Midfield cover

[Edinblade]

Not sure if this has been discussed but if Fleck or Norwood are injured, suspended or lose form, who would come in?
When Coutts broke his leg we were seriously short of cover which nearly cost us dearly.

 

[Ricky]

Morrison and Freeman between them could cover Fleck and there's been talk of Ben Osborn.

Lundstram would currently be Norwood's cover.

We need someone who can compete with Norwood.

But I don't see us spending much money on this position.

 

[JackSUFC]

and there's been talk of Ben Osborn.

I know it’s never wise to make a judgement from other fans (e.g Brentford fans on Egan) but the Forest fans I know have wanted Osborn out their team for years. They don’t rate him at all.

I’d like us to get some serious competition for Norwood and Fleck though. How much would we have to pay to get Ryan Woods from Stoke, for example?

 

[Nicolaus_Copernicus]

I know it’s never wise to make a judgement from other fans (e.g Brentford fans on Egan) but the Forest fans I know have wanted Osborn out their team for years. They don’t rate him at all.

I’d like us to get some serious competition for Norwood and Fleck though. How much would we have to pay to get Ryan Woods from Stoke, for example?

£7m to £10m.

 

[Nicolaus_Copernicus]

Morrison and Freeman between them could cover Fleck and there's been talk of Ben Osborn.

Lundstram would currently be Norwood's cover.

We need someone who can compete with Norwood.

But I don't see us spending much money on this position.

Speaking generally......

That's the trouble, R. At the end of the season, people identified certain areas where the team needed strengthening and improving, and that need increased after we released our released list. It could also be argued that the need increased further by Villa getting promoted, and their spending spree. As Derby would've theoretically been closer to our level next season.

I think we all thought that we weren't going to go out and blow £200m, but I thought that we'd pick up a certain level of player. What's buggered things up is that since the transfer window has opened, prices & wages have gone berserk, and what was speculated to be a 'modest' budget and one which might not have filled all the squad gaps, now looks paper thin. That was perhaps brought home to me yesterday looking at the training photos from Portugal.

Players with the experience of Jack Stacey (£4m), Lloyd Kelly (£13m), James Justin (£8m) and Daniel James (£15m) have already distorted the market, and that before the quoted prices for Adam Webster (£30m) and Lewis Dunk (£40m).

I agree with your view about cover, but when you see pictures of Joel Lynch training with us, I'm not filled with confidence.

 

[Woodwardfan]

Hogg would fit the bill and earn a starting place.

 

[Woodwardfan]

Tin hat firmly fixed - I sincerely believe Louis Read and Ben Whiteman would be good value in a P.L. squad of 23/25 and by now would have come back from loans at other clubs with loads of 1st team playing time. Whiteman was Player of the Season at Donny who made the play-offs.

Bringing youngsters through is cost efficient and morale-boosting. Chelsea have learned their lessons it seems and the pressure of short term results happens at all levels.

Well find it hard to make up the numbers this summer.

Are they good enough? That's a matter of opinion but I reckon they would not let anybody down, indeed Read could flourish in the P.L. I'd love to see him playing with our current players.

 

[blade67]

Not sure if this has been discussed but if Fleck or Norwood are injured, suspended or lose form, who would come in?
When Coutts broke his leg we were seriously short of cover which nearly cost us dearly.

If we are signing a CM it should be with a mind to take the starting shirt off the current holder not to offer "cover".

Fer would be my favoured signing, as I think he'd give the other 2 a run for their money

 

[Silent Blade]

Tin hat firmly fixed - I sincerely believe Louis Read and Ben Whiteman would be good value in a P.L. squad of 23/25 and by now would have come back from loans at other clubs with loads of 1st team playing time. Whiteman was Player of the Season at Donny who made the play-offs.

Bringing youngsters through is cost efficient and morale-boosting. Chelsea have learned their lessons it seems and the pressure of short term results happens at all levels.

Well find it hard to make up the numbers this summer.

Are they good enough? That's a matter of opinion but I reckon they would not let anybody down, indeed Read could flourish in the P.L. I'd love to see him playing with our current players.

Who does Louis Read play for? Is he better than Louis Reed?

 

[Tunstall Fred]

Tin hat firmly fixed - I sincerely believe Louis Read and Ben Whiteman would be good value in a P.L. squad of 23/25 and by now would have come back from loans at other clubs with loads of 1st team playing time. Whiteman was Player of the Season at Donny who made the play-offs.

Bringing youngsters through is cost efficient and morale-boosting. Chelsea have learned their lessons it seems and the pressure of short term results happens at all levels.

Well find it hard to make up the numbers this summer.

Are they good enough? That's a matter of opinion but I reckon they would not let anybody down, indeed Read could flourish in the P.L. I'd love to see him playing with our current players.

Regan Slater is out in Portugal at the moment I think, he fits the criteria you mention about young players, as does Tyler Smith.

Whether they will make up the 25 or be shipped out on loan, who knows.

 

[Woodwardfan]

Who does Louis Read play for? Is he better than Louis Reed?

Could have sworn there was an 'A' in it. So long since I mentioned him!

 

[Woodwardfan]

Regan Slater is out in Portugal at the moment I think, he fits the criteria you mention about young players, as does Tyler Smith.

Whether they will make up the 25 or be shipped out on loan, who knows.

Bit early as yet.

 

[Tunstall Fred]

Bit early as yet.

You can never tell with young players, but if both have a good pre season and impress CWAK, who knows.

 

[Woodwardfan]

If we are signing a CM it should be with a mind to take the starting shirt off the current holder not to offer "cover".

