McGugan Wonder Goal Welcome Reminder of What He Can Do

I’ll make this abundantly clear at the start, I didn’t see the game, I was at Leeds festival so this isn’t a match report per se, however since seeing the goals, and especially McGugans (which Vincent Kompany felt moved to tweet about) I did want to comment that it’s been too long that we saw this side of McGugan.

Nearly 2 years, well maybe 18 months, I was compelled to put together a video for the website celebrating McGugans string of wonder goals. He was scoring one every other week. 8,9, maybe 10 goals worthy of any pitch, although the Ipswich free kick strike was most people’s winner of goal of season, the Cardiff away goal was my personal favourite, and this goal reminded me of it.

Not quite out of nothing, he had space, and a moment to adjust, it was still largely unexpected to shoot there and then, and with such precision. That precision is the key, shooting from such a range should allow the keeper a moment to adjust position, to read the flight, to react. Not though when hit with the precision and power, a very hard combination.

Yes he should be closed down quicker perhaps straight away, not allowing that second to produce what he can, but maybe Bolton weren’t as aware as many other Championship squads were. Was it that defenders were rise to him last season which restricted him? Was it the managers being unable to utilise him rightly, both McLaren and Cotterill. Probably an element of that too.

But that he was in the position, took the shot and succeeded bodes well. When McGugan is clicking and on form, so do Forest. He could be that focal point to succeed on, if only he was more consistent and didn’t go missing in games. The new passing should benefit him though.

It won’t work every game, you deny him space and he won’t get these chances, so a lot of teams deny him that time these days. That does however then free up our other power hitter Adlene Guedioura to fire at will from range, and we know all too well what he is capable of. Just seems McGugan’s efforts have that finesse, that precision in his shots, whereas Guedioura is all raw power.

I will say this about the goals I saw from Friday night, and that also involved looking at tactical analysis that our new Technical advisor provides. He has a YouTube channel on which I saw his analysis, and yes there were defensive lapses. People not picking up players, leaving their man etc. These need to be cut out. Invariably it is a more attacking player covering whose attention lapses for that second that defenders wouldn’t. This will happen, but the team needs to be a united unit. It’s not quite there yet, we didn’t have enough pre season games to have fully clicked, but it will come. And when it does with what we are building, we could blow teams away.

Bader Work Permit Approved

The strong rumour is that Bader al-Mutawa is the only one of the Kuwaiti's to get his work permit approved. The thers applied for have been turned down, including keeper Khalid al-Rashidi.

Although not official yet, it always seemed the most likely with his excellent record for club and country.

So we welcome Bader al-Mutawa to the City Ground. Lets see what he can do in our league and how much of a chance gets.

Commiserations to the other guys.

Transfer Gossip - August 21

With the news after the game on Saturday that up to 3 players could come in and specifically a right winger, there have been a few names bandied about, mostly the same names, which tends to suggests there is credence to these rumours.
Here is a summary of where we are at in terms of gossip, rumour and guesswork, as always taken from around the net, and looked at entirely subjectively and ridiculed where fit.

In

The Kuwaiti’s
The long, ever running saga of work permits for Khalid al-Rashidi and Bader al-Motawa rumbles on. There is strong rumour that tomorrow is the big day we find out what’s happening. We shall see.

Adam Hammill
The Wolves winger is up for sale, and is the perfect fit for the fact we want a creative winger, coupled with Championship experience, and the fact we have expressed interest before it seems the perfect fit for the Reds. It is widely spread on the likes of Twitter, and people are expecting the now customary Fawaz tweet to announce the deal.

Thomas Ince
Whilst also being linked with Hammill, we were briefly also linked with Thomas Ince, a rumour the ever unreliable Paul Taylor suggested seemed unlikely, saying neither club had been in touch regards the deal, as far he knows anyway. He also knew that the Kuwaiti’s weren’t buying Forest. Suggests he doesn’t know a lot. Anyway, he would be an amazing acquisition, for me he is a very exciting winger good on either foot.

