What Do We Need In The Next Two Windows To Make 4231 Effective?

[Nick]

So if we are going to play 4231 effectively and ideally we would like two players for each position what do we need moving forward?

 

We'll need a back up RB & LB to cover for Ricardo and Chilwell?

 

Arguably we need a midfielder who can play in the middle and pass the ball and orchestrate moves to partner Mendy or Ndidi - probably not both as perhaps they should be fighting for the one starting place? I perhaps see Silva as the second choice player in this position but an upgrade would be nice.

 

We've got 4 decent CB's in Evans Morgan Maguire and Soyunco and of course Benkovic out on loan should we lose one due to old age or sale... not to mention Johnson and the other youngster in the U23's.

 

Wingers - we need one of these and somebody good enough to start.

Albrighton & Gray (Though admittedly Gray is showing promise operating anywhere along a front three)  Ghezzal hasn't yet demonstrated that he's done enough to play in this squad yet for me.

 

Nets we are in excellent shape with KS and DW.

 

Nacho for me is a 9 and Vardy's understudy but he seems to be chucked on the pitch randomly!

Okazaki will be off I'd think at the end of this season.

 

Maddison & Barnes at 10? do we even play a traditional 10 in 4231 or are they positionless utility forwards to chuck on anywhere in a front 3?

 

So we'll need cover at LB RB, a starting central midfielder, a starting winger and possibly a new striker? Will that mean then we have two players for every position keeping the competition for places and squad rotation possible?

 

 

 

 

[Babylon]

Amartey will be kept as cover for the right back position, unless he wants to move for game time.

 

CM, top quality winger and forward, LB (in the summer, unless another kid steps up)

Edited 3 December 2018 by Babylon

[ozleicester]

We seem blind to our needs, you can see on film that we are lacking something... if we dont get it sorted, it will be curtains

[Babylon]

1 minute ago, ozleicester said:

We seem blind to our needs, you can see on film that we are lacking something... if we dont get it sorted, it will be curtains

I think Puel has done well in identifying who needs replacing in the squad, it just takes time to complete the process. As for being curtains... we're 8th, who is is meant to be curtains for?

[Grebfromgrebland]

I think we just need more patience.  These players will only improve.

[urban.spaceman]

36 minutes ago, Swan Lesta said:

So we'll need cover at LB RB, a starting central midfielder, a starting winger and possibly a new striker? Will that mean then we have two players for every position keeping the competition for places and squad rotation possible?

Agreed with everything you wrote Swan. I posted in the January window thread about the long term plan we’ve been operating since last year and how Puel was the right man to do it.

 

This summer’s window was really excellent business all round; though you’re right about Deidre he was a necessary addition to the squad, particularly when we’ve got Barnes coming back next year with a season of excelling in the Championship.

 

I can’t see us doing much business in January, nor recalling Barnes or Benkovic. So next summer will be very interesting. I think we’ll go after a big name winger (Leon Bailey/Ziyech) while adding more competition to the roles the mentioned. It also might be the first time in about 5 years we don’t buy a goalkeeper!

[bovril]

3 minutes ago, Babylon said:

I think Puel has done well in identifying who needs replacing in the squad, it just takes time to complete the process. As for being curtains... we're 8th, who is is meant to be curtains for?

If we don't install venetian blinds in the hospitality boxes it'll be curtains for us all.

[RowlattsFox]

We don't need to panic too much in January, if someone's available or we want to get in before other teams come knocking in the summer then fair enough but we don't need to buy for the sake of it. Priority is clearly a winger and a striker. I like Gray, I love Albrighton, and I even think Ghezzal has shown the odd glimpse but we need something else. A winger who can play centrally as well would be perfect.

 

Central midfield options could be better but I don't think its urgent.

 

Central defender who wants to play on the right side would be great, which side has Benkovic been playing on? Maguire, Evans prefer the left and even Soyuncu came on and went straight to the left on Saturday.

[ozleicester]

5 minutes ago, Babylon said:

I think Puel has done well in identifying who needs replacing in the squad, it just takes time to complete the process. As for being curtains... we're 8th, who is is meant to be curtains for?

Just put the shutters up and hope for the best,

 

Sorry, I thought my puns were pretty transparent.

[Babylon]

3 minutes ago, ozleicester said:

Just put the shutters up and hope for the best,

 

Sorry, I thought my puns were pretty transparent.

 

FFS

[rachhere]

RB - Although he won't be back for a while get, we do have Dan Amartey as back up RB (with great flexibility to move to CB if needed). 

LB - Question is whether we will hold onto Callum Elder for understudy at LB - if we don't, I don't really get why he's here. I quite like him though - seemed great in preseason, plus really settled with the first team squad.

CM - Definitely need another more attack minded midfielder, although in Mendy does seem like he's slowly adapting that way.

Wingers - I really want Gray to succeed here, but it is a worry how his development seems to be stalling, and I really don't think it's down to a lack of trying... I would definitely invest here as our options off the bench are so limited at the moment.

