A Win, A Loss and a Draw

I’ve been somewhat lazy on the updating here lately, mixture of being more bust despite having more time and after some poor results a general indifference to bringing myself to discuss.

But when you consider the past month or so you have to think it doesn’t look too great. Drawing against Reading, and drawing against Millwall when it felt like we should have done more were rather frustrating, and even the win against Wednesday was rather underwhelming.

Reading was a game that was there for the taking, and the defeat felt like scant reward for the game. Cox though getting another goal is nice to see that the strikers are finally scoring. But that said we shouldn’t be losing. The defending didn’t feel great at times.

It feels so long ago I can barely remember the game against Reading but quickly re reading the m reports remind that we lost it in the first 20 minutes. So costly and not the first time we have looked awful in the first half and had to make changes to bring it back. At least Davies accepts he got wrong, but he’s getting wrong a lot more than he used to.

Cox and Henderson getting us back in the game felt like there would only be one winner and when Mackie hit the wood work it looked like it was going to happen, but Forest are Forest and we went down to Reading late on and it felt like a sucker punch but not completely unexpected.

The Millwall  game, well Millwall is always as a hard place to go so appoint is never to be sniffed at, but in reality we really needed to be getting back to form. We failed, but did come from behind twice and get the point, with Reid and Chalobah getting the goals. I didn’t see much or hear it as I was at a prior engagement that night, but I wasn’t totally displeased at losing.

The Wednesday game was one of the most forgettable games I think I have seen. It just wasn’t very entertaining at all, BUT it was a win. And right now we’d take that win. We were thoroughly entertained by the Reading game so a win means boredom and general mediocre football.

Cox scored again, so he is starting to show good form. Harding continues to look shaky at fullback, but as I say, it’s a win that keeps us in the top 6, and that’s where we need to be. There are fans of course still unhappy, and the form we have shown has been shaky. Had we had good form we could easily be challenging the top 2.

So all in all a mixed bag completely and utterly. You couldn’t to be honest get a more varied set, and the different games, but it perfectly sums up this season in a nice microcosm. Varied.  With positives, and glaring inadequacies, usually in defence.

Back On?

Ok we have to rely on a number of factors that you wouldn’t wish on your own team to happen to Palace or Bolton, whereby they go do a Forest style melt down and try their hardest to avoid promotion. It can happen, we’ve all seen the way the top of the table have tripped over this year, but it’s still more unlikely than seeing as pinch berth number in the play offs. That said, automatic promotion from League One 5 years ago seemed more unlikely.


You can’t help but notice the missed opportunity that is this season and this last month, the manager of the month curse really striking home hard on Billy, and how much we could come to rue those hit posts versus Barnsley a couple of weeks ago.

But following our first win in an age, we suddenly could make it again. I stress could. I still think it unlikely, and it means we can play a fairly reckless game against Leicester whereby it’s not in our hands so let’s just go and play a wildly entertaining game rather than making sure we don’t lose. After all, we do potentially need goals too depending on the various outcomes (Tonight with Palace playing Millwall being another)

I feel like after every game we lurch from emotion to emotion at the moment, never quite sure where this season is going to take us. It really has been a rollercoaster, and one we’re not sure yet where we get off.

But as I say it makes Saturday’s spectacle hopefully, yes we do need to win, but it’s all relative. We could do everything in our power and not make it, so let’s give the fans something to cheer, play with the blinkers off and go for it. It could be a thing of beauty. Maybe a striker could score.

I mean it can work both ways, we really shouldn’t be here. For one where we were 2/3 months ago there’s no way we should be discussing the playoffs. But then again, where we were 3 or 4 weeks ago, there’s no way we should we discuss not making the playoffs. It is exactly that kind of situation. And it’s one that no matter what occurs Saturday I don’t think the fans can complain. The dark days of McLeish in January is what cost us any chance of going up. Not anything in the mean time. Would we be up there with George Boyd, I doubt he’d have made the difference, but that said his none signing has made all the difference (as I said in the article “In praise of George Boyd’s Eyes, just search for it)

Beating Millwall was vital, as had we gone into these games with nothing to play for, it would have been horrible seeing Leicester turn up with at least something on their plate. They are even more unlikely than us to get into the playoffs, and with all their funding over the last 2 years that is laughable. £5 million centre halves, Sven, and all that. They shouldn’t be in this situation, but that’s the Championship, you can’t buy success. It’s unforgiving like that.

So yeah, in essence it is still all on and all to play for, but only if Bolton (or Palace twice) bottle it and we sneak in.

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.

Defeat and Victory

Well, we just played two games in quick succession away from home with polarised results. On the one hand we lost to Millwall. I'd like to comment on this game, but I missed it all completely, having to be at work. So I didn't even get to listen. So all my views are based on what people who DID listen have told me, what people said on the forum and of course the highlights and match reports.



Basically as Forest went into this game I expected nothing and we got nothing and sound like we deserved nothing. 38% possession in a match isn't good enough at any level no matter the opposition, but thats what we had. OK, we had some good chances, Findley striking the outside of a post and Garner forcing the Millwall defence to backtrack. But Millwalls goals were all so familiar. A header from a corner, how often have we seen that. The other goal was simple enough finish from across. And even the Millwall could have more.



