Depending upon who you believe, Chris Gunter will sign for us today, either on loan or on a permanent deal.
The Daily Mail report that the young Welshman will join on a season-long loan, but the Nottingham Evening Post suggest that Gunter will sign permanently for £2m on a four-year contract – good business if we can manage it (although it makes you wonder why Perchio was given the number 2 shirt if Gunter was to sign permanently?).
I would concur with the majority opinion that Gunter did a good job at the end of last season, after a quiet start he became quite influential, especially when playing in his preferred position of right back. He also seemed to know how to wind up opponents, which I am guessing is the kind of thing you learn after playing for Cardiff, then in the Premier League and having international experience. I do hope that Gunter’s capture will not stifle the development of Brendan Moloney, who I think was impressive last year (and who I hope will return to the club after his stint over the river).
Both the Forest and Preston official websites report that a fee of £750k has been agreed for the transfer of Paul McKenna.
If we can sign him then I think it would be a good acquisition – someone who can add some composure and steel to the middle of the park, and the leader that we have been missing for several years (probably since Sir Desmond retired).
Update (16th July, 10.25am): Having just posted above I then found this article on the Lancashire Evening Post website – the comments are very interesting with a curious mix of “gutted he’s leaving”, “his best days are behind him” but a general agreement that Billy Davies is a “poisoned dwarf”. Even if his best days are behind him, I still think he will be useful in helping younger players like Lewis, Cohen and the Moose develop; as for the Billy Davies thing, no comment!
Dexter Blackstock has joined us on loan (with no recall) until the end of the season. Well, we have been a striker short all season (no I don’t count Andy Andrew Cole as a striker as he was obviously not interested), so this has to be a good thing. Blackstock’s goals-to-games ration this season is apparently pretty good, although he has fallen out of favour under Paulo Sousa and has apparently lost some confidence as a result.
Let’s hope that having the “different type of striker” that Billy Davies mentioned will help the team, and help the lad get his career back on track as well. If Forest stay up and Blackstock impresses, there may be a chance of a permanent deal.
While delighted to see Lee Martin in the garibaldi, creating and scoring goals, and scaring defenders, in the back of my mind was a nagging doubt about his loan move; Forest had never confirmed how long he would be staying with us for.
Well, now we have confirmation that (despite the NEP’s assertions at the time), Lee was on loan for a month. The good news is that he is now with us until the of the year. Hooray. I wonder what the chances are of extending that (or making it permanent), if he continues to display such good form?
… Now its official, and it looks as though he will play tonight; although neither the Official Site nor the BBC seem willing (or maybe they are not able?) to confirm how long he has signed for..
