The City Ground Night of the Long Knives

Well if you understand the heading you understand where this article is heading already, but if you don’t Wikipedia or Google are your friends. Essentially it’s a historical reference of back stabbing, covert operations and the putting down of subterfuge.

Right, business. The sackings of the three members of senior staff at Forest, or the sackings of two and one’s subsequent resignation, if you believe other channels has sent tongues wagging, brains taxing, and rumour mills into a spiral.

Clark, Burt and Arthur have all gone. To this were mixed emotions. Arthur’s departure is pretty much mostly delirium, though it still puzzles me exactly why he is as vilified as he was. To all intents he was a very nice guy, had good contacts and always operated in the clubs best interests. There was a reason Doughty trusted him so, and the al-Hasawis kept him on for a while. Keith Burt's dismissal is a little odder. I say odd, it’s clearly obvious the board want a new angle on scouting and recruitment and want to overhaul this. Burt was a Doughty appointment, essentially at Calderwood’s request, who wanted to concentrate more on the team and leave the signings to someone else. Burt basically has clung to his job for a long while considering. Davies was a constant enemy, and the fact he was retained suggests Doughty believe caution in the transfer market via an intermediary to make informed decisions on managers targets was required, as thus the much maligned transfer acquisition panel was born, with Burt being integral. Therefore for me it’s a surprise he was still here, never mind that he got removed.

The Frank Clark element is a little more unappetising, but to be fair his job was essentially a ceremonial one now. He has been removed from doing not very much. What is the sour taste is his complete removal from the club, after serving so well in many guises and his role in trying times. Perhaps they might have held on to him in some capacity.

Now comes the speculative parts. Why now? Why remove them all at all? What reasons, and where does the truth lie. More “facts” (we don’t know if true” are coming out. The latest being Arthur resigned on the back of the first two dismissals, Hence why his departure was much later in being announced, and the al-Hasawi’s have spun this to be his sacking. Perhaps also aware of his unpopularity amongst many fans.

The next step was for a number of supposed well informed journalists (Rob Dorsett from Sky mainly) blindly speculating about why and suggesting this is all bad news, based on nothing more than to presumably to try and create a story where there might not be. Immediate comparisons to the Venkys are extremely misguided. The Venkys at Blackburn have never been involved in the sport, the al-Hasawis have. The Venky’s were so unaware of the game, they didn’t know that relegation existed from the Premier League, and had no idea that Blackburn’s subsequent relegation and loss of incomes was possible. The al-Hasawi's have at least shown an awareness of the game. They have run admittedly Kuwaiti clubs, in the past but it’s still an awareness of the game.

Now, from what I have read, there have been question marks in the past with their very hands on approach at al-Qadsia. But it has been a successful club. The problem we have here is that the moment foreign owners start tinkering with club structures everyone gets very upset and starts questioning reasons. Why? Because think about it, every club is stuck firmly in the past. People say we are, but I don’t know a single club that doesn’t immediately point to its past glories. We all do. So for them to remove a club great immediately gets tagged as misunderstanding the English game and the clubs roots. They get tagged as trigger happy foreign owners.

If they were so trigger happy why were they all retained for so long? Most regime changes immediately overhaul the board level. It happened with Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester City. Man United at least retain the likes of Bobby Charlton in roles, but purely token ones. The old regime failed. Face it, what those three employees stood for was a failure to achieve what the al-Hasawis want. Premier League football. And so we evolve. And evolution is also a football fans worst enemy. There are many elements I could suggest. Fans clinging to old formations, and not liking change. Not liking a popular player essentially being usurped by a new better player being parachuted in. The hegemony of the big clubs being challenged. We immediately decry and almost ridicule the “new money” clubs of Chelsea and Manchester City “buying” success because we don’t like change.

Now whether Rob Dorsett has an agenda I don’t know. But he has curried a certain amount if dischord. As I say whether it is to create a story, or whether because some of the now removed people were personal friends or contacts. He already said he has not spoken to the clubs new owners who have turned down interviews. Agenda’s.

