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.

Boro Defeat Ramps Up Pressure on Barnsley match

What was a run of mill league game on Saturday has a whole new load of pressure now. Following on from 2 defeats, W9which ironically as it follows our longest run undefeated of the season, now leads into our longest run with a win this season) means that the game has a new must win status.


For if we fail to win, and additionally everyone else picks up points our season would effectively be over. Should we win then we might find ourselves thrust back into the top 6 with everyone still on. The top of table is still that open.

The Middlesbrough defeat is frustrating for me because we are limping now. Boro have been in awful form in 2013 and had only won once since the turn of the year. Naturally they remember how to play versus us. But I identified this much on the forum saying this precisely the type of game we don’t want.

That crest of a wave we were on is now a wave that has broken. Now we risk drowning in our season and hopes. The Cardiff defeat always looked on. To be honest what we saw as triumphant late draws which symbolised that we just won’t be defeated were actual signs of the beginning of a down turn in form. Because we had been on that rich vein of form previously we didn’t see it like that, we were extending our great run, rather than embarking on what was the run of games without a win. The trouble is this seems to have been a change we didn’t notice.

As I said previously following the Cardiff defeat the international break was awful timing. I said it at the time of the break too, but [people shouted me down as being wrong. We were in fact going to be even better after a break. I couldn’t see the logic then, and now I laugh at it. “We will better after the rest, all the players invigorated” I was told. Well frankly why does that makes us more inclined to win? We weren’t the only team without a game; the whole division had the same so EVERYONE had a break. People couldn’t see this. They get so blinkered by Forest they only see the benefit to us. We will be rested, they will be rusty. Such theory is bonkers. As is the fact that people couldn’t see it breaking momentum.

The Middlesbrough game was the wrong match at the wrong time. We needed an easy home game (this Barnsley match) following the first defeat for Davies. But with a tricky away game, and question marks sneaking in came back to back wins. Now the challenge is to reinvigorate that morale. The players need picking up. If we don’t beat Barnsley, I don’t care about the point’s connotations, the morale will be spent. The players will have been defeated in mind and body. Should we win that game then the boost could carry us back up there. Even if we win and still remain outside the playoffs it would hopefully have gee'd us up to a point whereby we keep ourselves in with a chance going into that Leicester game.

I’ve said it, other bloggers have said, people on Twitter said it. To be where we were at the time was a victory itself, never mind had we made it by the last game. We really have no right to be in with a shout considering where we were, but lo and behold we made it to 5th. That said if we had no right, then Bolton are riding all their luck being in the top few as they were even further behind. Did we peak too soon? Possibly, but then the run of fixtures in late March early April would always be hard to maintain momentum over. Playing a number of teams chasing the dream was always a hard prospect. And so it proved. So I wouldn’t say we peaked too early, you can only do what you can against what’s put in front of you. It happened to be a run of out of sort’s teams, and teams struggling.

Considering our remaining away game is against Millwall whose season now they lost in the FA Cup semi final is over they have nothing to play for. Those teams can be dangerous. Playing with the shackles off, it is simply for fun. Bu tit can go the other way, how do you motivate players who had a Wembley performance recently and had the biggest game of their season at their feet and messed it up and have nothing else to play for? It is eminently winnable. And so we should. But it remains as I say tricky. Leicester have hard games so would easily slip up, and both Palace and Brighton are playing teams struggling against relegation. Those are notoriously hard games you want to avoid. Bolton’s looks the best run in, they play Cardiff who might well be in party mode and Middlesbrough and Blackpool who by then will have nothing to play for.

Last week I’d have said don’t look at other teams, we have fate in our hands, now we don’t, but we still just have to win our games and hope for the best. Remember when went up from League One? That was completely against the odds.

A Week Indicative of Forests Season

After the highs of the 7 points in 7 days of last week that we celebrated so highly on this blog and the forum attached to ourselves maybe we were always setting ourselves up for a fall.

The Millwall game on Saturday was nothing short of a disaster result wise. To concede 4 at home to a team that isn’t really a fore runner in the division could be seen as painful. To those who never saw the game especially. It always seems the way that this happens when we have a reduced admission price match and it was a Kids for a Quid game, so there we go. 

