Luke Freeman next season

[stringer]

Not having a recall clause on a loan seems moronic. Could this be a loan to buy? and if we recall, then we null the buy option? That would be the only thing that would make sense to me. I would rather a fat and out-of-shape Freeman than the current Norwood.

There’s an option to buy

 

[bakeblade]

I saw some clips of him for Forest at the weekend. Looks like he may have been enjoying the takeaways of Nottingham rather too much.

I'd suggest if he was not in Wilders plans this year and is another year older and has been really ineffective even at a lower level, we wont see him part of things. He only has a year left on his contract also.

Be very surprised if he plays for us again personally.

We need some legs and mobility in midfield. He offers neither.

It is a possibility we may move on him, Berge and Norwood (just a hunch even though he has 2 years left on his contract). With Lundstram going we could be left with just Fleck and Osborn in here. We need 2 or 3 in this area and is the one part if the team/squad that needs an overhaul for me.

He's always looked a bit 'chunky' though. I also watched him last Saturday and he seemed to be on the periphery of the game, He played the full 90 and is probably still getting up to speed after his op. I'd still like to see him back here for next season

 

[guancheblade]

I didn't realise it was a loan to buy, I'll keep my conspiracy theory parked in that case!

Doesn't need to be a loan to buy. If they are paying wages or a loan fee then they get him for the season as I understand it

 

[MalmoBlade]

My biggest fear is Lundstram says "ah feck it gaffer I'll sign after all" and Chris hands him a pen

 

[Houston_Blade]

Doesn't need to be a loan to buy. If they are paying wages or a loan fee then they get him for the season as I understand it

It’s down to us to stipulate if we want a recall clause though surely. Charge them half a loan fee, have a clause, if we don’t recall and they want to keep him they pay another loan fee.

I know the financial certainty of getting rid for the season disappears but we’d have had the option of not having to play McBurnie in midfield at least.

 

[BigBed]

Stick or twist?

A supreme talent in the Championship, who we might have ruined (again).
Do we give him another try next season?
We are crying out for a return of the infamous 10 role, and I can't think of many I'd prefer than pre 2020 Luke Freeman next year.
Well, I wouldn't have got rid of him this season but that's another story. Hindsight and all that (not that it's even hindsight, it was clearly fucking idiotic to get rid of our only creative midfield player and not replace him)

He impressed me most times he pulled on the shirt, was unlucky that the 3 in midfield worked so well and Fleck was in the form of his life.
Played really well at the beginning of the season and imo in the cup game at Reading (if I remember rightly) which is the level he'll be playing at next year.
His close control, dribbling and vision are at home at this level nevermind the one below. Does the rest of his game stack up? Fuck knows, barely got to see it. But I like him.
And if he plays for us he can't play against us - judging on the fact he always has a worldy against us that can only be a good thing.

Hasn't had the best time of it at Forest but then again no one has this year. And rare that attacking players shine for them at all for some reason.
Has he got too much flair and creativity for Wilder? He doesn't like players like that.

FWIW - 100% keep. Players like that are the type I like to pay to see, not your Lundstrams of this world. I'd keep him and sign another number 10 to compete with him. Really commit to the shape which has served us so well.
Freeman behind any 2 of McBurnie, Brewster, McGoldrick, Sharp, Burke should be more than enough to take the league by storm.
Unfortunately I feel the dreaded flat 3 will continue and we'll continue to bore teams to sleep down the wings then look to score 1 if we're lucky and sit on it.

Out of our hands, Forrest have the opportunity to sign him perm if they wish, CW said it's written into the loan agreement?

 

[ancientblade]

Out of our hands, Forrest have the opportunity to sign him perm if they wish, CW said it's written into the loan agreement?

well that tells me chris doesnt want him back although the deal was done at a time we were confident of staying in the premier league so maybe a rethink now were heading back to the championship

 

[wizadry]

My biggest fear is Lundstram says "ah feck it gaffer I'll sign after all" and Chris hands him a pen

That’s the main thing that I don’t want to happen too, that would really step us back.

 

[wizadry]

It’s alright asking should we keep him next season, will he be good enough or will Wilder play him, what about the player and person himself? Will he want to play for someone who has barely given him a game, fobbed him off and given Forest the chance to buy him?

It’s as clear as day Wilder doesn’t fancy him for next season as he barely played him the last time we were there and he’ll stick with the flat fucking three which is a real shame, I wouldn’t blame Freeman one bit for not wanting to play for us next season.

 

[Russ]

No sign of him in Forest team tonight or bench.

He played at the weekend.

Wonder if he’s on his way back.

 

[ancientblade]

It’s alright asking should we keep him next season, will he be good enough or will Wilder play him, what about the player and person himself? Will he want to play for someone who has barely given him a game, fobbed him off and given Forest the chance to buy him?

