May 2022 Where Will We Finish?

[Sniffer Dog (Admin)]

We need to keep this side together and add to it just a bit in January and we will be there or thereabouts. That is a big ask though.

[GaribaldiRED]

I think you are right Sniff. We have now played 13 games since CH left and have managed to collect 24 points which is almost auto form.

If we continue at the same rate we will get 47 more points this season, giving us a total of 72. 
Over last 4 years this would finish 7th, 6th, 8th, 8th

January is going to be important, do we kick on and get better, stay the same or lose key players.

I suspect we'll lose players and the season will tail off as a result.

That's the spirit Paps.

I've always said top 6 is a realistic ambition if we keep the side together. But taking Brennan, Lowe and Spence out of the side, considering how they've performed for us, will be a major blow.

I agree with you. If we end up weakening the squad in January then we will not make it.

[Strawberry Avenger]

Depends on January.

Hard to make any prediction with several potential loan departures.

'If' ie conditional on January. Forest seem 2-4 players away from a top 6. A LB and a striker be priorities. Maybe another winger...and...

SA.

[Username]

Given the last 18 months a top 12 finish will still be an excellent achievement and Coops will deserve plenty of credit.

[Derby My Arse]

Given the last 18 months a top 12 finish will still be an excellent achievement and Coops will deserve plenty of credit.

I think so plus it would give us a good foundation to have a proper go next season. Haven't given up on this season yet though still a long long way to go.

[Strawberry Avenger]

I think you are right Sniff. We have now played 13 games since CH left (DIDN'T have fullbacks!!!!) and have managed to collect 24 points (largely WITH fullbacks!!!) which is almost auto form.

Against easier teams than the teams we played before that and with a full squad squad we didn't have until game 6 or 7. 

Why do we always have to be either relegation certainties or suddenly promotion challengers? Can't we just be a midtable team with room for improvement? Let's not massively build up expectations again or alternatively not panic after a few draws against better teams.

In our first 4 games we played the current 2nd, 4th, 5th and 7th then Derby which is obviously an awkward game. Not a defence of Hughton just trying to make it clear that quality of opposition matters.

Bullseye. I agree with the thrust of Wassy's post.

Hughton's gone.  But we didn't have fullbacks for the start of the season and got punished for it.

And neither would have Steve Cooper.  Forest look unbalanced without Lowe.  (And surprise.  We're getting draws again.). Bar the style of football, the glass ceiling on the current squad feels somewhat familiar.

Forest didn't do their recruitment work properly for the start of the season.  We're still waiting for LB depth, a striker to push Grabban (when he doesn't play we don't have a striker who can score) and probably an attacking wide player who can chip in with some more goals.

It was about the Summer recruitment. And it is very much going to be about the January recruitment.

Cooper is making a fair fist of the hand he has. The football is more positive and the player's seem happier. But he's had fullback's in his deck of cards of his for most of his time here.

But I very much get the feeling that the wheels are squealing in mid-table. (4 draws and 1 win from the last 5 games?)

A couple of back to back wins from here would buy some time until January happens. We'll see.

SA.

[GaribaldiRED]

I think you are right Sniff. We have now played 13 games since CH left (DIDN'T have fullbacks!!!!) and have managed to collect 24 points (largely WITH fullbacks!!!) which is almost auto form.

Against easier teams than the teams we played before that and with a full squad squad we didn't have until game 6 or 7. 

Why do we always have to be either relegation certainties or suddenly promotion challengers? Can't we just be a midtable team with room for improvement? Let's not massively build up expectations again or alternatively not panic after a few draws against better teams.

In our first 4 games we played the current 2nd, 4th, 5th and 7th then Derby which is obviously an awkward game. Not a defence of Hughton just trying to make it clear that quality of opposition matters.

Bullseye.  I agree with the thrust of Wassy's post.

Hughton's gone.  But we didn't have fullbacks for the start of the season and got punished for it.

And neither would have Steve Cooper.  Forest look unbalanced without Lowe.  (And surprise.  We're getting draws again.). Bar the style of football, the glass ceiling on the current squad feels somewhat familiar.

Forest didn't do their recruitment work properly for the start of the season.  We're still waiting for LB depth, a striker to push Grabban (when he doesn't play we don't have a striker who can score) and probably an attacking wide player who can chip in with some more goals.

It was about the Summer recruitment.  And it is very much going to be about the January recruitment.

Cooper is making a fair fist of the hand he has.  The football is more positive and the player's seem happier.  But he's had fullback's in his deck of cards of his for most of his time here.

But I very much get the feeling that the wheels are squealing in mid-table.  (4 draws and 1 win from the last 5 games?)

A couple of back to back wins from here would buy some time until January happens.  We'll see.

SA.

CH still managed to lose two games after the two FB came in. I'm convinced that Steve Cooper would have gotten more points than CH managed (1) if he had started the season. 10-11 points from the first 7 games would have been doable.

[Username]

CH has gone, let the past die, kill it if you have to.

[Sniffer Dog (Admin)]

It's about where we would possibly be in the league now if Cooper had been here from the start of the season and where we will finish in May. Can't see a problem with mentioning CH if we have to.

[Paplane]

In hindsight now its easy to see that the players weren't playing for Hughton but I remain convinced that CH was badly let down in the window. For example, bringing Lowe in the day before the sheep game meaning he wouldnt be available. It was obvious at the time we had a problem at LB. This was a hugly important game for the club & CH's job security but that didnt seem to matter. How hard could it have been for Lowe to arrive 2 days earlier so he could play?

[Sniffer Dog (Admin)]

I think Lowe was available for selection though wasn't he? But CH chose not to select him.

[Paplane]

I think Lowe was available for selection though wasn't he? But CH chose not to select him.

He arrived the day before the game. No way was he ready to play. He hadnt even trained with us.