Transfer Rumour Roundup

Here is a roundup of the latest stuff doing the rounds… Ins and outs this time

Incoming

Graham

Danny Graham

Strong rumours are we are to sign Danny Graham from Sunderland currently on loan from Sunderland. Graham has had a tough couple of years in front of goal and Sunderland might think dropping a level will be able to instigate some form. Graham had better days with Watford and Swansea so has good form in the past and in the Championship. He would be a good signing, if allowed time to find his feet.

Chris Baird
Northern Irish defender who was on a short team deal with Reading which has expired. Due to injury Reading have delayed offering an extension. Therefore he is a free agent. What with a number of defensive injuries Davies might see him as more than adequate coverage in defence. It could mean Lascelles is off, but I think that unlikely.  Baird is versatile so can play in midfield and at all full back which would be of interest to Forest. For freebie he’d be a wonderful signing.

Bradley

Sonny Bradley
Sonny is a 22 year defender for Portsmouth who this week has been linked. He was released by Hull in the summer and has been playing in League Two for struggling Pompey this season. Being from the north (Hull) he may further a move from the south coast closer to home. To be honest I know nothing of this kid. It seems that maybe it’d been a lazy link, but it’s just so random as to surely have something in it, maybe a scout watched him.

Outgoing

Ishmael Miller
Following his loan at Yeovil it looks likely that the Glovers may well come back in for the big striker. Miller has only a short while left on his contract, but Yeovil surely can’t match what we are paying him (believed to be £16k a week) so it would possibly loan till the summer. At which point we don’t care as this waste of moneys contract will have expired.

Matt Derbyshire
Doncaster are being linked with the perennial sub. Derbyshire is getting quite a lot of action from the bench but like Miller he has high wages and an expiring deal. Should we get rid his wages might be able to fund 2/3 incoming players, or even a Premiership one. Despite that goal versus Leeds I would gladly see him move on. His time is up here.

Derbyshire

Karl Darlow
Being linked with a host of Premiership clubs, and supposedly going to be scouted by Liverpool this coming week. Darlow has been consistent, and we wouldn’t be willing to sell, BUT every player has his price and should a silly offer be received then we’d have to entertain it Also Darlow might lose his focus and have his head turned like Lee Camp formerly did.

Jamaal Lascelles

Lascelles

Like Darlow being linked with top flight clubs. Also rumoured to be getting scouted in upcoming weeks. Lascelles has been linked with the top flight for years (at same time as Bamford was) and could well be attract the interest of top clubs. Like Darlow we don’t need to sell but he might also have had his head turned or receive an offer of silly money. That said if we sell one we won’t sell the other.

Forest Facing Battle to Keep Crown Jewels

The downside to any team performing well and especially younger players playing well is that those prize assets will attract attention from bigger fish. Those bigger fish being namely Premiership clubs. Those prize assets being Jamaal Lascelles, Karl Darlow and Henri Lansbury. Yes there are other players playing well (namely Reid) but these 3 have youth on their side and therefore investment potential.

Jamaal Lascelles

There has been rumours for a short while about Lascelles and Darlow being scouted, and many top clubs will have known the potential Lansbury had for a while, and is now realising. The other part of this is that Lansbury game is adapting and evolving and making him more appealing.

The battle is whether we sell for reinvestment opportunities and strengthen the squad. Yes we have cash but we cannot simply ignore and flout Financial Fair Play. Similarly any player has a price, and if someone offers a silly one, and just a very good one would we snap their hands off?

Every player is replaceable, no-one isn't. Lascelles is performing well but by rights he shouldn't have ever had this chance to shine, which he hasn't grasp with both hands, but grappled it to the ground and pummelled into submission, he has taken it so well. He was of course very strongly linked with Arsenal a few years ago. At the start of this season he was being linked with League One loans, namely Cheltenham. Now that's a distant memory.

Karl Darlow

Darlow has grown into a fine keeper. The expectation is with a younger keeper is that there ill be a few errors in the game, stuff he learns to adapt and get better. Not Darlow, he has not really made too many glaring howlers or allowed some bad habits to creep into his game. Indeed he has kept Dorus de Vries as firmly his number 2.

Henri Lansbury when he arrived was regarded as more a creative attacking midfielder, or indeed a wide man. Through necessity and his own development he can now play that deeper role too, and has taken on the mantle of the no.10 shirt very well. This season started with him weighing in with a few more goals, and has now seen him putting in some excellent deeper lying midfielder role.

Henri Lansbury

Now the type of club is the type that many will immediately scoff are not a bigger club and why would they go there. But they are in the Premier League, the holy grail. It is unclear if we will make it this season even if we give it a good go. And for all the calls for Billy for the board to make investment and secure promotion anything could happen. Even Davies would admit every player has a price.

But you only need look at some teams established in the top flight for teams who held on to their top talent. Southampton being a prime example, who held on to top youngsters and are now reaping those rewards as those players improve with them. Lallana and Schneiderlein attracted lots of attention previously. They held, and now look at where they are.

Southampton are ironically one of the linked clubs, with Darlow, as they struggle to settle on a keeper to go forward. Sunderland, and Hull were linked earlier this season. Lascelles has been linked with Spurs amongst others, again Sunderland and Aston Villa. And Villa were also being linked with Lansbury not long ago, along side other mid table Premiership clubs.

We aren't alone. Derby young stars are similarly attracting interest. Will Hughes is a prime example. And would clubs do a Palace and sell now and then loan back, or just sell and reinvest? Or do well hold on and see what could be a peak price drop and lose for nothing, like with McGugan?

The Transfer Windows Coming!! The Transfer Windows Coming!!

And with it come the usual round up of bizarre rumours, the more likely stuff and just other chat. As usual we aren't reporting any of this as news, but merely collating from a number of online sources and looking at its likelihood and suchlike.

The Somewhat Believable

Jordan Rhodes

Jordan Rhodes

For me it just seems this one won't go away. Are we interested? Well who wouldn't be, he's a dangerous striker, and signing him would be as strong a signal we are wanting to u as any, but the money this would involve would be a risk. Add to that if he is available, well I'd expect Premiership clubs to come sniffing around. So one hand its feasible, but I could see us being gazumped. This rumour builds into the next one so we'll see how that if Blackburn sell Rhodes it will lead to them bidding for the next player, who we are also linked with.

Nakhi Wells

Nakhi Wells

23 year old Bermudan striker for Bradford hit the headlines nationwide last year as Bradford made their way to the League Cup final. His form has also continued an upward trajectory. He has been in the goals a lot this season for the Bantams, but we aren't the only club to be rumoured to be interested. He is sought after by many Championship clubs looking at promotion (including QPR) and we could get outbid again. If Blackburn let Rhodes go it is believed Wells is their top target, and they'd have a large chunk of cash in the pocket. So it will be interested to see this all pan out even if it's not us buying.

