Nottingham Forest are firmly within the race to complete the season in a playoff spot, with the Reds notably having fun with the targets of forwards Keinan Davis and Brennan Johnson this time period in addition to Lewis Grabban who has been sidelined for the previous two months.
Davis (4), Johnson (14) and Grabban (13) are amongst the attackers who’ve netted essentially the most this season for Steve Cooper’s facet. Nonetheless, fortune with forwards hasn’t all the time been the case on the Metropolis Floor, with Nicklas Bendtner a superb instance.
The previous Arsenal, Juventus, and Wolfsburg striker got here to the Metropolis Floor on a free switch in September 2016, with the 81-cap Dane’s market worth standing at £900k on the time.
Bendtner’s arrival would’ve definitely excited and intrigued the Forest devoted given the ahead’s pedigree, nevertheless, the transfer was a serious failure.
In 17 appearances, the now-retired former Denmark worldwide scored simply twice in addition to registering two assists, which means that every purpose was price £450k in accordance with his market worth. The ahead would then go on to hitch Norwegian facet Rosenburg in March 2017 earlier than the tip of the season.
Had been Forest proper to signal Bendtner?
Sure
No
Bendtner’s peak worth stood at £9m in August 2010 while at Arsenal however, inside beneath seven years, had decreased by 90%. With that in thoughts, it’s hardly a shock to see him dubbed a “flop” by journalist John Cross.
Quickly after the transfer to Rosenburg, Bendtner’s market worth did improve barely, rising to £1.08m in December 2017 however inside two years, having moved to FC Copenhagen in 2019, the 34-year-old’s price fell by 67% to £360k earlier than saying retirement. Having been nutmegged by a 48-year-old coach in coaching, maybe it was for the most effective that he hung up his boots.
It’s no secret that the previous footballer struggled coping with the life-style and fame, stating in an interview with The Guardian in October 2020: “There’s undoubtedly some remorse I didn’t take my profession in a extra constructive means.
“Trying again undoubtedly made me upset as a result of there are moments which had been very hurtful and tough to speak about. However I couldn’t simply write one other sports activities biography the place I used to be praising myself. Fortunately I trusted Rune fully and will open up and say: ‘There’s just one means I can do it and that’s with full honesty.”
While Bendtner was on the Metropolis Floor, Forest had been battling relegation and will’ve actually finished with extra targets from the Dane, with the Nottinghamshire outfit ending twenty first to narrowly beat the drop to League One.
Because the striker’s departure, the Reds’ fortunes have definitely improved, ending seventeenth twice, ninth and seventh with the facet, now managed by Steve Cooper, nicely within the combine for a playoff spot.
It was definitely a disappointment {that a} participant who had been on the books at quite a few high golf equipment couldn’t assist Forest, nevertheless, given his lack of targets away from Arsenal, it was undoubtedly a threat that, ultimately, didn’t repay.
In different information: Think about him & Grabban: Forest should swoop for £10m ace who’s “completely unplayable”