February Player of the Month Poll

Please make sure you vote in this months player of the month poll. Most of the players who have featured regularly have been listed for our votes.

Guy Moussi took January's award,but due to his injury hasn't made out short list for February,opening up the award for anyone else to win

So please vote in the poll in the top right hand corner!!

Danny Guthrie to Forest?

Reports today are suggesting that Newcastle's Danny Guthrie is in line to for Forest on loan until the end of the season.

23 year old Guthrie is an ex-Liverpool trainee who can operate as a combative centre midfielder or as a right winger. He also played a big part in Newcastle’s promotion winning side last season.

Guthrie’s is a set piece specialist with decent passing and vision – he provided 12 assists for Newcastle last term. The only concern at the moment is his fitness due to him being out with injury early on this season and then dropping out the Magpies team altogether.

I for one would be very pleased if this materialised. The guy knows what it’s like to get promotion from this league and is just the type of player we need to help us prolong that last push. His ability to assist and create chances is just what we need. When we played Milwall on Saturday, we had 71% possession and yet that final ball was letting us down.

We'll keep you posted.

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Frustrating Forest Forced to a Point

Apologies for the delay in this article – thought I’d already posted the report yesterday and looked through the site to find it wasn’t there. Own goal!

Anyways, there will be few games this season where Forest will have so much possession in one game and do nothing with it. Forest had held over 70% of the possession from Saturday’s game at Milwall, in what proved to be another frustrating game.

Forest opted to resort to their favoured away day 4-5-1 formation with Raddy coming back into the team at Tudgay’s expense. Earnshaw also found himself on the bench having missed the Preston game through injury.

The first chance of the game fell in Milwall’s favour. A Steve Morison header was cleared by Chambers only for it to fall to Hameur Bouazza, who hit a shot with the outside of his boot just over.

Its worth saying Bouazza along with David Forde were quite easily Milwall’s best players on the day. Bouazza tossed and turned his way through our right wing and was a constant threat - he certainly looks quite the January signing.

After a couple more Milwall chances, it was only ever in Forest’s favour after that – fortunately this week the ref was a bit too.

Shortly after, Forest's first attack game. McGugan hit a driven, long range shot forcing David Forde to tip it round the post - it would have almost been identical to the goal at Coventry minus a goalkeeping mishap.

On 25 minutes, Cohen pinged a through ball through for none other than Joel Lynch, who put a volley right across the face of goal and had McGoldrick got the slightest touch on it, it would have been in. Another case of if's and but's.

Chances were few and far between for both teams after that - Forest won themselves a couple of free kicks which McGugan hit wildely over or into the wall.

With the sides level at half time, Milwall proceeded to boo the referee and his assistants as well as pathetically chant; "We only get sh*t refs!". Suppose it's worth saying that Milwall's renowned intimidating atmosphere must have been having a day off as Forest out sang another team for the duration of the game.

Second half and Forest held possession but did nothing much with it.

Raddy had a shot from the edge of the box early on that went narrowly wide, while McGugan weaved through the Milwall team only to hit it straight at Forde – it looked better in reality than it did on the replays.

Lynch hit a wild volley from outside the box that went flying over the bar – I wish it had gone in, more so to shut the clueless fan sat in front of me up who was jeering him and McGoldrick throughout.

The best move of the game came when Forest had the Milwall defence floundering all over the place. A quick passing move found Anderson who threaded through a ball for an unmarked Gunter sprinted down the right. Gunter took a heavy touch to beat the Milwall left back and shot from a tight angle – forcing Forde into a routine save.

McCleary and Earnshaw’s introductions seemed to make Forest look even more dangerous although I suppose it was too little, too late. McCleary had a great chance when he got a flick onto an in swinging McGugan cross, once again forcing Forde into a save. If I’m honest I think in McCleary’s cameo he showed signs of a player who should get a chance at Boro.

Sadly, McClearey’s chance was it for Forest and despite trying, Milwall's defence held firm and we shared the spoils – ignore what the Nottingham Forest wrist slitters say, it was a bloody good point.

We pressed, we dominated and yet we did nothing with it – a familiar story from our recent games at Scunny and Preston.

Here’s hoping we bring home the points from Boro tomorrow.

Let the Youngsters Blossom?

Nialle Rodney’s appearance the other night had me thinking on the dearth of quality younger players we have had come through the ranks of late.

Nialle Rodney


What with Billy Davies statement the other day that the youngsters may have to step up into the team, despite hardly ever being given a look in before. Brendan Moloney we have seen bits of before, but Rodney and Kieron Freeman we have hardly seen. Also mentioned were Jamaal Lascelles and then there’s always Mark Byrne, who still will be wrongly remembered for missing an open goal v Derby in the cup.

I am always heartened by the fact most fans, even the delusional ones who think we have a god given right to be in the Premier League, warm to a youngster making his steps in his career. Being supportive whereby with a more experienced player they would probably berate. Of course this run will end, and there will be a point where this encouraging reaction of fans turns to expectation.

Of course it helps that Rodney largely did well when he appeared against Preston, chasing every ball, hitting the post. I worry it’s a game of politicking by Davies, trying to prove a point ‘look to what I’m left to having to play.’ But should it be as if everyone is saying we down to the bare bones? If these guys aren’t ever going to play for us or make the grade, what is the point in us employing them? Of course they should be used, that’s what they are at the club to do, so this largely condescending tone of having to use youngsters belittles the whole point of having a youth team in the first place.


Hamza Bencherif


The last youngsters to break through were arguably Lewis McGugan and James Perch. The likes of Thornhill though looked like he might settle in ultimately have been shipped off elsewhere. Many youngsters coming through who you hear are promising haven’t made the grade. Hamza Bencherif, Adam Newbold, players who in the youth and reserve teams names appeared to be set for a bright future but never made that step up.
It’s been said to me that the lack of decent young players coming through is that that 3 year period in League 1 meant we were no longer the appealing prospect we were before. The top youngsters we would sign went to other clubs, and we ended up with lesser quality. Only soon will we see the benefits of going back up a division with a talent of attracting in new quality youngsters.

It also would help to have a manager who trusts in youth. Billy Davies obviously does not. He wants players who can perform now, and not need to be moulded. Calderwood was more encouraging of youth, and of course Paul Hart implicitly entrusted in youth, it did help that he had a quality batch of youngsters coming through. For a while after that Golden Bunch came through we supported any youngsters coming through, hoping it would be another gem uncovered by Forest. Invariably these youngsters who broke into our team drifted down the league to relative obscurity. Gregor Robertson and Barry Roche two such examples. It didn’t help at that time, that the most highly promising youngsters we had both turned out to be no good, and vanished, I refer you to James Beaumont and Ross Gardner. Players apparently highly regarded at Newcastle, when we pinched them. I can’t help thinking this was a line we were fed.

Ross Gardner



There were one or two I feel we gave up too early on. Chris Doig could have done well for us in League One, he certainly did OK for Northampton. The famous cases of Shaun Wright-Phillips and Liam Lawrence being released by us by kids underline the fact that some times wrong decisions are made on youngsters. Look at Felix Bastians, playing in Bundesliga, not as the left winger we thought he was, but as a central defender. By and large though, we make the right call. These players leave us and disappear into relative obscurity. Though it is good to see Craig Westcarr blossoming at County, and Steve Guinan carved out a decent enough career after we let him go.
So I am delighted to see the possibility of youngster being able to maybe have the chance to step up. It’s all too easy to say that in the pressure cooker of this promotion run in games that we need experience, but I think that belittles these players and makes a mockery of what they might be able to offer. If they are what we have available then we utilise them. Simple as.

