(14-10-2018, 09:03 AM)Sniffer Dog Wrote: I like the look of Robinson and he can and will get even better. My only real concern with him is his temperament, hopefully he learned a lesson at Boro.

What can you say about 'our Ben'. I will only say thank god that he is ours and not somebody elses.

For me, Robinson now has the shirt and it's his to lose. Ben will get games elsewhere in the team and if he has to play left back (like he will against Norwich) then one thing is for sure...he won't let anyone down.

(14-10-2018, 09:07 AM)the jock Wrote: I agree with sniffer.

Personally I feel more comfortable with Robinson at left back he's a solid player. He's just lacking going forward but hopefully that will come with more games. He hasn't played left back in a few years

(14-10-2018, 09:40 AM)GaribaldiRED Wrote: That's a good point Jock, he's been playing center back for a while and it will of course take some time before he fully gets to grip with his left back tasks again. I too believe that Robinson currently is the number one left back but you never know. Osborn will have to step in for the next game and if he does well combined with Robinson's disciplinary lapse he could find himself behind Osborn for a few games at least.

(14-10-2018, 09:49 AM)Salvatore Matrecano Wrote: I would be happy enough with Robinson 1st choice LB and Osborn to be pushed back there if necessary eg we are bringing on another attacking mid. I would however start Benny every game in midfield, we just look more balanced with him on the pitch.

Is it just me or are the Osborn haters a bit quieter this season though? I used to be surrounded by them moaning if he misplaced a pass in games when he was pretty well the only player in a red shirt actually trying. He seems a bit more appreciated this year.

So if we assume Benny is midfielder then we do need another LB preferably in the Janko mould, a bit more pace but also some physicality. Robinson is fine but he does have a poor injury record so cover needed.

(14-10-2018, 12:42 PM)ThePromisedLand Wrote: Suspect Robinson’s best position would be on the left of a back three.
Not sure he is quite what we’re looking for as a left back - but since when do you get all 11 so quickly?
He’ll do for this season - and that’s not meant to be disparaging - but I suspect that ( longer term ) we should be looking for an upgrade.

(14-10-2018, 11:01 AM)GaribaldiRED Wrote: See your point Turkish but I believe we have seen that the system that Karanka wants Forest to play is getting more and more understood and adopted by the players. One of the results is that the DMCs are increasingly covering the flanks when the full backs are attacking. Especially Colback has been very good at just that recently. My point being that I'm not sure that we will have to play 3 CBs to keep the our recent solidity at the back. Remember that you will have to scarify one midfielder if you want to go 3 at the back.

(14-10-2018, 01:15 PM)Redgirl Wrote: Robinsons ok for now, however his temperament needs addressing. I hope Karanka has fined him heavily. I understand dissent in the heat of the moment but to get 2nd yellow for a ridiculous dive is unforgivable. Another day it could have cost us the match and at the end of the season could be the difference between playoffs or not.

I hope he's learned his lesson.

(12-10-2018, 07:40 AM)GaribaldiRED Wrote: Seems like we all agree that Pants has his weaknesses but that we probably are stuck with him for this season at least. So, no big expectations of getting a new keeper in January. Steele will get his chances in the cup games and Smith's best option is probably to hope for a loan deal in January as he needs game time in order to continue his development. 

And with that short summary the keeper position has been assessed. Now we move on to the next position which is right back.

Darikwa: 6
I have to honest and I'm not sure about Darikwa. Well, I'm sure that he is not a great defender but he offers quite a lot going forward and he does have great pace. His performances have however been too much up and down. He came in for Janko against Middlesbrough and had a great game both defensively as well as in attack which must be a real confidence booster. He is now away on international duty with Zimbabwe which should hopefully boost his confidence even further. Maybe I shouldn’t give up on him just yet.

Janko: 7,5
I have been impressed by Janko. He has come in and straight away hit the ground running. Hopefully he will be able to maintain that high level of performance. For me he hasn't shown any apparent weaknesses yet. Good at defending and good going forward and a bit of pace about him as well. Let's hope that he doesn't fade away after the initial flurry of games as we have seen so many other players have done before him.

Byram: 7
From the early games it was clear to see that Byram do have the required quality to do well at right back but unfortunately he got himself injured which was what we all feared when we first got him signed. He’s now back at West Ham and I don’t believe we will see him at Forest again which is a real pity.

So, as it stands now we should be fine at right back with Darikwa and Janko fighting it out. Well, I'm not sure how much "fighting" it will be as Janko at present looks head and shoulders above Darikwa but you never know. If Darikwa can build on the Middlebrough game and find some kind of consistency it could be interesting but it will be difficult for him to be considered the number one right back at the club. But stranger things have happened.

(15-10-2018, 08:48 AM)GaribaldiRED Wrote: We all seem to be more or less happy with the situation at left back with Robinson as first choice and Osborn able to step in if the situation requires it. We should therefore not expect any additions to the left back position in January. In a dream scenario I would however have wanted a more attacking left back with some real pace to burn but I guess you cannot have it all  :)

Now onto the heart of the defense.

Fox: 8
Has been by far the best defender and you are right in wondering how this average left back suddenly has become this very composed center back. Not only is Foxy a great defender he's also very important for our attacking play with his excellent long range passing. It a joy to watch how comfortable and calm he is on the ball as he has great technical ability combined with a lot of confidence. Fox's transformation from left back to center back has to be one the most impressive transformation in modern football :) Foxy is without a shadow of a doubt my player of the season this far but if Lolley keeps up current form we will have a competition on our hands but not before.  

