As we haven’t done one for a short while, here are the players linked with moves to and from Forest with the window coming to a climax.
Ins
Max Gradel
Sky Sports understands that we were interested in Ivorian international, Max Gradel. Most of us will remember him for being the Shaun Wright Phillips like winger who put two past Forest at Elland Road in April.
Gradel is out of contract next May and Forest face competition from West Ham, Leicester, Fulham and Sochaux.
The official Leeds website today says that a fee of around £4.5m has been reluctantly agreed with St Ettiene after Gradel handed in a transfer request last Tuesday.
Andros Townsend
Another winger whose name has been circling the mill for a few weeks is Andros Townsend.
Some will have recognised him from his excellent display for Spurs in their 5-0 trouncing of Hearts recently – others may know him from a loan spell at Ipswich last season.
Andros is another pacey attacker who’d add some quality to our ailing wings.
Unfortunately for Forest, Townsend it’s looking likely to be a makeshift in the Scott Parker deal between West Ham and Spurs, which will see him join the Hammers on a one year loan.
Ryan Bertrand
This guy must feature in every single one of these round ups that we do.
Yep he’s been linked to us again with another loan move - this time by the Guardian. They say we're retracing him as a solution to that problematic LB position – although Sunday’s game another CB is desperately needed.
We’ll see how this unfolds; more than likely it won't.
Marvin Ogunjimi and Regi Goreux
These two are names that were mentioned on twitter earlier today with most fans believing there is something in it.
Ogunjimi is a 23 year old, Belgian international striker; who has gone from nothing to a national hero inside 12 months.
Like with every other attack minded player we’re linked with, his main attribute is pace. He also has a keen eye for goal with 4 goals in his first 4 international appearances for Belgium.
Goreux is a left winger who can also play right wing and either full back position. He is the last surviving member of Standard Liege’s title winning side of 2009.
It’s hard to decide whether they’ll be good enough with so little known of them.
Outs
Joe Garner
This rumour came from a Forest player – and for the record it wasn’t Joe.
It was believed a few weeks ago that Forest was due to let Garner go to Doncaster on loan for 6 months.
While nothing has materialised since, it might just be worth casting an eye over this move in the coming 24 hours.
Marcus Tudgay
The Evening Post apparently suggests that Milwall and Palace are keeping tabs on Tudgay.
Follow me on twitter @benando_torres
Follow the blog @forest247blog
Maybe it’s a tad premature but I feel an early need to stress my opinion on Luke Chambers and his new role as captain.
To put it bluntly, Chambo is not the man to lead this club.
Don’t get me wrong, Chambers is one of my favourite players. He’s been a great servant to the club, has a great relationship with the fans and is one of the best CB’s in the league.
However, that mix doesn’t mean you’re going to be a good captain – David Johnson had a similar mix albeit him being a striker.
I’ll hold my hands up and admit I was one championing Chambers for the captaincy earlier on in the summer. Having Camp as captain just wasn’t ever right for me – although GK captain’s never really inspire me anyways.
I also felt everything was falling nicely into place for Chambers. With his previous captaincy experience at Northampton and his player of the year win; with McKenna departing it just seemed a natural move.
At this moment in time, I think we’ve made a bad choice.
The team has a significant lack of organisation about it under Chambers leadership. At first I thought it was linked to McClaren, however when analysing the games; Chambers stays tight lipped – almost Breckin like – ahead of a set piece. He’s more focused on himself than the rest of the team and worst still is he’s not even talking to defensive partner, Wes Morgan.
A lack of organisation is resulting in players going for the same ball and not picking up key men. I suppose it’s obvious why we’re struggling so badly with set pieces this season.
If Chambers does try to command the team, it’s almost as if none of the other players are interested in what he’s saying. I think Chambers getting the armband may have got certain individuals backs up, one being Lee Camp who looks disheartened these days. Camp always used to be leading and organising the backline. It’s almost as if now he’s taken a backseat. Why should he organise the defence when the skipper is a defender?
We all know the key to winning people back is to inspire them and sadly Chambers isn’t as his performances have been nothing short of poor up to now.
It’s bitterly disappointing as I thought he’d be a great leader but maybe the armband is proving to be a burden.