Post Preston match Podcast

Heres the podcast of the post Preston game thoughts. With many asides and tangents as per usual.

download here
http://www.sendspace.com/file/cbeen5

or youtube here

Revealed!! Billy's Role in Sheridan Romps

If you'd like to enter the next caption contest then please click the forum link on the side, the next one will be coming soon. All winning entries get published on the blogsite




Thanks to Mr Geo_Challenge off the forum for this winning entry.





All seriously in jest and not in any way shape true or factual

Last Minute Jones Header Forces Forest to a Point

Last night’s late show at the City Ground was something out of Football Manager. There we were taking what looked a vital 3 points in injury time, only for Preston to equalise moments later. It was a cruel blow in a game that should have been a given three points for any side wanting promotion.

Kick off last night was delayed until 8 o’clock due to the excessive volume of traffic from the sell out Forest crowd. This was a great relief to me with the Cattle Market completely full although I still didn’t end up getting into the ground until 8:15 as it seemed nowhere in Nottingham had a space free.

The team we sent out seems to be slowly getting jiggered by injuries. In the warm up Earnshaw and Tyson got injured thus meaning our subs bench looked the weakest it had been all season. The only change to the starting line up from Cardiff was McGoldrick coming in up front for Robbie.

When we eventually started, Forest should have been 2-0 up before Preston scored as glorious chances for Cohen and McKenna just went wide.

But then for the second week in a row, Forest needed a wakeup call from lowly opposition. A delicious cross from Keith Treacy found Barry Nicholson, who put a well placed header right past Lee Camp. At this stage I was only just finding my seat so the screams of a man near me shouting ‘free header’ made me have a quick look up and there it was...goal.

As with Scunthorpe and Cardiff last week, the goal seemed to perk up the opposition and if it wasn’t for an excellent save from Camp off a long range Billy Jones shot, we may have been 2-0 down – the fear of a repeat of the 3-2 defeat at Deepdale last season was sparking in the back of my mind.

Before half time though, Forest were slowly coming into the game.

A ball by Konchesky evaded Anderson but zipped across to Tudgay, who from 8 yards out couldn’t find the finish - a glorious opportunity it has to be said.

Tudgay also had another great chance on the stroke of half time, after a good cross from the left by Cohen landed right on Tudgay’s head forcing Iain Turner into a brilliant save. The chance though was met with a flurry of cheers from Red’s fans eager to drive the team on bar the moron who sits behind me, who shouted his catchphrase four letter ‘w’ word at the team.

The resulting corner saw Anderson bundled over in the box by a blatant foul for which another inconsistent ref did not give – this one was up there with one of the worst we've had all season.

As the whistle blew for half time, most the part time fans made their feelings known by booing off the team. Classy although the majority were probably on a Notts County coach to the City of Manchester stadium 48 hours earlier.

Second half and Forest came out looking like they wanted to win – supposed they had to really if they want to get results to help them go up.

Sadly Preston were looking more and more like a desperate team. Time wasting and negative football galore, it was like we were playing the championship equivalent of Stoke City. Who can blame them in all honesty? They have come here and got a goal.

Fortunately, Forest got an equaliser on the 54^th minute. Excellent play from McGoldrick on the left as he twisted and turned through the Preston defence before putting in a driven cross to Anderson. Ando’s shot was blocked but in came Konchesky with an emphatic shot into the corner of the Preston goal. That’s more like it!

Dele came on for Tudgay to create some sort of equaliser while Konchesky went off with a hamstring injury – just what we need to add to our growing injury list.

McGoldrick and Dele had tame chances that were comfortably saved by Turner before McGoldrick gave way to young Nialle Rodney – last seen ripping Cardiff’s defence up last November.

The reception McGoldrick got when subbed was nothing short of diabolical. Sarcastic cheering from most fans around me as well as a few boos – honestly it was disgraceful. I like McGoldrick and think he does show some great intelligent link up at times as well as having a poacher’s knack of always being there.

Part timers or not, some of the fans need to have a good look at themselves when jeering off the likes of McGoldrick and McKenna - although McKenna seems to have shut a few of them up in recent weeks. Booing and jeering is not going to improve anyones overall game is it? I’m sure you’d all love to swap them for Eugine Dadi and Danny Sonner who were donning red shirts not so long ago but then this is the problem. These folk are too quick to forget where we were 3 years ago.

Back to the match and Dele and Rodney were linking up pretty well - a guy behind me thought it was hilarious saying Dele Boy and Rodney. What a wit!

Dele’s flick-on headers were setting in Rodney a treat, as he terrorised the Preston defence.

With the board for 5 minutes added time aloft, the Reds got a free kick. An inswinging free kick by Cohen evaded everyone and fell into the bottom corner of Turner’s goal. The sell out City Ground crowd erupted into scenes of joy. The Reds had done it again!

I was saying to the folks around me; “This is the sign of a team that wins promotion!” as well as texting everyone I know saying we’ve done it again against Preston.

I was made to look an absolute fool, maybe even a jinx.

Preston had shifted their game from all out defence to all out attack and they kept getting the ball into our half. All Forest needed to do was get a foot on it and smash it away.

6 minutes into injury time – yep a minute over the initial allocation – Preston pinged in a cross for Billy Jones who headed right over a felled Camp and into the net. A head in your hands moment for all Red’s fans.

One of Preston’s fans ran to celebrate with the players but fell tit over arse down every step before being grabbed by a steward. The Preston staff also ran into the Forest technical area to celebrate the goal in front of Billy Davies. Class acts.

Shortly after the ref blew for full time and the part timers, unhappy with what they’d seen for a cheap ticket, booed us off again. At least they won’t be here for the Hull game in a few weeks time.

We were left reflecting on a dropped 2 points in a game we should have won. All that hard work from Saturday was undone in one game as Cardiff’s win over Leicester put them back above us.

Now some fans were expressing their disgust at Preston’s goal being outside of the allocated injury time. Yes it was but when you take a minute to celebrate a goal, they have to add that minute on. After all do they not say “There will be a minimum of…” when they hold the board up?

The fact of the matter is when you’re at home to anyone and score a late injury time winner; you should be able to hold on. There was no excuse for conceding when all we had to do was get a foot on the ball and boot it clear. We should have been able to keep Preston out whether we were playing for another 3 minutes or for another 40 minutes. There was no excuse and Preston deserve great praise.

The worrying thing for me at the minute is we aren’t keeping enough clean sheets and almost all the goals we’ve conceded since QPR have started on the wings. We need to press these teams more to stop them having a chance to cut inside or whip a ball in to the six foot something striker.

Ah well, everyone’s an expert when things don’t go well and I can’t disagree with the folks calling this the 'Nottingham Forest Rollercoaster' – I for one am delighted the part timers have got off after this game.

We’ll see what Saturday brings although we’ve now put unnecessary pressure on ourselves by not winning in games that we really should do.

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My Favourite Players...Manic Loop

Forum member Manic Loop writes about his favourite players from Forests past

I suppose my list will differ from many peoples. Avoiding the likes of Collymore and co, I have always had favourite players who might not get all the attention and praise. I don’t know why, I guess I cheer on the underdog. I'm also not ordering this in a particular way.

Colin Cooper
Well Cooper was the first player I ever got the name of on the back of my shirt. Back in the days of the dark blue and turquoise away kit (still my favourite ever away kit) it was a time in life where I recently made the move to defence myself, so perhaps it was a bid to associate myself with another player in the position.
I think another facet will have been the fact Cooper was also a goal scoring defender. Taking free kicks and getting up for corners, he netted quite often. As well as this he was also a relief captain. He always gave his all, and I think to a certain extent he was as good buy for Forest as Collymore was. He held that defence together, and if you notice when he left that defence fell apart completely. Steve Chettle was never going to the player of choice for a young lad, he just wasn’t remotely glamorous.

