Current state of the squad

Wheats

First Team Squad
Kali
Hutchinson Jesus Bakwa
Luiz McAtee
Zinchenko Morato Jair Savona
Victor

This is our 2nd XI at the moment.
Other than Morato, we've bought all the rest in this window.

Many of us thought EM will go all in if PSR allowed, it was slow going at first but since the upgrade to Europa, it's been all guns blazing.
I can’t see Zinchenko coming here to sit on the bench tbh. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Neco Williams and Aina now fighting it out for RB, the wingers will get rotated with Bakwa getting most air time I expect (NDoye certainly needs more time to get up to PL speed anyway and Hutchinson needs a good steak or three) and if Luiz is the Villa Luiz then Sangare’s days are numbered.
It’s certainly been a very active window for us - let’s hope the players turn out to be as good as their price tags 🤞🤞🤞
 

Studdenzi

A. Trialist
Potentially very exciting. Am I the only one concerned that we didn’t go and get the out-and-out number 6 that our starting 11 needed?
 

Notcher

Ian Bowyer
Potentially very exciting. Am I the only one concerned that we didn’t go and get the out-and-out number 6 that our starting 11 needed?
If you've got 2 quality 8's then you don't really need one.

Luiz can play it if required.
 

JustARed

First Team Squad
If you've got 2 quality 8's then you don't really need one.

Luiz can play it if required.
I certainly think Nuno needs to experiment with Luiz and Anderson, but it will take time for them to understand each other, as they'll want to naturally do the same thing.
I think Nuno sees Sangare as the 'destroyer' no.6 role currently
 

ARedChester

Viv Anderson
Wow, what a transfer window this has been, possibly the best in Forest history in both £s spent and quality.

Unbelievable investment into the club and exceptional business for our club considering the size and time in the PL.

No excuses now by any coaching staff. You have the quality now deliver.

I do have a worry over PSR and I am sure the PL will take a more than casual glance at our accounts.
 

Notcher

Ian Bowyer
I've just seen this on facey b.

It does highlight the issue of who is going to be shipped out or culled from the squad.
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Steve B

Jack Burkitt
That extraordinary season last season (plus EM’s money) has put us in a position to accumulate an incredible (and young) squad of talent worth potentially way more than it cost.
From this point on and as long as things don’t nose dive hopefully we become fairly well established and the plan will be to try and upgrade 3-4 players each year.
 
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valspoodle

Ian Bowyer
We have set ourselves up for years

We can permanently operate on a one in one out policy from now on.

There will be flops from this window as they always are, but we have the flexibility to play anyway possible & the ability to deal with any schedule thrown at us.

Brilliant work by the club, we have struggled big time attracting players in previous window, not this one. The growth of the squad over the past 3-4 years has been pretty phenomenal.
I agree, it has pained me when we have to buy two players for £30 million and the big boys go that extra mile and purchase one player for £60m. Now we have reached the stage of maturity to buy the very good players ourselves.

Boy! What a four years this has been, from no points in the Championship to Europe.
 

Agent Penguin

Grenville Morris
Whilst I admire the ambition, and look at the fantastic squad we now have, I do worry a bit.

A lot of players to integrate, different salaries, playing time and so many differing personalities, it’s going to take an awful lot of work.

With Nuno already under pressure, this is going to take time to get the right blend, and that’s something he doesn’t have.

If he can get it right ( I really hope) then we are in for a tremendous time.
 
Whilst I admire the ambition, and look at the fantastic squad we now have, I do worry a bit.

A lot of players to integrate, different salaries, playing time and so many differing personalities, it’s going to take an awful lot of work.

With Nuno already under pressure, this is going to take time to get the right blend, and that’s something he doesn’t have.

If he can get it right ( I really hope) then we are in for a tremendous time.
On the plus side - we still have a core of players who were bought in to the ethos and culture and largely on the same page last season, who can help integrate the newcomers.
 

Colbackstreet Boys

Jim Brennan
We have set ourselves up for years

We can permanently operate on a one in one out policy from now on.

There will be flops from this window as they always are, but we have the flexibility to play anyway possible & the ability to deal with any schedule thrown at us.

Brilliant work by the club, we have struggled big time attracting players in previous window, not this one. The growth of the squad over the past 3-4 years has been pretty phenomenal.
Great post, fully agree. You can see the long-term strategic thinking etched into it. There is now no key player now who doesn't have an oven ready replacement who is a couple of years younger with a high ceiling. The inevitable loss of Murillo and MGW next summer will be far less keenly felt and they'll command massive transfer fees because of the smart work on contracts that has been done. For the next 3-4 years we can essentially replace most of that squad with similar quality and a £20m net profit per deal sheet.

Club in the best position it has been in for years - amazing what difference a month makes. Bravo to all involved.

Over to Nuno now to decide whether he wants to go on the journey with us (to which we have him to thank) or move in with Adama Traore.
 

Red in the trent

First Team Squad
Kali
Hutchinson Jesus Bakwa
Luiz McAtee
Zinchenko Morato Jair Savona
Victor

This is our 2nd XI at the moment.
Other than Morato, we've bought all the rest in this window.

Many of us thought EM will go all in if PSR allowed, it was slow going at first but since the upgrade to Europa, it's been all guns blazing.
Buying an (almost) entire XI, of that quality, for under £200m, is great business.

Most of those players I think will increase in value too (if they get the proper game time).
 