However it overlooks the game did nearly tip the other way and could have easily seen us equalise when at 2-1 to Millwall. Indeed the third goal was a direct result of us pushing hard for that second goal and left ourselves open. Goal 4 was merely our heads had gone and made it easy to pick ourselves off.

This does not suggest we were the equal of Millwall on the day. They were the better side, but they weren’t that far better than us. We struggle against physical teams and we struggled against a Millwall team who were set up expertly by the ever wily Kenny Jackett. Darius Henderson and his ilk always case us trouble, and Millwall always seem to have this type of approach. Steve Morison made life difficult for us in the past, and so too did Darius, as he always did for Sheffield United.

When Billy Sharp equalised it looked likely that we might well go on and take Millwall, until the second half settled down. Millwall had taken a very good lead with a well taken goal, but as has been the case for many a year under many a manager we seemed unable to close them down and gave Trotter too much space to give Millwall the early lead.

Had we maybe took the momentum we had before half time into the second half this may have been a different game? Millwall came out the better of the two sides and made us pay with well taken goals and a superior match set up. But before the break we looked good. Looked like we’d taken the game by the scruff of the neck.

They stopped us playing our normal game and closed us down further up the field. Instead like many other teams who have allowed us space in our half, and to pass around defence and up through the midfield. Millwall never allowed that and forced us to start playing longer balls. By closing down the midfield and not letting us play through Gillett, it meant that Ward and Collins launched balls up toward Cohen. Cohen many a time didn’t win possession. This then led to Millwall gaining possession and then attacking us. This is where we essentially lost the game. Plan B wasn’t really a plan. Plan B was a panic. Plan B was a default. Plan A which had been the usual slow build up through the pitch failed. It shows shortcomings in our team. It shows a lack of complexity in our play to look for further options other than the good old default which we tried under Cotterill last year. That default which was for Morgan or Chambers to hump it long. And which saw us struggle.

So Tuesday night against Middlesbrough was a different animal but also had it’s frustrations. Make no mistake Middlesbrough are a very good team. They are one the better sides in the division and are able to play a good game. They are also on flying away form and riding high. This is a game last year we'd have had no expectation out of. This year we are looking at maybe being able to take these teams. Indicative of the improved expectations and the improved team. O’Driscoll spoke pre-match of them being our benchmark, the team we need to look to be.

And yet we equalled if not bettered Boro. We had the chances to win, and admittedly so did Boro. It was one of those games that were so equally poised it could easily have gone either way. Sharp hitting the post though was as close as we came. 

The frustration though came from the fact that we took so long to try and change the side. Now maybe this shows a confidence from O'Driscoll that we would come good and get the goal. The XI that was on the field would come good and produce what was required, and they nearly did.

But to those of us in the stands it was frustrating because we made to thin what if? What had we made earlier changes; could they have got us the win? Had Lansbury been introduced for Reid and Guedioura, who was again below the very high standards he set last season been removed for McGugan had it been different. Well that’s the beauty of football, what could have been. But it did seem obvious to us that something had to give with the team. We need a variation to maybe see if they could give us something different, rather than give the 3 subs we did bring on 2 mins of normal time. Maybe introducing on 70 mins or so? Well as I say who knows, and in the grand scheme of things this wasn’t a bad result all told.

Had we won v Millwall we would easily have taken the Boro result. But the average Forest fan has a new sense of belief that we can do things we couldn’t before. The type of fan turning up for one game here or there that we get more of now get vocal with their displeasure that the one game they have chosen is not the game that we won. That’s an annoyance. People booed after drawing against a table topping team. That’s ridiculous. That is frustrating. Fans moaning at perfectly acceptable results. Yes booing after losing 4-1 at home to Millwall, that’s different. But as I tweeted post game the fans getting on the backs of the team during the game is really not helpful.

The new players have spoken about how the fans have helped and how they have been supportive. Well now they have this new element of fans that are quick to vocalise their unhappiness. Again this is football, and it’s an increasing facet at many clubs. The likes of blogs and forums that proliferated over the years have shown us that having a voice isn’t just the loudest fan on the terrace but anyone who wants to put views out there. But these come after the game. Tweets are largely read after the game. To start this during the game with catcalls from the crowd merely detract.

