The 13th May 2023 saw Notts County secure promotion back to the Football League after four seasons in the National League, 85 days later, the Magpies will play their first game of the season, away at the VBS Community Stadium – home of Sutton United, a team that are going into only their third ever season in the fourth tier.
Sutton have lost two key players, Will Randall and Omar Bugiel, who were their top scorers last season with six each, however, with their new signing of Harry Smith from Leyton Orient, who netted seven times in eleven league appearances on loan at Barnet last season will be looking to add some much-needed firepower for the U's – as they only scored at a goal-per-game ratio. Furthermore, they have also signed former Bromley defender Omar Sowunmi who was one of the best defenders last season, Sowunmi will be a great leader and addition to the squad. They have also recently announced the signing of former Irish international Aiden O'Brien on a loan deal until January, from Shrewsbury Town. He is a player who can play anywhere across the front three, and although he hasn't been the most prolific of forwards, he hasn't played a lot in the fourth tier so under a manager he has briefly worked with before, he could be a good signing and a danger to our defence.
Notts have had a pre-season to expect on paper, they have lost to the teams two divisions or more above them, drew to Shrewsbury who are in League One, and beaten the teams below them in the pyramid. However, one key thing to take from this pre-season is the formations that have been deployed, and which one will be chosen for this weekend’s fixture. The games have seen both the regular 3-4-2-1 formation in action, which was the chosen tactic last season, as well as a new 4-2-3-1 tactic, which allows us to utilise our abundance of talent in the wide areas, as well as using the goalkeeper as the sweeper instead of the central centre-half, playing to new signing Aidan Stone’s strengths of being more than capable on the ball.
It will also be interesting to see if the new signings play and if so, have they adapted to the gaffer’s style of play? Recent games suggest that star signing David McGoldrick has settled into that left-forward role behind the striker well, as his ability to drop deep and pick a pass has been evident. Dan Crowley will be hoping to fill that massive void left by Ruben Rodrigues, and he has showed promising signs so far. Those two will be seen on many fans’ predicted team sheets, but will the rest of the signings be able to break their way into the first team?
Jodi Jones, the star of the play-offs last campaign, wasn’t a regular starter last season, but if he is fully fit then he is easily a League One level player, as he had shown at Coventry – he will be up against Zimbabwean Adam Chicksen for the left-wing back role if we keep the same tactic, but if we play the new formation then there is the possibility for both of them to be regular starters. Will Randall, a winger signed from this weekend’s opponents, will be looking at using his versatility to challenge for a variety of roles, most probably behind the striker in the front three, or in either of the wing-back roles. Aidan Stone could be a starter instead of Sam Slocombe, as Notts have been brought in yet another keeper to try and take the number 1 shirt from Slocombe, no-one has taken it yet. Finally, recent loanee Ollie Tipton will be looking to be that defensive solidity that Notts fans have been crying out for on the right-side of the back three.
Sutton United v Notts County | EFL League Two | Matchday 1 | VBS Community Stadium | Saturday 8th August 2023