News Roundup: Billy Davies
Billy Davies is the preferred candidate.
Play-offs but no Earnie then?
Tags: billy davies Posted in
News roundup: Lynch to stay, Camp situation not so certain, Reds chase Ince (no, not that one), shortlist drawn up?
Joel Lynch’s loan agreement has been extended until the end of the season (cue loud cheers from the City Ground crowd), but in slight contrast to Campo’s post-match interview, it seems as though negotiations may resume once the new manager is in place (depending upon how you read the story).
In the meantime, the Birmingham Express & Star suggest that Forest could turn to veteran Walsall keeper Clayton Ince to provide a new goalkeeping solution.
As for the managerial vacancy, Marthur says that there are “four or five candidates”, some of whom are still in employment elsewhere. However, Nigel Clough is unlikely to be one of them.
Tags: clayton ince, joel lynch, Lee Camp, mark arthur, nottingham forest Posted in
Pembo pulls a rabbit out of the hat: Norwich City 2-3 Nottingham Forest
I shouldn’t comment too much on the match, because not only was I not there, but I wasn’t even able to listen to it. However, I did manage to turn on the radio after 5pm, when the victory was confirmed, and would like to comment on the following:
- John Pemberton picked an unusual line-up, notably dropping Garner, Earnshaw and young Brendan Moloney (from what I have seen, the most consistent outfield player in recent weeks). This saw the surprising return of Luke Chambers at right-back; maybe Moloney had picked up a knock (he did run a bit gingerly after a tackle late on in the Donny match), or maybe Pembo did not want to play two teenagers at full-back?
- Despite the fact that many Reds fans bemoaned Calderwood’s reluctance to play 4-4-2 for so long, Pembo went for a 4-5-1, with Lewis playing behind Tys, and it seems to have worked.
- Ian Breckin and Joe Garner scored the fifth and sixth (I think) own goals against the Reds this season; “own goal” is still Forest’s third highest scorer so far. Has anyone heard of another 3-2 in which the same team scored all five goals?
- Pemberton commented that he did not have to do much to gee up the players, and the fact that Lewis scored a determined solo effort today, after an absolute stinker of a performance on Friday, possibly illustrates this.
- Sorry to end on a downer, but Lee Camp throwing his shirt into the crowd at the end, and his post-match interview, may signify a couple of things: the board do not want to step in and complete the transfer when they are about to appoint a new manager, or that Camp is playing at some amateur psychology while keeping the Forest supporters on his side. Reading between the lines, it is hard not to speculate that the club are about to appoint Billy Davies, hence Camp does not want to stay (after a public falling-out between the two at Derby).
Pembo also said that he has only been asked to take charge for one match, and I guess that means that we will have a new man by the Manchester City cup tie. Marthur took the unusual step of doing an interview with Radio Nottingham before the match, and although he wouldn’t be drawn on talk of Billy Davies, he did say that there had been offers from people currently in employment, and also said that the club were looking for someone with Championship experience (which rules out our Nigel).
Tags: billy davies, john pemberton, Lee Camp, mark arthur, norwich city, nottingham forest Posted in
Calderwood is sacked: who next for the poisoned chalice?
Wanted: football manager to take on famous old club languishing in the depths of the Coca-Cola Championship. Current squad features plenty of young players with bags of potential. Possibility of money to spend in January. Thick skin essential. Must advocate playing stylish, flowing football / defensive hoof ‘n’ hope dross (delete as applicable). Please note: no matter what you do, some people will have a moan at you.
It would seem that the vocal minority became the vocal majority today. I believe that today’s performance and result was entirely down to the players. I also think that it is disgusting that some of the fans are taking joy in the sacking of the manager – I know that Colin and Kerslake are hardly going to be struggling financially (for a few months at least), but someone losing their job should never be a source of satisfaction – have a heart for God’s sake!