Lee Wallace

Lee Wallace

With Cohen out till the summer at least and with Harding not impressing there are a number of left backs being linked, amongst them Rangers left back Lee Wallace. Now I am not sure what the current state of finances is at Rangers and the fact he was highly sought after when he went there and vowed to help Rangers fight their way back up the League maybe complications. On paper he is playing in Scottish lower Leagues and should be easily obtained, but this isn't as simple as that as Rangers still hold an aura and some players loyalty. That said, would be a cracking signing, but can't help think someone has thought he's good and Scottish lower leagues, i'll link him. That said it seemed to come from National Press.

Leon Clarke

Clarke

Coventry striker Leon Clarke is on form this year. He's had a bit of a journeyman career up till now and at the age of 28 seems to have found his scoring boots. Or his level. I can't see the club thinking this is the solution to the problem with other younger options available, but with Coventry's ongoing financial troubles he may be obtainable, and we know what they did for McGoldricks career.



The Random Foreign Names Someone Found on Football Manager

Philipp Zulechner

Zulechner

Austrian striker playing for SV Grodig, he's been scoring a few for them in the Austrian Bundesliga, in which his club is the smallest team. I know nothing more about him or his team. £1.5 mill was mentioned.

Ronald Vargas
Plays for Anderlecht in Belgium after transferring from Club Brugge. Venezuelan attacking midfielder, can't see us chasing one of those with already plenty options in those roles. He'd also likely cost quite a bit. But nice try.


The Not Ever Going to Happen

Alfred Finnbogason

Finnbogason

So when your being chased by half a dozen big European clubs because your banging them in the Eredivisie in Holland, your next big move is always going to be second division in England isn;t it? Ahead of say Newcastle, Celtic or Roma, you know clubs who can afford the suggested £12 million fee. Not ever happening.

Nikica Jelavic
Maybe could happen on loan, but Jelavic isn't going to drop from Everton to our level. Plus Everton don;t have a million options up front so might want to hold on to. Unless they bring in someone else. Plus this came from someone saying their source worked in the Ticket Office. Why do people online think the shop staff and ticket ofice staff are privy to ALL transfer goings on.

Two Sides to Bakary Story

The Bakary Sako saga has been entertaining as it reached a close today with the new he won’t be leaving. What’s entertaining is the fall out on either side of the debate about this almost transfer.

Forest fans are aghast that a League One club is demanding such high fees for a player. This of course has its merits. It’s not like it'd be for a promising up and coming player either to embellish the fee. No he’s at his best right now. Wolves paid £3mill for him when as a Championship club entertaining notions of promotion to the Premier League, before plummeting through the Championship trap door. They apparently in the summer wanted to make a profit on him, which for me is a strange situation when they aren’t the same club with the same turnover as before. If the situation changes then surely the market rates do? Do I still think a house bought before the banking crisis is worth the same just because I think it is? No the market dictates value.

Wolves’ fans are suggesting we are stupid and mucking around and that if we really want him why not pay the price they are demanding or shut up. Which is a valid point if you just fail to ignore something called common sense.

Say I have an apple. It’ a very nice apple. Apples aren’t in season anymore and we wanted that apple at that time but decided not to pay the price for the apple. Apples have a value as does everything, and sometimes they go for more or less, but generally people what they think that apple is worth. The apple we wanted is now suddenly more expensive and they wanted an Orange in return for it too. Would you buy the apple? No. No-one would. It’s the same apple, nothing’s changed, just now they seem to think it is worth more because... well I’m not sure why.

It’s completely laughable and borderline retarded to say we clearly aren’t that rich if we are unwilling to spend a figure we deem too much for something. If you blindly just go and pay what a vendor demands for a price without first checking whether what you’re buying is worth it your stupid.

Wolves clearly think Sako is key to getting promote. And he must be if we want him, but a League One club valuing a player so highly? We aren’t poor because we refuse to pay too much for something. That’s such a stupid statement. I’m clearly poor because I’d refuse to pay £5 for a can of coke.

And now I get to frankly the most ridiculous part of this whole silly charade. Where each clubs fans start proclaiming each other’s clubs joke. Wolves fans (Wolves are in league One, that’s below the Championship) that they are better placed club for Sako and are a bigger club. That’s a kind of logic you don’t argue with, because the purveyor of it is as stupid as to not bother wasting your time on.

We aren’t blameless here of course. Forest fans have suggested Wolves are holding the player to ransom. Wolves of course don’t have to sell us Sako, as if a Premiership club came in for one of our boys (like with Guedioura) we’d cry foul of any low bids. Sako has a contract with Wolves. And if the boot was on other foot then we’d be demanding the club don’t sell. How it’d signal a lack of ambition.

Also all week when he looked like he was off Wolves fans were laughing, saying Sako is over rated and not worth that much. Now they keeping him, we were miserly and cheap and should go away and leave the best player ever to walk the earth alone.

Now I made the point that we laugh at Wolves fans saying Sako is better off there? I remember some Forest fans (and some who have claimed that comment is stupid) saying exactly the same thing when Guedioura went to Palace. What’s the difference here at the end of the day?

The problem for me is that Wolves fans are saying the player isn’t for sale, yet Wolves were clearly in negotiations with us about the right place. If he isn’t for sale then none of this would have happened. Clearly he is for sale, but bizarrely for a price that’s going up. In August he was available for around £3mill. Now it appears to be £5mill AND Jamie Paterson on loan (ha ha fucking ha) The West Midlands clearly is a hot bed for hilarity if that’s Sako’s worth. It isn’t. Not even slightly. Wolf’s board clearly thought we’d offer them the stupid money and they could run to the bank.

Sako isn’t worth that much. There are other players available for less money. The problem is will Wolves regret not taking this larger offer when they had the chance. It’s happened to us a few times, and you end meekly selling for cheaper later on.

The Loan Window Is Open....

And already there’s been a whole host of names chucked out there as potential signings from the ridiculous to the... well frankly less ridiculous.

Starting at the less ridiculous scale is Nathaniel Chalobah, of Chelsea and famously played on loan at Watford last year, often making a starring role. It is said by some on Twitter, and maybe I’m making that horrendous error of blindly believing people on Twitter, that he and Lansbury are good mates, which might help oil the cogs of this move. He would be the man for the now infamous DM role that might soon become the new left back hoodoo slot for Forest.

Also linked in that role is Lee Cattermole, though was by a source so completely unreliable as to instantly ignore it. For one he is injured, and furthermore is not the type of DM player Billy prefers. If he wants that battling busting player, we have Moussi, no the guy he wants needs to be able to play. Cattermole plays football so agricultural that he’d better turning up at Southwell for its annual ploughing contests.

Matty Fryatt is also getting linked again, this is believable, we want that striker and we were believed to be getting close on Deadline day. This is a distinct possibility, despite many fans protestations.

Owen Garvan has had his name chucked into a ring based entirely on the fact he was cut from Crystal Palace 25 man squad, somewhat ironically at the arrival of Guedioura. Whether this is someone merely adding up 2 and 2 and coming up with some random answer, or whether there’s anything to it, I have no idea. For one I’m not even sure what type of player he is, and whether he’d be able to take that deeper role, as the rest of the midfield is already secure.

