Megson in the news
Gary Megson and Alan Rogers. They love each other really.
Posted in
Nottingham Forest 7 - 1 Swindon Town
My second time ever in the Bridgford Lower (the first was to witness Taribo West crying in the centre circle almost ten years ago as we edged past Auxerre in the UEFA Cup) and probably the worst view I’ve ever had. Due to some quirk of perspective the cross bar blocked my view of pretty much the entire Trent End half of the pitch. But who cares?
Clingan’s suspension meant a start for Gary “Three Lungs? More like Iron Lung” Holt in midfield, giving us a simple 4-4-2: Pedersen, Curtis, Morgan, Breckin (c), Bennett, Southall, Holt, Perch, Commons, Tyson, Holt.
And the scores are:
Pedersen: 2 lungs
Didn’t have much to do but when called upon he didn’t flap at crosses and did alright on shots. No complaints.
Curtis: 2 lungs
Off injured after about half an hour, replaced by Thommo.
Morgan: 2.5 lungs
Solid at the back and two goals for young Wesley. Swindon really need to learn to defend set pieces.
Breckin: 2.5 lungs
I don’t think he knew much about his goal as it hit his back but excellent at snuffing out any threats Swindon posed.
Bennett: 3 lungs
Made the opening goal with an excellent strike that his the crossbar (the rebound falling to Southall), defended well and marauded upfield like a full back from days gone by.
Southall: 3 lungs
Rish commented early on that this was looking like a great performance from him. Not bad for an old-pro free signing.
Perch: 2.5 lungs
Nice to see him back on form after looking like he had lost it a bit. He was helped out a lot by …
Gary Holt: 3 lungs
I’ve always thought that defensive midfield was the most important position on the pitch. And today showed why I rated him the best player in the Championship a couple of seasons ago - he shielded the back four and when he won possession used it well with sensible short passes.
Commons: 3 lungs
A nice performance from him, incisive and making things happen.
Tyson: 3 lungs
If there’s one thing we have to give credit to Megson for, it’s the signing of Nathan Tyson (when he didn’t initially want to come). The boy was incredible today, terrifying defenders with his pace and just making things happen. Worryingly, he was limping quite badly as the teams came off at the end.
Grant Holt: 3 lungs
An excellent performance from the chunky lad. I was desperate for him to get a goal to reward his efforts today (and from the looks of his run and shot at the end, so was he). He held the ball up well with his flick ons and his runs and passes made space for the others (especially Southall) to exploit.
Subs:
Thompson: 2.5 lungs
Came on for Curtis at right-back and did his job well.
Lester: 2 lungs
Came on for Commons and slotted in upfront with Tyson taking the left wing. A bit unfair that he got the goal when Tyson and Holt both deserved it but a solid performance.
Bastians: 2 lungs
Came on for the injured Tyson and worried their dishevelled defence with his running. Also gave the linesman a withering look when he was adjudged to have taken the ball out of play.
Other points of note:
Iffy Onuora looked the right Man at C&A with his beige slacks and long coat, pulling the catalogue poses in his technical area.
The Swindon fans were great - celebrating every throw in as if it was a goal, chanting “Easy, Easy” for most of the second half and even giving it a “You’re not singing anymore” after their consolation goal.
The back four were still playing hoofball but it doesn’t matter as when Holt (either of them) won it the ball then stayed on the deck till Bennett or Southall crossed it.
Swindon really really need to learn to defend set pieces.
The best thing about today was that the players had big grins on their faces. No fear, just running, endeavour and teamwork.
Man of the Match:
I’d give it to Gary Holt but Grant Holt, Julian Bennett (Benno?) and der-der-de-der-Nathan-Tyson were equally deserving. 
Posted in
Evo 16
So Paul Evans is back in training, playing for the reserves (well, on the bench), but most crucially, the official website are making a big thing of it - looks as though we may have a tiger back in midfield soon! Grrr!