“The club will not be making any further statement at this stage“, not even about a caretaker, which suggests either that it was not planned, or that they already have a successor lined-up! Possible contenders may include:
- Billy Davies: purveyor of defensive “1-0″ football, track record of falling out with previous employers. would struggle to win over the fans due to the Derby connection. Also, how would Robbie Earnshaw feel about working for the man who signed him, then discarded him for a spell in footballing purgatory?
- Roy Keane: apparently the choice of many fans (at least according to the Radio Nottm and 606 phone-ins), impressively won promotion in his first season at Sunderland, but then spent a lot of money on building a rag-tag squad with a mix of decent and average players. Also a moody old soul, probably liable to walk out when he feels that he is not able to perform to his best – how would he respond to a hostile City Ground crowd if things were not going well?
- Nigel Clough: many of the fans would want him back, but he is not proven at this level (and Paul Ince has proven that jumping up several divisions is a risky gamble). Possibly unlikely to come back to the club which deposed of his father in such an undignified way (and said that his position at the club was untenable, prompting his transfer to Liverpool). Even if he was willing to forget that (we have had several chairmen and boards of directors since then), would he risk damaging his reputation at the club if things were to go badly?
- Stuart Pearce: dream on. Contributing nicely to Fabio Capello’s England set-up, like Nigel Clough, is a Forest legend, and may be unwilling to risk that reputation. A great stint at Manchester City was followed by a mediocre spell, but then Sven and Mark Hughes have achieved similar extremes at the same club…
- Alan Curbishley: did a great job at Charlton, with a mix of homegrown players and reasonably priced purchases. Did OK at West Ham as well, although spent a lot of money building a huge squad of (mostly injured) players. Left the Hammers because he did not have autonomy over transfers, which suggests he would be unwilling to work with the NFFC transfer committee. Also likely to be expensive and possibly unwilling to leave London?
- Alan Pardew: I thought that he did OK at Reading and West Ham, but did less well at Charlton and came across a bit arrogant and unwilling to take responsibility for the situation. Not sure he would be welcomed by the Forest fans (but then, short of Sir Brian coming down from heaven, I am not sure anyone would unite the Reds’ support).
- Glenn Hoddle: apparently a friend of Nigel Doughty, previously linked with the Forest job (after Hart’s depature). Has a decent track record as a club manager, but is unpopular with many people (not just football fans) for his comments about disabled people and his belief in faith healing.
- Gary Johnson and Roberto Martinez: both have won promotion from League One and done decent jobs in keeping their teams in the Championship. Both unlikely to leave their current roles, unless Nigel Doughty wants to “do a Leeds”…
- Brian Laws: Would have been my personal choice but has just signed a new contract with Sheffield Wednesday. Has confessed to having a soft spot for the Reds, but like Nigel and Stuart, may be unwilling to take the chance of ruining his reputation at the club.
- Iain Dowie: didn’t do a bad job at QPR but didn’t exactly pull up any trees (no pun intended). Despised by Charlton fans, didn’t exactly cover himself in glory with the way in which he left Crystal Palace (where, admittedly, he did a great job in dragging the team up from the relegation zone before Christmas, to promotion in May). Unlikely.
- John Pemberton: has done a great job with a young reserve side, prompting some calls for a “Charlie & Frank” style promotion, at least on a caretaker basis (and I for one, would not mind Frank Barl-e-ow returning to the club to provide some experience and support to the new man). Completely unproven at senior level, but they do say that success breeds success…
- Paul Ince: unproven at this level, does not have the relevant badges to coach at the top level, allegedly did not have the support of the dressing room at Blackburn. Arrogant bloke, hence giving himself the nickname “The Guv’nor” (you don’t give yourself a nickname you dolt!). Also remains unpopular with Forest supporters as he is a mardy ****.
Feel free to add any more suggestions using the comments box…
Tags: alan curbishley, alan pardew, billy davies, brian laws, colin calderwood, gary johnson, glenn hoddle, iain dowie, john pemberton, nigel clough, nottingham forest, paul ince, roberto martinez, roy keane, stuart pearce Posted in
Nottingham Forest 2 – 4 Doncaster Rovers: Match Report and Podcast
This week’s podcast brought to you by the words “pathetic” and “spineless”.
