ARLukomski

Another area of the squad we need to add to and an area that hindered us last season, mainly due to our lack of energy in midfield, our slow build-up play in certain games and an injury to our most important player, Matty Palmer. Plus our inability to break down low blocks.

Having released John Bostock and Jim O'Brien, there is the need to add at least 2 centre-midfielders. Our current midfield options include Matty Palmer, Scott Robertson and if he signs a new deal, Geraldo Bajrami. Baj himself says he prefers playing in midfield.

Jake Taylor is a player we've already been linked with and Ryan Croasdale has won 2 titles in 3 years at Stockport, getting to the play-off final in the other year. Croasdale is a player I would love Notts to sign. Charlie Lakin is someone I would definitely be after, after an impressive loan spell at Sutton and him and Scott Robertson would be two excellent left-footers to choose from. Charlie McCann is someone we were linked with in January and who has a fantastic passing range and work rate. It may be an expensive deal but I don't think he'll stay at FGR now they've gone down. It would either be loan-to-buy or FGR would terminate his contract to cut their losses, like we did with Kane Hemmings in 2019.

Sadou Diallo won promotion with FGR and has been part of a Derry team, as I said previously, have been Shamrock's closest challengers in Ireland. Diallo's ball retention is very good and his height would be a good asset to have. Adam O'Reilly is the engine in the same midfield at Brandywell. Evan Caffrey has been impressive for Shelbourne and a player I would like us to sign. Technically gifted on the ball and able to play further forward or play deeper. Matt Healy is a box-to-box midfielder who left Ipswich at the end of the 2022-23 season and signed for Belgian Challenger League side Francs Borains. He helped Cork City to promotion in 2022 and is an Ireland under 21 international. A very Football Radar style signing. As would be George McEachran. A player who had huge potential who has since dropped down the leagues to kick start his career again. A left-footed midfielder with a brilliant pass success rate and a player who would help us transition very well. 

Taelor O'Kane is someone I would like us to keep an eye on from Fylde. We've seen in the past that we can sign players from lower leagues and improve them. Langstaff, Scott, Austin. Maynard also helped develop players at Wealdstone. Riley Harbottle, Charlie Barker, Josh Umerah, Rhys Browne, Tahvon Campbell, Sean Adarkwa, Micah Obiero, Sam Howes, George Wickens and Miguel Freckleton. I expect EFL clubs to be looking at O'Kane's potential soon and I think he could develop into a fantastic midfield option. He's already scored 4 goals for Fylde and made nearly 20 appearances last season. The idea is, get him before someone else does or we may regret it.

I will come back and add another list for centre-back. That will include Jacob Bedeau, Farrend Rawson, Alex Hartridge, Cian Byrne, Corey Whelan, Charlie Barker, Mamadou Jobe, Kenton Richardson, Dan Ellison, Luke Jenkins, Danny Collinge and Lewis Baines. I will have my centre-mids one up soon. 

@Piethagoram

Not sure if he'd fit a LCB role. Only 5'11. I know Molloy and McJannet are both that height but they are natural centre-backs and they win a good amount of aerial duels for their height. Tutonda is a natural left-back, who has, on occasions, played LWB for Morecambe 

David Tutonda - Age 28, 5'11, Left footed

PLD 37 

Accurate passes - 788/1,014 (77.7%)

Accurate long balls - 35/137 (25.6%)

Tackles won - 44

Clearances - 108

Headed clearances - 52

Recoveries - 173

Ground duels won - 127/223 (57%)

Aerial duels won - 41/95 (43.2%)

@Piethagoram

Aaron Donnelly - Age 20, 6'1, Left footed

PLD 19

Accurate passes - 424/689 (61.5%)

Accurate long balls - 51/201 (25.4%)

Tackles won - 6

Clearances - 85

Headed clearances - 45

Recoveries - 75

Ground duels won - 21/33 (63.6%)

Aerial duels won - 60/97 (61.9%)

Farrend Rawson - Age 27, 6'4, Right footed

PLD 31

Accurate passes - 558/772 (72.3%)

Accurate long balls - 31/101 (30.7%)

Tackles won - 15

Clearances - 136

Headed clearances - 78

Recoveries - 99

Ground duels won - 31/56 (55.4%)

Aerial duels won - 120/189 (63.5%)

@Piethagoram

Right then, here we go. The most important position in Notts' summer recruitment. Baldwin and Brindley have been released and Rawlinson has been transfer listed. That leaves us with Cameron and Macari. One left footer and one right footer. 

