Forest Look-a-likes 6

It's back!!! Forest lookalikes! It's been about 18 months since we did this. We have a new batch of lookalikes featuring Forest players.

So without further ado!!

Harry from Dumb and Dumber and Dan Harding

Adnan Januzaj and Chris Cohen

 

Jamie Mackie and Matt Damon

 Andriy Pyatov (Ukraine keeper) and Darius Henderson

Got any others? Then tell us below or go on our pages on either Twitter or Facebook and tell us there and we may include them next time.

Cohens Injury

Just when you think the left back conundrum has been answered the whole thing is blown open again. That for a moment doesn’t matter though, as the first thought is we wish for speedy recovery for Chris Cohen, who for a second time in 2 years faces a lengthy lay off on the sidelines with a knee injury.

I spoke yesterday in the match report that it was unclear what the damage was, within an hour of my publishing that we knew the truth. Another long layoff for an influential player. The captain.

Cohen though has been an integral part this season, and although not the influential role in midfield he usually displays, his willingness and his performances in a less favoured position speaks volumes of a guy putting the team before himself. Egotistical players may have complained or kicked up a fuss about being played in a less sexy role. Cohen just gets on with his job.

The dynamic down the left for me at times this season has been a joy, his lung busting runs to overlap Reid, or Abdoun or Paterson has been a feature of a lot of what we have done well. Now that’s removed from the team dynamic.

So where do we go now. There are options; thankfully, the loan window is still open. So we can seek to quickly get in a replacement. But that’s exactly the problem, quickly. We need someone soon. I am not as naive as to think that modern day Football Managers don’t have plans of action for this, that there isn’t a dossier of potential players that would be targeted for such eventualities. I am sure there is. Whether though we can sort those players out in the few days left to us before the loan window closes isn’t clear. We’d have to wait till January otherwise.

So that would leave Harding. Now I for one think he’s been given a fairly unfair time by fans. He’s not great, but nor is he awful. He is capable. And for now we just need someone in there who can play the role, which he can.

The wider implications are that the stretched defence is even further stretched. Another injury in the next two games would see a very hard Christmas period. There just simply isn’t anyone else with first team experience to play, and what a baptism of fire it would be for a kid like Kieran Fenton for instance. As aid before Chalobah can play in that role, which is another option.

We could recall Moussi from his loan who has been used as an emergency centre half before. This by any stretch isn’t a favoured option, but this situation isn’t an ideal one and sometimes needs must. These next few days are key in that regard, because both Collins and Wilson remain out for an extended period. Its leaves us very stretched.

So is it better to go for a more experienced expensive left back for the loan like we did with Konchesky? Do we go for the inexperienced youngster like with Greg Cunningham? We also need central defence cover to, so someone who can play both? It’s up to Davies and Fawaz to sort out. As I said, I have no doubt they have names in mind, its just time is against us.

Forest Draw With Burnley - Dyche Snipes.

I actually quite like Sean Dyche as a manager, and although I have frequently laughed at his wheezy raspy voice, he has a decent record, especially working on budgets.

That said his comments post match against Burnley left me feeling he’s just a bit moany and every time an opposition manager says stuff like this it just strikers of bitterness that they don’t have the resources. Don’t know what I’m talking about? Well we’ll discuss this later after looking at the match,
We exposed last week that Burnley are a bit of a bogey club for the Reds, we don’t have the best record against them at all, but they aren’t the only club in that group. So going into this game against a club we do struggle against who now happen to be flying it was clearly a worry.

With the pre game news of injuries and viruses hitting the centre of defence there was a great many people commenting on the fact they thought we’d get battered. The usual array of positivity anyway, or those who either see triumphant win or resounding defeat as the only pre game possibilities.

Of course the truth was, as a number speculated that Hobbs would be fit. The problem with Billy Davies announcing these injuries in the way he did is that he’s tried it before; we all know when he says this he’s actually sure that he will have someone to play there. He’s a terrible liar! So many people kind of thought, well I bet that means Hobbs WILL be fit. Which he was. Lichaj came back in the side, and Jara moved into midfield to cover for Vaughan. The rest was as it was against Leicester.

Jara is starting to look quite an accomplished figure in that holding role, taking the ball down and playing it wide or forward. Rather than a Moussi figure of just putting his head on it or trying to get clear. Cox kept his place following his strike v Leicester, and with Majewski playing his advanced role in the gap behind the striker, it was quite an attacking shape.

And things went well, very well. We had the better of the game; with the highlight being a Lansbury free kick coming back off the bar which Majewski then put the rebound wide. It was a good effort and had the keeper beaten. It seems in the absence of Reid then Lansbury is the free kick taker extraordinaire.
But Burnley of course took the lead. A lot has been said, written and gesticulate about this decision. For me it’s a simple case of turning the tables. Had that been at the other end, had that been Forest crossing the ball and had that been a decision to be made at the other end, every Forest fan would have sure it was a penalty, and citing that his hand was in an unnatural position. That reason alone to me says penalty. The simple truth is if had your hand is anywhere outside of your body and it strikes it, there is a very strong chance it will be given. There will be days the same thing happens and nothing given, it’s just one of those things. What rankles is that linesman gave no signal at all and he had a better position and yet the penalty was given by the ref, behind play and not as well positioned. It’s a small point, but for me it is a little annoying. That said, for me, it was a penalty despite what anyone says. Jara had his hand raised, although only slightly, and that more than likely means penalty. And as I said, the strongly voiced opinions, those shouting loudest it shouldn’t be given would be up in arms had the same thing not been given for us had rules been reversed.

