According to this interview he graciously gave to BBC Radio Nottingham to offer his comments about his part in leading Nottingham Forest to the worst period in their history. Not, of course, that he offers any insight into his part in it, rather just more platitudes and infuriatingly insincere sounding ‘insights’ into how he shares the grief of us supporters.
I realise I’m rather making my stance on him obvious in my choice of words, but I’m still rather riled having just finished listening to their Matchtalk programme - which was obviously centred around Forest given Notts and Mansfield’s more conventional finish to the season a while back. Whilst I’m aware that fans compelled to phone in are not necessarily representative - there sounded a fair proportion ready to throw in the towel of season-ticket-dom, many after several decades of owning one.
His comments were predictably evasive, and David Jackson - hosting the programme - I thought jumped to perhaps a rather fanciful conclusion that ‘reading between the lines’ there was an implication that prices could come down. What was actually said was the club’s finances are under review given we now know our fate for next season, there was talk of a need to increase funds for players (again!), and that when the spreadsheets had been crunched the plan for season ticket prices would be released.
This is what riles me - this work could have been done months ago, with contingencies depending on whether we were promoted (either automatically or via the playoffs), or whether we’d failed. It seems almost every club under the sun releases their prices for the following season so much earlier than us - Derby released theirs regardless of the division they ended up in - would it be so hard for the powers that be at Forest to get their fingers out their arses and let us know what they expect us to stump up for the following season?
I’m still not expecting a reduction in prices, indeed, if I were predicting then I would imagine a big PR attempt will be made of the supreme generosity of then holding last seasons prices (which, let’s remember, were significantly increased from the year before, prior to that our Championship prices were frozen in a show of benevolence for a division lower. I suppose I could quietly hope that upon picking up on sentiments such as these and those scattered across the Forest forums, the club will take note and do the decent thing and reduce the prices.
21 May, 2007 at 8:41 pm
It is commonly known that Forest drag their feet at most things, but i think you will find on this occasion that it is on purpose! The worst night in forests history is not going to be followed swiftly by announcing prices for season tickets (probably more expensive)
NO NO NO, what you will find is that they will wait a while- Make some fancy marketing with our surnames printed on the cover (on the back of a shirt or in the seats etc..) Then blatantly exploit our loyalty.
I listened in the car on the way home friday to the interviews and must say that snippets made sense, (hard to attract players etc) but overall Yeovil, Blackpool, Bristol seem to manage. In fact they have what we would describe as `worse` players than us but work as a team.
I am not a person for shouting for a managers head, but just listening to the 2 interviews on friday spelt it out for me
1, The chairman said that getting in to the play offs in your first full season is a `success`
He claims to be aforest fan, I sit behind him at the back of the main stand and can assure you that it looks just as awful from there as anywhere else in the ground. He MUST see this? If he is i fan then why would you let this happen week in week out? I is clear to see that CC is a soft touch with the players- Stories of them running amok in town centre pubs for example
2, The manager as said all along- in any interview that we have nothing to worry about- slagging off the fans who have been booing by saying things like `the season will even its self out`
The season indeed has, infact the games we have been extremly poor this season and won, have returned to bite him on the arse because we have no backbone to the team, just a free for all.
I like many others will renew my ticket, But when the chairman and manager constantly try to ignore the fans, many will not.
21 May, 2007 at 9:43 pm
Both Nigel Doughty and Mark Arthur-in the matchtalk interview-spent too much time saying how difficult it is to attract players to ‘division 3′, what about the Yeovil, Blackpool and Scunthorpe players,these are not-with the greatest respect-top class expsensive players. They are hungry keen and full of running with an enthuisasm to prove themselves in this division and beyond. Why have ND and MA got this fixation about attracting players from higher divisions, Scunthorpe got Billy Sharp for £150k, I don,t know where Yeovil got Aaron Davies from but I am sure they did not have to pay large money and have to plead with him to play in this league.
ND and MA have continually failed, I fully appreciate ND financial support but he has failed with Forest in his choice of managers. As for CC his tactical decisions are very very poor and I believe that the pressure on him for next season,if he stays will be unbearable. Imagine if Forest do not win CONVINCINGLY the first few games next season, and also fail to play attacking football, the fans will absolutely mad and it will be curtains for CC. I hope I am wrong, but I think the hurt from this season and the way we threw it away last Friday are almost too much for the fans to forgive ND MA and CC-regardless of any gestures,i.e. lowering of ticket prices, promises of promotion-where have we heard that before. I think CC is a decent bloke, I think it would be best for him to leave now with dignity before it could turn nasty for him which I would not like to see but unfortunately can envisage come this September.
22 May, 2007 at 8:16 am
Regretably Tony you are correct. I think this season in the end has been a nightmare for Colin Calderwood, 7 point lead lost, 2 goal lead going into the last 8 minutes of a play off semi-final….lost. I am not totally against the guy but i feel he will not come back from this and his head is on the block no matter what Nigel Doughty says. Unless we are top and flying in September the pressure will be enormous and I do not think he will handle this. This season proves pressure is not his strength. better he is asked to go now with some positives from his perspective, rather than the sack before christmas.
