The Curse of the Old Boy

It appears at times there are only two ways it can go when we come up against a former player. They either play a blinder, or are so poor to be anonymous. Lewis McGugan skirted both those criteria this weekend.
Although the headlines will read the ex player came back to haunt us, in reality up till that point he’d be largely anonymous, and even after the goal he popped up with an effort that was well saved and then disappeared again.

It always feels like ex players score against us, or ex keepers will have a blinder etc. But is it really the case? Look at Barnsley away last season, we concede to a Marlon Harewood goal, but in reality he was pretty poor, spurning chances and generally getting mocked al game, in a nice friendly way. We knew his limitations especially since coming back to England, but remember how dangerous he could be.

Kris Commons often seems to have a mixed record against the fans who now so malign him, on the one hand that infamous cup game, scoring the late winner, and yet other occasions include him stooping to over celebrating a goal in the 5-2 drubbing like it actually mattered. The thing is we knew he’d score at least one.

So it was no real surprise when they got the free kick, and after I turned to a friend and said “well, he’s done nothing all game so watch this fly in” and it duly did, none of was really surprised. Fair play to McGugan who downplayed a celebration, I know if I’d have a section of support mocking and abusing me (as a number of Forest fans did, admittedly in equal measures got a good reception) I might be tempted to turn it back on them.

We have a couple of ex player likely playing against us on Saturday, who like Lewis may get a mixed reception. Grant Holt and James Perch are now at Wigan, and so that old curse could once again return. We have a good turnout apparently going up to the North west, so no doubt some of them will decide booing and chiding Holt will be the best course of action, whereas Perch would likely get good support from all, not realising that as often as it causes an awful performance (think Collymore returning with Liverpool) that it sometimes spurs them to better things.

At the end of the day I think abusing a player who generally played well and did anything near as much as Lewis did that abusing them is wrong. He didn’t make derogatory comments or suchlike. When it’s someone like Marlon King then fair play, they deserve all they get. Holt is a strange one as he clearly never feels he got the rub of the green at Forest, and has since gone on to bigger and better things with Norwich. Perch on the other hand came through our academy, put in a good few years and left for the Premier League. I for one won’t be booing either, not only because I think it’s unfair, but it just might be that spur to make either play better or rub it our face. Holt doesn’t have the connection Lewis, or Commons or Harewood had so might feel celebrating, Perch would likely not. Either way, it's hope they don’t have a good day.

A Bad Day All Round

I had a bad feeling about the game yesterday that however didn’t stop me thinking we could do it and me putting a little something on for the Forest win. That’s' now money lost, which makes it a little bit more sour.

We deserved to lose make no mistake. What was also crushing was that we just played abject ugly football, yet we don’t have the players for ugly. The problem there being the core of the tam was built for a pretty passing game, and now they are being asked to play physical. They have those tools; they just aren’t very good at using them.

Watford are a very good side, and the Udinese influence on them was very strong yesterday. Vydra is of course on loan from the Italians, and whether they take him back next year or do what Udinese do and look to make a profit, they have a very talented young man on the hands in Matej Vydra. He looked dangerous all game, and in a way reminds me of Arshavin when he first arrived, not being the tallest but being very capable with his feet.

We let him do that all too often. Having to physical but no very quick or mobile defenders played in Watford’s hands with Deeney and Vydra like a pair of wasp’s constantly buzzing round. The lack of pace at the back really cost us when repeatedly they got in behind us. Darlow cannot be blamed for any of the goals which is pleasing in one regard that at least the three goals can’t be pinned on his fragile career and destroy his confidence.

I left this awhile to write to try and digest just what I saw instead of a raw emotional review. I think that might have been the better idea. I feel so flat about yesterday’s game now that it's hard to even get any motivation to discuss it. For one I can't seem to think of any single positive we can take, whereas in other defeats there is something to hold on to.

We never looked capable of winning, the best chance we had of scoring was unbelievably missed by Deter Blackstock, and I can only remember maybe 2 shots on target. Almunia didn’t have a hard day at the office.

