18 Dec 2017 08:14:07
We all need to get "the work in progress" into perspective and Warbo's unfinished team building task.

Based on performances this year and player contracts you need to look at the likely retained list and promotions from the Under 23's next summer.

Warbo wants to trim the squad but he will still need an outfield squad of 25 plus 3 keepers to cover for injuries/ suspensions etc.

So by my reckoning there are only 14 of the current squad to keep this summer:-
Smith
Darikwa
Lichaj
Worrall
Cash
Bridcutt
Bouchalakis
Osborn
Clough
McKay
Murphy
Walker
Brereton
Cummings

Add hopefully 7 promotions from within the club:-
Bossin
Gabriel
Iacovitti
Ariyibi
Edser
Yates
Grant
Assuming player sentiment stops, we get rid of the rest which hopefully enables us to keep the 14 named then we still have 7 new quality players to sign:-
Goalkeeper
Left Back
2 Big strong Centre Backs
2 Strong Midfielders
1 Proven Goalscorer

So to all those Formoaner's calling for yet another manager change the current bloke is only halfway through flushing the Fawazitis Virus well and truly down the pan?

So please give Warbo a fair crack of the whip even if this season continues as a roller coaster as we all need to get real!

COYR's it's far better and healthier times ahead so let's all keep taking our medicine?

1.) 18 Dec 2017
18 Dec 2017 11:13:56
I'm all for giving Warburton longer but It's worth noting that time isn't always the answer for guaranteed improvement like some think.
Warbo was here 2 months before the end of last season and only kept us up by the skin of our teeth. He saw how bad the defense was and had the close season to do something about it.
We ended up with Darikwa,a journeyman striker and a couple of attackers from Scotland.
Santo been at Wolves who only finished a few points better off than us last season for less time than Warbo but He's addressed their shortcomings.
Warnock been at Cardiff 5 months longer than Warbo but strengthened them where needed.
Rowett at the sheep less time than Warbo. I know they had a strong squad anyway but still lost Hughes and Ince. Their defense was already strong but he still signed Curtis Davies who is one of the best defenders in the division for little more than we paid for Darikwa!
The question is not so much of time but can Warbo be trusted with further funds in an attempt to strengthen us given his dealings so far?
Watching us at the moment is no fun. It's not a matter of if we will concede but when. He doesn't seem capable of adjusting his game plan to make us harder to beat away from home.
Like I say,I'd personally give him more time but don't be fooled for one moment that time will make all the difference.

2.) 18 Dec 2017
18 Dec 2017 11:50:34
Spot on redfred. The wolves comparrison is one i made a few weeks back. They spent a club record fee on a midfielder who haz made so much difference the rest are mainly loanees and cheap purchases from the likes of norwich. Great point well made. Btw i have asked several times but not git any answers why is ward not playing??

3.) 18 Dec 2017
18 Dec 2017 11:59:02
To compare warburton with the wolves manager seems a bit stupid considering he had millions to spend, compared to us having to make a profit in the transfer window again due to mistakes made before warburton came to the club. also, saying warburton shouldn't be trusted with money when we've signed mckay for 500k (when he's probably worth 10 times that) also seems quite harsh. i think warburtons made a solid start with the difficult conditions (small budget, high wage bill, huge squad, lots of dead wood), and should be given time and money to build a squad that is his own.

4.) 18 Dec 2017
18 Dec 2017 12:34:46
Ward got injured preseason and has only just got back to fitness.maybe they don't want to rush him back?
He's no world beater though Rutland,he's another who needs to be gone at the seasons end.
Not getting any younger and has more than his fair share of injuries.

5.) 18 Dec 2017
18 Dec 2017 12:54:19
McKay worth 5 million?
Good luck with that one!
It's not so much the amount you spend but how you spend it.
Warburton spent approx 5 million in the summer and the defense is in no better shape than last season. Probably worse!
Like I say, time will tell but don't hold your breath.

6.) 18 Dec 2017
18 Dec 2017 18:00:41
Comparisons with other clubs is irrelevant given we were on the verge of administration, saddled with existing player contracts and FFP which has restricted Warbo's ability to change the squad.
Next summer we can jettison the inherited underperformers and walking wounded and move forward.
Anything achieved this season is a bonus!

7.) 18 Dec 2017
18 Dec 2017 18:53:54
You are all probaly right about warbo, maybe i am a bit harsh the indicators say no but give him a freehand over the next to windows and let us see. I will be at the preston on sat cheering the lads on irrespective. First game for a while looking forward.

8.) 18 Dec 2017
18 Dec 2017 20:51:48
Fred, a good post mate and there is always relevance in benchmarking against your competitors even if you don’t like the answer it gives.

9.) 18 Dec 2017
18 Dec 2017 23:40:51
Our benchmark is Notts County once we have cleared out the walking wounded and expiring contracts!

10.) 19 Dec 2017
19 Dec 2017 10:38:39
If you read reports from journalists that have spoken to people at Forest, we did try to strengthen the defence in the summer. From what I've read (I’m not claiming to know, just to find what I’ve read, plausible), we made enquiries of 10-12 defenders, who either weren't available (within budget) or just didn't want to join us. As well as half a dozen ‘keepers, etc. etc.

So, when trying to judge if we are improving, let's not compare our performance to an exceptional success story (we’ve seen more losers than winners, playing FFP roulette!!), let's compare ourselves to our nearest competition last season.

We finished one point behind Burton and two behind Brum and QPR, we are currently 13, 14 and 5 points ahead of that group, so things could be worse.

So, whilst it's slow (and slightly frustrating) progress, I’d say it's a symptom of years of mismanagement and the damage that was caused to the club financially and reputationally in that time. So we need to accept, this will take a while to recover from! We need a couple of players signed in January, a top half finish and then try to make the rest of the necessary changes next summer and then, this time next year, judge the job that Mark and Frank have done.

That’s my take on it all.

11.) 19 Dec 2017
19 Dec 2017 20:12:46
Spot on Trickster

12.) 19 Dec 2017
19 Dec 2017 21:15:18
Wasnt Bristol City one of our closest competitors too, 3 points ahead of us last season. I think the thing we should be looking at is everyones tried to strengthen their squads but some have done a better job than others. Any sort of consistency in this division and you'll be near the top. We don't have any, that's the problem, no excuses, we have the talent but no consistency. I've watched us play and thought we could beat anyone and the next game played like we couldn't beat an egg. We not far away, closer than a lot of people think, yeah we need a good centre back, in my mind we missing a leader aswell, someone to knuckle them down and take control.

13.) 19 Dec 2017
19 Dec 2017 22:18:07
A reasonable alternative view offered there Ton, which of course there always is Sheff Utd have also been in league one for six seasons and they look ok as well. There is no right answer and every argument has a counter argument