A pre christmas change in management means next year will certainly be a right-off. let s rebuild now and give someone new pre season to look at things. it can be done Billy Davies and Roy keane have proven this.
As for players, I sympathise with some of the Chairmans statements, money alone does not guarentee getting the right players in. However someone must realise that our best buys of late have come from the lower divisions, Holt and Tyson for example. We do not need to be chasing Championship targets or premiership rejects. There are gems out there, we should be getting some of them.
Im afraid though it should be a new manager doing the shopping.
22 May, 2007 at 9:09 am
“I did not want to see Forest decline any further, both in terms of its competitiveness and its links with the community it represents,” said Doughty when he bought the club in 1999.
22 May, 2007 at 9:34 am
Well said Tony. Spot on.
22 May, 2007 at 10:39 am
why would anyone want to be a Forest Manager or Player with some of the attitudes our fans display?
yes, I am hugely disappointed, not just with the outcome of this season but several seasons before that. I would like nothing more than to be preparing for life in the Championship next season but the fact is we are not and we have to look at how we can all be smiling next year.
We talk about Yeovil and Scunthorpe being able to get the most out of players. They do, but under very different circumstances. Enter the cauldron that be the City Ground and the expectation is so much greater. Pressure has a big effect on people and their performance and clearly players come to our club and cannot handle it.
I dont like to say it but it might be better if no-one renewed their season ticket next year. No fans, no expectation no booing no pressure!
So if your all that angry and already deciding peoples fate then I ask you to stay at home, keep your opinions to yourself and let those in power get on with it.
If any of you have £50million to invest, I apologise for my rant and I look forward to you being announced the new owners in the near future. I for one dont have that kind of money and know the only benefit I can provide is throuh my support and I dont necessarily mean through the purchase of a season ticket.
22 May, 2007 at 10:58 am
I hear what you’re saying loud and clear.
Alas whilst I share your frustrations (I may rant and rave a bit on here, but I assure you I support the team in the true sense of the word in person at the ground, come rain or shine), I think you’re on a hiding to nothing.
Like most football clubs Forest have a fair proportion of negative fans, who will chunter and moan through bad times - and even good times - I’m reliably informed that John McGovern was a constant target of abuse, this is a man who was not only great in the role Brian Clough gave him (at several clubs!) but he was a twice European Cup winning captain!
If they can moan and chunter through that, they will almost certainly do so when times are tough. Criticism I feel is valid, but you are right, once we’re in the ground and the game is in play, I would much prefer it if fans could use their energy on chanting support for the team!
22 May, 2007 at 11:09 am
Bit, off topic, but news now just popped up a story about David Prutton to the top that really should have appeared last week.
“It would be great to actually take part this time, rather than have to watch it as a spectator,” said Prutton.
“I have never played at Wembley”
I’m guessing he probably won’t get chance now. I certainly hope he won’t be playing there with us if we do ever reach the LDV Final.
Cheers
Chris
Original Link http://www.thisishampshire.net/sport/hampshiresport/display.var.1408985.0.prutton_ready_to_play_part.php
22 May, 2007 at 12:10 pm
No need to apologise for the rant, blossoming forest. Unfortunately I dont have the necessary 50million required to assume control, I only know of one supporter that has….oh, he’s already in charge!
You’re right of course, a negative attitude from the stand is not going to help the players on the pitch, or entice others to sign. Maybe you’re happy to spend your hard-earned wages on a saturday afternoon watching some of the crap we’ve had to endure this season. Defensive football, hoof it up football, by-pass the midfield football, sit deep and dont tackle football. I can do that. And so can probably half the lads watching. Which is why its so frustrating watching highly paid professional footballers doing it week in week out.
I know they can play, young lads like clingan, wes, perch, tyson, lewis, felix, the list goes on, so why the f**k does calderwood play such negative, boring football??
I dont boo, I dont get on the players backs during the game, I sing chant and clap. But you have to accept that a lot of fans next season will pick and choose their games based on cost, time and entertainment value. And when they turn up every 3rd game I for one wont grumble about ‘dsloyal’ fans, or ‘part-timers’. I’ll just be glad that there’s a few more of us to get behind the team. God knows they’ll need the support if Calderwoods still in charge.
Lets hope he’s a fast learner, hey?
Actually, looking at the list of aforementioned players, I’m feeling quite positive suddenly!
22 May, 2007 at 4:12 pm
bloody hell
Lester, Curtis, eaden, Pederson, Holt, James, Hughes and Ferndndez OUT.
(and me, too)
22 May, 2007 at 4:12 pm
And if they sign Commons I’ll eat my hat (honestly)
23 May, 2007 at 1:04 am
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