Nottingham Forest - Porto

[Salvatore Matrecano]

Is anyone going to give Porto any credit?

They are an excellent team with a very good manager and we have beaten them.

We were much the better side in the first half and nobody could have complained if we were 3-0 up.

Second half we rode our luck a bit but that was to be expected as Porto only had 45 minutes to save the game. They are also vastly experienced in these situations unlike ourselves.

Thought we defended well though and I don't recall Ortega having to make a save of note.

Yes, said that after the first leg. The way they play football is what I would love to see from us, there is not reason why we can’t aspire to that, ultimately as a PL club (hopefully) we have a bigger budget.

[wassy04]

Is anyone going to give Porto any credit?

They are an excellent team with a very good manager and we have beaten them.

We were much the better side in the first half and nobody could have complained if we were 3-0 up.

Second half we rode our luck a bit but that was to be expected as Porto only had 45 minutes to save the game. They are also vastly experienced in these situations unlike ourselves.

Thought we defended well though and I don't recall Ortega having to make a save of note.

Yes, said that after the first leg. The way they play football is what I would love to see from us, there is not reason why we can’t aspire to that, ultimately as a PL club (hopefully) we have a bigger budget.

The clubs from the smaller leagues do have an advantage in the later stages compared to the PL. They are just not playing at anywhere near the same intensity in the league and you can see the difference. English clubs dominating the early stages of these competitions then fading later on.

[Simon]

Porto played some lovely football across both legs and i thought there keeper played well in both games.

We got lucky in the second half a little - they hit the bar twice if i recall, but then we looked reasonably comfortable containing them in the main.

[wassy04]

NDoye was truly dreadful again. Bakwa at least tried although did his usual giving the ball away.
Jesus looks bereft of confidence and the whole team looked terrified to shoot. Thats why I said it was like a Dyche performance last night. Jesus on his own in the box marked by 4 defenders and the rest of the team playing sideways and backwards behind him.
Neco and Jair Cunha were both excellent.

It's amazing we signed 3 wingers for around 30-40m each and they all look terrible (plus add in McAtee that could arguably play there). Neither N'Doye or Hutchinson seemed to want to go past the defender even though they are both capable, it was only Neco and Aina that were willing.

If we have the fitness, we need to stick with the back three just so we don't need to use these guys as wingers. Ultimately Aina and Neco are probably our best wingers as well as full backs (definitely in Neco's case).

Also, I know Dominguez played well as a midfielder but he is frustratingly bad in front of goal, was it three massive chances that fell his way. The lack of shooting ability in basically our entire midfield/attack is just painful. I just think it is something we have to live with and find a way to play around. It is worth noting that when fit our back 4/5, plus Sangare and Anderson are really good. Sangare was excellent last night I thought as were Jair and Neco (always).

[Jimmygordon]

The manager was uptight last night. At the start of the second half, his coach was 20 seconds late after kick off (the one that jumps about), and he bollocked him. I mean, really bollocked him.

Not happy with Hutch and Neco for not going past their men, and really told them.

When the Porto bench was playing up, he went for them to. He had to sit down and have a drink a couple of times.

[Paplane]

The manager was uptight last night. At the start of the second half, his coach was 20 seconds late after kick off (the one that jumps about), and he bollocked him. I mean, really bollocked him.

Not happy with Hutch and Neco for not going past their men, and really told them.

When the Porto bench was playing up, he went for them to. He had to sit down and have a drink a couple of times.

I like that. A bit of steel behind the nice bloke facade.

[jurgen rober]

Great article from Daniel Storey (he is a Forest fan) about last nights game.

[Username]

Great article from Daniel Storey (he is a Forest fan) about last nights game.

I
“Igor Jesus waits for the ball more often than looking for it.”

What does he expect him to do? We are setup as the manager intends? The chap has played near two years of football with little to no respite.