Steven Dobbie, again like Garvan is out of the 25, and for the simple fact he gets promoted, people want him in, and to be honest, it’s as good a criteria as anything else, the record speaks for itself!!

Transfer Deadline Day : LIVE (ish) (UPDATED 20.30)

Ok so not live blogging or update upon update, but when I can and where I can I will try to follow the latest news going on with the deadline day madness, seeing as we’re still meant to be in for people.

Will Sako, Holt, Leadbitter, Vaz Te, or Morgan sign. Who will depart. We will follow the news today

9am: So here we go first update... David Nugent is being linked, as is Liam Bridcutt at Brighton. Some wag is suggesting Benteke might be coming, forgetting he has a new contract and frankly would be as likely as signing Messi or Ronaldo. There is nothing concrete in either direction yet. No departures really being rumoured, though Blackstocks name is being bandied around


10.30 Update
Well, the usual names are being chucked around, Nugent and Sako are getting the most tweets and the most likely sounding also. Few others being thrown in for good measure include Aaron Wilbraham, Luciano Becchio, and Josh McEachran. I can’t see any of those 3 being likely.

Still nothing concrete, still just guesswork.

As for outs, nothing there either. For all of how breathless I thought this might be, it’s all rather... well. Quiet. It’s not going to be one of those deadline days again is it?


12 Noon.
And it looks like Guy Moussi could be out the door. Rumoured to be £500k for the Frenchman, which would be a profit and not a bad bit of business. Sheffield Wednesday looks like his destination. Say what you like, on his day the man is a machine and will be missed, if not only for the behind the scenes stories. There isn;t anything official yet though.

Adlene Guedioura is now being linked with Crystal Palace according to Sky. Not a huge surprise because Davies has been rumoured to be unsure on the Algerian. However at the same time he was influential in bringing in Abdoun, and was being used to market the club in Kuwait. It may be he is used to finance a deal for the the type of ball carrying defensive midfielder Davies clearly wants. However the rumour is Palace are in talks about the possibility. It might have been a very short conversation.

Again nothing official.

On the subject of in’s no further updates or news has sprung up. Unless you count what certainly looks unlikely in a loan bid for Obi Mikel from Chelsea.


1330 Update
No updates on Moussi to Wednesday and Guedioura to Palace. They both remain seemingly on. Although apparently Bannan going to Palace might see their Guedioura interest ended, there is also apparent chatter Palace aren’t alone in terms of Premiership clubs eyeing Adlene.

On any players at the start of the day being mentioned as departures, well no news on Miller, Derbyshire, Blackstock, or Gillett being off.

It’s all rather quiet, save for spurts of conjecture with no real basis.

This is all going to be rather anti climatic isn’t it?

Oh and if I see one more bloody eye joke I might scream.


1600 Update
In an attempt to at least have something salient, I tried leaving it an extra hour. Remember what I said about periods of quiet punctuated with a flurry of mental activity, well....

Liam Bridcutt has started to be wildly linked after a passing mention on Twitter this morning, this has either started to spread like wildfire with little basis, or there is some substance to this. Paul Taylor felt the need to mention on it, that in the absence of a Leadbitter deal it may be plan B. A plan B which would likely be expensive, and I really can’t see one of last seasons top teams selling a vital player. That said, you never know. Brighton have supposedly said he isn't for sale.

Adlene is still being linked with Palace, though after a few hours now the furore has settled. It also doesn’t seem to have moved on anywhere. So it’s still a little unclear. I’d argue the longer these go on without something more concrete that they might have been sheer speculation, but a lot of these rumours slow burn all day and if he was en route to Croydon, well that’s not an quick and easy journey to make.

Stephen McLaughlin is going out on loan to Bristol city, where he joins up with ex Forest boss Sean O’Driscoll. The exposure to regular first team football will surely show whether he will be able to make the step up, and have a huge impact on his future so he has a lot to prove. A lot of hopefully motivating factors for the Irishman.

And now Matty Fryatt is being strongly linked by Sky. Forest apparently with a loan move for the striker. The average reaction on twitter is one of indifference bordering on disappointment. This is before a player is even signed and pulls on a shirt. These same people also usually say trust in Fawaz or Trust in Billy, yet now are complete armchair managers. Anyway, he looks like being the latest solution to the striker issue.


20.30 Update
All very quiet. Doesn't look like anything happening. Not even confirmation of the supposed Moussi and McLaughlin deals. Same old Deadline Day Forest.Thing is we really don't need much anyway. What we have is good enough to be up there.

Latest Round of Transfer Gossip

Several new names have been linked and connected with Forest as we begin to approach the end of the transfer window. The fact it has been said we feel we need 3 more players, and are in the market for some has sent tongues wagging as to who they may well be. Here is a roundup of the names linked.

Gabriel Tamas
29 year old and 6’2 central defender Gabriel Tamas, a Romanian international has been linked. The West Brom defender has been linked with moves away from the Hawthorns all summer but has constantly distanced himself from such rumours. Now the window is coming to a close maybe that could change. Tamas is somewhat a controversial figure, he was banned from the Romanian team for a short while after being caught out drinking with Adrian Mutu before a game in 2011. If we are in for him it would signal the definite end of the chase for Wes Morgan.

Bakary Sako
A name previously mentioned there were strong hints today we were in for him. What would be another left sided midfielder, though more attacking than some, he is currently at Wolves, for whom he was a big purchase last season following relegation from the Premier League and was meant to help fire them back up. Now in league One after their successive relegations Sako would be surely be keen for a way out of playing in the third tier. He is both eligible for France and Mali at international football.

Grant Leadbitter
Another rumour that won’t die is Grant Leadbitter despite a number of bids being turned down, it seems we may just go in with a high offer as Billy see’s him as integral to our plans. Guedioura is not the man Billy wants in the hole in front of defence and would like a more McKenna esque, ball shielding, water carrier type role player. Leadbitter is his man for this. Whether this goes through is another matter. Boro have made it clear they don’t want to sell, and the indication is they don’t need to, but every player has his price right?

Jason Holt
Same old names all summer, which shows either the WUM ITK accounts are nothing but consistent or there is actual truth. After low offers for the Hearts midfielder were turned down (it appears we were testing just how impoverished the Scottish side are) we may go back with a more realistic market valuation of the player, rather than a hoping to pinch on the cheap. Hearst have clearly played this game well, holding out for a good price for one of their sought after players, rather taking the money and running.

Shane Long
It what appears to be lazy journalism we have been linked with West Brom striker Shane Long, who started last season very well. West Brom have just signed Anelka and Vydra who might take a more prominent role, but that forgets that Odemwingie and Lukaku have both been removed from that pecking order, meaning surely there is a role for Long, as even with Anelka, he is getting on and won’t play as often. I can’t see this one happening, Long has something to offer at the top flight, and his wages would be inflated. However, he has one year left of his deal, and Forest might see this as a potential cut price transfer.

