02 Sep 2026 12:26:54
Actual changes to the Forest Squad.

GK
Sels
Victor
Bender (in for Ortega)

Defenders
Aina
Munoz (in for Morato)
Williams
Netz
Savona
Murillo
Milenkovic

Midfield
Sangare
Dominguez
Gibbs-White
McAtee
Schlager (in for Anderson)
Yates

Attackers
Hudson Odoi
Wood
Jesus
Ndoye
Kalimuendo (in for Hutchinson)
Delap (in for Taiwo)



Only 5 changes really.

There is one more space as that is only 24. We can bring in under 22-year-old players, hence the bids for young MFs.



My honest assessment? Slightly stronger squad if the MF does OK.

Weaknesses:

Do we trust Victor and Bender if Sels gets injured? I'm unsure.

Not left sided CB to cover for Murillo. Not much depth at CB if we are playing 3 at the back.

No club could replace Anderson as he's unique.

We just don't know whether Wood will be fit enough to perform (he's great when he does). It is an improvement is Kalimuendo and Delap do well.

1.) 02 Sep 2026
02 Sep 2026 13:22:39
Good appraisal cyclist, the goalkeeper situation is the one that bothers me most. Have to hope Sels doesn't get injured.

2.) 02 Sep 2026
02 Sep 2026 13:26:04
That's a helpful side by side.

We aren't stronger, though, in my view, and we knew Anderson was leaving c6 months ago. We appear to have bid for loads of players.

We possibly/probably have a stronger manager, but that's about it.

We were in a relegation scrap last year, and unless MGW and Delap hit 25+ goals between them, we will be again, I suspect.

3.) 02 Sep 2026
02 Sep 2026 13:46:35
It doesn't matter how long we knew Anderson was leaving, we couldn't afford a replacement as good. We looked into buying plenty of midfielders, Glasner thought might improve us, and they weren't available for the money they were worth.

There isn't a player in the Prem who had better stats than Anderson. We had no way to replace him. He's unique.

I also don't think we could stop Ortega leaving to play Champions League footy rather than being second choice when he was out of contract.



So, apart from Anderson and Ortega leaving, we are stronger in defence (barring injuries) and stronger up front. We've kept all our other core players.

We do have an empty number 1 shirt and an empty number 4 one. Maybe that tells us something.

To look at the window differently, have we signed any turkeys this window?

Actual incomings (Bender won't play in the Prem).

Diamonde.
Munoz.
Schlager.
Kalimuendo.
Delap.

4.) 02 Sep 2026
02 Sep 2026 14:17:23
Let's see where we end up. I know you are very pro M, and all that, which is totally your call and not unfair.

I feel differently, and can't really say the squad looks this half.

A lot rests on Delap, I think, as MGW can't replicate his feats of last season again (or is unlikely to).

I just want a stress free season. Mid table obscurity, please!

5.) 02 Sep 2026
02 Sep 2026 14:19:14
Bottom half squad at best.
Transfer market disaster. Players replaced by ones of no improvement. Marinakas rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.

6.) 02 Sep 2026
02 Sep 2026 14:26:21
Absolutely brilliant and helpful posts, Agen and Cyclist. Great assessment of where we are and where we might be in the future!
Superb and thank you both. ????

7.) 02 Sep 2026
02 Sep 2026 14:30:04
Who thinks Taiwo and Hutchinson are better than Kalimuendo and Delap?

Who thinks Boly and Marato are better than Daimonde and Munoz?

Let's get it on record.

Marinakis couldn't do much about the Anderson situation? I see people looking for scapegoats.



If you want to criticise Marinakis, then replacing a coach who had us scoring goals for fun, and had the whole squad happy, and the fans united behind the team, was ridiculous.

8.) 02 Sep 2026
02 Sep 2026 14:43:33
I think Hutchinson is a lot better than Kanthitawindow.

9.) 02 Sep 2026
02 Sep 2026 14:46:34
Another astute post, Cyclist. Spot on mate. ??

10.) 02 Sep 2026
02 Sep 2026 14:59:48
Hutchinson would be better in Pereira's system but not Glasner's.

Hutchinson is a better pacy winger and doesn't fit into Glasser's system as well as Kalimuendo.

11.) 02 Sep 2026
02 Sep 2026 17:05:00
Seemed to have missed Diomande and Cunha from the list?

12.) 02 Sep 2026
02 Sep 2026 17:43:10
But Larry, the majority of this team under VP, over 16 or so games, produced form that, extrapolated over a full season, would have got us into the top 6. Goals scored and conceded, top 4 mate.
Are you saying OG won't get a similar song out of them?

13.) 02 Sep 2026
02 Sep 2026 18:21:15
Not really, Stokie, but a quality upgrade in players would make his job a whole lot easier.

14.) 02 Sep 2026
02 Sep 2026 19:17:24
Good thread that, Cyclist. ??

15.) 03 Sep 2026
03 Sep 2026 13:16:11
I forgot to say, Jair Cuhna is under 22. I think that might mean there are 2 places available in the squad still. So, we almost certainly are still looking for a MF and GK.