Departure of Lynch and Chambers

So Chambers has gone and Lynch looks to be joining him, is this such a bad thing?

Well yes and no. On the hand you like a stable defence that knows each other. A team’s success depends on its back 4 being stable and resolute. Teams who have failed have invariably been down o a defence that is chopped and changed. Arsenals weak points in the season came when the defence wasn’t stable. Manchester United failings came when it was tinkered with. Chelsea’s season nearly was disastrous as the defence was in flux. Manchester City, well they usually kept to a solid defence, and only struggled when that was in disarray. So you live and die by your defence.

That said it may be time to form new partnerships and a new team. OK Chambers flattered to deceive a lot, but Lynch mostly had a solid season after a couple of years of being deployed at Left back, finally het got his chance in the middle, and grasped it. Our season settled when the defence settled. Gunter, Chambers, Lynch and Cunningham. Now we have one of those. On the hand this gives an excellent opportunity for Lascelles to stake his claim for the team.

It is also a chance to bring in quality defenders. Chambers needed to move on in my opinion, after being installed as captain and having a shaky season; it was always going to be difficult to retain that status quo. More so after his attack on the fans. Chambers had a mixed history with Forest, with many fans never really forgetting his haphazard early displays. Cunningham was a difficult example, settling into a strange struggling team as a young left back was always going to be a struggle. He eventually settled but you don’t need eventually, you need immediately.

So a chance with new funding to form a new back 4 may well work out. I’d argue we need an experience head back there for sure, and Danny Higginbotham would be a great example or even Clint Hill, however I fear their wages may be too high even with the potential new funds. Lascelles would need an old head next to him. Like Walker with Dawson, and Breckin with Morgan, an old fashioned aerial centre half. Lascelles can have the pace. Someone like, but obviously not Chris Morgan. Physical. Determined. Uncompromising.

Left back spot just needs filling permanently, no stop gaps. Just someone whose job that is. Freeman can cover if and when needed for odd games; increase his match time in the Championship after lower league learning curves. Elokobi would be perfect, he has experience at this level, now knows the club and the fans took to him well. He would be popular

A Weeks a Long Time in Football

Just a week ago we were on the crest of a magnificent Garibaldi coloured wave. A wave that had washed over Birmingham and Coventry. A wave that has now needed. Even on Saturday things seemed somewhat rosier.

Then came Tuesday.

After a somewhat fortunate at times draw v Barnsley, as they did lay siege to our goal in the second half which lead a charmed life for so long, we felt confident. That was a game we would have capitulated in 1-2monhts ago.

And then for such a miserable timid performance like what we played for Doncaster is not just frustrating but damned criminal. One wonders if we went out there with our minds made up we would win. Or whether the tinkering of Cotterill affected us.

Some tinkering was enforced. How two injuries come about in a warm up somewhat worries and shocks me. Tudgay pulling up pre match brought in Findley, and we will return in detail later about Findley and the post match comments from Cotterill, but Findley was not Tudgays equal in quality.

Reid had been surprisingly "rested" which saw Gunter move to right wing and Wooton to centre half to allow for Chambers return. Again players in positions that aren't natural when there is natural alternative. It frustrates me no end. Gunter is a marauding full back true, but he is that, a full back. Spurs may have had success with Bale moving up the flank, but Gunter is not Bale.

Donny may be struggling but they had dangerous players, Diouf well know, and Piquionne has topflight experience, as does Chimbonda, and Giles Barnes was very highly rated as a youngster, so they aren’t push over’s. They also are players who when the goings bad you don't want on your team, problem is the going was good for Donny. And Diouf is not a man to give time and space.

And that something our defence and midfield seem to enjoy giving the opposition. Space and time. Space and time for Piquionne to get into, pick a spot, shoot, and the ball move about a bit away from that spot and bamboozle Camp, who seemed to pull some 1950s dance move with hands waving about as he flapped at a ball that had moved course from where he was. It can hardly be a surprise, the modern ball does this, and Camp should have done better, but additionally, the space and time should not have been afforded for this chance to even have existed.

And that was right on halftime. Was the team already on half time mode, seeing out time for the end of the half? Who knows? One thing for certain their heads must have still been in the dressing room as we started the second half as Doncaster then scored a second. Diouf allowed turning and crossing and the ball allowed to bounce twice without a defender dealing with it before being put away. Absolutely criminal defending. And Luke Chambers wondered why we booed before? Well Luke if you decide to put in half hearted pathetic attempts to clear balls and don’t do your job, people will get upset.

