Money talks
15/07/05 | by Andrew Brookes

Forest failing in the transfer market had seemingly become an annual summer event. As sure as good old 'Tiger' Tim would lose at Wimbledon, Forest would promise lots but deliver little. That is, until this season. This summer the club were a lot more circumspect with their pronouncements to the media (no talk of "sexy signings" thankfully), yet the results appear to, on paper at least, be a deal more impressive than in recent years.

It seems odd to think that now, despite being a division lower, we have attracted the sort of solid performers who would have done last year's Championship side the world of good. Nicky Eaden and Ian Breckin were one half of a Wigan defence that earned promotion to the Premiership, and that they have dropped two divisions to join Forest is quite staggering. Gary Holt was the midfield dynamo in Norwich's successful 'Division One' side. Although, by most accounts, he was out of his depth in the Premiership, it was only through injury that he lost his place in the Norwich starting eleven and he should be a quality performer in League One.

Gino Padula seems to have been a genuine fans favourite at Loftus Road, based largely on some good performances in the QPR side that got promoted from the division that Forest now find themselves in. Finally, whilst Nicky Southall is viewed by many fans as the weaker of the signings, he is an experienced performer who will adequately fill the right sided midfield role that has been something of a gap in Forest teams for a long while now. Quite simply, none of the signings would have been bad ones had we retained our Championship status.

Nigel Doughty, the figure most fans love to hate, must receive some praise for allowing Gary Megson the funds with which to bring five quality signings to the club. Whilst Ian Breckin (at £350,000) is the only cash signing, Forest must be offering good wages to the players coming in. I see no reason, for Breckin and Eaden in particular, to drop down to League One unless the deal was financially a good one. These players would all have been able to pick up a Championship club at some point and so it is testament to the chairman that we have been able to put offers on the table which must have been better than they would have received elsewhere.

Gary Megson, who has yet to win over a fair few supporters, must also be praised. We have long heard many excuses as to why players don't want to join the club, and many believed that both Joe Kinnear and Paul Hart were having problems 'selling the club'. This seems not to have been a problem for Megson however, and every signing has mentioned the clubs reputation, facilities and potential in their reasoning for coming. It seems remarkable that Megson has had more success in 'selling the club' to potential transfer targets than either of the previous two incumbents, who were both in a stronger bargaining position.

Unfortunately, the summer's work is far from being done. In terms of players required, with only one senior goalkeeper at the club, a back-up is an absolute must. Central defence also seems to lack adequate cover. Megson must also use the vital time between now and August 6 to finalise his first eleven and the tactics he wants to play. The signings are only a start to what will be a long hard campaign, but they are good one at least.