Maybe it’s a credit to Paul Mckenna in not realising what you have until it has gone – just like his legs had.
Fortunately for Luke, he has time on his side and the season is still early doors.
We’ll see how the coming weeks unfold.
Follow me on twitter @benando_torres
A crushing 4-1 defeat at home does little to make many people take us seriously as contenders for promotion.
Regardless of the result however, it has to be said this game saw our best attacking display in the league this season.
Steve McClaren made one change to the side that was on the right end of a 4-1 result against Wycombe earlier in the week. George Boateng came back into the team in place of Joel Lynch, with Chris Cohen being pushed into left back.
Shortly after McGugan had managed to jinx and wriggle his way through the West Ham defence before lacking the composure to slot it past Rob Green. The one touch passing between Greening, Cohen, Miller and McGugan in the build up was encouraging.
Chris Cohen was then the next person to test West Ham, as an in swinging free kick from 35 yards evaded everyone and forced Rob Green into an excellent reflexes stop to just tip it around the post.
The resulting corner came to no avail and seconds after West Ham were on the attack.
Slick and strong passing between Nolan, Cole and Faubert ended up finding Matty Taylor who’d cut inside the Forest box. He whipped in a low left footed cross across goal which resulted in Chambers slicing the ball into his own net. A totally soft goal against the run of play but that’s what happens against the best team. It would be the start of a miserable day for the Forest skipper.
3 minutes later and West Ham had scored again. An over hit corner by Taylor found an unmarked Tomkins, who headed it into the path of Nolan to flick into the goal. It was a calamity of defensive errors and one that needs resolving as soon as possible.
Forest fought back immediately from the kick off. Raddy and Miller unlocked the West Ham defence with a sweet one-two. Miller went one on one with Green and put the ball the wrong side of the post.
McGugan then went even closer when he thumped the post with a half volley.
You were beginning to get the belief that Forest was going to get something from this match with the Hammers on the back foot. By 30 minutes, it was all over when the Hammers scored again.
Another poorly defended set piece saw Taylor over hit another corner. This time O’Brien chipped the ball back into the box, for Nolan to flick across to an unmarked Carlton Cole. Of all people to leave unmarked in the melee it had to be the international striker.
Nolan then went on to miss an absolute sitter.
The question on everyone’s lips was how many were we going to lose by today? Despite looking slightly promising going forward, nothing was working at the back leading me to believe that a left back not all we need in defence.
Half time couldn’t come quick enough. When the game restarted it was nearly 4-0.
Gunter tried to clear away Collinson’s attempt but only got as far as Faubert whose shot just deflected over – totally wrong footing Lee Camp in the process.
Nothing was working and by 58 minutes Boateng had been subbed for Joel Lynch giving Cohen the license to partner Greening in the centre of midfield. Derbyshire and Reid shortly followed in place of McGugan and Raddy.
Forest then made a breakthrough on the 70th minute. A short throw in saw Lynch and Cohen play a glorious one-two. Lynch then managed to cut the ball across goal for Robbie Findley to scoop past Rob Green. Game on.
I have to add that Lynch is the best LB in the club. He’s not a popular figure with fans but when he plays, the team does seem all the better for it. After all you then allow Gunter and Cohen to play in their strongest positions. If we aren’t going to buy a LB, then we have to play Lynch.
6 minutes later and any hopes of a comeback were cut off – provided they hadn’t been already.
Matt Taylor’s corner was totally misjudged by Greening who hit an airshot. Fortunately Morgan was behind him to hit it away. Gunter then ran as far as the edge of the box before losing the ball to Taylor who whipped the ball back in for Winston Reid to slot in past Camp. It was atrocious defending.
A flurry of Forest fans soon left the ground, leading to the Hammers chanting “Is there a fire drill?” and then their favourite “How Sh#t must you be? We’re winning away.”
West Ham then pumped a long ball forward causing Camp to make a hash of catching the ball. Piquionne beat him to it but then headed wide.
Camp looked a shadow of his former-self it has to be said. Tame goal kicks normally ending up in the ground, no fan interaction and a general lack of interest. Maybe he was fed up of the shoddy defending in front of him or maybe he’s fed up of being at the club having had a move to Swansea blocked.
