January 2024 Transfer Window

[Monkman]

Likewise, I think he'd be a decent player for us.

 

[Bobby The Brain]

Save me a seat on the Gil bandwagon.

Always looks a decent talent, very good technically with good pace. As others have said, just needs to play regularly.

 

[Ashley]

Still of the opinion that if Mangala goes we need a replacement. I don't think four midfielders (plus a past it Kouyate) is enough, particularly if we move back to a midfield three at any point.

The money is good, but we aren't half putting ourselves into a really difficult situation with just 2 days of the window to go if we sell. I think there is a very high chance that selling Mangala will bite us on the arse big time.

 

[Alf-engelos Mindminackers]

No ins or outs yet. Marinakis has gone cold turkey.

Sent from my SM-G990B using Tapatalk

He aims to shake it all about

 

[Ashley]

He aims to shake it all about

We'll build a new bomb squad at the City Ground.
That's what its all about!

 

[Monkman]

Still of the opinion that if Mangala goes we need a replacement. I don't think four midfielders (plus a past it Kouyate) is enough, particularly if we move back to a midfield three at any point.

But do you not think that if (as seems likely) we stick with a 2-man midfield, then 5 players who will justifiably think they should be starting games is too many? How do we keep them all happy? This is quite likely what has led Mangala to want to leave after all (if he does, which again doesn't seem unlikely given where he seems to sit in Nuno's pecking order).

We seem to all agree that we have a bloated squad, but fixing that necessarily means having a little less in reserve for a rainy day. We don't need 5 midfielders who are all good enough to start for a 2-man midfield. I could see an argument for picking up a young prospect who is happy to bide their time on the bench for a period.

 

[Robertson]

But do you not think that if (as seems likely) we stick with a 2-man midfield, then 5 players who will justifiably think they should be starting games is too many? How do we keep them all happy? This is quite likely what has led Mangala to want to leave after all (if he does, which again doesn't seem unlikely given where he seems to sit in Nuno's pecking order).

We seem to all agree that we have a bloated squad, but fixing that necessarily means having a little less in reserve for a rainy day. We don't need 5 midfielders who are all good enough to start for a 2-man midfield. I could see an argument for picking up a young prospect who is happy to bide their time on the bench for a period.

Its always the same. “The squad is bloated! We need to streamline it!”. But also “we need three options for every position just in case”. We can’t have it both ways.

 

[congo_red_49]

Its always the same. “The squad is bloated! We need to streamline it!”. But also “we need three options for every position just in case”. We can’t have it both ways.

We've had two seasons where we've got the balance completely wrong. Not enough defenders last year, too many of them this year.

 

[Ashley]

But do you not think that if (as seems likely) we stick with a 2-man midfield, then 5 players who will justifiably think they should be starting games is too many? How do we keep them all happy? This is quite likely what has led Mangala to want to leave after all (if he does, which again doesn't seem unlikely given where he seems to sit in Nuno's pecking order).

We seem to all agree that we have a bloated squad, but fixing that necessarily means having a little less in reserve for a rainy day. We don't need 5 midfielders who are all good enough to start for a 2-man midfield. I could see an argument for picking up a young prospect who is happy to bide their time on the bench for a period.

If we stay with a midfield two sure. But who's to say that will be the case going forwards? Plus with injuries, suspensions and each midfielder having different skillsets I think 5 is the number we need. Though I'm not opposed to that 5th player being a prospect we can develop who can be slowly integrated into the side from the bench.

We do have a bloated squad, but I think things like having 4 right backs, 4 keepers (granted, all shit) and having multiple centre backs who don't play is a bigger issue.

And realistically, I just don't see us doing much with that £30m during this window beyond a few panic buys which are likely to add to the bloat anyway.

IMO we should keep Mangala, sign a keeper on loan and focus our efforts on trimming the fat from the squad during the next few days. I doubt Forest will do that though, unfortunately.

 

[Robertson]

We've had two seasons where we've got the balance completely wrong. Not enough defenders last year, too many of them this year.

I’d agree we have too many defenders. Need some more forwards really.

In an ideal world i’d also like to hang on to Mangala as well to be fair.

 

[Ashley]

Its always the same. “The squad is bloated! We need to streamline it!”. But also “we need three options for every position just in case”. We can’t have it both ways.

The squad is bloated, but not in midfield. Having 4 right backs on the books and two centrebacks sat at home doing nothing most weeks however...

Its the players that aren't playing and are sitting around doing nothing or being farmed out on loan that are the problem. Not players like Mangala.

 

[SouthManchesterTree]

I could understand it if he was a Left Back and we're sending Tavaras back to Arsenal. However he's a right back and we currently have 4 of those.

This club is addicted to buying full backs

 

[Strummer]

This club is addicted to buying full backs

Right backs, maybe.

The position of Left Back for Nottingham Forest seems to have been more cursed than the Drummer‘s chair in Spinal Tap.