Morgan Ferrier
Never heard of him till checking Newsnow earlier, but he’s a 17 year old previously released by Arsenal, and now Watford and up for grabs. O’Driscoll has him briefly on trial at Crawley and has kept tabs on him, and appears to want to add him to our youth policy. Can’t hurt I guess, but I know as much as I have just written about him.


Out

David McGoldrick
Coventry have been linked for a move, whether it is loan or permanent depending on source. I’d say loan more likely as they are unlikely to want to saddle a potentially expensive player to a long term deal. Perhaps they have merely sounded us out on the possibility. We do have a glut of strikers, and IF Bader signs he would be a similar player, maybe that’s what we’re waiting for. McGoldrick simply hasn’t worked out here and perhaps it’s best he move on.

Radoslaw Majewski
Always seemingly linked with fringe Premiership clubs but with no real evidence or source, Majewski has now been linked with West Brom and Reading in recent weeks. A Fee of £1.5m as bandied around as likely, which sounds fair enough, more fair than the insane £4-5mill some people think he’s worth. I’ll never understand the people who worship him, yeah’ he’s handy but some make him out to be a world beater.

Matt Derbyshire
Unfortunately, no news here. Keep praying folks.

Reasons to be Cheerful

A winning start to the season is rare emotion for a Forest fan to consider. We haven’t even scored on the opening day for 6 years. The giddy heights of optimism from starting out well are a feeling we certainly had before (Kevin Campbell opening day hat trick at Coventry anyone?) but not for longer than I can remember.

So to open this campaign with a tight victory that we could all too easily have given away is a welcome bonus. There were plenty of reasons to be cheerful as the title suggests, I’ll probably end up dwelling on those not to be.

We started with 4-5-1, that’s really more of a 4-1-3-1-1 formation with Majewski in the hole, Blackstock being the figured head. He’s a strong and holds possession well so is perfect for the role in a way Matt Derbyshire could only dream of. Following Ayala getting an injury, Halford moved to centre half, and Gillett came into the side to play the rechristened “Paul McKenna role” which means gets a lot done but no-one really notices it and thinks’ he’s crap because some passes go backwards. Almost a thankless role really.



The second half was mostly forgettable. Chances few and far between, indeed the main talking point was the actions of former player Greg Cunningham becoming the villain of the piece by trying to take advantage of a drop ball and sprint at goal. To be slightly fair to Greg this situation shouldn’t been allowed to happen, the sides should have agreed we play it back to their keeper as happens in most cases, we seemed to think we should get the ball. This lead to a confrontation where Reid shoved Cunningham, arms potentially slightly rose but no sense of a punch. Reid was booked; Cunningham was booked, over nothing. Apparently Bristol City commentators thought Reid should have, McInnes on their bench seemingly also thought so, but he seems to think every decision should go his way.

As I said the rest of the first half was mostly dull, a couple of opportunities here and there, and definite indicator of playing style that every time the ball was with Camp it was played out short to a defender. It will be a passing team, with no big booming goal kicks for everyone to chase. Which although there could be a worry about Arsenal esque intricate play where we try to pass the ball into the goal, we have McGugan and Guedioura, who also like to shoot from anywhere within their range, and their range is 40 yards.

The second half was a better half but could have been going the way of the first till we happened to break 5 v 3, and couldn’t fail so score. It came a few minutes after bringing on Cox for his debut, after he started on the bench. Reid was breaking, passed it to the right wing slot where Cox centred and Guedioura from 10 yards or so netted and ran off to celebrate in front of the Trent End. He certainly looked like he enjoyed it.

City had an excellent opportunity to equalise however, when a centred ball went all the way across the goal. I sit in the Trent End so it was impossible to see how close it had been for myself. Thad come from a Radi error and on that note, he remains that frustrating enigma. Obvious ability, but so often he seems to pass to a team mate when he’s in trouble, but that team didn’t want it or called it as they are surrounded. Just seems like passing the buck. Additionally McGugan had broken into the area at one point and rather than square it seemed to be waiting to draw a foul, and went down very easily when said challenge, which was fair, came in. Both our creative playmakers with extremely frustrating traits that seem somewhat selfish and need to be stopped.

