al-Rashidi Signs, But Some Aren't Happy

I would very much like to start this piece by reinforcing my support of the al-Hasawi regime. I am firmly behind what they are trying to do, and without them.... well that doesn’t bare thinking about.

And yet some of our supporters are just never happy. I am have repeatedly called for fans to have patience. Today for me seems to be s turning point in some regards. Perhaps for the worse.

Khalid al Rashidi has been granted his work permit and as such is signing for Forest. This is a keeper we know little about, but has international experience and spent time on trial in he summer with Reds. But the way some fans have reacted to the tweeted news was as if we were signing a 12 year kid who has never seen a ball never mind played in net.

I have just read a tweet that read “when can we sign some good real players, rather than loans and your Kuwaiti mates.” This last week would have been targeted at Fawaz of course who has announced he is scaling back from Twitter. 2 years ago we had a chairman on Twitter. He too was forced to scale back and remove himself from there. Which led to a reduction of financial support before Nigel Doughty’s untimely death.

Now we have a similar situation where after begging for more interaction and information from board level, when what we do get we don’t like, a minority, but a very vocal minority immediately feel the need to illustrate their feelings. Varying from just a moan, to directing their tweet at either the player or board member or relatives in relation to their gripe.

The news that Fawaz won’t be as active on Twitter is a great shame. It’s been pleasant hearing the news first hand of signings and his excitement. Now because for some fans what they hear isn’t good enough its forced him to come away. The problem is with this vocal minority is that they will see this a weakness and a lack of willingness to connect with them. Not the actual truth that's there little or no point connecting with people who are never happy with what you do.

This club may well not exist with Fawaz, and if it did it wouldn’t be in the position we are. But fans want the moon on a stick. We make a signing, they wanted one who was better. We sign a potential rough diamond, they wanted a polished diamond. The problem is, and I’m going to say it, these people are basically stupid. They don’t understand bigger pictures. They see things as black and white and incredibly simple. Why sign this player when we could have that player, without even thinking is it possible, would they come, what the wage situation is, would they fit in systems, would they upset morale.

A lot of people seem to question why trade in camp for an untried entity. Well Camp wasn’t going to sign a new deal, he wanted to be off. Get used to that. So for that reason he was jettisoned from the club. Simply put, McLeish seems to run the club along the lines of if you don’t want to be here, then get gone. And I support that mentality. I think for too long we have had players treating us another stop on their career and not somewhere to build and make something, for lack of a better cliché, beautiful.

Basically who are we to argue if they people bankrolling us want to bring some Kuwaiti players along for the ride. If it starts to hamper us then and only then can you really grumble. But this guy hasn’t even signed. Who the hell are you to question it? What do you know about al-Rashidi that makes you so certain he will fail? It’s like no-one has ever come from a league that hasn’t produced a star before. Look around, the game is global, this will happen that players come from places that were previously footballing back waters.

Fawaz powering in an effort at the Trent End

Back to the al-Hasawis, increasingly I see people openly question them. People bemoaning the number of loans and no permanent signings. Well again, that's the nature of the beat I’m afraid. We are in flux, attempting to try and build from essentially nothing. Futhermore in flux because we're trying to get promoted and don’t want to be saddlled with Championship players in the Premier League. Furthermore it’s a means to an end. These players we want and need might not be available for a permanent deal in January. Clubs don;t want to sell in January because it's harder to replace and often more expensive. There's an old adage that you can;t get value in the January window and often that is true. So to complain we have too many loans is short sighted and looking for any reason to moan.And thats all people seem to want to do

The Radi Contract Situation

It turned out yesterday that Radoslaw Majewski had tuned down a contract offer of a year extension from Forest. This has left a great deal of fans distraught. The cat calls and wails of it’s the usual Forest way of letting players go for free for not sorting out proper deals.


Perhaps it is, and perhaps it isn’t.

Consider we don’t usually get to know the ins and outs of contract negotiations till either a deal is signed like with Gillett, or on other hand that we know they are definitely off and definitely not signed a deal.

A great many point out to last season and the players we lost for free. That’s unfair though. Last season wasn’t normal. For one we were embroiled in a relegation fight, that meant we didn’t want to give new deals to players we wouldn’t be able to afford. Secondly our finances were in such a parlous state that we were in no position to tie people to deals. A third facet is the perceived injustice from longer term players, who were angry the likes of Derbyshire, Greening and Reid were parachuted into the squad on double if not treble their own wages, and wanted either parity, or a deal elsewhere. Hence Morgan left although for a fee, and ultimately Chambers, McCleary and Lynch.