The Incessant Chase of Wes Morgan

Forest seem quite intent on purchasing Wes Morgan from Leicester City, with the various offers we have made. It was previously rumoured this week that he had put in a transfer request, but anyone monitoring the internet this week will have seen an influx of fake persona’s claiming to have club connections.



Wes in his Forest days



Morgan’s signing; primarily about playing reasons has wider reasons too. For one it’s righting what many see as a wrong. Morgan left because we were in trouble, his contract was up, and having been the longest serving stalwart and lynchpin was unhappy new players had been bought in on triple his wages. We looked doomed.

Things have changed. We look a better prospect now, more secure, not struggling in the League, and with Billy Davies back at the helm.

So maybe things are right for the return of Wes. The thing is it would also represent something of a coup. Not only is he a local rival’s club captain, but a promotion chasing ambitious local rival. That and the club legend element make this something more than a central defence signing.

Now, we signed Jack Hobbs last night, it might cool our interest. Every player has his price, true, but every club has its limit, and sometimes you just have to admit a deal isn’t worth it. We supposedly offered £2mill for Wes, and have balked at going higher. The thing is he apparently has a year left on his deal and it might be prudent of Leicester to get a decent fee whilst they can, exactly like we did when we sold him to them.

If Morgan wants to come all the better. But where would this leave Collins, and more importantly for me Lascelles. It would put them further down the pecking order, which is Collins case, fair enough, he’s been here a year, he occasionally struggled. But Lascelles has often been touted as the future. When will that be realised? If he keeps being benched or even forgotten what’s to keep him here? We might lose a great prospect because of immediate gains over weighing a long term plan. Don’t get me wrong I understand the reasons, just wonder where it leaves us.

If Wes does come back, well, welcome back, but remember that he was occasionally error prone. Megson nearly finished Wes, under him he made errors. That part of his game was never eradicated but was improved. So we really pay over the odds for a player that yes is good, but is he worth as much as that. We could put that cash elsewhere.

Even so, the pursuit of him is interesting. When the al-Hasawi's took over I said a good move would be bringing in an old legend, and they did with Jenas. That tactic seems to be continuing with Wes.

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.

Twitter and the Rise of the ITK

Some of you, I am aware, may not be on Twitter or forums, and may not therefore know what an ITK is. Basically it’s someone claiming to be In the Know. If someone needs to claim to ITK, chances are they aren’t. Much like most things in life, those that protest too much are often doing so for a reason.

There is a proliferation of accounts pertaining to be a journalist, or a Consultant to a Sports Management company, or even agents, such wonderfully vague descriptions. The journalists claim to work for a website which will be no more than a trumped up blog site. I could easily therefore claim myself to be a journalist, but that would be silly, I am far from it. But an out of work 21 year old with nothing better to do, well yeah he might claim it, to give himself a little self worth. A Consultant for a Sports Management company is such a wonderfully vague and hard to corroborate title that they might be. They might have been consulted once, many months ago, about something else, so it adds credence to the title. And as for football agent, well yeah, there’s a reason they never say who they are, as that info can be checked on UEFA’s approved list.

So already there we have this rise of accounts claiming to be spilling amazing cutting edge knowledge no-one else does. That’s because they chuck that much crap at a wall, some of it is bound to stick. If I speculate enough that a “striker” is signing and that mention he scored x goals in a European division, it sounds wonderfully cryptic and that I am giving you enough info to guess. Instead it’s enough rope to hang yourself, as it’s just so none specific as to be ridiculous. When something does happen they point to the fact “Well I got that right.”

If you look at any vague none specific prediction you might look right. Astrologers have made careers out of it, Nostradamus is famous for it, but if you actually looked closely at strike rates it’ll be low, until you start moulding that information to suit the means end.

So the news yesterday that we were after 3 players sent these accounts into an orgy of speculation. This then fuels the more hot headed on Twitter and forums into wildly speculating if so and so are the signing. This is the reason these guys do it. Attention. It’s a sad world we live in where by these people are so craving attention and followers that they have to lie. Last year it would be fake accounts, or parody’s. Apart from very clever ones these got tired quickly and are seldom seen (not that it’s currently stopping some) S now it’s all about appearing to have knowledge,
But we have reached a point I believe now where we have become drained and bored of these that even their time is passing. The first few were believed, the next few were taken with a pinch of salt, and the current crop are scorned and disliked. Seen for the ridiculousness of their very enterprise.
That’s the nature of the transfer window though. It breeds such a quick fire burst of activity that it launches everyone into wild speculation. The immediacy of news these days and the rise of 24 hour Sky Sports News means we are so desperate to have our appetites for this sort of thing to be filled. Coupled with at Forest the presence of Fawaz and family and advisers on Twitter it fosters a whole host of new speculation. It’s a frenzy we never saw under Doughty.

But it’s almost unhealthy. Those who are gullible are then laughed at and it creates hostility. Then there are fans that get angry we haven’t signed someone we were rumoured to be in for. But it was only a rumour. People can’t seem to see the distinction between a rumour and the truth. “Why haven’t we signed x player yet” some may ask... Well the truth might be we were never in for them, or that they couldn’t agree a deal.

I like Twitter as a medium for finding the news and interacting, but by gods it can be a frustrating place in transfer windows. I will never understand fans tweeting at a player asking if he’s going to sign (as if that would ever happen) or demanding the chairman sign his suggestion. People then get angry we might sign someone from a Champions League qualified team, and not Billy Sharp. It’s not your bloody choice pal. It’s down to Fawaz and Billy. Leave them be to get on with business. You’re not helping.

Latest Transfer Gossip - July 2nd

Ok following on from the first actual cash purchase of the season, following the freebie signings of Lichaj and Jara, there are numerous other rumours floating around out there.




Charlie Austin
The rumour that won’t die would involve us breaking the transfer record. This would do 2 things. Surely this prove once and for all we do have money. Secondly it would also surely break FFP. Furthermore with his scoring record and the fee’s mentioned you’d expect lower Premiership clubs to taking a look at the Burnley striker. For all these reasons I remain a sceptic on this happening. As I said it’d be a message to everyone we mean business, akin to Blackburns signing of Jordan Rhodes last season, BUT I just can’t see it. It’d be a wonderful signing though.


Gary Hooper
This is just fantasy land but some wags yesterday kept saying he was having a medical. His fee would be excessive, he plays Champions League Football with Celtic, and would more suit someone like Norwich or Hull in the Premier League, but people still think it’s a possibility. It isn’t. I’ll eat any of my large array of hats if it happens.


Wes Morgan
In what would be a popular move the club reportedly want Wes. Leicester don’t want to sell. There’s an inpass before you begin, and that’s even if Wes wants to move. It’s not like he’s going to be homesick playing for a team in the next town over, and he’s their club captain. People seem to think that once Red, then they will always walk back home, but the truth is Wes is an integral part of what Leicester are doing, can you see them sacrificing that to a rival? No. It’d be nice, and I can see it, but for what we’d pay there are better options, than paying a premium to prove a point.