And for the next five minutes were extremely shaky. Heads had dropped. Visibly. It just seemed an air of “well we tried really hard, had the better, and yet we’re losing.... what can we do?” before after that period we rallied. And when we did, we scored. Laughably right after one reliable Twitter idiot, clearly never at games, claimed Paterson is useless and should be withdrawn. Because Paterson clipped in a delightful cross begging to be scored. There had been good movement around the area and slick passing on the right, in the manner we are used to on the left. Jara clipped it inside to Paterson who got past his man and sent the ball high to the back post. It was unmissable, and played on an absolute plate. Cox nodded home and we were level again.

The second half saw us retain the best of the game, and yet we still retained an element of risk and danger, Chalobah replaced Lichaj and Jara went to right back, but his first five minutes apart, Chalobah played very well. He even had a decent chance that at the time looked close and placed, but on a replay didn’t quite look as cultured and close.

Other close efforts fell to Hobbs, and Lascelles. A near post effort at the death was nearly back heeled in by Forest but was saved and then cleared. Had we scored it would be deserved, we nicked it, except we didn’t. It stayed level.

There was a dampener in that Cohen got injured, at first it looked horrific, a player staying down, not moving saving for waving frantically is almost always bad news. Cohen was doing just this, but after a couple of minutes he limped back in to play and tried to support Abdoun who had replaced Majewski. Paterson too had been replaced by Henderson, leaving us with no sub options, but that’s by the by, our captain and vital cog in the machine looked badly hurt, especially when limping off again after trying to play on. The news on that is still not clear at time of writing.

So all in all a creditable draw. For one a depleted team, a second we went behind, but furthermore we looked down and beaten and dragged our selves round and got the spirit flowing.

A word on Dyche comments. He was a bit snippy claiming he had a smaller squad which, yes he does, but he was taking a dig at Davies saying how despite our crisis, we still had 32 players to chose from, and how they’d offered only £4.99 for Paterson whereas we paid a million. Very clever and funny Sean, making you look like paupers. That £5mill for Austin must really hurt your pockets. Furthermore we didn’t have another recognised centre half. Chalobah can play there, but two 19 year olds a centre back? No. I’d like him to name those 32 players we could have selected from.

It just seems the wealth we have still seems to get resentment from other teams who can’t help taking digs. In attempts to big up their good achievement versus us, it’s now used rather than the illustrious past. Just celebrate your win/draw. Don’t start blathering on about each other’s wage bill.

Two 2-2's

I’d like to say the lack of reports for either the last games has been down to me being busy, and although partially true, that isn’t the case. I’ve just largely been lazy.

That said Forest have managed to have back to back draws, both of which 2-2 and both of which saw us falling behind.

Against Middlesbrough, the game was marked more by Phil Dowd than much more else. That’s how it will be largely remembered save for a good come back when we looked dead and buried. Davies took a risk and stuck Reid and Lansbury in a deeper role. The whole structure of the side changed, moving from the more 4-1-3-2 formation we’d used to a 4-2-3-1 formation. It didn’t work.

For a start the midfielders in those 2 deeper roles are not players used to that role. Reid and Lansbury are not defensive players. Further forward it accommodated Majewski in a central role behind the front man, with Mackie going wide right and Abdoun playing on the left. The defence was untouched.

However that defence would need reshuffling not long into the game with the injury of Kelvin Wilson. His role at the back coordinating is vital, always was when he was here before and it’s arguable he bought the best out of Wes Morgan. Halford replaced him and he isn’t as good as marshalling the defence. It soon showed.

The main problem was the lack of the shielding midfielder who knew what he was doing. Moussi had done a mixed job against Barnsley, but due to him giving away the fouls which contributed Barnsley’s gals Davies removed him from that role. And a huge glaring gap opened up between defence and midfield which caused problems you could drive a bus through.

The first goal was simply Halford being turned easily, the ball getting centred and Boro taking the lead. The second was again just rank bad defending, standing off (which is to the point where the defence might do ordinarily) but without that shielding midfielder offering support, inviting Boro on and giving a lot of space. George Friend gladly lashed home the second, and finished well.

We looked dead and buried. I tweeted as much, saying that the change of structure hasn’t worked and we got it wrong. But then Davies redeemed himself. Derbyshire and Henderson both came on, and both scored, with close in finishes from crosses and we could have had more. Of course Reid had missed a penalty in first half and we should have had second half penalty for when Henderson was felled and then booked for diving, wrongly. I wanted t deliver a long vicious diatribe about Phil Dowd on Wednesday morning but bit my tongue.

So this weekend we came up against Doncaster and a lot of fans seemed to be assuming the win had already been decided before we kicked a ball. Donny away is always a tricky little customer of a fixture.
Macheda fresh from Manchester United would be our main tormentor in chief, scoring both the goals. Between these Chris Cohen had lashed in an equaliser, and after Reid scored.

Halford came in for Wilson and Chalobah the new signing made his bow for Forest, wearing Guedioura’s 7 shirt. It will take longer than 2 days for him to get to know us and blend in, but that’s all he had for this game.

