City kick off their Easter weekend with a
spring in their step after achieveing the almost-sacred 50-point mark with last
weekend’s 1-0 win at Walsall. The fact
that the players were out that night singing “We are staying up” perhaps shows it means more to them than many often
think it does?
However, there are still some hard-earned
points to be won and the run-in starts with a home match against a side very
much still in the need for points.
Stu Radnedge took time out of his marathon
effort on two wheels (Stu is part of the team cycling from Land’s End to Ashton
Gate for the Bristol City Community Trust this week) to catch up with his
namesake https://twitter.com/blackwhitezine
at www.theNottsBlog.co.uk to ask
these questions.
What are your thoughts on last week's announcement
with the fixture move?
As far as we’re aware, it was Steve
Cotterill’s idea to shift the game – or maybe more specifically Sean
O’Driscoll’s for not requesting the fixture be moved when it was first
announced. Regardless, Notts didn’t have to accept did they?
It’s understandably put a lot of noses out
of joint but you can see where the club are coming from. It doesn’t mean they
don’t care about the fans, more that they know an extra day’s rest could be
crucial given our precarious position right now.
Still, doesn’t make it any easier to swallow
for those who had booked tickets, travel, hotels etc for the weekend. Notts
offered free coach travel to those affected but the damage was already done for
many.
Final score? Both parties want castrating,
and governing bodies need to ensure this doesn’t happen again.
Back to the beautiful game, there has been a
transformation as of late for County. Is this a late run for survival and does
it hinge on Friday's result?
Survival very much happening irrespective of
the game at yours if I’m honest. Just to be able to look at the table and see
us not in the bottom four when we’ve had so many final nails hammered into our
coffin is incredible. When we lost at Tranmere just over a month ago now, we
all knew that was it. It was a do or die game anyway but seeing the players
slump to their knees at the final whistle was the moment we knew they’d given
up.
Shaun Derry and Greg Abbott have worked
miracles to get us where we are today. Four games remain and we’ve earned a
very real chance at staying up.
What are your hopes from the game? Is there
more focus on seeing it through and not picking up injuries, as you have a
crucial match at Crawley on Monday?
Absolutely not. We’re merely one of many
clubs trying desperately to hit the 50 point barrier like yourselves did last
weekend. We’ll be going into the game high on confidence given the nature of
our comeback last weekend at home to Port Vale. 2-0 in auspicious
circumstances, mere weeks ago it would have been a right hammering – but to win
4-2 was quite brilliant.
What has been the catalyst for the change in
form?
The introduction of Josh Vela on loan from
Bolton alongside Gary Liddle has been crucial for us. In seeing off Alan Judge,
Neal Bishop and Jeff Hughes in the Summer we essentially signed our own death
warrants and are only now righting those wrongs. Mark Fotheringham had a very
good pre-season but despite possessing passion in droves failed to deliver
regularly enough. And the less said about Joss Labadie the better if I’m honest
– quite sad considering the hopes we had for him this time last season.
Then up front, Ronan Murray and Jimmy
Spencer have formed our most dangerous double act in years. Spencer is a star,
never seen anyone in our colours who a football sticks to like it does him.
Whilst Murray’s goals have proven incredibly vital of late. There may be issues
over his temperament but he’s a permanent fixture in the first XI now.
Should you beat the drop, what do you think
the squad will look like for the following season? Can you see players
being snapped up from County and you bringing players in? Are there any
particular positions that require strengthening?
As things stand I think we only have six or
seven players actually contracted for next season. When we were rock bottom
this only came as great news because we couldn’t wait to see the back of most
of them! Recent form though has given a true glimpse of what these lads can do
– might be an uncomfortable Summer if things continue to pan out like they are!
Bartosz Bialkowski is likely to be targeted
by a few clubs in the Summer given he only has a year left on his contract.
He’s had sticky moments this season, but far too often he makes League One look
so easy, literally can take your breath away at times.
Alan Sheehan is out of contract and should
attract interest. Had he left last Summer when his contract was up very few
would have batted an eyelid but he’s been a revelation this season, many
people’s clear winner for Player Of The Season. The club appears to be a
happier place than it might have been just 12 months ago. We’re really hoping
that he’s settled and wants to stick around another year or two.
With regard to incoming players – it’s vital
we retain the aforementioned Murray and Spencer given that we’ve seen what they
can do together.
Who do you fear on Friday and whom should we
fear?
(Ex-City winger)
Jamal Campbell-Ryce had possibly his best
game in County colours last week against Port Vale. He grabbed two goals, and
assisted the other two for Spencer. He’s a completely different player under
Derry from that which we saw at the beginning of the season – given we actually
have players like Haydn Hollis and Jimmy Spencer who will attack the ball now,
he’ll be a huge threat I’m sure.
As for who we fear? Well, I certainly hope
reinforced shin guards are being prepared as we speak if Greg Cunningham is in
your starting lineup!
And finally, can I get a score prediction
please?
Long gone are the days of hoping we can keep
scores down and hope to scrap away for a point. I’m predicting a 1-0 Notts win
courtesy of Jimmy Spencer!
My thanks to both Stuarts for their answers – you can
sponsor Stu Radnedge and the Community Trust for their remarkable efforts,
here: http://www.justgiving.com/StuRadnedge
The Exiled Robin
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