It set alarm bells ringing amongst many Reds fans. Millwall I suppose were a good team last season,top half anyway,but they aren't a heavyweight team and to be so outplayed is somewhat embarrassing for a team still trying to find it way.



And so we move on to the second of the weeks fixtures. A win against Doncaster, which saw the team juggled with again in this early weeks. This time though was bringing in new faces, Matt Derbyshire starting upfront with McGoldrick whilst Miller,signing the day before took a spot on the bench.



The lead came after half an hour when Maloney, who was in at right back, with Gunter playing left back, crossed for the the Welshman to score. The juggle around seemed to work allowing Cohen to get his energy back into the midfield. There was the vaguely perplexing decision to bench McGugan but if this keeps him fresh then I don't mind. After a win it looks a good brave decision, had we lost of course there would be questions asked about this decision. Miller came on and sounded active and strong. Seems a lot like Harewood, with hopefully more of a sense of direction.



I promise that normal match report duties will be resumed soon. This start of the season has been hectic for me, but from Saturday for the Leicester game,proper match re pots and pod casts will resume on behalf of Forest 24-7.

No Game for Derbyshire

Matt Derbyshire won't be travelling with the team tomorrow as his fitness isn't quite up to scratch yet. That's not hearsay,thats direct from the players Twitter, as well the fact he is looking for places to live. This might be a front to fool Millwall but I doubt that very much



What will be interesting to see is who we go with up front. Findley after all played 120 mins in his first start in longer than he probably cares to remember. Whether this see's Garner or Tudgay starts remains to be seen. I Can't see a recall for McGoldrick to be honest. I could be wrong. I often am.



Apart from that Camp will return as will Gunter. There may be juggles in the midfield too after a number of players went the distance. McGugan was of course taken off so should be fresh,but Majewski may not be. What will be interesting is what happens with Anderson after he was dragged off on Tuesday.

Frustrating Forest Forced to a Point

Apologies for the delay in this article – thought I’d already posted the report yesterday and looked through the site to find it wasn’t there. Own goal!

Anyways, there will be few games this season where Forest will have so much possession in one game and do nothing with it. Forest had held over 70% of the possession from Saturday’s game at Milwall, in what proved to be another frustrating game.

Forest opted to resort to their favoured away day 4-5-1 formation with Raddy coming back into the team at Tudgay’s expense. Earnshaw also found himself on the bench having missed the Preston game through injury.

The first chance of the game fell in Milwall’s favour. A Steve Morison header was cleared by Chambers only for it to fall to Hameur Bouazza, who hit a shot with the outside of his boot just over.

Its worth saying Bouazza along with David Forde were quite easily Milwall’s best players on the day. Bouazza tossed and turned his way through our right wing and was a constant threat - he certainly looks quite the January signing.

After a couple more Milwall chances, it was only ever in Forest’s favour after that – fortunately this week the ref was a bit too.

Shortly after, Forest's first attack game. McGugan hit a driven, long range shot forcing David Forde to tip it round the post - it would have almost been identical to the goal at Coventry minus a goalkeeping mishap.

On 25 minutes, Cohen pinged a through ball through for none other than Joel Lynch, who put a volley right across the face of goal and had McGoldrick got the slightest touch on it, it would have been in. Another case of if's and but's.

Chances were few and far between for both teams after that - Forest won themselves a couple of free kicks which McGugan hit wildely over or into the wall.

With the sides level at half time, Milwall proceeded to boo the referee and his assistants as well as pathetically chant; "We only get sh*t refs!". Suppose it's worth saying that Milwall's renowned intimidating atmosphere must have been having a day off as Forest out sang another team for the duration of the game.

Second half and Forest held possession but did nothing much with it.

Raddy had a shot from the edge of the box early on that went narrowly wide, while McGugan weaved through the Milwall team only to hit it straight at Forde – it looked better in reality than it did on the replays.

Lynch hit a wild volley from outside the box that went flying over the bar – I wish it had gone in, more so to shut the clueless fan sat in front of me up who was jeering him and McGoldrick throughout.

The best move of the game came when Forest had the Milwall defence floundering all over the place. A quick passing move found Anderson who threaded through a ball for an unmarked Gunter sprinted down the right. Gunter took a heavy touch to beat the Milwall left back and shot from a tight angle – forcing Forde into a routine save.

McCleary and Earnshaw’s introductions seemed to make Forest look even more dangerous although I suppose it was too little, too late. McCleary had a great chance when he got a flick onto an in swinging McGugan cross, once again forcing Forde into a save. If I’m honest I think in McCleary’s cameo he showed signs of a player who should get a chance at Boro.

Sadly, McClearey’s chance was it for Forest and despite trying, Milwall's defence held firm and we shared the spoils – ignore what the Nottingham Forest wrist slitters say, it was a bloody good point.

We pressed, we dominated and yet we did nothing with it – a familiar story from our recent games at Scunny and Preston.

Here’s hoping we bring home the points from Boro tomorrow.