Current state of the squad

[Rzar]

For folk with The Athletic, this is a hell of an article from Daniel Taylor about our window: https://theathletic.com/3558295/2022/09/02/nottingham-forest-transfer-window/

Great piece I thought and some funny / interesting stuff in there.

I agree with him that the club could have done more to defend themselves from the narrative - but I suppose they were too busy to care!

Our recruitment team need a holiday!

 

[congo_red_49]

Agree but we also can’t blindly stick to a system with inappropriate players.

I was actually suggesting the opposite - that moving to 4 at the back is a good option if NW isn't available, but with GB in there, we wouldn't be as well placed to switch it up to three at the back if Cooper saw a tactical opportunity.
Mind you, we are currently limited to not being able to do the opposite in games at the moment (without making a sub) - due to none of the current back three being able to operate as a full-back.

 

[congo_red_49]

Our recruitment team need a holiday!

No rest in this game. They need to be evaluating players now for when we sign another 22 players in the winter window.

 

[Notcher]

Agree but we also can’t blindly stick to a system with inappropriate players.

Personally I would be looking at it already given the defensive issues - unless Bade and Boly come straight in and sure things up.

Currently we have defenders that’s are being exposed by a 2 man midfield. We will face a lot of teams playing 3 in midfield and one up top which means we need the 3 at the back to be dynamic - this was fine at championship level but I can’t see any of them currently carrying the ball into midfield.

Bade’s YouTube highlights seem to suggest he can do it but as far as I can tell only Notcher has seen him play twice so feels risky to know if he will be ready made to do it

Certainly wouldn't want to nail my colours to the mast regarding him. He looked decent enough but the opposition really wasn't up to much. Definitely some pace and Ariel ability although I would I would expect the latter from any of my CBs

Sent using Tapatalk

 

[congo_red_49]

Ariel ability

Can he pick up long wave radio?

 

[Notcher]

Can he pick up long wave radio?

252 just but it dips in and out regularly

Sent using Tapatalk

 

[Morpeth]

Dot Cotton also had Ariel ability but I wouldn’t want her leading our front line.

 

[Chappers85]

So our centre-back options are Worrall, Cook, McKenna, Niakhate, Biancone, Boly, Bade...oh and Mbe Soh. Do we think that fully fit it'll be Worrall, Bade, Niakhate with Biancone, Boly, McKenna as 2nd choice with Cook and Mbe Soh purely as backup? Wouldn't surprise me if Boly goes straight in as the middle of the 3 until Bade is up to speed though, and McKenna obviously stays while Niakhate is injured.

 

[incident]

So our centre-back options are Worrall, Cook, McKenna, Niakhate, Biancone, Boly, Bade...oh and Mbe Soh. Do we think that fully fit it'll be Worrall, Bade, Niakhate with Biancone, Boly, McKenna as 2nd choice with Cook and Mbe Soh purely as backup? Wouldn't surprise me if Boly goes straight in as the middle of the 3 until Bade is up to speed though, and McKenna obviously stays while Niakhate is injured.

I think that sounds about right for first choice - and Mbe Soh out on loan to Greece/Turkey/Belgium/somewhere else that hasn't closed their window yet.

 

[congo_red_49]

So our centre-back options are Worrall, Cook, McKenna, Niakhate, Biancone, Boly, Bade...oh and Mbe Soh. Do we think that fully fit it'll be Worrall, Bade, Niakhate with Biancone, Boly, McKenna as 2nd choice with Cook and Mbe Soh purely as backup? Wouldn't surprise me if Boly goes straight in as the middle of the 3 until Bade is up to speed though, and McKenna obviously stays while Niakhate is injured.

I think it's too early to say who will be the starters and who will be the back ups. As you say, probably start with throwing Boly in, but after that keep an eye on who is playing well, give opportunities to the others to win the shirt if anyone who has the shirt loses form or fitness - and basically let the battle for playing time commence - much as it is all across the team (apart from GK, where their is a clearly established order and RWB where there is currently no competition).

 

[Steve B]

It's absolutely ridiculous considering we've signed 20 odd players but I did really want that Premier League experienced striker as the cherry on top. Somebody else said you look at WBA signing Lukaku and staying up, Ings keeping Southampton up a couple of seasons ago, Bamford for Leeds etc. feels like having that striker gives you a bit of a safety net, but it didn't happen for whatever reason so just need to hope Taiwo finds his shooting boots ASAP.

