so he could do with some match practice on loan elsewhere.

Isn’t Griffiths on loan to us from For*st? I’d send him back and get another experienced keeper in.

@Fan of Big Tone

Harry Griffiths was signed from Forest on a two year contract.

3 minutes ago, Robbie said:

@Fan of Big Tone

Harry Griffiths was signed from Forest on a two year contract.

Oh apologies I thought he was on loan, where did I get that idea I wonder.

1 minute ago, Fan of Big Tone said:

Oh apologies I thought he was on loan, where did I get that idea I wonder.

If Notts get a new experienced keeper, Griffiths could be loaned out to give him some game time

People have commented on the fact that Montague has been a little too honest with this and, although it's great transparency for fans as we want to see that from the club, it's gonna hyper inflate new goalkeeper costs and show to clubs that might want to bid on Jatta/Dennis, now is the time if they've got the resource. If those bids come in or never transpire, the players, manager and fans will never really know if they're going or staying.