NCS Shorts | #1: The First Episode

Hello and welcome to a new edition of part of the NCS News product that's come to you and we only launched a few weeks ago, something we're calling NCS Shorts. It's a short chat involving Notts County with regular contributors from the NCS News team talking all things Notts County. I'm here. Colin Sisson with Tom. How you doing, Tom?

Yeah, I'm good, thank you, mate. How are you?

I'm not too bad, mate. And I think both of us can say that we're really delighted with the way that the NCS News has know the way that the fan base has taken to it. The fantastic website, how sleek it looks. I know you're impressed with that as well, aren't you, Tom?

Yeah, no, I think it's amazing. It surpassed my expectations and the website itself and also the interaction from everyone has been brilliant. The amount of views and the amount of comments we're getting, it's just blown me away, to be honest.

Yeah, I think it's fantastic to just give Notts fans that, you know, myself and you, we're very sort of heavy on Twitter and obviously been writing articles for a long time, but I think we're also quite determined to give a platform to other Notts fans. So it's always nice to see those less familiar names, shall we say, contributing to NCS News and getting involved as well. And anybody who's listening to this, I would thoroughly recommend just having a go, writing a piece, whether it's after a match or you want to give an opinion on a player or anything kind of tactical, anything about players that you think not should sign. Any of that information is greatly received, I think, as part of the team and we really do want to provide a platform at Notts. But talking about the content that we've been able to offer recently, you've had a lot of success with your most recent piece, haven't you, Tom? If you just want to give a quick summary of how that's gone because that's been really well received, hasn't it?

Yeah, no, the feedback and the reception of that was amazing and really made it worth because it was quite a labor of love. It was a big project. It was over 20,000 words and I know I've kept saying that but it was a massive season preview and done our best to try and give an overview of the whole league itself so that Notts fans and other fans of league two clubs can come in and have a look at how we think their season is going to go. We've looked at it from a data point of view, but also from a general football and opinion and I attached my one to 24 with it as well. But if you guys want to give it a read, it goes in depth. We look at the manager of each team, sort of the style they're going to play. I looked at three to four key players from each team and some key stats that could take them into this season. So, yeah, that's on the website now. By all means, go and have a look at it. It's a pretty lengthy read, so maybe recommend taking in bite sized chunks because you might be there for a while if you read the whole thing start to finish. But yeah, even if you just want to read your team, if you're a different team, listen to this. So, quite a lengthy project.

Yeah. Talking about obviously different teams, what sort of feedback been like from non Notts fans? I know I'm not going to give away any of your predictions that you've written on the piece. I think that's down for listeners to be downloading that and reading that. But what's been the engagement like of non Notts fans and where they found themselves?

I think most teams have actually taken it really well. I think a couple of teams weren't perhaps happy with their position, but I think understandable, I think we've been quite reasonable. And obviously the predictions I had to stress were my opinion rather than that of the whole of NCS News. I don't want to tile them with the same brush. If I get one wrong, it's on me. But I think overall, the other fans have been great and that's what I've been really enjoying about the online communities, that we're getting to know fans from all different clubs, and that's what's been fantastic.

Yeah, I think that's another opportunity for me to plug the role that I think NCS News can play as well. I know there was an awful lot of content during our time in the National League. We made some fantastic connections with those people. But also it's really great to see that other clubs are reaching out and being aware of what is a fantastic range of Notts content out there. And obviously you've played a massive role in that. Now, moving on a little bit and thinking about the weekend and thinking about what's such a significant weekend for all of us as Notts fans, talking that gradual movement and that fantastic movement away from the National League and returning to the Football League and thinking about Sutton, particularly at the weekend. What about your review then, in terms of Sutton? What sort of things overall are you expecting from Sutton this season?

For Sutton, I had them quite low in the table. I think most people always do write off Sutton, but it's a consistent theme that they are the underdogs. And I think that's kind of how they play, their style. They haven't changed all that much, I don't think, since we sort of met them in the National League. But they've lost a lot of key players this summer and that's something that I sort of highlighted. They're relying on a lot of new recruits. The general feeling is that they're going to play especially against us. They'll be looking to go long hits on the counter, but I think they've lost two key players out wide, obviously Will Randall, who's joined us, and Enzio, who used to play for us and has subsequently left. So we haven't got to come up against him this weekend. But one man who they do have now is Harry Smith, who scored against us at Meadow Lane. It was probably the easiest goal he's ever going to score. We kind of handed it to him, but he's a massive threat in the air, so I think their game plan will be sort of trying to get it up to him in the air, go long, try and test our back line. But from where I see the two teams, not trying to be too disrespectful, but I think if we play our game, we should be fine. And I think as opening weekends go, we perhaps have had I know it's a ways, it's not ideal, but there could have been a lot tougher opening.