The financial instability has gone, but the ongoing question of where our future lies has not. For if we get to the promised land of the Premier League, do we really want to be saddled down long term by players who won’t be good enough. And let’s face it; Majewski is not a Premiership quality player. A capable and often genius Championship player that transition may not be easy for the Pole. Therefore it seems the club are looking to keep people on short term deals so that we can easily then jettison them in the next year or two. Rather than be saddled with players for ¾ years, who frankly won’t be near the team. I assume this will be the case for virtually all our current team, who although are very competent Championship players, all of them are untried or failed at the top flight level.

Additionally to this is the fact we simply don’t know if this offer was an opening gambit from Forest to test the water. After all this news wasn’t broken by Forest. Radi’s own agent might release this to invite other more lucrative offers. This in turn could be a catalyst for Forest to increase their offer. Remember the Moussi situation, where his agent spun that half the world wanted him, which turned out to be false. Similarly with Tyson. People are so willing to blame the club; they forget the shadowy operations of agents, who would also see a player moving on a Bosman as a cash cow for themselves.

There are two ways this could go, one is Forest improve their offer. Or second and unlikely is that was our only offer. It’s funny how most people seem to base their knowledge of running a club based on Football Manager at times and yet seem to forget this most basic element of the game. Ho really playing that every makes a first offer that is what the player wants. Unless this is the same type of idiot who turns that option off. However, Majewski could be able to be negotiating with foreign clubs as we speak, and make no mistake if a British club was interested they would have sounded out Majewski’s agent. Therefore he will be more than aware what he could get elsewhere. And in the same way we are forcing Birmingham’s hand on a player they will soon lose for free; other clubs might hope the same for Forest.

This is a very murky time of year; clubs in these tough times increasingly will leave negotiations till they know what their future holds. Nobody wants high waged players in a lower division as much as I said about filler players in the Premier League, with the likes of QPR squad inundated with players they collected on their rise but never got shot of.

So it ultimately comes down to the fact we really don’t know the ins and outs, other than press releases in Poland, and that this may have been a simple first offer. We may make a better offer. At the end of the day there was a telling line from Majewski, or more likely his agent. We never got as far as discussing wages. Because after all, like Camp or Blackstock that too might be a stumbling block in negotiations. Like I said with other offers, he may well have a heightened sense of worth. Only the next few weeks will tell.

Lastly, McLeish might not even have him central to his longer term plans. Therefore only a shorter deal offered. As much as you might not like that, he is the manager after all.

But as always, the fact that so many people get so vocal about something ultimately out of their control. We don’t always know the full picture remember. Before you get angry, wait and see what develops

Latest Transfer Gossip - Jan 14th 2012

Most of this is hearsay, gossip, rumours and generally borderline made up stuff on other sites. Occasionally during transfer windows I compile this, so if anyone starts to think this is me suggesting these transfers thin again, what I do thought, is offer my opinion on this transfers.

Adam Larsen Kwarasey

A completely random name it may seem but Norwegian media has linked us with the Stromsgodset keeper. He is a Ghanaian international and is currently in South Africa as part of the Ghana squad for the African Cup of Nations. According to the Norwegian source (http://www.tv2.no/sport/fotball/tippeligaen/-nottingham-forest-med-bud-paa-larsen-kwarasey-3965181.html) an initial offer was made which was far too low. Negotiations are ongoing, but Stromsgodset hope he has a good tournament to increase his value. He is Norwegian born so would be Work Permit exempt. In terms of believability it seems random, but then sometimes the best deals are. It would possibly be a potential if other targets don’t come off. Kwarasey is 25 years old.

George Boyd
Not exactly news or gossip, it’s been all but confirmed by the Peterborough chairman. He did mention us but he does also have a record of misleading the press and public. This could be a ruse to increase Boyd’s worth and start a bidding war. Although he never had a chance in his previous spell at the club I have always thought he seems dangerous. However not exactly pacey I’m not sure he offers an alternative to what we already have. So it might reach a dead end. We aren’t the only club chasing him.

Chris Burke
This year’s rumour that won’t go away. The latest is we have offered £500k and that Birmingham has all but accepted but is desperately holding out for more. We won't pay more, but Brum hopes someone else can come in gazump us. That said other sources say this is a done deal just waiting for i’s to be dotted and t’s to be crossed. Personally I think this one will go through.