So who was good and bad? Well despite all the above grumbles, no-one was bad. Everyone had a solid game. There were some vague problems that will be ironed out though as the first few weeks fly by. The defence looked solid. Collins extremely capable at the back with Halford. Camp wasn’t given a great deal to do. Gillett looked good in the deep midfield role, we lack width, but we all knew would, and there’s no real pace in the team at the moment. Blackstock played his role brilliantly, no more could be asked from him. Cox set up a goal on his debut, fair enough. Couple of players looked leggy at the end, but it seems we’re building enough of a squad to cope with that, that there will be cover for when that happens.

It All Starts Here

So I wrote earlier this week about what I thought looked like a good squad, my appraisal mainly focussing on the need for extra defensive cover, which we now have in Hutchinson and the need for wingers, which we don’t. Our midfield is fairly versatile so can be spread across the wings.

It will be interesting to see how we line up. Halford at right back, or in the midfield, with Hutchinson taking Gunters old spot. Will Gillett get a role in the middle? I initially thought the team may resemble the Fleetwood side. Which would begin to show whether O’Driscoll intends to play a 4-5-1 formation which a lot of people disliked under Cotterill thinking it defensive?

But that would be to ignore the evolution of the football formation. Attacking midfielders are gradually taking over from forwards right now to the point Spain played without a recognised striker. To suggest it’s a 5 man midfield negates the different roles filled. It’s not as simple as four across the middle, but more two dropping deeper and 3 pushing on, including wingers (which we don’t have).

I put McCleary’s success last season, not down to luck, form, or anything other than being able to implement him in the right system. The 4-5-1. Or kind of a 4-2-3-1 formation, or maybe 4-3-2-1. Two midfielders given license to attack, and largely negate their defensive duty. This is why McCleary flourished. He was given a role where his defensive side of the game was cut down, and that was an area he struggled with. Getting back, not getting forward, now he didn’t have to worry, and he flourished.

It also means Reid doesn’t have to charge back on forth on the wing either, and Dexter takes the figure head role. Whether we carry it on I am not sure. A lot of fans disliked using it at home. Cox however has been bought which may see two strikers. But it may also see Cox in the wide role, he came on for Ireland in the Euro’s and got put there.

So it’s not a simple case of one striker, it’s a striker with quasi support strikers. It means a midfielder is given a box to box role to support the striker and negate his defensive duties so much, perfect for McGugan or Radi, and was the reason Majewski was able to score that hat trick. Let’s face it; he can’t tackle so give him a role he doesn’t need to. It does mean we have far too many strikers. But its handy to have a few on the bench as options for later if it is going wrong, get that ball forward and use them.

The advantage with this system if it is used, too many short sighted fans saw it as defensive, or even a long ball strategy, but most teams who use it are teams who attack at pace, and use shorter passing, for instance a little team called Barcelona. Spain use it effectively, Arsenal do too. It’s a wonderful system for football, if the right players are there, and I feel this year they are. Without McKenna or a slower ball player last year it didn’t work. You need him as a Xavi type player. Moussi is not that player, and neither is Greening unfortunately, Gillett might well be. You need ball players in there, not enforcers.

It will take time to settle, there are lot of new players to bed into a new system, and one they may not be used to. I may be completely wrong and we implement a 4-4-2 like we did in some friendlies. The lack of a number of friendly’s means we didn’t get to see what was favoured. We still have the right players for a 4-4-2, it just means sacrificing a Radi or McGugan for someone like Guedioura or Cohen, which I am sure no-one would moan at. I do tend to think 4-4-2 is too rigid a system, and doesn’t allow for fluidity. People have set roles which are not too interchangeable. It is balanced though and has a set structure.

There are plenty of positives no matter what, the implementation of good football, with good solid professionals. Hutchinson will be hungry to show what we can do, and forces his way up the Chelsea hierarchy. Players we have are born winners, shown by the promotions under their belt.

Tomorrow against Bristol City will be a big test, not many went to Fleetwood, and some like me will have seen it on a laptop screen streaming it, which is never the best way to watch a game. So to see what we actually put out there and see what the teams doing will be fascinating to see. To see the formation, and who plays where, it seems an interesting season ahead for the tacticians amongst us, whereas in the past few years we have set systems. Davies never fluctuated much from his preferred systems, and Cotterill had a et way of playing, so let’s see if we do have versatility and fluidity, and the scope to change things up when are where needed.

