Jack Robinson

[bostonred]

We would have the players to play 5,1,3,1 the same as England used if we need to change.

[Paplane]

I'm a bit surprised that Worrall is never mentioned as a starter. I believe we have 4 very good CBs as I do rate Fox as well. None of the other three CBs have the same range of passing as Foxy has. It will be interesting to see who Karanka will select on the opening day. That to me, is not a foregone conclusion.

Totally.

[GaribaldiRED]

Come to think of it, Fox is the only left-footed of the 4 which should make him the only natural left sided CB. Not sure how important this is for Karanka but definitely not irrelevant.

[Strawberry Avenger]

Forest have got some sound CHs and they haven't had to pay 7 million for them!

Who gets the nod at CH will be interesting. Dawson, certainly. The other..? The passionate (he goes nuts when a goal is conceded...) and experienced Fox 'reborn' at CH or the assured and svelte 'rookie' to the Championship, Fig'? Although having the young talent and 'Captain' heir apparent Worrall alongside Dawson invokes memories of Dawson himself alongside Des Walker!

Potentially mouth watering CH partnership...

SA.

[Duncan Mckenzie]

Anel Ahmedhodzic was also outstanding against Malaga, he can't be far away from being ready.

[Strawberry Avenger]

It said in the NEP that he was very composed at the back.

SA.

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Anel Ahmedhodzic was also outstanding against Malaga, he can't be far away from being ready.

Good to hear.  That adds to the depth at CH.

Terrific that up to 8 Academy products were involved in the trip to Spain.

Sounds like many of them are going to push hard for a Squad place soon enough.

SA.

[alans220]

I really hope we sign Sam Byram, that would complete the squad for me...

[Strawberry Avenger]

I really hope we sign Sam Byram, that would complete the squad for me...

Be great to get him.  We don't want to end up with a 'Shorey' situation but at RB.  Forest need competition there for squad depth and balance reasons.  A seasoned Championship performer (with Leeds no less...) who went for a fair fee to the Premier, Sam Byram could really add some bite to the team.  He'd be in good company in terms the quality.  All the signings have been quality so far.  Definitely need that at RB too.  

*(Quality fullbacks or the lack there of...have been part of the recent decline in Forest's fortunes as they've slipped down the table for the last 3 seasons and skirted with relegation danger.  Soft fullbacks who can't head, can't tackle, can't be in the right place, can't go forwards, who go awol or just plain old can't stop the cross.)

Fingers crossed this gets resolved soon enough.

But there's the DCM too.  And it looks like that question will be resolved by the end of this week.

To Colback?  Or not to Colback..?  That is the question...

SA.

[GaribaldiRED]

My only concern at the back is that we lack real pace. Neither of the CHs have any pace to talk about and only Darikwa has real pace of the senior FB (although Osborn is by no means slow and his acceleration is quite useful). So, my question is: do you think that this lack of pace at the back in combination with a slow DCM pairing (Watson, Colback, Bridcutt and Yates) could be a problem for us or will the experience of the older heads compensate and see us through?

[Mcforest]

That is a very interesting point and will be why I think AK will be looking at having 2 very disciplined DMC’s in place. Players who do not get excited about going forward and will hold back to make sure at the very least any counter attack has to go through two banks of players. The plan is to slow down the runs and let others get back support and with two banks it is harder for the other team to hit long balls in behind as the first bank can press sooner.

[GaribaldiRED]

Good point and in addition I believe that the front four will have to close down the opposition fast and press hard when we loose the ball (the all important transition phase going from attacking to defending). That was actual what pleased me most when I watched the streams from the two games we played in Spain. Highly encouraging to see that all the new "attacking" players worked hard at pressing and closing down. It's fine having a lot of flair players in the side but if they are not willing to work hard defensively then they really shouldn't play (to me, McKay was one that didn't really commit 100% to the defensive work). If we are able to maintain that type of work rate throughout the season then I believe we are more than half way there :-)

[Strawberry Avenger]

That is a very interesting point and will be why I think AK will be looking at having 2 very disciplined DMC’s in place. Players who do not get excited about going forward and will hold back to make sure at the very least any counter attack has to go through two banks of players.  The plan is to slow down the runs and let others get back support and with two banks it is harder for the other team to hit long balls in behind as the first bank can press sooner.