Tags: doncaster rovers, nottingham forest, podcast Posted in
News roundup extra: Campo wants to stay, Wes feels the pain, Porter to sign?
Lee Camp has (for the first time I think) said that he wants to stay, but adds the usual note of caution that it is out of his hands. Forest supporters will probably be slightly less enthusiastic about the prospect of Joel Lynch remaining at the City Ground.
Most of you will already know that Wes needs a hernia operation, which may see Luke Chambers or Joel Lynch at centre-half.
A Motherwell fansite reports that Chris Porter has signed a pre-contract agreement to join the Reds – but not until next season…
Finally, Mike Norrish at the Telegraph thinks that Colin Calderwood is a survivor.
Tags: chris porter, colin calderwood, joel lynch, Lee Camp Posted in
News Roundup: Huckerby bows out, Donny’s preparations, Cole’s hangs up his boots, Martinez for Martin?
Huckerby takes a bow at the Christmas game at Norwich. There’s much I could rant about Huckerby and Hart but I won’t. Suffice to say, too good for the Championship, not good enough for the Premiership – but that front three was amazing that season.
Despite their manager calling it just another game, Donny’s players realise the magnitude of Boxing Day’s game.
Andy Cole won’t play for Bacup – there were rumours he may need to run.
And Swansea are interested in Lee Martin’s bad hair, now that we have said we’re letting him go back to Manchester. Martin certainly impressed when he arrived but my impression was that, after his initial couple of games, he thought all it took was a step-over and back-heel and the game was won. So lots of talent, dodgy attitude. Sorry Lee.
Tags: andy cole, bacup, darren huckerby, doncaster rovers, lee martin, norwich city, swansea city Posted in
A great result, but let’s not get carried away
Amidst the euphoria of Forest actually winning a match against relegation rivals, I am going to be boring and sound a note of caution:
Southampton aren’t that good!
This match report gives a Saints’-eye view of proceedings; along with other reports I have read, it seems as though this was Southampton’s weakest performance in a weak season. Add to that an air of depression due to ongoing financial problems that may see the club’s better players sold next month (and rumours that even that might not be enough to stave off administration and the resultant ten-point deduction), and you get my point.
I wasn’t at the match, and have only seen the goals on the TV, and I have to comment that the defending for Wes’ effort was poor (he was pretty much unchallenged), and while the quality of Joe Garner’s finish speaks for itself, watch Brendan Moloney’s contribution more carefully – when the young Irishman intercepts the ball, the Southampton player actually chickens out of the challenge. That is the body language of a team in trouble.
So, at the risk of seeming like a grumpy old man (and during the season of giving!), while it is an important result for the Reds, they aren’t all going to be that easy!
In case I don’t get a chance to post before Donny on Boxing Day, I hope you have enjoyed our site and the podcasts this year (even if you haven’t always agreed with either of our opinions), and thanks for visiting. Merry Christmas to you all!
Tags: joe garner, nottingham forest, southampton, wes morgan Posted in
Southampton 0-2 Nottingham Forest (updated)
Having commented in our last podcast that Forest have a rather chequered history in “six-point” matches, we have only gone and won it (with a clean sheet as well).
Praise be!
Update (Sat, 6.35pm): Quote of the day comes from the manager, talking about Joe Garner’s 35-yard lob:
“I knew as soon as the ball left his foot it was heading for the top corner, and if you saw that goal scored in La Liga, everybody would be talking about it.
“Because it came from a spotty ginger-haired striker who plays for Forest, it will probably not get that much attention.”
Tags: joe garner, nottingham forest, southampton, wes morgan Posted in
Bye Bye Breckin
Thanks Yiannaki for pointing out that Breckin (and Bencherif) have been transfer-listed.
This either denotes that we have a big, ugly, loud (and expensive) central defender lined up in January.
Or the club has truly taken leave of its senses and wants to kick us in the teeth for Christmas.
Tags: hamza bencherif, ian breckin Posted in