Fer would be my favoured signing, as I think he'd give the other 2 a run for their money

Certainly agree any signing should be able to earn a regular place. Also think Norwood and Fleck need a harrier/ warrior alongside them at times.

Hogg and Celina would suit me.

 

[blade67]

Certainly agree any signing should be able to earn a regular place. Also think Norwood and Fleck need a harrier/ warrior alongside them at times.

Hogg and Celina would suit me.

It seen but his record seems the part.

Celina gave us loads of problems along with Get at Swansea. Only 4 weeks to go

 

[Bladeinleeds]

Imo whiteman would have been a valuable squad player to have around still. We’re unlikely to be able to find cheap cover with the same potential.

That said we do need a more defensive player for certain games next year - would t be opposed to us spending a chunk on someone there.

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

Jags was Player of the Season in midfield the season we last went up

 

[jt64]

Regan Slater is out in Portugal at the moment I think, he fits the criteria you mention about young players, as does Tyler Smith.

Whether they will make up the 25 or be shipped out on loan, who knows.

They wouldn't count towards the 25 in the first place

 

[Bergen Blade]

We're not great defensively with Norwood, Fleck and Duffy in midfield against teams who manage to dominate possession. We usually ask Duffy to drop a bit deeper in those situations, but when that's not enough we push Basham into midfield, switching to a diamond.

I can see this happen even more next season.

That's why Basham is vital. His versatility enables us to be very brave with our starting line ups, as we can change things around without making substitutions. We'd quite possibly have to play a more defensive minded midfielder from the off if that wasn't the case, certainly against the better teams/away.

I'll be very surprised if we don't sign someone who can give us the same versatility, as an injury to Basham would seriously restrict our options during games. A younger Jags would be perfect, but surely he's too old for a tenacious midfield role now?

 

[Woodwardfan]

You can never tell with young players, but if both have a good pre season and impress CWAK, who knows.

Like Nicky Law.

 

[HeCanDoMagic]

Leroy Fer would be ideal.

 

[pommpey]

Not sure if this has been discussed but if Fleck or Norwood are injured, suspended or lose form, who would come in?
When Coutts broke his leg we were seriously short of cover which nearly cost us dearly.

Awww. Stop worrying. Plenty of time and Wilder will sort it. I mean, when Coutts had his footballing ambitions savagely ended at Burton that night and we effectively shat our last in that season's promotion campaign, McCabe kindly told Wilder to go out and buy whoever he wanted to keep us going, as long as he was called 'John' and 'Lundstam'. The options and support were always there. Trust in Wilder. Besides, what's the chances of any of our players breaking a leg next season and it seriously affecting our Premier league status? It's never happened before, has it?

Chill.

pommpey

 

[Antonb]

Our midfield is a big concern to me. We atleast need to bring in a good defensive midfielder. who can run all day long.

 

[pommpey]

Our midfield is a big concern to me. We atleast need to bring in a good defensive midfielder. who can run all day long.

Like Monty.

He'll run, and run, and run. Couple of free kicks given away, few hospital challenges, the ball ricochetting of his shin pads and ball dribbling out of play needlessly, but gawd can he run.

"Run, Monty! Run!"

pommpey

 

[BigBed]

Push Bash up, insert Stears, that what usually happens isn't it?

 

[guancheblade]

Push Bash up, insert Jags, that what usually happens isn't it?

I've inserted the right insertion for ya

 

[BushBlade]

Tin hat firmly fixed - I sincerely believe Louis Read and Ben Whiteman would be good value in a P.L. squad of 23/25 and by now would have come back from loans at other clubs with loads of 1st team playing time. Whiteman was Player of the Season at Donny who made the play-offs.

Bringing youngsters through is cost efficient and morale-boosting. Chelsea have learned their lessons it seems and the pressure of short term results happens at all levels.

Well find it hard to make up the numbers this summer.

Are they good enough? That's a matter of opinion but I reckon they would not let anybody down, indeed Read could flourish in the P.L. I'd love to see him playing with our current players.

You may believe it but every young player is scouted as a matter of course by the big clubs. The idea that no one at a club like Spurs or Man City is aware of Whiteman and Reed is fanciful.

That no PL club has shown any interest in buying either of them indicates that, whilst you may think they’re good enough, no one who makes a living from the game, whose livelihood depends on them getting these kind of judgments right more than they get them wrong, concurs with your view.

 

[bonnet de douche]

Hogg in the squad would do nicely for me ....mainly away games

 

[Woodwardfan]

You may believe it but every young player is scouted as a matter of course by the big clubs. The idea that no one at a club like Spurs or Man City is aware of Whiteman and Reed is fanciful.

That no PL club has shown any interest in buying either of them indicates that, whilst you may think they’re good enough, no one who makes a living from the game, whose livelihood depends on them getting these kind of judgments right more than they get them wrong, concurs with your view.

Bush. My post mentioned SQUAD players. You know, nos. 20 to 24 in a squad. Great experience and the opportunity to step up when the chance arrives and indeed earn it in training. And b.t.w. I'm talking about us not Spurs or Man City.

 

[Groucho Blade]

We do need a couple of extra bodies in midfield. Perhaps someone who can challenge Fleck and Norwood now (unless that’s what Ravel Morrison will do!) and maybe one or two longer term prospects.

I’m surprised we didn’t go in for Rekeem Harper who was out of contract and available from West Brom. He’s signed a new contract now, so I guess we can’t have been interested.

Another option could be Tom Bayliss at Coventry who allegedly has a £3m release clause...got to be worth that and has got the potential to be a very good player.