Keep reading this thread title as We need to talk about Brunch and it's making me hungry.
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Likewise. As a result I'm making oat chilla. The perfect brunch.
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Sigh
I could have said our recruitment team rated them well enough. But they have been known to drop the occasional bollock. I could say that the England U21 staff rated McAtee and Hutchinson well enough to include them in the cup winning team. I can also say that AI (because I cant be arsed) pulled together an analysis out of relatively credible publicly available data sources, limiting that to pre Forest info.EXEC PACK 1 — DAN NDOYE (Bologna → High‑value Winger)
Swiss RW/LW/RWB | 24 years (Summer 2025) | Elite ball‑carrier- Player Snapshot
Positions: RW / LW / RM / Wing‑back versatility [transfermarkt.us]
Athletic profile: Explosive, high repeat‑sprint capacity, EURO 2024 measured top‑speed 35.6 km/h [de.uefa.com]
International: EURO 2024 goal vs Germany; 5 games, 1G/1A [de.uefa.com]- Performance & Advanced Data
FBref Serie A 23/24 Scouting Report
Progressive Carries: 87–99th percentile — elite territory gain. [fbref.com]
Take‑Ons: 77–97th percentile — consistent 1v1 wins. [fbref.com]
Receiving Progressive Passes: 80–99th percentile — excels as a target for build‑up. [fbref.com]
Chance Creation (SCA): strong volume but xA/assists below elite tier. [fbref.com]Trajectories
Improvement year‑on‑year in end product by 24/25 (external trackers show output increase). [statmuse.com]
- Strengths (EPL‑Applicable)
Top‑tier ball progression: breaks lines via carries even vs strong defensive blocks. [fbref.com]
Pressing & defensive buy‑in: above‑average defensive actions for an attacking midfielder. [fbref.com]
Multirole: RW/LW/RWB allows multi‑system flexibility. [transfermarkt.us]
Big‑stage readiness: Performed at EURO 2024. [de.uefa.com]- Risks / Limitations
Final ball inconsistency: chance‑creation below carrying output; reliance on chaos‑creation rather than precision. [fbref.com]
Premium cost vs end‑product: fee expectation may over‑index on physical upside. [football-italia.net], [footballtoday.com]- Market Value & Deal Feasibility (Summer 2025)
Bologna contract to 2027.
Italian reports show Napoli + EPL interest, Bologna discussing renewal.
Bid range in media reports: €40–45m rejected/expected.
Realistic acquisition band: €38–45m + add‑ons. [football-italia.net], [footballtoday.com]- Growth Potential
Ceiling: High — if final ball improves, becomes a top‑six‑level ball progression winger.
Age window: 24 → entering physical prime; productivity upside remains.
Comparable profiles (FBref): Zaccagni, Cambiaghi, Laurienté (high carry, medium creation). [fbref.com]- Verdict: BUY?
Recommendation: CONDITIONAL BUY
Proceed only if fee ≤€40m guaranteed + incentives.
Ideal for teams needing athletic wide outlet, pressing contribution, and transitional threat.
Risk Level: Medium (cost vs end‑product).EXEC PACK 2 — IGOR JESUS (Botafogo → Value Centre‑Forward)
Brazilian CF | 24 | Box finisher & aerial outlet- Player Snapshot
Role: Penalty‑box striker with strong aerial and close‑range finishing.
Size & profile: 1.79–1.80m, right‑footed, robust duel involvement. [uaeproleague.ae]
Career path: Coritiba → Shabab Al Ahli (UAE) → Botafogo (2024). [en.wikipedia.org]- Performance & Output (Public Data)
UAE Pro League 23/24 (Official League):
19 apps | 14 goals | 3 assists — elite box conversion.
High aerial duel volume (~50%+ win rate) and inside‑box shot profile. [uaeproleague.ae]Brazil 2024 (Botafogo):
22 Série A apps | 5 goals.
Copa Libertadores: 6 apps | 3 goals, demonstrating competitive translation. [transfermarkt.com]- Strengths (EPL‑Applicable)
Penalty‑area instincts: near‑post runs, rebounds, snap headers. [uaeproleague.ae]
Aerial outlet: useful vs high pressing; wins duels and keeps attacks alive. [uaeproleague.ae]
Finishing adaptability: scoring both in UAE and Libertadores signals step‑up resilience. [transfermarkt.com]- Risks / Limitations
Limited Big‑5 experience: untested in top‑five top‑speed defensive environments. [transfermarkt.us]
Dependent on service: creation metrics low; requires supply from wide creators. [uaeproleague.ae]
Transition to EPL athleticism not guaranteed.- Market Value (Summer 2025)
Botafogo likely seller at correct valuation.
Public valuation: €15–20m range.
Realistic acquisition band: €12–18m depending on competition. [transfermarkt.us]- Growth Potential
Ceiling: Medium‑High — could develop into a 12–15 EPL goals/season striker if finishing translates.
Age: 24 — opportunity to grow pressing output and link play.
Upside indicators: Already scoring in a major continental competition (Libertadores). [transfermarkt.com]- Verdict: BUY?
Recommendation: VALUE BUY (Conditional)
Attractive option for clubs seeking a budget CF with proven scoring instincts.
Proceed only ≤ €15–18m + add‑ons.
Role fit: Teams that cross frequently or play in transition.
