Garry Birtles column: Forest must make a statement of their intent in transfer market
Saturday, June 11, 2011Nottingham PostFollow
HOWEVER long the shopping list is at Nottingham Forest this summer, they must have one item at the very top of it.
Before they do anything else, they must search for a high-quality striker.
Robert Earnshaw
• •
Not just a run-of-the-mill Championship player. Not somebody who is 'steady'.
They must make a statement signing; somebody who will spark the imagination of the fans and the current players.
And, most importantly, it must be the kind of signing that demonstrates their intent – that sends out the message to the rest of the Championship that Forest mean business.
As things stand, that is not the impression that is being left by the club. In fact, it could not be further from the truth.
Players are leaving left, right and centre. The squad that has done well in the last two seasons is eroding away.
Kelvin Wilson and Nathan Tyson have left and Robert Earnshaw seems likely to follow suit. Dele Adebola and Julian Bennett are also out of contract and unlikely to be offered new deals.
And the failure to publicly back manager Billy Davies has left a cloud of doubt hanging over his position.
There is suddenly a question mark over the club's ability to challenge next season.
Having come close to promotion for two years running, Forest suddenly have much work to do, if they are to be considered contenders again.
And that is not just about restoring the strength and depth of their squad, but also repairing their reputation.
At the minute, I am not sure players will be queuing up to sign for Forest.
Yes, they are a club with a proud history and a loyal, strong support. But that does not count for much any more.
The fact that we won the European Cup a couple of times 30 years ago is no longer going to hold much sway with young players.
Once agents are involved, only a few things matter.
The most obvious is money. The size of their contract is going to be the most significant factor. How much money they will take home every week is going to be the number one item on the agenda, when it comes to negotiating signings.
But, money will not be the only issue.
Most players, no matter how driven they are by money, fast cars and fancy houses, are also still ambitious.
Yes, they want to get paid. But they also want success. They want to play at the highest possible level.
In the last two years, Forest would have had a good sales pitch. They possessed a squad that was clearly packed with talent; that included a number of impressive signings.
In the summer of 2009, Forest invested £5m or £6m in nine strong additions, including the likes of Chris Gunter, Dexter Blackstock, Paul Anderson, Paul McKenna and Lee Camp.
That was a statement of intent.
But now, they no longer look like a club with ambition. To be blunt, they look like one that is in a bit of a mess.
And they need to do something to put an end to that perception.
They need to make at least nine signings again, in reality, to give themselves a foundation on which to build. If not more.
But they must do so at a time when their reputation has been damaged. They must restore it, before they can do anything.
For me, the best way of doing that is to bring in a real quality signing, as they did three years ago when Robert Earnshaw walked through the doors of the City Ground.
That is the kind of player they need to be looking at now; somebody who will get 20-odd goals a season – which Earnshaw might have done, if he had played regularly.
They need somebody who will make people think 'blimey, Forest mean business'.
Danny Graham or Steve Morison would have done that – but both players have already moved on.
Cardiff, it seems, are ready to sell Michael Chopra, as they look to address their financial crisis. He would do the job equally well.
Craig Mackail-Smith, the Peterborough front man, would be good. Equally, Forest could pluck somebody from the Premier League, who is on the periphery of things.
But it has to be a statement of intent. It has to show ambition; a desire to forge a third promotion push.
Once they have done that, then other potential signings will be easier to persuade to put pen to paper.
Everything else will, hopefully, fall into place.
_________________________________________
You best hurry up and sign someone, because by time billy gets the nod, they will be all gone
I suppose I should bow down to a City that only became remotely interesting when a women put a cat in a bin
I assume by your eagerness to point out Derby's lack of trophies means that the glorious cup win in 1395 is your idea of success.
Both Forest and Derby are unlikely to become a force again in the top flight of football, however, both clubs have more chance than your tiny little backstreet dump will ever have. Now take ya yammin, take ya kitty and jog onto a club board that has a small club mentality like yourselves.. I think you can go and talk home attendances with Yoevil... As you have more in common
Article on Ryan Bertrand
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posted on 12/6/11
Van Arnholt recently signed a long term deal at Chelsea, which you would imagine would seal Bertrand's departure. The rumour is that the size of our bid surprised Chelski and made them decide to take a closer look!
posted on 12/6/11
the size of our bid surprised Chelski and made them decide to take a closer look!
That's the best laugh i have had all week
posted on 12/6/11
Garry Birtles column: Forest must make a statement of their intent in transfer market
Saturday, June 11, 2011Nottingham PostFollow
HOWEVER long the shopping list is at Nottingham Forest this summer, they must have one item at the very top of it.
Before they do anything else, they must search for a high-quality striker.
Robert Earnshaw
• •
Not just a run-of-the-mill Championship player. Not somebody who is 'steady'.
They must make a statement signing; somebody who will spark the imagination of the fans and the current players.
And, most importantly, it must be the kind of signing that demonstrates their intent – that sends out the message to the rest of the Championship that Forest mean business.
As things stand, that is not the impression that is being left by the club. In fact, it could not be further from the truth.
