Patino certainly one I want in the group next season. My biggest concern about him was his toughness and grit and this loan in the Championship is certainly proving he has that.
He’s another one we are looking to sign to a new deal. I think he’ll have to be involved in the first team going forward if we want to convince him of committing his future here.
He seems to have a lot of defensive capabilities in him as well on top of what he can do to progress the ball. Could be the one to fill in for Partey too instead of Elneny and Lokonga.
A few Forest mates were waxing lyrical about him after his performance yesterday and mentioned how good his decision making was as well as composure. I asked about his position and most said he wasn’t the midfielder picking the ball up off the cbs the most but was always available for a pass.
Jesus Saka and Martinelli start most
Nketiah and Trossard and ESR to sub for them
don’t think Marquinhos will get significant minutes
Nelson… sorry
Vieira sub for Ode
With Kiwior coming joining Trossard, we have secured our attacking & defensive side of the squad without necessarily breaking the bank.
GK - Ramsdale, Turner
CB - Gabriel M, Saliba, Holding, Kiwior (White, Tomiyasu)
RB - White, Tomiyasu, Cedric
LB - Zinchenko, Tierney
DM - Partey, Elneny, Lokonga
CM - Xhaka, Odegaard, Vieira, Smith Rowe
LW - Martinelli, Trossard, Nelson
RW - Saka, Marquinhos
CF - Jesus, Nketiah
If we can get a quality midfielder (even a backup option would do), then it would be a great window and Edu would have supported Arteta adequately for the title charge.
I think we’re in a position where even with a few injuries we’re not relying on children or flops, which is a position I’m happy with.
Compared to a few years ago where we hated 70% of our squad and were counting the days left on their contracts, this is truly marvellous.
For January I don’t think we’ll do any more and that’s fine. Most clubs don’t make 4 signings for their title run in in January. If we have more gaps we’ll have to live with it.
Looking at that squad you can probably phase out Holding now, replace Nelson with someone good and replace Lokonga and Elneny with 1 good player, then we have a pretty good squad to fight on all fronts.
He’s quite invisible when he’s not popping up with a goal. Also gets shrugged off the ball very easily. ESR is going to find it tough to get minutes in our side.
We’ll see how he fits in this team. Either he is helped by the higher level or sticks out as a weak link. I have a sad feeling people will be on him like they have been on Tierney in the past year or so as he’s been away and maybe we’ve evolved in his absence.