Strangely, I wouldn't say he is lightening fast in a direct sprint.  But he moves as quickly with the ball as he does without it.  So when he runs at people with the ball, he can be a nightmare.

Also, although he is right footed, he will happily cut inside onto his left foot, another reason why he is difficult to stop when running with the ball in full motion.  See his goal Vs QPR last season (in a 2-5 win I think) for an example of this.

4 minutes ago, OJRovers said:

Good insight thanks. Unfortunately I can’t remember any games where Mowbray has played a proper number 9 position in his formations since he joined. What was the full formation when he did best at NF? 4-4-2 with wingers?

We've played 4-2-3-1 the past few seasons really.  So he's been a lone no.9.  

I think he would be very effective in a 2 also though, where he'd be able to use someone else to work off and as a foil to move into space.

Disappointment.

I think most Forest fans were disappointed he was being sold.  We are very proud of our academy and the players that have come through.  We love seeing players graduate to the first team and have an impact.  (We actually picked Brereton up at 16 after his release from Stoke, but the attachment is still there).

We've also seen a lot get sold earlier than we like.  Often for big fees, but usually it's just a bit too early. (See Ollie Burke - who was winning us games single handedly, now barely makes WBA's bench).

With Brereton I think most, if not all saw not only potential, but his ability to already impact games.  That's very handy for someone who was 18 and then not long turned 19 as a striker in probably the most competitive league in Europe.

He did frustrate, largely over what I mentioned above with his 1-1 battles with defenders where he'd get too preoccupied with his marker over winning the ball.  But that's to be expected with a young lad.  He had a lot of pressure on his shoulders last season.  Our no.9 Murphy got injured and he was forced to lead the line for a long time by himself.  That was probably too much responsibility, too soon.

We were really excited at the prospect of him coming off the bench with the attacking midfielders we have now who love to play neat football and play through-balls, and with Brereton's desire to simply see space and attack it, I though he'd probably have a good season with 10+ goals.  However Karanka has been given the objective to achieve promotion over the next two seasons, so development has obviously taken a back burner, so we signed Grabban, still have Murphy, also have Soudani and are soon to sign Karim Ansarifard.

For what it's worth, Karanka did not want Brereton to go.  He just couldn't guarantee him a spot.  This is the strongest squad we have had in years, if not a couple of decades.  We often elave out some very talented players and I think Brereton saw that and decided he needed to go somewhere and be involved every week.  His changed his agent not too long before he left and there's talk it was agent designed. 

There's no hard feelings though, I like the look of your squad and the type of players you're putting together, I think if patience is shown, Brereton could become a successful and key part of it.

I don't think you've signed someone who is going to be a 20 goal scorer right now.  But he's someone who can impact games already at his tender age, and will score goals/win penalties and also turn games a bit with his direct running which forces teams back a bit.

Hey fellas (and ladies).  Just came long to see how Brereton as settled.  Doesn't seem like he's had much impact (or chance to have much impact) thus far.

I know the fee is a lot.  Our local reporter is adamant it's £7m guaranteed, with add-ons/sell-on in addition to that.

However, you have signed potential.  He is a very talented lad, he can impact games already at 19, but he isn't going to score 20 goals for you just yet.  He is very much still learning the game and what his best game is against men.  

His best games for Forest were often against teams who play an open style and came at us, which allowed him to pick the ball up on the half way and run at the opposition and into the space they leave behind.  I'd say your stellar home form over the past year or so has probably caused teams to sit deeper and take space away.

He definitely is best as a no.9 rather than a winger.  He runs into channels very well and works centre-backs hard from this position.  When starting out wide I think he sometimes gets a bit lost as to where he should be going.  He's much better starting as a no.9 and then pulling into channels.

His hold up play definitely needs a lot of attention, he often thinks about the opposition player more than he does the ball and gets ushered off or resorts to diving.  I think that's an age/experience thing, because he is not a little weakling.

Ultimately, if you get him the ball so he can turn and run at people, he causes nightmares, particularly for the less mobile centre-backs when he drags them out of shape.  I think if you give time some time with Dack looking to play him in, you'll see what he can bring to the table.

I know it's a lot of money for someone with potential rather than being the finished article, that's the way football seems to be now days.  You pay for what someone might be, as opposed to what they already are.  But don't write him off this early.  There is a very good striker in there who can impact games and cut through oppositions defences like a knife through butter. 

He definitely needs the opportunity to do it though at no.9.  Not as a winger.

Seems like it's all systems go!

Our local media are reporting £6m up front fee, with add-ons and a sell-on.

I imagine we'll never know the full deal as it will be no doubt undisclosed! Not sure why that's allowed to happen.

Good luck to yourselves and Brereton.  He is a talent.  He does need some patience.  Some games he will have his CB on toast and others he will get kicked a bit and spend a bit of time on the floor, but he has the makings of being a very effective no.9.