Hefele: 7
Hef has come in as a breath of fresh air. This bubbly character seems to have won everybody over. Both team mates and fans seem to love him. He is a good defender and a very vocal one which seems to help the team to keep focus and stay on their toes. Hef is also surprisingly good with the ball at his feet and he's also good in the build up play even though he doesn't have the same range of passing as Fox. On current form Hefele has earned his starting place in the heart of defense together with Fox.

Figo: 6
Figo has struggled to rediscover his form from last season. Tobias was heavily tipped to hold on to his starting place in the heart of defensive before the season had started and he did start in the first 4 games after the Bristol City game. He didn't however, seem to have the same confidence and determination as he had shown the season before. I don't have any good explanation for that but it looked like he was trying to hard at times. He has looked a bit clumsy which has resulted in quite a few free kicks against him. Tobias came in for Daws in the Middlesbrough game and he played quite well. Hopefully he can build on that performance but currently he seems to be fourth choice.

Dawson: 6,5
Daws has disappointed me. I thought he would be far more dominant to be honest. To me he has seemed too slow to react at times and not at all the seasoned pro that I expected who would read the game like no other and sniff out the danger. Played well in the Stoke game so there are signs pointing to him starting to find his feet again. It will surprise me if he continues beyond this season, at least based on current form.

Why Karanka has decided that Worral cannot mix it with this quartet I cannot understand. For me Worral would be very close to a staring place as neither Hefele, Figo or Daws have been that convincing. I just hope that Karanka doesn't decide to sell Worral as I believe that would be a major mistake.

(15-10-2018, 04:52 PM)Sniffer Dog Wrote: We are well stocked at the moment in the heart of the defence and no matter which pairing Karanka chooses in my opinion the team is not really weakened.

Having said that it's great to have a natural left footer in Fox, left sided central defenders are not easy to come across, I think the last one we had was probably Joel Lynch. A right footed central defender having to play on the left side of a pairing can look uncomfortable at times.

My only slight concern is that Dawson, Fox and Hefele (not so much) are all getting on a bit in football terms.

However we do have Joe Worrall to come back from his loan spell ready to step up.

(15-10-2018, 06:00 PM)Strawberry Avenger Wrote:

(15-10-2018, 08:48 AM)GaribaldiRED Wrote: We all seem to be more or less happy with the situation at left back with Robinson as first choice and Osborn able to step in if the situation requires it. We should therefore not expect any additions to the left back position in January. In a dream scenario I would however have wanted a more attacking left back with some real pace to burn but I guess you cannot have it all  :)

Now onto the heart of the defense.

Fox: 8
Has been by far the best defender and you are right in wondering how this average left back suddenly has become this very composed center back. Not only is Foxy a great defender he's also very important for our attacking play with his excellent long range passing. It a joy to watch how comfortable and calm he is on the ball as he has great technical ability combined with a lot of confidence. Fox's transformation from left back to center back has to be one the most impressive transformation in modern football :) Foxy is without a shadow of a doubt my player of the season this far but if Lolley keeps up current form we will have a competition on our hands but not before.  

Hefele: 7
Hef has come in as a breath of fresh air. This bubbly character seems to have won everybody over. Both team mates and fans seem to love him. He is a good defender and a very vocal one which seems to help the team to keep focus and stay on their toes. Hef is also surprisingly good with the ball at his feet and he's also good in the build up play even though he doesn't have the same range of passing as Fox. On current form Hefele has earned his starting place in the heart of defense together with Fox.

Figo: 6
Figo has struggled to rediscover his form from last season. Tobias was heavily tipped to hold on to his starting place in the heart of defensive before the season had started and he did start in the first 4 games after the Bristol City game. He didn't however, seem to have the same confidence and determination as he had shown the season before. I don't have any good explanation for that but it looked like he was trying to hard at times. He has looked a bit clumsy which has resulted in quite a few free kicks against him. Tobias came in for Daws in the Middlesbrough game and he played quite well. Hopefully he can build on that performance but currently he seems to be fourth choice.

Dawson: 6,5
Daws has disappointed me. I thought he would be far more dominant to be honest. To me he has seemed too slow to react at times and not at all the seasoned pro that I expected who would read the game like no other and sniff out the danger. Played well in the Stoke game so there are signs pointing to him starting to find his feet again. It will surprise me if he continues beyond this season, at least based on current form.

Why Karanka has decided that Worral cannot mix it with this quartet I cannot understand. For me Worral would be very close to a staring place as neither Hefele, Figo or Daws have been that convincing. I just hope that Karanka doesn't decide to sell Worral as I believe that would be a major mistake.

A fair assessment.  Dawson has had the injury (s) which have interrupted his come back.  One Hull supporting observer noted that Dawson had lost that 'yard of pace' from being formerly his old Dawson self.  (He had 2v1 on him for that Bristol City goal...)

It happens.  Players get to a certain age and then they tip over into that sudden dip or collapse of form.  You're not the player you were at 34 that you were at 33.  Or you can't run around like a 21 year old anymore.

I think Dawson will do alright if called upon.  He can head a ball in a way that turns back the clock.  And that's something that Forest have been missing.  'Monumental' headers from the back.  The footballing romantic in me wants to see Dawson in the side...and leading us back to the Premier.  But it may be Fox..!

That tackle that injured him out the game vs Boro' was a Red Card and a disgrace.

Danny Fox has been a proven and worthy redemption story.  Reborn.

Hoff' is the character Forest need in their side.

Figo.  Where did he go?  The Boro' game seemed to give him a shake.  And for a second, I thought, 'He's back?'

Worrall.  Our future Captain.  Going nowhere.  I'd like him in our defence in the Premier League.  His time will come.


SA.