ARLukomski

This is as of right now, but by no means final. We still need a centre-back (cough cough Lucas Ness), a centre-mid (cough cough Charlie McCann) and a striker with pace and can press (cough cough Benji Magee or Brad Young). You can flip a coin between Aaron Nemane and Kellan Gordon. I've chosen Gordon as he gives us more balance in the wing-back positions due to Jodi being more attacking. Our wing-back/full-back options are absolutely mental and is probably our strongest area of the pitch. The back 3 gives a nice balance. Matty Platt being a more aerially dominant centre half in the middle with Bedeau and Macari being able to stay wide to receive the ball and drive into space. Cedwyn can play just behind Jatta like he did for Langstaff in our promotion winning season, but just ahead of Crowley. For me though we still need a striker with Langstaff's pressing instincts and a bit more pace than our current options. GK Alex Bass RCB Lewis Macari CB Matty Platt LCB Jacob Bedeau RWB Kellan Gordon CM Matty Palmer CM Scott Robertson LWB Jodi Jones CAM Dan Crowley ST Cedwyn Scott ST Alassana Jatta

One of Ruari Paton, Brad Young, Michael Mellon, Will Evans, Colm Whelan, Johnny Kenny or Lee Bonis hopefully

Post match thoughts ⬇️ The trialists were Alex Kirk, Elliot Thorpe and Eno Nto

Had this ready since Saturday ⬇️

We need a few through the door now. Updated player cover in all areas ⬇️

If this does happen I will cry and then I'll get my pre-prepared Twitter thread up for replacements. Only when it is confirmed he's sold

I can understand it because once we bought in McDonald, we then have 3 left footed centre-backs in Bedeau, McDonald and Cameron. He's going to be a squad player and I agree he shouldn't be a starter for the forthcoming season. I also see in his statement, the change of captaincy was one of the reasons why he wanted to a new challenge. This shows it was Maynard's decision to change the captaincy and put it on Langstaff. I agree with this decision because Cameron was no longer the leader he was, when we were in the National League. Football doesn't stand still for anyone and we've got to move forward as a club and that includes bringing in new players to help us progress further. Players that are better at this level than the ones we had and will help us in the next few years. The stats don't lie. We had the worst defence in the league last season and the back line needed a complete revamp and that meant being ruthless. The defence was our biggest issue last season and it is being sorted. Adding to this, it shows the ruthlessness that was needed last summer. Cameron should not have gone last summer, but some players who were part of the squad last season, should've left in the summer of 2023 (after promotion). Our loyalty cost us progress and that goes to Richard Montague and also Luke Williams. One thing I must give Maynard credit for is his ruthlessness. Us Notts fans wondered if he had it in him. The answer is yes he does

That was the same account that said Stevenage were interested. Stevenage couldn't afford his right boot, never mind a whole Macaulay Langstaff. It's also the same account that said Derby were interested. The same Derby that have just signed Jerry Yates and Kayden Jackson. They've only paid 2 million in the past 5 years once and that was for Kevin Nisbet. Zian Flemming's deal was 1.7 million rising to over 2 million.

Can definitely play in a back 3 and has been great the last few seasons with Gateshead. Physically strong and able to play across the back line and is comfortable with the ball at his feet, as is expected of a Gateshead player

This is our current depth in every position. Obviously Bass, Brooks and Slocombe as well. I've not included Stone, Rawlinson or Randall as I think with the additions we've made, they'll be gone anyway. Still need at least 1 more centre mid and a right sided centre-back. If we don't sign Charlie McCann, I might just go and cry in the corner for a while. Kenton Richardson or Riley Harbottle for the RCB role

It'd be the greatest comeback arc in history. The 1 loan game raffle ticket winner to Notts' right sided centre-back. If he did sign it would give us the current options at centre-back... RCB - Lewis Macari, Kenton Richardson, Lucien Mahovo CB - Matty Platt, Rod McDonald, Lucien Mahovo LCB - Jacob Bedeau, Kyle Cameron, Rod McDonald

His best interview since he joined Notts. He looks a lot more calmer and confident now he's settled and is starting to shape the squad in his own way. There is a good head coach/manager in there. He's shown at Wealdstone that he can develop players (e.g. George Wickens, Sam Howes, Jed Ward, Riley Harbottle, Miguel Freckleton, Jacob Mendy, Deji Elerewe, Rhys Browne, Josh Umerah). Also, to get a Wealdstone team playing better than most would think, would mean creating a strong togetherness within the squad, which I think he will create over time. Matty Saunders said in his interview with Tom Williams, that he would phone players personally to explain to them why they weren't in the matchday squad. People can have their doubts still about him, due to last season, which is fine. I had my doubts through the end of the last season too. However when people come out and talk rubbish for the sake of their agenda, that's when it's ridiculous. Like mentioning the fact he says "management team" a lot. There's no constructive analysis or criticism given for the positives or negatives.

@StanfordPie I think I would sign one more centre-back, who is right footed. I heard we were interested in Riley Harbottle

Another one from the suggestions list ???? Seriously though, what a signing

Since last Sunday evening/Monday morning I've had trouble breathing out. It's taking a lot of effort to breathe out. My heart feels like it's beating quickly and sometimes I don't even manage to breathe out properly. I did vape once last Saturday, but I don't think it's that because it's been a week now and I've only ever done it once before. I do have asthma, but that has been settled for a few years and my inhaler hasn't made a difference to these breathing difficulties. I'm thinking it may be my anxiety, but a panic attack shouldn't last this long. The only way I seem to overcome it is if I do a big yawn. I went to the doctors and the doctor checked my blood pressure, my pulse, temperature and checked my heart beat and chest for when I breathe in and out, and he reassured me that things were ok. Has anyone had anything like this before and what is a solution? Thank you

I've now made this into a thread

His stats from the 2023-24 season PLD 40 Accurate passes - 1,073/1,514 (70.9%) Accurate long balls - 79 Tackles won - 30 Clearances - 145 Headed clearances - 84 Recoveries - 193 Ground duels won - 83/143 (58%) Aerial duels won - 119/207 (57.5%)

I've now put the right-wing backs into a thread if anyone's interested

I'm absolutely fine with signing Matty Young. We've had a good experience previously with Sunderland and the goalkeeper position. Anthony Patterson is now their number 1 and a consistent starter in the Championship. Sam Slocombe is no longer at the required standard to play League 2 level and Tiernan Brooks is still not ready to be no.1 yet. With how highly he's rated, I'd absolutely take Young as no.1. Solihull did fine with 18 year old Tommy Simkin for the first half of last season. He then went on to get into Stoke's matchday squad. I remember when we released Adam Collin (and rightly so because he was terrible), but then didn't make the correct decision regarding a new no.1 that summer. That's not the case with the owners now. Despite it not working out for Aidan Stone, we've mostly got it right. Patterson, Jaros and Mair. Luca was fine, not anything amazing but just fine. Jaros was scapegoated because his name wasn't Sam Slocombe, but Burchnall knew that we needed someone in goal. There's a reason he went to Stockport in League 2 the season after. Maynard also has a good record of developing keepers. George Wickens, Sam Howes and Jed Ward.

@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.

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.