2015-16 Season Preview

2015-16 Season Preview

Transfers:

If the fans expected a fairly quiet pre-season, rebuilding the squad with experienced League Two players poached from other clubs in the league with the odd smattering of aging former Championship player – they were wrong. Of all the signings this summer, only former Exeter City captain Scot Bennett  came from a League Two rival in the most unorthodox of pre-seasons.

The first really positive piece of news to come out of Meadow Lane this summer was the contract renewal of last season’s player of the year, Roy Carroll – a signal of intent from within the club of their intentions to use League Two as a rebuilding stop-gap. 

Gill Swerts, Belgian international was the first to swap foreign shores for Meadow Lane, swiftly followed by a raft of others as optimism spread with each unknown signing from the continent. Genaro Snijders, Mawouna Amevor, Julian Jenner, Gill Swerts, Civard Sprockel, Milan Valencic, Stanley Aborah and Theirry Audel all make up the contingent from abroad (2 Belgians, 3 Dutchmen, a Slovenian, a Togolese and a Frenchman).

The club have recruited smartly from the leagues above, picking up youngsters Kyle De Silva, Adam Campbell, Wes Atkinson and former-loanee Graham Burke on free transfers having been released by Premier League clubs. In addition to full-backs Rhys Sharpe and Elliott Hewitt who were released from Derby County and Ipswich Town respectively. Hewitt spent the latter part of last season on loan at Colchester and previously played 20 games for Macclesfield in League Two at the age of 17 for the Silkmen.

Even the club’s more routine signings have been erm, well – surprising. Jon Stead perhaps the most so after his exploits for Bradford City in the F.A Cup last season. Nottingham-born, Scott Loach was picked up to battle with Roy Carroll for the number one jersey – an excellent goalkeeper to cover for Roy whilst he is on international duty (or and suspended).

Rob Milsom completes the list, coming in from Championship club Rotherham who was a key first-team player as the Millers moved up from League Two to the Championship.

Moniz has deemed Hayhurst, Daniels and Wroe surplus to requirements and placed them on the transfer list, whilst Gary Jones has moved on to Southport.

With Notts retaining the likes of Liam Noble, Curtis Thompson, Roy Carroll and Jimmy Spencer – if the unknown quantities at Meadow Lane are able to step up then it looks like it will be an exciting season.

Pre-Season Results:

Review: 

Although the results worsened as the level of opposition increased, only the 3-0 defeat at non-league Grimsby Town will raise any eyebrows – explained away by the makeshift defence which was selected at Blundell Park. Both De Silva and Campbell impressed against the lesser teams, notably the 5 goals the pair contributed in the 8-0 thrashing of last season’s pantomime villains – Arnold Town.

These are glorified training sessions, but they have shown us that Notts will try and play an attacking brand of football this season, building from defence - but also more worryingly that the back four is far from settled at the moment as exemplified by the lack of a consistent pairing in the middle. Notts have two of Hollis, Amevor, Bennett, Audel and Sprockel to choose from at the back – with my choosing being Hollis and Amevor with Adams (if fit) on the left of the two and Hewitt on the right.

Milsom has been ruled out of the opener at the Lamex Stadium, with Thompson, Noble and Swerts potentially the 3 to play in the middle, assuming 4-3-3 is the chosen formation.  Also missing will be Taylor McKenzine and Ronan Murray – both unlikely to have started even if fit, with Stead and Spencer looking certain to lead the line.

There are numerous factors at play which will determine Notts’ season, how will Moniz adapt to League Two football? Will the imported players adapt and thrive in the basement division? Will the players already here be able to adapt to the system selected by Moniz?

It looks as if the squad has enough depth and talent to challenge at the right end of the table, but with the bookies backing Teddy Sheringham in his first game as Stevenage manager and the visit of rivals Mansfield Town for the opening game at Meadow Lane this season – things could get very serious, very quickly for our Dutch manager. 

I see a score-draw against Stevenage with both managers taking their first games at League Two level, NCM prediction - 2-2. 

Predicted Season Finish – 6^th.

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