Not sure anyone can call him a steal, his goal record is rather poor so we are paying for potential. Hes a big gamble and one who will probably either fulfill what people perceive to be his potential and go on to exceed the price tag, or continue at his current rate of scoring and prove to be massively overpriced. Its one of them, its difficult to judge the fee too much. Apparently Gallagher warrants a similar fee and he is older yet proven to be not very good. You look at Armstrongs price tag and Brereton looks like weve been ripped off, but Newcastle didnt want him. You look at strikers like Grabban, Waghorn, Afobe etc, all of whom are proven goalscorers at this level, something Brereton is certainly not. They are all better strikers now. But the risk with them is if they dont help to get promoted in the life of their contract, then their value hits the floor, Derby, Forest and Stoke can justify such spending, we dont have the same chance of promotion. A lot of mystique and excitement comes from the size of the fee rather than the actual player and his record in my opinion. Its the statement of intent that comes with the price and suggests that we are showing ambition, at a point when we are already doing well. If he was coming for 2m I doubt he would be getting half the fanfare either way.

May be mistaken but unsure if hes been too prolific at under 23 level? Would make sense to loan Nuttall out, his next acid test would be to score regularly at league level and then with that under his belt after a year or 2, come back and challenge for our first team. Butterworth could then try to take Nuttalls mantle from last season, albeit they seem different types of players, he can become the main attacking threat for the u23s and earn a loan move himself and the cycle can continue. Obviously assuming he doesnt make such an impact to be in a position where we feel its best to fast track him into the first team.

I dont get the Whittingham situation. Overall, with Evans, Reed, Bennett, Smallwood and Davenport I can understand why hes become surplus to requirements. That said, he certainly has more ability than the likes of Hart and Caddis who have been used in squads recently at a time where we are lacking numbers. From what I could gauge pre joining us he seems to be quite a shy and quiet character so id be surprised if hes a bad influence either. Maybe hes injured? I echo others in that we need a leaner squad ideally, and he, Hart, Caddis and Gladwin all out on loan would reduce the squad size without impacting the team at all, whilst the likes of Nuttall, Travis and Tomlinson need regular football elsewhere temporarily to ensure they dont stagnate.

Where do you get the impression that he will be played wide mostly? Listened to Mowbrays interview last night and he said Brereton considers himself a number 9, albeit he did also mention Armstrong and using strikers wide to counter certain weaknesses, often reluctantly. Forest fans seem pretty unanimous that one of the primary reasons for his loss of form was due to being played wide. I hope hes being signed primarily as a 9.

The experience within the team is also critical to our chances, in that we have older players who not only offer know how and leadership to an otherwise young team, but are key players in their own right. Mulgrew is our best defender yet is often overlooked or underrated as people (understandably) praise Lenihan, who is also a good defender, but for me Mulgrew is better at this moment, and the perfect man to play alongside. Hopefully playing with Mulgrew will allow Lenihan to improve on the ball as he has been known to misplace dangerous passes, something Mulgrew rarely does. The 2 however are a good partnership. Graham has been almost universally overlooked in peoples teams due to the exciting signings of Brereton and Armstrong. But for me theres no reason to suggest that Breretons record should indicate automatic selection over Graham, in the short term, whilst unlike Brereton according to Forest fans, Armstrong is just as capable from a wide position as we saw last season. Part of which was down to Graham vacating space for Armstrong to run in behind into. In midfield, we have players in more attacking roles so its important that the experienced players like Evans and Bennett ensure that they provide the knowhow and the intelligence in there to give us a platform.

Is it not incredibly arrogant to use the line "those with a deeper football knowledge or who play the game?" Your line about his goals winning games/points is baffling. He was hardly scoring the 4th in 4-0 wins, we was a team outside the play offs therefore our games were rarely seperated by more than a goal. To suggest hes a flat track bully scoring goals in games wed already won to get his goal tally up is nonsensical. Not convinced by all your quotes regarding the opinions of coaching staff etc. How do you know these? Who said the line about Defoe? As much as his all round game aside from his goals wasnt brilliant, it is also being done a disservice to suggest that it was non-league standard. Back to the point, if Brereton is as successful and prolific consistently as Rhodes was. Weve got a hell of a signing on our hands.

