If you enjoyed my season so far review on Notts County yesterday (which you can see here in full) you’ll notice I had unfinished business, and that is to continue where I left off and dive into every player individually and offer my thoughts to their seasons so far as individuals…

Here we go…

Sam Slocombe

I personally have grown into a big fan of Sam Slocombe this season. Whilst being well under the impression that we needed to dive into the market to recruit a new number one in the Summer, I am very happy to say I have been proven wrong.

Everybody knows when you ask a goalkeeper who has never been required to have been good with his feet at any point during his ten plus years as a football to suddenly get used to playing out from the back, it is going to take time. At first, Sam really struggled to adapt to the demands that was clear to see. But, as the season has progressed, he has become so much more capable and comfortable at playing short and receiving the ball back to feet and that is a huge bonus for us as now we have a goalkeeper who is not only a fantastic shot-stopper, but one who can now set us up for attacks.

Seven clean sheets so far this campaign and those have not come by fluke. Our man between the sticks has become a crucial part of our squad this season and has been very impressive thus far.

Adam Chicksen

Mr prolific. Imagine knowing you would be able to say that about Chicks before a ball had been kicked this season. The transformation of this man for us this season has been ridiculously fantastic, and now I would strongly regard him as one of the best in the division when it comes to his position.

The story of Adam Chicksen as a Notts player began miserably and if you had asked him at that point if he saw himself breaking his career record for goals in a season at Notts County in the future, he would have undoubtedly had said no. I think the story makes this impeccable run of form he is currently on more wholesome. A man that was told he had no other choice to go out on loan to Barnet FC at the time is now on six goals for the season, impressive, isn’t it?

The one thing that has really impressed me about Chicks this season is his engine. One minute he will be defending our back post and the next he will be attacking the opposition’s at the other end of the pitch. This is all done constantly for the full ninety minutes as he enters the later stages of his career as a professional.

Remarkable, truly remarkable. Growing into a heavy fan’s favourite at the club and one of my personal favourites currently too.

Joel Taylor

Injury prone is the best way to describe Joel. A player I had really high hopes for this season entering the final year of the two offered on his contract upon arrival and if his fortunes do not change over the course of the season, I cannot see a new deal being placed for him.

The start of the campaign could not have gone any better for him if it tried. To begin at left wing-back under a new manager whilst being in-and-out under the previous boss would have given him a huge boost in confidence and I think that was noticeable in the fact that he scored what was the goal of his career so far on the day.

But injuries are not on his side, and when given the recent opportunity to impress against Coalville Town, he was average at best.

For me, he is miles away from replacing Chicks in the starting eleven. Luke Williams has stated on several occasions that Chicks is his first choice, he is a big fan of the Zimbabwean

and has set a goal tally for him, which indicates that he will remain in the starting eleven for the longevity of the campaign. Whilst is the case, Joel will get the opportunities to impress again, and when he does, he needs to take them.

Kyle Cameron

Consistent. I think that is the best way to describe our Club Captain so far this season and is another player that I have been and still am a very big fan of.

Firstly, I do not think we have a player more suited for the role of Captain. It is the first time in a long, long time where I have looked at a captain at this club and understood that his best interests are club-related rather than personal. For this, you only must ever look at the celebrations after blocking shots, making tackles, and scoring goals to understand that this man really does care for the club.

I also believe a lot of pressure has been taken off his shoulders this season. Last season it was felt that if Cameron did not play, we would not win. Now, we have four very, very good centre-backs for this division and it looks like a lot of the pressure has been removed from Cameron from being the most important defender across the backline and I think that is a huge positive. It gives him a lot of licensing to get forward, to carry the ball into dangerous positions knowing there is more than enough capable cover behind him.

Whilst he is still yet to open his account for the new season, I do not think that breakthrough is a million miles away. Club Captain Kyle Cameron, we cannot ask for much more than he has delivered thus far under Luke Williams.

Aden Baldwin

How on earth this man plays in the fifth tier of English Football is beyond me but when you are the biggest Club in the division, you naturally have that pull factor and this was the case with this recruit.

For me, the biggest praise you can give Baldwin is that he is the reason Kyle Cameron plays with more freedom this season. I am still yet to see Aden make a mistake and that is not something I am used to saying about defenders at this Football Club, believe me.