So all in all the week has shown a number of things and the title of the blog so far maybe doesn’t reflect the rest of what I have written. Where that comes in is that there is a certain amount of how this has shown where we are at. We are nearly there. And this week has shown that this is indicative of the season. Just after we do so well and get ourselves to the brink of joining the top teams, we have a slip; we pull up short and sit behind them. We are a work in progress so these games will happen, these results will occur. And it will be ironed out. As we progress more and more we will turn defeats to draws, draws to wins, and wins to routs. But for now it’s been a show of the season that each time we stand on that brink to get to the top, we fail. And that’s exactly where we are at. Nearly there, but not quite, not consistent enough, not quite good enough. But nearly there.

Post Middlesbrough Podcast

The podcast recorded after the Middlesbrough game is now available for you to listen to.

It is embedded below ready to play

Forest 24-7 Post Middlesbrough Podcast by Forest24-7

What a Difference

To be honest I was worried approaching today's game. A manager who has had a mixed reception upon his appointment, in a team playing badly. Coupled with the fact I had been led to believe Cotterill was a long ball merchant, I thought this could be ugly. I wasn't against Cotterill, more just that those who were would immediately have ammunition

But on the other hand, Middlesbrough always seems to be bad and poor whenever I see them. And that they were. On one hand because they didn't seem at the races today, but also that we didn't allow them to be in the game.

Make no mistake this was a Forest team who looked assured and dangerous whenever moving forward. Defensively we looked secure. The midfield too didn't let to side down and McGugan and Majewski looked majestic. Camp...Well he didn't have much to do, especially in the first 45 minutes.

We had a straight 4-4-2, with Chambers at right back and Gunter on the right wing, Majewski was on the left, with everyone else in their normal positions.



Our first goal was beautiful. A team goal sweeping forward, with Gunter squaring it for Tudgay to net. Many had questioned Tudgays selection. Like many players tonight he showed why he was chosen. Not just for his goal but his all round performance.

Miller for me, although sometimes selfish, always looked hungry. And further more looked dangerous. McGugan was back to where he was last year, even shooting from long range with free kicks. Majewski's little close footwork looked assured.

Gunter chosen as a right winger was a good choice there. His natural attacking instinct was used well, and he covered his full back well. At times Majewski didn't with Hill, but that is a very very minor gripe. The whole team had their mojo back.

Middlesbrough offered nothing at all in the first half. They started the second a little better, with a free kick that resulted in a close header at the back post. That was their best chance.

We finished the match off in a very good period, where Miller, Majewski and McGugan often got forward and looked lethal. McGugan netted with a usual goal, jinking on the edge of the area, before finishing into the corner with his usual aplomb. No more than we deserved.

I hoped we might kick on to get 3 or 4. But then I am greedy. A first home win will definitely suffice. Miller did seem to go off with some kind of strain later on. Can't be too bad as he was on the pitch with the players at the end rather than getting treatment.

My main moan today was the poor treatment Greening got when coming on, jeering your own players introduction, and then ironically cheering and clapping every pass he makes is neither big or clever. It's ridiculous.

All in all a day to restore faith in the Forest team. Long may it continue.

Adebola saves Forest's bacon with late goal at Boro

If you had asked any Forest fan pre-game what outcome they’d have predicted last night, the majority would have said a win, what with Boro's league position and all. Sadly that wasn’t to be but when Dele Adebola hit an injury time equaliser, it really did feel as if we had won the game as we moved a precious point closer to Swansea and Cardiff.

It must be said, Forest was very poor on the night – it was like being back at one of our away days towards the back end of last season.

Davies handed starts to Earnie and McCleary – something I had called for post Milwall as they really made the difference. Out went Raddy, Anderson and the away day 4-5-1 as the team lined up as follows:

Camp

Gunter—Morgan—Chambo—Lynch

McCleary—McKenna—Cohen—McGugan

Earnshaw—McGoldrick

As with Milwall on Saturday, the first chance of the game fell to the opposition. Julio Arca thumped the ball right at Lee Camp who could only parry it. Chambers duly cleared the ball but only as far as Barry Robson, who smashed it back at Camp this time allowing him to make a comfortable save.