Dorus de Vries
This one has popped up today that we want to increase our keeping options with the Dutchman, now released from Wolves after their relegation. It would ease pressure on the youngster Evtimov should he need to step up, but where it would leave al-Rashidi and Darlow, I am unsure. He was deputy to Hennessey at Wolves, and I’d think we seem him as experienced cover for Darlow, whereas al-Rashidi is purely a back up option. It’d provide increased competition too. Darlow is a young keeper, he will go through a bad patch at some stage and will need an old head in that period to help him psychologically and perhaps as a means for a break.

The Art of Good Rumour Mongering

The announcement by Forest we had agreed a deal for a player who would sign in the next 14 days has set minds flying with who it could be. What it starts is a wave of people “in the know”, who claim that they have sources or suchlike and know all the precise dealings of the club. And now with the transfer window cranking into life it’s started all of this cycle off in earnest. There are many rumours that have been out there in the last few days and in previous transfer windows so are frankly so ridiculous as to be pointless.

Let me give you an example. 7-8 years ago in a previous incarnation of this site, me and a co writer decided we needed an attention grabbing article. This is before the days where I regarded quality as way above quantity. We scoured the few forum and rumour sites that existed back then, and went with a plausible rumour. Marcus Bent, we needed a striker, he was out of favour, and it looked possible. So we suggested it was. It went crazy. We got more than hits than ever for anything, the rumour started doing the rounds of more reputable sites and the club even issued a disclaimer stating that it was false. This is before Twitter, before Facebook, we relied on NewsNow, but it clearly got onto forums. The thing is there was never any truth to it. So that’s how easy it is to something out there as “news.” Now we have social media to fan these flames.

At Christmas time or so we were oddly linked with Joe Cole on a loan deal before he re joined West Ham. People genuinely believed this could happen, and it starts because a wave of people of people on Twitter or Facebook blindly believe whatever they are told from any old source without questioning it.

Then there are the people who try to qualify their rumours by claiming to have a friend or relative who works at the club and “knows.” I am unsure why they think shop staff or ticket shop staff knows the entire transfer dealings of the club. For a start a lot of business these days is done out of Wilford Lane rather than the club itself.

I do enjoy the folk who say I’ve just been in West Bridgford Tesco and saw X player in there; he must be signing for the club. This one’s always bizarre. Or their estate agent friend has a new client who turns out to be so and so player. The type of rumour that can’t be qualified by anyone at all.

These are lazy attempts. They usually try and qualify it by putting “#fact” after it or suchlike like them putting that at the end almost makes it unquestionable. It’s an adult equivalent of writing I.D.S.T. (if you don’t know what it means I pity your childhood) on a pencil case at school about some spurious rumour or teenage love affair.

And why people decide that they have to know now bothers me. This never happened in the pre- Social media era, we’d have to sit and wait, and be glad when Ceefax or Teletext told you in the news we’d signed someone. Or phoning up the Teamtalk or Clubcall Premium rate numbers for inane gossip.

Because it’s easier to put a rumour out there and to a vast source of people it gets people starved of attention to start getting that attention. People just chuck any old name out there and someone will believe it. This gets worse from July, as the season approaches people are excited, but then also the kids are off school, and have nothing better it seems than to spend all day on twitter blathering on about how we should have been in for player Y who went to a Premiership club, or that they really rate player Z as he is good on FIFA, not seeing the blurs between reality and fiction, and not also guessing that this player really actually doesn’t fit with the managers plans, never mind would want to come to the club in the first place.

A breed of rumour monger just seems to be getting lazier, and just links us with any player being released in the Premier League, or hell even a player transfer listed, never mind if its top bracket club, so therefore would move down the Premiership if not abroad, and would also want a very level of wage. It is just sloppiness in the extreme. (This week I saw Denilson of Arsenal mentioned)

The current name doing the rounds is Raheem Sterling. This kid was starting games for one of the top Premiership clubs last season. He would be ripe for a long loan to a lower Premiership club, a Fulham, Norwich, Southampton. Not Forest. There is just a complete leap between faith and reality where common sense is missed out. Does it seem too good to be true? Well therefore it probably is.

I tend to stick to linking to a collection of linked names and comment on what I feel the validity of these stories are. I think if we did a roundup of those transfer round ups less than 10% of those names actually ever sign because the vast majority are fairly out the blue.

Also people suggesting we should sign this or that player should remember contrary to what they think they don’t in fact know more than Billy, or the scouting staff. They will know that player already, but will either know he’s not right for the club, not available, not suited or suchlike. So you thinking you’ve unearthed a diamond and can’t understand the clubs lack of action is ridiculous.

The #ITK accounts are tiresome though. As if a football agent will sit there tweeting football deals going down. He’ll be actually doing deals, or trying to scupper deals. Anyone who has read the Secret Footballer will have a better idea of the vagaries of this art. An agent being overt in suggesting deals are going ahead isn’t going to be very successful, so ergo is unreliable as a source of gossip.

Anyone who claims to have an inside source is lying, as the club would have long identified likely sources of rumours. Remember these could well scupper a deal, letting others know a deal is being done or that the player in question might be open to claiming to the club.

So in essence, whatever you see out there as fact, unless from a recognised national paper reporting on us, it’s all lies. Even then with the likes of John Percy it’s probably still lies. As many now say on Twitter. Don’t believe it till Fawaz tweets it.

Could We Be About to Sign a Winger?

I have seen very strong rumours this morning, and been told by a source who has been right in the past (and i stress that, this may be wrong) that we are poised to sign Shrewsbury winger Jon Taylor. I don’t usually blindly say this and that is going to happen as I have been stung before on rumours that come to me, and leave myself to commenting on other rumours, rather than making them. It’s out there that we’re after him, but I have been told this is all but a done deal.


I will confess at this stage that I know next to nothing about this guy, in fact when told of the rumour I knew so little i had to go away and Wiki the player in questions.

Here’s what we do know.

Taylor of Shrewsbury

20 year old winger for Shrewsbury, after being released by Wigan as a youngster. Born in Liverpool, and is 5’11, which isn’t a terrible height for a winger. Now which side exactly the numerous sites I have checked are unclear, so you have to start assume right sidedness, but that’s a guess. The fact no site singles out which side suggests he’s comfortable on both wings (most wingers are these days) He also gets a few goals. Wingers are EXACTLY what we need.

It’s exactly the type of player I suggested in the FFP post the other day we should get. Young up and coming, wages will be less, and potential future profits if he’s a star have to be considered (all part of the great FFP picture) That and I believe they are hungrier than a player on fat wages moving down the leagues, who feel they have nothing to prove anymore.

Leicester are being linked, as well as numerous other Championship clubs being suggested to be sniffing around. Palace are waiting to see where they end up, Millwall fans seem to want him though they aren’t going to be signing anyone till they get a new manager.