In my opinion we need 3 right footers and 2 left footers. The recruitment has to be spot on in this position. They need to be able to defend their box, but also be comfortable to play our style. They have to have the required strength, height and athleticism. We also require more leaders. With that in mind, here is the list.

Notts have been rumoured with Riley Harbottle and it would make sense as he has played under Stuart Maynard at Wealdstone. For me, Will Wright is perfect for us. He can play anywhere across the back 3, he has the height and the ability to play out from the back. He has been a regular for Crawley this season and whilst he has an option for a further year in Sussex, he could be tempted to a move to a team with a higher ceiling. Lucas Ness has some impressive stats, despite not playing a large amount of games at Charlton. He isn't first choice there either, so it would be a decent signing. Tom Bradbury has the height (6'3), the leadership and pace (shown by his goal-line clearance against Burton). Definitely good competition for Cameron. 

I've said that Notts need to look into Ireland and whilst we looked at Conor Keeley, a move never materialised. His CB partner at St Pats, Joe Redmond, would be a great signing. Once again, he's comfortable with the ball at his feet and playing out from the back (76.3% accurate passes) and is good in the air as well, with 67.8% of his aerial duels won. He would bring leadership as well, being St Pats' captain and a former captain of Birmingham's youth team. With St Pats only sitting in 6th place, it would be a good time to move. Nando Pijnaker is a colossus in the air and whilst not blessed with pace, he can play a pass. Sligo are 8th in Ireland and it could be a shrewd bit of business to sign the New Zealand international.

Cameron McJannet and Gavin Molloy are two more left footed centre-backs from Derry and Shelbourne respectively. Molloy maybe difficult to prize away, as Shelbourne currently sit top of the league and he is ever present in Damien Duff's side. McJannet is formerly of Stoke City and has been ever present for Derry in the last few seasons, which has seen The Candystripes be Shamrock's closest challengers. Ruadhiri Higgins is someone who the Reedtz bros wanted as head coach, after Ian Burchnall left, meaning his Derry side will have played a similar possesion based game to Notts. McJannet has been a part of that and despite only being 5'11, can win his fair share of headers too.

I will add Farrend Rawson's stats, according to my metrics, in the replies.

@Robbie I think SM will stick with 3 at the back, It's got us success before and 2 of the 3 teams that went up, played 3 at the back (Stockport and Wrexham). MK and Crawley, who finished in the play-offs, also play 3 at the back. It's about finding a balance within the team, whilst also having the ability to switch to a back four if the 3-4-1-2/3-4-2-1 isn't working in games. This also includes having the required height, strength and athleticism from our central defenders (which is my next piece)

Tobi Adebayo-Rowling has been released and I don't think Chicksen will play a big part next season, even if he hasn't been transfer listed. Will Randall has been transfer listed and I wouldn't be surprised if he went back to Sutton.

That leaves us with Aaron Nemane and Jodi Jones to play RWB and LWB respectively. Whilst they are predominantly attack minded, it is obvious we need some wing-backs who are more adept defensively and can offer some more balance to the side. They have to be comfortable with defending, especially one-on-one, but also provide the necessary supporting going forward. They can't be too attack minded like Jodi but not too defensive minded like Chicksen.

More stats can be found on Wyscout, but as said before, I'm not prepared to take out a mortgage to pay for their services, especially as their prices are going up. *Ryan Burke's stats are taken from this season's Irish League due to the fact he was in the Irish 2nd division last season with Waterford. I have thus, only taken his stats from his current games in this years League of Ireland.

RWB - Archie Davies, Joel Senior, Gus Scott-Morriss, James Clarke, Connor Barrett, George Wind

LWB - Nick Tsaroulla, Ryan Rydel, Ryan Burke, Bartlomiej Kukulowicz

My top 3 for each position would be Archie Davies, Joel Senior and Connor Barrett. Davies would command a fee, Senior is out of contract and with Morecambe's financial issues, it could be wise to move in. Barrett is out of contract and will likely be of interest to EFL clubs this summer. I think Clarke is more comfortable as a RB or in the right side of a back 3, rather than wing-back. I can see Scott-Morriss staying at Southend, because they've got a great chance of going up next season. George Wind has been linked with Notts and also has interest from Stockport and Barrow, but it's whether he can make that step up 3 leagues.

