Month by Month 2010/11 Season Review: October

September had started to see form improve and coming into October it looked a relatively easier month to score points from and continue our ascendancy up the table to takeour rightful place towards the top. It didn't quite work out that way.

It did start with an away draw against Doncaster, in a game where we had taken the lead and quickly lost it again. The fact is we also clung on to this point, to make another triumphant away draw. It took our unbeaten run to nine, even if most of them were draws just like this. Blackstock had again been the scorer, his was a good start to the season. Seeing as Doncaster had been somewhat of a bogey team fans were satisfied with the point
Forest 7 said

Will take that after bar being whacked and Sharp missing in 94th min. We aren't a million miles away if we start winning home games

IntotheForest view was

Was a good game yesterday but we have to start taking our chances. There doesn't really seem much predatory instinct up front with Earnshaw out and while Dexter is chipping in with the goals, we need that bit more threat.
Good performance though from most on the team although Moussi was once again utter garbage. The guy is a liability and almost gifted them a goal late on when in typical Moussi fashion he panicked and passed it straight to one of their players who forced Camp into a good save.

We then after a 2 week break went to an away game against Barnsley that is best forgotten, save for a good McGugan goal. We lost 3-1 to the Tykes. As a consequence we were back in the lower half the table lying in 15th place. This game was notable in so far as Billy absent with illness and Ned Kelly took charge. Of course with the disarray surrounding the managership at the time all sort of conspiracy theories were flying around. Many fans were deeply unhappy with this result and rightly so.
IntotheForest said

Pathetic performance and I guess without Billy's presence it just showed how average this team really was.
Poor team selection by Billy it has to be said though. 2 DMs, 2 CMs and your wingers on the bench, woeful stuff. While I can see why Dele got a start he was utter garbage and Moussi continues to become one of the worst players I have ever seen in a red shirt.
Only plus point was Mcgugan looking as good as normal and McGoldrick looking brilliantly lively when he come on.

Libertine said

Very worrying result. Really strikes of a squad with no confidence or togetherness.
Worried that all the poison from Davies has ****ed this season up. A good manager, who has the clubs interests at heart rather than his own would have rallied troops ahead of the season and pushed on with a squad very smilar to the one who nearly got promoted last season.
See where we are at christmas - But I can see Doughty turning the pressure up on him.

So it was good with morale falling again to go into two very winnable home games against Middlesbrough and Ipswich. These would be the tale of two free kicks.

Forest stretched the unbeaten home run to 25 games by beating Boro 1-0(their 5th away defeat in a row) when McGugan blasted a free kick from out wide across the area and straight into the net. Majewski had hit the bar earlier also. Boro had never threatened much and showed why they were struggling. Lita had wasted a wonderful opportunity however.
Thefans views were as followed
Manic Loopsaid

very pleasing win. not a great game, but it was vital to get back on winning form

Michael 123 said

I guess with it being such a dire game, with two sides lacking confidence and knowing that had we played anyone with a bit about them we would have been beat...I do think it is time to bring Wilson back in, not because Chambers was poor as he had an alright game, but because i think we miss Wilsons distribution from the back, especially when at home with teams sitting off us.

This was quickly followed by a 2-0 win against Ipswich which will be long remember for one thing. Goal of the season by Lewis McGugan. But that is jumping the gun. McGoldrick had already(just)scored the first when netting a cross from the left, the ball squeezed just below the bar and inside the post. Just before half time,Cohen was fouled 35 yards from goal,and McGugan as I am sure we all remember did the rest. The win raised Forest up to 10th in the Table and life was looking good again Trentside. The second half was largely a non event save for a penalty appeal turned down.
The fans views were as follows
IntotheForest said

Best performance since the Swansea game a few weeks back. Finally put in a credible performance that warranted a win although Ipswich had their chances.
McGugan once again was fantastic, it's a huge shame that some fans seem to want him to slip up just so they can say told you so. Gonna be difficult for any other goals we score this year to top that one today. I am delighted Lewis' performances have finally made Raddy get his arse into gear who has been great these past two home games
McGoldrick got a start which I was calling for and I'm delighted he got a goal. David should of started on Tuesday in all honesty as he looked promising vs Barnsley last weekend.