Now this is not a party political broadcast on behalf of the Hasawi’s. There are obvious questions that need asking. The main problem now is though we all imagining the worst. The completely hands on role, in as far as actually managing the club itself at Qadsia is a worry, it shows a slightly megalomaniacal approach. I can’t see them trying this, but there is a precedent. By the way these are things I have read in the past and can’t find the sources anymore, so therefore I can’t comment on the reliability of this.

The complete conjecture that the sackings signify that the al-Hasawi's are now on a power monger charge is ridiculous. But lets' see where we go from here. They obviosuly felt the time was right for a change and as such have acted in that regard.

Cotterill Gone..... And Probably Clark and Arthur

Well this is shaping up to be a very hectic few days, made all the harder by my home computer being out of action. So Cotterill is no longer the manager of Nottingham Forest. Which to be honest I remain indifferent to. On the one hand I don’t think he was bad and was never really given a chance, but on the other he never really excited me as a manager.

Yes he had a good record in the market, and bought us two cult legends in Elokobi and Guedioura. However, there were often strange selection choices and questionable post match interviews.

It also marks a huge moment in the new ownership. After a day or so and 2 days of pre season training and 4 days before the squad head to America, we are now rudderless. I expect a very quick appointment. I.e. they already have their man lined up and ready to move in to the role. I hope so anyway. I have no idea who that man may well be.

I have spoken at length about some of those options, and criticised some of those linked names. Now the likelihood of some of them increases (though in Redknapps case I doubt it.)What it immediately spells out to me is the new regime are not afraid to chop and change where they see fit, this partly worries me. I don’t want a chairman who always has his finger on the trigger, ready to sack a manager on any old whim. This doesn’t necessarily mean that, they perhaps do want a long term legacy, just not Steve Cotterill. So let’s see what happens there.

Cotterill was divisive figure amongst fans. Many disliked him, many supported him. He didn’t unite the fans like some and that always counted against him.
I am writing this in the immediate aftermath before any real news or gossip begins to emanate about replacements or the actual reasons why. There will be speculation. I have already seen that it’s the new bosses already buying in players above the manager’s head, needing essentially a yes man. Think Abramovic, but also think Venky’s.

A huge moment in this regimes fledgling tenure. I say tenure, it may be a dynasty. Who knows?

And now after I have written this and don’t want to edit it looks like, and somewhat expectedly Mark Arthur and Frank Clark are going to be also relieved of their duties. Wholesale changes appear to be going on today at the City Ground. Almost fees like a City Ground Night of the Long Knives.

No Bids

Recently I saw a few posts here and there on Twitter or Facebook from people bemoaning the lack of news coming from the club. Basically concerning once again that people the need for the board to be constantly telling us every facet of what is going on.

For quite a while I have constantly seen the anti Doughty brigade claiming that that when we cite that the man has saved us from going out of business that someone else would sweep in run us and save us from the big bad man Doughty, the evidence is now suggesting the exact opposite.

There has been no offer and no interest in taking us on, as most of us thought. The fact that some clubs have been taken over by foreign groups who splash the cash many fans wants the same thing. This short term vision as I have said very often is dangerous. Look at Portsmouth for evidence of that.

Coupled with the news as we discussed that there is no cash to spend, and then the usual gang have started vaguely perked up. Any chance to moan and all that. There was an amusing thread on LTLF that mocked this whole lets protest against something but we aren’t sure what mob. Cotterill has a hard January coming up. I hope he wins over the doubters who are starting to pipe up.

On Radio Nottingham they had the quotes from John Pelling, whereby they said indeed we have to free up wages to spend. And with Paul Taylors tweet today where he suggested many of the new players are on higher wages than the players who have been here for a while (and were successful) and they want parity, which you’d argue is fair enough, if it wasn't for the fact we can’t afford it. The likes of Derbyshire appear to taking up a portion of cash. And as has been suggested elsewhere maybe we should look to cheaper players lower down than signing Premier League Credential players.

