Like watching paint dry…
Nottingham Forest - 0
Oldham Athletic - 0
If I’d popped down to watch Arnold Town against some other similarly levelled opponents tonight, I would have left disappointed with what I was served up with. What on Earth happened to the Oldham side that annihilated us twice last season, I’m not sure - they were awful, and alas Forest weren’t much better either! So it wasn’t a treat for the 16,000 or so souls who attended the game.
So that’s our game in hand gone, another chance to elevate ourselves to the automatic promotion places gone, and a change to get our run of home games off to a good start gone. Are you getting the sense of what a drab and dull game this was to behold? Still, at least we’re above Leeds United again - until saturday probably at this rate!
One thing that was in contrast was the fans - whilst Forest fans booed (and indeed, whilst I didn’t boo, I am griping on here), the merry band of Oldham fans, whilst few in number and difficult to hear, were pretty supportive of their side - and given the contrast in quality between them and the side I saw twice last season, they’d have every right to grumble a bit after a long trip on a tuesday night.
With rumours of a bust up doing the rounds on the forums, it was interesting to note Neil Lennon didn’t appear in the squad - reportedly with a back injury. This made way for Lewis McGugan in midfield, who’s looking a lot more well built now, and a long-awaited place for Arron Davies on the bench.
The first half was dull, Forest didn’t really have much in them at all - but still, Chambers will be disappointed not to at least get a free header on target after Brecks got a good flick on a corner. Oldham had a few decent efforts, and Smith did well to keep a clean sheet as the Forest defence decided the stand off to the point of ridiculousness.
The second half was a marginal improvement. Not the fantastic transformation that the official match report implies, but we did at least get forward. A low Chambers cross was missed by the defender but with nobody on the end of it, it was duly cleared by an Oldham clogger. There were also - as with the first half - a lot of dubious offside decisions by incompetent linespeople.
Smith was once again not without things to do, particularly after corners when Forest did not seem to work out that every corner Oldham took was short - yet we only put one man to mark the taker and the person he was passing to. More than once they were easily able to walk the ball up the bye-line into the area, and but for some blocks, a fair bit of luck, and some smart saves by Smith, they would surely have scored.
Arron Davies was introduced for the ineffective and blatantly unfit Grant Holt, and this did inject some much needed excitement into the game. Within a minute he’d run at defenders, taken them on and fashioned a shooting chance which was just wide of the upright in the Trent End goal.
Shortly after this Davies did brilliantly to hook an Agogo cross-pass back into the area, but Cohen wasn’t able to come up with anything good enough to beat the Oldham keeper. Again Davies worked well to get the ball to Cohen who miskicked when a relatively easy ball to Agogo - who’d put in a lot of mileage with little end product - was pretty much on. Commons then spooned an effort wide from range.
The game did start to open up in the last ten minutes, with Oldham if anything looking the more likely to score. A top tip here Reds, they released it quick from the ‘keeper and quickly attacked - Forest fans infuriatingly got on Smith’s back for our lack of doing this - but frankly, the entire team turn their back on him so it’s not like he can do much other than hoof the ball up.
Brecks, who had been - it’s fair to say - slow and cumbersome in defence did do well to get a low cross out for a corner, and after this was taken (short, again!) it was pretty much full time to a chorus of boos just as we had at half time. Whilst it was a poor showing, I can never really see the point in it, but I suppose it’s just people letting off steam having witnessed a turgid game of football between two very poor sides on the day.
So probably the most interesting things were that Arron Davies looked very lively, I look forward to seeing more of him in the side. And of course, has Neil Lennon really fallen out with Smoulds and gone off in a strop, or does he really have this mysterious back injury? There needs to be a big improvement to get anything out of Tranmere or Southend over the coming week.
As Colin Fray said in summing up on the radio, you would really hope that 7 points would be achievable from these three home games - and frankly, that’s starting to sound unbelievably optimistic! Whatever happened to the quick passing and moving for one another we have seen in spells this season, heaven only knows - but I’d quite like to see it back, please!!
31 October, 2007 at 9:06 am
Since giving up my season ticket this summer I have seen and heard nothing that would make me want to go back and sit through many of these games.
Yet.
Here’s hoping.
31 October, 2007 at 9:47 am
This was a SHAMBLES! We couldnt pass, we couldn’t head…in fact we were crap at everything we did.
We looked like we had never even played together before!! As for this Lennon fallout, I must admit I hadn’t heard anything, but we need it sorting. We NEED a leader out there. Breckin is about as useful as a chocolate teapot.
Any team better than Oldham would have drubbed us. And we would have had no complaints.
I could go on…but I won’t. Quite simply no where near good enough.
31 October, 2007 at 10:03 am
I am still shaking my head in bemusement at the number of unforced errors we made last night. If ever there was a case for Neil Lennon’s role in the side being appreciated then this was it. Boo boys take note - Lennon very rarely gives the ball away. In his absence last night we had players who for 90 minutes seemed incapable of doing anything but.