A final factor is that I have for a long time regarded number 4 as my lucky number, and Cooper played in number 4. Right at the time that squad numbers came in, and having a player’s name on the back of your shirt, and therefore Cooper being number 4 was the choice for me. This would later come back to bite me in the arse when the 1998-99 home shirt of mine ended up with Quashie on the back of it. Oh dear

Alf-Inge Haaland
Here is a choice which may surprise. But like Cooper, I got Haaland on the back of one of my Forest shirts. It was around the time he first got moved to midfield and put in many a great combative performance, and turned him from a fringe squad member into a first team player. Another facet was that I wanted a name on my shirt not many others had, an Alfie was one of those. That did cause problems when on holiday in Turkey though, as many people thought it was Holland on the back and thought I was Dutch, so spoke in Dutch to me.

Alfie was never a limelight stealing player, but he did impress in his last year or so, leading to a move to Leeds. He is far more famous for his battle with Roy Keane, but I sill remember watching his debut v Leicester on TV, as I believe a right back.

Chris Bart-Williams
The last of players here that I chose to adorn my shirt with their number. Bartman was always my type of player. I prided myself on sitting deep and playing good long passes, much like he did. Plus when we signed him was regarded as one of the top prospects, playing a large number of England U-21 games. It also seemed exotic having a player born in Sierra Leone.

I was at university when Bartman had his period as captain and when he got pushed further forward, but I do remember vividly him scoring that goal v Reading that all but assured promotion in 1998 (and had Pierre van Hooijdonk hanging off his neck celebrating wildly, odd that) Anyway, I remember where I used to sit a number of people didn’t like him because he often passed it sideways or back rather than needless give possession away by humping it forward. Now which current player does that remind me of?

Franz Carr
My first ever favourite player. This was when I was also a right winger, tearing it up for 1st Edwinstowe Cubs football team as we romped to the league title.

I also really liked Carr because as a kid, a tricky jinky winger is always more noticeable than a defensive stalwart or a play destroying midfielder. Ok, so later in life I have learnt his final ball wasn’t all that, I didn’t really care standing on the Bridgford end stood on a milk crate so I could see (showing my age now)
I recall also thinking it was amazing he got called up to England B squad thinking this was amazing, not then knowing any old half decent player made that squad.


Lars Bohinen
Maybe somewhat controversial seeing as he left under a cloud somewhat, but I genuinely believe he was the Bergkamp of this club. His touch and control were amazing. My brother always wanted to go to games early to see the players warm up specifically with watching Bohinen's control and touch.
What sticks in my mind was seeing him bend a corner right in untouched against Norwich, past a young Andy Marshall. Then I thought it was the most incredible goal I had ever seen. Scoring from a corner!!!! But he didn’t do that just the once, there was another time, an away game against opposition who I forget.

So yeah, no Collymore, Pearce, Clough, van Hooijdonk or whatever. I think I have always supported an underdog so hence my list featuring lesser known players, but great players nonetheless.



Oh and yeah to prove I had a Quashie shirt

It's Podcast Time Again

Recorded live after the Cardiff win is the latest Forest 24-7 podcast
As always available in two ways, as a download, and on Youtube

File download
http://www.sendspace.com/file/8n8krj

Youtube

Forest Triumph Over Cardiff

Forest are jubilant today after a massive win against Cardiff sent them back into second place.

In a thrilling encounter at City Ground the Reds came out as 2-1 winners,with Forest goals by Wes Morgan and Robert Earnshaw. Peter Whittingham scored a goal back for Cardiff from the penalty spot in between.

Right from the outset this game had it all,both teams being dangerous on each attack. Early on Earnshaw had the ball in the goal, only for an offside flag to deny the Welshman a goal against his former club.

The best early chances both fell to Cardiff. Before this Bellamy had a pot shot saved by Camp. The best chance came to Bothroyd, who was set free, it looked offside from where A great chance for a recent England international, but missed.I was, but the flag stayed down, Bothroyd was one on one with Camp, and Camp saved. From the resulting corner Konchesky had to clear a Bellamy shot off the line. Not long later Parkin also found himself free, but his attempted lob was too high, he probably should have taken a more straight forward shot.

Not long later and Forest had the lead. A McGugan corner was sent over and Wes Morgan towered above all else to bullet header the ball back in and give Forest the lead. Not quite against a run of play, bit none the less, Forest had been Cardiff's equal, but had not had the clear cut chances the Bluebirds had.

Not long after Forest could have made it two, but the shot by McGugan came off the top of the bar to deny a good goal for the Reds which may have killed the match off

By and large that was it for the first half, save for a few half chances and cleared crosses. A cagey but entertaining first half, and Forest fans were elated, but many a worried conversation, we all knew we needed a second goal. One would never be enough in this game.

Early in the second half Parkin was replaced by Jay Emmanuel-Thomas and his introduction changed everything.The more mobile pacey forward changed how Cardiff chased the game.However, Forest had another close effort with a McGugan free-kick going close to the top corner.

Cardiff's goal came from a highly debatable penalty. For one the linesman did not flag, another barely anyone appealed, fans or players. But the referee thought it was and blew the whistle,much to Forest fans and player consternation. Whittingham, a long term Forest target duly netted the penalty sending Camp the wrong way from the spot.

Cardiff were not level for long. Forest went back in front when Anderson managed to feed in Earnshaw. He netted from the edge of the 6 yard box, and the Forest fans went wild. Earnie, of course having close connections with Cardiff didn't celebrate his goal. It was a good assist by Anderson in a game in which previously I thought he had done little,this more than made amends.

Camp was called into duty twice more in the second half, saving a viciously swirling effort from Emmanualle-Thomas and a Olofinjana effort. Both saves illustrated his worth to Forest, and skills soon to be on display to Northern Ireland.

Forest should have finished the game off when Tyson broke away in a 4 on 2 attack. With the keeper to beat, but with 2 men spare in the middle free in McGugan and McGoldrick Tyson chose to shoot at the near post, when a cut back would no doubt have netted. A mistake which could have cost Forest, but the Reds held on to a majestic victory that see's them rise above Cardiff in the league

Watch the Forest Game Here

Can't make it to the City Ground today?

Then watch the match here.

Just scroll down the list to the Forest game

Forest Looking to Bounce Back

Forest will be looking to bounce back from the Scunthorpe defeat tomorrow in crunch match versus Cardiff. Forest hoped to go into this game with their unbeaten run intact but unfortunately must face Cardiff with a loss as their most recent stat.

Forest have lot lost two games in a row since last March, and with a highly enviable home run of form will be trying to make sure that stat remains the same. Forest of course sprang a surprise win at Cardiff away in November.

Of course Forest still minus Moussi, Blackstock and Findley through injury,and also Majewski to suspension. However many of the problems with the Scunthorpe loss were based on the very poor pitch being a great leveller. With the better surface of City Ground, Forest will be looking to get playing good football and sweep to victory.

Cardiff are dangerous opposition. They have a couple of extra players since the November game, notably our former loanee Aaron Ramsey. The likes of Bothroyd, Chopra and Bellamy need no introduction. There are still questions over Cardiff's back line howevr, and ex Bluebird Earnshaw will look to exploit that

The Cult of Billy

Following our defeat by Scunthorpe this week,the reaction of fans on various forums and suchlike has been fascinating to see where people apportion blame for this result. Some of it has been downright bizarre.

Many people pointed fingers at who was responsible for the defeat, but what was somewhat alarming was the lack of pointing fingers at Billy Davies. How has the man who picks the team seemingly absolved himself of blame for the defeat. A clever game of politics, but we will come to that.