Forest008 said

Im still amazed by McGugan's goal.
out of this world

We next went away to Portsmouth, and our poor away form looked to be back making it back to back away defeats against teams ultimately that would be middle of the table also rans. Pompey won 2-1, we had gone 1 down and equalised only for Liam Lawrence, rejected by Forest as a kid,to net a winner not long after the hour mark.
The match report on 24-7 read as follows

Its not defeat that is as deflating as some. Forest are failing to put together a run of form though consistently home and away to move forward and up the league. Stuttering by winning home and losing away will mean we merely flounder in mid table. The turn from away draws to defeats now is somewhat of a worry. It may be too late to catch the leaders before this away form is sorted out, whether a change of outlook, a bit of form and a rise in confidence or fresh blood into the mix is open for debate, probably a combination of all.

The win saw Pompey go above us into 10th,and the inconsistency was seeing us bob up and down mid table. We had finished the month as we had started it. Top half, but lacking the consistent performances and results to push on into the play offs and really challenge the big boys

Colin Cooper to Return?

Following on from Billys departure is the hardly surprising news Ned Kelly has also left,though not announced officially, he has been removed from the list of staff at the club on the website. Julian Darby remains on the list of staff as well as all pre Billy Davies era incumbents

And this will be followed by the news that McClarens first signing will see former Reds legend Colin Copper as his assistant. This would undoubtedly be a popular move. Cooper was highly regarded by fans and would be welcomed back. He played for the Reds from 1993 to 1998 returning to Middlesbrough to finish his career where he went on to coach, rising to Assistant Manager before being replaced when Gordon Strachan came in.

He is currently at Bradford City,but would surely jump at the chance to come back to Forest. He played under McClaren at Boro.

So Mr Steve McClaren....

So it looks a foregone conclusion that the former England manager Steve McClaren will be our new boss.

I have seen a lot of anger about this, and frankly why? We are being linked with a manager with a high pedigree and yet people moan and want something else, making me think once again, the vast majority of fans must be one rung on the evolutionary ladder above a zombie.

So he didn't work out with England, I forgot that part where random idiots with no pedigree get appointed to a top job in the international game. Wait. the Sun nicknamed him and we must all blindly agree with what a vile rag with a history of questionable view says!!!!

It really appals me the lack of foresight I have seen by many fans. McClaren has took a side with a worse past than us to a European final and took a team a similar size to us to a national title. BUT THE SUN CALLED HIM THE WALLY WITH THE BROLLY> Fuck the Sun folks. They have an agenda to ruin anyone who's famous and he also famously refused to answer questions, another reason the Sun got its goat up. So ask again why most blindly agree with an idiots paper written by idiots for idiots.

This is a good appointment no matter what some think. And we will prosper.So if you don't agree and decide to set up a pathetic protesting Facebook profile. (by the way, you really are a fucking idiot for setting these up) and those saying "I will NOT renew my ticket." Billy's gone., get over it, we now have a manager with a high pedigree as a boss. Good news all round

Billy's Reign Ends

I've not always been Billy Davies, the man, biggest fan. However as a manager there is no doubting his credentials. All week I have thought about posting my views on the situation surrounding Davies at Forest,with the Evening Posts article calling for him to be backed or sacked. I was going to laugh at it and point out that the club would surely have sacked him already if they were going to. Shows what I know.

It does seem strange to have waited till now, which makes me wonder if the club have asked for assurances from Billy that he didn't intend to leave to the likes of Cardiff and didn't get that assurance. That's pure conjecture though, it may just be the old thing of him rubbing the board the wrong way.

And its that reason that I won't miss Davies too much.His constant battles with the board. Most of us know at work that you don't publicly question your bosses and expect to stay in a job. That's what Davies has done repeatedly, and no matter what you say on him doing the business on the field, to have someone with such contempt for authority in charge is never going to be easy.

We have come close twice now,personally I'd have given Davies this third year, and told him if we fail,your contract won't be renewed. It risks that if we're successful he'd walk, but it might be a good incentive to get a new deal. I honestly thought he'd get that new deal regardless and it shows the cut throat nature of this sport.

