Current state of the squad

So it looks like we've got what we've got. A bit of a let down with what we've come to expect on deadline day and I do think we might a bit light in certain spots, but overall it looks coherent and solid.

After the apparent bids for keepers I'm surprised we haven't done something there. It seems strange to destabilise that key position in the media and then not follow through with it. I am happy with Sels, but talk of Henderson and Mamadashvili (in particular) did make me feel like we were looking to improve and set that position long term so it feels a bit diasppointing.

The defensive situation makes sense based on what Glasner has used at Palace, he barely ever changed things. Having Cunha and Savona (because like it or not, he is the fifth choice) as cover for the main three makes sense when looked at through that lens, but I do have some misgivings about not having a natural left footer as part of the cover. That feels like something to pinpoint in January, perhaps Savona on his way once he's proved his fitness and a left footed replacement coming in who can also offer some wing back coverage.

We can complain about not replacing Ando all we like, but in a body for body sense Schlager has replaced him. Sure, he isn't an expensive big name flashy replacement, but it seems clear that Glasner has watched Cheese and wants him there as first choice. Sangaré was the established option in the other role, and with Schlager, Dominguez and Yates as the back ups, plus MGW able to drop in to play there as a deeper creator if necessary I can see why that is our lot. Sure, it looks like we put bids in, but they were opportunistic rather than aggressive and now we'll see how we go until January. That said, it is the other area tinged with disappointment for me when we see Sangare at Brentford and now Camara at Chelsea; I'd have loved us to get one of them, neither having gone for crazy fees in this market. I can imagine this being the strengthening priority in January when we can take stock and potentially pick off a good looking up and coming player from Brazil (at the end of their season) or around Europe.

Our attacking midfield options look diverse and varied which I like. MGW and Jesus/Ndoye the starters (whatever we think about Ndoye it's been clear ever since he arrived that Glasner is a massive fan so we shouldn't be surprised, and hopefully he can get the best out of him) with CHO and Kalimuendo the other options, perhaps Dominguez too in a slightly more defensive set up. Jimmy Sinclair then becomes the next cab off the rank and I'm not opposed to having the space to give him some opportunities. Clearly the Murphy thing was going to be to replace Kali, personally I am pleased we kept him as prefer what I think he can offer over Murphy anyway.

Delap, Wood, Jesus/Kali looks fine to me for forward options, although I perhaps wish we had a third bigger striker option if we could have got a young player to mould, like the Nigerian lad that was mooted.

As ever is the case, a giant injury crisis will leave us massively short, but that is true for absolutely anyone outside the Sky Six. What I like is that there is a clear path to the pitch for every single player in the squad, we aren't bloated with players coming out of our ears who will spend every game day in the stands. Could we have added one more in central midfield or a more robust creative type in attacking midfield or a young, big forward? Yes. But I don't think we can quibble too much that we kept our powder dry when the Armstrong opportunistic attempt didn't pan out. Bergvall wasn't good value. Sangare passed us by. Camara we weren't getting with a Sky Six team at the table.

These are our guys then, at least until January. I can see the logic behind the squad building (when was the last time you could look at things and say that, whether you agree with the results or not?) and in Glasner we trust. Time to get behind the team and see where we take each other...and maybe announce new contracts for MGW and Neco tomorrow?

COYR!
 
the only position im a bit nervous about is CB, but i guess Savona and Ainaa can play there if needs be, i like our approach, this window, calm and only trying to bring in players that clearly imrpove the squad, glad we got Delap in, he shouldnt ever have gone to Chelsea tbh, hopefully he can learn from Woody and develop into a top striker for us
 
Without the League Cup and Europe, we’ve got 16 games till January and there’s a couple of international breaks in October and November. Our schedule isn’t particularly gruelling and given that Glasner seems to favour working with a smaller number of players, I think we’ve had a sensible transfer window.

Might be the odd position that we’re a little short in, but that’s the same for every team in the PL outside the big six. Importantly, it was a window that focused on who we were keeping - Aina, Williams and Wood were all rumoured targets for other clubs. Losing Hutchinson isn’t a great loss. Sangare coming back from injury will feel like a new signing.

Again, in the same way that there was a massive overreaction to the Leeds results, there’s been a similar response by some fans on social media claiming it’s been an awful window. I’m actually glad we didn’t go for the scattergun approach, it’s left us with options for January.
 
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'mist rollin in' said:
Without the League Cup and Europe, we’ve got 16 games till January and there’s a couple of international breaks in October and November. Our schedule isn’t particularly gruelling and given that Glasner seems to
favour working with a smaller number of players, I think we’ve had a sensible transfer window.
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It seems clear to me that the club decided to save some money for the January window, precisely because of the schedule until then.
 
The lack of a left-footed option behind Murillo is a little concerning, but apart from that, the squad looks fine in my opinion. Let's see how things develop and then reassess in January. Having a bit of money left in the bank could prove useful.
 
Assuming OG doesn’t regularly change the match day 20 and we’ve trimmed down to a 24 man squad, which 4 are left out?