All in all it’s good even to be linked with these players, and if it comes off, all the better. We need to focus on these up and coming players which have been an area of transfer success for other clubs, whilst us signing Prem has beens isn’t working and never has.

No idea what this would cost. Not huge amounts. Even if he is out of contract there will be compensation due as he is only 20. It seems he might be looking at moving on as previously they fought tooth and nail to keep him last year and after a good season he wants to try his hand at the next level up.

If it doesn;t happen then I apologise. This is why I don’t like to go with this stuff (especially after the whole Bader thing) But it’s quiet and I needed something to write. This looks likely in my own personal opinion.

Potential Transfer Targets

I usually hold off a little longer, but with the end of the season comes people immediately chucking names round with reckless abandon. The most common names people suggest are those from the Championship relegated teams. Bristol City and Wolves squads having numerous potential signings. I’d mention Peterborough too, but somehow I don’t think they’ll want to do business with us anymore.

Christophe Berra

Christophe Berra
The big commanding Scottish defender is actually available on a free, his contract is expiring. Berra has played in the top flights of both Scotland (who hasn’t) and England with Wolves. An aerial big strong presence he could be used in an instead of Elliot Ward (who if you believe the rumours, Davies has said he won’t be signing, mind you the rumour also mentions health spa’s) I personally like Berra, we may have to act fast as his ex Wolves boss Mick McCarthy is wanting him at Ipswich (and maybe to replace Chambers) Rangers too were sniffing round but apparently can’t his wages, what with being lower league Scotland now. Whether it happens is another matter. It’s more a theoretical signing and an illustration of what’s out there.



Richard Foster
Scottish international, although limited caps wise, and only has a short term left on his Bristol City contract he is versatile. However in the same Halford is do we need multiple versatile defenders. That said versatility is a bonus and to have someone else who can fill in anywhere at the back on in midfield would be handy if he was available. However, this is only a player I’d look to sign on a cut price deal, rather than seeking out. May not be as expensive as some wages wise, and is relatively experienced.

Albert Adomah

Albert Adomah
A former target anyway, the pacey right winger (and what have we all said we’ve needed since McCleary left) might see his future away from League One. What kind of fee he commands is another matter. He has two years left on his contract. Now fees may not be an issue for Fawaz, and he is what we are crying out for a player of his ilk will be in demand. He has two years left on his deal so won’t be on the cheap, like some we may mention who have 1 left on deals. A bid in the region to test Bristol City’s financial resolve and to see if Adomah starts agitating for a move might be clever. Possibly rising to as much as £1-1.2 mill, no higher, as there are other choices out there. But certainly one to consider.


Greg Cunningham
Its funny the amount of ex targets are on this list. Cunningham of course spent a good proportion of last season at left back, and though he took a while to settle by the end of his stint he was doing enough to have a few fans wanting him signing up. Now he does have an extended contract with Bristol City, but again, we could seek to take him off them, or he might want to go, especially as he knows our club. Oh and he’s a left back. We know all about them. No, we don’t, we don’t ever have one. Not even Dan Harding.

Tom Heaton

Tom Heaton
The fact he came through Manchester Uniteds system and was around there for a while and the fact he has England U21 call ups alone; Heaton has an ok pedigree at this level. Apart from his time with Bristol City, with whom he signed a one year deal with the option of a second (that I’m not sure is/has being taken) means he may be available free or even cut price. Now I’m not saying Darlow isn’t good enough, but he’s a young keeper, and they will have a dip in form. Al-Rashidi and Evtimov are complete unknowns in a first team context. Billy also may well simply fancy another man between the sticks, not that Heaton has to be him, as I said this is just looking what the relegated teams have to potentially offer. Could be good competition for Darlow.


Adam Hammill
Another of those names of players we chased before but never got is Adam Hammill. He went from Barnsley to Wolves when we were after him, and to be fair back then Wolves were in the big time. Now after they have dropped through two divisions he might well be re-evaluating those options. Likely is as well as a player signed in the top flight and now being a League One club the club might seek to offload him. Hammill is still relatively young; the right side of 25, and is as we said with Adomah that tricky winger we are crying out for. But, and it’s a big but, Hammill was done for assault outside a Liverpool nightclub last October. Do we want this type of player at the club? If anything happened again would we be stuck with a Marlon King?

Sylvan Ebanks-Blake

Sylvan Ebanks-Blake
Back to Wolves again and fairly established striker certainly at this level is United youngster Ebanks-Blake. He’s one of those players who will have barren patches that make you think his good years were flashes in a pan, but then he’ll come good again. At 27, he also isn’t too old to take a punt on, and he is a physical presence like we had with Marlon. The chances of taking him are good. He’s been at Wolves a long time, and might have wanted a move anyway, but with their drop and former top flight experience you have to think he’s certainly worth an enquiry. He is currently recovering from a long term injury though.

Bakary Sako
Like a pacey Andy Reid, this guy is a left sided midfielder with a left foot that could be a wand. He can certainly strike a ball and has been a rare high point in Wolves season. He looked against us at the City ground. But players of his type are mercurial talents. Can he do it across a whole season? I’ve only seen him in patches this season, and like a Taarabt or so he could be more of a hindrance on a field when not performing. I wouldn’t imagine he’d be cheap either.


Notable Mentions:

George Elokobi – just back from long term injury, so too risky fitness wise

Kevin Doyle- Would surely want too much money and a top flight move

Stephen Hunt – Talented but also trouble. Also how many slightly chubby Irish players do we want?

Stephen Ward – Linked previously, not convinced

Paul Anderson – You had your chance here, jog on.

What a Difference a Day Makes.

Where to Start


It was wisely once sung in a song “What a difference a day makes, 24 little hours” and nothing can be truer here. This time yesterday there was optimism. There was hope. There was a general good feeling about what would unfold. We were in for 3-4 players, and yeah maybe we wouldn’t get them all, but we’d have a good go.

Well, how did that go eh? Not very well at all might be an understatement.

It’s interesting that for a guy who barely played for the club that George Boyd has had such an impact. This has mainly been off the field. A key wedge between board and Davies was the type of signing Boyd represented. Signings being foisted upon him. Now he has an impact in a way I don’t think many of us could have foreseen.

The question of his eyesight is neither here or there. It’s ridiculous that we’d question his eyesight as a factor. He clearly has been fine thus far in his career, and save for an impending meltdown in his eyes then I can’t see it being a huge factor. But a huge new wedge between a new board and a new manager has been slammed into place.

What is apparent is that this whole sorry charade of Boyd’s eye sight is a smoke screen for the real element of what the club were trying. What that is remains to be seen (no pun intended, or maybe just a little bit)

So you ask, what is that? What is it that you think Fawaz and co were trying to do? I have my theories. There are 3 I have in mind, which vary in possibility. The one I favour is that we used it as a way to try and negotiate out of the deal and into a loan, for cheaper, and then as he’s out of contract we could get him for free. Strong-arm Peterborough into a deal they didn’t want, but felt they had no choice to do. He was already sat there, so surely just surely Peterborough would roll over and let us have him. Well no, there’s one thing about Darragh McAnthoney and that is he is strong willed.