Oh, for a guaranteed 20 goal a season "hindrance" now.

One thing Id definitely say is that I am excited to see how he gets on, and it feels like a statement of intent. There are definitely questions to be asked and concerns lingering. His goal record is very underwhelming, there are questions from Forest fans about his hold up play which is a concern and he was well down the pecking order at Forest. But theres also a degree of excitement in bringing a player highly rated in for money we didnt expect at the start of the summer and we are stronger going forward with him than without him. Another key thing, lets not write off Danny Graham just yet!

At the moment id say: Raya Nyambe Lenihan Mulgrew Bell Evans Reed/Bennett Armstrong Dack Palmer Graham Subs: Leutwiler, Bennett/Reed, Williams, Downing, Rothwell, Smallwood, Brereton Nothing suggests that currently, Brereton would be able to replicate the sort of performances, goal contributions and link up with Dack that Graham offers at the monent, based more so on Grahams high standards. Obviously long term he can become that man and hes an exciting option. Bennett was obviously an interesting one. I dont feel that he offers the attacking output to justify a place in the front 4 over any of the other 3 mentioned, aside from in difficult away games. His place would for me most likely lie in central midfield, a place where Evans, Reed and Bennett are for me our best 3 options. That said, I hope that contrary to the opening post, theres still a pacy winger and a centre back to come.

Its not conspiracy theories! I and others are asking if its a permanent transfer in all but name or just a temporary deal for now, with the wording being slightly unclear.

I presumed it to be sort of a formality, ie a permanent transfer as a couple of other teams have done in this loan window. The way it is worded suggests its not necessarily the case. Unsure if its just the wording or ive missed something.

Doesnt say that the deal will become permanent, only an option.

If the cup is such an irrelevance to you, why read this thread? I couldnt attend tonight and I find these updates very useful personally.

Whilst I agree with prioritising the league, hence me somewhat agreeing with the changes made by Mowbray. We shouldnt just disregard the cup, id love to progress and will be dissapointed if we dont. I also think, especially on the assumption that the manager has quite a few millions to spend on a striker, we can aim for more than mere survival. I mentioned Reed and Rodwell as, considering I am under the impression that both have trained throughout pre-season, surely tonight would be perfect to give them at least some game time?

Frightening lack of quality in that team and squad but I agree with the notion of wrapping the likes of Mulgrew and Evans in cotton wool. That said, that team might do well to win. Dont understand Reed and in particular Rodwells absence. If they have been training surely the antidote to lack of match fitness is to play them?

Its not a valid dissection to make to make a sarcastic comment about people saying Gladwin would be mentioned if Mowbray achieved double promotion. Albeit that comment was tongue in cheek. On Chapman. I agree. Not an ideal choice due to injury issues but ticks a box in terms of player types we need and we know his ability.

Is there any need for this at all? Needs to be a scope for healthy debate, in the main people are happy with our business but im fed up of people shutting others down who are raising valid points. Mowbrays recruitment isnt going to be perfect. Anyway, big question marks about Chapmans injury but he would at least be a direct winger that we desperately lack. That would just leave a centre back in my opinion.

Unhappy with a lack of natural winger and with the depth at centre back. Happy overall.

For claritys sake, what signings would YOU like us to make, positionally, not names, between now and Friday? Mine would be a striker, pacy winger and centre back.

What does that even mean? Its not that black or white. Everyone in general will testify to the job Mowbrays doing or towards some of the signings made. But if you think that people wont mention if they feel a particular positions is weak or needs strengthening, or if they have any concerns on one of the players we have signed, you might be in for shock.