Sound points.

We'll be organisationally tight with the two DCMs.  They're the platform to let the attacking players hammer the opposition.

I think the 'pace' is likely to be channelled through the wingers, ACM and Strikers.  The pace can also come from 'the ball' through the vision and incisive qualities the Portuguese talent will bring to the table.  Just a single example, but look at the goal scored through individual brilliance in Spain.  The opposition will have a lot to worry about in a 'free' forward line (which Karanka has mentioned in the NEP that the forward line will not be rigid...) which will add unpredictability as to who to pick up in addition to all the above. Watching the Malaga game, I felt Forest were more spritely as a unit, pressing, incisive going forwards while patient and probing for weakness...and one of our players waltzes past what seemed like 3-5 players through their half to bury it past the keeper. Now, it's been a while since a Forest midfielder has done that.

It will be a 'shifting gears' form of attack.  Not necessarily out and out pace but far from the pedestrian team Forest had last year.  (Karanka mentioned that last year Forest didn't have the players to get behind the opposition.  So, clearly, the new attacking players were brought in to add that dimension to Forest's play as Forest were already on their way to being tougher to beat before said transfers this Summer.)

SA.

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Good point and in addition I believe that the front four will have to close down the opposition fast and press hard when we loose the ball (the all important transition phase going from attacking to defending). That was actual what pleased me most when I watched the streams from the two games we played in Spain. Highly encouraging to see that all the new "attacking" players worked hard at pressing and closing down. It's fine having a lot of flair players in the side but if they are not willing to work hard defensively then they really shouldn't play (to me, McKay was one that didn't really commit 100% to the defensive work). If we are able to maintain that type of work rate throughout the season then I believe we are more than half way there :-)

Exactly.  :cool: Karanka is giving the forward line the chance to express themselves (very tantalising preview of the 'new' team playing in Spain...) but also balancing that with defensive responsibilities. i.e. defending from the front. Good point about McKay being an example who didn't buy into it. ...and I guess with Karanka, you have to buy into it...or you're gone.

SA.

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My only concern at the back is that we lack real pace. Neither of the CHs have any pace to talk about and only Darikwa has real pace of the senior FB (although Osborn is by no means slow and his acceleration is quite useful). So, my question is: do you think that this lack of pace at the back in combination with a slow DCM pairing (Watson, Colback, Bridcutt and Yates) could be a problem for us or will the experience of the older heads compensate and see us through?

The forward line will take care of that, I think.  As long as the back are organised and tight.  They'll sit in two banks (we've seen so many teams do that to Forest and walk off with a result...) and be super hard to break down.

Darwikwa is quick of body, but it's sometimes quickness of mind that seems to let him down.  Physically, he's got all the attributes to be a terrific RB?

As for the rest of the back line, Fox compensates with experience as I'm sure Dawson's experience will.  Fig' seemed to have kept up with most Championship attacks and just about kept up with Bamford who gave him a torrid time.  (The first striker who seemed to do that to him...maybe Fig' was carrying a knock?)  Os', like you say is spritely enough.  As for Jack, don't know.  Well regarded at QPR.

Watson isn't the quickest.  Colback either.  But it depends on how progressive they are deployed as DCMs.  I think they'll just 'sit' and allow the front men to do it.  But there is the option of developing an extra CM runner in Colback in a progressive way to joint in with the attacking players.  Having him run up and down the pitch to attack and defend and have Watson as the primary holder of the two.

Primarily, the back line players and DCMS will be solid, they'll turn the ball around to the front men with some good triangle passing and the quality Portuguese will spring on with spellbinding wizardry?

Not slow.  Certainly not as pedestrian as last year.  The line between DCM and Forward line will be sudden shifting of gears which will catch the opposition off guard and hurt them.

The ball will do more of the 'pace' work with forward players who have enough pace and good, fast  footballing brains who can get behind the back line of the opposition.

SA.