Scout report: Vital Forest on Gunter

With great thanks to our friends over at Vital Forest, we ask a few questions on our new signing Chris Gunter. We ask about the sort of player we are getting and whether he can crack it in the Premier League.

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1) In a nutshell, what sort of a player are we getting?

Chris Gunter is a good, solid, no nonsense defender, who will give 100% every game. He never backs out of a challenge and will always look to play the ball out of defence, rather than hoof it up the pitch. He's been a loyal servant to Nottingham Forest and despite being linked and having the chance to move to other clubs in the past year and a half, he's remained loyal to the Forest cause.

2) Do you begrudge Gunter for making this move?

I personally don't begrudge him the move and the chance to play in the Prem. He's had opportunities in the past to change clubs and he has turned those chances down. I will be disappointed to see him go, but at least we got a decent fee......apparently!

3) What are his strengths?

Never shirks a tackle and usually wins it. He can pass the ball to one of his own players as well. That's a basic skill that has been sadly lacking throughout our own squad of late. He loves to get forward and can beat his man. If a coach ever takes the time to show him how to cross a ball, he'll be a world beater!

4) What are his weaknesses?

As said before, crossing isn't one of his greatest assets and he can sometimes get caught out of poition. Then again, what defender doesn't and just like keepers will always drop the odd ball, defenders will sometimes lose concentration. He is young and he is still learning.

He's an out and out right back. Steve Cotterill tried him in midfield, to compensate for our lack of width and it didn't work. It shouldn't be a criticism of a right back, but he doesn't score enough goals. He gets in the positions, but his finishing lets him down. I think I'm correct in saying that he only scored once in his entire career for us. For a player that does so well in getting forward, it's always his final ball that lets him down. Crossing is definitely a weakness in my opinion.

5) Do you feel he is capable of playing in the Premier League?

He was very highly rated at Spurs and I remember their fans bemoaning the fact that the club had let him go. They were right as well. We got a good deal ourselves at £1.75m in 2009 and he's been good value for it. He wont tear up any trees, but he wont let you down. Yes. He will be capable of standing up to the rigours of Premiership football.

Click here to join in the debate on the club forum.