Nottingham Forest - QPR

[Strawberry Avenger]

Warburton is the worst manager we have had in recent years in my opinion. He bored me to death.

Yep, me too. People say they couldnt watch Cardiff every week but at least they actually get the ball in the box, rather than Warburton's pass pass for the sake of passing drivel.

Yup.  I don't like Cardiff.  But at least they get results.

SA.

[PsychoStanleyStone]

Hughton might scrape something but if he can set up to outplay a confident QPR team i will eat my words

This game is so epimotic in so many ways, looking forward to it

WOW !

Mark Warburton a better manager than Hughton.

In no World is Warburton even in the same class as Hughton.

I don't want to win this debate before the game, this is why i am going to base everything on the game to make my decision, it's going to be based purely on passionate post match emotions, which you could argue is justified regarding everything about this fixture.

I'm not going to argue about all the usual stuff now, for me i'm passion based supporter which means my love of Forest is on life support at the moment

Mark Warburton games managed 287, won 140, 48.7% win ratio
Chris Hughton games managed 483, won 193, 40% win ratio

It's ok to be ecstatic about Chris Hughton's exciting exhilarating dynamic and Swansea was a great performance but seriously there are underlying concerns that we ignore, stuff that gets dissed as wrist slashing or over reaction. You have to face the facts, this season Hughton hasn't displayed anything at all vaguely indicating there is going to be much to get excited about, a toned down Sabri with more obvious flaws.

Most of all let's have this chat after the game regards style, excitement, creativity, game management because at the moment i've forgotten what most of those things actually are

[Madforit]

Warburton is the worst manager we have had in recent years in my opinion. He bored me to death.

Nah that title has to go to either Platt or Megson, but not Warburton there's far worse than him that called themselves a manager.

[Strawberry Avenger]

Hughton might scrape something but if he can set up to outplay a confident QPR team i will eat my words

This game is so epimotic in so many ways, looking forward to it

WOW !

Mark Warburton a better manager than Hughton.

In no World is Warburton even in the same class as Hughton.

 You have to face the facts, this season Hughton hasn't displayed anything at all vaguely indicating there is going to be much to get excited about, a toned down Sabri with more obvious flaws.

Face facts.  In this alternate reality that has been constructed?  Bite of reality sandwich time. Where is this 'exciting' football in the last 20 years? There's been precious little of it in reality. Very few teams play 'exciting' football in a muck and nettles league.

Let's not let facts get in the way of pragmatism.  What 'obvious' flaws?  You play the cards you're dealt.

Hughton hasn't displayed a pre-season.  (Unless you count the one he had to under go upon his arrival, facing an unfit squad...). Because he didn't have one. At least not in the Summer. Where it should have been.

He hasn't been vague about the football at all.  It's crisis management.  (Warburton's toothless tip tap had Forest doing down on the last day of the season bar a 'hand of god' moment.  We hung by a thread.  That Warburton?  The one that was nose diving before he got the sack?  The fans who were bored of his possession based boredom and winless football?)

Chris didn't bring in the sorrow bunch (largely) of 14 stranger danger players who weren't of his choosing.  So, no swashbuckling our way to the play offs with tippy tappy (and toothless) possession based snooze fests.

A 'toned down Sabri with more obvious floors.'  Ridiculous.  Hughton has had two excellent promotions from this Championship.  One with Newcastle.  And one with Brighton, a less resourced club.  What has Sabri actually achieved other than to torpedo this season?  (An obvious flaw?)

Sabri is responsible for the train wreck end to the season (the football wasn't great) and the plane crash start to the season.  The football was gutless and dire.  He walks away from this disaster and Hughton's on the hook for 'exciting' football?  Well.  That's a warped reality.

The players Hughton has brought in?  Garner?  Exciting.  Scored a 'thing of beauty' yesterday.  (and has coached the suppler of the cross, Christie (a player he didn't bring in) to be a better balance of def' and attack with, yes, an exciting cross and some 'exciting' interplay between he and Ameobi.). Krov'?  Another exciting player who got the goal against Brentford.  (Hughton didn't bring in the exciting Grabban, the exciting Ameobi, the exciting Freeman or the exciting Colback.  Or the rest.)