To be honest a few people have said that this is a horrible result but that’s taking a game by itself and looking at it based on a resource and league position basis. That’s far too simplistic to judge an opponent, forgetting form, spirit and the basic fact that we struggle at the Keepmoat, which psychologically plays it part. To be fair getting a late equaliser is a good result in my book, we won’t be the only top team to lose points there this season, and so it’s nothing be ashamed of. I just tend to think a lot of our fans get far to built up on the idea of teams we will own and destroy, rather than realise some times you will struggle against perceived weaker opposition.

What it does, and forgetting the League Cup game, is set us up for the Derby game, whereby we aren’t on the best form, and yet here we are scoring a lot of goals. We don’t fail to net, but defensively looking like we are shaky. But that’s going to happen when you lose someone of Wilson’s calibre.

This season isn’t based on 3 games in September. It feels like some think it is. There are both plenty of positives as well as negatives to take from these games. Onward Forest, onward.

King Darius Rises For Late Win

It isn’t very often in life I refer to an ancient Persian King in a title of a Nottingham Forest blog article, but there we go, that’s the beauty of this. Forest left it late against Barnsley on Saturday to seal the 3 points, with a win that was more than deserved. After all we hit the woodwork 3 times in this game additionally to the goals.
That maybe unfair on a decent Barnsley side that look better than last year’s model. Although their own goals were from dead ball situations they did occasionally look dangerous on the attack.

The main element of pre match conversation would be who replaced Guedioura, the Frenchman Moussi getting that nod. Some had thought we may go to a flatter 4 in midfield with Abdoun and Paterson wide with Reid and Lansbury pulling deeper than usual. But now, the narrow diamond remained, with Moussi at its base, Majewski spearheading it, with Reid and Lansbury making up the rest. Cohen remained at left back, and Cox replaced the auxiliary striker that was Halford up front.

We had the better early chances, Mackie getting in clear behind the defence seeing the veteran Pollitt save his effort, and Cox hitting the post from a lovely little move involving Lansbury and Mackie, which may also have been a save from Pollitt.

And then Reid from a free kick in nearly a copy of the Wigan goal curled it high into the corner, but that just little bit too close to the post, seeing it come back off and ricochet around before being cleared.

When we did take the lead it had been a good build up. Mackie gain getting that yard or two of space to shoot, and seeing his effort saved by Pollitt. The only person chasing up though was Simon Cox to give the Reds the lead. Pollitt was angry no defending was following in to tidy up, and his defence seemed to suggest he should have parried it the other way, but that’s neither here nor there as far as I am concerned, Cox showed instinct and quick reactions to follow the ball in and to finish, and put the Reds in front.

Barnsley to be fair didn’t cower though, and their reaction was quick. Perkins who had played well made a run into the box, and pushed the ball past Moussi who clumsily blocked his run and gave away a penalty. O’Grady netted the equaliser, and the lead was already squandered. At this juncture around me there were tuts and noises of derisions aimed squarely at Moussi who most saw already as a liability in that role. He had just proved us correct again.

A word on Moussi, he had his usual type of display where you’re not entirely convinced his arms and legs are reacting to the same brain waves, often careering into trouble and then back out of it. He wasn’t as bad as some will make out, but against a good team he would be found wanting badly, someone like Wigan would have had a field day with him against them.

We took the lead again with the last action of the first half. A free kick Barnsley weren’t happy about being give and Reid, with his usual great delivery caused Etuhu to put past his own keeper. Reid free kicks must be a nightmare to defend, as never sure if dipping in or someone ghosting at the back, defenders feel the need to flail something at the ball to clear it, and as in this case that can result in it going in their own goal.

Barnsley’s second half equaliser was a screamer. Unstoppable, and applauded by a good many Forest fans. It was one of those goals you just have to accept that was destined to go in from the moment Cywka swung his boot. A rocket from 30-35 yards, it was f course given away by Moussi for a free kick in the first place.

And so we toiled for a subsequent winner, and by changing our approach by bringing on Paterson and Abdoun the match was swung. Abdoun excites the crowds, many having seen his Youtube vids (that said I’m sure you could make Jason lee look ace from video highlights) These two started playing a bit more directly and the inter play down the left wing was exciting.

Paterson would hit the post, our third time with an effort from around 20 yards, at first I thought a pass better option but it wet so close. Then Cox had an effort that Pollitt spilled and it went narrowly wide.
And then came the introduction of Darius, fresh from his court acquittal the big man looked hungry and ready. Darius differs from our previous big physical presences in that he can play on the ground too, but his goal was pure aerial threat. A corner coming in he bulleted a header in low to give us a win. Barnsley’s defenders looked frustrated having let the one biggest threat from corners get a relatively free header 10 yards from goal.

It was a deserved win, that there is no doubt, but we were made to work for it. The happy change is now there are different types of options if things don’t go our way. Instead of last year, where we’d have done a relatively like for like change of McGugan for Majewski, this year we have a different type of player to bring on. As I said the interplay down the left filled me with a lot of hope about potential options down there. Abdoun Reid and Cohen seemed to reach a quick knowledge of how to use each other.

All in all a creditable result. It keeps us right in there after the Wigan defeat, and with Middlesbrough up next we look a hard challenge to beat at the City Ground, if we just sort out that DM slot.

Player of the Season

Player of the Season




My point in this exercise is really to discuss who the player of the season has been for Forest, which as I thought about this and planned what to say really has underlined a quite bizarre point. In a season which by and large has been successful save for the last few games (I think we’d all have been happy with this kind of season this time last year) that there hasn’t been a standout performer. Even in a struggling team last year Garath McCleary managed to stand out ahead of the rest. Whereas this year I have seen so much on the forum (which appears to have died) and on twitter that there is no real player of the season.