In many places the usual scapegoat came to the fore. Nigel Doughty. Yes people blamed the chairman for a solitary defeat. Vital as always led the way on this. They should rebrand themselves anti-Doughty.com. The single thing that came out was that they believed the lack of investment was to blame. This why we lose one game. Lets gloss over the 6 wins, and a creditable away draw at QPR, yes, lets forget that,for the simple fact we like to absolve Billy Davies from blame.

I mentioned it was a clear game of politics by Billy Davies, and it is. At the weekend he made the comment guaranteeing promotion if he gets his 3 loan targets. Of course said targets were not revealed. Additionally, this immediate suggests that these player of a calibre that all but secures promotion. Billy has been clever here, now if we don't go up, and we haven't got 3 loans in, he will point to having said I would have succeeded with the right tools. The board, IF the 3 players don't come and we don't go up, will suggest hang on, we got to second with the original set of players. Surely they are good enough.

We have seen this before, last season when Davies suggested that if we had Shorey we would have gone up. Cleverly distracting this deal was never going to be possible. Billy surely knows this, the board knows, but seemingly most fans don't. There are a raft of fans who believe anything Davies says.

Don't get me wrong,I appreciate what a good manager Davies is,and what an excellent job he has done. That much is obvious. But what also bothers me is his complete and utter inability to accept he got anything wrong, and that he pushes blame to everywhere but himself. Maybe that's the life of a football manager, but compare that to Calderwood who was the other extreme and refused to blame everyone bar himself,and its been a huge diametric swing to the other direction. Again, this isn't a complaint,more an observation really that Davies shifts blame to a board he says don't back him.

We covered before that Davies has everywhere else left under a cloud surrounding perceived lack of investment. Managers are aware of their budget, he knows what he was coming into. But by publicly stating he wants x amount of players and how if we get them everything will change. It's is very clever, many many fans completely buy into this. There is a cult of people who believe that Davies should be given free reign over the team to do as he pleases. It's an argument I can understand, but it simply isn't going to happen, so it's useless to suggest it. No manager gets this independence to do as he please. However loads of fans believe Davies should get who he wants no matter the price. One of our targets is supposedly Michael Brown,he earns £30k a week and if we loan him Portsmouth want us to pay all his wages. Do we really want to saddle ourselves with that fee?

I say the cult of Billy, because it's this belief that he can do no wrong, and hence why I bring up the Scunthorpe defeat. Not one of them say he may have picked the wrong team or tactics. No, that can;t be it. It has to be we didn't get Messi, Ronaldo and Fabregas in during the transfer window.

The Acquisition Panel haven't had their name muttered since Pleat revealed it's essentially been disbanded, so now it all falls back to Doughty. As we pointed out earlier in the week, Doughty is not a bad chairman, he has never seen the club nearly go out of business like so many. And do we really want to mortgage the future of the club to get potentially one season of Premier League. And then plummet back, and how often when clubs come back down do clubs just implode financially, trying to over Premier costs.This is an age of austerity, and we are right to be cautious. Nottingham Forest is for life, not just one just one season in the Premier League.



*Additional Caveat*
No sooner do I publish this then Davies is out quoting again about how we should have signed "stellar" signings in the summer and how we are paying for it. Again shifting and apportioning blame to others for failing to back him up. He is probably right, but theres no need to keep going on about to it to garner support from mindless drones who don't see a bigger picture of financial restraints and the fact maybe just maybe clubs didn't want to sell

Unbeaten Run Ends at Scunthorpe

Forests unbeaten run ended last night at Glanford Park, somewhat unexpectedly.The Reds fell to a first half Dagnall goal.

Forest went to Scunthorpe knowing that a win would send them second, ahead of the big game against Cardiff on Saturday. This would have given us the momentum needed in what could be the biggest game of the season.

Forest fans went in a state of anticipation, having seen Cardiff slip up the previous night,against Burnley, and having scored a very creditable draw at the week against high flying QPR, with only 10 men.

Forest had the first good chance of the game, Tyson was free with an open goal essentially,and missed. An all to often occurrence for Tyson. It seems when presented with the easier chances, he either panics or takes his off the ball because it simply isn't good enough, especially when considering his form of late.

Not long after Forest went behind to goal they would never recover. Dagnall netted close in on 18mins, from a Lee Miller assist. A scrappy unattractive goal on a scrappy unattractive pitch.

And there is another issue. A very poor pitch was a great leveller, not allowing Forest to be able to the same passing game as they would like to have. It is true of course than in football you have to tackle everything over the season, and that includes bad pitches, so it can't be an excuse. However it was all to readily used by the media around the game. But then two teams have to play on any surface, it's just a matter who masters it first, and that's why home advantage is termed just that.

Forest had a few other efforts in the first half, to no avail. And at the break Scunny were ahead. However, with 45 minutes to go it wasn't quite panic stations. Surely after the break it would change?

Well, yes and no. The scoreline didn't later, but Forest went closer, and piled on late pressure in attempt to get something out the game. Dele Adebola was closest when he came on, hitting the bar with a header.

A number of close in swinging corners had to be cleared by Scunthorpes keeper Lillis from under his bar. Forest had 5 corners to Scunthorpe's one. In fact they had many more shots on and off target to Scunthorpe but possession was equal. The lion share of chances for Forest were in a second half period, and in the last 10 mins piling the bar into the area.

Whether this was a bad day at the office, complacency or just a case of getting the tactics wrong, it was a painful defeat,not just because of the offer of going into second place, but also that Scunthorpe had one home win to their name all season previously. That coming against Crystal Palace in August. Scunthorpe are becoming somewhat of a bogey club for Forest over the last few years where we have shared divisions.

Questions may be asked about some changes, some were enforced, but we all knew they would come, and ours quad, being one pushing promotion has to be strong enough to beat teams struggling against relegation. Last night bought may of old question marks back to life.

Whether this is a mere wobble, or the beginnings of a full on derailment of the promotion train will become apparent over the next weeks. Needless to say quick recovery on Saturday is needed.

Northern Irelands Number One!!!

Lee Camp has been cleared to play internationally for Northern Ireland, opening the way for him to begin his full international career.
Although this was first suggested a while ago, it has taken a while for clearance to come through, as FIFA requires evidence of eligibility for players who have represented other countries at youth levels, (as Camp has for England)
I say good luck to him. Although many cheer for him to be in the England set up, that's always unrealistic when playing outside the Premier League.Also playing for England would put him the shop window for bigger clubs to swoop in, and we don't want that to happen do we Reds fans?
Camp qualifies to play for Northern Ireland via his grandfather, and he is relishing the opportunity to feature on the international stage. It is likely he will feature in the squad for next months games versus Serbia and Slovenia

Loan Transfer Rumours Abound

Following Billy Davies comments at the weekend about that if we get three loan players he guarantee's promotion, tongues have wagged about who these three players may be.
We take a quick look at the various name being mentioned on the likes of twitter, Facebook pages, and various forums.

First up, Owen Hargreaves.

Now to me this seems extremely unlikely. For a start he has barely played in longer than anyone can nearly remember. I would also assume it would be a 1 month loan, otherwise where is the point in getting him match fit if the season were just to end. It would make more sense for United to keep hold of the former England international. To counter this, I have often thought that Forest would not get names linked with us (Gunter) only to see them end up on our books. I have now been informed this is a definite non starter.



Jonathan Greening

Very experienced midfielder, and would come in and do a good job. He has only play 10 games this season,with 6 as sub, so he is out of favour at Fulham. With Moussi missing, Hargreaves and Greening's type of defensive midfielder is what we need, and he does seem much more likely a target than Hargreaves. He also was heavily linked with Hull on deadline day. Much more likely than the Hargreaves one.



