Bremen Tree - 23/2/2018 12:22
Strawberry Avenger - 23/2/2018 12:13
It's interesting that people question signings of Murphy's age or question why Forest needed another ACM in Dowell (when it was obvious Forest needed experience, goals and 'someone' to replace the ACM roles vacated by Lansbury, Cohen and Reid.)
Without Murphy's and Dowell's goals, Forest would be in deep, deep trouble.
SA.
Exactly. With some claiming them as "evidence" that Warbz summer spree was a failure. Some go a far as labelling Dowell as a coward. Usual short sighted madness.
I don't think Warburton's time here was a failure, either in football or the transfer window. Some transfers work, some don't. Even Brian Clough knew that. I liked Warburton's football philosophy and was happy with the idea of the transfer window he had. But Karanka has nailed the areas (bar striker...) that he didn't address e.g. CH, CM and a Keeper which proved to be his undoing (I'm sure he tried for a CH and a Keeper...but he didn't, crucially, get them...) and funnily enough, Karanka managed to get two keepers, a CH, a LB and a battery of much needed strength and quality along the spine of the side. Forest fans could see it. And Karanka managed to do it without blowing two million on a RB when that area was reasonably well covered.
Forest are coming out the tail end of FFP...and a take over. I can see why Brit went and why Murphy came in...complimented by Cummings. (Forest fans always say, 'Why don't we go for a good young striker... It could have worked, it didn't. Cummings or Brereton? The latter is 18, he's young. Forest fans want Academy strikers/prospects. But he's not scoring the goals. There you have two young prospects that don't score and you're suddenly putting your hopes on Murphy. He was part of a successful Newcy side and plays for his national side. Yet some Forest fans felt hard done to. We've be more hard done to without his goals.
Ironically, Ollie Watkins went to Brentford. Maybe he was the 'one.' Warburton and Forest missed a trick there. He reminds me a little of Colllymore running at defences...)
Karanka's transfer window was a stand out window, historically, for Forest. No coincidence he replaced almost an entire team. Ten players. Without massive transfer fees, certainly not £4 million for two players..?
The shake out had been a long time coming. How can you have players from 8 different managers on your books? Who is their loyalty to? Will they play for another manager on the 'revolving' Forest door? In that regard, after Preston, Karanka realised his head would be next for the chop and that Forest's squad was paper thin in terms of players allied for the project. Drastic surgery... No surprise to me that he 'Caponed' 8 players out and made it clear who was boss and whether players want to be here, step up or step out. 'Bout time.
You can see why 'bad apples' or cynicism creeps in. Cummings looked a good signing. But as soon as he got the chance to play for Rangers he was off. They don't all work out. But Lolley drops down from the Premier to play for Forest. You either buy into a manager, a club, a team or a project or you don't. A lot of the characters Karanka has brought are experienced, won stuff, dropped down a division for the cause or are seasoned pros who are battlers.
Forest didn't have Brit's goals this time. I'm sure Karanka probably tried to bring in a striker e.g. Rhodes? (?) But the ten he brought in will prove to be more pivotal as Forest were weak in just about every part of the field...with no depth of quality to shuffle the deck of cards.
Many young players maybe aren't equipped for a rugged and robust Championship season. Even the physical Worrall has looked a little battle worn and shell shocked at times (i.e. covering for Mancienne...who has enough on looking after his own game never mind being a Captain which he never is...) It didn't work for Hart. Why would it for Warburton? When Murphy lost form/got injured then the team struggled without that leadership. No surprise.
The Championship. You need to be a tough athlete who can play a bit. It's a physical league. And unless you have the budget to Man City your way out of it, I don't see an Academy group coasting the league. They'll get 'old manned.'
Karanka spotted that experience isn't enough if you have bad apples in the camp who are after 'the last pay check' or easy money. Bad Apples can be young and immature or old and cynical.
The current crop of imports have bought into Karanka's project by cancelling their contracts with their current clubs where they could have sat, not played and took the money. That suggests they want to play. eg. Watson. eg. Lolley who dropped down a division to play for Forest.
Players like that I want wearing the Forest badge. Doesn't matter if they're mid twenties or 32 if they have something to offer.
SA.