3 minutes ago, JacknOry said:

Danny Graham is in the last year of his contract and can barely play more than 60 minutes each week as it is - so a permanent striker to compete/learn/share the load with this season and then replace him possibly next season is what we ideally need. In fact it has been the biggest priority for most of us fans this window. We have Armstrong but he is a different kind of striker and mainly plays in the three behind the big man.

A loan only would just show that we have failed in this transfer window to address a very important area. Brereton would go back home next season and we would have to find a striker all over again (two now in fact).

Yeah I understand.  Brereton is a genuine striker and I think having a foil to work off, or even having the chance to compete with a spot with Graham would suit him.  He's not ready to be a 90minute leading striker week in/week out just yet.  But I get the frustration of needing something more permanent.  I think what makes it tough is it doesn't seem we're actively shopping Brereton, he is liked and very highly rated at the club, so he's never going to be a bargain.  If a move doesn't happen, I think he will very quickly find himself on the bench at Forest.  He's been linked with moves since he scored vs Villa, but nothing like this before so I think he'll have no involvement until it's all sorted.

Thank God there's only a week left of this window.  Everything will be done and dusted soon.  

Do you think Rovers are interested in a loan only?

Karanka does still like Brereton and when he talks about selling he says if it's something at suits all 3 parties, then a deal can happen, but he has also spoken of him getting experience.  I don't think it's beyond the realms that Brereton could go out on loan to play.  Not sure if that's something Rovers are looking for, but it wouldn't surprise me if he ended up on a normal loan somewhere either.

I think it all goes back to the Neymar deal, it has had a huge knock-on effect.

We've actually got two more crazy deals in the pipeline.  Goncalves on loan from Benfica has an agreement to make the deal permanent at Forest's disposal for £15m, 3x £5m instalments.  Dias on loan from Monaco has a similar deal for closer to £17m.  It's all gone mad.  No rhyme nor reason. 

Further to this story, our local reporter (Paul Taylor of the Nottingham Evening Post) has just stated in a live blog that the £6m bid never actually happened and it was Alan Nixon doing his usual business on behalf of agents.  However he said we did reject a bid worth £10m from an unnamed Prem club on deadline day, which was rejected.  He has also gone on to say that Blackburn do have genuine interest, but he does not know how high Rovers are willing to go.

The links with yourselves surprised me at first.  I hadn't followed Rovers' fortunes intently but I was aware of issues of financial backing from the Venkys.  Although it looks like you've done some good business recently.

I'm not here to justify fees, because I think they're bonkers.  For some reason potential costs more than experience in todays world, the more untested the higher the cost.  

Like you said, Bamford has score plenty at this level and cost £10m, but then we paid £13m for Carvalho from Benfica who has about 40/50 pro games to his name.

Likewise, we paid £6m for a player who just scored 20 goals at this level last season (granted he is 30 now) but would demand twice that for a 19yr old with fewer than 10 goals in 50+ appearances.  It's madness.  It's almost a case of if you haven't had time to prove you're not as good as you may be, you have to pay just incase the player might be destined for the top.

I've heard of 16yr old kids moving between clubs for 7 figures, but you can buy an experienced and talented player for less that sometimes.  There's no logic to the market.

If you buy Brereton, it will be more money that seems logical, don't disagree.  He does have the ability to be a good player at this level already, which is impressive for a 19yr old striker.  He isn't all about goals and he does cause defenders problems and runs into channels all day long.  He has missed quite a few chances, but I guess the hope is he can turn those into goals, because if he did last year, he'd have been an 18yr old striker with 10+ in the Champ and he'd be at a Prem club now.  

I guess we'll see in the next week what happens!

I can't stand either, particularly Alan Nixon who is a complete moron and can't stand anyone questioning him.  He does get fed info by agents and clubs though, they use him to promote articles/stories that benefit them and in return he gets information. 

He even goes as far as pushing potential managers into the media to keep their name relevant and talk clubs/players down as he is aware media perception is king.  But unfortunately, he does get information too as to deals... etc which keeps him relevant. 

Cheers buddy!

Karanka does rate him.  However he is very big on experience.  We have Grabban as our main man now and then Daryl Murphy on the bench. (bit of contention for the fans after he had a poor send half of the season after an injury and some personal issues).  

Lots would like him to be coming off the bench for us right now, but I don't think he will be in a squad until this matter is over.  He also played in the u19 tournament for England so a break will do him good, he's had a lot of football the past 18 months for a young lad.

Re: The fee.  I agree, it is a lot.  However, English youth international striker, for some reason is costs a premium.  The market is crazy in my opinion.  But as a club, we don't sell our young lads cheaply.  I am not saying for a minute I expect the fee to be anything like £12m up front.  But I am certain it would be 8 figures in total with the appropriate add-ons and a sell-on clause.   We rejected a deal worth up to £12m for Joe Worrall from Burnley last season.  We don't sell our young lads cheaply.