Forest To Gamble Again?

Last season the Reds took a massive gamble that backfired on them when they let midfielder Nicky Southall go without replacing him. Southall was the only midfielder with any form or creativity when he left and his departure was the catalyst that eventually led to our downfall.

Along with the departure of Southall, there were injuries to key players namely Tyson and Agogo that helped keep us in League 1 for a third season. Forest look like ignoring the warning signs that they got last year by once again trying to make do with what we have. As we all know, Agogo will be off in January for up to six weeks thanks to his participation in the ACON tournament. If the side was to pick up any injuries between now and then we could be woefully short in the striker department. It is a massive risk in not investing at this stage of the season, but unless the club manages to get someone in before Thursday’s deadline then they are once again gambling with it’s future.

Fans have been saying all along that upfront is where we are short, but the club obviously does not see things that way. It may well turn out that we get through to January unscathed and remain in a strong position, but there is a lot to be said for getting someone in now. The newcomer has time to settle in and it will also keep those in the squad on their toes. More importantly, it provides much needed cover in a department we are already short. Dobie may be fit, but he is past his best and young Emile Sinclair would have too much to shoulder as a main striker for someone so young and with such limited experience.

With 48 hours to go, the rumour mill is going round at quite a pace. Plenty of names are being linked, including local lads McGoldrick, Best and Hoskins. The Evening Post today states a move for Sheffield United’s Billy Sharp has been knocked back, which suggests we may be looking. But failure to sign a striker before the deadline is a risk the fans would rather the club didn’t take.