Air Cleared, Billy Staying, Pratley and Van Aanholt in TAP Sights

[earthworm]

Thank f*** for that. Come on you Forest men!

NOTTINGHAM Forest will make Swansea midfielder Darren Pratley their first target of the summer – after holding clear-the-air talks with manager Billy Davies.
The Scot met with the Reds chairman Nigel Doughty in London yesterday, as both men looked for reassurances over the future.
Doughty was understood to have been upset about a perceived lack of loyalty from the manager, following recent interviews where Davies expressed an interest in the Celtic job.
Meanwhile, Davies was set to demand a greater say in the club's future transfers – after seeing January bids for Pratley, the then on-loan Nicky Shorey and Palace winger Victor Moses all fail.
But, immediately after their talks, both men attended a meeting of the club's transfer acquisitions committee – which had been the source of Davies' ire – when Pratley was understood to have been discussed.


There is also believed to be interest in Chelsea's Patrick Van Aanholt, a 20-year-old left back, who could be available on a season long loan.
The Reds previously failed with a £2m bid for Pratley, with the Welsh side unwilling to sell to one of their promotion rivals at a critical stage of the season.
But, with the box-to-box, goal scoring midfielder believed to be keen on a move to the Midlands, Forest will try their luck again.
The Reds hope to make three or four quality signings and could also look at Dutchman Aanholt, who has previously been on loan with Coventry and Newcastle.
Forest also want a striker and, potentially, a central defender.
They may have to up the ante to £2.5m for Pratley, 25, who cost Swansea £100,000 when he signed from Brentford four years ago.
But that is significantly less than the £4m Paulo Sousa's club were believed to be demanding for the player in January.
Barking-born Pratley grew up in the same football circles as Forest's Chris Cohen, with both players involved with West Ham as youngsters.
He scored seven goals from midfield last season.

 

[incapable hulk]

Out of curiosity, if we do sign pratley will it mean one of cohen, mckenna or majewski is relegated to the bench?

I cant see it being mckenna as billy will always pick him.

 

[matt1982]

I'd rather see us get a left back on a permanent deal, than a season long loan, otherwise we're back in the same position again come the end of the season, when in all probability he has to go back

 

[EmJay]

Never in doubt

I know nothing about Aanholt other than I started a new FM Game last week with a 2010/2011 update, and signed him for Forest as my permanent left-back. *shrugs*

 

[thehockleyhustler]

Out of curiosity, if we do sign pratley will it mean one of cohen, mckenna or majewski is relegated to the bench?

I cant see it being mckenna as billy will always pick him.

I see him as a replacement for Mckenna

 

[fil]

Pratley would be a great signing

 

[Jon NFFC]

pratley would be a great long term replacement for mckenna, he can learn a lot.

 

[Jon NFFC]

another striker, i wonder who will be moving on then

 

[Special Agent Dale Cooper]

another striker, i wonder who will be moving on then

Out
McGoldrick, Adebola, Garner, Tyson

:hi:

In
Emile Heskey type player, maybe Heskey.

 

[uNco]

Out
McGoldrick, Adebola, Garner, Tyson

:hi:

In
Emile Heskey type player, maybe Heskey.

Wheres that leave blackstock?

 

[ADBarke]

I agree Pratley would be a good signing...Swansea wanted £4 for him in January, maybe to just scare us off him a little, but I think £2m - £2.5m is about right.

Haven't seen much of Van Aanholt...U21 international so cant be that bad and will provide much needed cover for the left back position.

 

[This Charming Man]

Never in doubt

I know nothing about Aanholt other than I started a new FM Game last week with a 2010/2011 update, and signed him for Forest as my permanent left-back. *shrugs*

2010/11 update!? Where might one find this?

 

[thehockleyhustler]

I would like to see some sort of quote from Billy confirming he is happy and is committed to the club long-term.

I expect we won't see this though

 

[EmJay]

2010/11 update!? Where might one find this?