So now the news is out that there are no offers, and no knight in shining armour is coming to invest billions in us, like many would claim would happen. Again, bravo to those who cited this as a good excuse to hound Doughty out. Especially when we have to sell before we can buy.

The Root Cause

Thinking a lot today on why and what caused a perfectly capable promotion contender for two years to simply fall away and look a shell of that team has occupied my mind today.

And it’s far too easy to merely point fingers at the usual suspects, the lack of investment, and the appointment of McClaren etc as being why this situation has arisen. There are deeper cause and consequence too for this.



Yes extra investment would have been nice and would no doubt have seen success. Hindsight as well all know is a wonderful thing, and there is no guarantee that had we bought in extra players that they would have been successful and we would have gone up. That’s a debate we have done before to death. So let’s leave that one there.

One aspect for me was the slight breaking up of the team of the last 2-3 years. Ok we have most of the players, but the likes of McKenna and Earnshaw may be more missed than what we realise. Most of the players who left in the summer were fringe players, and coupled with Billy’s departure it did feel like somewhat change in the squad dynamic.

When players came in since the glut of signings 2 years ago, it was one player drip fed in occasionally. Such as Tudgay, the core remained the same. This season feels like too much tried to change. The whole strike force changing, Cohen got shunted round the park before his injury (and his loss is proving to be huge to the team) McKenna as that focal lynch pin in the midfield is missing as Moussi simply isn't a clever enough footballer to play that role. McGugan is in this game for McGugan alone.



I always said the team of the last 2 years were over achieving. The likes of Morgan and Chamber are not as good as what they looked at times. Same with the flanks of the team. But it does seem that somehow that Billy Davies had them on a crest of a wave, and perhaps lucky to get a group of players who for a period were united and played above themselves. I do think though that had we tried to carry on that team though that that time had simply gone. It needed a change. But a gradual one.

Only 5players came in, 5 mostly well paid players, and couple with injuries had to rely on a team that were strangers to one another. Some of the players in are also confidence players (i.e. Matt Derbyshire) and Greening has been asked to do a McKenna role I am not sure he is comfortable with.

Greening is somewhat surprising as he has a fairly good pedigree and career yet here hasn’t really shown what has made this reputation. Why this is I cannot explain. Those who simply state he is crap aren’t looking at a bigger picture. Players do not simply turn crap like that. Something must be wrong.

Moussi it seems is floundering and only Davies knew how to wield this most frustrating of weapons in our arsenal. Sublime and ridiculous within seconds, those good moments are far less frequent, and when Moussi messes up he messes up big time.

Chambers seems to have reverted to his old form. Lynch though has simply looked better than him, but Gunter, now Anderson and McCleary could be back should replace him at right back, captain or no captain.

And now Cotterill has said he will wheel and deal in January. This is a time perhaps to move out some of the players simply not clicking. I think Billy's players don't work well without him. We need Cohen to be temporarily replaced at least; the loan market would be good to look at. Surely Arsenal have a kid who could benefit from 6 months with us.

It is ironic here, I wrote at the start that changes caused this, and now I call for changes. However, this period of time seems to illustrate that change is needed. In the summer the first team players were all Billy's players, and perhaps there is a schism in the camp, and that many of those players, whose contracts are coming up no longer identify with the same team that we had before. We all know from any job there is a period of time when things click and everything feels great, and then something or some changes and it no longer feels the same. That is all I think that is happening. And it needs addressing. Maybe some people are starting to stagnate. Maybe we need a fresh flow into the squad. Hungry players. Eager to prove.

Who knows to be honest? If anyone did we wouldn’t be in this situation.

Will Forest Have To Sell in January?

The dour financial news that was reported by Frank Clark and with the news Nigel Doughty is no longer bank rolling the club to the degree he has had begs the question whether or not in January we may be forced to sell in order to finance any new deals.