31 October, 2007 at 10:19 am
Good match report NFFC. We have definitely lost our mojo at present. Lennon was sorely missed last night (rumours in the Trent End was that he is sulking in Scotland ??)whatever some sections of the crowd thinks he is always available for the ball - highlighted by our throw ins when it appeared that no one in a red jersey wanted to receive the ball !. Hope the rumours are not true because we need him.
If Big Wes is fit for Saturday he needs to replace Breckin - partnerships build teams and Wes & Wilson have looked very good together.
Arron Davies looked bright and can create so lets hope for a better performance on Saturday.
31 October, 2007 at 10:38 am
To say Smith didn’t have opportunities to release the ball early is incorrect. There were ample times when Chambers in particular pulled wide into space when Smith had gathered the ball, Smith looked and decided to hold onto the ball then punt it (mostly) aimlessley down the pitch. When these hoofs ended up anywhere near Agogo, he invariably did get his head to the ball first - but with noone to knock it down/flick it on to.
And its not just Smith who was guilty of not releasing the ball quick enough - just how long does do we need to take a throw in? Down the right side in particular.
It was a poor showing all round - I’ve been very impressed with Chambers so far this season but he had a stinker last night. Cohen was absolutely dreadful for the whole 90 minutes. But more worringly was the positioning (or more accurately, lack of) by the midfield (and forwards to a lesser extent). The number of times someone would be in possession in a half decent position but with absolutely no support/options whatsoever. This was especially noticable down the left side. Forest were crying out for Commons to pull wide and play on the left wing to give Bennett an outlet but he seems to preoccupied with doing what Cris Commons wants to do rather than what he needs to do for the team. May be CC’s instructions but an intellegent and talented footballer, which Commons undoubtedly is, should see these things and react. Thats what wins games, not standing still waiting for the ball to come to you then try and work some magic (which his little flick in the centre circle in the first half was).
There were a few bright notes - Wilson was yet again impeccable. Magnificent tackling, positioning and general reading of the game. Davies - looked lively and likely to create.
And I completely agree that the standard of refereeing/assistant referreing was yet again absolutely diabolical. Fortunately there weren’t too many fouls so that eliminated one area where the referees have got it hopelessley wrong so far this season but getting things like giving throw ins and corners to the right team when an opposing player is blatently the last to touch the ball is infuriating.
One final comment - I hate to see the team being booed. Yes they were bad but when your bad at this level, last nights performance is what you get. When your good at this level, you are still only distinctly average. I think the huge majority of Forest fans still don’t realise were a Division Three side and as such you have players who can play at that level with maybe one or two who would be capable of playing in the upper regions of the Championship.
31 October, 2007 at 10:55 am
Radgie, you are so right in your comments, crap, boring but come on lets not boo. (apart from the ref, who I hope today is sat down reading a copy of “Understanding the off side rules”
Aggo was in a dream, he never looked up to see where anybody was and Commons hung onto the ball for far too long and then lost it.
I feel like its a punishment, and I have to finish my sentance and go back again on Saturday…oh joy.
It also concerns me greatly that the fans were going mad, the players throwing thier arms in the air at each other but Calderwood stood like a statue….there is something not right there.
But once again we blew the game in hand….like so many last term. I have yet to be excited by this team, as even when we win its not that great,
The jury is still out for me.
31 October, 2007 at 12:24 pm
Excellent comments Radgie…. you were dead right about Chambers and Cohen. Simply not the same players they were 3 weeks ago. Maybe just an off night….lets hope so.
Sorry but I’m no Breckin fan and agree that Wes should be bought back to partner Wilson (who was my MOTM btw).
31 October, 2007 at 12:56 pm
Okay, the NEP is reporting the rumours that Lennon has quit, claiming he is disenchanted with life at the City Ground ?? Anyone else heard anything more ?
Not sure why he may feel this way ? he is obviously well respected buy the players on the pitch and by the vast majority of the fans. I for one hope that this is just a rumour and we will see Lenny back asap.
31 October, 2007 at 1:47 pm
http://www.thisisnottinghamforest.co.uk/news/Lennon—I-m-no–qui80912289.aspx
31 October, 2007 at 1:53 pm
That’s good, and also suspicious - because that means Smoulds’ tales of back injuries was patently a load of bollocks.
If it is indeed “personal issues” then why couldn’t he have said that instead? I realise it’s a slightly more vague and potentially flimsy excuse…
I hope it is true though, we missed Lennon’s composure a great deal last night.
31 October, 2007 at 1:56 pm
Yep - its great to see them all singing from the same hymn sheet.
This is great news! When is this club ever gonna move forward again.
31 October, 2007 at 7:29 pm
I stay away from the City Ground these days as I feel it does not represent value for money. It’s looking like the 5 quid deal to watch us v Southend is also poor value for money.
Tip for Calderwood and the rest of the Forest players. Start playing football and you will not have to resort to 5 quid deals, we will want to turn up to watch our adored Nottingham Forest, your a disgrace to the supporters yet again.
31 October, 2007 at 7:49 pm
The atmosphere does get stale at times, the fans tend to wait to be inspired by the team, that takes a while… they warmed up when Davies was on and doing something interesting…
… it’s all a bit chicken and egg, isn’t it?