18-10-2018, 06:43 PM
So guys, I’m nearly finished with my assessment of the team after the first 15 games of the season. We are well stocked in the DMC area and we are pretty well stocked in the rest of the midfield as well. But how have they performed?
Lolley: 8
Wow, how did we get this guy on the cheap? On current form he's just unstoppable. Always running at the defense and almost dancing between and around the opposition players. And he's got a fierce shot in him as well. And if that wasn't enough he also tracks back tirelessly. This guy is all action and could prove to be the bargain of the century. Only one worrisome, we did say the same thing about Brian McKay last season.
Dias: 7
All the three amigos has to some extent disappointed me but Dias the least. I expected us to see a winger that loves going at the defenders using his pace and trickery. That has unfortunately not happened and I'm starting to wonder if it will happen. Don't get me wrong I believe that Dias is a useful but I would never in a million years pay 15-20m GBP for him. On current showing he is probably worth 3-4m GBP not more but if he suddenly starts attacking defenders and actually start scoring and creating goals in a Lolley kind of way then maybe he could warrant a price tag up or around what has been agreed in his loan contract. Because he could definitely be a great player because he works so very hard for the team (and that was something I didn't expect to be honest).
Carvalho: 6,5
The boy has obvious talent, but will he be able to dictate a game? On current showing I believe he's far from doing that. We have seen glimpses of what he capable of but I believe he needs to up his game and be more consistent. Costing that much money does result in increased expectations. It is good to see that he's fully prepared to work hard for the team and that great and also a must for him to be a success. We should of course give him more time, but I would have liked to see him dictate at least one game at Championship level so that we know that he has that in him. Hopefully that will come soon.
Cash: 7
I have to admit that I really like this kid and I believe he will be a very important player for Forest for years to come. He has fantastic energy, good technique, courage to run at people, good pace, good at defending. What's not to like?
Goncalves: 6
Of the three Portuguese players Goncalves is the one who has struggled the most at getting to grip with English football. You can see that the kid has bags of potential but he seems to need time to adapt to the pace of the game and also fully learn how Karanka wants the team to play. He doesn't defend as well as Dias and Carvalho but hopefully that will come with time. I would have liked to see Goncalves a bit more direct. Just run at people like he did in the latest U21 game. Hope that he figures out the Championship soon or else he could be one of the casualties in January. He has a lot to do if he is to defend a potential price tag of 13-15m GBP.
Soudani: 6
Soudani is a bit of a character and it seems that he has settled in very well at Forest. He started to show signs of being a good addition to the team before he got injured. He definitely knows how to score goals. The one area he really has to work on is his defending. If our formation and style of play are going to work every player must be 100% committed to pressing and defending while not having the ball. 80-90% just isn't enough. Soudani seems to be back in training now and hopefully it will not be long before he's back on the pitch with 100% commitment both in attack and in defense.
Osborn: 7
100% commitment is definitely something you get from this guy. We all know Osborn and what you get from him. He started the season as left back but has lately been moved into left midfield which is his more natural position. He seems to enjoy the short pass play with his new team mates and in my opinion, Osborn has improved his overall game this season. Maybe it is the added competition or just the fact that he's now playing with better players.
Lolley: 8
Wow, how did we get this guy on the cheap? On current form he's just unstoppable. Always running at the defense and almost dancing between and around the opposition players. And he's got a fierce shot in him as well. And if that wasn't enough he also tracks back tirelessly. This guy is all action and could prove to be the bargain of the century. Only one worrisome, we did say the same thing about Brian McKay last season.
Dias: 7
All the three amigos has to some extent disappointed me but Dias the least. I expected us to see a winger that loves going at the defenders using his pace and trickery. That has unfortunately not happened and I'm starting to wonder if it will happen. Don't get me wrong I believe that Dias is a useful but I would never in a million years pay 15-20m GBP for him. On current showing he is probably worth 3-4m GBP not more but if he suddenly starts attacking defenders and actually start scoring and creating goals in a Lolley kind of way then maybe he could warrant a price tag up or around what has been agreed in his loan contract. Because he could definitely be a great player because he works so very hard for the team (and that was something I didn't expect to be honest).
Carvalho: 6,5
The boy has obvious talent, but will he be able to dictate a game? On current showing I believe he's far from doing that. We have seen glimpses of what he capable of but I believe he needs to up his game and be more consistent. Costing that much money does result in increased expectations. It is good to see that he's fully prepared to work hard for the team and that great and also a must for him to be a success. We should of course give him more time, but I would have liked to see him dictate at least one game at Championship level so that we know that he has that in him. Hopefully that will come soon.
Cash: 7
I have to admit that I really like this kid and I believe he will be a very important player for Forest for years to come. He has fantastic energy, good technique, courage to run at people, good pace, good at defending. What's not to like?
Goncalves: 6
Of the three Portuguese players Goncalves is the one who has struggled the most at getting to grip with English football. You can see that the kid has bags of potential but he seems to need time to adapt to the pace of the game and also fully learn how Karanka wants the team to play. He doesn't defend as well as Dias and Carvalho but hopefully that will come with time. I would have liked to see Goncalves a bit more direct. Just run at people like he did in the latest U21 game. Hope that he figures out the Championship soon or else he could be one of the casualties in January. He has a lot to do if he is to defend a potential price tag of 13-15m GBP.
Soudani: 6
Soudani is a bit of a character and it seems that he has settled in very well at Forest. He started to show signs of being a good addition to the team before he got injured. He definitely knows how to score goals. The one area he really has to work on is his defending. If our formation and style of play are going to work every player must be 100% committed to pressing and defending while not having the ball. 80-90% just isn't enough. Soudani seems to be back in training now and hopefully it will not be long before he's back on the pitch with 100% commitment both in attack and in defense.
Osborn: 7
100% commitment is definitely something you get from this guy. We all know Osborn and what you get from him. He started the season as left back but has lately been moved into left midfield which is his more natural position. He seems to enjoy the short pass play with his new team mates and in my opinion, Osborn has improved his overall game this season. Maybe it is the added competition or just the fact that he's now playing with better players.