And all this makes me feel rather despondent. Now I see other sites or on twitter the doom mongers are out in force. Really also starting to call into question the al-Hasawi's but that performance wasn't their fault. It was just the wrong side, the wrong players, the wrong day and the wrong opposition.

Positivity though needs to be returned. A defeat like that knocks the stuffing out, and I can see partially why McLeish is saying he is so desperate to bring in some freshness and new faces. However some of what else he discussed after the game was a bit weird. And to be honest he didn’t sound like he really knew how to fix this malaise in the team. That’s another worry. 

Promotion and the playoffs look further off than ever, and to be honest an unachievable dream.

The Guedioura Show

Well first of all I will surmise the game on Saturday as saying that we saw what Adlene Guedioura is all about. What a monumental performance he put in for Forest on Saturday. At the centre of most things it was the player we have been screaming out for.

And additionally a goal!! A sweet merciful goal at home. I almost forgot what the Fratelli's sounded like. Poor bloke who has to press that button to play the song has been largely redundant for the past few months.

Garath McCleary did what he is starting to do more, score a long range quality goal. And he did it again this with a low drive into the corner from around 25 yards. And the team celebrated by pointing to the sky and dedicating the goal to Nigel Doughty.


And this had at the start given the game an odd feel. Starting with the minute’s applause for Nigel Doughty. It was strange seeing people cheering for the man that I remember some people denouncing and vilifying a few weeks ago. But that is football.

The minute’s applause was pretty largely respected. And I think largely genuine. The Watford fans also joined in, which was good to see. And it was obvious that it had also enthused the players to put in a performance. Guy Moussi coming to the Trent End before the game pointing at his black arm band and clapping showed what it meant to the players.

We looked bright throughout, and as I say Guedioura was majestic in the middle. McCleary also put in a top showing, and the new defenders all looked the part. Wooton playing at right back was a surprise, but he played well there. It was also interesting to see Elokobi to be unleashed on long throws for a new tactic. Interestingly though mainly in the first half where there was less run up space than if he was on the Main Stand side.

However, when Watford scored it was the air of resignation amongst fans. No-one was hugely shocked, no gasping intake of breath, no anger. Mere acceptance that we conceded.

The second half could have gone both ways, we did play well, and had the better chances, mostly falling to Gunter ghosting in at the back post. He hit the bar, skied a great effort and headed over the bar. This was also after a first half effort, where he looked like he scored lobbing the keeper that shifted wide before being cleared.

Findley also messed up a great chance when a perfect through ball was played by Reid, a truly wonderful pass designed for a pacey striker to latch on to. Findleys first touch though was horrendous and it ran through to the keeper to let the chance go begging.

Frustrating that we failed to win a game there for the taking, but there were a lot of positives to take. The new signings bedded in quickly. We scored. We created chances. We just need to get the extra bite in front of goal.

Finally Another Win...But Still Unconvincing

We may have won at the weekend with a single second half goal by Ishmael Miller, but Forest, and Watford for that matter flattered to deceive in a drab game at Vicarage Road.

I think the match will only be remembered for being an utter snore fest, which even the half time pundits struggled to try and get excited about. Chances and highlights were few and far between to say the least.

We'd set up with a more defensive line up, with the obvious solution to the recent shipping of goals. I thought before the game this might have been McClarens move, and lo and behold, that is what we did.



The rest of the team was fairly tight width wise up through the field. With only 3 midfielders you can barely have any width without losing a lot in the middle. So Greening and Moussi allowed McGugan to get forward and attack, or so the plan went. The reality was somewhat different.

I was also pleased to see Lynch retain his place after a couple of better performances(save for a couple of glaring errors of course) Miller and Findley lead the line, both have looked lively and impressive lately.

So with all that promise the game delivered little. Garner with possibly the best effort of the first half when he got in front of Chambers to glance a header which Camp parried wide and Morgan cleared. Forest had a couple of chances, a free header for Hill that should have seen a debut goal. Lynch too had a couple of efforts ghosting in at the back post.