Risk Level: Medium (league translation).EXEC PACK 3 — DILANE BAKWA (Strasbourg → Rising Creator)
French RW/LW (inverted playmaker) | 22 | G+A growing YoY- Player Snapshot
Position: Inverted RW, also LW/RM.
Background: Bordeaux Academy → Bordeaux senior → Strasbourg (Aug 2023). [transfermarkt.co.uk]
Technical profile: ball‑carrying, combination play, half‑space creation. [transfermarkt.com]-
Performance & Output
Strasbourg 2023/24: ~31 apps | 3G / 6A (public tracker consensus).
Strasbourg 2024/25: ~30 apps | 6G / 8A (clear improvement YoY).
Note: exact numbers vary, but trend across sources is consistent: stronger second season. [footballtr...nsfers.com] -
Strengths (EPL‑Applicable)
Chance creation growth: assists rising year‑on‑year. [footballtr...nsfers.com]
Carries into space: effective 1v1 and half‑space progression. [transfermarkt.com]
Creative intelligence: links well with overlapping full‑backs; good weight of pass.
Versatility: both flanks, suits 4‑3‑3 and 4‑2‑3‑1. [transfermarkt.com]- Risks / Limitations
Physicality leap: needs S&C boost for EPL duels. [transfermarkt.com]
Defensive consistency: pressing/duels fluctuate; creator‑first winger. [fotmob.com]
Still maturing: risk linked to age, adaptation curve.- Market Value (Summer 2025)
Strasbourg contract to 2027.
Public valuation: €20–25m (and rising).
Realistic acquisition band: €22–28m depending on competition. [transfermarkt.fm]- Growth Potential
Ceiling: High — potential to develop into a high‑level EPL creator with 10+ G+A seasons.
Age: 22 — entering key development phase.
Trajectory: strong YoY output improvement already shown. [footballtr...nsfers.com]- Verdict: BUY?
Recommendation: BUY & DEVELOP
Ideal for clubs seeking emerging creators rather than finished products.
Fee acceptable relative to age and upside.
Risk Level: Medium‑Low (age trajectory favourable). -
Evidence: Rated, at other levels, for a range of things.
Summary, in answer to the actual question: Who knows?
I suppose the getout is that 'rated' doesn't actually mean anything. I am also 'rated' (as largely the worst player that anyone who has ever played with me, has played with).
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They didn't punt all that money on players because they thought they had cool names. Take Kalimuendo, for example. Highest scoring U21 player in all major European leagues last season, comes to basket case Forest, can't get a look in under three different managers, goes to Germany to a settled team and immediately starts scoring.
I understand how desperately keen you are to not say that Dyche may be less than perfect, but the fact is we have good players that all three managers have in their own way mismanaged this season.
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I think that point is key. We've been largely crap, bar the odd game, since March (ish) last season, under 3 seperate managers, with most of them seemingly agreeing on 8 or 9 of the starting 11.
We hugely overachieved for 6 months or so under Nuno, and arguably rode our luck in some games. Maybe this is our natural level.
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Can't read the article without a log in, but the headline tells* the story
www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2026/02/09/sean-dyche-future-nottingham-forest-do-not-beat-wolves/
*vaguely suggest a possible outcome based on who knows what
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Can you see what you did here?
There is a difference in level. What happens in one place (team shape, personel, oppostition, way the games are played), doesn't necessarily happen in another.
Stats are dependent on environment.
This is nothing to do with managers, as the broadly uniform opinion of a range of three diverse ones suggest. It's about the players (current) fitness to operate at the level/in the environment.
It's not like it's a totally unknown or alien concept that the EPL is a more physical league (and critically faster) than any other 'major' league, and that adjustment to that is a vague process with unpredictable outcomes...and the player that we bought from here was demonstrably in the 'development' phase of his career.
So the 'rating' of these players was 'useful below the required level' based on stats...and when three different sorts of managers got to look at them, they largely agreed 'not first team material at the level'.
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Notable for what it doesn't say, i.e. "Sean Dyche will be sacked if Forest don't beat Wolves". It's all "under mounting pressure", "cranked up tension", "uncertainty growing".
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As much as I hate to say it, there might come a point where we are banking on a new manage 'bounce' to try and save us from relegation. Absolutely bonkers, but Marinakis might think it's worth the gamble. Fuck knows who it would be though.
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Haven't we already 'bounced' (from relegation form, to mid-table form)?
It might help if the fanbase understood that we aren't going to play well every game (a major part of our success last season was the Elanga-Wood combination, and we don't have either this time out), and didn't lose their minds every time we had a bad day. Of which there are likely to be more with the extra european friendly obligations.
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Thanks. Not particularly worth reading, but I had forgotten about the MOTM nomination. Has anyone been sacked the month after winning it before?
Amorim (Oct / Jan) and Maresca (Nov / Jan) came close. -
It's possible to hear a lot of talk about how wet hams now have 'momentum' and how Forest are 'beleagured'. Over the last six games (form table) they have gained 1 (one) point on us.
Destabilisation really works kids.
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And if we had beaten Palace we would have been one point ahead. A game which hinged on one tragic mistake. I didn't agee with Dyche's selections for the Leeds game but we were faced with playing a team with a good home record/ great home support, missing 3 of our front line defenders, all present for the Palace game.
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Yeah but over the last one game they have gained 3 on us! ;-)
