Simon Clark

The problem with holding onto our best academy lads is that PL rules allow them to take anyone they want from and EFL academy for a fixed fee - pitifully low at something like £50k, I believe? You have to hope there is competition to drive up the price because you could never say no to an offer and stop a kid getting that sort of move. Alternatively, they could change the rules and make the compensation a fairer figure. There are rules in place about how matchday squads are composed and one of the rules is that everyone must have a 'club developed' player. That means they must have had at least one year with the club as a teenager. Although Didzy usually ticks that box for us!

I've had a look at his stats and the more I look, the more I'm convinced we signed him as Macca's replacement before other clubs realised we had cash in the bank and the price went up. Of course, the brothers having an interest on Viborg may help as well! In his last season with Viborg, he made 10 appearances but only played 113 mins, scoring once. In fact, in his last 4 seasons with them, he only played 90 minutes once, so looking at goals per game is not a good guide. However, in 5 seasons with them, he scored 15 goals at a rate of one every 243 minutes. Not prolific, but in most cases I guess a striker comes off the bench when you are either chasing a game, therefore not creating too much as the opponents are keeping it tight, or you're comfortably ahead and therefore holding the lead yourselves. Plus a sub has little time to get into the game, so that's a decent return. For Notts, despite having only had that one 90 minute appearance in 4 seasons, being in a foreign country and with a team which was stumbling, he scored 5 goals at a rate of one every 103 minutes. I'm excited!!

I can't imagine that the owners would tell any coach they have to play exclusively one style regardless. There is a philosophy of playing from the back, getting the ball wide, and playing a style of football which is good to watch. However, one failing with LW is that he didn't revert to a Plan B when that didn't work. Possible a problem with SM in his short period so far is that he reverted to Plan B, C and D maybe a but too quickly and too often but I am happy to put that down to trying too hard to sort out a leaky defence and missing the bigger picture. We don't know what the deal with Macca was as both clubs have reported 'undisclosed' but bear in mind Al-Hamadi went from Wimbledon to Ipswich - a better team, challenging for PL promotion - for £1m and he is only 21 so has years to get better and produce a profit when they sell him.

My feeling is that: The owners have set a club philosophy of style of play, etc. The recruitment team are responsible for bringing in the players who can deliver that style successfully. Stuart Maynard has control of team affairs (selection, etc) and will ultimately take responsibility for results. However, if the owners / CEO feel they have let him down with recruitment they will consider that. So, when he delivered a record breaking run of home defeats and an underwhelming record after joining last season, he was safe in his role. The summer recruitment, retained list and departures have indicated they feel he was working with one hand tied behind his back so couldn't be held entirely responsible.

I think there are a few issues with the way the system works. The vast majority of academy players - at any club, not just Notts - aren't good enough to make it. Sad, but it's borne out by the numbers. When one is very good, there is an agreement that PL teams can just pick them up for a standard fee. Obviously if several clubs are interested you may get an auction situation, but we've lost Bearne, He and Etete recently without having the chance to play them and I'm certain at least the last 2 would have had a decent run in our team. With Thompson as the exception, most players who Notts let go don't go on to better things. I know Bishop eventually has done but after several years at NLN level. Almost everyone else has stayed below NL level becasue the best ones get picked up before we have chance. I think @Piethagoram makes a great point, that we have nothing to bridge the gap between kids football and the senior side. Like @Robbie I'd love to see an academy player on the bench each game but, as a coach, you can't really select the bench on the basis that we'll be comfortably clear and able to give someone a chance. You've got to do it on the basis they are ready and able to do the job today.

Millwall FC on X: " 2pm. #Millwall https://t.co/6G4U6YGIxJ" / X

I don't think anyone has left who would have been in the starting line up? And 3 of them probably wouldn't have been on the bench? We've got a fee, and reduced the wage bill. I'd expect that to cover the costs of 2 strong players who should be contending for a starting place. In my opinion, none of the departures has weakened us but it has freed up some space. Now we need Stone and Randall to find a new home.

Absolutely fantastic move for him. I'm not sure how much it would have helped him being involved in that defence last season. We didn't trust Tipton, took weeks to give Macari a chance and barley used Warner. His move to Boston United seemed to do him a world of good and it's the right part of the country to have attracted Norwich I guess. And don't forget, he would have trained with us full time last season, so would no doubt have been up against Macca, Didzy, etc, every day.

Absolutely correct, @Robbie but look at what happened when Chesterfield scuppered Tshimanga's move to Birmingham. You could end up with a highly paid player who stops playing. Plus, there may well be a release clause in the contract so if that figure is meet, we can't do anything about it.

I saw very little leadership from him. Having said that, he way he played in the final games of last season, I'd have been more than happy to have him as part of the squad for this season and fight for a place. With the signings we've made, I can't see any way he'd have started, but he'd have been useful on the bench as we could have slotted him into several positions as needed. In terms of him going, though, no sleep lost, he's not a special player who takes some real effort to replace and I'd expect us to replace him without too much difficulty.

For me, his statement that he asked for a move after losing the captaincy shows exactly what many of us thought - he isn't a leader. JOB didn't need an armband to be a leader. Neither did many others. It's a good move for him and I wish him well, I'd have been ok with him staying but with the current personnel, can't see how he'd have started. Having watched some SPL and Championship last season, I don't think it is particularly a step up. The spread across the division is huge - people were suggesting we should look at Riley Harbottle as a central defender - Mansfield to Hibs to Colchester. And Hibs are one of the better teams. Of course, the chance of playing away top Celtic and Rangers will be incredible.

I very much doubt most of the negative comments are true. I'd be amazed if we turned down an offer of £2m and even more amazed if we received one. For that money, you can pick up a proven player (free agent, £20k pw salary for 2 years). I really don't think Notts under the current owners would play games like that regarding ticket sales either. They have always said they are not looking to sell unless the deal is right. They can't control when a club makes a bid or when Macca decides it one he's interested in. If he goes, good luck to him.

It would be a super experience, sadly I can't make it as I'm already away that weekend. Football overseas is a wonderful adventure.

As I seem to recall Luke Williams once saying, a bid means nothing. We could make a bid for Jamie Vardy but it doesn't mean he's coming. And, if this is genuine, would he want to join a club which is playing games and trying to unsettle him? Why else would a club inform their local press that they've made a bid for someone? Sounds like they want to put stars in his eyes, and get him a cut price because he asks to leave. Maybe a sign of how he would be treated if he joined them,

Thanks @Robbie It seems good for around a 15 year period but outside of that it seems sketchy to say the least. There's no data on there after 2017-18 for players as far as I can see? For example, searching Macca shows he's still at Gateshead.