Matt Lockwood, long sought-after by Smoulders, arrived today from Leyton Orient on a two year contract. The highly rated left-back pretty much puts paid to any chance of Alan Wright returning to us, and according to the Evening Post, Prutton also will not be making a reappearance in a Forest shirt - which I’m not particularly heartbroken about either!
Lockwood has been an Orient stalwart for 9 years, and as well as his defensive duties notched up an impressive 11 goals last season, so perhaps - given the presumably ongoing trial of Agathe - the suggestion of a three-at-the-back with two wingback seems the most likely approach Smoulds will take next year. Particularly since he’s after another centreback in the shape of former Notts man Kelvin Wilson from Preston.
So welcome aboard, Matt! Certainly the comments I’ve seen from Orient fans suggest they’re sorry to lose him, which is always a good sign. I’m slightly relieved that this would seem to be a move that will limit Bennett’s opportunities on the team, because currently for me he’s not good enough - although he does have the raw materials to make an excellent left back, so in an ideal world he’ll buck his ideas up and push for his place.
Smoulds has also spoken of his desire to sign a right winger, which is only about six months too late - but at least, even if he’s slow on the uptake, he’s thinking about the right kind of things. Since it seems moves for Neil Danns are no longer likely, I’ve no idea who he’s targetting for this position - but since the squad are off to Austria imminently it seems once again we’ll be welcoming new signings during or even after the preseason preparations. Oh well.
5 July, 2007 at 8:01 pm
Looks like a good signing. He certainly looked the part against us last season. I do feel a bit sorry for Bennett though as it looks like he may be on his way out?
The player I’d most like to see signed is Cohen from Yeovil. There’s various rumours on t’internet about players we are speaking to but he is the one we need to get. He tore us to bits in the play offs. I remember commenting at the time ‘He won’t be at Yeovil next season’ but I thought that a championship club would come in for him. Fingers crossed…
5 July, 2007 at 8:03 pm
I thought Cohen was pretty quiet in the games against us - it was Arron Davies that really stood out for me in the playoff matches!
5 July, 2007 at 9:21 pm
Cohen and Davies to sign from Yeovil tomorrow,
Looks like we are getting a pretty decent team together for next season.
About bloody time is what I say
5 July, 2007 at 9:30 pm
ill believe it when itsannounced but like most fans I havenow seen it plastered all over the net!
might be a bit of expensive business but should keep some fans off of CC and ND’s back for a while.
suspect they would be the two that were very close then!
5 July, 2007 at 10:51 pm
According to Yeovil fans, Arron Davies and Chris Cohen are going to be unveiled tomorrow as Forest have called a news conference (apparently). Cohen will cost 700k with Davies 500k, 1.2m a lot of money but these two are pretty good. I will be ecstatic if this is true, we’ll be immensely good next year if it is
5 July, 2007 at 10:54 pm
Aye, it’s a popular rumour - I’ve posted a story on it, but it doesn’t seem to have been picked up by the news feeds… they’re probably in shock that I’ve posted two stories in a day for the first time in ages!