My top 3 for LWB is Nick Tsaroulla, Ryan Burke and Bartlomiej Kukulowicz. No doubt Tsaroulla will want a starting place but it would be a great signing. Ryan Burke was on the books of Birmingham, before moving to Ireland, where he won promotion last season and has started the majority of games for Waterford this season and is comfortable at LB or LWB. Kukulowicz is a younger option but his stats make for good reading, despite not starting as many games. He can also play on both flanks. Rydel is a more ambitious one. He hasn't played as much at Stockport this season due to injury, but I would imagine he would want to start, which is unlikely with Jodi at the club.

The reason I haven't got any stats for the non league players is because Fotmob doesn't do stats for National League level and below and I'm not taking out a loan from the bank to pay for WyScout, who have just increased their prices.

@menzinho I was thinking about adding Matt Macey to this list, but just depends on his wages tbf. He would quite comfortably be no.1. 

@Wheelbarrow repair man 

Yep. I'm absolutely buzzing that we've finished 14th in League 2. In fact I got the champagne out after I got back from FGR, I was that thrilled. The Reedtz bros obviously have targets and ambitions and I'm glad that we do have those targets and ambitions, but they don't always make them targets public because, as we know, they don't love the limelight. The fans forum is probably the best place to talk about them.

No, that particular saying isn't associated with Hardy, but it depends on who says it and whether they have the right tools to carry it out. It is working for clubs such as Brighton, Brentford, Plymouth, Stockport etc. However it didn't work for clubs like Darlington, Forest Green, Salford, Fleetwood and Dagenham. You can't built sustainability and success on sand. You have to have an ethos and a way of working. An identity, a philosophy to work towards and that's what the successful clubs have. We have the right infrastructure to build from and it worked in getting us out of non-league. 

Chris and Alex said they wanted promotion from the National League, but it's not a guarantee due to circumstances out of their control. If you set the target, then don't reach it, then fans get annoyed. Then we wonder why did we come out and say we wanted to be in this league (let's say the Championship for example) in this many years time (let's say 5 years). Us fans would just be annoyed because we've been promised things that haven't materialised. 

Ruben said if Burchnall was still in charge and Williams didn't come in, he probably wouldn't have been at Notts in 2022/23. He could have gone a few times but stayed. If he had no loyalty, why was he with us for 3 seasons? 

I'm fine with the ethos staying as it is because if you're constantly chopping and changing your ethos, you're never going to be settled and will never progress forward. Doing that got us into the National League in the first place.

Don't set a target for the amount of years to get to the Championship. Hardy did that and look what happened. Any owner who talks about "5 year plans" when they come into football, run for the hills

I'm fine with us bringing players from overseas. Our best player in the Reedtz Bros era has been Ruben Rodrigues. Alassana Jatta has started brilliantly. Yes I would like some more academy players to come through, but at the moment our academy is still developing to get better after our drop into non-league. It isn't La Masia. 

So, as I said in a previous topic, I have an excel doc with defenders on it with stats included. I have done this for each position which, in my opinion, is needed for Notts in the summer.

We will start in goal. It is clear that we will be recruiting a new number 1 this summer with Stone on the transfer list, Slocombe in his mid 30's and Brooks maybe not fully ready to be No.1. 

Alex Bass, in my opinion, was one of the best goalkeepers in the division last season. He was commanding of his area

xGOT is the expected number of goals a goalkeeper is expected to concede, based on the chances the opposition team have against him. So if your goals conceded is lower than the xGOT, you've done a good job. If the numbers are close, as shown by the xGOT faced of Alex Bass, Archie Mair and Luke Southwood, then it's ok and says more about the defence. If the goals conceded is higher than the xGOT, well that's just bad.

Another goalkeeper I would like Notts to look at is Chester's Wyll Stanway. 6'3 and with 19 clean sheets in the National League North. A very impressive player who recently was called up to the England C team as well. Out of contract at Chester. I've not been able to find the stats on him like the other 3, as FotMob's in-depth stats don't go down into non league.

Luke Southwood picked up an injury in Cheltenham's last game so signing him will be difficult.

I will be doing this for the centre-back, centre-mid, right wing-back, left wing-back and striker positions.

