Who wouldn’t like to see Nottingham Forest promoted?
Other than the crew down the other end of the A52, perhaps 99 percent of football fans would like to see Forest back in the Premier League, but what if it doesn’t happen?
There is a silver lining to not getting promoted this time around.
How would Forest fans like to have England under 21 internationals on loan next season, because if Forest want it, they’ll get it.
Djed Spence, Max Lowe, Keinan Davis, James Garner and Philip Zinckernagel have all improved as players, as have their reputations and valuations. If you have a really good young player in the Premier League and he can’t break into their team, the parent club will be knocking on the door of Steve Cooper.
In fact, they’ll be beaten to it by the player's agent pushing to get their man in the best team for player development, Nottingham Forest.
Of course this is all an assumption, Forest may just do the unthinkable and find their way into the promised land, however at Forest we don’t count our chickens, because we remember getting done over by Plymouth and Charlton. Oh and erm Yeovil, Sheffield United and Blackpool.
So I’m going to play on the safe side, and just assume we will be in the Championship next season. We will have a snowballs chance in hell of retaining Spence and Garner. But there’s a positive outlook for perhaps signing Lowe and Davies on permanent deals, maybe Zinckernagel on another loan?
Now add in four or five England Under-21s who aren't playing first team football and it starts to look a little exciting.
Au Revoir Joe and Brennan
Unless lightening strikes twice, if Forest do not get promoted, Joe Worrall and Brennan Johnson will leave.
Johnson only has a year left on his contract and will bring in at least £20m.
Worrall has said he wants to play in the Premier League and is prepared to leave Forest to meet his aims. He almost left in the summer he has previously said.
Oh, and we have to equate for Spence not coming back on loan.
Would it surprise any of us if he returns to his native London with a deal to join Arsenal or Tottenham?
It looks like a big hole to fill. Let’s be straight, it’s a huge hole to fill.
But with £30m in the bank from the possible sales of Worrall and Johnson, and the ability to bring in five players on loan, the proposition looks less scary.
However, maybe we can look a little closer to home for replacing Worrall, Spence and Johnson.
Loic Mbe Soh, and Jonathan Panzo could come in at centre half. Richie Laryea at right back, and Alex Mighten on the wing, though he is more left than right sided.
Of course that’s only looking at the current squad. Could a match fit Mbe Soh or Panzo do a sterling job alongside McKenna and Cook?
Laryrea is said to be very attacking, and he’s probably not going to be anywhere near as good as Spence, but few are. The same is for Johnson, but could Mighten, under the guidance of Cooper bring in 10 goals and 10 assists next season, all be it on the left hand side of the field?
It’s all speculation.
However, despite the negativity of potentially losing two major assets, Forest really do have some decent players already available. Can they be coached into being better and more consistent players, prepared for a promotion challenge?
