Welp this is going to be a long article so buckle up and let’s get started
Taiwo Awoniyi
Name: Taiwo Michael Awoniyi
Age: 24
Height: 1.83m
Nationality: Nigerian
Position(s): ST
We will start of with Taiwo Awoniyi, Forest’s most expensive signing this summer, and a prolific center forward who has torn up the Bundesliga this season, netting 15 goals in 31 games.
Strengths
Awoniyi is brilliant at shooting, and is even more capable of getting into good positions to score goals, recording 0.19npxG/shot, ranking in the top 3% of strikers in the top 5 leagues in Europe. Furthermore, Awoniyi is also a brilliant counter-attacking threat, which will definitely assist in Forest’s plans next season, as they would have to rely on counter-attacks heavily against stronger opponents. However, Awoniyi’s greatest strength is that of his high-pressing ability, constantly able to hound defenders off the ball, recording an impressive 33.1% successful pressure %, ranking in the top 2%.
Weaknesses
However, Awoniyi does in fact have an abundance of weaknesses. From his questionable ability to keep possession, to his weak aerial prowess, Awoniyi also contributes little apart from scoring goals, creating relatively little for his teammates, only recording 1 assist throughout the whole season. Although Awoniyi is particularly able at winning the ball high up the pitch, when it comes to helping out in defence, which he will be asked to do so often in the lower echelons of the Premier League, Awoniyi has a bleak record, with 0.04 dribblers tackled per 90, ranking in the bottom 10%. However, his most eye-catching weakness yet is his terrible ball control, ranking in the bottom 2% for miscontrols. One might question how a player with such a weak first touch could command such a high fee, but we must always remember that Awoniyi is still only 24 and will be able to grow into a fine player with more focused training.
Neco Williams
Name: Neco Shay Williams
Age: 21
Height: 1.77m
Nationality: Welsh
Position(s): RB/RM
Next is former Liverpool talent Neco Williams. Neco Williams’ arrival would offset the gaping hole left in Forest’s defence by the departure of Spence, and would finally give the young talent the playing time he deserves.
Strengths:
Neco Williams’ main strength is his passing ability. Ever consistent with his passes, Williams’ is also able to play line-breaking passes to attack opposition lines when necessary. Williams is also spectacular with the ball at his feet, able to beat most players running at him, being ratehr press-resistant. He is also adept at crossing, and able to create chances from wide regions, where he will tend to find himself most of the time. He is also good defensively, and able to prevent opposition players from running in on goal by remaining calm and putting in his foot at the opportune time.
Weaknesses:
The main weakness for Williams is his abysmal competitive streak, and he often commits fouls, conceding set-pieces in extremely dangerous areas. Overall, Williams seems to be a good purchase and Forest fans will wish to see him fit comfortable in the shoes of Djed Spence.
Moussa Niakhate
Name: Moussa Niakhate
Age: 26
Height: 1.90m
Nationality: French
Position(s): CB/RB
Next we will move on to Niakhate, who will be moving from Mainz to Forest for a reported fee of 10 million euros. I am genuinely unsure if he will secure a starting position but his huge fee seems to suggest so. However, it is unclear whether Cooper will be willing to sacrifice the experience of Cook, the aerial ability of McKenna or the ball-playing ability of Worral to incorporate Niakhate into the team.
Strengths:
Niakhate’s main strength is in his ability to progress the ball up the field by means of carrying, completing 0.35 dribbles per 90, ranking in the top 19% of centre-backs in the top 5 leagues. Such a skill could prove to be integral in the Premier League and could build on or replace the progressing ability of Joe Worrall.
Weaknesses:
Niakhate’s main weakness is often his inaccuracy in passing. Having a measly pass completion rate of 76.9%, Niakhate’s passing is often risky and inaccurate, and could lead to easy interceptions for opposition players, leading to clear scoring chances. This is extremely threatening in the high tempo game in the Premier League, with players like Salah and Son capable of running at great pace and waltzing through defences.
Giulian Biancone
Name: Giulian Biancone
Age: 22
Height: 1.87m
Nationality: French
Position(s): RB/LB/CB
A young versatile defender, Biancone has been tremendous for Troyes in Ligue 1 and has finally earned a big move to the Premier League. He could also slide into Forest’s defence, as Niakhate might, but it is still unclear who Steve Cooper will play, with such great depth and quality at his perusal.
Strengths:
Giulian Biancone is talented in the air, recording brilliant aerial numbers and winning 2.08 aerial duels per 90, ranking in the top 89% for full-backs in the top 5 leagues in Europe. His main strength is his tackling, and when used as a fullback is capable of pushing up and winning th eball in high areas, as can be seen by his 1,88 tackles in the opposition third per 90, ranking in the top 92%. He is also extremely versatile and can be deployed across all positions in the backline, allowing Steve Cooper more flexbility when picking a starting backline.
Weaknesses:
However, Biancone’s main weakness is his passing ability, with a short passing success rate of 84.4%, drastically low for a player of his calibre. This could hamper Forest’s progression of the ball, and with Williams being much better on the ball than Biancone, Williams is very much more likely to start over Biancone over the first few matches.
Omar Richards
Name: Omar Tyrell Crawford Richards
Age: 24
Height 1.74m
Nationality: English
Position(s): LB/LM
Although Omar Richards has not played very many games in the Bundesliga this season, his numbers so far has been extremely impressive and has warranted him a well deserved move to Forest, who will be given much more game time than he had at Bayern.
Strengths:
Omar Richards is incredibly impressive in a lot of aspects of his game, being extremely adept at dribbling, with his dribbles completed ranking in the top 98%, tackling, with his dribblers tackled ranking in the top 99%, and passing with his medium range pass completion ranking in the top 99% as well. These numbers may be extremeyl skewed due to the few numbers of minutes he played, but it shows a very bright future ahead for Richards, potentially thriving in the Forest ranks.
Weaknesses:
One main weakness of Richards’ is his lack of creativitiy, especially as a marauding left-back/left-winger. He records 0.04 expected assists per game, ranking in the bottom 13%. This could be greatly troubling as Forest will definitely need the creative spark for them to bag goals in the Premier League, and if Richards cannot provide it, he might not be able to make it into the starting eleven game-in-game-out.
Dean Henderson
Name: Dean Bradley Henderson
Age: 25
Height: 1.88m
Nationality: English
Position(s): GK
Dean Henderson is a brilliant acquisition by Forest, especially after shootout-hero Brice Samba decided to leave the Nottingham based team. Forest faithfuls will pray hard that Henderson produces an astounding season once again, as he did with newly promoted Sheffield United just 3 years ago.
Strengths:
Henderson is a reliable shot-stopper, incredibly adept at saving penalties. Although he has played second-fiddle to De Gea for the past season, Henderson is definitely a Premier League standard keeper and should be able to produce at leasta decent season on loan at Forest.
Weaknesses:
Henderson’s main weakness is his inability to distribute the ball, and hold on to it, often misplacing long passes. Such an ability is crucial for a team of Forest’s stature, and Forest will likely be more willing to attack the enemy via long passes, rather than building up from the back. This weakness could come to bite both Henderson and Forest in the future and Forest should practise using talented defenders, such as Worrall, to facilitate in build-up and distribution.
That’s that I guess, thanks for reading hope you liked it.
All data was taken from FbRef or Sofascore