Yeah I’m with you on that - such a critical position. We simply must have a big goal threat. I was made up when I heard the Batshuayi link yesterday - felt like it could be the last piece of the jigsaw and round things off beautifully. We’ve far exceeded my expectations of this window and that’s after those expectations shifted significantly up since we started playing games, but I’m left with some doubt about the front line dynamics. But if anyone can crack it it’s Stevie C.

 

[Mr RayReardon]

252 just but it dips in and out regularly

Sent using Tapatalk

I listen to longwave radio Atlantic 252

Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

 

[Notcher]

I listen to longwave radio Atlantic 252

Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

I didn't realise it was still a thing. Used to love 252 back in the 90s. Reception was always an issue though, I believe it's because it was based in Ireland

Sent using Tapatalk

 

[sammy the snake]

Truth is Cooper is still some way to defining his starting 11. We're still in pre season in that aspect, but I think tomorrow against a Bournemouth benchmark will help far more than Man City game.

Very happy with the approach of play, the way the players create chances for the team is better than I expected at this point. They just need to know when to mix it up a little more, go very direct if need be. Team is very capable to challenge at mid prem level long term.

 

[Raymondo Ponte']

I hope the same.

BUT it could all go horribly wrong. Easily.

 

[Omar Devone Little]

Very happy with the approach of play, the way the players create chances for the team is better than I expected at this point.

How many genuine chances have we created over the first 5 games? I can't think of too many really clear cut ones.

It's a worry for me. It should change tomorrow you'd think but we've looked quite predictable going forward so far IMO.

 

[Otis Redding]

To my untutored eye, now that the window has closed we have a far more balanced and significantly better quality squad compared with the situation on May 28th last. Of course, the acquisition of a proven, prolific goalscorer at this level would have been the icing on the cake, but notwithstanding that, we have other options who can hopefully begin to fulfill that task when things really begin to gel.

 

[Listen 'ere young man]

Due to the necessity of a root and branch overhaul, the quality had to be spread relativity thinly across the board. This was achieved with shrewd acquisitions from abroad and championship, mostly in the 22 to 26 age bracket (moneyball) along with some cheaper ones of a higher age but with prem experience not to mention some top drawer signings on loan. Assembling a new squad of 20 odd players for around 150m outlay is pretty good going.

There should be plenty there for Steve Cooper to work his magic on and with any luck, comfortably avoid relegation.
If it's looking precarious, there is always the Jan window.

Next season, the first XI could then be further strengthened with bigger dollops of quality, say three to four 30m+ Premier league proven players, financed partly by the sale of one or two who's value had increased over this season.

Rome wasn't built in a day, after all. 23 years of catching up will take a bit of time.

Sent from my EVR-L29 using Tapatalk

 

[Mr RayReardon]

I didn't realise it was still a thing. Used to love 252 back in the 90s. Reception was always an issue though, I believe it's because it was based in Ireland

Sent using Tapatalk

Only just found out it was Irish. I remember going up the City Ground when I was a kid with my dad and his friend and his daughter from the local City Council. We just 1-2 to Southampton just after the Bridgeford End had opened. Nervously chatted away to my dad's mate's daughter until be both had Atlantic 252 in common! Funny how that's what I think of. It was my first trip to the City Ground - think it was 1992. I'd also guess we were the only two Gloucester based Forest families at the time as well!

Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

 

[Mr RayReardon]

As things stand, and if we lose the loan deals, we would have two starting 11s that would challenge for promotion again, should the worst happen. Let's hope that's not the case... Whether we have enough quality to stay up remains to be seen. The potential is there though.

I know our back line has come under heavy criticism due to a lack of pace, and that's a fair (if unwarranted) observation this early in the season. I'd have a sightly different take and it's something that can be applied to almost all players, they're too slow on the ball. Decision making must be quicker and execution must be of better quality. Even the first goal Vs Spurs - ball pinged into O'Brien's feet - couldn't take it in properly, spills free then goal. These are things we'd get away with in the Championship. It's also something, I hope, the players will grow into.