But Doughty has said in the past that he liked having a manager who doesn't see eye to eye,it shows ambition and it shows fire. Additionally Doughty has always backed his man, past the point fans want the boss out. And indeed, back in August an September, there were many voices angry with the sluggish start blaming Davies.

Perhaps the relationship ran its course, and its time for both to go their separate ways. This season might have been a bridge to far for the Reds with Davies, and afresh face might get some impetus. Davies obviously isn't a man that the board want to trust with money. And a new man, (McLaren maybe) might be more inclined to work with the transfer panel, and hell it might work better. Davies is very much his own man,and when presented with perfectly reasonable transfer targets he didn't recommend he refused them, like with George Boyd. So maybe it might just work in the clubs favour.

But all of this is mindless speculation for now I salute you Billy, and thanks for a firey two and half years where we came close. I may have moaned abut you,I was fed up with the eternal Billy-isms he used. But he was successful and will be missed.

Now we have the prospect of a new man and it looks like it will be a quick appointment

Month by Month 2010/11 Season Review: September

As September started most fans were disgruntled. The lack of signings,and reported takeover that never materialised, and probably never even existed and Billy's future being very much in question made the average Forest fan extremely worried about where the season was heading.

A mixture of emotion was pouring out, those who were pro Billy,against the Acquisition Panel and David Pleat, bemoaning a perceived lack of investment. Then there were those fed up of Davies constantly moaning in the media, supposedly working 3 day weeks and attempting to rock the Forest boat to get his way. Neither side conceded the other had a point.
Rosicky10 on the forum said on the matter

You can't help but notice all the finger pointing still - not only by the fans, it's also (if not more so) by the manager and by the board... The club looks a state. Just 9 months ago we had glorious, confident attacking football, tactical astuteness away from home and happy smiling facing all around, what the hell happened?
It all seems like a chicken-or-egg argument - what came first, a tight wallet or a self-centred dick of a manager protecting what he believes to be a reputation by destroying young, promising players.

tricky_trees said

Disaster snatched from the jaws of victory. What should have been an exciting season for us has been turned into a soap opera. The real losers in all these political shenanigins are the fans as all sense of anticipation for the season has long gone. We have gone from thinking we could be favourites to go up to expecting a bottom half finish. As Doughty states in the article missing out on the Prem cost the club £90M. We are now very unlikely to reach this goal. This is all the more ludicrous when Doughty boasts of his business credentials. What business sense has the last 8 months shown? Ridiculous way to run a club

On the pitch however things began to pick up.The month started slowly,an international break meant we didn't play until September 11th, in a1-1 draw with Millwall that at the time didn't feel so good.Again like all of August though, as the season turned out, it wasn't a result to be ashamed of. A deserved point, Millwall had taken the lead before Blackstock equalised lasteon. Bare in mind Blackstock had alsomissed a penalty however. Forest were still in the lower reaches of the table, but we weren;t losing games, showing a tenacity in coming from behind in a few games.

The next game would be somewhat of a catalyst of the season in three ways. Firstly it was our first win, at Preston. We came from behind to beat them, marking our first away win in longer than most could rember and our first win in any match since September. Also it marked the game that the renaissance of Lewis McGugan began. He scored two very well taken goals that we thought were good goals at the time. Lewis would go on to show them as being mere tap ins to what he could do. We were now up to 15th in the table.
Trickie Trees said on the forum in reaction to this

An excellent win. I hope this is the start of a good run like what happened last season. Mcgugan has the potential but it is all about application and not being a big headed tvat from now on for him to make it with us. I hope this is the turning point for his career at Forest.

Forest7 said

Well, after the last game I was saying I'd like to see him back in. Lewis is frustrating, but give him a free role he can win a match. Billy has treated him poorly. He has frozen out a class player, rather than worked with him to improve. He's a better player than Majewski. He has more end product, a better finisher, can beat a man

The next game was a dour 0-0 with Hull away. On sky it was instantly forgettable. The only real thing of comment was that it was Forests first clean sheet away since Boxing Day. Both teams had few chances to win,both wasting good opportunities, Chambers for Forest,Bullard for Hull.

