Nottingham Forest must totally reset their signing strategy after the transfer window closes in order to ever achieve their dream of getting back to the Premier League.
That is the verdict of journalist and Forest fan Daniel Storey, who says signing more than 60 players since 2017 and 13 this summer alone is 'foolish and deeply flawed'.
Speaking on the Garibaldi Red podcast, Storey said they should look at the examples of Sheffield United and Wolves, who have both thrived after promotion using different strategies.
The Blades have spent less money recruiting the likes of Ben Osborn and Jack Robinson from Forest, while Wolves have used their connection to super agent Jorge Mendes to bring in top talent from around Europe.
"One hundred percent it does," Storey said when asked if Forest's current strategy needs to change after Friday's deadline day. "I'm not saying it's impossible to do it that way because it can happen.
"You look at those clubs who have got promoted well in the last few years and they are very different types.
"One club uses the power of a super agent and a foreign manager and the other does it with British blood and thunder and a phenomenal man manager.
"They both have the same ethos which is we won't buy players for players sake. They buy players who will improve the first team.
"If they don't improve the first team there's no point in being there. Forest have done it differently with a transfer addiction.
"They've signed players who, with the greatest respect, even this summer, it's going to take an injury crisis for them to play more than 10 games this season.
"To me, it's a foolish and deeply flawed way of going about it. I'd be delighted if they proved me wrong but I can't see it myself."
You can watch the full episode on YouTube or listen to it on Apple Podcasts.