When you think what emphasises Aden Baldwin as a player for us this season, you think back to that block against Bromley. He had no right to get to that ball yet his never give up, never say die attitude allowed him to get there a deny what was a certain goal it goes without saying.

Once first seeing him in pre-season, I knew he was a steal of a free transfer. It does not make sense that a player of his quality plays in this division, and it never will. A faultless start to life as a Magpie.

Connell Rawlinson

Impressive. A man who I felt would not have a big role to play for us this season suddenly had a crucial one to play with the injury Aden Baldwin sustained and I think he has been excellent and quite influential to our luxurious run of form that currently sees us sat at the top of the pile in the Vanarama National League.

The reason I felt Connell would not have a big role to play this campaign was because I personally felt the best configuration of the three was Richard Brindley, Aden Baldwin, and Kyle Cameron but with the Welshman’s current displays, I personally do not mind how that three sets-up. It certainly is a good headache for Luke Williams to have.

The goal Connell scored recently against Torquay United I feel was a reward for the constant consistent performances he has put in.

I believe he has staked a huge claim to remain in this starting line-up, and I for one am intrigued to see how we set-up across the backline now away to Southend United on Tuesday evening.

Richard Brindley

Mr consistent. Arguably nobody more suited for that right centre-back role than Brinds, a player that you know going into a game will not perform anything below an eight out of ten.

The thing I enjoy most about Brinds is the professionalism and class he displays endless on the pitch. When you are made to adapt to a position that you have never played regularly in before at any stage in your career you need those two traits and the fact that he has made that adaptation look effortless is a huge credit to him as a footballer.

I can remember the day Brinds joined and if you told me that this man would still be an influential character to the squad rather than what seemed a short-term fix, I would have struggled to believe you.

The red card against Wealdstone was probably the only real mistake he has made thus far this season, yet he was due a rest and the squad were not affected by it considering we blew Torquay United away during his absence.

As long as he remains fit, this Club benefits. A consistently good start to the season for Mr consistent, it goes without saying.

Aaron Nemane

Most improved player thus far this season, without a doubt.

Playing Aaron Nemane as a right wing-back was fantastic for the attacking side of it, but he had to improve massively defensively, which I believe he is doing as every game comes and goes.

Last season, Aaron was under-utilised for me. When the squad needed an attacking outlet, I felt his pace made him the perfect man for the role yet in reality, he was facing spells where he could not even make the bench and this why I see him as having a similar transformation as Adam Chicksen. Suddenly, after a sketchy previous season, he is one of the first names on the team sheet and that comes as no surprise to me given the way he has performed under Luke Williams so far this season.

The goal he scored away to Wealdstone definitely will not be the last he nets this season. Whilst his main role is to be the provider, I would not be surprised to see him get the numbers that Chicks is currently. A player that used the clean slate of the new manager to his advantage, and a move that has turned out to be a huge success for us this campaign.

Tobi Adebayo-Rowling

Influential is the word I would use to describe Tobi so far this season, but not on the pitch. Whilst I believe that he is more than capable back-up for Aaron Nemane, I think he is having an unseen influence in the changing room, which is a catalyst into the good morale currently within the squad.

A lot of the players have described him as the ‘joker’ and he certainly gives off that vibe when he is caught on camera whether that is in training videos or within a press conference.

Having these sorts of characters is important for the squad. Everybody knows that within a Club, you need those people that will lift the mood on a dull day, that will put smiles on faces around the place and it is felt Tobi does that.

Once signing for the club, he struggled to impress and was almost mentored if you like by Williams into becoming the kind of player, he needed him to be and the fact that now he is a regular name amongst the bench on the team sheet shows that he has took that on board and now is seen as a player that can come on and make an impact.

I for one certainly still have high hopes for Tobi this season and can appreciate the two roles he is currently playing within the squad. A good signing for us for several reasons.

Geraldo Bajrami

I have seen this man play every minute he has currently in a Notts shirt, and I still do not think I have seen a player complete a dribble beyond him, he is that good.

The best praise I can give Geraldo is the fact that he has made the step-up of divisions look simple and many people have told me that they believe he can and will eventually play in the higher leagues within the Football League, and I wholeheartedly agree.