We followed this up with an excellent home win against Swansea at the City Ground. The Reds took a 3-1 win against the Welsh team who would eventually be our undoing. McGugan netted twice again,one a penalty, one a wonderful goal beating two men and curling it in before Majewski rounded off the win. Van der Gunn netted a consolation goal. The win put us in the top half of the table for the first time. Undoubtedly with hindsight this was a glorious win for the Reds, showing exactly what we could do
IntotheForest on the forum said of the win

Was a good performance anyways, was expecting Swansea to really go at us but it wasn't to be.
A shame we squandered another clean sheet but hey the win was more important.
McGugan's second was an absolute beauty and it was good to see Raddy come on and finally do something of notice; hopefully Mcgugan's good form has finally given him that kick up the arse he needed.
Great result and I won my first bet since April 09 yday getting a whopping £7.10. Unbelievable stuff!

So finally it looked like we were building up a head of steam. Heading into the last game of the month against Sheffield United. Optimism was high amongst fans, but the game instantly took that wind out of our sails when the Blades scored early on,and in the usual manner. An in swinging free kick was headed in by Cresswell,and Forest lost all focus. It took till the second half to regain it,when McKenna would equalise for the Reds. We had a penalty shout turned down, but all the pre-match enthusiasm and happiness seemed to have drained away.
Rosicky10's view of the match was as follows

Frustrating night. Poor ref and linesman doesn't help, but they came with dirty tactics and bullied us for a lot of the game and the officials let them.
We looked dangerous in little spells but really need more conviction and attacking desire when at home and especially when a goal down.
Had to laugh when their players surround the ref for a tackle that seemed identicle to what they were doing all match though, Blunt bastards.

So in essence things were gradually improving, A resurgent McGugan was dragging Forest up out of a potential struggle towards the top parts of the table. We were still lacking consistency though, but the moaning at the start of the month was starting to quieten down as fans were starting to see progress on the pitch. Upward progress up the League will always quite doubters.

Of course the most notable part of September was the founding of this very website. Forest 24-7 was created from Soccer24-7,and a number of blogsites made.Only we remain from that flurry. From humble beginnings we now have burgeoning viewer numbers and have made huge steps in followers on Facebook and Twitter

Month by Month 2010/11 Season Review: August

In the first part of our season review, now that all the dust has settled and most of the fall out is beginning, we will begin with August and have a look at the events of the month, what people thought at the time via re-looking at forum posts, and how this looks with hindsight.

August

We started with a defeat. At home to Burnley we lost to an Iwelumo goal.Lining up with a very familiar side, with Bertrand the only new face, Wilson was them beginning in central defence with Morgan with eventual player of the season Chambers on the bench. McGugan his runner up also began on the bench. Most fans on the forum had predicted a draw,and unfortunately we didn't have a match thread to be able to look back on post match thoughts of various forum members.

The transfer news at this early stage was also quiet. Callum Davenport was training with us, with a multitude of rumours about him signing, which of course never came to fruition. The Whittingham and Pratley saga was in full swing with various people claiming they knew the inside scoop. no-one did.

We then went to Bradford in the League Cup and after taking the lead with a heavily depleted side lost in injury time. Depleted because of people being away on international duty, some of the forum comments were angry that this was allowed to happen.How could it be fair Forest had to play a game on an International fixture date? We were minus Gunter, Earnshaw, Bertrand,Majewski and Maloney. This was made all the more annoying by the fact Maloney and Bertrand and weren't even selected for their national teams. What was funny was some fans reactions. This was taken from Facebook at the time

The mongs are out already though, one comment:

**** off Billy, bring in O'Neill.

Was only a matter of time haha

This was followed by a home draw with Leeds,in a game we played well early on in but allowed Leeds back into. The goal was by Dexter Blackstock in the 9th minute. Comments on the forum were as such.
Forest008 said

Eurgh, not good enough at all.
Fantastic first half an hour, should of been 2 or 3 goals up.
But we were seriously poor after that. Midfield was non existent, McKenna and Radi were so bad its unreal.
Need to add to the midfield for sure, Pratley would of been a key player today.

IntotheForest said

Thought we were gonna hammer them and probs should of done. Then when Leeds equalised we were nothing for the rest of the game. If Beckford was still a Leeds player we would have lost.
Still very poor with our finishing but in a few weeks time we should have sharpened up and be back to form. The chances are there the goals aren't.
No one stood out today, Bertrand was good I guess.

