Burnley and Preseason thoughts

With preseason meaning little to nothing, here's some ramblings before the eventual crushing wave of championship reality come flooding in.

From initial impressions - Warburton has recruited very well. Crucially we've recruited not just in places we immediately need, but for depth. We have loads of CBs, two (on the face of things) quality RBs, two DCM-likes, two wingers on either side, and a range of strikers upfront.

If burnleys anything to go by we favour a 433, playing with wingers that can defend and full-backs that can attack. Warburton seems keen to keep 352 an option. The whole team has benefited from a full pre-season and all players know their roles with or without the ball.

We have a team on our hands. No longer are we a predictable team where we have one very good player that we get the ball to and hope they win the game for us. We defend and attack as a unit. The team has a nice balance of pros and youth, large lads to nippy flair players, and there is only LB and RW (depending on wards injury) where their replacement would be a noticeable downgrade.

We could do with a lansbury-esqe player (hopefully one that performs for more that 2 month at a time) in midfield though as central midfield seems the weakest part of the team with and without the ball.

The playing style is very nice one-two touch football. We also play with width, moreso when when we play with ward than brereton on the right, but its also not our only method. I will say though the team seems fixated on playing football on the floor. Short goal kicks. short corners. Its very nice but in the championship it is just another step which you can lose possession for. Might be experimentation with these games only being friendlies but sometimes simplicity is key.

Player ratings:
Smith is a good shot stopper, and for his worldie save against Ipswitch the spot almost indebted to him. BUT. He needs to be more vocal and seems to play autonomously from the defence which has already created a few tense moments. Can definitely see why we are looking for a more experienced keeper as that will inevitably cost us goals in the future.

Traore has been solid but with him at left back we are always one injury away from playing Fox or Osborn at LB. We need depth or competition there.

Dawika looks more like a winger than a right back. He has alot of pace and his crosses are fast and fairly accurate. Has a very good tackle on him although his tackles are all just an inch or two away from swiping down the player and just the player. Cant remember him getting beat though and Lichaj may struggle to keep his place but he is a very good back up in this league.

Worral has been immense. Against county there were a few mix ups in the defense, probably due to formation changes every 15 minutes but against burnley he looks like a great prospect. Manc likewise.

Vaughan is vaughan, great player, poor injury record. Now competing with the Might Bouch who has done well to shake off the early skeptisism. Appears to play a sweeper role but although hes not quite as good as vaughan defensively, makes up for it with some great forward thinking passing. Early days but promising. Will probably get better.

McKay fades in and out of games but when hes on point, hes nippy, progressive, and has an amazing ability to pick out a pass. Can see him regularly being subbed for carayol, who has adopted an 'antonio' role and had great success against county.

Brereton 'feels' wasted on right wing but he performs well there, and having him on the pitch gave the team an added threat and defence from set pieces as hes a strong lad.

Osborn seems to drift and wander, doing his own thing but to great effect. Linking up play around the park as that 'extra man' when needed. Great playmaker.

Clough has struggled. He being played as an upfield CM rather than an ACM and has failed to put his stamp on games albeit for some flashes. This is again where forest need to recruit. Nixon is saying we are back into looking at MacDonald which would fit the bill nicely. If we bring a CM in I can see Clough covering both CM and playmaker roles as when needed.

Every striker has scored in preseason, which doesnt mean much, but its something and each bring something different. All are good at finding space.

Id say we need a first team CM, a Squad/pushing first team LB, and possibly a keeper. These are the targets Nixon says forest are in for, which is good because in my eyes, quality signings in these 3 positions would push a team that would be aiming for high-bottom half to something competitive. Past that, we'll just see how the league pans out.

Thoughts?