He is a battering ram, a hard-tackling, nasty midfielder one that not only we have been crying for the past few seasons but the one you need to be successful in this division and win promotion. The partnership he is currently developing with Matty Palmer for me has made them the best central midfield partnership in the league due to the fact that not only do they complement each other very well, but also give the attacking players the freedom and platform to express themselves knowing they are behind to mop up any loose balls.

Geraldo was patient for his chance of a running in the starting eleven after joining but now he has had it and performed fantastically whilst being in it, it is currently impossible to take him out of it. One of our signings of the summer, without a shadow of doubt casting my mind.

Jim O’Brien

I do not think any supporter can knock this man’s importance to this current squad of players. Whether he is in the squad or on the side-lines recovering from injury, he is always having his impact on matchdays, and I thoroughly believe he is key to this run we currently find ourselves on.

I felt Jim’s start to the season was good, he certainly got better as the games came and went. At the time he sustained his injury, he was in-form and there is no denying that. The experience he has sure helps when he is on the pitch, but also more now he is off of it.

Luke Williams has spoken highly of Jim as whilst chomping at the bit to regain match fitness to get out on the pitch and collect results physically, whisht he cannot, he is currently helping collect results mentally as he is playing the role of a third coach and playing it very well.

I for one am not sure what the plan is with Jim going forward beyond injury, but we are not short of ideas for that matter. All in all, I am just glad he is still at the Club. Players and figures like that are hard to come by and are very much irreplaceable.

Sam Austin

The impact sub of the season, without a doubt. As much as I like to see Sam start games, I believe he is a player that is much more suited to coming on and making an impact rather than starting the game and trying to make the same impact that way.

I am a big fan of his for sure. The energy he introduces to games when he enters the pitch is undeniably fantastic for us. When the opposition begins to tire the last thing, they want to see is Sam being prepared to come on. But the fact that we have the opportunity to do so is a huge advantage, and we have already seen why this season.

Our midfielder was highly thought of at previous club Kidderminster Harriers and it is understandable as to why as the way he performs for us is like one who has been around for years now, when in reality it has only been a matter of several months.

I for one do not think another start for Austin is unrealistic any time soon as well as too far away in the future. But, when he is an option, you have on the bench and you reflect on the options we had from the bench last season, you begin to appreciate his quality more and more. I am a fan of Austin, as we all are, and firmly believe the best is still yet to come.

Matty Palmer

I do not think words do Matty justice. One of those players where you simply just have to watch him to understand just how good he is and how important he is to this current Notts County side.

This season so far, he has been superb. Played every minute in the league so far and has showed no sign of any tiredness. One of his biggest and best attributes is his unpredictability for me. When opponents think he will play short, he will go long and when they think he will go long, he finds a pass inside to the likes of Macca.

It is no secret to us now that this is a player that should be playing a lot higher than the level we are currently at, but when he arrived prior to the beginning of last season, he said he is here for the long running rather than a short fix within his career until something else comes up in the future.

Matty has also been a hugely influential player as to the reasoning in why we are the current league leaders and long may that continue, along with his series of man of the match performances.

Ed Francis

A loan waiting to happen is Ed, but a period that will do him the world of good.

He has not featured anywhere near enough for the what he would have been hoping for, but that was justified by his inability to impress in the opportunities he was given and when there are players who are outperforming you week-in week-out, the harsh reality is you will not find yourself getting many minutes and he has not.

Ed is slowly falling into the same situation that Frank Vincent was in at the beginning of the season, where going out on loan will be the only way he will get to play a regular amount of minutes in the Vanarama National League this season and I can see it happening sooner rather than later in his case.

Whilst it is unfortunate, Ed does have an abundance of traits required to be a good midfielder at this level. But he needs to be out there proving that and that is why for me it is essential for him to get out on loan and start getting on the pitch more again.

Quevin Castro

The one thing I can safely say about Quevin is that there is certainly a player in there and the more he features, the more you can see that. But it appears it is regularly featuring at the minute that is becoming the problem.

It is no secret that he can strike a ball well, you only have to look at the goals against York City and Torquay United for that. Quevin is also a very technical player, and you can see why he was signed on loan to begin with.

However, it is clear that he is no better than what we already have to offer in that role and that is the key reasoning behind the reason admission from the squad for him recently.

