In the tenth of a series of pre-season reports, HarryfromBath assesses the mood around the Championship clubs by delving into their forums, looking here at how manager Mark Warburton is progressing in his first summer at the City Ground. Reports on Derby and Burton will follow later today with all of the teams in the division covered by the start of the season.
"I’m absolutely enjoying this pre-season. No unnecessary drama and we are quietly going about our business”, "The City Ground is looking very fresh after some tender loving care. The whole place just feels more professional and it looks like we mean business”, "An exciting season lies ahead for us.”
"I’m really looking forward to this season for once.” With new owner Evangelos Marinakis having completed his purchase of the club from Fawaz Al-Hasawi in May, and with Mark Warburton reshaping the squad to suit his expansive style of play, the mood among Reds is decidedly upbeat.
"A mid-table and possible top half finish is possible. As long as we don’t let our expectations run away with is and sack Warburton because he has a bit of a bad run, I will be happy”, "I think it will be an unspectacular finish which is fine by me. There is a lot of rebuilding to do and this will take time.”
"Pre-season games usually bore me but this year I have had a real interest and excitement to see what Warburton is trying to shape. It feels like we are a proper football club once again”, "The aim and expectation is mid-table. Anything more is stupid with the money flying around in this division.”
"My word, we actually appear to be fluid between midfield and attack, and we look like we can open teams up for fun. It’s exciting, Warburton, your coaching methods are clear for all to see. Keep it up”, "Warburton is as good a manager as any in the Championship, and much better than most.”
The 54-year-old former Brentford and Rangers boss has started to implement his attacking playing style since arriving in March. "While he has made some big improvement in the short time he has been at Forest, last season’s league position didn’t lie and he does need to improve the squad.”
"The only thing that makes me sweat is our insistence of playing short balls out to marked players”, "Poor defending and a bad fitness levels were the reasons we gave up so many leads last year. Coach both of these problems and we immediately become much harder to beat regardless of transfers.”
Forest carried a number of loan signings last season, most of whom flopped and the return of Patjim Kasami (Olympiakos), Nicolao Dumitru (Napoli) and Hildeberto Pereira (Benfica, before his transfer to Legia Warsaw) to their parent clubs have not been lamented by East Midlanders.
A number of players signed permanently have also left after their moves were less than successful, including defender Daniel Pinillos (to his former club Cordoba) and left-back Damien Perquis (to AJ Ajaccio). Goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic is also expected to find a new club in the coming season.
"We've had Middlesbrough's pants down with £15m to be honest. Assombalonga is a good striker in this league but I certainly don't think he's stand out.” Supporters have accepted the loss of their 24-year-old striker, in sharp contrast to their reaction last summer to Oliver Burke’s move to RB Leipzig.
"We have sold a player who is an excellent finisher at Championship level but one who couldn't trap a bag of cement. The scoring goals part is all Boro care about and if he gets them promoted it will be money well spent. However, there are far better players moving for much less money this summer.”
"We need to strengthen the defence”, "Our defending needs to be better, especially aerially. It will be a problem when the season starts and we begin with the same defence”, "It was poor defending that messed us up last season and little has changed so far”, "We need new additions at the back.”
The arrival from Burnley of 25-year-old Tendayi Darikwa is seen as addresses a major defensive weakness in the squad. Winger Barry McKay, 22, from Hibernian and 21-year-old striker Jason Cummings from Glasgow Rangers are seen as good prospects suited to Warburton’s style of play.
"Andreas Bouchalakis sits seep, picking passes and recycling the ball”, "The Greek lad looks sound technically but looks like he might also want too much time.” Reds have liked the latest addition to the squad, but several feel that the 24-year-old arrival from Olympiakos may need time to settle.
Contract extensions have additionally been agreed with midfielders Jorge Grant and David Vaughan as well as 18-year-old striker Ben Brereton. Reds’ thoughts on their most high-profile addition, one-time Town striker Daryl Murphy (from Newcastle) are outlined in greater detail below.
Forest have played three games so far in pre-season and have just one to follow at home to Burnley on Saturday. A 2-0 win over local rivals Notts County and a comfortable 4-0 triumph over Mansfield were followed by a 2-1 win this week at home to La Liga side Girona FC at the City Ground.
Despite making wholesale changes after the hour mark against Girona, Warburton opted for a 3-4-1-2 formation in the starting XI (above) and final XI (below), a decision which highlighted a lack of full-back options in the squad. Red are speculating on whether he will switch to his usual 4-2-3-1 shape.
"The wing-back system was like square pegs in round holes. Warburton needs to stop using this system unless he brings specialist wing-backs in. It was painful watching Brereton and Osborn trying to play there”, "The plus side is getting two strikers and we have good ones to choose from.”
"Feed Apostolos Vellios and he will score”, "Vellios has owned pre-season. I don’t think Warburton fancied him but there will be probably be riots if he doesn’t pick him. Who needs Britt?”, "Four goals in 70 minutes of football for him so far.” The former Everton striker has caught the eye this summer.
"I have to say, we look bloody good”, "It’s the first time I have seen Billy McKay. Boy, he looks like a player, with great touch and vision”, "We play on the shoulder of defenders, making clever diagonal runs. It’s so easy for creative players to slot passes through if they have the vision to do this.”
"It’s a good sign when an entire fan base doesn’t really say anything bad about a player”, "A lot of Magpies have genuine respect for him”, "I can’t find one Newcastle fan on their forums who has a negative thing to say about Murphy. They are sad to see him go and most prefer him to Mitrovic.”
"A boring signing but it makes sense.” While the arrival of the 34-year-old has not sent pulses racing, many Reds can see the sense in signing him. "With little or no Championship experience up front in our squad, you need guys like Daryl Murphy to take the pressure of young players like Brereton”
"Murphy is an extra physical presence up front should circumstances require it. He can hold the ball up and occupy defenders”, "It is not remotely exciting but he won’t be a pre-retirement passenger either. He’s a limited but very good honest player who will work hard and put his body on the line.”
The busiest Forest message-board is the knowledgeable LTLF Forest Forum.