It’s as clear as day Wilder doesn’t fancy him for next season as he barely played him the last time we were there and he’ll stick with the flat fucking three which is a real shame, I wouldn’t blame Freeman one bit for not wanting to play for us next season.

cannot see us playing a flat 3 in the championship and if we do i for one will be very dissapointed its the last system i ever want to see us play again

 

[wizadry]

cannot see us playing a flat 3 in the championship and if we do i for one will be very dissapointed its the last system i ever want to see us play again

I can see us playing it but I obviously hope we don’t, Wilder thinks there’s fuck all wrong with the system so I just can’t see us changing it.

 

[ancientblade]

I can see us playing it but I obviously hope we don’t, Wilder thinks there’s fuck all wrong with the system so I just can’t see us changing it.

hope not i would like to see us go 433 but know theres not a cat in hells chance of chris playing it would love to see a front 3 of mcburnie brewster and burke none of em good enough for the premier league but think they could tear the championship apart given better service from midfield of course

 

[Sheff de party]

I first saw him play against us away at Stevenage. He was easily the best player on the pitch that day. I would have him back for next season.

Saw him for QPR against us in the promotion season and he was way too fast for any of our players. Terrified me on the way to our flukey 2-1 win.

 

[Guesty]

If Forest have a loan to buy, then even if they don't exercise it, surely it's a sign that he has no future here, otherwise why put it in?

 

[jono_t2000]

Was he actually being played as a no.10 do you know?

I looked at Forest's line up earlier in the season (albeit this was only one match that I looked at of theirs and my mind might be playing tricks on me too) but I'm sure he was fielded on either the left or right wing. If so, I think it is fair to give him some slack for this.

Yeah just had a look at last few games, they're playing him out of position on the left wing with Krovinovic playing the number 10 role behind Glenn Murray.

 

[Champagneblade]

I saw some clips of him for Forest at the weekend. Looks like he may have been enjoying the takeaways of Nottingham rather too much.

I'd suggest if he was not in Wilders plans this year and is another year older and has been really ineffective even at a lower level, we wont see him part of things. He only has a year left on his contract also.

Be very surprised if he plays for us again personally.

We need some legs and mobility in midfield. He offers neither.

It is a possibility we may move on him, Berge and Norwood (just a hunch even though he has 2 years left on his contract). With Lundstram going we could be left with just Fleck and Osborn in here. We need 2 or 3 in this area and is the one part if the team/squad that needs an overhaul for me.

My concern around him is his mobility.

You can make individual cases for players but as far as the midfield is concerned you have to look at the collective.

Norwood, Fleck, Freeman.

If the rules get changed lost season to 'no headers' and the pitches get truncated by 20% then we're in with a shout.

Whilst we expect to have more possession, we're still going to not have the ball around 45% of the time at a guess.

Who wins it back, who tracks the opposition runners, who closes down and harries?

Call me a negative ninny but that midfield looks defensively week. There is no height, no physicality and no athleticism.

You could say similar when it was Fleck, Norwood/Coutts and Duffy but the team has to evolve and we need to make decisions for the long term good of the clubm.

You could argue those three might play well enough and get us up there. But then when back up, we face the same issue. Either we need to rebuild the midfield entirely and lose any continuity that could be built or we end up amending the system to compensate, arguable at the expense of our attacking play.

So, unless Coulibaly starts getting his international chops and showing he is the answer, any midfield options should bring with them a fair degree of athleticism.

 

[Champagneblade]

hope not i would like to see us go 433 but know theres not a cat in hells chance of chris playing it would love to see a front 3 of mcburnie brewster and burke none of em good enough for the premier league but think they could tear the championship apart given better service from midfield of course

You say that but maybe the next iteration of the formation sees it evolve to become a 3-4-3? You just need the right partner for a fit and raring to go Fleck.

Maybe Freeman works better as a forward option, for instance:

Ramsdale(Foderingham)
Bash(new) Egan(new) JOC(Bryan)
Bogle(Baldock) Coulibaly(Norwood) Fleck(Osborn) RND(Lowe)
Burke(Brewster) Sharp(McBurnie) McGoldrick(Freeman)

Those not listed you end up moving on for various reasons.

Obviously midfield would need some injection as Coulibaly probably won't get a permit but you get my gist.

 

[bongleblade]

We loaned LF with an option, but im not sure why we are assuming forest will take us up on it? Maybe they had the option with a view towards promotion or even covid restrictions being lifted, or maybe they were hoping he’d become a key player. We wouldve asked for a fair chunk of money, at least 4m i would say... im just not sure forest will go for it in their predicament.

For what it’s worth, i am 100% in the get freezy back asap camp... baffled why he left and think it was a poor decision alongside not playing Bogle

 

[GreasyChipBeattie]

Was he actually being played as a no.10 do you know?

I looked at Forest's line up earlier in the season (albeit this was only one match that I looked at of theirs and my mind might be playing tricks on me too) but I'm sure he was fielded on either the left or right wing. If so, I think it is fair to give him some slack for this.

In his Stevenage days I think he started out as a LB/LWB but for the majority of his time in the Championship his more natural position has been as a no.10.

Not too sure mate, but don't think so.
With the previous manager it was all about possession football with little end product/poor finishing when chances came...should fit right back in then!

