It seems to have been glossed over in the media comments online so far, but certainly on the radio during the sports bulletins and during the Matchtalk programme tonight, Smoulds was broadcast issuing a broadside at certain sections of the Forest support. Not making it to Brentford, I’m not qualified to comment on what was or wasn’t said - but the radio presenters speculated in a “I know this..” kind of way that it was the fact that even young Lewis McGugan was apparently subject to jeers when a pass was misplaced.
I have a kind of ambivalent stance on this - on the one hand, I can see Smoulds’ point. Lewis is learning his trade, and has very much been thrown in at the proverbial deep end - but then, he’s also a professional footballer, he’s done little else other than play football for money since he was young. I know I get frustrated with myself, and my teammates certainly do, if I misplace passes on a much less important stage than that upon which Lewis plays his football. And my teammates (fortunately) don’t pay for the privilege of seeing me play!
It is fair to say that turning on the side before half time is largely counter-productive - what on earth happened to that spirit we showed at Oldham - where there was no hope at all, where the team were abject and disgraceful, but the fans cast this aside and made a racket anyway. That is the kind of spirit we should have in the run in - I can empathise with how infuriating it is to watch Forest, and how you feel like exploding if you weren’t able to let out that rage - but well, I wonder whether we can put that aside for three games (hopefully not any more than that, but well, I suspect it will be!).
On the flip side, whilst it’s all well and good complaining about the nasty supporters - the Forest players would do well to remember that the vast majority of those supporters earn a very modest wage compared to them, and they choose to invest a sizable per cent of it to offer them their support. Just as I expect our supporters to rise to the challenge, I expect our players to do so too - they may feel hard done by with some comments they’ve been on the receiving end of, but frankly, some performances have deserved it.
So, those fans who feel bruised by Smoulds’ comments but this aside, and the players and Smoulders himself should too - draw a line under it, and everyone involved in the club should focus wholly on our forthcoming fixtures - there’s plenty to complain about and pick the bones over, but equally, there’s a much better time to do it - at the end of the season - for now, we should sing our hearts out for the lads!
Click 
16 April, 2007 at 9:31 pm
I think this has been brewing for a while. CC has, in interviews, alluded to the supporters before but always turned it round using a bit of “spin” to try and get them onside and cheering the team on instead of slating it.
I’m not a jeerer of the team generally (altho I admit Commons has had some comments lately about his “Rubin-esque” physique!) but I do believe, as a supporter, you pays your money so you can support the team in the way you think fitting.
We all have our favourites and conversly, our whipping boys (one Neil Harris was never on my Xmas card list!) but unless the abuse is personal or God forbid, racial, then I just think professional footballers (and their managers) just have to accept its part and parcel of our game.
17 April, 2007 at 12:36 am
It took all of 15 minutes for the fans to turn on Calderwood on Saturday! I guess the ‘Are you Megson in disguise’ chant was a bit harsh but it can be so frustrating when we seem devoid of ideas and unable to create anything. The Forest players looked very nervous again, unable to pass the ball to each other or to create any decent openings. Chants of ‘attack attack attack’ from the fans turned to ‘defend defend defend’ when we went 2 - 0 down!
Once Prutton scored we were like a completely different team - it was amazing to see the belief flow back into them. McGugan had a relatively ineffective game - how he got into the league 1 team of the week I have no idea but I don’t think he took much stick from the fans? There were a few people calling Commons ‘fatty’ when he came close to our end - he really isn’t particularly fat you know and he was our best player!
We are all still very disappointed to have messed up automatic promotion and a large amount of the support have decided that Calderwood is not the right man going forward. I was quite impressed that despite the earlier chants, Calderwood came and clapped the fans for their support at the end with the rest of the players.
17 April, 2007 at 9:22 am
The fans had every right to complain. The first half was probably the worst half of football i have seen for years (and thats saying something)! The second half wasn’t much better either and we were very fortunate that we turned this one around.
Lewis didn’t get any stick whatsoever. He played one bad ball and the fans groaned a bit (so what). This is a PR deflection excercise by Calerwood as he knows he hasn’t got a clue at this moment in time. I actually thought Lewis was the only Forest player on the pitch who looked like a footballer (good touch, composure, able to play a simple pass).
