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Notts County, new manager, new squad, same luck?
By Nathan Jackson
July 24 2006
Notts County fell miserably apart last season and were lucky not to get relegated but this season could be different. With ex-Imp manager, Steve Thompson filling Meadow Lane with some of the most well-travelled players in the country, it could be a very itneresting season for the Magpies.
Manager : Steve Thompson

Key Player : Kevin Pilkington

Tipped by many for : Midtable

Last Season : County got off to a blistering start last term and even briefly topped the table but after there flirtation with the top of the table, a 3-2 win at Mansfield was their last win for 2 months as they quickly fell down the table and form continued to disipate over the remainder of 2005. Winning 4 of their first 6 games of 2006 was ideal for County and was probably the only thing that saved them from relegation as they won just 1 of their last 16 matches. They went into the final day still in danger of being relegated but a finish of 21st would have been disappointing.

This season : New manager Steve Thompson has brought every "well travelled" player you can think of including ex-Imps, Jason Lee and Lawrie Dudfield. Between those 2, they have played for a total of 21 clubs (and Dudfield's still only 26!) and that seems to be a common trend around most of the Notts County team and although they have played for seemingly every league club between them, there are some excellent players in the squad. With an above average squad, it could be a good year for Notts County but they can't afford to finish any lower otherwise they're in serious jeopardy of being relegated.

They’ll do better if: The new players can mix and play well as a team.

Prediction : 8th, with an above average squad, including one of the best keepers in the lower league, they should easily avoid relegation and should flirt with the playoffs.

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