I’d imagine Benda, Savona, Yates/Domi and CHO/Kali?
 
Final squad.

If we'd managed to get a new CM in and hadn't exposed ourselves at LCB we'd be raving about a highly successful transfer window.

Either way, we've done a good job trimming the deadweight up top and will hopefully recoup most of the money we spent last summer. I'd have kept Bakwa over Ndoye, but let's see how that plays out.

We've also got two slots for players over 21 to use in January, if we need to, so plenty of flexibility moving forward as well.

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Project Zeus said:
Final squad.

If we'd managed to get a new CM in and hadn't exposed ourselves at LCB we'd be raving about a highly successful transfer window.

Either way, we've done a good job trimming the deadweight up top and will hopefully recoup most of the money we spent last summer. I'd have kept Bakwa over Ndoye, but let's see how that plays out.

We've also got two slots for players over 21 to use in January, if we need to, so plenty of flexibility moving forward as well.

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Technically, I suppose you should also count Carmo among the players out on loan. Our option to buy him is automatically trigerred in January, according to most reports.
 
I think we’re lacking in some quality if we’re hoping to push on this season, an injury to a centre back and we’re looking real light as well.

I’m happy with the Delap and Munoz signings and I won’t judge the other lads yet as I’ve never seen them play before rocking up here. Diomande looked miles away from being fit in the cup I thought so I’m assuming the third CB spot is Cunha’s to lose. CM is lacking for me, McAtee looked good against Liverpool but it’ll take more one decent game for me to have faith in him to somewhat replace Anderson.

If I had to guess our final league position I’d go for 12th - 15th. Im hoping we’re closer to 12th in January so we don’t panic and spend a load of money on overpriced shit.
 
Project Zeus said:
Final squad.

If we'd managed to get a new CM in and hadn't exposed ourselves at LCB we'd be raving about a highly successful transfer window.

Either way, we've done a good job trimming the deadweight up top and will hopefully recoup most of the money we spent last summer. I'd have kept Bakwa over Ndoye, but let's see how that plays out.

We've also got two slots for players over 21 to use in January, if we need to, so plenty of flexibility moving forward as well.

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The Bakwa who couldn’t be arsed over the hardworking goal scoring, Swiss World Cup star player - interesting choice
 
Squad is decent/solid enough to achieve lower/mid-table. Would have preferred a couple more incomings personally, GK and CB looks light to me.

I think the league is going to be a wash with teams of similar quality to us. We’re in that mix and banking on Glasner to get them ticking over quickly and be the difference maker.

Hopefully we can bag wins on a regular basis to a maintain momentum through to January.
 
Project Zeus said:
Eh, it's not a hill I'd die on, just thought he showed more promise at the tail end of last season when we weren't an absolute shit show.

I'd have kept either over Hutchinson, mind you.
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Ndoye was injured during most of that period. The last time he got more than ten minutes in the league (against Fulham in mid-April) he scored. Although a committee and computer somewhere in London subsequently decided that he hadn't.
 
From the admittedly small sample size of pre-season, I'd take Ndoye over Bakwa, based on him seeming to be a better fit in(and possibly happier to fit into) Glasner's preferred system, rather than any judgement on his ability.
If we sack Glasner prematurely and bring in a manager who prefers out and out wingers...well, that would just be so Forest.
 
I think we've got enough to get us to January in relatively good shape. Even if we get a few injuries, I think we can scrape by.

I also think we've got a lot more options than people recognise. Like, I think McAtee can step into Gibbs-White's role if needed, in a pinch. It's not ideal, but Yates can play in McAtee's position.

For me, the issue is not if we get one or two injuries around the squad. It's if we get a load of injuries together. That's when I think we're going to struggle. Having a team out there with a lot of relative inexperience... so, for example, McAtee, Ndoy, Cuhna, Kalimuendo...that's when I think we'd get found out. But hopefully that's just a theoretical scenario which doesn't come to pass.
 
Alf-engelos Mindminackers said:
For me, the issue is not if we get one or two injuries around the squad. It's if we get a load of injuries together. That's when I think we're going to struggle.
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To be honest that would be a problem for most teams in this day and age of limited squad sizes, except for teams who have good quality youngsters coming through that could do a job in a pinch.
For those in European competitions, player fatigue is an issue as well as potential injuries.
 
Project Zeus said:
Eh, it's not a hill I'd die on, just thought he showed more promise at the tail end of last season when we weren't an absolute shit show.

I'd have kept either over Hutchinson, mind you.
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Bakwa did show a lot but he had an absolutely terrible pre-season. He played himself out of the club.

To me Ndoye fits what Glasner wants better than all of last seasons wingers.
 
king_congo_red said:
To be honest that would be a problem for most teams in this day and age of limited squad sizes, except for teams who have good quality youngsters coming through that could do a job in a pinch.
For those in European competitions, player fatigue is an issue as well as potential injuries.
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True to an extent that squad sizes are limited for everyone - but they’re limited to 25 and we’ve chosen to only have 24. We could easily have kept Morato for example.
 
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