Through the seasons before us..

Saturday marks Smoulderwood’s second chance this season to put one over his old club, having succeeded in nabbing three points earlier in the season at Northampton.  Forest are on a poor run of form, all told, having been denied three points by a last minute equaliser at Bradford last weekend.  We’re still in the race at the top - but a continuation of poor form will see our chances of automatic promotion fading.  The Cobblers are on a run of three straight defeats which bodes well - but as the relegation zone looms into clearer view they will be keen to arrest their decline.

Sammy Clingan is suspended for this match, and Luke Chambers is unable to play as a condition of his transfer to us - but we are able to welcome back Kris Commons into the squad, it seems unlikely he’ll start.  Northampton are hoping to field former-Red Chris Doig, and another ex player Eoin Jess is also likely to feature - although he was dropped from their previous match against Port Vale.  The game will, of course, be notable for being David Prutton’s second home debut for Forest.

Hopefully Chris Doig will be fit to face us, as last time we met in August he conceded a penalty (which we missed!), but then secured the points for us with an unfortunate own goal.  It might be interesting to keep an eye on Deuchar upfront for the Cobblers - drafted in as a loan as the window closed from Gretna - where his goal tally was impressive, but admittedly at several levels lower than he now finds himself. 

Forest are five points off the top with a game in hand, and must capitalise on this - three points from this game are essential so the players will need to perform accordingly.  With Oldham two points ahead (and no game in hand here), Bristol City a point below and Yeovil just two points behind - it’s uncomfortably close at the helm of the table - particularly when you consider that we were seven points clear at one point in the season.  It’s most certainly time Forest ended their dodgy run - and this is the perfect opportunity for them to get the home crowd back on side.

It’s been a bit dull in the world of Forest lately; in the aftermath of a January full of transfer speculation and the Chelsea game it’s back to the league - and frankly, I’ve been struggling with things to write about - but a few random bits of interesting news have surfaced over the last few days that might be worth picking the bones over briefly.

David Prutton remains big news, he’s been talking of keeping a level-head given his famous hot temper, and channelling his “red mist” for his own and Forests’ benefit.  After a reportedly impressive debut against Bradford I’m looking forward to seeing him in action at the City Ground at the weekend - it seems that his presence has helped give Jack Lester a new lease of life in his resurrection playing in “the hole” as we perhaps best remember him during the playoff season.

You can tell it’s a quiet news spell when an outstanding goal in a reserve game seems to be the lead story on the official Forest website.  Central defender Hamza Bencherif advanced from defence to despatch a shot from range before Forest conceded a similarly spectacular goal.  This game also saw Kris Commons start his bid for fitness - from reports I’ve seen, this road to fitness may be quite a long one with the chunky midfielder looking somewhat off the pace - albeit mentally sharp.

And of course, Pearcey came through his first England under-21 game relatively unscathed - his young England side succumbed to two Spanish goals to be behind 2-0, before coming back into the game and earning a 2-2 draw by full time with goals from Nugent and Lita.  In related news, apparantly renowned piss-head Bryan Robson was also interested in the Under-21 role (presumably on a full time basis - since no club would touch him with a barge pole!).

The last news of the day is that Forest are actively supporting the Danielle Beccan Memorial Trust - which aims to raise £500,000 to create a centre for performing arts and personal development in Nottingham.  This will, of course, be in memory of the young girl whose name is immortalised in the trust, who was tragically killed in a shooting incident in St. Anns back in October 2004.  I shall certainly be making every effort to contribute and urge all fans to do likewise.

To take the eye away from Forest briefly, it can hardly have failed to grab your attention that Forest legend Stuart Pearce takes charge of his first England under 21 game today.  Spain are the opponents, just as they were on that cathartic day when Psycho took his first post-Italia 90 penalty during the Euro 96 tournament - and it’s hosted just down the road at the theatre of sheep.

With tickets only £10 for adults and £5 for concessions I was quite tempted to pop down, but have decided against it - but I’m sure there will be plenty of well-wishers from Nottingham making the short journey down Brian Clough Way to cheer him on.  So far he’s only had one training session - which was yesterday - and then will be literally chucked in at the deep end when the game kicks off at 8:00pm this evening.

