Jose Anigo has been appointed head of recruitment. Anigo is said to have played a significant role in recent recruitment including the touting of both Sambas. Francois Modesto has been has been appointed Technical Director. He's previously held the role of Chief scout at Olympiacos and will play a hand in recruitment and the first team.
Think this is a good time as any to talk about our much improved recruitment. When looking at the players brought in:
1. Samba - Cult hero after 10 games
2. Sow - Serious clogger, very effective at what he does, breaking up play over the pitch but limited technically
3. Silva is arguably a much more championship-adapted Carvalho equivalent, nowhere near as flashy though
4. We thought Chema would come in to keep Dawsons spot warm (Dawson hasn't put a foot wrong yet this season) and honestly looked a contender for the spot, will probably miss out just as Dawson is a team captain
5. Semedo - Flashed hot and cold at times but the quality is there and is on a loan so low risk
6. Been very impressed with Riberio, defensively competent but covers alot of ground down the wings
7. Adomah oozes class - comfortable every second that hes on the ball, proven at championship level.
8. Ameobi - we got this lad on the free!.... a FREE.
9-12. Bostock, mir, and jenkinson i'd argue we havent seen enough of to have a real opinion of but look complete players from the 45-90 odd minutes we've seen of each. Only Muric at this point has disappointed me.
We've brought in exactly what we need, for near on peanuts at current market rates, with a high rate of players adapting to contend for first team places, and turned the window into a profit through selling youth and deadwood for surprisingly high capital.
Our transfer policies, or even lack of policies since I've supported forest have been to me our greatest weakness. From Platt's splurge - to Harts academy fire sale - to the failure to invest under billy when we were competitive - to fawaz's cheapo sale of our best players, terrible and naive recruitment, and hemorrhaging of wages - and throughout all this we've been lumbering between one and two full teams worth of deadwood, our overall transfer policy has been abysmal and self-destructive.
Even under the Greeks our recruitment has not been perfect, but has improved with each season: starting with Warburton who brought in a lot of players, many became deadwood under different management but we saw the likes of Lolley, Colback, Pantilimon, Watson, Figuerido, and Murphy improve the side, and since then the percentage of hits to misses only improves as the framework has been put in place.
Hopefully these new additions to the new framework only improve it, as if there is anything off the pitch that has hamstrung any recent success of the club, it has been recruitment and the considered selling of talent.
COYRs
Recruitment:Francois Modesto and Jose Anigo
posted on 16/10/19
There would be some big competition for that kind of signing. If Forest are still top six by Jan then I think we’d all like to see one or two really ambitious signings from the Greeks as it would represent Forest’s best opportunity in years to battle for promotion.
posted on 16/10/19
With the two aforementioned appointments being made it would suggest that further recruitment is more than likely going to be focused overseas, though.
posted on 17/10/19
Good post Monkey.
I think Semedo could become a big asset in the second half of the season if he is given enough game time; same applies to Bostock. But It is hard to argue with giving them a game ahead of Watson or Sow.
I also think Dawson will have a job on his hands ousting Chema. His leadership qualities do give him a slight edge and being a top pro I can't see him allowing his standards to slip.
Gayle is a top Championship striker but I have some niggling doubts whether that would be a good option. The financial package needed to bring him here would be hefty. Maybe Brentford could be persuaded to part with Olly Watkins.
posted on 17/10/19
Keep forgetting Bostock his here. He looked classy against Derby in the League Cup. He has been unfortunate that the “Ginger Pirlo” seems to have had some kind of Cocoon-like regeneration and is currently performing like a player ten years younger. It is a long old season, though, I think Bostock will get his opportunity at some point and it’ll be interesting to see what he does. Kept Forest ticking over really well in the League Cup game, especially in the second half when I have seen other Forest teams in the past take their foot off the throat of the opposition when in a commanding 2-0 lead.
posted on 17/10/19
Watkins is going to cost some serious money to buy. Brentford have made some good money over the last few season moving one of their star players every summer. They do have a new stadium to finance, though, so could be willing to cash in...
posted on 17/10/19
Dawson will return on Sunday. Be harsh on Chema, and Figuiredo for that matter, as both have deputised well in his absence. Same as Bostock, they just have to bide their time. Figuiredo in particular could be an option for the tough away days to come, especially the more “robust” teams, which was clearly Lamouchi’s thinking against Blackburn a few weeks ago.
posted on 17/10/19
It’d be interesting to see what the club would do if we were in the mix come the January window.
Can’t see a big splurge just to consolidate top 6, but top 2.....? I think the those in high places would want to take every assurance we’d stay there.
They’ve spent large but fair on proven players at this level before. Could see a large (for a loan) fee for a 6 month loan of a lower premiership player just to get us over the line if we need one. Or a similar short but within our means kind of outlay.
Would they take a risk by scouting abroad when they may need time to settle half way through the season?
posted on 17/10/19
Dawson may come in against Wiggum, but I can't see him playing three in eight days, nor would I want him to to be honest.
A striker in January is the key. Get it right and I think it would guarantee us top six. Gayle or Watkins would be really good. Haaland would be a dream.
But how many of the 12 we signed in the summer had we heard of? Maybe half of them. I think we are most likely to sign someone who is unknown to us at the moment; maybe from Portugal or France.
posted on 18/10/19
They’ll go where they think they will get good value. Undoubtedly, that has been abroad around Europe.
posted on 18/10/19
It’s Lamouchi‘s job to integrate players and get them to to speed with the requirements of the team and the league. He has done pretty well so far.