Bader al-Mutawa.
Another rumour that won’t die is that we are back in for the Kuwaiti striker and are hoping that this time he can be granted a work permit. The al-Hasawi family are desperate for an Arabian based player to sign for the club to massively increase our profile over there and see their countryman as ideal. Whether this goes though remains to be seen. There was a lot of discussion before that if we were persistent we would get him eventually. I’m not so sure.

Kieren Westwood
Another name amongst a sea of goalkeepers but one I mention as it’s a bit more a potential goer. I have always rated Westwood, at Carlisle and Coventry. I could see him being a good signing. However it was reported a week ago Sunderland have no intention of letting him go as their own cover for Mignolet then would be a youth team keeper. That could be a huge stumbling block.... Unless of course Camp went there, which would be unlikely.

Danny Fox
Southampton left back has been linked. Now although this would-be a good signing there are huge problems. Although he has been kept out of the team by 17 year old Luke Shaw. Shaw is injured at the moment though it isn’t as long term as could have been. Also Southampton may be wary of big money offers for him, despite him signing a new contract. Potential deal though, but as I say there are enough reasons to doubt it. However he is another defender named Daniel or a version of.

McLeish Gets First Win

Forest claimed their first win under Alex McLeish at the weekend with a victory that came via what has been an unusual forum. Set Pieces.

For so long now Forest haven’t scored from corners. In this game we scored two. Indeed even Peterboroughs goal came from corner, after defensive mishaps from Forest.

Forest were of course welcoming Karl Darlow to the first team. Although he has played before it was never in this context and relatively pressure free. Darlow more than rose to the occasion, although he didn’t have a lot to do, what he did he did competently. Even dashing out of the area to make clearances that perhaps Camp might not have. The goal from Posh cannot be pinned on Darlow and for that he can be pleased.

At their end both centre halves scored, and in the post match coverage this was mentioned from a Twitter use. It is rare but sweet when those two both score. Ok Halford goal was slightly contentious, I still can’t be sure due to where I sit if it went in, but the flag went straight up, and the protestations weren’t that strong.

The second goal could have no complaints at all in that regard. It was a powerful headed effort by Elliot Ward on his return. And a word for the central defence partnership who looked strong and solid. Ward made one challenge he missed that he probably should have been booked for, but at the end of the day sometimes you need those decisions to go for you.

As well as the central defenders, the full backs looked good. Harding attacked well, and Jara looked more than good enough on his debut. He attacked well, passed well and did hi defensive work. His first 3 /4 touches maybe went astray and one or two mutters were heard but he soon won people over.

The midfield was more of a diamond than the previous 1-3 formation. It still  looked narrow, but seemed to allow Majewksi to get forward

The one let down and slightly personally for me because I singled him out as a definite star when we signed him was Lansbury. This is a big chance with Reid out the side and I feel he didn’t really take his chance. Ok he got an assist with the first corner, but for me that was all he really did well. 

The attacks had a somewhat quiet game. Sharp had a good header well saved, but apart from that there were slim pickings for them, not really their fault as they rely on what’s set up for them,

Majewski was man of the match despite his two glaring misses. It is a shame that his performance couldn’t be finished off with a goal. Like Lansbury he got an assist from a corner.

Overall it was a pleasing for the Reds. Peterborough aren’t a good side but they have been on better form and it was an absolutely vital win to pick up especially considering the forthcoming Derby game.

Lee Camp's Future and the Question of Who Comes Next?

So what does the future hold for Lee Camp? He has been told he can leave the club for free this January. His contract is up in June and clearly the club have decided to let him go now. Now whether this is because he has flat refused to discuss a new deal, or simply McLeish wants his own man is unclear. Maybe it’s a combination.


Camp has a strange relation with fans at the moment, and the reaction on Twitter was extremely mixed. There was a distinct camp (no pun intended) who wanted him out, and have now become vocal in their dislike of him. The reasons cited are how he sulked when turned down for his move to Swansea under McClaren, and his form has suffered since becoming an International. Almost as if some of the drive in his career had gone and he has plateaue'd. Rather than pushing on and the try and make it at the top, he has realised he is at his level, playing for a nation that have little or no hope of qualifying for a major competition. Basically his drive to prove has gone. And now he is a shell. At this stage in careers usually the big pay day to sit on a bench comes along. It seems that is right on time.

Because essentially that is what he would become. Reading are the main club being linked, and what you could see Camp doing is being one of these capable Championship keepers who keep a Premiership bench warm for a nice cushy pay day. It’s happened before, and it will always happen again.