Jake Taylor's stats using my metrics for central midfielders. 

PLD 28
Accurate passes - 550/643 (86%)
Chances created - 15
Passes into final third - 79
Accurate long balls - 32
Dispossessed - 10
Tackles won - 14
Recoveries - 82
Ground duels won - 69/117 (59%)
Aerial duels won - 13

@Wheelbarrow repair man @Robbie

The reason I would keep Stone is so we don't have to buy 2 keepers. Buying 2 keepers would, for me, slow Brooks' development. As much as Slocombe has been a great servant to us, we have to move on. He's in his mid 30's and Swindon was the last straw.

As for Bajrami, I would have him as squad depth. A physical presence we can have as another option in midfield. I would be signing 2 new centre mids in the summer to go with Matty, Robbo and Baj. 

Cameron would've been on there but I can't see us moving him on as he's captain and he's got another year. If it were me, I'd take the captain's armband off of him. 

Chicksen has given us some great memories, but we need to upgrade. One good game against MK isn't enough I'm afraid. There isn't enough quality coming from the LWB role and he goes backwards way way too many times. Plus, if Jodi goes, we will need to bring in a strong LWB anyway.

Cedwyn Scott - 2 years

Geraldo Bajrami - 1 year

Jim O'Brien - Coaching role (released from player contract)

Release - Aden Baldwin, Richard Brindley, John Bostock, Tobi Adebayo-Rowling and Luther Munakandafa

No offers made for the loan players either.

Sell or mutually terminate Rawlinson, Chicksen, Slocombe, Randall and Morias

Progression over loyalty. Time to move forwards

Blackburn Rovers 1-2 Coventry City

Cardiff City 2-1 Middlesbrough

Huddersfield Town 0-1 Birmingham City

Millwall 2-1 Plymouth Argyle

AFC Wimbledon 1-2 Walsall

Gillingham 1-2 Doncaster Rovers

Swindon Town 2-0 Morecambe (Joker)

Wrexham 2-1 Stockport County

I've already started the list for players in the summer @Piethagoram. The CB's list is long

Stoke City 2-1 Plymouth Argyle

Sunderland 2-0 Millwall (Joker)

Blackpool 2-1 Barnsley

Charlton Athletic 2-0 Shrewsbury Town

Cheltenham Town 0-2 Lincoln City

Doncaster Rovers 1-1 Barrow

Grimsby Town 2-1 Swindon Town

Sutton United 1-1 Crawley Town

Preston North End 2-1 Norwich City

Sheffield Wednesday 1-0 Stoke City

Bolton Wanderers 1-1 Portsmouth

Oxford United 2-2 Peterborough United

Harrogate Town 2-1 Sutton United (Joker)

Newport County 2-0 Tranmere Rovers

Bromley 1-1 Solihull Moors

York City 1-0 Woking

Sunderland 1-2 Bristol City

Watford 2-2 Preston North End

Burton Albion 1-2 Oxford United

Charlton Athletic 2-1 Barnsley

Bradford City 1-0 Gillingham

Tranmere Rovers 1-0 Walsall (Joker)

Boreham Wood 1-1 Wealdstone

York City 2-1 Eastleigh

Plymouth Argyle 1-1 Bristol City

Stoke City 1-0 Huddersfield Town 

Bristol Rovers 1-2 Shrewsbury Town

Charlton Athletic 2-1 Stevenage (Joker)

Newport County 0-2 Crawley Town

Sutton United 2-1 Swindon Town 

Altrincham 2-1 Oldham Athletic

Eastleigh 2-2 Maidenhead United

We need to be ruthless this summer. No room for sentiment anymore or loyalty. We've given players enough chances to prove themselves at League 2 level and a lot have proved they aren't good enough. No other club would have given them players the amount of time we have.

The out of contract players

Richard Brindley - Release. He wasn't a starter in the National League last season. Had a small reinvention as the central defender in the back 3, earlier in the season. However, he hasn't made the step up and after Harrogate (A) it was obvious he wasn't cut out for League 2. Thanks for the memories Richard.

Tobi Adebayo-Rowling - Release. As much as I like his infectious personality, he hasn't had the first team opportunities and I think we can upgrade who can challenge Nemane for his starting spot. 