Days for sure, and turn our attention to Notts a little bit. What's your perception on how Notts seem to be shaping up in this preseason and getting ready? Are there any things that you're expecting? Either things that we're going to retain the same from the National League or things that we're going to perhaps pivot from or see perhaps the next generation of in this Notts side?

Yeah, I think it'll largely stay the same. I think we'll probably see that the 5221 sort of variation sort of formation we've used, I think that'll be what we'll start the season with. I think in the bigger games, as the season gets going, we might see the system we used against Forest, where we sort of had a swing defense, where it kind of transitioned from five to four in possession. And I think the big thing this season is that even though Adam Chickson had a brilliant campaign at left wing back, I do think that Jody Jones will be our left wing back going into the season. I think he offers a different dimension attacking wise, it gives us a different look and attack and I think it gives us more of not a balanced attack because it's a different style to Aaron. But last season, at times towards the end, it felt we were very dominant down the right hand side and teams kind of worked out a little bit. Ruben would be in that wide right zone trying to find Aaron, so hopefully if Jody is to play at left wing, but we'll have a bit more of a balanced attack and more varied attacks as well, so I think that's what we can expect this year.

That's an interesting take, to be honest. And that is something that I'm looking forward to, really, because I think one of the things we're starting to see with and you know, you mentioned Randall as well. He's obviously joined us at Notts is trying to see these players who have very attacking profiles and adding those kind of defensive elements to them and making them play those kind of wingback roles and seeing how well or how quickly they adjust to that. I think for me, and feel free to come into this whenever you want. One of the question marks that I've got that I think we're starting to answer, we've seen that with, obviously the recent arrival of Tipton, really for Notts is looking at that defensive and particularly when it's defensive three and looking at that kind of slightly more vulnerable right hand side of that three. Now, that's not necessarily to point fingers at someone like Rawlington who is very common in playing that role, but actually it's more about the exposure, I think, caused by man going forward. And teams particularly, I noticed as well, teams who've got that ability in midfield, that player who can switch play, who can play those sort of slightly longer, angled, accurate balls and exposing that kind of space. And we saw that Wembley, didn't we, against Chesterfield? We saw that also. I think Wrexham exploit that with Mendy's goal, I think as well. So how do you think Notts are shaping up? First of all, do you think that's a valid criticism? But also, how do you think Notts are shaping up defensively?

Yeah, I definitely think it's a valid criticism. I think, to be honest, I think both channels were weak in the wide areas last season. I say weak is very harsh because it wasn't weak because we were such a strong team that a slight weakness seemed like a massive thing. But in reality, the grand scheme of things, it probably wasn't as big an issue as we thought. But we have to look at these things. And I would certainly say, yeah, the two wide sort of areas we were exploiting, especially the right hand side, and I think we saw, again, not to go on about the Forest game too much, it was only a friendly, but we saw in that game he almost fielded two right wing backs. He had Aaron down the right, further forward, ahead of Toby, had a bear rolling. And I think that's something we may see in those games where the teams, like you say, have those midfielders that can make those passes, whether it's Toby or even Richard Brinley, who we know can play a more traditional right back role. You've got a right back there with Pace who will sit a little bit deeper and it gives us more cover across the pitch because those wide channels were left exposed. Because it's a back three, you can't cover the full breadth of the pitch and when you've got a player like Aaron who spends so much energy getting up the pitch, it's always not easy for him to track back. So, yeah, I think it's definitely a valid criticism and something that teams will be looking at, but I think it's something that Luke williams is already on top of and he's a top of manager that's always looking for solutions, isn't he? And I think it's certainly one he's looked at already this season.

Yeah, I think you picked up on that kind of that tone that he set in the post match on the most recent preseason, didn't you? That he didn't want to set high expectations, he didn't want to celebrate what was a preseason friendly, but by all intents and purposes was a decent performance. I think he's determined to not let fans run away with themselves after such a successful season last season. I think he's very aware that there are things to work on because, let's face it's, a very ambitious tactical formation that he's taken. And that possession based style is inevitably going to have some flaws in it before we move on to kind of like, finally in the score prediction. What sort of thing from Notts are you looking forward to? Is there a particular sign in or a particular area of the pitch you're particularly excited at seeing the season develop?

