Simon Clark

He's got a year left on his contract and I don't see that Notts should be rushing to break the bank at this stage. He's had a lot of injury problems and we've worked really well with him to look after him physically. There were a number of underwhelming games last season and the standard of opposition will be better this year. More performance like Wembley, and I'm sure he'll be getting offers which match what he feels he deserves, whether from Notts or someone else.

It was a little disappointing not to see Emmanuel having more first team time pre season, he's been a stand out for a year in the B team for me.

It's a pity the game at Leicester is behind closed doors, I'd have fancied that one. And interesting to see how Jatta gets on. I'd maybe not play him at Eastwood next Tuesday, they had 2 players sent off for high tackles last night, so I read!

Sanderson missed quite a lot of last season through injury so had a lot of catching up to do, and it also explains why we didn't see him involved last season despite having a contract. I watch quite a bit of B team and U18 football and the vast majority of them are miles away from playing L2 football. And I mean absolutely miles. A loan spell can really see a player push on. I was mightily impressed with Daniel Adiefe when I saw him later in the season after he'd ben at Basford for a couple of months. He was much stronger and much more commanding than he'd previously been. There are 3 or 4 other academy players who I think have a chance, and training with the first team definitely improves them (Madou Cisse was a much better player for it) but the gap is enormous.

Total control, no. The problem with that is a manager goes and you need to replace the entire squad to match the new guy's needs. I like the stability we have but think it needs to be tweaked. Teams seem more comfortable playing against possession now. Look at Forest over this season plus Palace and Spurs in their recent cup finals. They let the opponents have as much of the ball as they want in areas it doesn't hurt them. They keep their shape instead of chasing shadows and by doing that, the gaps don't open up for those killer passes. I thought Maynard brough out more long balls to mix it up but it felt a little more hopeful than planned. I like possession, but the ball needs to move quickly, a bit more first touch, and players need to move instead of standing like statues.

Absolutely not Williams for me. Going back often doesn't work unless you have something amazing, like Moyes and Everton - and he was there several years and away for several years before going back. Williams had one season against teams who were - in the main - far worse than us and half a season where frailties were beginning to show. It was a great ride, full of memories, but thanks and no thanks. He's had a season where he was relegated and a season where he was sacked, I'd rather have someone with a better EFL record. Having said that, I fully expect someone I've never heard of.

I'd like to see what Traore can offer with a full pre season behind him. Jatta looked exhausted from around January onwards. I'd guess he's never played so many minutes in a season in his life, and it's a physical league. I'd sure he'll be better equipped next season. Although if money like that is on offer, it makes sense to take it.

No, I met his dad at a B team game earlier this season and it definitely wasn't Micky! Look out for him, though. For me, he's been the pick of the players coming through in this batch.

I wouldn't disagree with you, but a lot of fans forgave Williams far more easily than they forgive Maynard. You make good points in your last paragraph and this is why I'd like to see the experienced coaching staff around him. For the last 4 months, he hasn't really had much to bounce off.

I feel for him. I don't think anyone can question his effort and desire. From day 1, it has always been a 'management team', each with their own qualities to complement the others. In January, for whatever reason we will probably never find out for sure, 2 of them left without being adequately replaced. In any job, whatever it is, if you ask 1 person to do the job previously done by 3, they will become less effective. Our most creative player in Dan Crowley was sold without being adequately replaced. I understand the reasons why, the money was reportedly excellent for a player with 6 months left and he wanted to go. Those 2 factors weakened the second half of the season for even an experience coach / manager, so I'd like to see what he can do with an experienced and strong coaching staff. His big disadvantage is that he doesn't have the same charisma to carry fans along as some other managers have, and he will be under a lot of pressure if we get off to a slow start.

I know the list has been announced but - regardless of contract - mine would be to keep: Austin Bass Bedeau Jarvis Jatta Jones Macari McDonald McGoldrick Ness Palmer Platt Reynolds Robertson Whitaker That leaves plenty of room for quality signings and gives a depth of squad we've been missing this season. I fully expect some of our contracted players to move on although I also expect players like Grant and Edwards to play far more games next season than I'd want. But 'd be delighted for them to prove me wrong!

I think that sets the bar. If we're not offering Sam Austin a deal of any kind, I expect to see some real quality coming through the doors this summer. And one or two of the contracted players moving on a well. There seem to be a lot of academy players offered pro contracts too, I hope that's more than a numbers game. I am very impressed with Harrison Hazard, though, he's been excellent whenever I've seen him play.

He's more of an old style goalkeeper rather than a ball playing one, and he doesn't seem so comfortable with the ball at his feet. But that part of his game has improved massively in the last couple of years and I can't imagine too many better number two keepers in L2. He seems a fantastic professional, brilliant to have a round the place to help the other keepers and focussed and ready to step up when needed, as he's proved. His big failing is penalties, so if we have to go through the play offs, we'd better win in normal time!

I'm so sorry, I've only just seen your reply!! Thank you, that's a great help.

I think we could put together a half decent L1 team, but feel we're miles away from a L1 squad. Our best 11 each week could do ok, I think but our overall squad strength has been shown up in L2, even accepting this seems to have been a worse than normal season for injuries. That also makes it even harder for academy lads to make the breakthrough, so I think we'd be kicking that one several years down the line if you do go up, although we do have some useful prospects. Having watched the U18 and B sides a few times this season, it's been good to see the progress of some of them as well.

It depends on wage demands for me. I think he's looking better each game as he adapts to League football. There are very few George Abbott's or Ryan Yates' who step in as if they've been doing it for years and most young players take time to adapt. I'd be very happy to keep him and hope we can get an agreement. With the likes of him and Jarvis, it allows us to get in some experience for balance.

I can't imagine money will be a problem as he loves the club and our owners play fair. We won't be looking to underpay him and he won't be looking to squeeze every penny out of us. His influence right throughout the club is massive so absolutely offer him another deal.

Or maybe we damaged his confidence by putting him into such a leaky defence? I watched Aston Villa U21 v Norwich U21 earlier this season - excellent game, good pace and great technique as you'd expect. Both Mahovo and Warner played, and our by looked by far the better.

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 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.

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.

Does anyone know of a website showing an all time list of Notts appearances and/ or goalscorers? I've tried long and hard with no success and find it frustrating that a club of our history has nothing, surely someone must have that info?

Ah, Richard Duffy. A little nudge from the attacker and Duffy was in row D in the Pavis... With Macari and Platt in place, assuming we play a back 3, Baldwin wouldn't be starting in my opinion. I can't believe we made him any serious offer to stay. And I would expect Chicksen and Cameron to follow him next season, although in fairness, Super Stu got my captain looking like a L2 player by the end of the season.

That league has had some horrific fixture pile ups at the end of the season. I think at least 2 of them had to play 12+ games in the last month. Great to see Bury at Gigg Lane as well. Makes you wonder what might have happened if the Salford owners have invested in a club like this instead of one which openly wanted to be non league (from watching the documentary on Sky, which seems borne out by their low attendances).