We pulled one back but it was more than we deserved. We barely ever looked like causing danger. Robbie Findley with an immensely frustrating night of miss control and poor passing. Moussi had one of his schizophrenic performances where he does something good followed by something so abject that even school children would be embarrassed.

Donny of course could have more. Should have had more. The long range effort that was tipped on to the post. Scary that we were so bad.

Dexter’s goal, well it was scrappy. It was a false dawn too. It gave us that hope, but even the changes failed to improve us. McGugan came on and did nothing. As usual. The lack of attacking options on the bench restricted us massively and it showed having to leave an ineffectual striker in Findley on.

And back to Findley, Cotterill's strange almost Megsonesque comments at the end about alluding to dressing room issues but not mentioning specifically what, was odd. If you’re going to say there were dressing room issues mention them or don; mention them at all. Don't allude to it to have fans gossiping, and then just try and cover it up and leave it. If you’re going to mention it, then don't leave it hanging in the air Steve, that’s what creates issues and disarray.

All in all very very frustrating. The tactics were wrong; we just tried humping it up, which limited us. Findley can’t control them. We should have started with Reid. It doesn't help to see McGugan sulking that he didn’t get to take a free kick. There are team orders Lewis, obey. Although not back in the relegation zone, it brings those doubts back, whereas we should be putting daylight between us and the drop zone.

Weekly Forest Transfer Rumours Update

As we career towards the transfer window I thought it'd be good to catch up on some of the crackpot rumours doing the rounds on the net, before looking at the more sensible rumours

Ins


One rumour has linked Kevin Phillips, the veteran striker playing for Blackpool. Phillips is on a one year deal at Blackpool, half way through. Phillips has had a great record and the rumour suggested that Cotterill see's him as the perfect foil for Blackstock. He would also largely be cheap.
Personally I simply can't see it happening. You never do know in football.


Kris Boyd has recently been released by Eskişehirspor in Turkey. Therefore he is of course free. That save for of course for his sizeable wage demands. He was on £40k in Turkey and even if he took a fraction of that we'd be unable to afford such wages, especially in these austere times.

Chris Riggott has also been linked in a valiant attempt to link us with any central defender who happens to be not nailed down, the player just released from Derby is on a free and looking for a deal. He has been linked on a couple of forums, and although it on papers looks good because he had a track record of top football, his career is blighted by injury, and frankly there’s a reason Derby released him.



Outs


Luke Chambers being linked left right and centre. He has a contract expiring, and the club may well seek to cash in on him whilst we can and avoid a Kelvin Wilson situation. Ironically therefore Celtic is one of the clubs being linked with him. I can’t see him going to a club like them, but I could see someone like West Brom being linked.

Chris Gunter and West Brom is a rumour I see also. But I think this is more of a case of people looking at players who could get a good fee and would have moderately high wages.


Matt Derbyshire, undoubtedly one of the bigger earners Paul Taylor referenced when saying new players not performing are on high wages. There are a number of Championship clubs being connected with him, and even a slightly odd rumour linking Blackburn with a move for a player they once had.


More rumours as they appears in the next few days.

As I say though, these are just rumours and may or may not hold very little truth.

Luke Chambers Ill Fated Captaincy

Maybe it’s a tad premature but I feel an early need to stress my opinion on Luke Chambers and his new role as captain.

To put it bluntly, Chambo is not the man to lead this club.

Don’t get me wrong, Chambers is one of my favourite players. He’s been a great servant to the club, has a great relationship with the fans and is one of the best CB’s in the league.

However, that mix doesn’t mean you’re going to be a good captain – David Johnson had a similar mix albeit him being a striker.

I’ll hold my hands up and admit I was one championing Chambers for the captaincy earlier on in the summer. Having Camp as captain just wasn’t ever right for me – although GK captain’s never really inspire me anyways.

I also felt everything was falling nicely into place for Chambers. With his previous captaincy experience at Northampton and his player of the year win; with McKenna departing it just seemed a natural move.

At this moment in time, I think we’ve made a bad choice.

The team has a significant lack of organisation about it under Chambers leadership. At first I thought it was linked to McClaren, however when analysing the games; Chambers stays tight lipped – almost Breckin like – ahead of a set piece. He’s more focused on himself than the rest of the team and worst still is he’s not even talking to defensive partner, Wes Morgan.

A lack of organisation is resulting in players going for the same ball and not picking up key men. I suppose it’s obvious why we’re struggling so badly with set pieces this season.

