• 8 Aug 2023, 11:42 p.m.

    Last season saw Johnson progress from a right sided forward to a more central forward. I think by the end of this season, if he stays with us, he could be the focal point of our attack with Awoniyi backup. He could then be worth £80-100million..

    But to sell him now, have Awoniyi/Wood as the options up top with MGW, Scarpa, DannyLo, Aguilera and Elanga as options for two supporting forwards, I don't think we are in a bad place.

    Take the money and use it to strengthen the defensive spine, survive in what looks like a weak Premier league season, and build again with more financial clout next year seems reasonable to me.

  • 9 Aug 2023, 12:18 a.m.

    I find the notion that Brennan could be part of a successful side playing as a focal point centrally bewildering.

    He can't head the ball. Like really can't. I'm better at that. And I'm notably shit at heading the ball. He's got the weight and strength of a paper bag.

    He's absolutely lightning quick, and capable of kicking the ball at full pace.

    I'm just not at all convinced he's the player we need to work our way into the division.

    With a good side around him, utilizing his strengths, he could be mustard. But we are just not good enough to have him put the cherry on top of the platform we have. He's both too good for us, and not enough of what we need.

    Teams we play, who have now seen us, will have strategies to counteract 'the plan' where we isolate him against the full back. Now is the time to move on. For him, and for us.

  • 9 Aug 2023, 12:25 a.m.

    Completely agree. He also has no real ability to play with his back to goal, which is essential for any central striker. He always lets the ball go over him in the hope that he can turn his defender and have a foot race with him. And he can, sometimes, but in the Premier League there are lots of quick players, some of whom are defenders, and even the slow ones are smart and know how to play against raw speed. The only chance Brennan would have playing centrally IMO would be alongside another forward, and I don't see us doing that. He makes far more sense as a wide forward in a team that has enough possession to give it to him regularly.

  • 9 Aug 2023, 1:13 a.m.
  • 9 Aug 2023, 1:41 a.m.

    We allegedly have interest in Fofana at Monaco, but he has told us that he doesn't want to come to Forest so we haven't submitted a bid. That would be an ambitious one for sure.

  • 9 Aug 2023, 8:16 a.m.

    He's as strong as a bag for life.

  • 9 Aug 2023, 11:09 a.m.

    Arsenal reserve keeper confirmed- it's turnered out ok after all.

  • 9 Aug 2023, 11:24 a.m.

    Unaccountably amused by "I never dreamed of playing for such a big club as Nottingham Forest".

    twitter.com/NFFC/status/1689214945345376257?s=20

    Wait til you find out who you played for last season.

  • 9 Aug 2023, 11:35 a.m.

    Seems reasonable. He probably always dreamed of playing for a bigger club than how big forest are.

    You would.

  • 9 Aug 2023, 12:20 p.m.

    So, thus far in terms of the active squad verses last season:
    Matt Turner replaces Henderson / Navas (35 starts between them)
    Ola Aina replaces Renan Lodi (26 starts)
    Anthony Elanga replaces Jesse Lingard (12 starts)

  • 9 Aug 2023, 12:37 p.m.

    25, as of today:

    Turner/Hennessey/Horvath (Probably another to come in here and EH to drop out)
    Aurier/Williams/Richards/Aina
    Niakhate/Worrall/McKenna/Boly/Felipe
    Mangala/Yates/Danilo/Kouyate/O'Brien/Frueler (Probably the first three set here, second three could be upgraded)
    MGW/Scarpa
    Wood/Johnson/Awoniyi/Hwang/Dennis (surely the second two will be replaced)

    Elanga & Aguilera under 21

    Leaves these to be sold or loaned:
    Shelvey, G., Drager, Cook, Mbe Soh, Panzo, Biancone (maybe replaces one of the midfielders?), Shelvey, J., Fornah, Arter..

    Busy three and a bit weeks.

  • 9 Aug 2023, 1:03 p.m.

    The second two?

  • 9 Aug 2023, 1:08 p.m.

    Last two - Hwang and Dennis. Probably not as desperate to get rid of our best two strikers.

  • 9 Aug 2023, 1:52 p.m.

    Are we assuming Toff won't be around then? Not heard anything recently about his charges.

  • 9 Aug 2023, 1:57 p.m.

    Oh yeah - I figured he probably won't be in the 25 because of his impending suspension and won't be able to be loaned or sold for the same reason.

  • 9 Aug 2023, 2:08 p.m.

    Outgoings aside (desirable, of course, but beyond our control), add a keeper (Hendo or other), a good DM (Sangare would possible sock-blowage) and a forward and it doesn’t look too bad, especially compared to Luton, Blunts, Wolves, Everton and maybe others.

    Two forwards if Brennan goes, which I think is likely.