Well to analyse this let’s look at this logically and equate the leading players.

Karl Darlow

Ok only played for half a season but it’s been a steady set of performances. Not stand out like anyone but he has quietly done his job without huge fanfare. He is almost cultish like figure now due to how he got his chance and the fact we were so ready and willing for him to succeed. For that you have to consider that a youngster with little first team experience got chucked in the deep end and not only floated but immediately started swimming quite easily.

Greg Halford

has been chucked around all over the park and generally has performed well, but as with all nothing that leaps out. Weighed in with a few goals, and even has a spell as a makeshift (and effective) striker. Might have shone more had one spot been made his own. The fact he has played 6 positions screams volumes though, his variety helps, and so to his secret weapon of long throws.

Danny Collins

In and out the team under Davies but a mainstay beforehand he has a mixed time. I hear a number of fans around where I sit be hyper critical of him, and he can be slow and yes there’s been errors, but he isn’t that bad, not as bad as Chambers could be at his worst, but definitely not player of the season material.

Elliot Ward

Again not a full season, but he’s been here for the most part so I will include him. After a ponderous start and being fairly disliked by fans (remember when we announced we had signed him back after his initial loan, there were a lot of critical fan) he has slowly won the fans round. Still prone to slow errors and fouling back his man, he has improved immeasurably at Forest. Seems to like it here too.

Chris Cohen

Now has the arm band, playing out of position at left back and doing a fairly good job. Scored the goal at derby that gave us the lead. Did well when in the midfield too, Cohen has played well this season, which is heartening as frequently people with his type of injury he had aren’t the same player. For that reason his season was a late starter too. A definite contender.

Simon Gillett

included because for the first half of the season he was many people’s best player. Since then his form tailed off and now he is nowhere near the first team. He last featured meaningfully I believe against Derby, whereby he gave away the ball for their goal. A cynic would say his form tailed once his contract hit the renewal if he plays x games clause. Just saying

Adlene Guedioura

For me Guedi hasn’t hit the high notes he did last season> Still solid and impressive but quite prone to slightly wayward passes. It’s been frustrating in that regard, that and his slight disciplinary issues. Still more positive than not, but not a Player of the year performance and I’d think he’d agree.

Henri Lansbury

Took time to settle in at Forest and has really only shown what he can do since February. In that time his passing at times has been exemplary, clearly being on a different plane he can pick out pinpoint passes. On the other that person you’re passing to needs to be on the same wavelength. Clearly not a Player of the Year contender but could be next year on current trajectories of improvement.

Lewis McGugan

It’s same old Lewis, flashes of brilliance interspersed with long periods of average performances. Does things from the bench to get in the team, then doesn’t take that chance and is dropped again. We seem to have been having this conversation for as many years as Lewis has been around. He just seems like a Taarabt, or N’Zogbia figure. Obvious ability, just not consistently.

Radoslaw Majewski

Of the midfield perhaps one of the better. His purple patch when Davies arrived was wonderful. However as I suggested with my worst fears he can’t carry that type of form on over two months. If he could he wouldn’t be here, he’d have ended up at a better club than by now.

Andy Reid

Has been fairly instrumental in all that we do but has had a large number of very frustrating games. Reid is incapable of playing to the whistle and this really annoys me so instead of tackling back if he feels wronged he stands waving his arms around and it costs us. To some he is undoubtedly our player of the season, but for me there are huge obstacles for me to give him this accolade.

Simon Cox

Well there is the obvious issues with the lack of goals, but you can’t help but admire his effort. The fact that two of his goals pretty much would dominate a goal of the season poll, with his League Cup v Wigan goal and the obvious one then his returns been lame. For that you’d be critical, but as said he offers so much else to the team other than goals. Had the strikers been scoring though it’s easy to make the jump is assuming we’d be easily within the playoffs by now.

Billy Sharp

End this poll at Christmas and I think he might have won. He’d been banging in goals, got his own chant (in one of the shortest times for one of our players I’ve seen) and become a bit of a cult legend figure, especially by eating someone’s hot dog as a celebration at Blackpool. Since then though due to injury and being out of favour and his form dipping Sharps goals have dried up sadly. The second half of the season has been quite the drought (as with all strikers)

Dexter Blackstock

Clearly not a player of the season as for certainly the latter half he has been rather poor. His touch had completely deserted him, lack of any goals, and just generally bad performances. It’s a shame. It is also pretty much since he got his new contract. He really can’t be considered at all, his form has been so patchy.

The rest of the squad has largely been pitching in here and there with odd performances. A few have come and gone, and a few have been completely injury prone, but haven’t done enough of note to be mentioned overtly. Hutchinson has shown glimpses, Henderson got a couple of goals, Jara on his loan did good things, and Jenas, well Jenas was injured a lot.

So Who Wins?

To surmise I find it very hard to single out anyone ofrom the bunch as player of the season. you never know should we reach the playoffs an obvious candidate might ise above the ashes to see himself crowned. I'm going out on a limb and giving it two players, who have both had to show incredible senses of utility. They have been shunted round the park and have retained high levels of performance so therefore Chris Cohen and Greg Halford get my vote.

