Thoughts On The Next Nottingham Forest Manager

[Duncan Mckenzie]

i hope we keep Mon despite what we have seen in some games. he needs a proper window to get players suited to how he plays. we cant keep chopping/changing managers and bringing in loads of mediocre players its not working.  we owe him that surely.

I am sure MON is capable of getting a team to play better football than what we have seen so far.

I think it's worth pointing out that this time last year under Karanka it was more or less the same and we went seven games without scoring a goal.

[Maltared]

Following a couple of days of meditation now I am going to write my six pence worth of opinion on the MON saga.
In my opinion football showed so far was below average, especially the away games. Initially I understood that this wasnt his team and that he was away from the Championship for sometime, so he needed some time to settle. Did he had enough time? answer to this question might be different depending on the fans point of view. For me, for the time given so far, we should have seen some indication of were he wants to go and what type of football he wants to play.

             The last few games (he had also the now famous international break were he had the chance to be with the players even more) instead of going forward I have to say that we are going backwards. Between the senior team and the U23,by now he managed to see in action all the players in the squad and from all the players that were sidelined by AK he only managed to bring back to life ...surprise surprise the two players that the majority of the fans were in agreement that were past it ...Watson and Murphy. According to many Bridcutt has been doing well in training and also when playing in the 23`s, but is nowhere close to the senior team. Yes he gave a chance to Yates and the kid had a good debut, but it seems that instead of playing more to his strengths, he is restricting the kid in roles that are not his.

             Last Saturday we fielded a midfield that was the same midfield that created nothing (or almost nothing) last season. What seemed a good partnership in the making in defence (Big ben and Milos), for some reason was broken to introduce a player that is only on loan till the end of the season. Maybe because Milos made a mistake in his last game? but if that is the case, the we will not be seeing the majority of the players for some weeks now, as in the last couple of games , all of them were guilty of mistakes. Hope he is not the type of manager that holds grudges cause we will end up with a broken dressing room.

             Even though we are not mathematically out of it yet, we all know that we are not good enough to make the play offs, so let use the remaining games of the campaign to give a proper chance to players that belong to Forest (especially those that have a year or more still on their contracts). No use playing Wauge in defence if you have Milo available, no use keep playing Pele in midfield if you have Bridcutt and Yacob available, no use to keep playing Janko in defence, especially if you have a young upcoming kid through the ranks. Same applies to Watson and Murphy, they are not the future, so pre season experiments can start from now.

            Same applies for Bonatini (what a waste that signing was), and Gonclavez (you might aswell send the latter back to Portugal-at least he will be with his family)...
What about Colback? he is undeniably our best midfielder, better say the most consistent, cause he creates nothing or close to nothing. Are we going to sign him or the club knows that he is not worth it, if it is the latter, just let Yacob play and maybe try Gueddy beside him after all they are ours.

            To summerize, in the poll I said that I am still on the fence with MON, mainly because he is MON and I am fed up of starting afresh, but what will happen from now till the end of the season will clarify a bit more were I am with MON stay/or leave ....
             Even his press conferences now are starting to sound repetitive, maybe one of these days he should let RK do an interview maybe we will hear something different ...

[the jock]

i hope we keep Mon despite what we have seen in some games. he needs a proper window to get players suited to how he plays. we cant keep chopping/changing managers and bringing in loads of mediocre players its not working.  we owe him that surely.

I am sure MON is capable of getting a team to play better football than what we have seen so far.

I think it's worth pointing out that this time last year under Karanka it was more or less the same and we went seven games without scoring a goal.

great point. support the manager . it takes time and give him a window.

[Strawberry Avenger]

Shorey only wanted to stay if no one else came in for him, that was always the case.

You got me there.

Damn you. Shorey!

I thought you were the chosen one!!  You were meant to help Forest get promoted...not leave our promotion hopes in ruins!!!!

SA.

[Strawberry Avenger]

i hope we keep Mon despite what we have seen in some games. he needs a proper window to get players suited to how he plays. we cant keep chopping/changing managers and bringing in loads of mediocre players its not working.  we owe him that surely.

I am sure MON is capable of getting a team to play better football than what we have seen so far.

I think it's worth pointing out that this time last year under Karanka it was more or less the same and we went seven games without scoring a goal.

Dark times indeed.

Here's to MoN, the new torch bearer!!!!  

We played good football against WBA, though?  Should have won that one...Preston...all good tactical battles for me.

Maybe if we'd had Lewis Grabban for those '6 weeks' that might have made a difference?

SA.

[Strawberry Avenger]

Following a couple of days of meditation now I am going to write my six pence worth of opinion on the MON saga.
In my opinion football showed so far was below average, especially the away games. Initially I understood that this wasnt his team and that he was away from the Championship for sometime, so he needed some time to settle. Did he had enough time? answer to this question might be different depending on the fans point of view. For me, for the time given so far, we should have seen some indication of were he wants to go and what type of football he wants to play.

*Snip.*

Not if it's not his team?

SA.

[Strawberry Avenger]

             Last Saturday we fielded a midfield that was the same midfield that created nothing (or almost nothing) last season. What seemed a good partnership in the making in defence (Big ben and Milos), for some reason was broken to introduce a player that is only on loan till the end of the season. Maybe because Milos made a mistake in his last game? but if that is the case, the we will not be seeing the majority of the players for some weeks now, as in the last couple of games , all of them were guilty of mistakes. Hope he is not the type of manager that holds grudges cause we will end up with a broken dressing room.

        

Yes.  Good point there, Malta.  One that might have been overlooked by some.

