Huddersfield - Nottingham Forest

[ThePromisedLand]

First things first.
Hopefully Sow & Ribeiro are fit to return.
Figs - after yesterday’s fiasco - is surely worth another go.
And Lolley to come back in place of Carvalho.

Is it just me or is Lamouchi coaching all the things we loved about Lolley last season out of him.

The thought crossed my mind to be honest.

Now who’s misbehaving Sniff?  ;)

[Alf]

Well I’m not qualified to comment.
So many fans want the Mouch signed to a long term contract - better ask them.

FWIW, anyone I hope he signs a 3 year deal tomorrow.

He's made decisions which should have worked given the right options & players. 

Play Olivera instead of Mir you get goals

Play Grosicki instead of Carvalho, Ameobi or Adomah you get more creativity and more goals

Play Luongo instead of Bostock/Semedo/Yates you get a much better midfield dynamic

Etc.

He's not been flawless & has made mistakes, but some of his reasoning has been spot on. He's just not been given the tools to do it with.

There's a reason each year we get to the midway point and start faltering whoever's in charge, and that's coz we've yet to see and real quality sustained investment into a consistent plan.

[Sniffer Dog (Admin)]

Good post Alf. I am also a Lamouchi fan. I agree with your comment about him lacking in tools.

Give him a FULL SET of tools and I think he'll deliver. Now his tool box is only 75% full.

[Username]

First things first.
Hopefully Sow & Ribeiro are fit to return.
Figs - after yesterday’s fiasco - is surely worth another go.
And Lolley to come back in place of Carvalho.

Is it just me or is Lamouchi coaching all the things we loved about Lolley last season out of him.

Lolley had a similar run of form around this time last year but it wasn’t as prominent due to the off field issues that were surfacing with Aitor.

[Sniffer Dog (Admin)]

Lets hope going back to his old club Huddersfield on saturday will inspire him.

[wassy04]

Lolley had an injury early on, seemed to hinder him and well I assume he’s fully fit now his confidence just looks shattered. I’m still hopeful a couple of goals might rekindle his form.

As for the rest of the changes, I would expect he’ll want to make a few although we’re not exactly loaded with options. Sow if fit obviously otherwise Semedo maybe? Mir and go two up top?

[Ciscokid]

Hope you're right Wassy. I hate the 1 up plan. It might look good on paper or a whiteboard but it's very limiting on grass. Mir has his limitations for sure but watching Grabban thrash around hoping for a decent pass drives me mad. His skill is in and around the area not receiving and laying off. The best hope that we've got is Mir with him until January.

[Strawberry Avenger]

I don't really get this '1' up front thing. Grabban doesn't make goals. He does tap ins.

And the delivery for him, mainly at home, this season hasn't been good enough for that luxury. So it seems like Forest are playing with 9 or 10 players at times.

Don't seem to rough up defences enough. Especially at home.

SA.

[Alf]

I don't really get this '1' up front thing.  Grabban doesn't make goals.  He does tap ins.

And the delivery for him, mainly at home, this season hasn't been good enough for that luxury.  So it seems like Forest are playing with 9 or 10 players at times.

Don't seem to rough up defences enough.  Especially at home.

SA.

After watching Wendies yesterday I'd really love us to have 442 as a genuine option again for various reasons, but to get the best out of Grabs too.

We'll never be able to compete on quality alone coz we aint got parachute payments. Our budget is far better geared towards building a side of powerhouses rather than technical magicians, so adding a quality winger, good target man, and someone like Geddy in his prime would be ideal.

You could drop to something like this

Samba
Cash Daws Worral Ribero
Lolley Geddy 2 Sow Grosicki
Olivera? Grabban

That's steamroller 90% of sides in this league at home. Wouldn't work against everyone, Silva would be great to drop in for certain games, and 4-2-3-1 would prob be our "main" formation even at home, so it'd also mean the midfield appearances get distributed more evenly, but would be great to have such an option.

[Strawberry Avenger]

I don't really get this '1' up front thing.  Grabban doesn't make goals.  He does tap ins.

And the delivery for him, mainly at home, this season hasn't been good enough for that luxury.  So it seems like Forest are playing with 9 or 10 players at times.

Don't seem to rough up defences enough.  Especially at home.

SA.

After watching Wendies yesterday I'd really love us to have 442 as a genuine option again for various reasons, but to get the best out of Grabs too.

We'll never be able to compete on quality alone coz we aint got parachute payments. Our budget is far better geared towards building a side of powerhouses rather than technical magicians, so adding a quality winger, good target man, and someone like Geddy in his prime would be ideal.

You could drop to something like this

Samba
Cash Daws Worral Ribero
Lolley Geddy 2 Sow Grosicki
Olivera? Grabban

That's steamroller 90% of sides in this league at home. Wouldn't work against everyone, Silva would be great to drop in for certain games, and 4-2-3-1 would prob be our "main" formation even at home, so it'd also mean the midfield appearances get distributed more evenly, but would be great to have such an option.

Not picking up someone 'like' Oli' instead of Mir has hindered Foret AND Grabban (little support...) all season.

Not replacing Geddy with someone of his ilk but better?  Another mistake.  

Not pushing for a winger of class who can perform in this division?  Starves 'Tap in' Grabban of his service.

I guess no one could for see two RBs and Rib' at LB getting injured.  But Robinson's form at LB has been a weakness for sometime now and it is being exploited and targeted.

As for Dawson.  Perhaps Benno needs to come in for some 'non compromising' brutality agains the likes of Cardiff, Millwall and Boro'.  ie.  Put his foot through the player and ball.  Ie take the ball with the player as Psycho used to do.

I felt we missed a trick letting Milo go.  But it's all about if your face fits.  And he might have been part of the brigade that saw off MoN.  eg.  Gueddy, Milo and others.  All gone.

With more to leave in January?  Judging by the 4-0 hammering.

SA.

[Strawberry Avenger]

It looks like January will be an 'intervention.'

I expect more than two players in and out. :o

SA.

[Strawberry Avenger]

...and if The Coach doesn't get Forest back in the Top 6.

He could be the 1st out.

SA.