January 2014 Transfer Window Roundup

It’s been a glorious transfer window for Forest, used to maybe one insipid free transfer or a loan; we have strengthened with 5 new players coming in.

This is more than what we had targeted and coupled with keeping the existing squad together it has to be deemed a success. The only departure saw Miller return to Yeovil but he was peripheral at best anyway.

So what do we know about the new recruits and what will they bring? Here’s a round up

Hobbs

Jack Hobbs
In what was on-going on off saga we finally at the death got our man in Jack Hobbs. The central defender had been an ever present before he got injured, and was then recalled by Hull in an obvious attempt to force our hand to dip into the pockets and sign him. Under pressure from Reading, Wigan and Leicester Hobbs always said he was our favoured choice of destination.
We know of course that Hobbs is a strong central defender and this was somewhat illustrated versus Watford on Thursday night. We know exactly what we got with Jack, and that’s a quality central defender.

David Vaughan
We also know what we are getting with Vaughan, who completely changed our midfield for the better when he arrived. The interplay and balance provided by the 3 of him, Lansbury and Reid started a lot of what has been good lately. He made the deep lying midfielder role his own and shone for his initial loan period with the club. His signing will be vital for the promotion bid.

Danny Fox
Considering we have been after him at left back for a while signals our intent here. With Cohen injured and Harding form intermittent getting in a quality recognised left back with top level experience at Celtic is a major coup and will be help us no end defensively, and hopefully attacking wise too, with interchange down the left.

Djebbour

Rafik Djebbour
An interesting signing and rare one for a club to buying in relatively older players from abroad. Djebbour has come in for a cut price from what we were going to pay in the summer. He offers another option up front and must be an upgrade at least from the likes of Tudgay, Derbyshire and Henderson are aren’t players to push you to the Premier League. Apart from that I don’t want to base opinions on YouTube videos as I could make vids that make me look good. Be interesting to see how quickly he adapts

Gomis

Kevin Gomis
Being a loan it feels relatively pressure free. If he succeeds we can hopefully make it permanent like with Hobbs, if he fails, then it’s not financially cost us much (though what it could cost on a pitch is only one the future can answer) Gomis has top level experience in Ligue 1. Apart rom that I know nothing.

Pessimism, Forest and Twitter

It’s been an entertaining few days, if you like to subject yourself to the fluctuating moods of the average Forest fan on Twitter. It seems a great many seem to get too involved and can’t bring about any detachment from the on-going situation at the club.

Is this an indicator of a lack of something else to do in some people’s life? Possibly. Is it indicative of today’s world where with on-going 24 hours news and social media we have a great many potential sources of information at our disposal? Yes. And that a great many of the movers and shakers are contactable speaks volumes.

But I have spoken before about this. The nature of new media and its influences on fans expectations and the exchange of ideas and information instantly rather than previous forms mean we always want these answers. Plus we now have transfer windows which drive this kind of activity in a timed frenzy.

But what’s apparent is there is a great deal of pessimism at the core of many fans. And weirdly they seem to revel in it. It’s almost as if some fans can’t wait for a deal to collapse so they can tweet their disappointment or the usual array of told you so’s. There’s no patience and the simple skill of sitting it out and waiting for what happens.

Djebbour

The transfer of Rafik Djebbour has been a typical example since it came to light again this week. Because it’s been on the cards for so long and seems drawn out (international transfers often are) fans instead of waiting for the confirmation immediately start seeing some kind of dark arts at play.

Couple that with that transpired with Hobbs and you have a perfect storm of impatience. Hobbs as well know has left and we had a long piece on here on Friday all about it. The fact we said we’d sorted out a deal for most fans meant it was a done deal forgetting personal terms which it transpired were not agreed. Hobbs realised he could get more money elsewhere, and as any of us would do in our careers held out for more money.

SO it didn’t go through. So because of this example some now hold Fawaz accountable, despite him doing all he could save for smashing the wage structure and then all that involves with possible ramifications with other players inflating their worth.

