Ben Watson

[Harvey]

I understand his limitations but he's a solid option in that role and it seems like he wants to stay and I don't see the harm in offering him another year

If other Championship clubs are willing to offer him two year contracts (I only know what I've read on here) then I'd take that as proving at least to some degree that he isn't past it

 

[BryanRoy22]

Yes but has he actually any shown signs of his legs going (and I hate that phrase)

Teddy Sherringham played top level football right up to his 40s

I hate the way we write players off because of their age rather than their actual ability and contribution

Different positions, different demands.

In the centre of midfield you ideally need legs. It's the most frenetic and demanding position on the pitch, other than full-back.

 

[Frank Clark’s Tash]

We've lost a fortune over the years, tempting veteran players to come here with the lure of longer contracts. It has never worked out in our favour and instead we've been lumbered with players long past their prime sat in the reserves picking up a hefty wage every week.

Let's not make that mistake yet again.

 

[Redemption]

Yes but has he actually any shown signs of his legs going (and I hate that phrase)

Teddy Sherringham played top level football right up to his 40s

I hate the way we write players off because of their age rather than their actual ability and contribution

Different positions, different demands.

In the centre of midfield you ideally need legs. It's the most frenetic and demanding position on the pitch, other than full-back.

didn't we have an old photoshop thread with players without legs?

 

[Brettgo]

Was he?

Yes!!


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[MASE]

We've suddenly got legs in Colback and Bachirou. Sow is still around. I think that would probably see Watson go down the pecking order.

After last season I think he'd want to continue being a main man in midfield, however I don't believe he'd always make the Forest starting 11, and he's coming towards the end of his career.

Thats the bottom line for me, suddenly we have the dynamism at the base we missed last year, but we're looking to persevere with Watson as a gift for last year?

f*** that. We're too sentimental here. Time to pat ourselves on the back for what we got out of him last year & recognise we're too f***ing slow going forwards with Watson at the helm.

 

[dr_horse]

Watson can't be allowed to leave! Who will do all the pointing as their midfield runs through us?!!

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[football post]

Watson can't be allowed to leave! Who will do all the pointing as their midfield runs through us?!!

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I'm worried about Figgy and Worrall being lost without Watson alongside them.

Seriously though as Mase stated previously there's no time for sentiment we need to be quicker gerrin it forward.

 

[Captain Sinister]

I'm worried about Figgy and Worrall being lost without Watson alongside them.

Seriously though as Mase stated previously there's no time for sentiment we need to be quicker gerrin it forward.

I wonder if we would deploy Daws in that role?
Suitability:
1 Played at the highest level;
2 Experienced captain;
3 Ability to hit accurate long diagonal passes;
On the down side he is getting on a bit, and has slowed up over the ground (but with younger players with good legs he should be able to stroll around rather than try and hurtle all over the place).

 

[MaxiRobriguez]

Sorry, did he age fifteen years since June?

He has another full season in him as far as I can see and is a great captain in the middle of the park.

If he's willing to just do a years' extension then it's a massive no-brainer for me

Difficulty is is that Colback is probably going to be favoured for the DM role, which puts Watson into 2nd choice.

Watson is probably on quite a big wedge, one of the biggest earners in the squad. Given where we are with COVID decimating our main source of revenue, then it makes it more important to streamline the squad where possible, and not have 2nd choice players on 1st choice wages.

I wouldn't be adverse to Watson staying, but he'd need to accept a 50% pay cut. I don't think he will, and I also think he wants to move back to London anyway.

He's as good as gone, time to move on.

 

[Ravi]

I think 50% pay cut but over two years rather than one is how it usually works.

With all the midfielders we’re signing it seems that he will be off. Tbf Tails did say that he wanted to join a London club a couple of months ago.

 

[football post]

I think 50% pay cut but over two years rather than one is how it usually works.

With all the midfielders we’re signing it seems that he will be off. Tbf Tails did say that he wanted to join a London club a couple of months ago.

Been renting in Nottingham for the last couple of years with all the family in London. You can't blame him for wanting to finish his career closer to home.

 

[Senior Flange Technician]

He was the most dribbled passed player in the champ last season.

 

[MaxiRobriguez]

I think 50% pay cut but over two years rather than one is how it usually works.

Yeah, which we probably wouldn't want to offer anyway.

Or he can join QPR, who'll pay him 60% of his current wage, for two years, pay him in a signing on bonus that he wouldn't have got had he renewed his contract here, and he's closer to his family at home.

I'd be really surprised if he was still here next month. He's out of contract so he's in charge of the decision. If he ends up staying it's because Forest offered a more lucrative overall package. I just don't think we're in a position to do that.

 

[BryanRoy]

Teams knew he couldn't beat the press so they were closing him down and keeping him as deep as possible.

I'm hoping Fred and Colback can beat the press far more than he did to get us up the pitch.

 

[BryanRoy22]

He was the most dribbled passed player in the champ last season.

That wouldn't surprise me, unfortunately.

On the ball, he was still very good, but as I said before he just didn't have the legs tracking back.

Chris Cohen could have come out of retirement and done a similar job. That's no disrespect to either player.

 

[Eddie Yates]

He did a great job last season but he’s 47 years old and would probably be on the bench now we’ve got Colback

Let’s just part on good terms & wish him all the best

 

[Alf-engelos Mindminackers]

Boils down to what's more valueable to us, the saving on wages, or having a backup player who can genuinely fill in the role Colback does (even though it may be to a lesser degree)

Personally I'm with Harv & I'd keep him. A few injuries is all it will take to shag things up, and I doubt we'll find better backup for free, or if so on a lesser wage.

Get the logic behind moving him on though, esp with age & wages.

 

[McKenzie]

I agree. I'd definitely keep him if he was happy to be backup to Colback on slightly lesser wages.

I dont see the London thing. They are a long time retired he can live in London then, surely. If he wanted to be in London so much presumably he wouldnt have stayed at Forest for 2.5 years!

 

[It's Baggio]

We got 6 good months out of him (in 2.5 years), which is 6 months longer than I thought we'd get after seeing him in his first few months.

Glad we've (seemingly) not caved and given him 2 years. Good luck to him.

 

[Raymondo Ponte']

Hope we don't miss him but agree with all the debate about him.

Wiv gorra nuva gingernut now.

 

[Harvey]

Weird how he's still listed as part of the first team on the OS when Pants, Cash and Walker have all been removed

Could we still be negotiating an extension? Or just lazy site admin?

 

[Alf-engelos Mindminackers]

Weird how he's still listed as part of the first team on the OS when Pants, Cash and Walker have all been removed

Could we still be negotiating an extension? Or just lazy site admin?

After yesterday I hope the former.

 

[Harvey]

After yesterday I hope the former.

Me too. If he wants to stay, which by all accounts he does, I don't see the harm in a year's extension as backup for Colback and Sow

I'd take him over Yates any day of the week

 

[Raymondo Ponte']

Sing him.