Settled Midfield Reaps Benefits

At the start of this season we signed a glut of midfielders. Considering we were already quite blessed in this position it seemed a strange one. Already in possession of Majewski, McGugan, Moussi, Greening, Reid and Cohen in the midfield we added Gillett, Coppinger, Lansbury, Guedioura, and since the summer McLaughlin.

Lansbury has been able to settle in team under Davies

It led some wags to choose a XI of just midfielders. But what it also led to was a lot of chopping and changing, some of it enforced, some of it for the sake of it to use them all. This led to a very unbalanced side and players badly out of form. Guedioura looked a shell of the player he was last year, Lansbury never settled, McGugan and Majewski seemed peripheral and unneeded.

Fast forward to now and a lots changed there. Instead of the tinkering, there is consistency, and as a result the team is winning.

We started the season with an element of consistency. The same midfield 4 was frequently used right up till we lost a couple against Leeds and some lot called Derby. We went with Gillett, Guedioura, McGugan and Reid. This consistency as I say was partially enforced, Lansbury and Cohen both injured at this stage. The last game of this run of the midfield saw Guedioura get sent off against Palace and so the chopping and changing began, and the form faltered.

If you look from the end of November up to and including the Watford game, a run which many wanted SoD to be sacked during, the form was inconsistent, with horrible defeats, but also quite good results it would look now (0-0 at Brighton doesn’t look bad) Gillett started in that run, but didn’t finish, Moussi taking over, Guedioura and Cohen were used in a majority of games but would be dropped (and sometimes bought on at half time) and Lansbury and McGugan switched in and out the team. Coppinger played a couple of times. In fact the prevalence of early substitutions does smack a little of a manager trying to tinker to get things right, and although now we look fondly back at O’Driscoll period on charge, there were glaring inconsistencies. I for one think we would have got it right, but it was a case of trying to juggle too many balls.

Radi blossoming in new role

The problem is there no –one gets a consistent run of form and it told. When McLeish came in he had a midfield which was largely out of form, he didn’t know his best side, and besides, a midfield is superfluous in a McLeish team as the ball gets humped over them (I again implore you to seek out Aliaksander Hleb’s quotes on this from his spell at Birmingham)

So how was it Billy was instantly able to galvanise this midfield into one that is a constant, in form, and above all free scoring. Well he seemed to decide on a different set of personnel and although in the familiar 1-3 layout, with one deep the other attacking, gave a certain artistic license to Majewski, who revels in such a role. Lansbury gets to be the box to box midfielder, and Guedioura gets treated more a quarter back to control the play. Gillett played this role before but with the quarter back element. Instead of long balls forward, he was more like a rugby scrum half, getting the ball and passing sideways. Guedioura's range of passing far outstrips Gillett’s, and though both don’t shirk the physical side of the game, Guedi is bigger and stronger, and can shrug off challenges.

We have also now settled on a formation. O’Driscoll by and large used the 4-1-3-2 at home but was prone to adjusting to a 4-2-3-1 formation, which didn’t work. Indeed when we altered to this against Wolves for a while we struggled to control the game. The sole forward with less support struggles to maintain possession. Additionally, having the 2 men sitting deeper means we don’t attack in the same force. I am also acutely aware I supported this formation saying many modern teams play it. They do, but that’s in the Premier League.

Whether it was a case of SoD trying to keep people fresh, and that he did have knocks to contend with we will never properly know. But we were doing better before he kept trying to adjust the midfield, and the formation. Billy has faithfully stuck to his 4-1-3-2 and it’s paying dividends. He hasn’t tried to evolve the game to involve more width; he sees what we have and is making the best of it. Players like greening and Moussi are kept involved, but are not integral. The only usual change is to see McGugan come into the fray for whoever looks like they need removing. And he is a great foil to be able to bring on.

I guess the challenge becomes when a result or two goes against us, and maybe then chopping and changing might be seen. When you’re in a great run you don’t makes too many changes, except in our case when the strikers just aren’t firing. I keep seeing people suggest involving more width, or that we should change the structure, but why the hell do anything when the team doesn’t changing? People seem to want to tinker for the sake of it, and what we illustrated above shows that doesn’t work. I think as said before that too many people play Football Manager and think because what happens in a fictional cyber world will play out exactly in reality. It doesn’t work like that.

It’d be interesting to see what happens if Guedioura got injured, would Davies favour this system with either Moussi or Gillett, would he reshuffle to a 4-4-2, a flatter formation with Reid wide or Lansbury on the right? All conjecture. Why change what’s working unless we have to? Consistency. It is the watchword of the day for me, and it shows how obviously it is needed.

Guedi the new DM

Derby Day Positives

Well, we didn’t win and so Derby still have the Brian Clough trophy, and a certain amount of bragging rights because it has been 2 years since we beat them. But all that said there are more positives to take from this game.


After the shaky start to McLeish tenure, and when arguably the team was more in SoD’s guise than his own, we struggled, and to be fair, as much as I defend SoD, there were times we lacked steel and the team looked idealess. With McLeish there does seem to be a bit more a mindset that if Plan A doesn’t work, there has at least been a Plan B discussed. Under SoD there never seemed that idea.

So anyway, there are negatives of course as well, we did draw after all, so it’ can’t all be plain sailing. There is of course the fact Gillett got dispossessed by Sammon, and although many demonised Gillett for that error, which happens all the time all over the field, it resulted in a goal. It’s easy to blame Gillett, he plays that role that always seems vilified by Forest fans, and when he makes a mistake it usually results in an attack. What is to forget is the fact there was still a lot to happen to result in a goal, the way the defence stood off and allowed a fairly immobile back man to waltz through, and for Ward to get space and score. So there were other elements to blame, though maybe not directly.