So instead of seeing the positive that we could be about to sign another player elsewhere in another position, the wailing and the gnashing starts. Because clearly EVERY transfer will go the same way now, despite there not being much evidence. People will cite George Boyd of course but that became obvious there were other games being played there.

Why would Fawaz be “lying” again, would you not think he was chastened by his other experience and only tweet when sure. International clearance can take time (and contrary to other reports Djebbour does not need a work permit, he was born in Grenoble, France) and any smaller details of the deal have to be sorted between Olympiakos and Forest.

Why am I talking about this and pessimism? The following tweets and comments will best illustrate my point.

Olympiakos striker Kostas Mitroglou in talks with Fulham... Will they sell 2 strikers? Can see Djebbour deal falling through. #NFFC
— Lewis Smith (@lsmith_nffc84) January 28, 2014

Reckon Djebbour will be a flop, anyone else get the same feeling? #nffc
— VIVA DAN HARDING (@VivaDanHarding) January 28, 2014

im scared bc the djebbour signing has been officially confirmed yet and I cant trust fawaz' tweets after hobbs
— Charlie (@CharlieAC7) January 28, 2014

Djebbour still not 'signed', clearly not going through completely smooth
— Jake Travers (@traversnffc) January 28, 2014

Just a small sample. And although most of it isn'

t malicious there are seeds of doubt in peoples mind that for some people go from acorns to oaks in record time.

What is apparent is there is a heightened sense of entitlement amongst fans. It's not always healthy. I have no problem with ambition and desire. Where it goes wrong is when fans demand too much.

We will look further at fans demands and what people perceive in regards that in a couple of days.

The Top 10 Reasons why Djebbour Deal Collapsed

We all know the official line. He refused to take a medical. And maybe, just maybe it’s the truth. But that hasn’t stopped numerous tweeters, Facebook pages and forums from wildly speculating on a “real” reason.
By the way, I don’t believe any of this, I just thought it interesting to collate.

Rafik Djebbour

1. Forest tried to offer reduced wages
Forest have form apparently for this under the previous regime, with the infamous Mark Arthur and Wayne Routledge rumour. But this is one rumour doing the rounds, one of the stronger ones being retweeted. It’s feasible I guess, but sounds convenient.

2. Djebbour didn’t want to take medical as he knew he’d fail (1)
Apparently he knew he’d fail a strenuous medical. Quite how the hell anyone knows this beyond me. Someone cited previous knee injuries. Sounds bollocks.

3. Djebbour didn’t want to take medical as he knew he’d fail (2)
Apart from this being highly libellous I’m not saying this is true, merely relaying retardedness. It’s been claimed he’d fail because in almost a Rio style, he knew any sample would come up as negative drugs wise. Pure conjecture.

4. Something vague to do with Ramadan
He’s Muslim, Fawaz is Muslim. Must be something Muslim right? And Ramadan just started!!! That’s where this guys understanding of anything ends. (This guy is always off the scale stupid on Twitter, but I’ll protect him on this one)

5. Forest Backed Out
Like the George Boyd, we got itchy feet and pulled out at last minute citing something vague like this as excuse.

6. Djebbour got a better offer so refused to finish medical knowing it would collapse deal
Probably a winner. The word is thanks to all the Twitter blather other clubs got wind so contacted his agent with an offer gazumping us and sending Raffik on his way.

7. Broadmarsh Centre put him off
Purely in jest but the Broadmarsh is a shit-hole and it could scare someone off. Well its clearly not true, but slightly funny.

8. The Eyes, The Eyes
People can't resists a 20/20jibe can they, basically the old Boyd excuse rehashed.

9. He was never going to sign and used as leverage
In an attempt to lure other clubs out of the woodwork he stalled and took time on the medical, in almost the way Blackadder tried to stall the firing squad

10. There never was a deal
In the weirdest suggestion of the day it was suggested there was never a deal, he was never there and this is all rubbish. This also isn’t Dallas, and this wasn’t all a dream.