Players are leaving left, right and centre. The squad that has done well in the last two seasons is eroding away.
Kelvin Wilson and Nathan Tyson have left and Robert Earnshaw seems likely to follow suit. Dele Adebola and Julian Bennett are also out of contract and unlikely to be offered new deals.
And the failure to publicly back manager Billy Davies has left a cloud of doubt hanging over his position.
There is suddenly a question mark over the club's ability to challenge next season.
Having come close to promotion for two years running, Forest suddenly have much work to do, if they are to be considered contenders again.
And that is not just about restoring the strength and depth of their squad, but also repairing their reputation.
At the minute, I am not sure players will be queuing up to sign for Forest.
Yes, they are a club with a proud history and a loyal, strong support. But that does not count for much any more.
The fact that we won the European Cup a couple of times 30 years ago is no longer going to hold much sway with young players.
Once agents are involved, only a few things matter.
The most obvious is money. The size of their contract is going to be the most significant factor. How much money they will take home every week is going to be the number one item on the agenda, when it comes to negotiating signings.
But, money will not be the only issue.
Most players, no matter how driven they are by money, fast cars and fancy houses, are also still ambitious.
Yes, they want to get paid. But they also want success. They want to play at the highest possible level.
In the last two years, Forest would have had a good sales pitch. They possessed a squad that was clearly packed with talent; that included a number of impressive signings.
In the summer of 2009, Forest invested £5m or £6m in nine strong additions, including the likes of Chris Gunter, Dexter Blackstock, Paul Anderson, Paul McKenna and Lee Camp.
That was a statement of intent.
But now, they no longer look like a club with ambition. To be blunt, they look like one that is in a bit of a mess.
And they need to do something to put an end to that perception.
They need to make at least nine signings again, in reality, to give themselves a foundation on which to build. If not more.
But they must do so at a time when their reputation has been damaged. They must restore it, before they can do anything.
For me, the best way of doing that is to bring in a real quality signing, as they did three years ago when Robert Earnshaw walked through the doors of the City Ground.
That is the kind of player they need to be looking at now; somebody who will get 20-odd goals a season – which Earnshaw might have done, if he had played regularly.
They need somebody who will make people think 'blimey, Forest mean business'.
Danny Graham or Steve Morison would have done that – but both players have already moved on.
Cardiff, it seems, are ready to sell Michael Chopra, as they look to address their financial crisis. He would do the job equally well.
Craig Mackail-Smith, the Peterborough front man, would be good. Equally, Forest could pluck somebody from the Premier League, who is on the periphery of things.
But it has to be a statement of intent. It has to show ambition; a desire to forge a third promotion push.
Once they have done that, then other potential signings will be easier to persuade to put pen to paper.
Everything else will, hopefully, fall into place.
_________________________________________
You best hurry up and sign someone, because by time billy gets the nod, they will be all gone
posted on 12/6/11
Bertrand is coming to Coventry where he will be appreciated in front of proper home support not fickle Forest fans that make no noise in their shed for a stand.
posted on 12/6/11
Bertrand is coming to Coventry where he will be appreciated in front of proper home support not fickle Forest fans that make no noise in their shed for a stand.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Comedy gold
Coventry fans making noise
I was actually laughing whilst typing that.
Thanks for brightening up my morning
posted on 12/6/11
Bertrand is coming to Coventry where he will be appreciated in front of proper home support not fickle Forest fans that make no noise in their shed for a stand
.............................................................................................
Neo - you are avin a laugh arent you? I know we arent the best of friends with this lot, but COVENTRY and HOME SUPPORT should only be included in the same sentence as PATHETIC!
posted on 12/6/11
Derby!
posted on 12/6/11
LMFAO @ Derby
posted on 12/6/11
Is Derby officially a City or are you still a Town near Matlock?
posted on 12/6/11
Neo- we all know that Coventry is just one of them nothing clubs that just hang around like a bad smell. Rubbish support, rubbish city living in the shadow of Birmingham.Now toddle on little yammer. Go and get excited about that massive fixture with Leicester that is the highlight of both your clubs boring season.
Ta ta x
posted on 12/6/11
Derby is a joke of a Club that has done nothing in it's history!! Your support is very poor even though you give away free season tickets!
You carry on your little love in with Forest, it has to be the least known rivalry of all.
Only cup you've ever had is the Brian Clough cup!! FFS Lol
posted on 12/6/11
I suppose I should bow down to a City that only became remotely interesting when a women put a cat in a bin
I assume by your eagerness to point out Derby's lack of trophies means that the glorious cup win in 1395 is your idea of success.
Both Forest and Derby are unlikely to become a force again in the top flight of football, however, both clubs have more chance than your tiny little backstreet dump will ever have. Now take ya yammin, take ya kitty and jog onto a club board that has a small club mentality like yourselves.. I think you can go and talk home attendances with Yoevil... As you have more in common
posted on 12/6/11
posted on 12/6/11
I reckon Bertrand will link up with Rodgers at Swansea
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