John Bostock - Release. Harsh but his performances have not been the same. We need more energy and drive in midfield. Thank you for Wembley you beautiful bloke

Jim O'Brien - Release (offer coaching role). Always gives 100% for the badge and can always rely on him to bust some bo***cks when the team isn't performing. However his best days are behind him and we shouldn't be relying on Jim O'Brien to start in midfield. Help him with his coaching badges and offer him a role as part of the reserves/youth team.

Aden Baldwin - At the moment, release. He has 6 games to prove it. There is a good player in there on his day but I grew tired of him on Friday. When playing the ball back to Sam, the Notts fans ironically cheered. He then turned around to the fans looking visibly annoyed. Get on with it Aden, it's not our fault you've not chose to run with the ball into space. On his day, he's good, but too many times he has a brainfart (Sutton, Shrewsbury, Wrexham). 

Luther Munakandafa - Undecided. You've got see how he does out on loan at Truro and also maybe get him a NL loan next season. You've also got to see where he fits in our plans. From when I saw him a year ago, to when I saw him against Derby, he's improved massively. 

Retain Cedwyn and Geraldo. Give Ceds a 2 year deal. An excellent finisher on his day and never got the opportunity to prove himself this season because of his injury after 5 games. A presence and someone who will get to the loose ball in the penalty area if Macca doesn't get to it. Our pressing game also takes a hit without him on the pitch. A 1 year deal for Baj. His physicality will help us in the middle and again, another player who never got the opportunity. We need a more physical presence. Here's your guy.

In contract who I would sell on frees or mutual termination.

Adam Chicksen - One good season in 4 isn't enough I'm afraid. After Harrogate away, enough was enough. Thank you for some iconic moments last season but we need an upgrade at LWB. 

Connell Rawlinson - Another play who has given his all to the cause but he's not a League 2 player. Thank you for your effort and your passion towards Notts.

Sam Slocombe - Yet another player who has served us well through the years but he should not be our No.1 in 2024. It shows how poor our recruitment has been when he's still starting. Friday was the last of very thin last straws. 1 good in game 8 every time isn't enough. 

Will Randall - It's just not worked. His signing was done before the play-off final, but he's never been in the squad. Maybe loan him out at a push

Kyle Cameron - Yes. Really. Ash Palmer lead Stockport to the NL title, signed a new deal, got found out at L2 level and got shipped off to Chesterfield 4 months later. Salford was the last straw. He might have played well yesterday but he's not a starter, nor do I think he should be captain anymore. Lead this club back to the Football League and saved his best performance for Wembley where he was excellent, but not a League 2 starter. Keep him on if you must, but he shouldn't be a starter or captain.

Junior Morias - Some National League club will pay a small amount for a guy who can score in the 5th tier. However with Macca, Ceds, Didzy and Jatta, he's never getting another look in. Just like Billy Waters at Wrexham, he was signed as squad depth for our strikers. He's barely played and will do a job for let's say Woking, Dagenham or Kidderminster.

That leaves Brooks, Stone (keep him on as 3rd keeper so we aren't buying 2 keepers but please buy a new commanding No.1), Nemane, Macari, Jones, Palmer, Robertson, Bajrami, Crowley, Austin, Langstaff, Scott, Jatta and Didzy. Plus Sanderson, Mahovo, Gill, and Cisse.

If we get a good offer for Crowley then I would accept. An excellent player on the ball and his return has been impressive, but off the ball he doesn't offer enough and you need to be good off the ball in this league. Him and Didzy's stats look good, but on the eye they don't offer enough out of possession and we've lost our pressing game from last season.

On the shopping list. GK, RWB, CBx4, LWB, CM, CAM and maybe ST if Macca leaves

Cardiff City 1-0 Sunderland

Queens Park Rangers 1-2 Birmingham City

Fleetwood Town 2-1 Cheltenham Town

Lincoln City 2-0 Leyton Orient

Gillingham 1-1 Crewe Alexandra (Joker)

Wrexham 1-1 Mansfield Town

Solihull Moors 1-1 Barnet

Woking 2-1 Eastleigh

Burton Albion 2-1 Port Vale

Barrow 1-0 Newport County

Crewe Alexandra 1-1 AFC Wimbledon

Morecambe 1-1 Gillingham (Joker)

Tranmere Rovers 2-1 Crawley Town

Aldershot Town 2-1 Solihull Moors

Altrincham 3-2 Gateshead

Dagenham & Redbridge 1-2 Oldham Athletic