If there was some kind of weekly Premier League ‘Flop’ XI, there would certainly be no place for any Nottingham Forest players.
Not after this weekend. Not after beating Liverpool on the hallowed turf of Anfield for the first time in 55 years.
Not after matchwinner Callum Hudson-Odoi and the similarly turbo-charged Anthony Elanga came off the bench to stun the six-time European Champions.
Or, indeed, after Matz Sels made a couple of fine saves, after £12 million signing Nikola Milenkovic announced himself to the Premier League, after Ola Aina’s best game in a Nottingham Forest shirt, and a Morgan Gibbs-White performance which proved beyond all doubt that he is earning himself a spot amongst the division’s elite.
Chris Wood, meanwhile, did not add to his tally of two league goals thus far.
But the experienced striker was an outstanding outlet throughout; holding off Ibrahima Konate, linking the play, and simply acting as a general nuisance to a rattled Liverpool backline.
Nottingham Forest wanted Santiago Gimenez in £30m deal
No, there is no Nottingham Forest players even a lightyear within any hypothetical ‘Flop of the Weekend’ XI.
Unfortunately for Feyenoord, the same could not be said of Santiago Gimenez.
“The Mexican failed to impress,” writes Voetbal Primeur, including Gimenez amongst their eight worst performers of the Eredivisie weekend. “(The centre-halves) often (got) the better of Gimenez.
“And, even with the ball at his feet, the striker, who did not look sharp, was unable to offer much.”
Concerns have been growing regarding Gimenez’s finishing for a while now.
It is no coincidence that – after Tottenham Hotspur, Inter Milan, Atletico Madrid and co glanced in Gimenez’s direction after a stellar 2023 – Nottingham Forest appeared to be the only club making a serious effort to take him away from Feyenoord before last month’s transfer deadline.
HITC understands that Forest had a £28 million bid – rising to £30 million – accepted by Feyenoord.
But, crucially, not by Gimenez. Feyenoord director Dennis te Kloese confirms to ESPN that the former Cruz Azul hitman was ‘not convinced’ by a switch to the City Ground.
And while that looked like a serious bodyblow to Forest at the time – Nuno Espirito Santo’s side ending the summer window without a striker through the door – the lack of movement around Gimenez may soon feel like a blow not to the two-time European Champions but to Feyenoord.
After all, will Brian Priske’s side ever be offered £30 million again?
If Gimenez can rediscover his golden touch, then maybe. But, until then, rather unflattering comparisons with Nicolai Jorgensen – who could have joined Newcastle United for big money and then fell of a cliff, metaphorically speaking – will continue to linger.
“Gimenez is not playing great again, it is very difficult,” Feyenoord legend Mario Been tells ESPN .
“I am really starting to find it worrying,” adds Kees Kwakman, once of Volendam, Groningen and NAC Breda. “It is a new season. Of course, he has to deal with the traveling. But, if you have no energy because of it, but then you should not play.”
“You need a striker who can be played into and who holds the ball. He loses every duel. He is now an old-fashioned goal scorer, hoping that the ball falls at his feet, but you have to bring much more as a striker for Feyenoord.
“You can at least try to be available to be played to and to win the duels. He is now losing all duels.”
Kenneth Perez, the ex-Ajax and PSV Eindhoven midfielder, feels that the days of £30 million offers may already be over for Feyenoord.
“If Gimenez is only sold next year and they play for third, fourth or fifth place and he scores ten goals…” Perez warns. “Then, very low amounts suddenly appear.”
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