Simon Cox

A name a lot of people suggested in the past before he went to West Brom. However, he has been involved in 13 games, and with the Baggies who have a brand new manager who may still want to fully ascertain the strength of his squad. Furthermore he was on the bench at the weekend, hardly meaning he is out the picture at the Hawthorns. It seems highly unlikely.



Danny Ward

Young Bolton striker who has been mentioned. He sent time on loan at Coventry this season but returned to the club to have a hernia operation. He has been featuring for the reserves, and so Bolton may be looking to get him more first team experience for their young prospect. Forest may be looking at some short term cover with Findley being injured after his signing last month.



Jay Spearing

The tough Liverpool midfielder has also been mentioned. Again he would be to fill in for Moussi. Liverpool would be looking for the youngster to get more first team action. He has featured in the first team this season too. He has featured 8 times this season, twice as sub. He has been out the side again after other players came back into the picture,and with a new manager in charge. It has possibilities this one. Someone told me talks have started, but this is a new source to me, and highly unreliable therefore.



Gabriel Obertan

After he were linked on deadline day,and with Obertan's subsequent handing in of a transfer request, this one seemed to gather legs. However, Park Ji Sung is now out,and United will retain Obertan as cover for the South Korean. No go in my eyes.



**UPDATE**
Michael Brown
The Pompey midfielder is one of our main targets. Portsmouth turned down our first offer,but they cannot play him as once he makes a certain number of appearances a new contract kicks in, which Portsmouth are desperate to not let happen. Te sticking point appears to be what percentage of the wages we take on, Pompey want us to take on all, we want don't, as Brown is on over £30k a week.

10 men Forest hold firm at R’s – QPR 1-1 Forest

If you had asked either set of fans what result they wanted pre-game yesterday, few would have argued with a draw. Yet most QPR fans were left feeling like they’d lost after squandering a 1-0 lead to 10 men Forest – in what was the Championship’s biggest game of the season.

Unsurprisingly, few Forest fans came out of Loftus Road complaining. A precious point away at top of the league with another faultless defensive display to boot.
The team we sent out was almost the same as the one that beat Watford last weekend, with the only changes being Anderson and Earnie making way for McGugan and McGoldrick.

And it was obvious we were going to press and attack from the word go – just like we did at Cardiff.

With just 11 seconds on the clock, a through ball was played to Tudgay only for him to smash it at the inside of the post – although the offside flag was up.
With both sides pressing and attacking, it was obvious a goal was coming.

Unfortunately for us, it was in QPR’s favour when Tommy Smith won the ball from Koncheskey half way into our half. He sprinted towards goal, jinxed past Chambers and hit a superb curling finish past Lee Camp.

Shortly after came a moment that had many fans with their heads in their hands. Adel Taarabt had been kept quiet all afternoon and when he picked the ball up on the halfway line, Majewski lunged in two footed at him promptly resulting in a red card for the Pole and many thinking that we were on course for our first defeat since November. From where I was sat it never looked like a red due to Adel’s delayed reaction but the replays I’ve seen since have proved me wrong – as well as making me relieved that I ain’t a referee!

Yet on 26 minutes, Forest was given a significant lifeline. McGugan hit a free kick which clipped McGoldrick and trickled past an outstretched Paddy Kenny palm. Forest had somehow got a goal and it was all thanks to Lady Luck – let’s hope she sticks with us until the end of the season.

Before half time, we could have taken the lead were it not for an excellent stop by Kenny from a Wes Morgan header whereas at the other end Luke Chambers was on hand to block two shots that looked certain to fly into the goal. The blocks were only a small part of how excellent he was yesterday.

Second half and Tudgay was withdrawn for Joel Lynch which left some around me bemused and unhappy. In my opinion, when you’re down to 10 men away at top of the league it seemed a logical switch to hold on for what we have.

Fortunately the switch worked wonders although in the case of McGoldrick it was obvious he’d been told to just stay back and hold the ball up when he gets it.

The second half defensive display was nothing short of superb and we continued to frustrate and annoy QPR resulting in them attempting tame long range shots at Camp.

But QPR almost clinched it in the dying quarter of the game when Bradly Orr’s looping header went over Camp only for it to be cleared off the line by Gunter. A sigh of relief breathed by all. There was also a penalty shout but Clattenburg wasn’t having any of it.

And that was that in the end. QPR had the possession, yet Forest’s defensive display meant they could do little with it.

It was a performance that showed how far this excellent team has come this season because last season has we gone 1-0 down with 10 men, we’d have collapsed.

The red’s keep marching on…

Forest Look-a-likes 3

Here is another instalment of our series Forest Look-a-likes. These have been very popular, so we hope to see more nominations please. We are running a little thin on these and there has to be more.
Please leave your lookalikes on the facebook page, on the forum, or via twitter,or indeed in the comments section below here. The links are all on the right hand side of this very page you are looking at.

Without further ado,the latest look-a-likes


Ewen Bremner & Paul McKenna



Rufus Sewell & Lee Camp



Marcus Tudgay & Aleksandr Orlov




Grant Holt and Johan Elmander

Forest Villains... Irving Scholar et al

In our latest new feature we will look at various people who somehow wronged the club, whether they are an ex-player, manager or in this case a former chairman.

There were more obvious choices to start a new feature called Forest Villains with. Kris Commons and Pierre van Hooijdonk immediately spring to mind, and in time we will come to them. However, I would like to go back to the 1997-1999 era and choose a man, well men really, but one in particular was the focal point, who I believe were key in not only our fall from grace, but also nearly bought about the end of Nottingham Forest Football Club.



Although 1997 was an eventful year for Nottingham Forest on the pitch, relegation from the Premier League, signing Pierre van Hooijdonk, hiring Dave Bassett, these are all memorable events most fans can recall.

What isn’t in the board level turmoil? An on off takeover bid had been rumbling since last 1996. Two rival consortia both bidding to take over the club, who had decided that the traditional member ownership system it maintained was outdated. The club had seen the first influx of investors in the Premier League; money was rife like never before, and if you can’t beat them, join them.

Sandy Anderson had been bidding for the club; he lost out ultimately to the consortium offering more to the club members. The club was sold, and a new group came in promising the world. Irving Scholar, Nigel Wray, Julian Markham and Phil Soar were in charge. Irving Scholar was an ex Spurs chairman, in the Venables days. Nigel Wray and Julian Markham were London based business men, Wray being also the chairman of Saracens Rugby Club, and Phil Soar, he was something to do with books (Illustrated History’s of Clubs) one point on Scholar, and he lived in Monaco as a tax exile. And was an integral part of our board and decision making. From the Mediterranean.

Bare in mind Scholar has been banned from Spurs after he lost his chairmanship to Alan Sugar after he was largely made bankrupt by property price crashes. He had then made a deal with Maxwell to bail him out. There’s a legacy of an unscrupulous character.

None of these men had any previous connection to the club; none of them were Forest fans, from Nottingham, nothing. Yet they had decided to pump money into our club. Why is this? Well football was just under going its great renaissance at the time. Money was everywhere; it was a brave new era. All problems could be solved with cash. The new board had a wondeful way to solve this. Float the club on the stock market. Yes we all look at this now in the future and know this never really worked at all. I can’t recall one of it being a success, but in 1997 it was still seen as a great method of raising capital.

This where things started to go wrong. The new bard had intended to raise £20million via this method. This was when £20million could get you a lot in football. Rather than now it might get you 3 journeymen African strikers. However, depending on whom you believe there was an integral mistake, the new board had overestimated and overvalued the club, and they only raised £2milion. Later Wray would blame the Nottingham public for not having the foresight to follow through on their great vision, and it was them who are to blame for what happened. Not gross financial mismanagement.