But maybe that’s not the case, and I don’t like blind conjecture without looking at a bigger picture. So what else could it be? My second theory is that Fawaz was reluctant on this deal. Maybe he has an advisor or someone he turns to, and this person was a bit unsure about Boyd. That or the avalanche of tweets at hm when this was rumoured saying don’t sign him (ironically considering the current avalanche of tweets now we haven’t) The first hint of being able to get out the deal with a decent explanation to McLeish about why his target hasn’t been signed, and they took it.

Or finally, maybe they simply have something else, though admitted a free transfer or a loan lined up and pulled the plug with a lame excuse.

Because it is clearly a lame excuse to get out the deal, and that’s what’s annoying. We haven’t been told the truth, and the board have made an almost comical excuse to get out of this. I just worry there is more comical excuses where that came from. Maybe in Kuwait they could get away with this but in England the fans are a different animal.

Now the whole has McLeish walked question is something I’m going to wait and see the fallout from. I suspect not. I suspect he was angry, but will carry on in his post.

It will have made McLeish question why he has took the job, almost seemingly a bit like McClaren in his era. A signing he wanted, not made, and the house of cards tumbles down.

However it’s not a good time to be a Forest fan. The infighting with fans and the now quite open questioning of high up decisions is not good. I’m not saying we shouldn’t question them, but like with Doughty after awhile, it means everything they do gets questioned. Because of a few errors, it all falls under the microscope. Every decision Fawaz makes or tweets, fans will be immediately seeing and fearing the worst.

The timing of everything has been off. Since Fawaz took over it’s been frankly a shambles. It seems under Omar we had stability and progress and since Fawaz came in, it's been turmoil, strife and embarrassment. Had we made the three dismissals of Burt, Clark and Arthur when they took over, no-one would have batted an eye lid. But the timing was wrong. The timing of SoD’s dismissal after a glorious win was wrong. 2 weeks earlier and maybe people would have been a little more understanding. And now this. A lot of people had been against the Boyd signing anyway, so seeing the same people now vociferously tweeting Fawaz is odd, but also it’s because we had been led to believe signings were coming. We were promised signings, surprises and all that. #Surprise might be the new “we’re serious promotion” tag line. Something to use against them.

Had we said no there will be no more signings then maybe we’d have not been angry? But it’s the whole being misled thing that bothers most if feel.

Turbulent times ahead. Be interesting to see what Fawaz has to say.

Latest Transfer Gossip - Jan 14th 2012

Most of this is hearsay, gossip, rumours and generally borderline made up stuff on other sites. Occasionally during transfer windows I compile this, so if anyone starts to think this is me suggesting these transfers thin again, what I do thought, is offer my opinion on this transfers.

Adam Larsen Kwarasey

A completely random name it may seem but Norwegian media has linked us with the Stromsgodset keeper. He is a Ghanaian international and is currently in South Africa as part of the Ghana squad for the African Cup of Nations. According to the Norwegian source (http://www.tv2.no/sport/fotball/tippeligaen/-nottingham-forest-med-bud-paa-larsen-kwarasey-3965181.html) an initial offer was made which was far too low. Negotiations are ongoing, but Stromsgodset hope he has a good tournament to increase his value. He is Norwegian born so would be Work Permit exempt. In terms of believability it seems random, but then sometimes the best deals are. It would possibly be a potential if other targets don’t come off. Kwarasey is 25 years old.

George Boyd
Not exactly news or gossip, it’s been all but confirmed by the Peterborough chairman. He did mention us but he does also have a record of misleading the press and public. This could be a ruse to increase Boyd’s worth and start a bidding war. Although he never had a chance in his previous spell at the club I have always thought he seems dangerous. However not exactly pacey I’m not sure he offers an alternative to what we already have. So it might reach a dead end. We aren’t the only club chasing him.

Chris Burke
This year’s rumour that won’t go away. The latest is we have offered £500k and that Birmingham has all but accepted but is desperately holding out for more. We won't pay more, but Brum hopes someone else can come in gazump us. That said other sources say this is a done deal just waiting for i’s to be dotted and t’s to be crossed. Personally I think this one will go through.

Bader al-Mutawa.
Another rumour that won’t die is that we are back in for the Kuwaiti striker and are hoping that this time he can be granted a work permit. The al-Hasawi family are desperate for an Arabian based player to sign for the club to massively increase our profile over there and see their countryman as ideal. Whether this goes though remains to be seen. There was a lot of discussion before that if we were persistent we would get him eventually. I’m not so sure.

Kieren Westwood
Another name amongst a sea of goalkeepers but one I mention as it’s a bit more a potential goer. I have always rated Westwood, at Carlisle and Coventry. I could see him being a good signing. However it was reported a week ago Sunderland have no intention of letting him go as their own cover for Mignolet then would be a youth team keeper. That could be a huge stumbling block.... Unless of course Camp went there, which would be unlikely.

Danny Fox
Southampton left back has been linked. Now although this would-be a good signing there are huge problems. Although he has been kept out of the team by 17 year old Luke Shaw. Shaw is injured at the moment though it isn’t as long term as could have been. Also Southampton may be wary of big money offers for him, despite him signing a new contract. Potential deal though, but as I say there are enough reasons to doubt it. However he is another defender named Daniel or a version of.

Lee Camp's Future and the Question of Who Comes Next?

So what does the future hold for Lee Camp? He has been told he can leave the club for free this January. His contract is up in June and clearly the club have decided to let him go now. Now whether this is because he has flat refused to discuss a new deal, or simply McLeish wants his own man is unclear. Maybe it’s a combination.


Camp has a strange relation with fans at the moment, and the reaction on Twitter was extremely mixed. There was a distinct camp (no pun intended) who wanted him out, and have now become vocal in their dislike of him. The reasons cited are how he sulked when turned down for his move to Swansea under McClaren, and his form has suffered since becoming an International. Almost as if some of the drive in his career had gone and he has plateaue'd. Rather than pushing on and the try and make it at the top, he has realised he is at his level, playing for a nation that have little or no hope of qualifying for a major competition. Basically his drive to prove has gone. And now he is a shell. At this stage in careers usually the big pay day to sit on a bench comes along. It seems that is right on time.

Because essentially that is what he would become. Reading are the main club being linked, and what you could see Camp doing is being one of these capable Championship keepers who keep a Premiership bench warm for a nice cushy pay day. It’s happened before, and it will always happen again.

There are those who would like to see Camp stay, but the problem for this side of the argument is that it’s pointless. He is clearly off so to try and argue the merits of keeping him serves no purpose. However I will say that for me he is a capable keeper. Good at commanding his area and good at shot stopping. Not the biggest keeper in the world, he has more merits than not. But it seems his relations with the club have collapsed to an untenable point.