I'm really intrigued more than anything to see how our attacking midfielders will go because I was always under the impression of the belief that this season would be the season of Sam Austin. But in a almost I feel sorry for him. He's almost become not a forgotten man, but he feels like he will be the backup again because we've got Dan Crowley and obviously David McGoldrick, who such an exciting signing. I'd be also interested to see Sam Austin's role. I think he's almost a victim of his own success at times coming off the bench. He's so good off the bench that you almost want to keep him for that impact because whenever he comes on, it seems nine times out of ten he will produce something when he comes on. So I'll be interested to see how we manage that rotation. And also just picking up on your point earlier about the wingbacks. I think it'd be interesting to know if we do stick with just the wing back, the five four one, if you like, with the midfielders. It'd be interesting that we've probably got five wingbacks at the club now with Jodie, Will, Randall, Adam, Chickson, Toby and Aaron. Three of those are naturally wingers. So it's interesting to see that sort of development. Will there be more of a trend of that going forward? I know that's a modern theme of football wingers becoming wingbacks, but we actually have more wingers in those areas than we do probably natural fullbacks. So just something I'm interested to see how it goes this season.

Yeah, I agree with you completely. I think there's quite a few dynamics within the team. And with the most recent recruitments, you're left with a few kind of exciting questions of, well, how's that going to work? How are they going to fit together? And I'm looking forward to the season starting so we can start to see some of those answers because I think there may be some partnerships or there may be some kind of tactical formations and tweaks that we're probably not expecting. But obviously that's what makes football exciting, doesn't it? Right, okay, Tom, last thing for you then, as part of our first ever NCS Shorts episode, what are you predicting about the game on Saturday? If I had to put you on the spot for a result, what are you going for?

I'm going to go for two nil for Notts. This is two nil Notts. I think it'd be a close game, partly because of nerves. I think it's our first game back for four years. Four or five years, there's going to bound to be nerves. I think they've lost some key players. They're still going to be tough to beat. They're a big physical side. But those teams we showed last season, if we're patient, we will beat them. It might be frustrating for us. We need to be patient, I think, and that's the sort of approach we will take. They might have a scare down the other end, but I think we have too much quality for them. So I'm going to go two nil, nothing too crazy. And obviously I'll ask you the same, how do you think it's going to go? But also, would you take a draw now because obviously we drew quite a few games early on last season. How would you feel going into the season? Say we went the first four games that we did last season and picked up five points, wasn't it, from the first four? I think it was something like that. Would you be happy with that or do you think that would be underachieving?

I'll take that one first. Yeah, I will. I would take those draws and I think that's because obviously we're riding on a Crestive wave as a fan base and full of excitement and I think there's a danger to that old adage of not getting too high and not getting too low during the lows. And I think we need to find our feet. I think we need to answer some of those defensive questions that I think we revealed against some of the bigger sides, like Chesterfield, like Wrexham, and ideally, I want us to answer them early doors and show. So if some of those draws are nil nil, and we've shown that we can shut that door and we can make sure that teams who try and exploit that need to find other ways in, then so be it. I will take that. So, yeah, I would take those draws at the start of the season, settle things down, make sure that players are getting through games, through fitness. One of the things I noticed about Sutton, and some of the feedback from Sutton's games is in the preseason friendlies, is they picked up quite a few knocks. I think just getting through those first few games at the right level and the right standard, and going through them on skates, I think is important in terms of the actual game. I went for a similar result. I went for two one. I just think that maybe with a defense that's still trying to get used to each other, I think also considering the different dynamics that we might have at the back, that might cause a few kind of question marks, few spaces, a bit of hesitancy. So I wonder whether Sutton's going to exploit that. But I've still backed us to get the result. But going back to your other question, if it ends in a draw, I'd be absolutely delighted. It's a good solid base to build from. Right then, mate. Well, thank you ever so much for joining me on this short episode of Notts County SATS Shorts, and hopefully one of many of the series that we're looking to build into as part of the offer that we're trying to offer through the website. And again, just to reiterate to anybody listening out there, if you're interested in taking part either as a guest on something like this, writing blogs, writing in articles, anything that you want, please get in contact because the platform is there for you. Come on, you pies.