One thing that greatly worried my friend was the use of Darlow in goal, maybe harking back to the days of Barry Roche. He was worried that should he make an error and generally concede a lot of goals that he would in turn see his fledgling confidence shot to pieces and generally destroy his Forest career before it really began. We needn’t have worried, and although yes he didn’t have lots to do, generally what he did have to do he got right, tipping shots over the bar and kicking well, for me its kicking where you can a lack of confidence in a keeper, slicing ball generally indicates he isn’t getting IT right. Darlow had no such worries. And now the Post this Morning carries a headline saying he could be the keeper for years.

On a personal front, and I always do enjoy the more unusual aspect was the ironic jeers you can hear on replays when Cohen misjudges his first shot and slices it. Those ironic jeers all the more funny as they are soon replaced by Forest fans cheering as Cohen tucks it away at the second time of asking. No more than a good stalwart like Cohen deserves, especially with the role this fixture has played in his recent career.

For me Lansbury was good too, showing why he was rated. I have said he needs a run of games in the team, and for me he can be a more mobile form of Reid. His passing is finding its range. He takes a better corner than Majewski, McGugan or any of the other the usual suspects. Bodes well for the ex-Arsenal man.

Another pleasing aspect was the complete anonymity of Will Hughes, the great white hope of Derby, the “albino” as a few have tagged him was largely a passenger in the team, not showing any sense in the rumours of a “dossier” held on him.

Jara continues to impress at right back, and that looks like an astute addition. So much for the moron element on Twitter decrying his signing with “who?” He has been a breath of fresh air at right back.

However all these positives, I was informed by some friends, who are Derby fans that there was unsavoury element, with Greg Halford apparently having spat towards Derby fans. I can’t comment on the element of truth, but will say they aren’t the people who usually lie. A shame if it was true.

But a game we could easily have won, whether it’s Cox shot being 2 inches lower. Sharps last kick of the game that went in (though I don’t hold any doubt that derby had stopped, ergo, potentially making it that it wouldn’t have gone in) More so in the fact we didn’t crumble when conceding, but buckled down and took control of the game again. Even making really attacking changes late on, McLeish noting the importance of wins against your nearest and dearest and going for the jugular which was pleasing, he knows from Rangers days that winning such a game can rally fans and players, and unify them into a run of games. Fair play to him for that.

Had we lost, there may have been unneeded focus on the sackings last week, or a general negative feeling around the club. A commendable draw changes that, and moves us on to a very tricky but winnable game against Watford. It will be a challenge; they are a good side, but then so are we. Game On!

What Would Be Our Best Midfield?

I’ve talked at length about the various options in midfield without ever really analysing what might be the best options, discussing other peoples various roles and how this set up works. However the win and performance at Wolves has raised some question marks in my mind about which personnel is best.


Quietly I had wondered whether the midfield attacking three we had been using were the best options. I for one have been chomping at the bit to see what Lansbury can offer from the start. I think Cohen is making himself undroppable, and we all know what Guedioura is capable of, despite not hitting those heights this season yet.

I appreciate the role Reid can play, and his guile and technique with the ball cannot be questioned, but I always wonder about his mobility, and how a more mobile midfield three might be better. The lack of pace and drive has sometimes been a real issue in the midfield. With Jenas and Reid out, Guedioura and Lansbury stepped up and completely seized their chance this week.

I would like if possible to see this midfield set up given a couple of games to see how they run. All the requirements are there, set piece delivery, creativity, drive, finesse. Reid offers an ability with set pieces that a wonderful crossing ability, but I would argue so too does Lansbury.

Looks at the ball Lansbury played on Saturday, 40-50 yards over the top ball perfectly to Sharps path and feet to take on and score. Considering he was schooled by Arsenal it was a very un-Arsenal like ball, essentially being long ball, but it was so much more than just a punt up field than long ball and direct implies. It was crafted, judged and dropped into place for the striker to latch on to. Creative but direct. Very Reid like, but with mobility.

If Guedioura is starting to hit last season’s form and I know one swallow doesn’t make a summer but he was looking far better, and maybe the catalyst for this improvement was playing his old team, and as often happens he played out of his skin. If his form is now getting back to last season it makes him undroppable. He just needs to stop getting sent off. I had a feeling as he approached towards their goal on Saturday and let rip that he’d hit something dangerous, and lo and behold it was unsavable down in the corner. We’ve got our Guedi back.

Cohen I have been impressed with this season. I thought his form may suffer with the long layoff but he seems to have come back determined to make up for the year or so out of the game. There are those who are suggest he isn’t he player many others say he is, that’s its all effort and no class but I completely disagree. We are a better team with Cohen it.

We are yet to see anything of Coppinger, and with Majewski injured the other option would be to see McGugan in, but I think we all know that although he has obvious ability his temperament is questionable and this means with the new better options he is essentially unpickable.

Jenas and Reid will have their roles to play, the problem with Jenas is that yes he is quality, but will he be here after January? Is it worth trying to play someone else into form instead? Reid isn’t going to be able to keep playing all season and will need rests. Weeks like this where we have 3 games in 7 days will be too much for his fitness level. The options of rotation should keep players fresh, but you also want the consistency that playing regularly brings. This is what has hampered Guedioura as he has been in and out the team.