Colbackstreet Boys

Jim Brennan
Whilst I admire the ambition, and look at the fantastic squad we now have, I do worry a bit.

A lot of players to integrate, different salaries, playing time and so many differing personalities, it’s going to take an awful lot of work.

With Nuno already under pressure, this is going to take time to get the right blend, and that’s something he doesn’t have.

If he can get it right ( I really hope) then we are in for a tremendous time.
I also initially felt this concern - the summer of '22 keenly in my minds eye - but what puts me at ease is the eight extra games we now will play, plus potentially two cup runs, and certain players you just know are guaranteed a spell out on the sidelines at some point (e.g. CHO, Ola, Woody). There is game time to be had for pretty much everyone if they apply themselves Some will probably be very aware that this may not be their season and if they are the right characters they will be willing to be patient especially given the age profile. I'm sure the club will have done a bit of sniffing around their character and got some character references too, I don't think it is a coincidence that the group got on so well last year. Players like Toff set the standard here in terms of professionalism and taking your opportunity.
 

Colbackstreet Boys

Jim Brennan
Wow, what a transfer window this has been, possibly the best in Forest history in both £s spent and quality.

Unbelievable investment into the club and exceptional business for our club considering the size and time in the PL.

No excuses now by any coaching staff. You have the quality now deliver.

I do have a worry over PSR and I am sure the PL will take a more than casual glance at our accounts.
I think we'll be okay - the sale of MGW and Murillo next summer (feels pretty much inevitable) will generate upwards of £120m I'd imagine which would surely allay again PSR fears. Most of our big spending happened after the June cut off, so a couple of early sales in June next year should keep us healthy (I say that with the confidence of someone who knows nothing about accounting)
 

Red in the trent

First Team Squad
I can’t see Zinchenko coming here to sit on the bench tbh. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Neco Williams and Aina now fighting it out for RB, the wingers will get rotated with Bakwa getting most air time I expect (NDoye certainly needs more time to get up to PL speed anyway and Hutchinson needs a good steak or three) and if Luiz is the Villa Luiz then Sangare’s days are numbered.
It’s certainly been a very active window for us - let’s hope the players turn out to be as good as their price tags 🤞🤞🤞
That's my thinking too. Aina hasn't quite been the same since his injury against Man U, in my opinion. The last two games he's been badly exposed (I'm not sure whether that's because he's being asked to play to a new system, or whether he's unfit, but I think he needs dropping for a bit either way to recover and get used to things).

Zinchenko I expect to start at LB, but he's probably even better playing as a defensive mid (he's really good at recycling possession), and therefore can play in a midfield three and will provide good cover to the full-backs/wing-backs, something I think Sangare failed to do against West Ham.

The players we've got gives us the option to play multiple systems and be flexible and adaptive in games.

Let's hope Nuno uses that potential and doesn't just rigidly stick to a certain plan/system, something we could forgive (even praise) given the lack of depth last season, but for this season won't be excusable.
 
Let's hope Nuno uses that potential and doesn't just rigidly stick to a certain plan/system, something we could forgive (even praise) given the lack of depth last season, but for this season won't be excusable.
The only excuse for this season - at the moment at least - is that Nuno won't have had much time to work with the new arrivals on plans/systems - especially with those away on International duty.
 

Red in the trent

First Team Squad
The only excuse for this season - at the moment at least - is that Nuno won't have had much time to work with the new arrivals on plans/systems - especially with those away on International duty.
Yes, good point. Though I think everyone would have had a lot more patience, and given him a lot more time, had he not said what he did in the press.

That's now put him under pressure to deliver more quickly than perhaps should be reasonably expected. But he's only got himself to blame for that.
 

Red1865

First Team Squad
I've just seen this on facey b.

It does highlight the issue of who is going to be shipped out or culled from the squad.View attachment 52352
Taiwo and Jota won’t make the 25
Cuibano could well end up at Oly I reckon as he is potentially 5th choice full back.
I wouldn’t rule our Morato leaving either
Abbott, Cunha are under 21 so are in addition to the 25.
 

Rzar

Bob McKinlay
Think this is a great point. I was listening to 5 Live yesterday, and there's talk that PSR ruling will change (possibly more draconian). They were discussing Liverpool and Chelsea's spend, and the feeling there was it was future proofing players (assets) for selling on. I think we've managed to do two important things, buy immediate squad quality and create capacity to sell 'key' players - we've built in 1 window an engine for the future of the club.
We will also be abiding by UEFA rules which are slightly more strict but more leniently enforced.

No points deductions, but clubs have to operate break even transfer wise (we have seen Villa & Chelsea slightly hamstrung this summer). It makes complete sense to go big now from a position of strength and chalk UEFA PSR rule breaks off as a cost of doing business.
 
So the U21s can play in the premier league even if they aren't part of the 25 man squad?
Yes.
I believe Moreira made 2 substitute appearances last season (West Ham at Home, Man City Away), but was not named in the 25 - and Abbott was named on the bench (Everton, Brentford & Leicester at home, Villa, Spurs & West Ham away)
 
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Red1865

First Team Squad
So the U21s can play in the premier league even if they aren't part of the 25 man squad?
Yes that’s right, so it’s 25 plus Abbott and Cunha in reality
So we need to shed 3.
Jota and Taiwo will be 2.
And then either Cuibano goes to Oly or Morato leaves you would have to assume
 
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