Chambers almost scored from a corner with his header being cleared off the line before West Ham almost added a fifth in injury time, when Nolan’s deflected effort wrong footed Camp and steered just wide of the left hand post.
The full time whistle couldn’t have come soon enough, leaving McClaren with some big thinking to do over the international break about how we can bounce back from this.
Whatever we do, we have to react sharpish as visits from high flying Southampton and Derby are up next.
Follow me on twitter @benando_torres
In light of the build up to today's big game, Forest24-7 took the time to ask West Ham fan, Stephen Bradley, a few questions.
1. First things first then, how do you rate West Ham and your chances of promotion this season? Do you buy in to the hype of being favourites?
I think we have a fantastic chance. You look at our squad and we have the likes of Green, Cole, Nolan and Parker – for now at least – at our disposal. Without wanting to be too arrogant we have a Premiership team of players for this league and it should work in our favour.
2. What do you think to Big Sam? Was he the right choice?
I think he definitely was the best available. He got Bolton out this league almost ten years ago and stabilised them. That’s what we were desperate for.
Avram Grant had taken this club to the pits and had we signed the players Big Sam has done in January with him at the helm, I’d argue we maybe wouldn’t have gone down. The football might not be pretty but it’ll sure as hell get results.
3. West Ham has a magnificent squad at the moment for this division – one I’d argue would have kept you up last season. Who’s the man to look out for tomorrow?
Without a doubt Scott Parker! He’s become an England regular and we’re fortunate to still have him at the club. Obviously its look like he’ll be Spurs bound by this time next week but if he plays today, he’ll run the show.
4. If you could have any Forest player at West Ham, who would it be and why?
I’ll surprise you and say Chris Gunter. He’s one of few players when I see them who rarely plays badly and is by far the best fullback in the division. You guys are lucky to have someone of that class at your disposal.
5. West Ham has won both their away games upto now and have yet to concede on the road. Can you see this run continuing tomorrow?
Who knows? In my honest opinion no as we’re playing a side with a home record who’ve only lost twice in two years.
6. Apart from yourselves, which team do you consider to be the biggest threat in this league?
There are a few sides. Leicester is the biggest threat along with Forest. I also think Middlesbrough are the dark horse. So long as we’re in one of the three promotion spots by May, I don’t mind who else is up there with us.
7. Steve McClaren divides many opinions among Forest fans. As a fan of another club, how do you rate him as a manager?
If you had asked me this question 4 years ago, the answer would have been less than complimentary!
I think Steve is a great manager who, like Big Sam, has the experience of turning a club around and stabilising them in the Premiership. From what I’ve seen of Forest so far, you’re like us in regards to finding your feet with the new regime and players that have been put in place.
Stick by Stevie, I think you’ll be ok and any doubters should look at his CV as a manager.
8. Lastly, what do you reckon the score will be?
Gonna go with 1-1.
For the second time this season, Forest has drawn a set of Magpies at home in the Carling Cup.
Newcastle United will be the visitors in the third round, in what I see a winnable affair.
The match will be played week commencing 19th September – more than likely on Tuesday 20th.
The last time the two clubs met at the City Ground was almost two years ago, where Forest won a tight affair 1-0 against the eventual runaway champions.
Forest made the third round having trounced Wycombe Wanderers 4-1 last Tuseday - in what was our biggest away win since that West Brom game.
McClaren inspired the team pre-game telling them how lucky they were to be wearing the shirt and to fight for it everyday.
It looked as if the words rubbed off well as by the 7th minute, Forest were 2-0 up thanks to Ishmael Miller's first goal for the club and a Lewis McGugan penalty.
Forest dominance was a common theme throughout the game as Miller and McGugan terrorised Wycombe's defence.
The first half also supplied some comedy, with flocks of birds swooping into the visiting Forest fans - it seems birds are a running theme in this Carling Cup run.
By the hour mark, Robbie Findley grabbed his second of the season with a cool finish before Joel Lynch gave away a penalty, resulting in the visitors pegging a goal back.
Raddy Majewski then completed the rout, when Garner cut the ball back into his path to set him up with an easy finish.
Follow the writer of this article on twitter here