The type of football played can be largely down to the type of players you bring in.  Hughton has brought in two very exciting players.  But within the framework of pragmatic survival and anti-football teams like Cardiff.  (Who, yes.  We just beat.  Under 'exciting' Chris Hughton.'  Cardiff.)

Reality check.  Very few teams are playing free flowing football in the Championship.  (And very few are doing it in the Premier where safety seems to be coming 1st not to get relegated from the gravy train.). It's largely pugilistic.  Muck and nettles.  Agricultural.  Players have to be robust but play a bit.  That may upset the rose tinted reality of the Paul Hart style romantics (of which I used to be consider myself) but the fact of the matter was that Brian Clough sides could handle themselves.  Both Hart and Warburton failed to get promotion.  Because they didn't blend their tippy tappy football with direct football.  (Clough sides were direct.). Clough himself said Hart's side was taking 5 passes to do what they needed to do instead of 2 or 3.  Hughton understands this.  He understands this division.  And how to get out of it.  Because he's done it.

I think Norwich are the only team that have outclassed Hughton's pragmatic approach and Norwich have been doing it for 3 years with the same manager and some Premier money behind them.  Yeah.  Norwich looked good.  As well they might.

Hughton's had 7 months with a squad (and a world) he didn't make.  If he gets Forest mid-table this season.  I'll call him Christ Hughton.

Next year. I predict a measure twice, cut once squad. A balance of defence, attack with pragmatism.

It won't be 'exciting' (re: mediocre reality) loser, staying in the championship another 20 years, football. But if it gets Forest promoted? Who cares. I did get excited about the Garner goal and the interplay with Christle and Ameobi which led to Christie's dynamite cross. It's competitive. It's robust. And shows signs of 'some' excitement to get the result. In context of this season? I'd say beating Cardiff is where the Chris Hughton revolution truly begins.

Warburton's done 'great'. His QPR (where he's had way more time) are a few more places above Forest and 8 points ahead. I doubt that would satisfy our board for the amount of time he's been there.

Tip. Tap. If only 'some' Forest fans had the patience to see out an actual whole season with a manager who has a pre-season and his own squad of players. Not left overs of previous failed dreams.

I smiled at Randall's 2nd interview. He felt there was no holy grail approach from the top top 6 teams.

Ironic. He overlooked the fact that the top 4 have been far more consistent in their approach.

SA.

[Sniffer Dog (Admin)]

Hughton might scrape something but if he can set up to outplay a confident QPR team i will eat my words

This game is so epimotic in so many ways, looking forward to it

WOW !

Mark Warburton a better manager than Hughton.

In no World is Warburton even in the same class as Hughton.

Mark Warburton games managed 287, won 140, 48.7% win ratio
Chris Hughton games managed 483, won 193, 40% win ratio

You cannot be serious PSS surely?

Many of Hughton's games managed have been in the EPL. How many games has Warburton managed in the EPL.

Plus Warburton built up his % by being at Rangers in a 2 team league in Scotland.

[Tricky]

Defensively, we have the upper hand over QPR. We have the 6th best defence record in the Championship this season, having conceded on average 0.97 goals per game, compared with QPR, who have the 16th best defence having conceded 1.13 goals per game.

From the home team vantage point, we are 7th in the table for goals conceded at home, having had 18 scored against us at the City Ground, 7 clean sheets, which gives an average of 0.95 goals scored against us at home. QPR, on the other hand are 12th in the defensive league away from home, having let in 21 times, with 6 clean sheets, giving them an away average of 1.17 goals per game.

Forest have let in 18 goals in the first half of matches played, compared to QPR's 17 and have let in 20 second half goals in relation to QPR's 26. This is worth bearing in mind that it would appear QPR's defence may be prone to tiring in the second half and CH may be wise to hold back young Alex Mighten on the bench until the last 30 minutes. Maybe Ameobi as well and bring in Knockart and Freeman on to start. 