Here’s to an exciting future.

Forest Look-a-likes - Cousin Omar

Ok so in a special one off of the Forest Lookalikes specials that are greatly enjoyed, our forum members passed on these lookalikes we did of Cousin Omar.

Omar


First off is Baron von Greenback from Danger Mouse


Next up is Telly Savales, good old Kojack


Boxing Referee Joe Cortez



And finally, Fonejackers very own Terry Tibbs

Our Strikers - An Appraisal

With the new signing of Simon Cox and the news we seemingly are also looking at Chris Wood and or Simon church, its begs the question what are we intending to do with our current stable of forwards, and where they fit in with the scope of the team and squad as a whole.

Simon Cox
As the big new signing and seemingly high cost involved it is almost certain Cox will regularly start. As well as playing front he can also get pushed to the wings too, as shown at Euro 2012 for Ireland. Apart from this Cox is somewhat of a mystery to me, I do not know a great deal side looking at his stats and what Wikipedia says, but that doesn’t always cast a true story. A lot of Baggies fans have told us we have a good player on our hands and that’s good enough for me, and the fact he was good enough to be in the Irish squad for 2012, although Ireland didn’t do a great deal, the fact he was there performing on a very grand scale footballing event speaks volumes.

Dexter Blackstock
The Antigua international was recently handed the captains armband in the Villa friendly. An indicator he is regarded as one of the senior pros at the club, and he is similarly well regarded by the fans. I see Dex as being the target man for Cox, holding up play and feeding the new man. But Dex has an eye for goal too, and can score a lot of gals at this level. He seems to love the club quite a lot, and is hungry after such a long layoff with injury to get back to the fore front. He will definitely play a role in the squad, and start more than he does not in games.

Ishmael Miller
For me this should have been his season to shine and lead the line. Maybe Cox is replacing him. Miller was definitely intended to be the power house forward and be a focal point, due to injuries and poor form it hasn’t happened. Whether this is down to managers not knowing how to implement him, or maybe the element of resentment of his inflated wages is true. Miller is on double many of team mate’s wages. Aside from this he struggled with fitness never able to be build a head of steam form wise and merely flit in and out the side regularly. Very much under used in the second half of the season he does though have a good record. Add to that though there was other clubs apparently interested and due to his hefty wages, and despite now having money we may look to move him on should the right offer come in. Maybe we were just the wrong club at the wrong time.

Matt Derbyshire
Where do you even begin? In and out of the treatment room, and apparently had been carrying a very long term injury when even in the side Derbyshire has said he is fully fit and raring to go, that may well have to be at another club. Like Miller he is on a hefty slice, more than many team mates and the fact he has done next to nothing to justify these wages, which have so well funded Vue and Showcase cinemas it seems. He gets a lot of abuse, probably unwarranted, he’s just doing his job, it’s just he’s so bad at it, falling over continually, seemingly unaware of the big net thing at the far end of the pitch. Most fans have been lost in terms of him, it would take an amazing turn in form for the fans to take him to heart, and the majority of McClaren signings are like this. Regarded with complete indifference, because frankly they have all failed. Derbyshire’s record in the past is mixed at best anyway, and it seems he isn’t quite in love with this club, always on twitter about Blackburn or Olympiakos, and seemingly on match days when Forest are on twittering about whatever else he is getting up to. The problem is on his wages he will be difficult to unload, either on loan or permanently.

Robbie Findley
All pace and no end product. He has scored a few goals admittedly, often in cups versus lower league opposition. His most famous achievement with Forest is missing from2 yards with an open goal. A clearing off the line any defender would be proud of, he was trying to score. Also for spending his first few months with the club permanently injured. I’m not sure he is as fast as people said he was, He doesn’t seem as fast as Tyson say for instance, and at least Tyson had a powerful shot, Findley doesn’t seem to have this. He also seems very much a confidence striker, which when you’re in and out the team is hard to for you build that. MLS fans on 24-7’s forums’ warned us he wasn’t that good. A warning that seems to have come true. It might be worth moving him on or loaning him to a League One level side. Or Barnsley, because they take practically anyone on, especially when foreign.