Although now he is back amongst the bench, I hope it remains that way. To bring off the bench he is quite a handful. A tall, skilful, strong attacking midfielder and I think that is evident when he does feature. Yet, for the loan to be a success a lot more is required from him, and I hope he can provide that for the best interest of both parties.

Ruben Rodrigues

What more is there to say about Ruben other than just pure quality?

The key difference this season with him is that he is playing with a significant amount less pressure as opposed to what he was playing with last season, and it appears he is now enjoying his football a lot more.

I felt last season that if Ruben did not play well, we had a limited chance of winning the game. Now, with the increase in quality of the squad, the pressure for Ruben to show up and be the gamechanger has been lifted and it is giving him the freedom to express himself.

Now, the goal contributions are starting to come regularly we are starting to see him return to the high standards that he set of himself previously.

An in-form Ruben Rodrigues is a nightmare for every team in this league, and the form he is beginning to hit is frightening.

Kairo Mitchell

Frustrating is the word that comes to mind over Kairo this season. The cameos he has had you always really have high hopes for but then nothing really happens and every time you hope for something different, and it never really happens.

After his goals against Boreham Wood and FC Halifax Town, I felt he established himself as that back-up striker that will come onto the pitch and score and change games when Macca and Cedwyn are removed from the field, but I do not think it’s fair to say that is still the case.

As he is the only back-up, a loan is unrealistic right now given that circumstance, but I feel Luke Williams will look to recruit another forward this season, which does open the door for him to leave on loan. I feel that would be best for him, for us and anyone else involved who would benefit from that happening.

There is definitely a player in there and it just needs unleashing, but I do not think that will happen here currently.

Cedwyn Scott

The best is still yet to come from Cedwyn, that I am confident will be the case.

When he joined us in the summer, we knew instantly that was to play him upfront alongside Macaulay Langstaff, which just spelt goals. But the beginning of the season was not how we all hoped for Cedwyn, with him spending a lot of time on the bench as he tried to find match fitness.

So, we had to wait for the goals, but after he returned to full speed, they have come and now it makes you excited for what more is to come from him. It is not just about goals for Cedwyn, I personally think he is just as good off the ball as he is on it. The way he presses on the opposition’s heavy touch is something you cannot counter. I have lost track of how many times we have won the ball back high up the field courtesy of a Cedwyn Scott interception.

With seven goals under his belt for the campaign now, it is undoubted that he will also enter the double digits by Christmas. I for one believe he will succeed the twenty-goal mark, and when you have two twenty goal a season strikers up front, you always look nailed on to win the title.

An impressive start to life as a pie for Cedwyn, an impressive start to what I can see being a massively enjoyable and successful spell at Meadow Lane for all involved.

Macaulay Langstaff

Seventeen league goals for the season already and hands down the best forward in this division and to say that was close would be a disrespect on his ability.

I knew this man would not struggle with the step-up. Goalscoring is no fluke and the fact he is now well on his way to sixty goals across his past two seasons speaks the volumes Macca deserves. It goes without saying that he will be on twenty goals by Christmas, maybe even twenty-five yet this is not me getting carried away at all, this when talking about Macca is realistic.

Life at Meadow Lane could not have started any better for our number nine and let’s face it now, we have all already fallen in love. The joys he has brought to watch you cannot repay, comfortably the best forward I have seen play for this Football Club.

The allusiveness in the penalty area, the want to get across his man and enter the six-yard-box, the ability to break the line, to assist, to score, to win football matches, this player has it all. If he stays injury free for the full campaign, I believe this is our year. Talk about saving the best until last, but he has deserved that. Macca Langstaff, our number nine.

On that note, I feel this is a good time to conclude.

With there being no game yesterday, I truly hope this is more than enough of a Notts County fix for your weekend. Every word in this piece, and yesterdays, has been written with full honesty as that is key when it comes to publishing content like this.

We currently sit top of the pile as you are all aware and I really do believe this is the year for us. The success we have craved is not too far away, but this will still be a rollercoaster ride and you have to just sit back, strap yourselves in and really enjoy what is transpiring at the Lane currently.

COME ON YOU PIES!

*Article provided by K-Ci Rennicks (Notts County Correspondent).

*Main image @Official_NCFC the sensational Macaulay Langstaff will be hoping to continue his fantastic form.