Quote "Either way, some holes have to be filled. Most pressing issues are a goalkeeper as competition for Simonsen, possibly converting Carlo Nash's loan from Wigan into a permanent deal.
Wide midfield, especially on the left side, is also urgent. Richard Cresswell has done a job out there most of the season, but he isn't natural in the role. A couple of ex-Stokies, Kris Commons or Lee Hendrie, might fit the bill. Commons would need convincing to come back after sticking with Forest for so long and them finally being back in the Championship. Hendrie would only be worth it if his fitness is better than it has been this season. Some cover for Liam Lawrence on the right would also be good.
Elsewhere in the squad, more choice in defence, especialy at full-back, is essential. I think Zakuani's loan is due to be made permanent, so that is some for centre or right. Given the realtively young age of Cort and Shawcross, an experienced centre-back would be good. At full-back, Dickinson and Wilkinson have potential, but not as first choices in the Premier League. Pugh, despite playing back there quite a bit this season, is better used as a midfielder in my view. Griffin is the only full-back currently at the club I feel comfortable with as a first choice. A big money signing of a full-back would be most welcome.
Central mid is well enough covered with Whelan, Pugh, Matteo, Delap, and Stephen Pearson (if his loan move from Derby is made permanent, which I hope it will be). Salif Diao is a cause for concern. I was really glad to see him back, but he has looked well off the pace. Hopefully with a full pre-season he can be the player he was for Stoke in '06-'07."

From your wish list Janik I think we could do a bulk deal.

Cover for Goalie - Bennett excellent professional, reads game very well, good shop stopper, why would I get rid? too many big thugs in the Championship and he is not the tallest.

Hendrie - wide left - be my guest he clearly hasn't settled with us.

Bit of cover on the right? - Gillespie - loads of Premiership experience plenty of quality, can also double as a right back.

Full Back - Derek Geary - I love him to bits for his never say die approach but physically he can struggle in the Championship the opposition target him, he had a great season in the Prem - looked at home there.

Experienced centre back cover - step forward Chris Morgan - despite out doubts he probably had his best season for us in the Premiership, he's a good talker as well - I think he needs a move and we need to re-build.

What do you reckon> £10Million the lot.

"How did Davids perform for you, TPC?"

Well he never did, really. Though admittedly he broke his leg in the autumn even before that he wasn't really effective, I think it was a season too far for him.

harbinger of hope wrote:

QUOTE:
In the short term I think Calderwood wants to make Brett Ormerods loan deal into a permanent one. No doubt replacing Grant Holt who the manager has been trying to get rid of.

Holt's demise has been a sad one. 2006/07 player of the year, 18 goals. He was looking good for this season. Then Calderwood started playing him left wing in 442 or 433, a tactic which he used against Chelsea to much ridicule. Especially after we'd beaten premiership Charlton with him playing down the middle in a 442 and scoring with Tyson left wing instead.

From left wing the goals dried up (ironically in one game he did play in the middle and scored twice). His morale dissapeared, murmerings in the dressing room about him falling out with Calderwood and taking the piss out of Agogo. Shunted off to Blackpool (a league above us) on loan.

Looks like the end...

Yesterday's papers were strongly talking about a £2 Million bid from Forest for Earnshaw.

Matthieu Flamini joins Milan from 1st July. Bummer (the situation, not the person).

We've possibly sold Luke Beckett to Bradford (we'll have Grant Holt in replacement)

Rob Page has signed for Chesterfield (boo!)

Chris Brandon has been released (yay!)

Dear Forest

Can we have Matt Lockwood back please? We've unloaded six today, including the frustrating and mercurial Jabo Ibehre after seven long years of being a "young striker with potential", meaning that absolutely none of the players who figured in our promotion-clincher at Oxford two years ago this very day are now at the club. Modern football eh? Jabo will do well at a promotion-chasing League Two club, but probably no higher.

In return, we'd like someone, anyone, capable of regularly doing creative things in midfield.

We've been linked with Chris Brandon, CTT. Should we steer clear?

We'd quite like Grant Holt though.

Crusoe wrote:

QUOTE:
(Clarke & Constantine didn't impress me, Jarrett's too inconsistent)

It's worth bearing in mind that Constantine got hounded out of Vale Park for his lack of effort despite banging in 26 goals. Potteries folk like to see sweat on the brow of their leading marksman.

And, Crusoe, twelve months ago you spoke highly of Craig Rocastle - something along the lines of him being a box-to-box midfielder who'd get us goals. You neglected to tell us exactly how long it took old Rocky to saunter from one box to the other. And no, he didn't score either. We paid up his contract a year early, such was his shiteness.

So a curse upon you and your foul analyses. [WINKY]

I did? God knows why, he was deeply average at best for us! I was told he was box-to-box, etc, by someone who'd seen him play at his previous club, and some of our fans thought him underrated, but did I really say that? Oops.

Crusoe, has KC been released then? I'd heard he was very well thought of up there.

As for Wrexham, well we've released 17 players and put 5 on the transfer list ... don't all rush at once ...

QUOTE:
Yesterday's papers were strongly talking about a £2 Million bid from Forest for Earnshaw.

We definately need a new striker. Earnshaw does play well in Championship, not sure he's a forward step though. We need a new Collymore to really push us on, if Leeds stay down, maybe Beckford.

We desperately need an orthodox right winger. We have done since January 07, when Nicky Southall left. In the second half of last season our side looked unbalanced and contributed to the fact that we grasped a playoff spot from the jaws of automatic promotion. We have still been unbalanced this year which has in my opinion been the difference that has stopped us winning the league.

ie. when Commons has a quiet day on the left we run out of attacking midfield ideas. This has caused us to draw far too many games (especially at home).

Jorge - yep, both KC and our other Welsh lad, Danny Knight, have been released.

Knight hadn't done much to impress (most notable achievement being his use as the false name covering a succession of trialists), but I'd heard KC was supposed to be decent. Suspect he was maybe a little lightweight and Tommy Wright didn't see him as likely to make the step up.

KC Owen? Hmmm, I wonder if Holyhead Hotspur can sign him up as a massive coup in their quest for Welsh Premier Football.

As for Bangor City, I can't think of many. I wouldn't mind one or two of the Wrexham released Players, Jorge was talking about. Jamie Reed and maybe a centre half to replace Michael Johnson, who's ending his loan spell from Tranmere. The wage budget should be bigger next season with the UEFA Cup and Welsh Cup winning prize money.

I won't bother with Spurs apart from Darren Bent must go.

Jamie Reed is shit

He did pretty well for Aberystwyth though.