Marcus Tudgay
As I said last week he seems to have been bookmarked as Blackstock's back up for a target man to hold the ball up who can also finish well. Just as I thought his time would be up he looked good against Villa. The thing I’m not sure he is top Championship striker, he’s perfectly reasonable for some teams, but not if you want promotion as he can drift out of games. That said he has scored some very important and good quality goals in his couple of years at the club. Plus it’s always nice to have ex Derby players who have a bait of scoring against them. I see him as having a limited future; maybe see his contract out as a fringe squad player.

David McGoldrick
You don’t get nicknamed McGoaldrought for nothing. I genuinely would be elated to see the back of him as I can’t help thinking he must demotivated. He scored goals before us, but something is holding him back, as whenever he plays for us he is mostly anonymous. Occasionally a good game marks people saying he’s turned the corner only to not hear his name again for weeks on end. Needs to move on quickly, like Garner did once he was out the loop.

Transfer Activity Round Up

Basically I’ve not been on the ball so to speak this last week, the Olympics have distracted me from keeping on the pulse transfers wise, as they wind down, so too do I start stop neglecting this.

We reported previously on the signings of Collins and Guedioura, so in essence I need not comment, however in the wider context of what we have done I shall evaluate them further.

Let’s start with Guedioura, or Guedi as I shorten it to save me time and squinting at the screen making sure I spelt it right. Really a must after last season’s starring role, he’s a box to box midfielder, and next to Gillett can provide the energy and enthusiasm, and that sht. He isn’t a lair player, like McGugan or Majewski, and I’d hate to see him pushed out wide to accommodate who I regard o be luxuries of Lewis and Radi. His role will be integral this season.

Collins, at the time we needed any centre half, but now having seen further business it’s easier to see the roles here. Collins is the physical ball winner, good in the air, strong, and not afraid to shirk a tackle. The balance of Ayala alongside means Ayala is the cultured ball playing defender, mopping up Collins interceptions and challenges. This isn’t to say Collis has no culture, but he is there as a Chris Morgan, a Steve Bould, he does the ugly. I am unsure still on either ones pace, so I can’t really comment there.

Next to him will likely be Daniel Ayala, on loan for a season from Norwich, highly thought of there hence only a loan. He first to England to Liverpool and had loan spell at hull. More a ball player central defender it clearly shows O’Driscolls intention for passing game lead from the back, rather than the Chambers/Morgan esque punts up field. Perhaps more in the Wilson guise. Norwich fans were quite animated at the thought of losing him so this bodes well this move.

Greg Halford is a direct Gunter replacement at right back, but he can play in the centre due to his height. My brother is a Sheffield United fan and he speaks very highly of Halford. He has an almighty throw which is an extra weapon. He can play all down the right so hopefully this means some marauding runs, which would mean we need a right winger who is more defensively minded than McCleary was to cover for these, that maybe Moussa, it maybe Coppinger. He is somewhat a journeyman, which speaks that he struggles to settle, perhaps age and maturity might let him do that here.

Harding is the new left back and I admittedly don’t know a great deal about him. Having seen the Villa game though he looked good, and again is a full back that goes for runs and can get in round the back, perhaps good as Reid doesn’t have the greatest mobility down the left and he can be used for link up play. He has a legacy of promotion with Southampton so he knows the division and knows how to win.

Simon Gillett in the midfield is another I know little about, but having seen his play he seems very Paul McKenna like. Dropping deep, collecting the ball and seeking to start build up play, often a role many don’t understand as it’s never one with gets glory and often leads to side of back passes as he seeks to create space. Many fans don’t like this, people round me for instance seem to insist that the ball should always go forward, these people are invariably morons who don’t understand the nuances of the game, and like crazed loons who kick players up in the air more than a cultured midfielder. Gillett can get stuck in though by the looks.