Needless to say this greatly undermined the share price for those that had bought shares, the values plummeted. This isn’t great news for any club.
But things on the pitch were going better after relegation. Forest were blossoming in the Championship, van Hooijdonk and Campbell firing us to glory. The team were playing some wonderful stuff at times, and if that failed, give it Pierre and he will batter it into the goal from long range. We rode back to the Premier League on the crest of a wave.



Then it all started to go wrong. Campbell was sold, the waters muddy somewhat here as to who blames who. Bassett claims to have known nothing about it. The decision being taken at board level by Scholar (who was in charge of the football side of management of the club, Wray the financial) between they deemed the£3million offered made sense, Campbell hadn’t been a success previously in the top flight, there were questions over his back, and so he was sold behind the managers back. Then Cooper was sold, a gentlemans agreement to sell him to his home town club, and we were in disarray before we had begun. Oh did I forget to mention out star striker had walked out the club after Campbell was sold? I didn’t need to specify that, we all know Pierre chucked his toys out the pram and decamped back to Holland. He does say he had an agreement to be sold to a bigger club, I am inclined after all this time to believe him, the way Scholar and Wray seemed to operate was lie lie and lie again.

That Premier Campaign was a disaster which not a lot of positives can be taken from. Record runs of games without a win, star players sold (Steve Stone left for Villa, Gemmill dropped on board demands) and we hadn't made any money. Oh this is where it comes down to. Because why else do 4 guys who have no connection with a club buy the club and float it? Oh to make a profit? Yes exactly, so after 18months or so Nigel Wray snuck out the backdoor, selling his remaining shares to Soar and Scholar.
Bassett was fired. Not to his face mind you. He found out from the papers. Then the genius idea of bringing Ron Atkinson came in. A legacy of mistake after mistake. They even allowed him to splurge £1mill on Carlton Palmer!!



Nigel Wray of course let’s remember was involved in Saracens. Saracens moved to Vicarage Road and I remember the very angry 18 year old self rants, basically this called into question whether he had vested interest in 2 clubs. This was a rule that was banned since the Maxwell days. So we were being investigated for him just being there. One quote that sums up Wrays involvement is this.

"The club has squandered two years. This was a tragic lost opportunity to rebuild a great community asset. Nigel Wray was never very much involved in it [the club]. It's now much worse off then when he bought in."

After Wray went(with a £1mill loss), in came Eric Barnes, a local guy, and he in turn bought Doughty into the fold, who then invested his money in the club, kept the club running and bought up enough shares to take over the club. Except in what almost felt like a long term precursor to Liverpool’s drawn out take over the incumbent pair didn’t want to give up that easily it meant they lost money, and went to the courts to try and stop it. If this would have worked, Forest would have folded. Instead they then decided to only attempt to sue for the money back from Doughty. This all does rather seem familiar writing it now to what occurred at Anfield. The court case did reveal wonderful insights that most of the “gang of four” hated each other, Markham even bugged meetings as he was sure he was being conspired against him. He also revealed he didn’t like Soar. The case was thrown out.

The legacy of all this was the club was nowhere near the Premier League anymore and now felt the need to watch every penny. We haven’t been back to the Premier League since. We do have a board with the clubs best interests at heart. It also makes me laugh when people bemoan Doughty when you realise what we did have before. How short memories are of people. We genuinely did have a board in it just for the money. Doughty does have the club at heart. Clubs no longer float themselves. This isn’t just our legacy, Celtic and Sheffield United failed massively too. You just have the modern craze of rich foreign owners. I can’t help thinking if this won’t go the same way.

Maybe some will view this as harsh, but is underlines that anyone in football to make money is likely to fail. These people went into this with no regard for the football club, but purely their bank balance. That’s why they are the first villains. People talk of greed like Commons, well he is small fry compared to these guys. They nearly killed the club.

Davies Wins Manager of the Month

Billy Davies has won the manager of the Month award for January in the Championship.
It comes after the 'stellar" run of form in January has seen the Reds rise up into the automatic promotion places.
We can only hope and pray that the usual kiss of death this gives to teams form does not come true seeing as the next few games could turn out to be massive in the season for Nottingham Forest and their push for promotion.
However, it is as good an indicator of how we have started to grind out results and look like genuine contenders for promotion this season.

Forest Monitoring Ferdinand

I am going to admit right away,no this isn't Rio, or even Anton. This is their 18 year old cousin Kane who plays for Southend.

Kane is being monitored by a number of Championship clubs after impressing for the Shrimpers. According to Sky Sports clubs are on high alert after he turned down the offer of a new contract. Ferdinand is still only on a scholarship contract,and if he hasn't signed professional terms by next month, he can leave the club on a free.

It's good to see Forest are chasing young talent from further down the league structure for the future. All our signings lately have been for the here and now. Ferdinand is an Ireland Under 19 international.

The Divisive Issue...Can We Achieve Promotion?

Following the win against Watford and rise into the automatic promotion places, which pleasingly we retained after Cardiff defeated Swansea it seems to me there is one debate going on amongst Forest fans right now. The issue of whether we can get actually get promoted.

Now the simple fact is that we retain second spot in the league with games in hand on those around us. This of course could see go clear of said teams. So in essence it is ours to lose. Again. Because lets not forget we got ourselves into this position last year.

However, we hit that spot earlier, and it is easy to say with a worse squad. For one we have a left back this time. By the time we hit second last time we were about to lose Shorey. Now we are second with a left back we have till nearly the end of the season. By which time we will have two relatively easy games left against Scunthorpe and Palace. I say relatively, because as s the most often used cliche around the Championship is of course anyone can beat anyone,which is true, but if it truly were the case we would all have the same amount of points. By and large we beat worse teams, it's why we are second in the first place.

I say mostly it is a divisive issue because of the conversations I have have had with Forest fans versus conversations I have had with non Forest fans. The non Forest fans all seem to think we are going to do it. On various neutral podcasts or news reports they seem to suggest they think we look good to be joining QPR (who everyone agrees are shoe ins for promotion) in the Premier League.

Forest fans are torn. Many I have spoken to or have seen on various forums (I do occasionally check to see what 24-7 rivals are saying) simply do not agree with the sentiment that we are promotion bound come what may. The simple reason for this is that we have a more clued knowledge of what we have to do, we are more aware of how we can play, who we have to play and our relative injury worries. Therefore many Forest fans think we will slip up. We have three very hard away games to come (QPR, Leeds ,and Norwich) not to mention what is looking a very crucial tie v Cardiff at the City Ground. For these reasons alone quite a few are sceptical.

Then there are the injury worries. Moussi is out for a while, we lost Blackstock ages ago. Findley is also out for awhile. However, let us remind ourselves we have got to where we are without even needing Findley, and Blackstock has been out for a while now, and even despite his injury we have risen into a healthy spot. Moussi is a blow, no doubt. However, last season we got up quite high with a large number of people still undecided on the Frenchman. This season he seems to have won over those sceptics, but again, we did well last year when he was a lot more inconsistent, and we relied more on McKenna sitting in the midfield.

Ahhh there is an issue, McKenna. He also divides fans, with quite a few berating him at all opportunities. Yet he can make this difference. I could try and argue he is fresh this season, whereas at the end of last year it was obvious he was somewhat overused an jaded. And injured. The Lazarus-esque come back for the payoffs was all in vain. But it is now February, and although he was injured, he won't be tired, and is perfect to come in for the final pushes to come.

Last year there is no doubt we fell away and limped over the line. We had no left back, many of the team seemed tired, and were constantly being rested in the last few games. This saw us lack any consistency and therefore we struggled against teams we really should have beaten. This year, well there is still no strength in depth, the same players are going to be used a lot. Beyond the current midfield, with the rotation of McGugan and Majewski we don't have a Thornhill figure anymore if we really are desperate. The utility man Perch has gone (which many will argue helps our chances) so in essence we are no stronger. If Morgan or Gunter were to be injured we have no player of a similar quality to fill in. We start getting nearly round pegs in round holes. We do have Tudgay we didn't have, but he is more filling in Blackstocks role now.