Finally why is he not playing Wes (whats going on)!!
17 April, 2007 at 9:35 am
Sounds like a misunderstanding on the Lewis point then, on the part of Smoulds.
As I noted above, I do appreciate the fans’ right to vent their spleen when performances are shockingly bad.
17 April, 2007 at 9:41 am
Wes is injured.
Commons said in his interview that negative emotion form the fans gets to the players and makes them nervous. Why would you want to harm your teams chances of winning a game by booing them! Are you not supporters? Support ffs!!
There were people in Trent End Upper against Rotherham booing after 10 mins of the game. Yes they may not of been playing well, but how is making them more nervous and afraid to misplace a pass going to help.
Yes, you pay your money, but that doesnt give you the right to damage the chances of the team, wait until the end of the match if you have to boo!
17 April, 2007 at 10:07 am
I went to Brentford on Saturday and the fans did turn on the team very quickly. Although it was hard not to vent any anger after seeing your team play like a bunch of school kids or amateur sunday league side.
I don’t got to many games, but I must say that was the worst first half I have ever seen ever, and I have seen a few sunday league performances to. Prutton was the main reason why we won on Saturday. After he scored, I saw his reaction and relief, then suddenly the team found their belief and scored 3 more passed a very poor Brentford side.
Calderwood was right to have a moan at the fans, they didn’t show any patience. I moaned at my friends that the crowd were on their backs too quickly. At Halftime though we all booed because the crap that had been displayed was all to apparant. However, those boo’s were shoved right back in our faces when the 4th goal went in…
17 April, 2007 at 10:24 am
actually i think its simpler than that…
I reckon that a minority of fans turn up ready to boo and jeer. Sorry, but its true. I sit in the lower trent and against rotherham 2 lads were just waiting for kick-off before having a go at the slightest mistakes. Yeah, smith cocked up early on, but is heckling and booing your own player constructive?? And when commo collected the ball off a ball boy to take a corner i was embarrassed at the crap some of our “fans” were coming out with.
As i said to them, FUCK OFF and go play in the river you wankers. Not very eloquent or grown up but hey, guess what, i dont want to watch 3rd division football next season either, but getting on our lads backs IS NOT HELPING.
To all those who boo and jeer, save your money and dont come again. Yep, we have played some awful stuff this year but it certainly wont get any better if you drive away our better players.
It is bloody depressing however that we’ve managed to chuck away a 7 point lead at the top and now have to go to the play-offs minus 3 of our best players.
17 April, 2007 at 11:09 am
Dan, I think you’re dead right. Its not good to boo but when the football has been so shocking then its hard not to become frustrated, although there is now the element of Catch 22 - if the team are going to play well the fans must get behind them but they will only do that if they start playing well.
So it then comes down to CC to ’sort things out’.
However, a coach can help a player improve technically, a manager can help the team gel tactically however no one on the sidelines can help a team play with confidence.
Only results do that. Only support from the fans can do that. Its not a wonder that CC looks lost because there is sod all he can do about instilling confidence in a side that gets booed everytime the mess up! A side who are not playing well and feeling the pressure of 28,000 people expecting them to just magically turn on a switch and start playing silky football, just because they have paid money to watch it.
I saw a post somewhere saying that this Forest team does not deserve promotion but the fans do. I think thats wrong. Nottingham Forest is a football CLUB from the fans to the players to the 50/50 ticket distributers. We all succeed or fail together.
Its up to the fans to bring back that lovin’ feeling.
17 April, 2007 at 12:29 pm
Would like to suggest that this season has to be judged as a whole. My view point is we’ve always been a bit quiet at home games this apart by and large the support has been reasonably patient. I’ve attend all but two home games and been away four times. However I can count on one hand the number of good performances seen this season. CC has in my opinion restored dressing room harmony, reinvigorated the youth team set up and bought reasonably well.
On the downside his match strategy and tactics have been uninspiring, by nature he appers to be a pragmatic manager who favours caution over adventure. His squad management this year is questionable, can understand most of the departures but why Cullip and Southall were let go is beyond me. Why bring in young Henry from Reading to then send him packing doesn’t make sense!! If your short of strikers (as we are) why is Spencer Weir-Daley not recalled at least he has pace!!!