What remains to be bought in is unclear as I spoke about earlier we need a right winger; we need maybe a little extra cover at centre half. Whether al-Rashidi comes in as more experienced cover for Camp than Darlow, which I’d hope means Darlow goes out on loan, and to higher class than Newport County I don’t know.

We may see more departure but I reckon more short term loan deals for the likes of Derbyshire, McGoldrick and Findley. Emergency loans to struggling championship teams as many others couldn’t pay the requisite wages.

But in summary the transfers, though seemingly slow to those who wanted all business done in a week bodes well. We have waited for the right players, not panic bought and have looked to build a team. Last season we tried to chuck too many players together in a cobbled fashion. Derbyshire was signed because he was available, nothing more.

Friendly Matches Show Team Coming Together

So now the season is getting closer to the start and we have played Villa and County is recent friendlies, the teams starting to take shape, though what the starting line up versus Bristol city is still not 100% clear.

Against Villa the game had been equal for the first half before we showed a bit of class and Villa fell apart. It was a very poor Villa team, but a heartening sight was Lewis McGugan looking like he remembered what it’s like to score a goal.

The midfield for now looks like it will be narrow, there is a lack of width in the squad, so Guedioura played a bit wide, but was often inside the pitch, which lead to Villa having a ridiculous amount of space down the left, and the introduction of Moussa to play a natural wide game cut this out in the second half, and Villa had nothing to offer attacking wise after this.

This sums up perfectly the requirement for natural width. Moloney had been targeted and had Warnock been able to control a ball last Saturday things may have been different, the left back so often failing control passes to atatck the right back. That said, admittedly more a change for seeing what a player can do, and not so much tactically it shows that S’oD is aware tactically and can close a threat off.

Now we have Ayala, we might start to see a more senior defence, with Halford in his accustomed right back slot, Moloney although capable is perhaps a League One starting right back, handy as a backup, but not really a starter for a team of our aspirations.

The midfield is looking crowded, full off options, but all of them central. Gillett, now signed is the Paul McKenna figure, does all the unseen graft and hard work that so many people fail to grasp. Without this type of player last season we were lost. Moussi is inconsistent, and not really a ball player. He’s more a destroyer, a de Jong, than Gillett’s Deschamps ball carrier type player, dropping deep and making things happen.

Around then we have creative options, Lewis, looking good again and Radi, still for me so inconsistent, there are those who laud him, and yes he is capable of wonderful performances, he is also capable of disappearing completely form a game. Cohen too is to come back fully, whether he is the same player is unclear, we could implement him on the left, but Reid is looking athletic out there, rather than pushing Reid into an advanced role to support a striker (a role Majewski occasionally took on)

We have a plethora of options up front, with perhaps another signing to come. Blackstock is definitely a first choice, with Findley, Miller, McGoldrick or Derbyshire to play off him. Tudgay is more a Blackstock back up, but every time I deride him, he comes good and proves me wrong. We look to be perhaps signing Simon Cox, who would signify the end surely of Derbyshire’s Forest career. Also perhaps the signing of Bader al-Mutawa, as this is unclear at the moment what is happening provides even more options.

The defence now has balance, and some cover, though very youthful cover. Lascelles has a big season ahead, try and break in the team, and he will get chances, the very nature of that position means suspensions are going to happen, as well as injuries (Ayala has a chequered history)Lascelles needs to graps these chances. As said Moloney can cover right back, and perhaps Freeman at left back. Fenton appeared last night against County, and perhaps he will play a part, but surely this would be too much too soon for him.

Camp has the no.1 jersey and we have not seen much since the first few friendlies from the Kuwaiti keeper Khaled al-Rashidi, rumour has it some of the Kuwaitis have been outright refused work permits, and the only likelihoods would be al-Mutawa and al-Rashidi.

So, all in all close to being there, options exist, but a true right winger would be nice, McCleary is a big loss there, and Anderson could have covered, the problem was Anderson was spent here, his fighting and fall outs last season, and general lack of any kind of final ball. It has been a joke for a while that we had a winger who could neither cross nor take on his man. So that’s my one focus, with maybe more cover at centre half. Loans can be used wisely here, once Premiership squads have been finalised and players miss out on a final 25 berth.

Optimism is definitely my key word here.