The U21s have already qualified for the European Under-21 Championship - and Pearce has already gone on record as saying he won’t be tinkering too much with the formation that delivered former coach Peter Taylor eight goals in four qualifying games.  In typically candid fashion he said “The squad and the ability within the squad lends itself to keeping on going the way they have been.  It would be foolish of me to come in and try to drastically change things.”

Pearce has three games before the tournament to familiarise himself with his squad and ensure they all get some playing time.  Certainly for me it’s reignited (well, okay, ignited!) my interest in the under-21s - I vaguely kept tabs on them when the clueless bastard David Platt moved into the role (although I’m thankful he did, as it prised his grubby mits off my beloved Forest) mainly to see the predicted downfall - but certainly I can’t imagine anybody reading this will want to wish Pearcey anything but the very best.

Psycho! Psycho! Psycho!

Good news that Kris Commons was on the verge of making the bench on Saturday against Bradford, and will almost certainly be available for at least a bench spot this weekend as we face Northampton at home (particularly given Sammy Clingan’s suspension in this game).  Although with Smould’s new fangled formation - which appears to have some merits - it’s difficult to think where he would utilise him.

We’ve seen very little of Kris in his ‘native’ wide left position, he’s been utilised as a striker or in a free role - and in our new “look no width!” midfield formation, with Jack operating in arguably his most natural position as the link between midfield and attack, there is no really obvious place for Commo except as one of the midfield three, perhaps - particularly given Sammy’s forced absence.

Commons also has a contract offer on the table, although I wouldn’t expect much movement on this until the end of the season - he’ll be keen, I’m sure, to see what league we’re in next season before committing.  Whilst he always claims to be a Forest supporter, he has his career to think about and the opportunity to move to a better place (as he thought he was doing by leaving Stoke!) for a derisory compensation tribunal fee will be tempting.

Other than that I’ve heard alarming rumours linking us with a loan move for Millwall psychopath Jody Morris - I certainly hope that they aren’t true.  Undoubtedly a player with talent, but with an attitude that really doesn’t sound like the kind of thing that Smoulderwood wants to add to his “group” as he calls them.  He’s been at pains to stress the importance of harmony in the dressing room - which is why I suspect this rumour is just that, a rumour and nothing more.

Bradford City - 2
Nottingham Forest - 2

It was all going according to plan until the last minute - Forest were the only team in the top 9 to be winning, before cruelling conceding a cruel equaliser on 90 minutes courtesy of Bantams debutant Billy Paynter.  But there are positives to be taken too, it was certainly not the dire away performance witnessed at Carlisle United in the week, and whilst we are left feeling hard done by today given our game, and Oldham managing a late equaliser, in truth it was a game with many chances for both sides.

The first half started in lively fashion - David Prutton making a debut and being involved right from the off, having a shot blocked by what looked suspiciously like a hand ball.  Omar Daley was the catalyst for much of Bradford’s attacking threats - bringing an early save from Paul Smith.  Bradford were the first to score, Omar Daley’s cross shot was saved well by Smith, but unfortunately debutant Bruce Dyer was on hand to head home despite Bennett’s best effort to keep it from crossing the line.

It didn’t take long for us to level the scores - bizarrely Wes Morgan found himself well forward to be able to cross from Tyson to show great composure to score off the post.  Eight minutes later a Julian Bennett knock down found Lester who spun Wetherall brilliantly in the penalty area - and remarkably, consider it was Lester in the penalty area, stayed on his feet to calmly sidefoot past Donovan Ricketts in the Bradford goal.  So after 18 minutes on the clock Forest were 2-1 up.

Lester and Prutton stood out as causing particular problems for the Bradford defence - and the Reds put plenty of pressure on the Bradford defence,  with chances falling to Clingan from a tight angle, and Grant Holt disappointingly putting the ball wide from 6 yards after a Tyson cross.  As half time arrived I imagine Bradford were grateful for a chance to regroup and regain some of their earlier composure in the match.

The second half started in similarly frenetic fashion - and again, Bradford were the side to make the first attacking moves, with Paynter bringing a quick reaction from Smith to pounce on a loose ball in the box.  Grant Holt created a brilliant chance for the unmarked Lester who unfortunately miskicked when he had time to control it.  Tyson was withdrawn for Dobie, and Bradford had another close chance - with Dyer not able to get onto Paynter’s knock down and only able to concede a goalkick.