As well his good performances in the Billy Davies years, it has also been pointed out he was helped a lot by an extremely capable defensive line up, that since the departures of Wilson and latterly Morgan, he has been left looking, depending on whose arguing this point A) looks like he’s worse because he has a worse defence in front so more clear cut and unsavable chances are made. Or b) that the quality defence made his record of clean sheets and reliability look better than it actually ever was. A lot of people really got on Camps back last year for his failure to give quick delivery. This completely overlooks and negates team orders. It was clearly an order to get the ball sent long to the strikers and get forward quickly. But everyone decided this was Camp who was to blame, which I found extremely frustrating.

There have been a number of names suggested as his replacement, and seeing as we have told Camp he can go, we need to move quickly. Can you really imagine having a keeper in net that has care of what happens as he’s off? It’s not worth thinking about (however he does now have something to prove to potential suitors so may “up” his game.) Rob Green, Craig Gordon and Lukasz Fabianski have all been linked. All have Premiership experience. Green everyone knows was England’s first choice at the start of the previous World Cup. Because of a high profile error he is now tagged as being not good enough, which is hilariously misguided. People who aren’t thinking for themselves and have a typical knee jerk reaction are the ones who claim he’s not good enough. He’d be more than good enough. Fabianksi has made errors, but that’s in a top level Premiership team. Craig Gordon was a £9million keeper a few years ago, he’d now be free, but he has been out the game for a while. But all three would be quality additions. You don’t get where they are without quality and ability. Camp has never been a first choice Premiership keeper. That needs to be remembered in this.

But overall it will be a shame to see Campy leave, but then players often out stay welcomes or only last at a place so long. I think Camp needs a new challenge and new surroundings. His has stagnated somewhat. For him his next move is either a huge pay day move for 2-3 years on a Prem bench tripling his wages. Or it’s a fresh new challenge with another Championship club. Either way it’s definitely not here, not now anyway.

Transfer Rumour Madness Roundup

Well with a new manager, and with the apparent abundant signings about to pour in, and because the transfer window is about to reopen, it’s time to evaluate my usual crazy sources on the net of rumoured transfers, from the sensible and believable, to the outright ridiculous. Here we go.

Given

Shay Given

As much to do with the act he is out of favour at Villa, and McLeish last job was Villa comes the clever association that we are signing Shay Given. Rumours differ on whether its loan or permanent, but I’d be guessing Villa want people off their books so it’d be permanent. Now Given isn’t the force he was, and may well be looking for a last challenge in his career. Whether he sees that as competing with Lee Camp is unclear. Camp hasn’t been bad lately, but fans still seem to not forgive him seeking a move 18 months ago. This though is believable. Managers like to have a keeper they know and trust.

N'Zogbia

Charles N’Zogbia

Again a Villa connection, people seem to have decided that because he hasn’t been in the team he must be out of favour and we are going to look to sign. This completely overlooks his recent injury problems where he has missed around 2 months with a knee injury. Also N’Zogbia is fairly well regarded by many a manager, has high opinion of himself, he really isn’t going to drop to the Championship. Not happening

McKay

Billy McKay
Inverness striker who has been bang in form this season.  Whether this is needed with our relatively decent striker options it’s unsure but it would potentially be a good signing for a not so high fee.  Hal the Championship has been linked with the Northern Ireland striker, so why not Forest too. And why not link us because we have money. Believable, but  needed?

McLaughlin

 Stephen McLaughlin

Speaking of Northern Irish players, it’s still unclear what status this transfer got to before the managerial change. McLeish did say that he will discuss targets with the existing back room staff that have a list of players. McLaughlin may feature. He may not.

Burke

Chris Burke
The right winger has been linked before and there are quite a number of people citing this rumour. It may well be true and it would be a handy signing, as I’ve always thought he’s a handy winger. A number of people seem to be confusing who signed him for Birmingham, he signed for them in June 2011. This was exactly the time McLeish was leaving the club via email. He may have been the one who set the ball rolling on it though.

McFadden

 James McFadden

Was always going to be linked due to past McLeish connections. He also has a short term contract with Sunderland that’s going to expire shortly so that would also tie in with him coming to the club. He may be a little similar to Reid though for this to work. Would be a good signing though.

Scott Sinclair
Not going to happen. People saying because he is not in first team that he is looking at a loan. Yes maybe he is, but it would be a 6 month loan to another Premiership team.

Some mentions to for players who simply not going to happen but I saw people on Twitter mention Ryan Bertrand, Wilfred Zaha, Joleon Lescott, Joe Cole

Transfer Gossip - August 21

With the news after the game on Saturday that up to 3 players could come in and specifically a right winger, there have been a few names bandied about, mostly the same names, which tends to suggests there is credence to these rumours.
Here is a summary of where we are at in terms of gossip, rumour and guesswork, as always taken from around the net, and looked at entirely subjectively and ridiculed where fit.

In

The Kuwaiti’s
The long, ever running saga of work permits for Khalid al-Rashidi and Bader al-Motawa rumbles on. There is strong rumour that tomorrow is the big day we find out what’s happening. We shall see.

Adam Hammill
The Wolves winger is up for sale, and is the perfect fit for the fact we want a creative winger, coupled with Championship experience, and the fact we have expressed interest before it seems the perfect fit for the Reds. It is widely spread on the likes of Twitter, and people are expecting the now customary Fawaz tweet to announce the deal.

Thomas Ince
Whilst also being linked with Hammill, we were briefly also linked with Thomas Ince, a rumour the ever unreliable Paul Taylor suggested seemed unlikely, saying neither club had been in touch regards the deal, as far he knows anyway. He also knew that the Kuwaiti’s weren’t buying Forest. Suggests he doesn’t know a lot. Anyway, he would be an amazing acquisition, for me he is a very exciting winger good on either foot.

Morgan Ferrier
Never heard of him till checking Newsnow earlier, but he’s a 17 year old previously released by Arsenal, and now Watford and up for grabs. O’Driscoll has him briefly on trial at Crawley and has kept tabs on him, and appears to want to add him to our youth policy. Can’t hurt I guess, but I know as much as I have just written about him.


Out

David McGoldrick
Coventry have been linked for a move, whether it is loan or permanent depending on source. I’d say loan more likely as they are unlikely to want to saddle a potentially expensive player to a long term deal. Perhaps they have merely sounded us out on the possibility. We do have a glut of strikers, and IF Bader signs he would be a similar player, maybe that’s what we’re waiting for. McGoldrick simply hasn’t worked out here and perhaps it’s best he move on.

Radoslaw Majewski
Always seemingly linked with fringe Premiership clubs but with no real evidence or source, Majewski has now been linked with West Brom and Reading in recent weeks. A Fee of £1.5m as bandied around as likely, which sounds fair enough, more fair than the insane £4-5mill some people think he’s worth. I’ll never understand the people who worship him, yeah’ he’s handy but some make him out to be a world beater.

Matt Derbyshire
Unfortunately, no news here. Keep praying folks.