UPDATE - today’s Evening Post, while not the most reliable source, has an interview with Evo where he makes all the right noises about still wanting to play for the club, despite having been frozen out - with him in midfield, perhaps we can get to see more of the likes of Clingan and Bopp as an attacking force…
Posted in
Nigel
He’s not ruling himself out of this one …
Contrast to his response about the Derby job:
“I’m not talking about that. They haven’t got my number and I’ll be at Morecambe on Saturday.” (http://www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=124615&command=displayContent&sourceNode=124519&contentPK=13940910&moduleName=InternalSearch&formname=sidebarsearch)
and the Walsall job:
“Norman said he’d just heard on the radio that I was being interview for the Walsall job — but actually I’m more interested in trying to get a side together to play Exeter.” (http://www.burtonmail.co.uk/detail.asp?cat=Sports&id=6185571)
Shamelessly lifted from http://www.forestforums.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=4663
Posted in
New Manager
Rish puts his view over on the BBC.
Although the best bit is this quote from Ian Holloway: “Right now, everything is going wrong for me - if I fell in a barrel of boobs, I’d come out sucking my thumb!”
Posted in
Hope my arse
However - this made me laugh: “… because this season has seen more false dawns than a French & Saunders lookalike convention” - taken from here
Update - looks like he has gone
Posted in
A new hope?
Mr Megson seems to think things are getting better .
Some questions:
How much is due to Cullip being harder than the rest of the players and therefore telling them to shut their moaning pieholes?
How much is due to the fact that DJ has vanished off the face of the earth and Gareth Taylor’s been shipped out?
How much is due to the fact that “our Jack” is now getting a game?
Who on earth can the fat bastard be, Kris?
Why does this have to happen just after the play-offs move out of reach?
Will this actually result in us getting three points along with decent football?
Posted in
Latest report
Hi, it has taken a while for me to flag it on here, but I put a new report on the BBC Nottingham website about a week ago. The report was edited (with my permission) as the editors were a little concerned about a couple of potentially libellous comments(!). The unedited version is below:
The proof of the pudding
Before I start, let me make it clear that what I am about to write has been hovering around in my mind for a good two or three weeks. In fact I was thinking it after the victory to Oldham, never mind the woeful recent performances culminating in embarrassing defeats to Barnsley and MK Dons.
I have lost faith in Gary Megson. I supported his appointment at the time, because we needed someone who was known for managing things on a tight budget, steadying the ship, someone who believed in discipline, and who believed in the Clough-esque principle of building a team from the back. Megson’s reputation suggested that all of these things were possible.
However, what we have seen over the last year is someone who has spent a fortune in transfer fees and wages, who never looked like saving us from the drop, and appears clueless as to how to arrest the club’s freefall. We have a team, who continue to pick up unnecessary bookings and red cards, and who (if the rumour and anecdotal evidence is to be believed) has little or not support in the dressing room. For many fans though, the worst failing is that not only are we losing badly, we are losing in a manner which is negative, bereft of any style or flair, and creating virtually no chances.
Let’s look at the evidence. Firstly, the case for the defence - Megson keeps resorting to the “something rotten” at the core of the club, and despite his unwillingness to go into detail, there is some evidence to support this. Why do managers keep failing at this club? It is not lack of financial support; contrary to popular opinion, I have it on good authority that it was Paul Hart, not Nigel Doughty, who failed to sanction signings that would have strengthened the squad after the play-off season. It is not lack of resources%2
Posted in
Cantona talks sense for a change
Eric Cantona makes reference to the fact that both United and England are far too dependent on Wayne Rooney - the reference to Robbie Fowler says it all, in my book.
Click here.
Posted in
Absolute idiot
Just like Michael Branch, those who were there will never forget what a total tw*t Matty Fryatt is. Leicester is the perfect club for a fool like him.
(Please note that I have post-edited the above to remove some of the more offensive words I would like to use)
Posted in