It all bodes well though. If an army marches on its stomach, a team’s promotion bid will rely on its midfield. Yes you need the strong defence, and the goal scorers, but the way we play, needs a strong midfield, and thats what we have.

Contracts

One of the main criticisms from fans aimed at the club was our largely tardy nature in trying to sort of contracts with players whose deals were expiring. We have seen too many players; both good and bad disappear for nothing because we never negotiated a deal. Earnshaw, Tyson, Commons, Wilson, Chambers, McCleary and Lynch in recent times all left because they’re deals were allowed to run down too close. We also nearly lost Moussi that way. And that’s just recently.

Cohen has signed a new deal.

The problem has always been we didn’t know where we were going. Chambers, Lynch and McCleary were difficult to sort out as by then the club was in financial turmoil and new deals couldn’t be budgeted for. But that situation shouldn’t have happened. You don’t leave these deals to the last minute, and further forward planning should have been set in place.

The problem with the Championship is no-one wants to be saddled with a long term expense that a contract can be. Look at Miller, Greening and Derbyshire. Hefty contracts we can’t shift, nor stomach. So we never offered players likely to be wanting substantial rises when we would probably still be in the Championship. On the other hand you get players like Robbie Savage, stuck in the Championship on a huge Premiership type wage.

There are aspects like Tyson simply wanting to be a bigger fish, and Earnshaw wasn’t worth what we were paying him anymore. Though still a good player, his form hasn’t been worthy of the supposed £15k a week he was warning. He also refused to take a pay cut.

Then there are Commons and Wilson, who frankly should have been sorted out sooner, but again, it was questions of the future. We didn’t know where we would play so we didn’t offer deals. That cost s when January came and they negotiated a way out. When Commons left we’d just gone up, but it seems obvious he’d signed for or agreed to sign for Derby before that, and Wilson, well we were in danger of relegation still, and why saddle a huge debt like that?

Is it a risk worth taking? Well the hope is now that we don’t have to get to that point, but there are plenty of cases of clubs ending up with players on their wage bill they can no longer afford due to relegation. Look at Leeds. The whole legacy of their situation is paying now against future earnings that never materialised. For years it nearly scuppered Cardiff, plus countless other Championship clubs who go from promotion contenders to League One obscurity too quickly.

When the panic sets in and the club is struggling against relegation, these long term expensive contracts provide no wriggle room at all financially. No-one else will take them on, you can’t shift them, and so you’re stuck.

In a similar regard players who play well when looking for a deal, get the deal and that perform terribly as they have their deal now, think Andy Impey for that one. 

But then you also get what you pay for. Cardiff broke the bank for Bellamy and he is arguably one of the very best in this division and can change games. That phrase break the bank or the pay structure for a top player generally signifies ambition and would also hopefully trigger in shirt sales and the like.

And so too though conversely is getting these players to agree new deals. Cohen’s new deal this week is excellent news, as is getting Darlow to stay. The whole sorry Bamford episode last season was significant in that we’d let a young player with great promise get down to a mere months left on the contract, rather than getting them on longer term deals. Admittedly we then offered him the best terms ever for a youth player, but it was too little too late. His head had been turned, we needed the cash (which arguably allowed us to bring in players that kept us up) but it should never get that far. We also seem hesitant with youth deals. Lascelles deal was mentioned as not being long term either, which if these players show the promise they purportedly do, then get them tied down. It enables us to get bigger transfer fees if they do demand to go.

All in all, it’s another side the al-Hasawi family have changed for the better at the club. And I applaud them for it. It is only an issue if their wells of money they give us dry up for some hopefully never going to happen unforeseen future incident. Then we’d really be in the mire.

Cohen Ban Upheld

As speculated the FA have decided to uphold Cohen's ban. This is hardly a surprise. I don't think may of us thought we would get much change out of the FA. I assume the club thought as much too and that most of it was posturing. Showing we didn't agree, and will show we think so. Sweet F.A never had more resonance

The fact that since yesterdays article, I have seen that a number of the national press came to the same conclusion it wasn't a red card, but the FA can't be seen to questioning referee's integrity, especially the likes of the Mark Halsey,a premier league referee somehow slumming it for a game in the Football League,how can we have the audacity to question such a figure?

Why have a respect the referee campaign when when a referee makes a mistake he isn't punished or it reversed, and the law makers in suits stick their heads in the sand and pretend nothing happened.

I applaud the club for appealing, it had to be done to show no, we don't agree and we will let you know we don't. If they want people to respect referee's, get decent ref's.

If the FA had reversed this decision it admits there are faults, it admits the game was essentially voided a a match,and they don't want to admit that yes, their referee's are costing teams. Decisions equal their way out over a season, so just let us have our man,and not have him banned, I'm sure we'll see a dodgy red for an opposing team.

IF, and that's a a big IF, Davies was to lose his job at the end of the season for not making the playoffs ( I don't think such a thing would occur, just pure speculation) and it was by 1point or 2. May be even goal difference, it would almost be worth seeing if there is some legal action worth taking, saying that their negligence to do their job correctly resulted in him being fired from his job. Long shot I know.

Dividing Opinion: Cohen's Red Card

I don't think I have seen a decision that has so wildly divided fans of the two teams in a game involving Forest for quite a while. Chris Cohen's red card versus Leeds on Saturday has seen lines drawn in the sand and there is no crossing.