 

[Mr. Blonde]

Probably slightly better than when she shouted, oh we’ve run out of choc ices, there might be a Cornet in the cupboard!

Maxwel?

 

[Monkman]

Kouyate is the ideal 5th midfielder. Does a job, happy to sit on the bench 95% of the time. Will need replacing soon though.

 

[SouthManchesterTree]

He aims to shake it all about

That doesn’t bear thinking about

 

[Alf-engelos Mindminackers]

We've had two seasons where we've got the balance completely wrong. Not enough defenders last year, too many of them this year.

Not to mention the individual balance of even good players too.

Danilo & Murrilo two perfect example of good players, but which lack consistency and which need a certain type of player next to them to get the best from currently. Wood's ability to fit into Cooper's plans another etc. It's obvious from our recruitment approach we haven't thought this far ahead in a long time, "good player" is as far as it goes at best.

The bloat is a symptom of that lack of joined up thinking, and it's that lack of JUT which I personally want to change (and which, IMO, had changed somewhat when Murphy was here).

 

[Captain Sinister]

Not to mention the individual balance of even good players too.

Danilo & Murrilo two perfect example of good players, but which lack consistency and which need a certain type of player next to them to get the best from currently. Wood's ability to fit into Cooper's plans another etc. It's obvious from our recruitment approach we haven't thought this far ahead in a long time, "good player" is as far as it goes at best.

The bloat is a symptom of that lack of joined up thinking, and it's that lack of JUT which I personally want to change (and which, IMO, had changed somewhat when Murphy was here).

Danilo and Murillo, let's not forget, are both only 21, and playing for the first time in a foreign land.
With limited langauge skills to boot, both are doing exceptionally well.

 

[Robertson]

The squad is bloated, but not in midfield. Having 4 right backs on the books and two centrebacks sat at home doing nothing most weeks however...

Its the players that aren't playing and are sitting around doing nothing or being farmed out on loan that are the problem. Not players like Mangala.

A lot of these players are out of contract at the end of season though, so have no sale value. Mangala obviously does.

As I said above i’d prefer to keep him, he’s one of my favourite players if i’m honest.

 

[PlayedOnGrass]

Not to mention the individual balance of even good players too.

Danilo & Murrilo two perfect example of good players, but which lack consistency and which need a certain type of player next to them to get the best from currently. Wood's ability to fit into Cooper's plans another etc. It's obvious from our recruitment approach we haven't thought this far ahead in a long time, "good player" is as far as it goes at best.

The bloat is a symptom of that lack of joined up thinking, and it's that lack of JUT which I personally want to change (and which, IMO, had changed somewhat when Murphy was here).

Danilo and Murillo are just kids - both bought to be developed here and probably sold on to one of the big six - a la Brighton
Murillo will benefit from playing alongside Niahkate, Boly or Felipe
Danilo will benefit from playing alongside Sangare and/or Mangala
Good sound planning and joined up thinking

 

[EmmersonForest4]

A lot of these players are out of contract at the end of season though, so have no sale value. Mangala obviously does.

As I said above i’d prefer to keep him, he’s one of my favourite players if i’m honest.

Depends on our FFP worries, if we are sailing close to the wind than sell all day long as that is a lot of profit for us. However if its not needed than dont sell.

 

[Ashley]

A lot of these players are out of contract at the end of season though, so have no sale value. Mangala obviously does.

As I said above i’d prefer to keep him, he’s one of my favourite players if i’m honest.

Do we actually *need* to sell Mangala though, or are we doing so just to add more players to the squad? And would that trade-off be worth it?

In a scenario where we sell Mangala and made 3 or 4 panic buys on 3+ year contracts, we might actually make the squad bloat worse (hopefully that doesn't happen, but it could happen).

Whatever we decide, we need to tread very carefully here and not repeat the same mistakes that have lead us to have such an unbalanced squad.

 

[Monkman]

Agree with that. I guess I'm an optimist and see it funding a good keeper and a winger.

 

[EmmersonForest4]

Do we actually *need* to sell Mangala though, or are we doing so just to add more players to the squad? And would that trade-off be worth it?

In a scenario where we sell Mangala and made 3 or 4 panic buys on 3+ year contracts, we might actually make the squad bloat worse (hopefully that doesn't happen, but it could happen).

Whatever we decide, we need to tread very carefully here and not repeat the same mistakes that have lead us to have such an unbalanced squad.

Huge problem is we desparatley need one winger at a minimum and 2 is what we really need. Also the keeping situation is dire. So if sell Mangala and get 2 wingers and a keeper to me that’s not panic buying. That’s selling to buy. We have loads of midfielders and I do really like Mangala but we are a club now that needs to make profits in the market to reinvest.

 

[Dan_Bristol]

If we could sell Mangala for £30m and sign Carlos Alcaraz for £20m (with potential to sell for more in 18months) would be a good move.

He looked great last season for Southampton, full of fight.