This website at this stage still didn't exist so we can't say what we did in August(the site began in September)
We did on the forum get a very insightful post by Asocthern, who predicted the following

This season I think we'll see the worst of raddy now he's got his contract I don't think he will be all that bothered.

Probably proven correct over the course of the season. Leeds fans as always were deluded and thought they deserved the win, despite the stats illustrating what an equal game it had been. The game would be remembered by Leeds for Gunters sneaky "stamp" (more of a tread on) on Lloyd Sam. Who reacted like he was dead.

A multitude of names were being thrown around as potential signings. Jermaine Johnson being the only concrete rumour. Other names were Ricardo Fuller, Ross McCormack, Michael Tonge and Joe Mattock. And of course Pratley and Whittingham.

We next played Reading away. Another game without a win, saw us draw with the Royals, coming from behind. Readings teams was largely what finished the season, Sigurdsson who left and no Harte. Reading took the lead through Pearce,and we equalised after half time deservedly with a Earnshaw strike, after a Federici error.
The common consensus was that it was a good result.And probably fair.
Manic Loop on the forum said

id defo have taken this before the game.

ForestForever32 said

I think we have done really well today and deserved more than we got........I'm a bit worried about Tyson though he seems to have no confidence at all. Every time he gets the ball he messes up .

This left us near the bottom of the table. Not helped by the story that had broken the day before the game. Davies had apparently let rip to a Forest fan on a flight to Glasgow about the board and how many players weren't up to it. Looking back at what was apparently said some of it looks like it may have been real but a lot also looks utter garbage, especially the parts about Bertrand and McGugan not being up to it and him not happy,and the fact he thought he was about to be sacked. It certainly was a strange story to have broken, and filled the forums with gossip for a few weeks till the next drama occurred which we'll come to later.



We next faced Norwich at home. When we faced Norwich,what with them being a newly promoted club the fans were certain our first win was about to come, as shown by Manic Loop on the forum proclaiming.

first win of the season. thats a manic loop guarantee

We did take the lead through a Blackstock penalty. Norwich had already hit the wood work twice,and then equalised on 42Min's through Andrew Crofts. We hit the post late on, but it remained a draw. And we were again still too close to the drop for comfort.

The views on the forum were as follows
Manic Loop said

worst game ever

Ascothern said

I thought Wilson had a shocker got back to the car and they were singing his praises on the radio
We basically had no midfield until moussi and lewis came on
McKenna majewski and cohen were diabolical

Forest008 said

that was fvcking pathetic.
worst we have played in months.
McKenna, worst game he has ever had in a forest shirt.
Only positives, Earnshaw played very well, and Moussi and McGugan looked good when they came on.
So poor today, lucky to draw.
Changes need to be made now.

Fans were becoming divided on what to do with Davies, many deciding that he obviously must be trying to get sacked, or that something foul was a foot,with others blaming a lack of signings. What is now apparent looking at it from an end of season perspective is we played against 3 teams in the top 7 at the end of the season, and that it was almost a commendable start. Burnley being the only team to beat us and they were in the mix for a while too. Then we all thought it was a terrible start,but hindsight is a wonderful thing, and we can now say it was acceptable considering the opponents

So the first month ended in turmoil.Davies with an unsure future, Forest languishing in the bottom half of the table, fans unhappy at alack of signings. And then came a news report that an Irish consortium wanted to buy the club. Which was largely proven as utter rubbish by nothing happening. It seemed uneventful, but hey,looking back August had it all, other than a Forest win.

The 2011/2012 Home Shirt You Have Chosen Is...

Well I thank one and all for taking part in this, whether you designed a kit or merely voted,all the same your help is appreciated.

You voted in your droves on which of our shortlist of kits you would like to see Forest wear from a choice of 8,and only two really stood out from the poll, but your winner was the kit designed by Forum member Mr Geo_Challenge which took 35% of the vote beating the closest rival which only had 25%.

So here it is,the kit you chose. And I can't believe you all did choose this one,but thats democracy



This is the link for the original post with all the kit designs in. As you can see the people have chosen the "joke" option.
http://forest24-7.blogspot.com/2011/05/choose-your-201112-forest-home-shirt.html

The moral victor is as follows