A number of people on other forums I have seen have called into question the boards ambition, not bringing in this window those players we need to get us home. Billy himself was quoted as saying we can make play-offs but no more. Billy of course has to say this. To say yes we will go up and then not looks like failure on his behalf, and he is far to intelligent to put that much pressure on himself. Much safer to play down expectations. But then there is the issue of if we made those "stellar" signings. We'd be coasting? Well not necessarily. A lot of what we are built on is a very strong team ethic, with players who not only play well together, but get on well together. To bring in some new names could easily rock that boat. That being said I wouldn't say no to the likes of Pratley coming in.

The board, and the infamous Transfer Panel, which may or may not exist any more depending on who you believe seemed to not offer the requisite fees for players. Hell, they might not even have agreed to said signings. There are no guarantee's that these players wanted to come us. Halfway through the season does Pratley jump ship and risk seeing Swansea go up at our expense, and curse his decision, the same with Whittingham, or any other number of players we may have been after. The likes of these guys would like if they move sideways to a club in the same division wait until the summer and decide then.

Are we good enough? We are second by right. We aren't here because someone else has games in hand. We have earned our position, it is ours to lose. There are big games ahead. Cardiff you could argue have an easier run in (we thought we did last season than WBA) Swansea too, but Norwich have a few tricky games.



To doubt our chances is to doubt us in any one on one game against other teams. We have already shown we are capable of big away wins (Cardiff) and indeed, we no longer have appalling away form, we have the best home form in the division. And it doesn't all end if we lose to QPR on Sunday. We are still in a good position, with a strong team, hurt by last seasons end, who want to make amends. Make no mistake though, Cardiff feel the same way too.

A guy I spoke to in the pub simply said there is no way we will go up, it's Forest, we always screw it up. It is something that sits in the back of the mind. But we did look like we messed League One up only to leapfrog Doncaster, we have twice got ourselves back out of this division before in the last 15 years., We can do it again.

Podcast!!!!!6 th Feb

Ladies and Gentlemen, it's time for another podcast, where we discuss the Nottingham Forest 1-0 victory against Watford.


WMV version
http://www.sendspace.com/file/9i3pss

Youtube Version

Guy Moussi - January Player of the Month

Firstly thank you for a record number of votes in this months poll for player of the month.
Now onto business. Guy Moussi has won the poll that has been up on the site for January player of the month.The French midfielder, put in a number of powerful performances and takes this award for the first time. He won with 48% of the vote, with Luke Chambers coming second with 17% and Nathan Tyson third with 12%.
It's a shame that he is now injured for the next couple of months and can'therefore goon to show what he can do. He has been instrumental in our excellent run of form.

Remember them?…Junior Agogo

Normally this feature has you racking your memory banks in the hope you’ll remember old fringe players from yesteryear to see how they finished up.

In this edition however, we take a look at Junior Agogo - a popular Forest striker wearing the garibaldi red shirt just 4 seasons ago. He was pivotal in our return to the Championship in the 07/08 season – even finishing our top goalscorer – and during his time at Forest, he became a regular international for his country.
His story began at the start of the 06/07 season when a somewhat striker curse hit Forest.

Nathan Tyson was just minutes into our first game of the season against Bradford when he seemed to slip over on his knees. It had initially looked harmless; however, Tyson was struggling badly and the injury proved to be devastating as he had suffered medial ligament damage.

The news meant Forest would be unable to field their best striker for the best part of 3 and a half months.

With then manager, Colin Calderwood, seeming to be on a mission to flog Grant Holt to Bristol City and other strikers Jack Lester, Scott Dobie and Neil Harris failing to provide the goals, something had to be done and quickly.
Forest turned their attentions to Junior Agogo - the star striker of Bristol Rovers - to tilt the balance.

Junior had to initially go on somewhat of a strike to get his move. After we had an initial bid turned down, Junior wasn’t impressed and did everything possible to get his move. By the end of August 2006, we had our man for a reasonable price of £125,000.

When he arrived at Forest, Junior was already something of a journey man, having played for no less than 11 clubs across England and America.

His arrival created real hope and promise about the season ahead.

Agogo was a reasonably strong striker who also had a bit of pace and a great shot on him – something we come to expect from all African strikers nowadays.

Junior’s first season was decent although abruptly cut short in March 2007 due to a groin injury - thus ruling him out of the fateful Yeovil playoff games. He grabbed himself 10 goals including a goal in the FA Cup giant killing of then Premier League team, Charlton Athletic.

Agogo’s second season would prove to be his last for Forest.

Having starred and re-established himself for Ghana, who had reached the semi-finals of the African Cup of Nations, many big clubs had begun to sniff around him – Portsmouth being one.

Agogo seemed to have the idea put into his head, with the obvious assistance of his agent, that Forest wouldn’t be enough to help establish himself as a Ghana regular.

It seemed a bit mad but the general feeling was if we can pick up a decent fee, then let him go.

Fortunately, he stuck it out with us for the season and finished top goalscorer with 17 goals in all competitions. Junior’s goals helped contribute to us bouncing back into the Championship at the third time of asking.

In the summer of 2008, Portsmouth never came in for him but El Zamalek, the most successful team in Africa, did after star striker Amir Zaki went out on a season long loan to Wigan.

Forest picked up £565,000 and Agogo got his ‘dream move’ which would allow him to pursue establishing himself in Ghana’s team. Everyone was happy.

And this is where the story tails off for most Forest fans. What did happen at his 'dream move'?

Now I’m sure most Forest fans who remember Zaki will know Agogo would never have been good enough to fully replace him for Zamalek and sadly this proved to be the case.

Agogo never settled or performed in his 15 games for Zamalek despite a promising start.

Agogo was constantly clashing with club officials with rows over late pay and both were accusing each other of breach of contract. Junior had also been banned by the EFA for making obscene gestures at his own fans and began skipping training sessions.

Less than 6 months after joining Zamalek, he was hit with a £125,000 fine for no reason, prompting him to report his club to both FIFA and the Egyptian FA. Agogo said:

“Things started very well but in my few months there unbelievable changes happened from the management to the coaching structure. This did not help the development of the club and with the frustrations boiling over some management members decided to blame it all on me when I had nothing to do with it. I was fined US$200,000 for no crime and all these were not even written down in a letter to me. I stayed on because I thought things might improve but it didn’t.”

It was unsurprising that in April 2009, Agogo terminated his contract and left the club – which provoked Zamalek to then try and sue him for €1m.

The move was a total train wreck, an ill advised move that never paid off.

At 31, it has also left both his Ghana dreams and his reputation in absolute tatters. He didn’t even get a sniff at a call up for last year’s World Cup and can now be found plying his trade for Cypriot outfit Apollon Limassol.

Now I loved Agogo when he was at Forest and it’s very sad to see how things turned out. He probably could have done something in the Championship, especially with Davies’ guidance. I for one also do not believe his Ghana chances would have been ruined had he stayed here.

I’m sure he looks at where we are now and wonders; what if?

Tudgay Early Strike Sends Forest Into Second

Nottingham Forest have moved into the automatic promotion places today after Marcus Tudgay 1st minute strike gave Forest a lead they never lost against Watford at the City Ground today.

They of course may lose that spot when Swansea play tomorrow,but the psychological lift it may give the team is now in place. It is Forest's to lose now. Before hand it was all about winning games in hand, games in hand we still have, which could take us clear. It would be foolish to presume we will win those, but the way Forest are going at the moment it's hard to not also get carried away.