No. 10 - For me it should be Maddison starting with Ghezzal as back up. I really think that this is Ghezzal's ideal position. 

Striker - Very obvious need here - I feel we need a Peter Crouch like figure who (until fairly recently at least) was content to come on as an impact sub, but had the ability to grab a goal. 

 

 

[Nick]

I have a suspicion that we will spend in January. I think we’ll buy a forward/winger and we’ll spend £25 million odd. I think that Top will want to rally support, keep momentum going and demonstrate his commitment and intent moving forward.

[HKFox]

Loftus Cheek in cm would be the first player I would like to sign. 

Lozano from PSV or Lolley at Forest has been doing well, and could go well with a core of young english players we have. Maybe he is more realistic and fits with the squad. 

 

Schmeichel, 

 

Ricardo, Benkovic, Soyunco, Chilwell.

 

RLC, Ndidi,

 

Gray, Maddison, Lolley. 

 

Vardy

 

Not the most experienced side but would be great for the future of our club. Vardy has another season as our main striker, but a target man as back up could be a good sub option. 

[surrifox]

15 minutes ago, Babylon said:

I think Puel has done well in identifying who needs replacing in the squad, it just takes time to complete the process. As for being curtains... we're 8th, who is is meant to be curtains for?

I’m not sure but I think there is some wordplay on the theme of “window”

[weller54]

3 minutes ago, HKFox said:

Loftus Cheek in cm would be the first player I would like to sign. 

Lozano from PSV or Lolley at Forest has been doing well, and could go well with a core of young english players we have. Maybe he is more realistic and fits with the squad. 

 

Schmeichel, 

 

Ricardo, Benkovic, Soyunco, Chilwell.

 

RLC, Ndidi,

 

Gray, Maddison, Lolley. 

 

Vardy

 

Not the most experienced side but would be great for the future of our club. Vardy has another season as our main striker, but a target man as back up could be a good sub option. 

I think with Lolley it's a case of suck it and see! 

[tiredclimb]

Benkovic doing very well on loan by all accounts. Hopefully that can translate in the Prem. Quality in midfield and a different option up front for me. Wouldn't happen but would love Son up front for us. 

[matty98]

A goal scoring winger and a cm who's good on the ball and can pick a pass

[Nick]

Just now, tiredclimb said:

Benkovic doing very well on loan by all accounts. Hopefully that can translate in the Prem. Quality in midfield and a different option up front for me. Wouldn't happen but would love Son up front for us. 

Absolutely.

[Shane]

I think CM, RW and ST are the main 3 priorities.

 

However in my opinion we already have players at the club we could integrate into the squad instead of spunking 30m on another Silva. 

 

January: 

 

1) Get rid of Iborra or Silva and promote Choudhury. Then sign a quality CM in the summer to compete with Mendy/Ndidi and keep Choudhury as 4th choice. 

 

2) We need a RW. Why not see what Ndukwu can do from the bench, before spending 30m in the summer on a potential flop. 

 

Summer: 

 

Integrate Benkovic and Barnes into the squad and also Elder. I don’t see why we’d have given Elder a new contract unless the plan was for him to replace Fuchs. 

 

[weller54]

5 minutes ago, tiredclimb said:

Benkovic doing very well on loan by all accounts. Hopefully that can translate in the Prem. Quality in midfield and a different option up front for me. Wouldn't happen but would love Son up front for us. 

Nah.. He's been contaminated!! 

[surrifox]

6 minutes ago, weller54 said:

I think with Lolley it's a case of suck it and see! 

I think we’d be better off signing Magnum Ericsson or even Solero Campbell 

[Stoopid]

7 minutes ago, weller54 said:

I think with Lolley it's a case of suck it and see! 

I've heard that Forest fans give Lolley a bit of stick...

[rachhere]

3 minutes ago, Shane said:

 Why not see what Ndukwu can do from the bench, before spending 30m in the summer on a potential flop. 

I think that would have been the plan if he didn't get injured. Not seen anything to suggest he's even back in training yet... anyone know anything about how he is doing? So frustrating for him (and us) as he was looking brilliant in the U23s.

[mozartfox]

5 minutes ago, tiredclimb said:

Benkovic doing very well on loan by all accounts. Hopefully that can translate in the Prem. Quality in midfield and a different option up front for me. Wouldn't happen but would love Son up front for us. 

Benko is off to Celtic for 15m.  Totally agree with other 2 suggestions. Creative MF and another Goal Scorer. Hopefully a gem with potential as opposed to a so-called proven in another league for 25m.

[Shane]

1 minute ago, rachhere said:

I think that would have been the plan if he didn't get injured. Not seen anything to suggest he's even back in training yet... anyone know anything about how he is doing? So frustrating for him (and us) as he was looking brilliant in the U23s.

If I recall correctly, he is due back this month