There are those who would like to see Camp stay, but the problem for this side of the argument is that it’s pointless. He is clearly off so to try and argue the merits of keeping him serves no purpose. However I will say that for me he is a capable keeper. Good at commanding his area and good at shot stopping. Not the biggest keeper in the world, he has more merits than not. But it seems his relations with the club have collapsed to an untenable point.

As well his good performances in the Billy Davies years, it has also been pointed out he was helped a lot by an extremely capable defensive line up, that since the departures of Wilson and latterly Morgan, he has been left looking, depending on whose arguing this point A) looks like he’s worse because he has a worse defence in front so more clear cut and unsavable chances are made. Or b) that the quality defence made his record of clean sheets and reliability look better than it actually ever was. A lot of people really got on Camps back last year for his failure to give quick delivery. This completely overlooks and negates team orders. It was clearly an order to get the ball sent long to the strikers and get forward quickly. But everyone decided this was Camp who was to blame, which I found extremely frustrating.

There have been a number of names suggested as his replacement, and seeing as we have told Camp he can go, we need to move quickly. Can you really imagine having a keeper in net that has care of what happens as he’s off? It’s not worth thinking about (however he does now have something to prove to potential suitors so may “up” his game.) Rob Green, Craig Gordon and Lukasz Fabianski have all been linked. All have Premiership experience. Green everyone knows was England’s first choice at the start of the previous World Cup. Because of a high profile error he is now tagged as being not good enough, which is hilariously misguided. People who aren’t thinking for themselves and have a typical knee jerk reaction are the ones who claim he’s not good enough. He’d be more than good enough. Fabianksi has made errors, but that’s in a top level Premiership team. Craig Gordon was a £9million keeper a few years ago, he’d now be free, but he has been out the game for a while. But all three would be quality additions. You don’t get where they are without quality and ability. Camp has never been a first choice Premiership keeper. That needs to be remembered in this.

But overall it will be a shame to see Campy leave, but then players often out stay welcomes or only last at a place so long. I think Camp needs a new challenge and new surroundings. His has stagnated somewhat. For him his next move is either a huge pay day move for 2-3 years on a Prem bench tripling his wages. Or it’s a fresh new challenge with another Championship club. Either way it’s definitely not here, not now anyway.

A Call For Calm

Things have been getting a bit heated and silly this last couple of days. People making all kinds of self imposed ultimatums that we must do this and that or McLeish needs to go. You don’t get to make that decision. And to be honest that isn’t going to happen. Barring complete collapse he’ll be here till at least the end of the season and as much as many (me included) weren’t happy with his appointment, we need to move beyond it, because a poisonous angry atmosphere helps no-one.


Now I know how people will react. There will be two camps. Those who applaud the sentiment and those who don’t care and to be honest I’m not out to specifically change people’s minds, but just appeal to reason.

Yes the Cup defeat was shockingly poor. Oldham aren’t exactly on form, aren’t exactly setting the world alight. And only really needed to turn up for less than 10 minutes to completely blow us away. It hurts, but really? What cup success could we expect? A cup run is nice, but this now stops any fixture congestion which can hamper promotion campaigns.

And that looks a beautiful notion right now, a promotion campaign; many are suggesting right now that we are more likely to be embroiled in a relegation dog fight. This is a good old knee jerk reaction you see on twitter and Facebook.

A great many people I saw suggest they liked this appointment are now completely flip flapping. Some of them even went as far as when O’Driscoll was sacked to support it. Yes they somewhat have egg on their faces, but we have only played a few games under McLeish.

For some to be saying if we fail to beat Peterborough and Derby then he HAS to go. That isn’t going to happen. And neither do we want to be a club who brandish the axe so readily. It hardly invites a decent calibre of applicant for next time if we are seen to be completely impatient with managers. Furthermore McLeish was clearly the man they always wanted and once he was ready, O’Driscoll was the fall guy. It was just timed badly. When it was said they approached the layers about who they wanted, it was clearly a move to bring in an intermediary, an Interim boss till someone they felt more suited for the al-Hasawi tastes wanted the job.

Don’t get me wrong, this has all left a sour taste in my mouth and I do feel sorry for Sean. His reputation has if anything potentially been enhanced this whole sorry episode to the point he turned down the Barnsley job yesterday. He was also strongly linked with Wolves too. And it’s on this note I address my next point.

