Video: Mark Crossley on the Magpies’ poor form and potential January signings
Notts assistant manager Mark Crossley has said that January signings are ‘something we are looking at’ as he is aiming for the Magpies to replicate Barnsley’s heroics last season.
Barnsley were bottom of Sky Bet League 1 at Christmas before storming to the play-offs which the Tykes then won after making January transfer window changes.
The Yorkshire side now sit 12th in the Championship.
Notts County are currently 20th in League 2 ahead of their trip to Colchester United, which kicks off on Saturday (December 17) at 3pm, with Crossley hoping January changes can spring the Magpies into play-off contention.
He was speaking in place of manager John Sheridan today (Thursday December 15) due to an illness which has swept the club.
In the lead up to Christmas, it’s time to show us what they’re about
Crossley said: “John made six signings in the summer and they will come up here themselves and tell you that they have not performed to the best of their ability.
“There are also existing players here who would say ‘I could’ve, should’ve done better’ so now is the time leading up to Christmas, before the transfer window opens, to show us what they’re about, otherwise they will get changed.
“Confidence suffers because of poor form but that’s when you find out about the real men.”
Video: Mark Crossley on finding out who the real men are
Crossley wants the players to show more fire in their performances.
He said: “I saw it in the first half when we played Wycombe, I’m sure everybody would agree that that’s the best we’ve played for a while.
“What happened at Blackpool was unexplainable and since then it has been very very difficult to manage the players.
“We want something back from them, we want the leaders to stand up and be counted and show everybody that they have got a little bit about them.
“If that’s the case we will be alright but otherwise we’ll have to change it.”
Notts County record v Colchester United
Played: 41
Won: 20
Drawn: 7
Lost: 14
The last time the two teams were in the same league was in 2014/15 where the Magpies did the double over Colchester.
Notts County won at Colchester 1-0 thanks to a Paddy McCourt winner in the 68th minute which secured all three points.
Earlier that season at Meadow Lane an ill tempered game played out with Notts reduced to nine men.
Ronan Murray opened the scoring for the Magpies in the sixth minute before Colchester’s Freddie Sears equalised in the 69th minute.
Liam Noble scored what proved to be the winner in the 71st minute before Cieron Keane and Nicky Wroe were both sent off for two yellow card offences; Shaun Derry was also sent to the stands.
