Promotion plus or mid-table mis-hit?

Last updated : 02 June 2007 By Paul Smith

The key word on every new signings lips - aswell as the fans and Thompsons' - has been promotion.

Everyone seems geared up for a push to get out of League Two, meaning excuses now will not wash with the long-suffering loyal Magpies fans.

Last week Neil MacKenzie arrived from Championship newcomers Scunthorpe United before a quartet of additions were announced on Thursday.

They were striker Hector Sam, defenders Adam Tann and Paul Mayo plus young goalkeeper Tim Sandercombe.

Each has been quoted as saying everything is in place for the club to trouble League Two's best in the 2007-08 season.

Do NCM agree?

Paul Mayo

Signed from: Lincoln City (free)

Mayo... looking for promotion

2006-07 appearances: 30 starts, 7 substitute appearances

2006-07 highlight: The regular left-back was asked to perform in a central defensive role at the business end of the season and did the job more than adequately. The local media enthused about Mayo in this position, giving him Man of the Match in successive games after conceding just once in that time with the Imps struggling.

2006-07 lowlight: Subsequently being unfairly dropped to the bench once first choice pairing Nat Brown and Paul Morgan returned to fitness. This may have been the final nail in the coffin for the Imps with Mayo turning their contract offer down in favour of a Notts move.

The Mad verdict: Mayo has been there and done that in League Two despite being only 25.

With the Imps missing out in the playoff's five times in a row, Mayo involved in four of them, he knows what it takes to challenge at the top end of the table.

A good left-foot and passionate nature - Mayo has regularly spoken out in the press about poor Imps displays and has captained the side on more than one occasion - are his big positives.

With Notts lacking a regular penalty taker last season, Mayo will help, and his long throw is an added bonus.

He is however, prone to lapses in concentration and his marking can be sloppy.

Indeed, despite being named in the top 100 Lincoln City legends ever just this season in a fans poll, Mayo was sometimes a target for the Stacey West Stand boo boys.

Promotion plus or mid-table mis-hit? Mayo will add competition for places and his versatility will make him more useful than not. Promotion plus.

Adam Tann

Signed from: Leyton Orient (free)

Tann... back in Notts colours

2006-07 appearances: 13 starts, 8 substitute appearances.

2006-07 highlight: Not known for scoring goals - the defender has netted just eleven in over 150 career appearances - he popped up with a crucial goal in Orient's bottom of the table clash at Bradford City. The win all but mathematically secured League Two safety with just two games left with Tann adding to Gary Alexander's strike in a 2-0 win. His goal may have been a tap in but it couldn't have been more priceless.

2006-07 lowlight: With Orient without a win in eight league games, Tann returned to the squad after missing two of those matches for a crucial trip to Blackpool. The Fakenham- born man was unable to help his side and was in fact dismissed after 82 minutes with the score at 1-0. His last man challenge resulted in a penalty and the O's eventually lost 3-0. Tann didn't play again until January 27.

The Mad verdict: Tann impressed at Meadow Lane in an earlier spell with Notts, scoring in a fine FA Cup win at Bristol City on his debut and making a further five appearances performing solidly and most tellingly, consistently.

He may have been sent off shortly before leaving the club after another setback - breaking his cheekbone - but Tann demonstrated he can be a more than useful addition with some excellent tackling and a good ability to roam forward from right-back.

Unfortunately Tanns recent seasons in the game have been disrupted by a spate of injuries, including being out of the game for three months with testicular cancer - though successful treatment has since been given.

Potentially injury prone, and with an aggressive streak, Tann can miss several games in a season as his appearance record of just 36 appearances since 2005 illustrates, despite being considered a first choice everywhere he has played.

Promotion plus or mid-table mis-hit? If he performs as he did last time - but over the whole season - Tann will be a big hit in the side, setting an example with his consistency. Promotion plus.

Hector Sam

Signed from: Walsall (free)

Sam...gearing up for goals

2006-07 appearances: 32 starts, 14 substitute appearances

2006-07 highlight: Being part a part of a title-winning side doesn't come along every year for players, but on a personal level Sams highlight would be finishing with a clutch of assists for the Saddlers. In his own words he finished with between ten and fifteen, a highly respectable total.

2006-07 lowlight: His goal tally. Only seven to his name, all in the league, represents a goal ratio of just 0.2 a game taking his 42 league appearances into account, and this in a hugely successful attacking team.

The Mad verdict: Sam has a lot of experience and will be in a buoyant mood after his medal last season.

The Trinidad & Tobago international who has made seventeen appearances and scored twice for his country, has told Thompson he is the man to get 20 goals a season for Notts, but appears more of a creator given last season's assist exploits.

If Thompson perseveres with the 4-3-3 that he employed for the second part of last season, Sam would probably play wide in the frontline and his chances may be limited.

It appears he may need a few chances to score and this would limit him in that stake. Indeed, he reminds some of Junior Mendes, a good asset until the goal is begging.

Promotion plus or mid-table mis-hit? NCM are desperate to be proved wrong but we believe Sam is not the man to fire the goals. If someone else can and he isn't given the burden he could be an asset elsewhere. Mid-table mis-hit.

Neil MacKenzie

Signed from: Scunthorpe United (free)

MacKenzie... a good user of the ball

2006-07 appearances: 11 starts, 14 substitute appearances and 7 starts on loan with Hereford.

2006-07 highlight: Another who can feel he played his part in a title-winning squad, but MacKenzie will be equally as thrilled with the goal he netted in a 1-1 draw with Bournemouth. The ball fell to him on the edge of the box and he powerfully drilled in a volley giving the 'keeper no chance and rescuing the Iron a point.

2006-07 lowlight: Being sent out on loan to League Two side Hereford United would have put doubts into MacKenzies mind over his worth in the successful Scunthorpe side.

The Mad verdict: MacKenzie can pass the ball and both create and score goals.

He has done it in League Two before and played his part in a Scunthorpe team with good passing ability and with plenty of goals in them.

Also tenacious in the tackle and with a good engine, MacKenzie is a cool customer said to be delighted with the Notts move.

A confident performer, there may be a question over his consistency given that wherever he has played in his career he has racked up several substitute appearances despite staying virtually injury free.

Indeed, he has made a staggering 100 substitute showings - aswell as numerous non-showings from the bench - in his ten year career.

Promotion plus or mid-table mis-hit? Providing MacKenzie is consistent, he has the ability to make the attacking difference for Notts. Promotion plus.

Tim Sandercombe

Signed from: Plymouth Argyle (free)

Sandercombe... young gun here to learn

2006-07 appearances: none

2006-07 highlight: In the summer before the start of last season Sandercombe was deemed as having great potential by Argyle boss Ian Holloway who paid money for the services of the QPR stopper.

2006-07 lowlight: Not making a senior appearance.

The Mad verdict: Difficult one to call considering his inexperience and with him yet to make his senior bow.

However, if he is backup he is unlikely to have a serious say in Notts' season unless he covers and earns an extended run in the side.

Promotion plus of mid-table mis-hit? Cannot possibly say.