Is Promotion Still Possible?

[Strawberry Avenger]

Shrewd.

That's the word I was looking for.

SA.

[Strawberry Avenger]

The pele fella may be good - bonatini is decent. The centre half has been cover and was at Leicester: could it be that he knows Benalouane already so can slot in quickly? Then the Swedish chap who comes highly regarded and O’Neill has on trial at Celtic.
Not bad - but I am an eternal optimist.

That's the spirit.

COMe ON, MoN RED AND WHITE ARMY!

YOU REDS!!!!

TOP 6!!!!

SA.

[Strawberry Avenger]

Is it possible? With the new additions?

Oh yes.

SA.

[PsychoStanleyStone]

The pele fella may be good - bonatini is decent. The centre half has been cover and was at Leicester: could it be that he knows Benalouane already so can slot in quickly? Then the Swedish chap who comes highly regarded and O’Neill has on trial at Celtic.
Not bad - but I am an eternal optimist.

Bonatini is an exceptionally shrewd signing, I think if we had paid £6m for him, many would be excited, but I prefer the loan, he has solid championship experience and PL as well, seems hungry and enthusiastic, scores and creates, looks a team player, only 24 great potential

I think there is always going to be question marks about players in the Jan transfer window

last Jan Colback and Lolley were the standout signings, but signing 10 was a huge vote of no confidence in the existing players, I think it showed

I think with all the loans out, it is great business for all the players involved, the players who are left like Yates and Appiah and the existing squad, feels more like a vote of confidence

There's only really Murphy and Carv who will feel threatened but Murph will be a true pro, Bonatini could offer some interesting variants up front

Looks like 2 monsters coming in at the back which we desperately need

Pele will have to be pretty good to get a regular run in the side, I hope he is

There was promise in the MW team and we beat a few, this season the AK squad was stronger, now we have strengthened again, I think we will win more than we lose, avoid draws and this is all we have to do

Looks damn good to me

[ac_vodka]

Happy with the business done yesterday we have strengthened the squad without making huge outlays or commitments.

My only concern is left back - not sure if Wague or Milosevic can cover that if required.

We resisted selling Osborne, shipped a few out and built bridges with County.

Is it enough for us to get back in the mix ? Possibly and certainly more likely with the additions then without.

[Strawberry Avenger]

Shrewd.

Exactly.

Not "sexy" but does that matter if it's right?

We could have possibly spent £12m on a striker, but if we felt Léo Bonatini offered us more then spending that £12m might have been more exciting, given more wow factor to the window, but would effectively be just wasting money for the sake of it.

If we felt there was no one worth spending £12m on then loaning a better option, while maybe not as headline worthy, would have been the right move.

The league isn't decided by how much money you spend, or by the x factor of your players, it's decided by the results your team gets on the pitch.

Spot on.  Substance over style.

I can see the thread of the three signings...to get attacks (and the team) going from end to end.

Forest needed another competitive '12 a season' striker with something different to what they have.  Got one.
Forest needed another 'General' in the middle of the park who can pass.  Got one.
Forest needed some quality at CH that can head, kick or pass it.  Got...two?

Strong, tall, solid players.  3 things Forest don't have enough of or at all.  Right along the spine of the side.

SA.  :cool:

[Strawberry Avenger]

The pele fella may be good - bonatini is decent. The centre half has been cover and was at Leicester: could it be that he knows Benalouane already so can slot in quickly? Then the Swedish chap who comes highly regarded and O’Neill has on trial at Celtic.
Not bad - but I am an eternal optimist.

Bonatini is an exceptionally shrewd signing, I think if we had paid £6m for him, many would be excited, but I prefer the loan, he has solid championship experience and PL as well, seems hungry and enthusiastic, scores and creates, looks a team player, only 24 great potential

I think there is always going to be question marks about players in the Jan transfer window

last Jan Colback and Lolley were the standout signings, but signing 10 was a huge vote of no confidence in the existing players, I think it showed

I think with all the loans out, it is great business for all the players involved, the players who are left like Yates and Appiah and the existing squad, feels more like a vote of confidence

There's only really Murphy and Carv who will feel threatened but Murph will be a true pro, Bonatini could offer some interesting variants up front

Looks like 2 monsters coming in at the back which we desperately need

Pele will have to be pretty good to get a regular run in the side, I hope he is

There was promise in the MW team and we beat a few, this season the AK squad was stronger, now we have strengthened again, I think we will win more than we lose, avoid draws and this is all we have to do

Looks damn good to me

Good post.  That's a pretty fair assessment of it.  That's 'all' this Jan' window had to be.  Strengthen and Forest did just that.  Forest aren't a top 6 side for a reason (or 3) and those reasons have been addressed.

I'd like to think the incoming players are worth the 4 points differential to the top 6.  (Had they and MoN been with us over the Christmas period...I'd privately wager Forest would be in the top 6.)

I think a lot of the top 6's squads were ahead of Forest's.  That gap has been closed sharply.

A lot of the top 6's fans would have groaned seeing Forest bringing in 3-4 solid players.  They'll be getting nervous at the business end of the season.  Forest have it all to play for.

Crucial we get the win at Birmingham to go with this Jan' window.

SA.

[Strawberry Avenger]

My only concern is left back

Agreed. We clearly tried, but sadly didn't get our preferred options at left back, which was a shame, but with the CB's it does give us Robinson back there.

Aye.  It does.  And we still have Os' to cover him.

It shows the new regime won't bring players in (other than creative accounting purposes...) just for the sake of it.  Any LB would have to be an upgrade on Robinson who is looking more like a steal as time goes on.

...and having him where he should be will bring Forest back into balance.

SA.

[Strawberry Avenger]

A lot of the top 6's fans would have groaned seeing Forest bringing in 3-4 solid players.

A Boro fans reaction to their window on Twitter last night

Look at Forest, O’Neill comes in just over a week ago. Makes 4 quality deadline day signings. We’ve had months to prepare for this and we do NOTHING. How is that possible?

Aye.  They've had their day in the sun with spending big money. Boro' are a good example.

For me, Boro's place (they've got our place but not for long) in the top 6 is by no means assured and that reaction to our business tells you that.  *Sniffs.  Yes.  That's teh smell of fear...

The form of the top 6 is ripe picking for a gate crasher.

SA.

[wassy04]

Yep as said above left back is the only issue for me. Going to have Osborn play at least two more games there when Robinson is banned (plus this weekend). If Robinson gets injured we’re a bit screwed. Let’s hope he doesn’t and Osborn playing doesn’t cost us too much.

[audiosmee]

don't know if its mentioned anywhere but Wague has also skippered Mali (according to his instagram) so maybe a bit more of the leadership we've lacked too

[Strawberry Avenger]

Can't Forest play the Swedish signings at LB or play tucked in narrow CHs should needs must?

(Has MoN played with 4 CHs across the back line in the past?)

I hope the 'free agent' Swedish player signs. It gives cover. Kind of the reverse of Robinson? He's a CH that can cover LB.

SA.