Forest’s main chances in the first half fell to Earnie, McGoldrick and Chambers.

First up Earnshaw. Earnie managed to turn his marker and hit a weak shot straight at Luke Steel after controlling a cross from McGoldrick’s on the right – it may have gone in had Earnie been playing at his best.

Shortly after McGoldrick picked the ball up on the right and weaved through three Boro players before hitting a poor shot right across Luke Steele.

Chambers also had a volley from a Cohen free kick that came to no avail.

Boro were advancing with purpose and the more the half progressed, the more it looked like they would score first.

The biggest thing for Forest in this half though was the injury to Joel Lynch that ended up forcing him off. I don’t half feel sorry for the lad as he was getting better with every game and was slowly winning some fans over. A big chance for Maloney to shine - which he sadly did not do.

Our injury list is getting bigger with every game as Lynch is now added to a list consisting of Dexter, Moussi, Findley, Wilson, Tyson and Konchesky – rumour has it the latter will be back for Hull on Saturday. If you throw a couple more names on that list, you will have a decent Forest XI.

At half time, the scores were 0-0.

In the second half, Boro continued looking the more likely to break the deadlock.

After 47 minutes, McDonald hit a free kick from 25 yards that went curling towards Lee Camp's bottom left corner - luckily he managed to get a hand onto it and push it away.

Boro broke the deadlock moments later. Now I blamed McGugan for this goal as he was simply poor in the build up to it.

Maloney had advanced up the field to play a simple pass to McGugan, who lost it immediately to Lita. Instead of chasing back for it with Maloney out of position, he merely jogged giving Lita a chance to play in an advancing Barry Robson on the right wing. Robson put in a ball across the goal which Julio Arca flicked into the path of Scott McDonald to smash it home. It was woeful from McGugan and typified his poor performance.

When the hour mark came, off went McGugan and on came Ando to add some new ideas to the fledging Forest front line.

The heads had dipped though and Boro continued to search for that second goal to put this game to bed. Camp pulled off a marvellous save from an Andrew Taylor shot that was flying into the top corner.

With time running out and still few Forest chances being created, Dele Adebola was brought on for McGoldrick to offer that bit of something in the air in the hope it’ll lead to something.

Yet Boro continued to dominate and Taylor tested Camp again with another thumping effort after Lita had held it up.

Forest pushed on and Adebola and Earnshaw were involved in a desperate goalmouth scrap that Luke Steele eventually managed to scoop up and hold onto.

Then came a huge penalty shout, when it looked as if Arca had handled a Gunter cross from the left. The referee waved away the protests much to the disbelief of the Forest players and fans.

It looked as if that was it. An ineffective performance where Forest slip up again with little going in our favour.

As the board for injury time went up, Forest pumped as many long balls forward as they could in the sheer desperation to get a goal.

In the 92^nd minute with the ball up in the air, Chris Cohen managed to get his head on the ball and get it over into the path of Dele Adebola. It had beat most the Boro defence playing the offside trap and Dele was in. Dele scuffed his shot, but it went over Steele and into the net to snatch a late and vital point for Forest.

As with the Barnsley game earlier on New Year’s Day, I left the game in shock that we’d managed to get something from the game. It weren't half a scrappy point but I guess they all count and no matter what the result was last night, we'd have lost no ground on the teams around us in the play offs.

The only concern is that with injuries mounting and a tough run in coming up, I’d like to think the few back up players in our squad will grasp every opportunity they have to establish a place in time for the Play offs. It worries me that the likes of McCleary come on as a sub in a game, impress, start the next match and then flop. They need to give it their all not just for the clubs benefit but for theirs as well. The defence also needs to knit together with these injuries and really push to stopping leaking in the needless goals.

That said even if we don’t do too well in the next 3 matches against Hull, Sheff Utd and Swansea, I guess when we got promoted from league 1 the 6 wins out of our last 7 games were enough to secure it. If we do that again and if lady luck is prepared to help us out, it'd be typical Forest earning promotion the hard way.

By the time we play Leeds on 2^nd April, touchwood most of our squad will be back and fully fit – and no more injuries will have sufficed too - allowing us to have a strong squad in time for the last run in.

Hold onto your hats Forest fans.