Tales from the Bell End

Now that we are finally announcing some summer signings I’ll be analysing them in next week’s blog. Hopefully, we’ll have even more new arrivals by then and I’ll also be looking at the squad depth and possible formations.  But this week is Part 2 of my look at The Magpies’ previous summer transfer windows. The review of last season’s signings will be a lot shorter as I’ve already written about them in depth. 2023/24 An off season with a large number of first team players including many of those signed the previous summer on their way out including Kpewaka and Arthur.  Emile Acquah would be hugely missed up front and Sam Barratt had earned his move to Barnet with a some great displays for the Magpies over the past few years. Regulars Dan Sparkes and Ryan Upward were saying goodbye to York Road after sterling service, and Dan Gyollai had also turned down a new contract after establishing himself as an excellent first choice keeper.   James Golding (Loan) - Football cliches ...

  Whilst we await our first signing, there is a lot of discussion around how important the summer transfer window is this year. I think our past few summer transfer dealings played a part in Alan Devonshire’s resignation as much of the support had lost faith in his recruitment abilities. As we have seen in various comments by Ryan Peters in the post season, Dev’s chief scout Lee Devonshire (I wonder how he got the job?) remains in post which has caused some concern.  So on that note I’ll be looking at his transfer record over the past 5 seasons over two posts; evaluating whether the players were a hit or miss, and then giving the transfer window an overall rating out of 10. I will however, only be assessing players signed during the summer transfer window.    2021/2022 The club lost some vital players that summer; 19 goal striker Daniel Danilo-Orsi and talented winger Josh Coley earned moves to full time clubs after excellent seasons. We also let go our centre midfie...