Wolves appointment of Dean Saunders speaks volumes to me about certain ex Forest boss. Billy Davies. Now for me maybe Wolves would have been a perfect fit for Billy, so why not even mentioned or linked? It seems to me his name has been poisoned and muddied by his boardroom shenanigans and wars with owners. For this point it seems no one wants to take that risk on him. So when people keep going on about Bringing Billy Back, this to me speaks louder than words. If he is so wonderful... Why has no-one else taken him on?

A lot of people have also been sending, if not abusive, then questionable Tweets towards Fawaz al-Hasawi, I feel if things don’t improve this will in increase in number and volatility. It really isn’t going to help the cause and I get people are frustrate d and angry, but you really think this will create a strong bond? Remember, we were in such parlous financial health we could well having done a Portsmouth if it hadn’t been for them. And people are getting angry? It’s ridiculous. I saw one guy tweet at Fawaz son, that he had a feeling the family were going to destroy Forest and do more harm than good. Really what good is it to be texting the son of our owner something like that? Where in anyone’s psyche does that seem a good idea? Because I’ve seen it before with people tweeting Michael Doughty about his father, and we all know what that brought about.

I think it’s a problem of the age we live in whereby the people who make decisions are available in ways we never saw before, and people seem to think they these people are instantly answerable to them. They aren’t of course. We are merely customers of a particular brand in a market at the end of the day, and although the average football fan, me included, feels more than that, in a truly economic sense that’s all we are. Do I feel Amazon, or Fosters directors should be answerable to me on social media because I don’t like their decisions? It is over simplifying matters but it is the basic crux of it.

I didn’t agree with the appointment of McLeish but neither do I agree with the acidic hate campaign being led against his regime already. As many other shave pointed out Davies wasn’t’ a popular choice amongst fans at the time, so in essence we need to give anyone a chance. I worry when people seemingly want their club to fail just because they don’t like someone involved. I sit near a fairly volatile character in the Trent End who I have mentioned before; I genuinely question why he goes to games as he seems to garner no enjoyment from the experience even when we play well. Something like this atmosphere is festered by these characters. Those who think because they shout loudest their opinion is worth more. He reacts angrily when some other people who sit adjacent to me tell him to stop moaning and support the team, complaining I pay my wages to come here. No-one forces you though. We need to escape this negative mindset that for some reason we can spout what we want, when we want, how we want and to whom we want. Yes you can, but is it right? No. And that’s my point. It’s only going to exacerbate problems.

Where Are They Now? The Team That Beat Man City

Ok, so it’s a mere 4 years since the historic and glorious defeat of the “Richest team in Football” by ourselves. A day that was wonderful for all the right reasons. And although I’m not saying it’s the greatest day we ever had, it’s interesting because in such a short period of time, that team has completely disbanded.

Some of the players we fielded that day, you think how could we ever win such a prestigious match with them in the side, especially as you see how some of their careers have slid into complete obscurity.

Our side that day was this: Smith, Morgan, Breckin, Perch (Wilson 17), Chambers, Anderson, McGugan, Cohen, Thornhill, Tyson (Davies 81), Earnshaw (Garner 73).

Subs Not Used: Richardson, Byrne, Heath, Reid.

Incredible when you look at it. And no wonder we were struggling against relegation. But coupled with a Caretaker Manager and low self confidence, we went there and triumphed 3-0. The goals of course from Tyson, a screamer, Earnshaw and Garner (hilarious) led the travelling band of support that day into glory. We all remember it. I have written specifically about that game before. But as I say, 4 years, where are those players now?


Paul Smith
The very much maligned Paul Smith as well, and at the time he wasn’t even first choice but was playing as Camp was not allowed to play on loan cover. Smith hung around Forest as back up for a few years, with a loan to Middlesbrough where he did quite well. He often never even made the bench which was a bit sad because he was better than the youth keepers we often put on the bench. After being released from Forest he signed for Southend, for whom he still plays


Luke Chambers
Well we all know where he is now. He left the team in the summer for pastures new and to be honest most weren’t sorry to see him go. He wasn’t bad, and had a few games, it’s just he was very prone to shaky games where everything went wrong. Then there was his outburst which ostracised a number of fans from him, but as captain you expect to him to have been vocal on such matters, especially after being voted Player of the Season not long before. I think at times he got a bum deal from fans. Yes he had the good year, but we remember the years before of inconsistency.


