Rising Reds may hold extra appeal in next window
■What did you make of the game against Peterborough United?
GB: In the first half we were second best. Peterborough moved it quicker and if they had a goalscorer we might have had trouble.
When teams don’t take advantage of chances you have to cash in on that and in the second half, Forest did that.
It was a bit lethargic from Forest in the first half. We were taking too many touches. I don’t think Lewis (Grabban) was given the support in the first half.
His work-rate was good but it was a flat first half. You’ve got 28,000 in and that lifts opponents. It puts pressure on the team but once the goal goes in we relaxed a bit.
DJ: It felt like as soon as they got the first goal they’d be ok. They’d had three games in seven days but then a week off. I expected them to be sharper from the start.
Steve Cooper probably had words at half-time. Once they got a goal it had to open up. I never felt massively worried by Peterborough and you always felt they would concede. Forest got the win in the end.
■What did you make of the midfield with Ryan Yates, James Garner and Braian Ojeda all picked?
DJ: I liked Ojeda. He’s shown some nice touches.
In the second half against Luton Town he reminded me of Radi Majewski with his movement. Ryan Yates has been brilliant since Steve Cooper arrived.
He’s grown in stature and has been very consistent. Jack Colback was outstanding in midfield and you would think Cooper will want to get him back in.
They’ll want to get him back in there if they can.
GB: Yates looks relaxed now. He was like a coiled spring trying to burst out. He looks a totally different player.
If you are tense you’ll make mistakes. The confidence he has now from the manager is obvious to see.
I think he’ll progress from here. Steve has brought in that ability, that message of do what you can and don’t worry about what you can’t.
It’s a bit like Brian Clough. Ryan is a key player at the moment.
■Forest were linked with Norwich City striker Adam Idah at the weekend. Is he the kind of player they need?
DJ: Lewis Grabban turns 34 in January and I’d be surprised if he’s a Forest player next season. He’ll be on big money from when he signed and things have changed at the club now.
You’re also looking anyway for a young striker or two in January I would imagine. If you can get someone like Adam Idah to provide something different and an option off the bench then that’s what they need.
They might also need a couple of wing-backs depending what happens with Max Lowe and Djed Spence.
If players have been told they won’t play at their clubs then they’ll see Forest as a team on the up, which wasn’t the case in some other January windows. As a striker you might come and score goals here even if you aren’t first choice.
You might see it was a shop window for a move to Forest or somewhere else. Why wouldn’t you come to a team like Forest which is going well?
It is difficult to find that player though because if they’re going to score a lot of goals for Forest then their parent club probably won’t want to let them go.
It’s a really hard month. Forest’s recruitment in the summer means you would back them and Steve Cooper’s contacts to add what they want.
They won’t get a player who is scoring in League One or the Premier League but they can get a hungry young player in I’m sure.
GB: A striker will be a massive addition. People will want to come to Nottingham Forest because of Steve Cooper and his reputation.
It’s a club moving up the table and a perfect place to come at the moment. Steve will give someone an opportunity.
DJ: Players will see Forest as a very attractive option, as will agents who see a spotlight for players.
Clubs are the problem, convincing them to let their players go out.
GB: Why would you keep a player just to play Under-23s football? Why not let them go out on loan?
DJ: If Forest are looking at someone like an Idah, who is on the verge of the first team in the Premier League, they might be hard to get. That’s where their recruitment comes in because they need someone who can come in straight away and deliver.