I've had a message from a mate on RTG, who's connected to the club but doesn't post info due to the flak people get and so he doesn't jeopardise his job. He's said Ateef Konate looks certain, subject to a final agreement on the wage split, and they're working on four more deals!!! He thinks two of them are players who are first and second choice so not actually four in total. He's also saying we could have two leaving, one sold and one loan, but one of those is dependent on a replacement coming in. If that all happened it would be a huge amount of deals for January. It seems PL clubs are looking at wage bills and trying to get their income/wages ratio into some kind of order.
Based purely upon the pre-match warm up sessions and in particular the striker routine of shooting from a twenty yard distance, Dajaku is consistently the cleanest striker of he ball and the most accurate. He rarely misses finding the back of the net. While there is clearly a lot more to a sriker's role than this I wonder if rather than being used as a lone striker he might be more successful playing off a target man.
I hadn't paid much attention tbh, it's all been media mutterings with clubs like Wigan, Blackburn, Boro and us all supposed to be chasing the same players. But it's starting to look like some clubs are just making noises to placate supporters and agents are trying to muddy the waters.
I was at Crewe when he scored and that confirmed what I'd thought, he's what I'd call a footballer. He slipped away into space and, the second he collected the ball, seemed to know exactly what he was doing. He picked up speed, avoided any challenges and easily beat the keeper from an angle. It's the kind of finishing I wouldn't back Stewart with tbh. Stewart is excellent, at what he does, but doesn't always strike the ball well or beat the keeper. I'd use his goal in the Sheff Wed play off first leg as an example. Kevin Phillips didn't 'become a striker' until he was properly coached and found his feet ... ... not everyone can be a Wayne Rooney.
It certainly feels like Diallo has had more of a direct impact as his goals tally suggests, but look at the game time each player gets. On minutes played, Roberts actually comes out on top in …..Give him more minutes. Roberts has played 50% of EFL minutes, starting 50% of games @ 28 games, that’s 1,260 minutes played So 1 contribution every 180 minutes Diallo has played 68% of EFL minutes, starting 64% of games @ 28 games, that’s 1,714 minutes played So 1 contribution every 214 minutes Diallo played the full 90 of the FA Cup bagging a goal. Roberts also played the full game with no goals/assists. including the FACup Diallo at 1:200 minutes, Roberts at 1:192 I hope Roberts has the bit between his teeth when facing his old club on Saturday…
Yes just a loan. He's just guessing this bit but thinks we'd like a purchase or loan with an option but Forest aren't safe from relegation. If they go down they'd need players like him on relatively low wages.
Heard Cory Evans has done his ACL which is a huge blow if true. Big chance for Dan Neil to continue to thrive in that role and can only imagine Michut, Ba and Ekwah are going to get tonnes of opportunities to progress alongside him. It’s credit to Dan Neil’s recent improvements that this news (if it’s true) doesn’t feel as disastrous as it would have done 6 weeks ago
The two going out must be Wright - sold Dajaku - loan. If Dajaku can get the game time / impact of Matete & Diamond it will do him and us the world of good. Further steps in the fantastic transformation of the club. Bring on Fulham….
I agree with all that. I was genuinely worried that Neil was vanishing, during games, but Mowbray seems to have flicked a switch in his head when he told him to engage in every aspect of the game. I'm still saying Trai Hume should be considered for the Evans role once our full back situation is sorted ... ... the lad has everything you'd want for that job.imo.
Neil has been quality lately but I worry that Evans is one of our only experienced players and a good one at that. Having only really Bathh with experience in our strongest Xl from now under the end of the season is slightly worrying! He played off the striker or in the 10 role in Germany
I'd hope that would work out but I just see Hume as bullet proof. Michut is class but miles behind for that role imo and not ours yet All interesting stuff though.
That's a big blow to lose the experience of Evans if it's true. Neil has been great in that role but Evans' experience would be important for thee run in. Hopefully whoever comes into the team does the business.
I don’t think Michut is a 6 mind. Looks much more of a playmaker. Didn’t realise Burnley made another signing last night - £8m on Lyle Foster they’ll still be calling Kompany a miracle worker come the end of the season!
Losing Pritchard and Evans has piled responsibility on the kids ... ... amazing how they dealt with a very aggressive Boro team and massive crowd.
