Nottingham Forest: McLeish stepping up his search for a new striker and goalkeeper
ALEX McLeish will step up his search for a new striker, as well as a new goalkeeper, at Nottingham Forest this week.
The Reds boss will continue his quest to sign an experienced stopper – but believes it is equally important to add more firepower to his City Ground frontline, after a thigh injury picked up by Dexter Blackstock exposed the lack of depth in his squad.
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Alex McLeish will step up his search for a striker this week
After telling Lee Camp he has no future at the club, the Reds boss handed a debut to rookie stopper Karl Darlow on Saturday and the 22-year-old responded with a solid, confident display amid a 2-1 win over Peterborough.
And it proved to be a lack of cover for his front men that was a bigger concern for McLeish, after Blackstock sustained a problem in training, forcing him to include Matt Derbyshire – who has been told he is free to leave the club in January – on the bench.
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"With big Dexter out injured, we only have two strikers, really, in Sharp and Coxy," said McLeish. "Matt Derbyshire is still in the squad, but it is not easy for Matt or for me when I say to him 'you are not in my plans' then ask him to be on the bench.
"While he is still a Forest player, he might have a role to play. He has a great attitude, to be fair.
"But we do need to make additions. It is not about numbers, it is about quality. Two or three could be enough to enhance the squad. It depends on positions, that is what matters.
"And we are looking at a goalkeeper, winger and attacker – we are a bit light in the attack.
"Dexter was still getting twinges when he was trying to kick the ball. Dexter knows his body. He will know that an injury like that is going to curtail his mobility on the pitch.
"So it was a big shift for Coxy and Sharp to put in. They did very well at times.
"But I do think we can get sharper. I do think we can get a little bit fitter and a little bit sharper at this club."
McLeish revealed he has also told Robbie Findley he is free to go – with the striker likely to return home to America. But the manager added he is close to making further additions.
"One or two strikers will be leaving the club and Robbie is one of those, one or two things have been done with him so that he is free to move away from Forest," he said. "I think America is the most likely option for him, that is where the smart money is.
"We have a long list of potential targets and, while we have had one or two opportunities to do things, we want to make sure we get things right.
"We have plenty of options in mind and I am not just talking about keepers.
"If we want to have a crack at the play-offs, we need to reinforce the team; we need to add.
"I want to help the guys who are here to have a big push at this. We need to improve and I am sure new players will help us to do that.
"Some may take until the end of the window to get done. We have sewn a few seeds but some deals will drag on, I would expect until the end of the window."
Comments
by buddybonny
Tuesday, January 15 2013, 4:27PM
“ANYONE who thinks GEORGE BOYD is a great player with an abundant of Talent really doesnt know anything about Football at all..!
If he were that good , hed be playing in the Prem.....
Boyd is Cr*p...
End of...”
by zebedeekorn
Monday, January 14 2013, 10:57PM
“It's probably cos Radi is off to Wisla Krakow. According to his twitter page he's rejected offers from NFFC, Leeds, Brum, Middsbro, Cardiff and Wigan! Wants to go back home. Great pity - I think Radi's one of our best players.”
by mickycolosus
Monday, January 14 2013, 8:53PM
“Boyd is an attacking midfielder. I have seen him play countless times. Anyone that calls him c**p knows little about Championship football. The guy has talent in abundance. Put him in a team with players who are nearer his level and he will shine. He is the star of the Posh team, a team that has been fighting relegation for two of the last three years. It's difficult for an attacking midfielder in a team like that. Billy didn't give him a chance a couple of years ago because he was forced on him. He is the sort of player that when he gets the ball within 30 yards of goal, fills you with excitement. He does tend to drift in and out of games a bit, but a good coach can sort that out. I personally would love to see him in the Garibaldi.”
by paul72
Monday, January 14 2013, 7:46PM
“PTyson didn't cost 2million and we are not paying him 20k a week funny enough Tyson as scored all his 5 goals from open play this season. ! I carnt wait for Saturday all the florist players diving everywhere ! Lol ! Im not the type of guy to say I told u so but I told u so !!!”
by buddybonny
Monday, January 14 2013, 7:19PM
“HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA TYSON......hahahahahahahah
ROLL ON SATURDAY.....”
by farcall2
Monday, January 14 2013, 7:11PM
“Thank God You signed Tyson(titter)...al”
by desnffc
Monday, January 14 2013, 6:19PM
“Ipswich are about as big as Norwich and all the other carrot eaters dxxxy are no bigger either Paula72 and the only reason you didn't go forcox is because you couldn't afford lol
free family season ticket with every mobile phone
can't stop laughin
yooooooooooooooooo reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeds”
by paul72
Monday, January 14 2013, 5:27PM
“Sharp is good but Cox is average 3goals in open plaKy thank god we didn't sign him! Camp going to bigger club don't blame him with Ipswich! KTF !”
by buddybonny
Monday, January 14 2013, 5:03PM
“RIGHT.......FIRSTLY...Great win at the weekend...Without doubt...i thought Raddi was MOM..
Secondly....Good luck to SOD....In his conference he still seems quite bitter...and rightly so....
THIRD and this one takes the Biscuit..........
Why is it that with our win, the feel good factor comes on board, and suddenly you think to yourself, well " Maybe AM isnt a turkey after all and maybe he will do well at this level" Only to find out that he is trying to sign GEORGE BOYD???
This is what gets my goat..! Hes CR*P.......
I can see that hes CR*P....Most of us can see hes CR*P.....WHY CANT AM..?
We dont need to sign him and there are much much better strikers out there than this Plodder?
Now my confidence in AM has been shot again !
God it Pi**es me off...!”
by TrulyTricky
Monday, January 14 2013, 4:40PM
“Sharp and Cox are average. Concorde was slow. The Sahara Desert is wet. Derby are big spenders. Leicester is a nice place to live.”