Wasn’t their on Saturday but people expressing negative views are generally built up over a period of time. I would forgive somethings if we were out playing other teams, but we are not!! Would also take into account performances if academy players were getting outings, Lewis apart (and he shouldn’t be jeered, agree with CC there) others have had 5 minutes only.
17 April, 2007 at 1:11 pm
Good article NFFC. On the Oldham issue I believe most fans belived it was a bad day at the office ang nothing was gonna go right so we might as well enjoy the day as there were plenty of games left to put it right. The difference now, and why fans are willing to get on the teams back so early in a game, is because we don’t have games left to put things right and the urgency is simply not there !
We have to fully get behind the team on Saturday regardless if they go behind and if any of the players see this PLEASE PLEASE make us beleive you’re giving 200% thats all we ask.
On the Calderwood issue I’ve spoken to a few people who won’t go back to the CG untill hes gone and many who belive he’s out of his depth and that the recovery at Brentford was despite his efforts not because of them.
17 April, 2007 at 4:56 pm
Ah, the old supporters debate. Always a sure sign things are not quite as they should be.
The definition of ’support’ actually makes the position very clear…
“to agree with and give encouragement to someone or something because you want them to succeed”
Those of you who boo players during a match, barrack players and the manager, ask yourslf this question. Is what you are doing ENCOURAGING the players to succeed? Is it hell. You are not supporters.
I have been as critical of Colin Calderwood as anyone - he is negative in his approach and outlook. The team are too cautious and I honestly do not believe we will go up.
However, I support the shirt and ANYONE who wears it. That includes John Curtis, Paul Smith, Gary Holt, Kris Commons and all of the other players who get abuse.
Like Mattyboy, I sit in the Lower Trent End and have always had to to put up with the idiot who sits right behing Paul Smith barracking him and Kris Commons throughout the match. The bloke is a cretin and should be ejected. However, our stewards just stand and watch. If any of you are reading this, keep your eyes open on Saturday and kick him out - for good.
URED mentions people who won’t go back to the City Ground whilst CC remains. If we get to Wembley, will they want a ticket? Mmmmm, we will see. Frankly, we have too many fickle ’supporters’ who it appears to me look for excuses not to go. The tickets cost too much, there’s no atmosphere, the football’s rubbish, the manager’s rubbish, I don’t like Mark Arthur, the Chairman’s a fool or the meat pies are rubbish. They’ll all want to go to Wembley should we get there.
Get behind the team during a match - be positive, be loud, be vocal. You will see the positive response from the players.
17 April, 2007 at 7:04 pm
The problem is Barrow Red, that against Rotherham, at the start of the match the City Ground was as loud as it has been for years, but these players just don’t respond to it, yet they hold up criticism from the fans as an exuse for their unprofessinal performances. I don’t boo the team, but recently I have found myself geting so frustrated with these players and their inability to dictate the tempo of the game, to take initiative with the ball, and for the senior players to show some responsibility, that I can understand why so many react in the way they do. There are some idiots out there who want us to play like we’re a top six team in the country and get on the back of the usual suspects and the manager as soon as the first misplaced pass occurs, but I think what most people get angry about is that the players just play with a lack of passion, whether the fans are suppotive or critical.
Ultimately, we hopefully have only 3 games left, but potentially 6. Lets just get behind the team and see where that takes us at the end of the season!! Come on you mighty reduns!!
18 April, 2007 at 11:43 am
I agree with some of your comments Barrow Red but that would be ok if this was a one off situation but the crowd have been booing and getting on the players back for 2 seasond now and nothing changes. The club take the supporters for granted believing we will pay thro’ the nose for poor entertainment and tactics. i would be more pleased, in a way, if we were playing attractive football in mid table.
so i must agree with Jacko but i do not think it is the players who i believe play to orders. People like Curtis, Holt, Prutton, Wright etc have played at the highest level, they do not become negative defensive robots over night.
the point you make about people expressing their opinions loudly is, i believe, a common English issue, we do not complain enough. if you pay good money i think you are entitled to your opinion however i do think that it should not be nasty and foul mouthed. We are generally a crowd that goes into long silences for a lot of the game so anyone who has a go is bound to be noticed. In fact there is a guy near me who if anyone shouts he complains, i’m sure he goes for a sleep.