On the attack side of things though, things aren't so encouraging, with Forest sitting in 20th position in the goals per game league, averaging only 0.79 after knocking in 31 goals, of which 16 were at home. QPR on the other hand, sit in 13th place, having averaged 1.11 goals per game after scoring 42 times, 18 of which were away goals.

With the above in mind, I would start with.........

                    Samba

Christie  Worrall  McKenna  Blackett

       Garner                Cafu

Knockaert    Krovinovic   Freeman

                  Grabban

Whilst I am one of Grabbans biggest critics, and I don't deny that, he does put in a lot of work pressing on defenders. If he can do that and Knockaert, in particular, is on song, then I think we can hit the QPR defence in the second half, especially if they are prone to tiring. Bring on Mighten, Sammi and Taylor and put pressure on them with fresh legs.

[Sabricadabra]

How many clubs has Warburton taken up to the Premier League? Hughton has 2.

How many seasons has Warburton managed clubs in the Premier League? Hughton has 7 iirc.

Not much of a comparison is it.

[zicorice]

Hughton might scrape something but if he can set up to outplay a confident QPR team i will eat my words

This game is so epimotic in so many ways, looking forward to it

WOW !

Mark Warburton a better manager than Hughton.

In no World is Warburton even in the same class as Hughton.

Mark Warburton games managed 287, won 140, 48.7% win ratio
Chris Hughton games managed 483, won 193, 40% win ratio

You cannot be serious PSS surely?

Many of Hughton's games managed have been in the EPL. How many games has Warburton managed in the EPL.

Plus Warburton built up his % by being at Rangers in a 2 team league in Scotland.

Wasn't even top division in 1st season at Rangers. It was Jock Championship. In fairness he was good at Brentford but refused to be part of their "mathematical modelling" plan, which has since done them pretty well so far financially- though no promotion yet.

[Reds73]

Samba

Christie
Worrall
McKenna
Blackett

Cafu
Garner
Krovinivic

Mighten
Knockaert
Grabban

[David]

Hughton might scrape something but if he can set up to outplay a confident QPR team i will eat my words

This game is so epimotic in so many ways, looking forward to it

WOW !

Mark Warburton a better manager than Hughton.

In no World is Warburton even in the same class as Hughton.

 You have to face the facts, this season Hughton hasn't displayed anything at all vaguely indicating there is going to be much to get excited about, a toned down Sabri with more obvious flaws.

Face facts.  In this alternate reality that has been constructed?  Bite of reality sandwich time. Where is this 'exciting' football in the last 20 years? There's been precious little of it in reality. Very few teams play 'exciting' football in a muck and nettles league.

Let's not let facts get in the way of pragmatism.  What 'obvious' flaws?  You play the cards you're dealt.

Hughton hasn't displayed a pre-season.  (Unless you count the one he had to under go upon his arrival, facing an unfit squad...). Because he didn't have one. At least not in the Summer. Where it should have been.

He hasn't been vague about the football at all.  It's crisis management.  (Warburton's toothless tip tap had Forest doing down on the last day of the season bar a 'hand of god' moment.  We hung by a thread.  That Warburton?  The one that was nose diving before he got the sack?  The fans who were bored of his possession based boredom and winless football?)

Chris didn't bring in the sorrow bunch (largely) of 14 stranger danger players who weren't of his choosing.  So, no swashbuckling our way to the play offs with tippy tappy (and toothless) possession based snooze fests.

A 'toned down Sabri with more obvious floors.'  Ridiculous.  Hughton has had two excellent promotions from this Championship.  One with Newcastle.  And one with Brighton, a less resourced club.  What has Sabri actually achieved other than to torpedo this season?  (An obvious flaw?)