The goal came after 61 mins, a long up field punt by Camp which the defence failed to clear and Miller stole in, poked the ball past Loach who was coming out. A lot of debate post match raged about whether it was a defensive mix up, should the keeper have been there? Who failed to call who? Well I don't care, an error led to us scoring and winning. Finally the type of break we need, and one that will ignite our ailing morale.

We go into an away game against Burnley, who are also struggling, with a good chance of jumping up the league quickly. Put 2 wins together and all this relegation talk will quickly evaporate into playoff talk. That's if we win though, with this team who are incredibly inconsistent who knows what may occur.

Tudgay Early Strike Sends Forest Into Second

Nottingham Forest have moved into the automatic promotion places today after Marcus Tudgay 1st minute strike gave Forest a lead they never lost against Watford at the City Ground today.

They of course may lose that spot when Swansea play tomorrow,but the psychological lift it may give the team is now in place. It is Forest's to lose now. Before hand it was all about winning games in hand, games in hand we still have, which could take us clear. It would be foolish to presume we will win those, but the way Forest are going at the moment it's hard to not also get carried away.

Forest beat a very good Watford side today with a goal that was rather simple.Cohen's centre from the left found Earnshaw, who prodded the ball onto Tudgay, to finish into the bottom left hand corner of Scott Loaches goal.

It was a wonderful start and it also promised goals in this game, of two teams who like to play football. There was entertainment, but more goals were never forth coming for either team.

Watford had a good long range effort by Doyley well saved by Camp, and Forest had a free kick from Earnshaw, which went wide of the target, after a short delay when Watford wall wouldn't retreat the full ten yards.

Chris Cohen also had a wonderful effort well saved by the keeper. Cohen had the ball around 20 yards out, and rather than playing down the wing, hit a curling effort that looked destined for the top corner before being tipped around the post by the highly rated young keeper.

A two goal lead may have been flattering, as both teams were much of the time each others equal. Danny Graham looking dangerous, and Watford were one of the last teams to win at the City Ground.

The second half saw a couple more Forest efforts, A Chris Cohen free kick that went straight at Loach, a Tyson effort when he ran clear, which he really should have done better with. Right at the start, Earnshaw blazed wide from quite close in, an effort I felt sure destined to go in, only to see go very wide.

At the other end Watford had the ball in the goal, although the hedr was ruled out for pushing in the box, after the free kick came in from the left.

There were acouple of flash points in a largely clean game, Majewski being booked for diving, which to be honest looked fair enough, Majewski had made a meal of one foul not long before. But then a short while later Buckley for Watford went down appealing, which the ref turned down and coming right after Majewski was booked it aggrieved a number of Forest fans, who were then further annoyed when the same player did exactly the same again, still with no punishment. Surely if they were not fouls, he was as culpable as Majewski for diving? Apparently not.

The rest of the second half drifted by, Chambers went close with a corner that many thought had gone in. And that was largely that.

Forest then with another win, it carries on this incredible run of home form that has seen the City Ground turned into a fortress. It did take a while for the unbeaten at home chants to start, as it was such a close game, but the fans have now been treated to so many good home performances one can barely remember what its like to lose at home. This form has catapulted us up amongst the leaders now, and we have to stay there,even with some very tough fixtures coming up. I have no doubt we can maintain this form though, and see ourselves in that top flight again

Come on you Forest men

McKenna Set to Return

Paul McKenna looks set to return to the Forest side ahead of the visit of Watford tomorrow. McKenna hasn't started a league game for the Reds since November, but now with injury to Moussi,the skipper will be likely to feature.

Robbie Findley is also unavailable after being injured in training, the full extent is still not known of this injury. Nathan Tyson also remain a doubt with his back injury.

These injuries limit the options available to Billy Davies, which was evident with the appearance of Niall Rodney on the bench against West Ham.
Its the start of a big couple of months for the Reds, who face several promotion rivals. QPR and Cardiff are both coming up, and tomorrows opponents are also in the mix in the top section of the table. Watford have been one of this seasons surprise packages, and will be more than a tricky opponent for the in-form Reds.

The Reds have amazing home form, which they hope will carry them through this potential banana skin. Watford after a good run in December have slipped in January, and will want to bounce back into the top 6.