I heard Ian Botham on talk sport this morning talking about the dismal performance of the English cricket team (we think we have problems) with respect to the ‘barmy army booing the team off and the captain on the podium, this i believe shocked the team and the establishment. Botham says that they have a right to complain and now it is the only way to shake up the situation. I reluctantly agree with him on this and unfortiunately it will be the only way to change CC/NFFC as well.
I think CC should be very careful in having a go at the fans, i think his post match outburst was ill conceived. If he starts getting on the fans back as Kinnear and Megson (more so) did he will get little sympathy and backing even if he gets us up as it will be the same tactics next season whatever division we are in.
i know he must be frustrated but so are we and we pay his bloody wages
18 April, 2007 at 12:49 pm
beestonred you make some very valid points. However i must take issue with you on the point of paying the wages of the manager. We dont. Years ago i went to an end of season function and some of the management were present, including Mr Fred Reacher (remember him?!).
Anyway, after a couple of beers i began to tackle him with regard to that very point, ie “i’d wear that shirt for nothing, over-paid players etc etc”. To which our former chairman responded “if you think your few quid every season helps you’re in fantasyland. TV and sponsorship pay the wages boy, not you lot”.
Seems to me we’ve always been crapped on by this clubs hierachy.
18 April, 2007 at 1:06 pm
Fred Creature was probably right because he embezzled the revenue generated by fans
(do I need an allegedly there? Probably - allegedly of course!).
11,000 season tickets at roughly £300 each (I know most adult prices are more - but to factor in kids and oldsters)… £3.3m straight away. Given that we average say, around 19,000 for home games, that’s 8,000 regular tickets at an average of say, £15 per ticket to factor in the various tiers of pricing, which is another £2.7m. This doesn’t include our cut of away tickets, or cup matches, or merchandise sales.
I would say, regardless of what some scheming thieving bastard (allegedly) of an ex-chairman once said, the supporters put in a large proportion of the revenue of the club - particularly when we’re in division three, where TV and sponsorship money is a considerably less than in the top flight.
18 April, 2007 at 1:10 pm
oh yeah, i agree nffc, just wanted to make the point that whoevers in charge dont give a f*ck about us.
18 April, 2007 at 1:13 pm
Oh yeah, I wouldn’t disagree there. Trouble is, they are assured a very high degree of loyalty from us without investing in basic courtesy, customer service or anything else. It won’t change in a hurry, alas.
19 April, 2007 at 11:52 am
With regards to Colin Calderwood here’s an interesting article to ponder:
http://www.football365.com/john_nicholson/0,17033,8746_2072015,00.html
Think about what kind of player CC was and what kind of team we’ll have by the end of next year. I didnt see him play enough times but if anyone knows more about his playing days it may be interesting to do a comparison between the man and his team…and if that would be the kind of team the fans of this club would be willing to support.
Can you imagine if Big Sam turned up at the CG
20 April, 2007 at 11:20 am
I really don’t know where i stand on the calling/boo-ing of the players - sometimes this season (blackpool at home and rotherham spring to mind) i have been optomistic and telling my family and people around me to stop complaining but nearly every time i do this i end up by full time fully annoyed at what i have seen - i will never boo at half time and would only boo during it if it was really bad - but i feel that i just care too passionally about forest and sometimes i get too wound up and end up showing my frustration at full time … I don’t think i have been as mad as i was after the rotherham game because we BOTTLED it again - Still the win at brentford has kept us in contention and as much as i can’t see us catching bristol i’ll be at the CG tomorrow singing my heart out as ever
20 April, 2007 at 11:21 am
I really don’t know where i stand on the calling/boo-ing of the players - sometimes this season (blackpool at home and rotherham spring to mind) i have been optomistic and telling my family and people around me to stop complaining but nearly every time i do this i end up by full time fully annoyed at what i have seen - i will never boo at half time and would only boo during it if it was really bad - but i feel that i just care too passionallt about forest and sometimes i get too wound up and end up showing my frustration at full time … I don’t think i have been as mad as i was after the rotherham game because we BOTTLED it again - Still the win at brentford has kept us in contention and as much as i can’t see us catching bristol i’ll be at the CG tomorrow singing my heart out as ever
20 April, 2007 at 2:58 pm
so passionate you posted it twice number 12