Karanka good to his word, as he ensures Nottingham Forest end transfer window with a stronger squad than when they started
There will have been an interesting atmosphere at the Nigel Doughty Academy this morning, as seven new signings reported for duty at Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest manager Aitor Karanka (Image: Joseph Raynor)
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There will have been an interesting dynamic in the changing room at the Nigel Doughty Academy this morning. For many, it will have been like the first day back at school after the summer holidays.
A glut of new faces to get to know and an uncertainty about where to put your kit - along with, perhaps, a slight sense of unease and trepidation over whether you will still get a place in the football team.
It is safe to say these are unusual problems to have at Nottingham Forest. In fact, they are almost unheard of.
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Because the Championship club, generally speaking, do not tend to open for business in January. At least not good business.
They are certainly not in the habit of signing the best part of a new team, in the space of little over 24 hours.
Zach Clough (Image: Mark Fear)
Last January, the Reds did make one decent addition, in Zach Clough – although his immediate future is back with former club Bolton, where he has returned on loan.
And Gboly Ariyibi could yet fulfil his potential, if he continues to learn his trade on loan at Northampton. But Ross McCormack was an expensive flop, albeit largely due to his off-field issues.
But with the benefit of hindsight, it was not a successful window.
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It is too early to say with complete certainty whether this window will be either – but it unquestionably feels like it will.
Seven new faces will have been looking to find their bearings at the academy this morning, while seven players will be reporting for training at different clubs.
And, if nothing else, the events of the last few days have been a clear demonstration of the no-nonsense attitude of the latest man to take the helm as manager.
The words of a clearly angry Aitor Karanka following the painful defeat at home to Preston on Tuesday, were clearly more than just the Spaniard venting.
He meant every word, as he looked back on a start to life at Forest that had seen his side win only once, albeit against table-topping Wolves, while producing unconvincing performances against Aston Villa, Hull and, most recently, Alex Neil's North End.
Aitor Karanka with coach Simon Ireland
"It was one in five that we won at Middlesbrough, when we started out (as manager) there," said Karanka. "But that was a little bit different because, at least then we were fighting until the last minute; until the end of the games.
"From the beginning we had a team with spirit; with players who wanted to stay there and be there.
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"They wanted to be successful and this is different.
"But in Middlesbrough I was confident that I could do the job and I am confident that I can do the job here now; that we can achieve what we want to achieve."
Doing the job, as Karanka put it, meant altering his outlook considerably, it seems.
And, at the same time, rolling his sleeves up and getting down to business. Ruthless, unwavering business.
On Monday at his pre-match press conference, he had spoken about the need for three or perhaps four new additions, before the transfer window closed.
But by the time the deadline had ticked past, Forest had done a host of business.
Muzzy Carayol has agreed a deal at Ipswich (Image: ITFC)
Mustapha Carayol, Armand Traore and Matt Mills all had their contracts unceremoniously cancelled and moved on to Ipswich, Cardiff and Barnsley, respectively.
Keeper Stephen Henderson departed on loan to Portsmouth. While Tyler Walker and Clough both headed to Bolton on loan.
The new additions began with Costel Pantilimon and Ashkan Dejagah arriving at the City Ground first on deadline day.
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Romanian international goalkeeper Pantilimon joined on loan from Watford, for the rest of the campaign, having been recalled from a previous spell at Deportivo La Coruna. While Dejagah, 31, agreed a permanent deal until the end of the season. He was a free agent having left German Bundesliga side Wolfsburg in the summer.
Sporting defender Tobias Figueiredo had arrived prior to the Preston game, joining on loan from the Portuguese club, with a permanent deal agreed for the end of the season.
But then, as the day unfolded, the scope of Forest's planned business began to become clear.
Midfield was clearly an area Karanka wanted to target in particular.
Nottingham Forest's Adlene Guedioura
And, as he prepares his squad for the trip to Fulham on Saturday he could, in theory, head to London with an almost entirely new midfield, within the 4-2-3-1 formation he favours.
Adlene Guedioura, a man with physical presence and an assured nature on the ball, returned to sign a two-and-half year contract, after being released by Middlesbrough.
Jack Colback, the Newcastle midfielder, was snapped up on loan for the rest of the season, having found himself in the wilderness in the north-east. The 28-year-old will add quality and experience in midfield – and can also fill the void at left-back, if required.
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The duo would make a decent partnership in those defensive midfield roles, in front of the back four, and will create good competition with the likes of Liam Bridcutt, David Vaughan, Ben Osborn and Andreas Bouchalakis.
Forest could yet also add Ben Watson, the 32-year-old Watford midfielder, who was left out of the squad for their game against Stoke, in order to complete negotiations with the Reds, with the Premier League club having cancelled his contract – and he would further bolster that area of the pitch.
The signing of Joe Lolley, Huddersfield's attacking midfielder or forward, was confirmed, with the wide man putting pen to paper on a four-and-a-half year deal.
Joe Lolley has signed for Nottingham Forest on transfer deadline day (Image: Nottingham Forest FC)
Lolley, 25, had made only two starts in the league under David Wagner this season, while making four sub appearances – scoring one goal, in a 4-1 defeat at the hands of West Ham.
He and Dejagah will both offer alternative options on either side of the three, while the capture of the creative intelligent number 10, Lee Tomlin, from Cardiff, will keep Kieran Dowell on his toes; will ensure he continues to produce his best form, if he wants to retain his place in the side.
With Barrie McKay, Matty Cash and Osborn also pushing for a place, Forest now have a wide range of players, with different qualities, to compete for roles in that attacking forward three.
The only sour note of the day was the apparent failure to get a deal over the line for Michael Dawson, that would have brought him back to the club where he started his career.
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The 34-year-old defender was at the Nigel Doughty Academy and ready to sign a two-and-a-half year contract. But Hull, wary of their own lack of defensive options, blocked the move at the 11th hour.
The experience of Dawson, who went on to forge a successful Premier League career after leaving Forest for Tottenham in 2005, would have been a vital asset in the second half of the season.
But Forest will now have to wait until the summer, if they wish to resurrect that deal – a prospect that does seem very likely.
Michael Dawson was close to returning to Forest (Image: Getty)
In the meantime, Joe Worrall – who Forest successfully fended off the advances from Burnley for - Michael Mancienne, Danny Fox and highly regarded Portuguese new boy Figueiredo, will fight it out for a place in the heart of the back four.
While Fox, Eric Lichaj, Colback and Osborn will provide the left-back options – although Forest may yet peruse the free agent market as they look to bolster that area of the pitch.
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It was a day of bold, decisive business. One that indicated Karanka is not the kind of character to mess around.
He pledged that Forest would end the transfer window with a better, stronger squad than they started it with.
And, while a few of the deals went right to the wire, he was more than good to his word.
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January Transfer Window