The much-maligned Scott Dobie came agonisingly close to scoring a goal, he and Grant Holt combined brilliantly and Dobie’s lifted shot beat Donovan Ricketts hands down, but Richard Edghill did excellently to clear the effort off the line.  At the other end a ridiculous clearance by Smith left Paynter with a chance to shoot - instead he picked out Omar Daley who blazed over when he really should have done better.

In true end-to-end fashion, Scott Dobie again did well to get past Mark Bower and set up Grant Holt with what should surely have been a certain goal - but for the irksome Donovan Ricketts who did brilliantly to dive at his feet when he was only a yard out having just pulled the trigger.  The ball was soon at the other end and Wetherall headed over, following this Grant Holt again was thwarted by Ricketts this time on the edge of the area as he attempted to round the big goalkeeper.

Gary Holt was introduced for Clingan, and Luke Chambers did make an appearance, being used as a sub for Grant Holt and assuming a right back role, with Curtis pushing into midfield.  After Forest made a hash of trying to wind down the clock with a short corner, the ball once again found itself in our area where Wes Morgan could only head into the air allowing Paynter to stab the ball home on the final minute.  There were four minutes of stoppage time, but that was to be the end of the scoring.

The obvious question mark has to be Paul Smith’s reticence to claim crosses in the six yard box - and it’s certainly not the first time that this criticism has been levelled at the ‘keeper.  Ultimately, given the chances we created it’s disappointing not to have won, but on the flip-side Bradford also created some great opportunities.  On another day we would have come away from this game with three points, and Oldham wouldn’t have scored a late winner, and we’d all be much happier - but I am at least pleased to report a decent performance from the Reds.

We’re temporarily up to 3rd place again, but on Monday we’ll either stay there with a bigger gap to Scunthorpe, or - hopefully - drop back to 4th with only 2 points separating us from the top spot, equal on points with third placed Bristol City.  It’s certainly not a disaster - but we’d be a lot more comfortable right now if we had got the points today - even if we wouldn’t have been any higher in the league table.

A bit late in coming this, but this is another crucial game.  Forest now have claimed 11 points from their last 10 games - which anyone can see is pretty piss poor for a team with designs on winning promotion.  Bradford are on very similar form indeed to us - and of course, have lost Dean Windass (the perpetual thorn in our side), as well as Jermaine Johnson.  Forest are able to call on new boys Luke Chambers and David Prutton for this match.

Bradford are expected to field new signings of their own, Paynter, Dyer and Youga  - but more pressingly they will be playing their man-mountain goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts, who always seems to have a good game against us.  Of course, we beat them on the opening day when Nathan Tyson crocked himself after a couple of minutes - and we started that infuriating sequence of missing penalties for what seemed like an eternity!

I’d like to feel optimistic about this one, and there’s a possibility Commons could return to give us much needed creativity in midfield (assuming the Commons who plays well turns up), but I still have niggling doubts about the balance of the side following the deadline day departures.  But with the fresh impetus that Prutts will give our midfield, maybe just maybe we can get our league form back on track - but I don’t feel particularly confident about that.

One definite reason to feel a bit happier is the lack of the Windass factor - he almost scored against us in our home game at the end of the game, only to be thwarted by Paul Smith in the Forest goal.  His presence always gave Bradford an outlet and what he lacked for in pace or movement he made up for by positioning, first touch and deadly finishing - I’m bloody glad he’s not going to be facing us later today!

I’m somewhat reluctant to draw any attention to this proposed website, but it’s quite frustrating to see that we are set to endure ridicule thanks to a subset of our ’supporters’ who are intent on stirring up some kind of revolution.  Whilst like most fans, I’m pretty nonplussed by the balance of our transfer activity, and am certainly not remotely happy with our recent performances - has it really come down to this?

Before pressing ahead with any such endeavour, I would compell the people behind it to cast an eye up the A60, and look how ridiculous “Team Mansfield” look with their constant campaigning to remove Keith Haslam from Mansfield Town FC.  And arguably they have a much better case against their owner than we do - as he quite clearly has pursued a policy of cashing in on players without really replacing them.