I wanted your opinion, not Mowbrays. I come on the messageboard to give my opinion and to see what other peoples opinions are. Im not interested in all the hypothetical reasons as to what Mowbray is thinking and why you think hes thinking it. Nothing suggests he wanted Chapman, neither his solitary start last year nor his comments about him being a sub suggest he particularly rates him. Hes an easy link because he was here last season. No its not unneccesary. Im not saying give me a list of players to sign. I thought it was just an impression/hunch that Rich Sharpe had that Rodwell will play in defence. Downing started off ok but after a honeymoon period his performances dramatically got worse. Him and Willias played a couple of games together around when we lost at Plymouth and they both looked all over the place. Mowbray is obviously after a centre back hence the Bauer quotes. We need a centre back not far off the quality of the 2 we have. If you genuinely feel Rodwell, IN YOUR OPINION, is good enough as our 3rd choice centre back, a position thats totally alien to him in senior football, then youve had a massive change of heart in a couple of days. Hes seemingly miles off a squad anyway.

The opening quotes werent yours, you was the least over the top in your instant dismissal of our transfer window being perfect but it was still the same kind of post. Im not talking about what Mowbray wants, I am talking about my opinion, rather than doing what you do and try and mirror Mowbrays opinion or what Mowbray will do. Presumably, Mowbray doesnt want a pacy winger or he would get one. Doesnt mean I and others cant think we need one, and have thoughts of our own. Palmer and Rothwell always want to come in central, Id like an option of a player who runs on the outside. In terms of strikers, central midfielders and attacking midfielders, wed have had a very productive window and spent more than I expected. At centre back, both Downing (after an initial couple of months) and Williams looked out of their depth in League 1 there when needed for longer than a game. Neither are back up suitable to cover Mulgrew and Lenihan, both of whom are injury prone. Neither is a player who in general is nowhere near fit, is a massive gamble and critically, has played in midfield al of his life. You didnt want him and you also said that he should be a midfielder, so its crazy that now you seem to think he is a capable third choice centre back. If he is waiting for Bauer then surely we should sign a loan to cover his inevitable purchase.

I didnt want Chapman solely for injury reasons. None of the 3 players you mentioned play in the same position. Brereton is a striker and Palmer and Rothwell are central players. None of them are natural, pacy wingers. And no, I dont have a list, im not a scout sadly.

@JHRover makes some valid points, acknowledging the quality of the signings we are making whilst also suggesting that hes a bit disapointed that we didnt fill all of the voids that we needed to, a constructive and balanced post, and hes instantly hounded by the usual suspects with the same boring, predictable cliches, "are you ever happy," "stop being negative" etc. And going off on a tangent about supporting the team (something he didnt remotely suggest he wouldnt), that weve got a great team spirit, that we are 5th in the league and even that he sounds like a Burnley fan. I for one agree with him. I think that Armstrong and Brereton (if and when he signs) are big, exciting additions to a threadbare attack, that Palmer and Reed are very clever uses of the loan market, rather than squad fillers, that Rothwell is clearly a very capable addition. Davenport im unsure how much he will play but hes a potentially good player from the limited I know. Leaving only Rodwell who I think is going to be a poor signing. I expected at the start of the summer to end the window in a weaker position than we finished last season, mainly as I didnt expect Armstrong back. We are going to go into this season with a much stronger squad. But not a perfect squad unless we sign 2 further that we are unaware of. We are still really threadbare at centre back, an injury to Mulgrew or Lenihan and we would be up shit creek without a paddle with no sufficient cover. Secondly we need a pacy wide man, we have some good attacking players to play in the 3 behind the striker but we lack a pacy, direct winger as an option, Dack, Rothwell and Palmer are all similar in wanting to come inside, Armstrong I like wide but he wants to be a striker long term, Brereton was really poor wide at Forest from and Bennett and Conway are slow and not very attacking so a pacy wide man would finish us off there. You dont have to agree with everything or think that everythings perfect to be backing the manager or the team. That myth needs to be broken.

Yep, hope we progress but would also rest a few more compared the last round with the squad already at breaking point, injury wise. If Rodwells been training surely this is a perfect opportunity to get him game time, same with any new signings if they arrive. Raya Travis Lenihan Downing Bell Rodwell Smallwood Conway Palmer Rothwell Nuttall