Keinan Davis (on loan at Watford)

[Drummond]

Why not indeed.

There's a player in there I've no doubt. I also think his hold-up and link-up play would be great with Buendia and Coutinho buzzing around behind him. The only issue is the lack of goals. If he can stick a few away and get in the groove.

And I know that's a big if based on what he's done so far.

[Toronto Villa]

He’s done nothing to suggest he can score goals with any level of regularity. I know people want him to do well and on occasion we see things that might suggest he is more than what’s on the tin, but in truth what you see is what you get. KD is a limited footballer and he will have moments of play that suggest more but he usually comes back to the same level as we have always seen. He can’t score and doesn’t do quite enough to make others significantly better. If he played for someone else we’d never want him playing for us

[ChicagoLion]

I disagree, his biggest problem has been staying fit. We have never seen what he is capable of because he is rarely available to play.

[Mister E]

He's found his level, at least for the time being.
Review in June.

[Fred Crump]

I think you either have the natural striker’s instinct to score or you don’t. Vardy is a perfect if extreme reverse example, he was banging them in at non league level and just continued up the leagues without becoming any less prolific. I really hope I’m wrong ( I often am ! ) but I don’t think Keinan will score many even if he drops down to League 2/ Non League.

[Risso]

I think you either have the natural striker’s instinct to score or you don’t. Vardy is a perfect if extreme reverse example, he was banging them in at non league level and just continued up the leagues without becoming any less prolific. I really hope I’m wrong ( I often am ! ) but I don’t think Keinan will score many even if he drops down to League 2/ Non League.

That's it really. And I'm fairly certain that he'll be injured again before long, his body just seems fundamentally broken.

[Smithy]

He’s done nothing to suggest he can score goals with any level of regularity. I know people want him to do well and on occasion we see things that might suggest he is more than what’s on the tin, but in truth what you see is what you get. KD is a limited footballer and he will have moments of play that suggest more but he usually comes back to the same level as we have always seen. He can’t score and doesn’t do quite enough to make others significantly better. If he played for someone else we’d never want him playing for us

No, we definitely wouldn't be talking about signing him if he was playing for another side.  But that's the thing about players that come through our youth system - you don't tend to see the finished product for a while, unless they happen to be a generational talent.  Would anyone have pushed to sign the Jacob Ramsey of 12 months ago had he been playing for someone else?  No chance. It's taken 20+ starts in the Premier League and a run in the side to really see what he's about, and now people are talking about the outside chance of him making the World Cup squad.

I am NOT suggesting Keinan is at that level, or ever will be.  But, I also don't think he's played close to regularly enough to know what he COULD be when fit and firing.  As others have said, it might be that his injury record means he'll never be able to play 30+ games a season, but until we've seen him get a regular run and play 15-20 games, we won't really know what he could be.

Yes, I have a soft spot for Keinan, because I think his development as a player was hindered by where the club has been over the last three or four years.  After his debut as a teenager, he should have had a few loans to get the experience he needed.  But he's found himself in a situation where the club has improved but he's often been the 'next in line' for the forwards, so we've been reluctant to let him go out for fear of leaving ourselves light in the squad. He's an employee, and the club's needs come first, but I have some sympathy for him because of that.  He's probably the least experienced 23-year-old footballer we've ever had on our books, in terms of minutes on the pitch - particularly seeing as he's been playing first-team football since he was a teenager.

I don't think we'll ever see him as a regular in claret and blue, but if a positive loan move means we can get a couple of million for him, and he can go on to have a decent career in the Championship or above, I'll be delighted for him.  And if this loan shows he's capable of more than we all think, even better.

[Hookeysmith]

Sorry, here's the link:

https://mobile.twitter.com/NFFCGAnalytics/status/1482668230971998208?s=20

One comment describes him as "Lukaku like".  If this loan spell does him the world of good, then maybe we'll have a new player on our hands?  And why not?

My God that Forest kit is horrific

[brontebilly]

Sorry, here's the link:

https://mobile.twitter.com/NFFCGAnalytics/status/1482668230971998208?s=20

Some very positive signs there. Physically dominating those defenders and nice touch/dribbling skills. But his shooting technique still needs a lot of work. Not really striking those shots cleanly.
I think it was Joe Cole last season that said on TV after Davis scored for us that he had all the attributes to be a top player but his movement in the box needed a lot of work. Whether you can teach that is another thing, the best goal scorers just have that instinct.

[eamonn]

Any updates on his progress at Forest - has he netted in training yet, at least ?

[Tayls_7]

Any updates on his progress at Forest - has he netted in training yet, at least ?

Yes but it was during a period of "rush goalie" and no offside rules.

[N'ZMAV]

If he stays fit it will be a miracle.

[Brend'Watkins]

If he stays fit it will be a miracle.

Nothing better than a good run of games to build up his match fitness to help him stay match fit. He could almost become a lesser Lukaku with an extended run of games.

[Toronto Villa]

Much much lesser

[chrisw1]

I think this loan move is great for him.  It should have happened a few years ago.  I don't expect him to come back to us but even so hope he does brilliantly.