I can understand people’s compulsions - and even before now, the Doughty topic has always been one to divide Forest fans.  Characteristically I’m somewhere on the fence - there’s no doubt that many decisions of the Doughty/Arthur duo have been deeply questionable, there’s also no doubt that he has invested cash (albeit badly in many cases) at times when we were in dire need.  But making ourselves look silly with amateur websites offering vitriol, bile and little in the way of solutions.

Let’s remember that to remove Doughty, we need an investor - until one of those, who can clearly demonstrate they have the clubs best interests at heart, taps up with the readies, then I don’t really see what the point in this foolishness is.  The question as to whether he should appoint a more suitable Chief Executive, however, is one that I’m certainly open to explore a little further… to try to at least to make those involved think about their actions, I’ve just submitted registeration for the domain name doughtyout.co.uk which will, in future, point to this article.

As the dust settles on deadline day, it seems to have left most Reds fans utterly baffled - self included.  We had the great news of David Prutton and Luke Chambers arriving on 30th, but on the deadline day itself the Forest culling machine kicked into action and despatched Thompson, Eaden, Cullip and Southall to pastures new - the first three, I understand - when I heard Southall had left I (naively) assumed that we must have a replacement in the pipeline.

Well certainly we don’t have a permanent one - there’s a possibility that we’ll loan a player to cover for this position, Neil Danns being a namecheck in the case of one particularly delirious attention-seeker (I’d love to be proven wrong on this front, but come on, be realistic!).  It seems like folly to me that Smoulderwood has dispensed with so many players whilst bringing only two into the squad - it’s true that our squad was too big, but now it’s looking painfully thin on the ground - we don’t even have a fit winger available!

I’ve blatantly stolen this idea from a thread on the LTLF forum, because it’s an interesting way of looking at a breakdown of our current squad:

Goalkeepers: Smith, Pedersen, Gamble, Roberts, Redmond

More than happy with Smith - he still has areas to improve, and I think (when fit) Pedersen is able backup.  I’m not that familiar with the abilities of the young lads, but it’s a worry when your fifth choice keeper is on the bench for a cup game against the Premiership champions!

Defenders: Breckin, Morgan, Chambers, Curtis, Bennett, Bencherif, (Perch)

I’ve bracketed Perchy as I’d like to see him remain a midfielder - if we start moving his position around now he’ll end up like John Thompson did.  I think we certainly have great centreback cover - and rightback is well catered for as Curtis, Perch and Chambers can cover this role.  Left back is okay if we get “good” Bennett, but there’s no natural cover.

Midfield: Prutton, Clingan, Commons, Perch, Holt, Hughes, McGugan

Both Hughes and McGugan show promise, but are largely unproven.  Aside from Commons there’s very little creativity in there, but a lot of hard work.  There is only one player I’d consider a natural winger - and we tend to play him elsewhere.  We have a solid (if uncreative) central midfield with plenty of options - but no width to speak of (except for Commons’ waistline, obviously).

Strikers: Tyson, Holt, Agogo, Lester, Dobie

As the LTLF threadstarter said simply: Plenty of numbers, but are they good enough?  Goals scored would suggest not - that said, they often get bugger all service from previously mentioned hardworking-but-uncreative midfield.  Tyson and Holt are undoubtedly good enough for this level, and Lester still has an impact as a substitute.  Agogo is too inconsistent so far - either a constant thorn in defenders sides or aloof and disinterested.  Dobie hasn’t convinced me so far, but he’s building his fitness.

So we have five goalkeepers, and 18 outfield players - which includes McGugan, Hughes and Bencheriff.  I’m not utterly convinced that this is enough - which is why it still bamboozles me that we’ve allowed Southall to leave with no replacement.  If a loan signing or two, and impressive ones at that, are not forthcoming over the coming week then I’m probably going to have to start to subscribe to the view that many fans are starting to express, that Smoulderwood has lost the plot somewhat… so here’s hoping he does have a rabbit up his sleeve!

We have less than 24 hours to sort a loan out in time for the increasingly important game at Bradford on Saturday (assuming we can - there seems to be some confusion as to whether we can loan now or after 7th February), and being in a pessimistic mood I reckon that we won’t do so - so whilst Prutts and Chambers will be available for this game, neither will really solve the creativity problem we have found ourselves with beyond the transfer window.