Finally something to look forward to?
25/05/05 | by Andrew Brookes

I don't know about anyone else but I'm not quite sure the events of last season have quite sunk in yet. I'm sure many of us will reflect on a poor season in which we saw three different managers and much controversy, as well as the sad death of the great man himself. However, whilst we all may have theories as to what went wrong, it might be somewhat more beneficial to look forward to the summer, and what life in League One may hold for Forest.

Firstly, we must not be too shocked as to what delights the fixture list announcement may have in store. Many fans, it seems, are living in dread of this day, the day when we will find out that the 'seaside' away games will, inevitably, all be on soggy Tuesday nights in December! We should not, however, be reduced to snobbery when it is released. It is all very well scoffing at reading the likes of Colchester, Bournemouth and Yeovil on the fixture list, but we are in a league with these teams because that is what we deserve. These are the teams, like it or not, that are befitting a side showing the 'talents' that Forest have over the previous season. The challenge now is to build a side capable of bouncing straight back up to the Championship, a task that Gary Megson now seems certain to be staying to take on.

The first steps towards the next season have already been taken and the recent release of twelve players must be seen as a positive move. A cursory glance at the back of a programme clearly shows that last season's squad was too large, with thirty seven players listed as of the final league game! It was much bigger than most of the teams who contested the promotion places in the league, yet sadly lacked sufficient quality. There were too many players who were decidedly average and needed to go, and thankfully this clear-out has largely addressed the problem.

It may have been ideal to extend the cull further, but it seems as though Megson wants to make sure he will have enough players so that, if we do miss out on our targets, we do at least have the skeletal basis with which to build from. Five more players are on the transfer list, and hopefully these too can be moved on in order to free up the wage bill for potential signings.

Whilst many have debated the players listed, and some lament the loss of David Johnson in particular, I again believe this to the correct course of action. The club needs a fresh start and the players in question (King, Johnson, Nowland, James, Rogers) are all well-paid members of a squad that has failed miserably. Adam Nowland is the unluckiest of the players, as he has had little first team action, but he has proved injury-prone and doesn't seem to be a player that fits into Gary Megson's plans and may even fetch a fee.

Of the twenty remaining players it seems as though the future of three in particular is still the talk of many fans, those being Paul Gerrard, Kris Commons and Wes Morgan. Personally, I think Gerrard will leave. He has a good reputation and generated a great deal of interest when available last summer. I don't imagine he would relish the prospect of League One football and from a club perspective is on a high wage and could command a decent fee.

Kris Commons' future is slightly more in doubt. It seems as though he would like to play for Forest and for the first time in his life hold down a regular first team place for a full season. However, West Bromwich Albion were looking at him towards the end of last season and I wouldn't be surprised if more clubs showed an interest. If a bid were to come in at around two million pounds, I think the decision of whether or not to stay may not be his to make unfortunately.

I am convinced, however, that Wes Morgan will stay. Wes has had an indifferent campaign it must be said, but remains one of the club's best assets. His potential is undoubted, but I think many clubs may not want to take a chance on him at this moment and I would be surprised if Wes did not play a key role in Gary Megson's line-up next season.

Aside from the futures of these players, the main attention will be turned to transfers coming in to the City Ground. It promises to be a busy period for Gary Megson, who has, as yet, decided to keep his cards close to his chest. Any potential targets have certainly not been shouted off the rooftops, a la Kinnear.

We need a squad that can cope with the league that we are in and the inevitable 'favourites' tag that will hang over us. Strong defenders, combative midfielders and hungry young strikers would seem to be the order of the day, and it now remains to be seen if Gary Megson can find such players and bring them in.

So, despite relegation, there should now be plenty for us Forest fans to look forward to. The summer should, hopefully, be full of transfer activity, and it will certainly be interesting to see if Gary Megson can avoid what seems to be an annual Forest failure to deliver in the summer transfer market. There is now a genuine chance for a fresh start, with new players, a new season and a new league, and, dare I say it, a real chance of promotion (or at the very least, a few wins here or there!). Now where did I put my rain jacket? It might just come in handy for that soggy Tuesday night Blackpool trip!