Forest beat a very good Watford side today with a goal that was rather simple.Cohen's centre from the left found Earnshaw, who prodded the ball onto Tudgay, to finish into the bottom left hand corner of Scott Loaches goal.

It was a wonderful start and it also promised goals in this game, of two teams who like to play football. There was entertainment, but more goals were never forth coming for either team.

Watford had a good long range effort by Doyley well saved by Camp, and Forest had a free kick from Earnshaw, which went wide of the target, after a short delay when Watford wall wouldn't retreat the full ten yards.

Chris Cohen also had a wonderful effort well saved by the keeper. Cohen had the ball around 20 yards out, and rather than playing down the wing, hit a curling effort that looked destined for the top corner before being tipped around the post by the highly rated young keeper.

A two goal lead may have been flattering, as both teams were much of the time each others equal. Danny Graham looking dangerous, and Watford were one of the last teams to win at the City Ground.

The second half saw a couple more Forest efforts, A Chris Cohen free kick that went straight at Loach, a Tyson effort when he ran clear, which he really should have done better with. Right at the start, Earnshaw blazed wide from quite close in, an effort I felt sure destined to go in, only to see go very wide.

At the other end Watford had the ball in the goal, although the hedr was ruled out for pushing in the box, after the free kick came in from the left.

There were acouple of flash points in a largely clean game, Majewski being booked for diving, which to be honest looked fair enough, Majewski had made a meal of one foul not long before. But then a short while later Buckley for Watford went down appealing, which the ref turned down and coming right after Majewski was booked it aggrieved a number of Forest fans, who were then further annoyed when the same player did exactly the same again, still with no punishment. Surely if they were not fouls, he was as culpable as Majewski for diving? Apparently not.

The rest of the second half drifted by, Chambers went close with a corner that many thought had gone in. And that was largely that.

Forest then with another win, it carries on this incredible run of home form that has seen the City Ground turned into a fortress. It did take a while for the unbeaten at home chants to start, as it was such a close game, but the fans have now been treated to so many good home performances one can barely remember what its like to lose at home. This form has catapulted us up amongst the leaders now, and we have to stay there,even with some very tough fixtures coming up. I have no doubt we can maintain this form though, and see ourselves in that top flight again

Come on you Forest men

McKenna Set to Return

Paul McKenna looks set to return to the Forest side ahead of the visit of Watford tomorrow. McKenna hasn't started a league game for the Reds since November, but now with injury to Moussi,the skipper will be likely to feature.

Robbie Findley is also unavailable after being injured in training, the full extent is still not known of this injury. Nathan Tyson also remain a doubt with his back injury.

These injuries limit the options available to Billy Davies, which was evident with the appearance of Niall Rodney on the bench against West Ham.
Its the start of a big couple of months for the Reds, who face several promotion rivals. QPR and Cardiff are both coming up, and tomorrows opponents are also in the mix in the top section of the table. Watford have been one of this seasons surprise packages, and will be more than a tricky opponent for the in-form Reds.

The Reds have amazing home form, which they hope will carry them through this potential banana skin. Watford after a good run in December have slipped in January, and will want to bounce back into the top 6.

Forest win puts the Reds up to 4th - Coventry 1 Forest 2

Apologies for the delay in this match report, other things have mounted up since Tuedsay nights game and I've only just got round to writing this up.

We made the trip to Coventry just over 48 hours since the FA Cup defeat to West Ham.

The FA Cup game will have taken it out of certain players on the team and with Coventry's resilience to move the game to a Wednesday, I was expecting a draw at best.

Tudgay and Earnshaw returned to the front line in place of McGoldrick and Dele Adebola. Moussi and Anderson were back in the midfield for McKenna and Majewski while Paul Konchesky made his Forest debut.

Early on the game gave me a reminder as to why I dislike this away trip so much every season. Empty seats were everywhere and with no atmosphere, it got to the point were the the magnificent Forest away following gave up on the singing for a short while due to the lack of response. Honestly, you'd have thought we were the home team.

Maybe the Ricoh is a warning to Forest of what any perspective move to a larger stadium could bring.

The start to the match was almost as dull as the atmosphere with only 3 notable chances before Marlon King broke the deadlock.

Ex Red's loanee Gary McSheffery took a free kick from around 25 yards in the opening 5 minutes that clipped the top of Lee Camp's bar - although I never thought it looked like it was close to going in.

For Forest, Gunter set Earnshaw free only for him to drag the ball wide, although he was flagged for offside, while McGugan had one of his shots go well over inside the box.

With the 'She said no Marlon' chants ringing around the away end, King managed to silence the away fans with a scrappy goal after 25 minutes.

McSheffery pinged a ball into the box which Eastwood flicked onto King. King headed the ball at goal but Camp managed to get a hand onto it - although the ball ended up going across the goal into the path of Freddy Eastwood. Wes Morgan stopped Eastwood getting a touch with an outstretched leg but the ball fell straight back into the path of King, who then tapped it into the empty goal. It really was that scrappy and King proceeded to celebrate by looking at each one of us Forest fans sat in the away end - I suppose when you get all that stick, he deserved his moment.

But as with Sunday's game at West Ham, going a goal down seemed to lift the team and get us playing - we didn't have to wait too long for an equaliser either.

A great cross field pass by Chris Cohen landed at the feet of McGugan who needed three touches to turn it into a goal. His first touch flicked the ball into his path, his second set the chance and after a quick glance up, he hit a swerving 25 yard shot past Keiran Westwood - putting an end to what had become an 11 game goals from open play drought.

Now Westwood is one of the best goalkeepers in this league but I'm sure he know this was a howler on his part. The ball swerved and bounced in front of him, yet he seemed to have plenty of time to anticipate what was going to happen and seemingly dived in the opposite direction.

Forest now had the game in their advantage and Paul Anderson was presented with a glorious one-on-one, which he put just went wide of Westwood and his far post.

But we had the lead just a minute later.

Guy Moussi ran onto a Marcus Tudgay through ball and although he managed to injure himeself in the process, he managed to whip in a peach of a cross right into Earnshaws path who thumped the ball past Westwood's near post - the Coventry defenders watched on bemused at how quick we managed to turn it from a chance to a goal.

Sadly that was Moussi's last action of the night and for what we've now been informed is two months.

In the second half, Forest seemed to want to defend their one goal lead and let Coventry come at them.

Sadly for Coventry they couldn't make amends of this opportunity at all.

The best of their chances came when Marlon King swung in a ball on the right hand side for Eastwood, only for him to head it right across Camp's goal giving Wes Morgan the chance to hoof it away.

But Forest defended hard and really frustrated Coventry.

By the end of the game Lynch and Dele had come on and both had ended up in what turned into a 6 man defence.

It really wasn't a pretty or entertaining game but it was another fantastic away win for Forest - as we advanced up to 4th with 2 games in hand of all the teams above us.

I do worry when we play away and just sit back once we get a 1 goal advantage. I have my concerns that if we do the same at QPR in just over a weeks time, they will really damage us with their masses of quality - especially now we have McKenna in place of the destroyer Moussi. That said I expect us to approach that game like we did Cardiff in November, where we press and attack from the off.

I do think our recent excellent form away from home can be linked to the younger players maturing over the past 12 months and getting that resilience to know they can bounce back even if they go a goal down. After all, it was only this time last year our heads bowed as soon as we conceded a goal away from home and to think how much we've come on is frightening.

But it's fantastic that we're keeping up this momentum and pressure on the teams above us, who must really consider us as strong contenders what with our games in hand and decent squad. The recent injuries have made us a bit short again in some areas but confidence is high at the minute and if we can carry on grinding out results, come May we may have been promoted via the automatic spots.