 

[Need4speed]

He needed a hernia operation, which was botched hence needed redoing while at Forest. Thing is you can play a bit with the problem but it hurts like hell I suspect that was the issue last season. It also explains the perception of a lack of mobility which was apparent at QPR. Whether he returns really depends on his relationship with Wilder Was he told to go and get a good season under his belt and come back stronger or was he told that we would help him find another club

 

[SelbyBlade]

I was impressed with him during his stint in the premier. The set up against Palace in our "first Premier League win of the season" including cutting inside their defender was excellent. However considering he used to track back well and put a foot in, there must be something about him that doesn't fit in with the group (Chris Wilder's most important requirement). Otherwise why would he let someone who can change a game leave?

Sheff Utd 1-0 Crystal Palace: John Lundstram gives Blades first Premier League win

John Lundstrams goal gave Sheffield United their first Premier League win since 2007 by beating Crystal Palace 1-0 at Bramall Lane.

www.skysports.com

 

[Working Class Hero]

My concern around him is his mobility.

You can make individual cases for players but as far as the midfield is concerned you have to look at the collective.

Norwood, Fleck, Freeman.

If the rules get changed lost season to 'no headers' and the pitches get truncated by 20% then we're in with a shout.

Whilst we expect to have more possession, we're still going to not have the ball around 45% of the time at a guess.

Who wins it back, who tracks the opposition runners, who closes down and harries?

Call me a negative ninny but that midfield looks defensively week. There is no height, no physicality and no athleticism.

You could say similar when it was Fleck, Norwood/Coutts and Duffy but the team has to evolve and we need to make decisions for the long term good of the clubm.

You could argue those three might play well enough and get us up there. But then when back up, we face the same issue. Either we need to rebuild the midfield entirely and lose any continuity that could be built or we end up amending the system to compensate, arguable at the expense of our attacking play.

So, unless Coulibaly starts getting his international chops and showing he is the answer, any midfield options should bring with them a fair degree of athleticism.

That's absolutely fine though isn't it? There are at least three transfer windows before we get back to the Premier League. We won't have the same midfield forever. For next season though, we need as many of the midfielders currently on our books as possible to be here at the club.

 

[Torrix1889]

Th

A quick search on the Forest board would suggest he's not the answer to our midfield problems. Plus, he's been out a couple of months with a complicated hernia op apparently.

^^This.....he's hardly pulled up any trees at Forest...(pun intended)

 

[Balham]

Recall option or not is a moot point as they can only be exercised in transfer windows. Freeman is at Forest until the end of the season then it's up to them if they want to pay £5m (stringer ?) to make it permanent (hint: I'd be amazed if they did).

 

[ancientblade]

the thing with luke freeman is that we loaned him to forest with a view to buy at the end of the season thinking that we would still be a premier league club and chris obviously didnt think he was up to this level but things have changed now were going back to the championship and chris may well feel he is good enough for this level which i do as well think he may be back

 

[MalmoBlade]

No sign of him in Forest team tonight or bench.

He played at the weekend.

Wonder if he’s on his way back.

Wife went into Labour mate so they let him miss the game

 

[Mouth of the South]

I'd be very surprised to see Freeman play for Utd again although assuming Forest won't take up their option to buy, his future may depend more on Utd's budget next season and who is in charge.

Tbh - I certainly wouldn't be opposed to having him as an option for the #10 role - after all there aren't currently many alternatives!

 

[jono_t2000]

He needed a hernia operation, which was botched hence needed redoing while at Forest. Thing is you can play a bit with the problem but it hurts like hell I suspect that was the issue last season. It also explains the perception of a lack of mobility which was apparent at QPR. Whether he returns really depends on his relationship with Wilder Was he told to go and get a good season under his belt and come back stronger or was he told that we would help him find another club

May be making this up, but didn't Norwoods mobility issues originally come from a botched hernia operation?

 

[Deadbat]

We loaned LF with an option, but im not sure why we are assuming forest will take us up on it? Maybe they had the option with a view towards promotion or even covid restrictions being lifted, or maybe they were hoping he’d become a key player. We wouldve asked for a fair chunk of money, at least 4m i would say... im just not sure forest will go for it in their predicament.

For what it’s worth, i am 100% in the get freezy back asap camp... baffled why he left and think it was a poor decision alongside not playing Bogle

If Forest have an option to buy and it is up to them, then as it stands there is no chance they will sign him or use funds. He has not been a regular under two managers, not been fit and made little to no impact and is not close to a regular. They will be glad to send him back.

Freeman is then at a crossroads as he simply has to get fit and come back in the best condition of his life - he cannot keep missing games due to lack of fitness/injuries.

For what it is worth I am not sure I see him being at the Lane next season - I can see him being loaned out again- maybe to QPR - to see out his final year of his contract.

Sadly cost a lot of money (granted not in Premier League terms) for very little return - maybe last season due to the form of others he could not get in but I did not see much even when he played (did ok v Palace at home but that was about it?) and you would have thought he would have really stood out at Forest but has not happened for him.