Ian Breckin
That season would be Breckin's last at Forest. The veteran centre half had at times looked a little lost in the Championship, after being a fairly successful player for us in League One. Following his departure from the club he signed for Chesterfield, where he played for 2 years


Wes Morgan
Left Forest last year in a somewhat controversial transfer that could arguably have helped us stay up with the money taken from that being reinvested in loan players who helped us a lot. Morgan has since become club captain at Leicester who are flying high. Wes needs little extra explanation about him, we know him all too well.


James Perch
Started this game at full back but went off injured to be replaced by Kelvin Wilson. Perch is possibly the most surprising of all the ex players from this team and what they went on to do by being the one player to make it to the Premier League, when he was bought by Newcastle. We all laughed but he’s a regular started for Newcastle, and yes their form has dipped, but we should accept that a player we were all largely happy to let leave is now laughing at us having a much more successful post forest career than we could ever have expected.


Matt Thornhill
I find it amazing he started this game. Even more so when I reveal where he plays now. Buxton. Yeah, Buxton. His move to Hibs to follow Calderwood never really worked out. For one he was always fairly limited, but an honest player. Seems like Calderwood just wanted a player he knew there with him, and Thornhill was the one. After a year at Hibs that really didn’t work out he was released, and only in November did he get back into football, admittedly at a very low level. Shame really, he did have successful lower league loans whilst at Forest and looked like he may even make it at League One/Two level. Not to be.

Lewis McGugan & Chris Cohen are of course both still with the club.


Paul Anderson
Paul Anderson signed for Bristol city in the summer after a last year at Forest where he largely was disappointing. Chances have been hard to come by even in a struggling side though he has just started his first league games, and even scored a goal. Though Bristol City manager McInnes seems to think he’s a better left winger, which to me is odd “He much prefers to play on the left rather than the right hand side of the pitch and he has had to be patient...”


Nathan Tyson
Ahhh, well here we go. I could throw in words like Judas and scum, but to be honest he liked the area and took a good contract close to where he lived. Which we’d all do, except for stuff like the corner flag thing and being our arch rivals. He has remained largely injured since joining them, which was how he spent his last couple of years with us. I liked Tyson, and for me this goal is one of my highest highlights in going to Forest game. I can still watch it on YouTube today and grin inanely. Any club other than them and we’d have a soft spot for him.


Robert Earnshaw
The cult of Earnie means like Davies people constantly want to bring him back, despite that clearly not being any solution to any question asked. Earnie isn’t what he was, hence spending a few months playing in Israel after falling out of favour at Cardiff. Maybe had he had lower wage demands he might have stayed, but to be honest he got more cash than what we wanted to pay to play for his home town club in a home coming role. That said he is still with a Nottingham girl... But yeah Earnie isn’t what he was, it’d be like Jenas return or Henry back at Arsenal. Nice, but not the same.



Subs


Kelvin Wilson
Kelvin is now at Celtic after his very acrimonious departure. And of course Celtic just qualified for the last 16 of the Champions League. So fair play to him there. Kelvin came on during the first half of this game for the injured Perch, which was probably a good thing as Kelvin was the better defender. It was the season after this one that Kelvin left for free to North of the border. It is arguable we never properly replaced him as a ball playing centre half.

Arron Davies
Davies Forest career was always torrid after harassing us so in the playoffs. He started out injured and never really showed anything in a red shirt like what he did in the playoffs. After a loan to Brighton that didn’t work, he was released alongside a number of kids a year after the Man City win. He ended up back at Yeovil, and then in 2010 ended up at Peterborough. He played 28 times as they got promoted but was then released by Darren Ferguson. Gary Johnson who had signed him for both Yeovil and Peterborough was now at Northampton and saved his ex player by again signing him, but after Johnson lost his job, so to Davies first team chances dried up. He was released in July 2012, and signed for Exeter City, for whom he still plays now.


Joe Garner
Scorer of the third goal Garners career never really got going at Forest and he is starting to find himself as a lower tier journeyman even at the age of 24. He went to Huddersfield on loan 2 seasons ago, a move that was meant to revitalize him, and failed to score once. Then with Scunthorpe fighting relegation he scored a few goals, though ultimately they went down. He then moved permanently to Watford, but was then loaned to Carlisle this season after a less than impressive record. He has scored a few goals for Carlisle, but with the Cumbrians wanting to extend that loan, they have seen Preston sneak in and sign him till the end of the season just yesterday.

The other subs not used, well Barry Richardson was goalkeeping coach anyway, who had signed terms to be able to sit on bench as cover. Mark Byrne is at Barnet; Joe Heath it seems at Hereford and James Reid as far as I can tell is now at Ilkeston.