Forest fans are adamant it was a fair challenge. Leeds fans insist it was a reckless dangerous challenge, and thus back Grayson that it was indeed one step below being dragged before the Hague it was so heinous in its severity.

The one thing that doesn't divide anyone is that his decision changed the game completely. That is pretty much cemented. Had Cohen been on the pitch, Howson may not have had the time to net Leeds first, and extra body in the box to get the ball or block may have denied both Gradel goals. Before the red card the match was finely balanced.

I'm not going to point fingers here suggest that Grayson et al got Cohen sent off. If there was no challenge in the first place, with a level of ambiguity about the decision then that would be largely irrelevant. Yes the fans and Grayson reacted, but they had to react to something.

And that where the point of this lies. Interpretation. Of course the fans of each different team is going to see the incident with their own set of blinkers on. I'll admit I am convinced that was never a red, had it been a Leeds man doing that challenge at City Ground? Hell, I'd have calling for a Red too. The advantage of this being on TV is that we get to see the different angles and can clearly see that it is isn't malicious as many a challenge I have seen get away with a booking this season.

Halsey was clearly unsure, he had to consult with his nose pinching assistant to ask, it appears the Lino must have thought red. Perhaps influenced by fans behind him baying for blood? Who knows. His angle of it, would have been the complete opposite of the most-used slow mo replay, and probably would have looked more reckless though. This isn't huge game in the contexts of football in a wider sense, had it been we may have Virtual Reality angles of it done from where the Ref or Linesman was.

Its on such decisions that seasons can rise or fall. Had Cohen stayed on, there is no doubt we would have performed better in the second period. We may not have won, but I think we could have got something out of this game. Cohen is not a dirty player. He's the type of young man mothers probably dream of their daughters bringing home. Not Joey Barton. He is not a malicious player and I doubt has it in him to be so. So for all the fanfare to suggest he is from some quarters is laughable and extremely naive.

The laws of the game decree the following

A player, substitute or substituted player is sent off if he commits any of the following seven offences:

serious foul play
violent conduct
spitting at an opponent or any other person
denying the opposing team a goal or an obvious goalscoring opportunity by deliberately handling the ball (this does not apply to a goalkeeper within his own penalty area)
denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity to an opponent moving towards the player's goal by an offence punishable by a free kick or a penalty kick
using offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or gestures
receiving a second caution in the same match
A player, substitute or substituted player who has been sent off must leave the vicinity of the field of play and the technical area.

This incident has been labelled as serious foul play

This can be broken down from FIFA's own interpretations of the law in section 12

Careless, reckless, using excessive force
“Careless” means that the player has shown a lack of attention or
consideration when making a challenge or that he acted without precaution.
• No further disciplinary sanction is needed if a foul is judged to be careless
“Reckless” means that the player has acted with complete disregard to the
danger to, or consequences for, his opponent.
• A player who plays in a reckless manner must be cautioned
“Using excessive force” means that the player has far exceeded the necessary
use of force and is in danger of injuring his opponent.
• A player who uses excessive force must be sent off

Now its pretty much apparent that this is where the grey area where the doubt reigns. Was it excessive force? Or was it a just amount. My opinion is that wasn't excessive, had McCartney not gone down it wouldn't have been red. The reactions of both sides made everyone think it was worse than what it was. Cohen's left legs trailing for most of the challenge, how can that be excessive if he isn't leading with two feet? And the whole reasoning that it was 2 feet raised off the floor is laughable. Of course it was, the ball was off the floor before you even begin to debate the semantics of that conundrum. It seems the 50/50 is something that looks like it will be increasingly outlawed. If you look at the image below,who looks like they are launching a two footed dangerous lunge more? It's not Cohen.


You can't really blame Grayson or the fans for their reactions. Our fans would do the same, and Davies would undoubtedly do the same. We have seen worse behaviour from opposing managers (Phil Browns technical area invasion springs to mind) but there is this inherent need and desire to create an opposing team pariah out of any incident that does us wrong. I think most of it comes down to bad luck that the various officials views of Cohen's tackle made it look worse.From behind it is clearly isn't malicious but referees don't get the advantage of replays. That's a debate for another day. But we are appealing the decision. It should be over hauled. It won't be though, the FA will back up their man,and justice won't be done. With our parlous midfield state it could be catastrophic for the rest of April.

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Forest Need to Regain Their Nerve in Run In

The run in is going to be a vital time for Forest. The Reds form has imploded and this has left us teetering on the brink of failing to make it into the play offs.
Considering everything Billy said last year, and has continued to say this year, that would be a failure. This team has not gone backwards. All we did was sell Perch who was a fringe player anyway, and a very much maligned one at that.

Confidence seems to be shot. A losing mentality has set in on Trentside, this has to be reversed. The fans have started to turn and get on the players backs rather than support and cheer on. We have seen this all before of course. In the Calderwood days more so than most.

Not making the play offs would be seen by many fans as a disaster. And fingers will be pointed both at Doughty and Davies. The usual mob, who will always blame Doughty regardless will crawl out the woodwork once again, claiming where all sorts of investment should have been made. Then there are those who will be fed up of Davies moaning, and the fact he seems to have no plan B when things aren't going right, which was a criticism always levelled at Calderwood.

The truth is, it will be a shaky 2 months till the end of the season. We have some very big games, and we need some very big performances. Rather than implode we need to regroup, refocus and rebuild our promotion push. And re-find that bottle Cohen's looking for above