If Chambers does try to command the team, it’s almost as if none of the other players are interested in what he’s saying. I think Chambers getting the armband may have got certain individuals backs up, one being Lee Camp who looks disheartened these days. Camp always used to be leading and organising the backline. It’s almost as if now he’s taken a backseat. Why should he organise the defence when the skipper is a defender?

We all know the key to winning people back is to inspire them and sadly Chambers isn’t as his performances have been nothing short of poor up to now.

It’s bitterly disappointing as I thought he’d be a great leader but maybe the armband is proving to be a burden.

Maybe it’s a credit to Paul Mckenna in not realising what you have until it has gone – just like his legs had.

Fortunately for Luke, he has time on his side and the season is still early doors.

We’ll see how the coming weeks unfold.

Follow me on twitter @benando_torres

Luke Chambers - Captain

Congratulation to Luke Chambers on being awarded the Forest captaincy for the season. It is more than deserved following last season.

It harks me back to the season before last when Chambers was interviewed following a run in the team and asked of his aims and he said captain.everyone laughed at the time but hey he has turned us all round. Well Done Luke.

Debate had raged over whether him or Greening would take the armband, but it seems the stalwart has beaten the veteran

Luke Chambers for Captain?

That's what you have voted for. Following Paul McKenna's departure we had a poll for who you wanted to see as new captain, and you have voted Luke Chambers.

He took 42% of the vote,with Lee Camp second with 21% and Wes Morgan third with 15%.

Chambers captained Northampton briefly there before signing for Forest and last season mentioned he would welcome the captaincy, and who is to argue after the season he had.

Forest 24-7 Player of the Season Award

Thank you everyone for voting in the player of the season poll. The results are now in.

Luke Chambers won by quite some distance, He took 55% of the vote,beating Lewis McGugan into second with 13% and Lee Camp in third with 11%.

This mirrors the club award of Chambers winning player of the season after successfully firstly filling in for Kelvin Wilson before finally making the position his own. Chambers won over a large number of sceptical fans who had previously thought him not capable of stepping up.

Congratulations Luke, who is surely a contender for club captain should McKenna not be at the club next year.

Forest Player Exit Rumours

Usually we always deal with a vast number of incoming player rumours. Well this time due to a stuttering promotion bid it's our own players being linked with other clubs, and quite a number of them this week to round up and evaluate how likely many of these seem.


Chris Gunter
The Welsh right back is being linked with soon to be promoted QPR as they look to bolster their ranks for the Premiership. And most rumours link them with the cream of the Championship. I think it could be likely to see QPR go for Gunts. He is still young and therefore would be a good investment, I could see him jumping at the chance of Premiership football if offered. If Forest accept such an offer remains to be seen. Every player has his price and all that.


Lewis McGugan
Similarly QPR are being linked with McGugan which is a rumour that also appeared back in January, that didn't have much in it at the time. If Taarabt does leave QPR(a host of top top clubs are linked)then McGugan would be a like for like replacement, though not as good, and with more questions about attitude. McGugan would undoubtedly jump at the offer of Premiership football. Remember before he broke though here he was touting himself to Chelsea apparently


Lee Camp
Obviously a player on top form will get linked, and the season Camp has had its no surprise that Premiership clubs would be sniffing round the new Northern Ireland no.1. Aston Villa are the club being mentioned, Friedel being in the last years of his career is apparently out of contract and Villa are looking to replace the American with Camp. Camp is undoubtedly the one player we would miss more than most, top goalkeepers such as him are few and far between at this level. I'm not sure if Camp would agitate for a move, but a club like Villa could certainly triple his wages easily.


Guy Moussi
Moussi is out of contract this summer,and what with where we will be next season still unknown it seems we are leaving negotiations late. Following his excellent season a few Premiership clubs are sitting up and taking note of this situation. Stoke, Wigan and Everton are the ones being mentioned, and considering he would be on a free it would be relatively risk free. Whether he'd want to go and sit on a Premiership bench for most of the season, as he would, is unclear. He would be a loss for free though.


Luke Chambers
Wolves were being mentioned at looking at Chambers a few weeks ago. Wolves being embroiled in a fight for their top flight status though put's this move in the 'unsure' pile. Baring in mind if relegated they'd have more money than most due to Parachute Payments, they might look at Chambers has a proven Championship defender to help their promotion bid. I can't see them risking him as a buy in the Premiership, but they do persist with Richard Stearman,so who knows.