I'm hoping Bournemouth won't have the quality of other teams to pounce on every stray pass or every dithering moment and allow us to grow into the game start to gel. The Spurs game really looked like we were getting there, hoping it's not one step forward, two steps back.
COYR

Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

 

[Omar Devone Little]

I know our back line has come under heavy criticism due to a lack of pace, and that's a fair (if unwarranted) observation this early in the season. I'd have a sightly different take and it's something that can be applied to almost all players, they're too slow on the ball. Decision making must be quicker and execution must be of better quality. Even the first goal Vs Spurs - ball pinged into O'Brien's feet - couldn't take it in properly, spills free then goal. These are things we'd get away with in the Championship. It's also something, I hope, the players will grow into

Yeah the lack of speed is as much to do with decision making and execution as it is to do with actual running speed. It's not too often the defenders get exposed in a one-on-one foot race although it has happened.

Most of the time it's the speed of thought that does us. It could be something tiny, like not making ourselves available for a pass for a split second or taking one extra touch when we shouldn't need to, both in defence and attack. It all adds up over the course of a game and to be honest I'm not sure it's something Cooper can coach.

Luckily as you say Bournemouth are the least likely side in the Premier League to punish us for a mistake...but keep making them and they will eventually. We switched off at Dean Court last season for a second and were done so hopefully that's the message from Cooper today and the players aren't thinking this will be as easy as some of out fans are!

 

[valspoodle]

Aston Villa, thought to be one of our challengers in the relegation fight, just gave Man City a game. If we intend to avoid the drop, Coops needs to sort out his best team pronto.

No selection of players he likes or shoehorning players in, then finding a system to fit, he has to decide on the best system and then fit his best players suited to that system.

With 5 subs, as others have illustrated, you can quickly change tactics if plan A isn't working.

I'm no expert, so I'm willing to be proved wrong, but it's looking a bit like the Hughton selection system.

 

[rippey89]

We have definitely gone way too big on signings. The last week has been completely unnecessary and unlike most fans I've become less confident as the window has gone on. Each new player signed makes the managers job harder, each million spent increases the pressure a bit more.

A core of 17-18 backed up by Colback, Cafu, Soh, Smith should have sufficed. The manager is good enough to create a competitive side with what we had 10 days ago to get to the World Cup to assess and then strengthen in January if and where required. A 25 man squad is the maximum you're allowed, not a target you should strive to achieve.

It feels like we've signed players because we can, without evaluating whether we needed them or what the effects on the side would be. Renan Lodi might be a Brazilian international with CL experience, but what an absolutely pointless signing. After a struggle against Newcastle, Toffolo had begun to find his feet at this level and work with the players around him. Four games in and we've binned that off and have someone else that needs to do the same, work out how we play, get used to the PL etc. and our left hand side doesn't look as good again short-term.

Pre-season my most confident prediction was that this looked like a very strong league and won't have a team cut adrift in the same way there has been in recent seasons. That doesn't look too bad a shout so far. We've got to be at it to win games, and we're not going to be at it if we keep having to try out new players and in different positions to work out what's going to work best.

 

[Notcher]

Yeah the lack of speed is as much to do with decision making and execution as it is to do with actual running speed. It's not too often the defenders get exposed in a one-on-one foot race although it has happened.

Most of the time it's the speed of thought that does us. It could be something tiny, like not making ourselves available for a pass for a split second or taking one extra touch when we shouldn't need to, both in defence and attack. It all adds up over the course of a game and to be honest I'm not sure it's something Cooper can coach.

Luckily as you say Bournemouth are the least likely side in the Premier League to punish us for a mistake...but keep making them and they will eventually. We switched off at Dean Court last season for a second and were done so hopefully that's the message from Cooper today and the players aren't thinking this will be as easy as some of out fans are!

You're correct in your assessment although all of those points are extremely coachable in the technical aspect. Speed of thought does separate the levels in players though but I've not seen enough to decide whether that's the issue. If so then that is very difficult to coach

Sent using Tapatalk

 

[Des's dirty Y-fronts]

The state of the squad is.... Slightly unbalanced. Best signing is Mangala, we've really missed him in the last 3 games. Too many players who play same positions and of a similar level. Need to define our best starting 11 and give them a run of games