‘You know what Nottingham Forest need to do, they need to get Rafa Mir back into their starting XI.’
Not a comment you would expect to garner much support.
A Spanish loanee has struggled, to say the least, since arriving on Trentside.
There may, however, be some substance to what initially appears to be twisted logic.
That is because the suggestion is not to let Mir lead the line.
He has looked a little lost when asked to provide cover for Lewis Grabban this season.
What, though, if he was used as part of a strike pairing?
Reds legend Garry Birtles has floated that idea.
He has said in the Nottingham Post: “Is it time to play two upfront, especially at home?
“Rafa Mir hasn’t exactly torn it up in a Forest shirt yet but he might fare better alongside Lewis Grabban.
Dimension
“It could give Forest a different dimension as it is starting to look like teams have worked out how to defend against them.
“Mir will run and put himself about. Having a strike partner could be just what he needs.
“People might be sceptical about him and playing two strikers under Sabri Lamouchi, but it might be worth a go.”
That it might.
Lamouchi experimented with three at the back against Millwall, so why not mix things up again?
Getting two frontmen on the field should aid the search for greater cutting edge as well.
After the debacle against Sheffield Wednesday, changes will be considered.
There is also the January transfer window to take into account.
With Forest expected to be in the market for another striker, why not get into the habit of playing with two?
Transition
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That could ensure that there is a smooth transition into the team for any new arrival.
Grabban would also likely welcome the assistance.
He has spent too long banging his head against a brick wall this season.
Reaching double figures again proves how valuable he is to the cause, but he cannot carry the burden alone.
Mir is no long-term solution, but he could have a role to play in a quick fix.
The only issue, as suggested by Birtles, is that Forest will not be back at the City Ground until December 29.
Back-to-back away games at Huddersfield and Hull City await.
Should trips out on the road be used for experiments – as at The Den – especially with the Reds’ record away from Trentside taken into account?
These are the kind of questions that Lamouchi is paid to answer and he should have plenty of potential solutions spinning around in his head.
With it possible that Mir figures in those again, albeit briefly.
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