Sabri is responsible for the train wreck end to the season (the football wasn't great) and the plane crash start to the season.  The football was gutless and dire.  He walks away from this disaster and Hughton's on the hook for 'exciting' football?  Well.  That's a warped reality.

The players Hughton has brought in?  Garner?  Exciting.  Scored a 'thing of beauty' yesterday.  (and has coached the suppler of the cross, Christie (a player he didn't bring in) to be a better balance of def' and attack with, yes, an exciting cross and some 'exciting' interplay between he and Ameobi.). Krov'?  Another exciting player who got the goal against Brentford.  (Hughton didn't bring in the exciting Grabban, the exciting Ameobi, the exciting Freeman or the exciting Colback.  Or the rest.)

The type of football played can be largely down to the type of players you bring in.  Hughton has brought in two very exciting players.  But within the framework of pragmatic survival and anti-football teams like Cardiff.  (Who, yes.  We just beat.  Under 'exciting' Chris Hughton.'  Cardiff.)

Reality check.  Very few teams are playing free flowing football in the Championship.  (And very few are doing it in the Premier where safety seems to be coming 1st not to get relegated from the gravy train.). It's largely pugilistic.  Muck and nettles.  Agricultural.  Players have to be robust but play a bit.  That may upset the rose tinted reality of the Paul Hart style romantics (of which I used to be consider myself) but the fact of the matter was that Brian Clough sides could handle themselves.  Both Hart and Warburton failed to get promotion.  Because they didn't blend their tippy tappy football with direct football.  (Clough sides were direct.). Clough himself said Hart's side was taking 5 passes to do what they needed to do instead of 2 or 3.  Hughton understands this.  He understands this division.  And how to get out of it.  Because he's done it.

I think Norwich are the only team that have outclassed Hughton's pragmatic approach and Norwich have been doing it for 3 years with the same manager and some Premier money behind them.  Yeah.  Norwich looked good.  As well they might.

Hughton's had 7 months with a squad (and a world) he didn't make.  If he gets Forest mid-table this season.  I'll call him Christ Hughton.

Next year. I predict a measure twice, cut once squad. A balance of defence, attack with pragmatism.

It won't be 'exciting' (re: mediocre reality) loser, staying in the championship another 20 years, football. But if it gets Forest promoted? Who cares. I did get excited about the Garner goal and the interplay with Christle and Ameobi which led to Christie's dynamite cross. It's competitive. It's robust. And shows signs of 'some' excitement to get the result. In context of this season? I'd say beating Cardiff is where the Chris Hughton revolution truly begins.

Warburton's done 'great'. His QPR (where he's had way more time) are a few more places above Forest and 8 points ahead. I doubt that would satisfy our board for the amount of time he's been there.

Tip. Tap. If only 'some' Forest fans had the patience to see out an actual whole season with a manager who has a pre-season and his own squad of players. Not left overs of previous failed dreams.

I smiled at Randall's 2nd interview. He felt there was no holy grail approach from the top top 6 teams.

Ironic. He overlooked the fact that the top 4 have been far more consistent in their approach.

SA.

[Uwantlee]

I think we need to put the CH and MW argument to the side as it has no relevance to us. MW was ouR manager... he isn’t any more. Ch is our manager and that is the end of it. We will never know how MW would have faired given time and it is unfair on him to even try to predict that.

CH is our manager... he has a proven track record and he needs our support and the clubs support over the summer. He has done an outstanding job so far with a completely and unnecessarily unbalanced squad of players that should never have been signed.

What we do know is that today we will be hard to break down. QPR will probably dominate possession but we will create chances. We may even convert a chance. We know that if we go ahead we will be hard to break down and probably won’t lose. We know that if we go a goal down we will panic when the chances come our way and more likely lose. Either way we will be behind the team and it will be of no reflection of CH or MWs potential as a once NFFC manager.

We will be safe at the end of the season and we have the right man in place to make next season more fun/interesting.

[Joe Baker Legend]

Team News.....
Don't forget your predictions in "The Aaron Higgs Prediction League"