For instance, Lewis McGugan would be a prime contender. Would it be worth selling one man to finance a move for 3-4 improvements elsewhere? It is easy to argue so. However should we continue on the upward curve we are currently on we may well start to look like promotion contenders.



So in essence the question which player should we potentially let go if the need should arise. Certainly McGugan is the one that would bring in the sizeable fee necessary. Though the likes of Camp or Gunter would also be prime candidates for topflight moves for good money.

Not that I am condoning selling any of these players. In fact far from it, but the question is what if we had to? That’s certainly part of the equation of how our season will unfurl.

There is something else to fathom in as well. There will be a number of players contracts will be up in June, whose I am not sure. However, since do have dour financial concerns, can we afford not to agree a deal to get some kind of fee rather than let a player go for free like we did for Kelvin Wilson.

The Kelvin Wilson saga is a perfect example of missed chances to make some money. The guy barely got in the squad and though they cited that he was injured, it did have the feeling of treating the player with spite for having the temerity to sign for another club.

That is not a good option for us. We need to get money in help fund potential replacements. Yes, Doughty has said he will honour all existing contracts, but similarly many of the players we have signed will not likely agree new cut price deals. So therefore should we cash in? And sell vital players?

Well we did this before and it was a catalyst for a batch of youngsters to take us to the brink of promotion. Many players like Bart-Williams and Rogers were shipped out and we had to fast track youngsters to the first team. Admittedly a golden crop of youngsters, but all the same the circumstances of the time meant necessity.

We would all like to hold on to all our best players. And with them go on and succeed. But do we cash in on success whilst potentially losing fees? We could become like Watford have been. Selling players, but bringing in players on loan and signing up and coming players. We have been blessed for awhile in that we haven't had to sell any top players.

In essence I warn fans to expect to see maybe one big departure to finance potential incomings, especially after a change of manager. Fans won't be happy but that’s the state we are in. Fans demanded Doughty out, well the reality is without him we will be a selling club, and I hope that is what you wanted? His bankrolling and keeping the club on an even keel will end, and although he is lurking in the shadows and maintaining current contracts, there will have be a sense of financial self-control and if offers come in we will have to think long and hard about whether it is best for the club in the long term.

Cotterill Takes Charge

Steve Cotterill had his customary introductory press conference today, flanked by new chairman Frank Clark. The usual array of questions with the frankly usual array of answers took place, these press conferences really are rather pointless all told. Everyone asks what are your plans and the new incumbent mentions getting the club back to its best, make a remark about how Clough was the greatest and move on to more cagey answers about more direct particulars.

I'm not saying all of this has no point, sometimes it's just nice to hear how they say things will be or mention previous errors, but we've heard practically exactly the same from Kinnear, Megson et al before. Well I say Kinnear, he was of course the man trying to distance the clubs past, which so backfired that every manager now is clearly told express the clubs past as a bonus.

I do admit this would not have been my first choice as manager. I am hoping to be proved wrong. And as I read more and saw somethings fans had said from other clubs that I am filled with a little more hope. Most of them seem to be somewhat complimentary. Cheltenham fans of course are the most complementary. He did take them from obscurity to the league

County fans by and large seem to be, though many are also seemingly quite bitter that he dumped them. Portsmouth fans also seem complimentary, They recognise the hard job he inherited and the work he did in rejuvenating a tea at a lower ebb than probably thought possible before.

Going back to the press conference though, Frank Clark did say something that was attention grabbing. There is no money. We all suspected this, it's been confirmed. But then this is the current world we live in. So to tighten the purse strings is vital. Many fans won't like it, but then, unless they happen to win Euro Millions its a rather pointless argument.

Cotterill will also ban players using Facebook and Twitter. Apparently he does this at all clubs and this isn't just a reaction to Ishmael Millers angry tweets at the weekend. Somewhat misguided, but then frustration often gets the better, and I for one applaud his passion if nothing else.

We start yet another new era at Forest. Let's see how this one goes.

Incidentally,it's also interesting there's people kicking off already about a new manager. Before he's even really took his first training session. Laughable. Laughable.