19-08-2018, 02:07 PM
(This post was last modified: 19-08-2018, 02:17 PM by Strawberry Avenger.)
(19-08-2018, 08:47 AM)Turkish Wrote: 5 games unbeaten from a squad that has had an absolute overhaul, performances have been extremely patchy which is exactly to be expected when you have such massive changes, however the never say die spirit is in abundance and results breed confidence confidence brings this squad closer together quicker and performances follow
Its small steps not wholesale changes that are needed but again it won't be long before they are up to speed, to think that good performances and no points at this stage of the season would be anything other than disastrous to the point fans talking new manager would be at least whispers in the air by this point are testimony to a complete misunderstanding if you think 6 points in 4 games is anything less than what you should be hoping for
This is not a fingers crossed and hope half the squad come good season this is a squad that is good enough to challenge not by a long way Soudini is being carefully managed and will no doubt start next Saturday Dawson won't be far behind and over the next few games fitness levels aside Robinson and Byram will become the first choice fullbacks. We now have a week to prepare for 3 games in 7 days and again AK will be thinking about managing fitness, it wouldn't shock me if its more of the same this side of the international break
We have our part to play and as fans and what a part we are playing unprecedented season ticket sales, sell outs and large away contingents and this is holiday season. It would be an absolute crying shame if we cannot show a little bit of patience and allow the team time to gel and build the combinations across the team that can flourish
IMO the opening comments are an over reaction, not withstanding reference to the performances which are absolutely spot on we have got out of jail 2 times now however that being the case we get 4 extra points for Brizzle who we should have beaten easily and WBA who should have been long dispatched before the last 20 minutes of daftness took place but that's football for you
The original question is so far so good, I reckon you've hit the nail on the head with that, not great, not brilliant, not anything to write home about or get overly excited about, just a good old fashioned scrappy, some good, some bad performances underpinned by a 5 game unbeaten run which for me turns average into good
Yes. Something like that.
Forest have scrapped to get points. You need to be able to do that in the Championship.
That's a plus.
There are areas of initial concern. Fullbacks are being targeted. And if you have an obvious weakness, teams will exploit it. Wigan did. Reading did. Geddy was targeted in both games. Ending up with a fractured cheek. Wigan were physical, high tempo and high pressing. Forest couldn't cope initially. Watson coming on provided more steel to Forest. I'd suggest pushing Geddy or Bridcutt into the ACM against such teams...win the battle then bring Car' on when their high pressing game is exhausted. ...and have Watson and Colback behind them.
Because other teams will look at Wigan and Reading's success and try to do the same. But not all will have the quality to do what Wigan did. (A team who have had a successful season behind them. Momentum. They're a 'team' and Forest have only just started that journey.) It showed.
SA.
As for Pants. 'Get in there, that's what I pay you for.' Clough. (Though why are the DCMs passing it to Fig' who hashed it back to Pants?) I guess there was enough blame to do around yesterday.
Merits to Cash and Soudani who must started the next game.
Wigan's 6.5 keeper cleaned out or came through his own Wigan players to get a similar ball into their box.
SA.
Grabban. Did he get the service to feet?
I guess he's not a Murphy win the header type. Ergo, his 'languid' style reputation before Forest bought him.
Same for Bre' though. If you don't play the through ball to him...for him to run onto? Why bother playing him? Sell him to Blackburn. Grabban must feel frustrated. Service. To feet.
SA.
(19-08-2018, 01:41 PM)Sausage Roll Wrote: I'm satisfied with the start we've made. Not blown away but not downcast either. I'd say we probably deserve one point more than we've got, having dropped two against WBA but stolen one from Wigan.
If was probably unrealistic to expect us to immediately start playing teams off the park with 13 new players to bed in. We've shown how well we can play against West Brom, now we need to see it more consistently.
The defence needs to improve, no question. I like Osborn but it sounds like he struggled vs. Wigan so perhaps it's time to give Robinson a start in the league now. Darikwa is good going forward but gives the ball away a lot and can get caught out defensively - he got skinned for Wigan's penalty. I hope Byram gets in the team soon as I think he's the better player.
I don’t feel Fox has done much wrong, if anything Figueredo has looked the more shaky, so maybe it's time to get Dawson back in if Hefele isn't quite ready yet.
Colback does so much that isn't noticed so for me he should start every game in the league. Guedioura has been outstanding - if he's injured for a while then the choice is between Watson and Yates I guess.
Carvalho has shown in fits and starts what he's capable of, which is what I'd expect. He's barely more than a kid in a new team and country - I think it'd be wrong to expect him to run games already. His pressing and pass for Cash's goal vs. Wigan were excellent. Dias looks pacy and dangerous, just Gonclaves been a bit off the pace as yet.
It's a shame Grabban didn't bag the penalty as the goal would've done him the world of good. Feels a bit early to be writing him off yet though. I'd be using Brereton as his understudy rather than Murphy but it seems his future could lie elsewhere so I hope we bring someone else in - we'll need to.
Soudani looks a real character and livewire and has to be pushing for a start soon. Cash has shown a tremendous attitude. Left out of the team at the start of the season but played his way back into it. I do wonder if Brereton has been sulking a bit and that's why we're considering the offer?
We're four league games in, still unbeaten and at the right end of the table without having played brilliantly yet aside from one game. I think there's a lot to be optimistic about. If it gets to ten or fifteen games and we're still talking about waiting to click or hit our stride then maybe there's cause for concern. For me I'm pretty happy as I think there's so much more to come.
The Voice of Reason. :idea: :cool: :exclamation:
That's sums things up soundly. Happy with that.
Ten to 15 games. We'll know more.
SA.
Forest do have options to change things up. They're just not completely fit yet in terms of Byram or Heff.
I'd like to see Bre' (Can't we at least see what Grabban and Bre' could do together?) and Bridcutt (he was Leed's Captain...and he can do the nasty stuff...) on the bench for the next match.
SA.