I got an unofficial one off the SI forums. It wasn't 100% accurate obviously, because the playoffs haven't been completed yet, but I simply useed the editor to quickly switch the relegated side in each division with one of the teams in the playoffs. Id imagine a week on monday (once the playoffs are concluded) a completely up to date one will be released

 

[Jon NFFC]

the dutch guy sounds quality:

Chelsea

He was first selected for Chelsea in an FA Cup tie away to Preston North End in the 2009–10 edition of the Cup, wearing the squad number 52, but did not make an appearance, remaining as an unused substitute. He made his first appearance for Chelsea in a 5–0 win against Portsmouth coming as a substitute for Yuri Zhirkov and playing a promising 20 minute cameo. He again came on to replace Yuri Zhirkov in Chelsea's emphatic 7–1 win over Aston Villa.
[edit] Loan to Coventry City

He made his professional debut on loan to Coventry City on 9 August 2009 starting in a 2–1 Football League Championship win over Ipswich Town.[1] He was recalled to Chelsea in December due to the exit of many players due to the African Nations Cup.
[edit] Loan to Newcastle United

On 29 January 2010, van Aanholt joined Newcastle United on a one-month loan deal after regular left back José Enrique suffered injury. He had been a great cover for the Spaniard, sustaining Newcastle's productive left flank with Jonas Gutierrez. He played his last game in the 2–1 away victory at Watford, where he was given a great reception from the Toon Army.

 

[MaxiRobriguez]

Pratley is quality, we should really make him joint priority (with a LB, Shorey please) this summer.

Would also like to see a left midfielder, Boyd would be an ok shout, and a centre back.

Think four players would be enough for us. Loans would be fine too.

 

[winnits]

I'd like another striker, but then I'm greedy. A proper 20+ scoring one. Then again, with better ammunition I think Earnie and Dex could fulfil this role.

 

[Special Agent Dale Cooper]

Is pratley a goal scoring crweative tyoe or a Paul McKEnna I'm confused about this fact

 

[earthworm]

the dutch <s>guy</s> bloke sounds quality:

Indeed, Newcastle were on fire and he was good enough to keep up. That's where we want to be next season, could be a good 'un :cheers:

 

[This Charming Man]

I'd like another striker, but then I'm greedy. A proper 20+ scoring one. Then again, with better ammunition I think Earnie and Dex could fulfil this role.

He's not really either creative nor defensive. I suppose you'd call him box to box. Can cover alot of ground, has a solid all round game, and capable of getting up near the strikers and on the score sheet. Good player, but not a Majewski or Mckenna type. Probably more like Cohen if anything.

 

[Carvel]

I just wonder how long it will be before Billy gets pissed of with the TAP again. Its not like Doughty has got rid of it...

 

[onlythetruth]

The Panel only bid £1.5m for Pratley in Jan not £2m as in the article (£2m may well have been enough at the time but he finished the season very strongly for sure)

There is a different left back to the one above who they have targeted who they are scouting at the moment

Van aanholt may well be an additional target - so we may well get two left sided players

Both "left backs" have bags of pace - and both can play further forward as well as left back

And Shorey although unlikely now we failed Premiership is still under discussion
and should not be ruled out until you see him sign elsewhere

You can be sure though left back wont be an issue next season

 

[Special Agent Dale Cooper]

The Panel only bid £1.5m for Pratley in Jan not £2m as in the article (£2m may well have been enough at the time but he finished the season very strongly for sure)

There is a different left back to the one above who they have targeted who they are scouting at the moment

Van aanholt may well be an additional target - so we may well get two left sided players

Both "left backs" have bags of pace - and both can play further forward as well as left back

And Shorey although unlikely now we failed Premiership is still under discussion
and should not be ruled out until you see him sign elsewhere

Ryan Bertrand would be sexy

 

[earthworm]

He's not really either creative nor defensive. I suppose you'd call him box to box. Can cover alot of ground, has a solid all round game, and capable of getting up near the strikers and on the score sheet. Good player, but not a Majewski or Mckenna type. Probably more like Cohen if anything.

Wonder where all this leaves the Moose

 

[Kier]

Another striker is a definite, beyond Earnie and Blackstock there is little quality. I would prefer us to have 4 decent strikers then 2 good strikers, 1 unproven and 3 poor strikers.

In the summer also ship out: Lynch, McGoldrick, Adebola, Tyson, McCleary and Perch. A;; of whom are utter dross and deadwood the club doesn't need. Get rid of them and then we can strengthen appropiately.