Crowley is so grateful to both bosses after taking off with the Magpies
DAN Crowley says both Luke Williams and Stuart Maynard have helped him flourish in his first season with Notts County.
His two assists against Harrogate Town last Saturday took him to 10 for the season and earned him a place in the EFL Team of the Week.
And he has paid tribute to Magpies head coaches Williams and Maynard this season, with the latter replacing the former in the Meadow Lane hot seat in January.
“To get more goals and assists was something I wanted to do this season,” said Crowley.
“Football is so stats-based now, players are judged more on their numbers now as opposed to how people see you play on the pitch.
“The old gaffer Luke Williams had a big role to play in me becoming this player because he was so big on goals and assists for a player in my position, but Stuart Maynard has also helped massively and has continued to give me the confidence to play this way.
“The players I’ve had around me this year have helped as well. When you’ve got Jodi Jones, Macaulay Langstaff, Aaron Nemane and David Mcgoldrick, among others around you, it makes life much easier as an attacker.”
Only League Two leaders Stockport County have scored more than the Magpies’ 83 League goals this season and Crowley says there is a clear attacking game plan.
“The way we play is very structural,” he added.
“For example, if I’m in a certain position on the pitch, (Langstaff ) will know where and when to run, and if I know that Jodi’s about to wheel up his left foot, I know I need to be in a certain position to receive the ball.
“Once that first goal goes in, which happened in my first start at home, with the header at the back stick, you realise this way of playing works as an attack force and then more goals and assists follow quickly.
“It’s not a coincidence or an accident that we end up where we are at the end of a move because we’re drilled on these things and my hunger to get on the end of more chances and set up others has only grown with time.”
Notts head coach Maynard will want to keep players of Crowley’s talent around next term as he looks to build a team capable of pushing for promotion.
“Dan is a special talent that we have in our group and we’re very lucky to have him here,” said Maynard.
“If you look at last Saturday, he ended up playing as a sitter in midfield and he’s not the player you’d look at and think he could do that.
“Him and John Bostock dictated the whole game for us and he was excellent.
“If you look at his numbers this year, it’s incredible really what he has been able to do from his position.”