Not playing Milo (along with Jack vs Rotherham) cost us the points in my view.  And I hope it's not because of the 'you made a mistake' thing.  Players will.  This is a very flawed Forest squad.

But, perhaps MoN's patience is wearing thin.  As Dougie once said, 'You have some players who don't listen...or can't do what you ask them.'

Regardless.  I'd like to see Milo (easily our most composed CH...) back in the side and Jack restored to LB.  We don't seem composed or balanced without either of them.

SA.

[Strawberry Avenger]

             The last few games (he had also the now famous international break were he had the chance to be with the players even more) instead of going forward I have to say that we are going backwards. Between the senior team and the U23,by now he managed to see in action all the players in the squad and from all the players that were sidelined by AK he only managed to bring back to life ...surprise surprise the two players that the majority of the fans were in agreement that were past it ...Watson and Murphy. According to many Bridcutt has been doing well in training and also when playing in the 23`s, but is nowhere close to the senior team. Yes he gave a chance to Yates and the kid had a good debut, but it seems that instead of playing more to his strengths, he is restricting the kid in roles that are not his.

            

I'd have given Bridcutt a chance.  Your previous comments on the Midfield dilemma have been most welcome.  And are at the heart, defensively and attackingly, of Forest's malaise.

I'd have been tempted to play Liam in the ACM role.  He's got a bit of bite and he's a decent passer of the ball and he's got a shot on him.  An ace in the pack not used?

You have a point.  Not sure Yates is being played to his strengths.  (Isn't he a potential box to boxer?)  

RE: attacking options.  I think this is a Summer recruitment thing.  No Dias.  No Soudani.  No Gonzo.  No Car'.  All frozen out for various but the same underlying reason.  And that's our Summer attacking recruitment there.  They were bought for the top 2 and didn't get us top 6.

Unless he plays Geddy or Liam in the more progressive roles.  For some reason, Geddy is sidelined.  But he is up and down form wise.  And you can't do that and be top 6.

SA.

[Strawberry Avenger]

             Even though we are not mathematically out of it yet, we all know that we are not good enough to make the play offs, so let use the remaining games of the campaign to give a proper chance to players that belong to Forest (especially those that have a year or more still on their contracts). No use playing Wauge in defence if you have Milo available, no use keep playing Pele in midfield if you have Bridcutt and Yacob available, no use to keep playing Janko in defence, especially if you have a young upcoming kid through the ranks. Same applies to Watson and Murphy, they are not the future, so pre season experiments can start from now.

            Same applies for Bonatini (what a waste that signing was), and Gonclavez (you might aswell send the latter back to Portugal-at least he will be with his family)...
What about Colback? he is undeniably our best midfielder, better say the most consistent, cause he creates nothing or close to nothing. Are we going to sign him or the club knows that he is not worth it, if it is the latter, just let Yacob play and maybe try Gueddy beside him after all they are ours.

         

I can't disagree with any of that, Malta.  Ged' would have added a more robust progressive element to our play vs Rotherham.  Yacob is very battle hardened and leave his foot in which we could have done with in certain games.

A sound post with plenty of thought.

I guess, Martin has his own views on things.  And that might mean that if players can't or don't follow instruction.  (And many of the players received the same treatment under Aitor...)  It suggests that we have?

A mediocre, lightweight, aged or injured squad that aren't physically up to it.  They're not robust enough for the top 6 (no where near the top 2) and for the money spent.

That won't do.

Not in MoN's universe.  Maybe it's the principle of thing.

How many times can you shuffle the same mediocre crap?  It's crap, right?

They haven't been top 6 all season.  An average of what?  9th place?

For the money spent?

I suspect if MoN and Keane would have been in charge of last season's recruitment that we'd have been a far more robust side.  Taller.  Tougher.  Mentally tougher.  Physically more robust.

And?

We'd 'play a bit.'

SA.

[Strawberry Avenger]

And yes. We'd have kicked Bruce's Wednesday side off the park.

And played a bit after.

SA.

[woody]

I expect the line up to be quite different next season. Specifically as you say SA, more prepared for the demands of the championship. Sadly this is what happens when managers are not allowed to see through their plans but we are most likely in for wholesale changes on the playing side again this close season. O’Neill’s record of achievement demands that he is given at least a quarter of next season to demonstrate improvement which I am very confident he will do but if he did, who could blame him if he then held his middle fingers up on each hand and told the Forest fans to **ck off for the way he’s been treated and then walked away.

[Strawberry Avenger]

I expect the line up to be quite different next season. Specifically as you say SA, more prepared for the demands of the championship. Sadly this is what happens when managers are not allowed to see through their plans but we are most likely in for wholesale changes on the playing side again this close season. O’Neill’s record of achievement demands that he is given at least a quarter of next season to demonstrate improvement which I am very confident he will do...

Spot on, woody.

I wouldn't like to face MoN's team next season.  Bring your shin guards.  Spartan style.

We won't have a bunch of bottlers.  And that's what we have.  Forest have had several occasions to get in the Top 6. And they've bottled it each time.

Let's be honest.  That comes from recruitment.

Forest's squad is lightweight, mentally fragile, short, mediocre, injured or not Championship ready.

You're not doing the play offs with that.  Yet alone the top two.

I hope that message is received to our new owners.  Because I'm sure Martin has made that point graciously to them.

And he's made it clear.  We're not doing a 'Swansea' football thing until we're given the time and players to do so.

We just don't have it.  In our lock.

At all.

This season is pretty much over.  Maybe not for Steve Bruce.  (But 'his' Wednesday side are a lot closer to a previous tilt at the play offs than Forest are.)

SA.