Nottingham Forest 2008-09 Thread (R)

[ranny fash]

The only team I can remember as a kid when I saw my first Euro match on the TV was Forest and Sheffield Wednesday and have been a Forest fan ever since, but there is a cheer that I just can't understand. It sound like, "See that shabah. See that shabah. . ." What the hell are they saying?

it is "See that shabah. See that shabah'' and is a protest against the international whaling industry.

[Rig1964]

Wolves 5 - Forest 1
A friend who supports Wolves tells me it was more about them playing well than us playing bad, but from what I heard on the radio it sounded like we were awfull.
Who thinks Calderwood will make it to Christmas?

I was out by one day, not a bad prediction. :rolleyes:

[Pichi]

Good guess, here is the article announcing his getting the proverbial axe!!

Er Pichi

Calderwood axed after Forest are humbled


Nottingham Forest have sacked manager Colin Calderwood following a 4-2 Boxing Day drubbing at home to fellow strugglers Doncaster.

The result saw Forest remain in the bottom three in the Championship, where they have won just four times this season since their promotion from League One.

First-team coach David Kerslake has also left the club and chief executive Mark Arthur said: "We`re grateful to Colin for his efforts over the last two and a half years, in particular for leading us to promotion from League One.

"But we`re in a results business and it`s imperative that the club stays in the Championship.

"We need to five ourselves every opportunity to do that.''

Speaking after the defeat to their fellow strugglers - in which they trailed 4-0 before netting two consolation efforts - Calderwood admitted it was his side`s "worst performance of the season''.

He said: "It was just one thing after another for us - we were poor with the ball and horrific without it.

"We have been doing well recently but you have to come home and do the job in front of your own supporters. We didn't do that today.

"We were certainly affected by the first goal and the second but it was a really bad day for us. But we will just have to battle away and try and come up with the results that will boost us again.

"Good teams produce a consistent level of 90 or 95% of their best but we were below 50% in the first half and got punished for it. It was probably our worst performance of the season but we know we have to be very good to get results at this level.''

Calderwood was appointed as Forest boss in the summer of 2006 after winning promotion from League Two with Northampton the previous season.

His first campaign in charge at the City Ground ended with defeat in the play-offs to Yeovil, with Forest incredibly going down to a 5-2 home defeat in the second leg after winning the first leg 2-0.

But last season ended with a dramatic promotion for the Reds as a 3-2 win on the final day of the season - against Yeovil again - saw Forest pinch second place in the table and automatic promotion.

Forest spent big in the summer, with Robert Earnshaw and Andy Cole among the high-profile arrivals, but after a promising start, they quickly fell towards the bottom of the table, and the defeat to Rovers leaves them 22nd in the standings, just two points ahead of bottom placed Charlton and part of a group of four teams which is threatening to be cut adrift of the rest.

[JackBastard]

Damn, I was rather hoping he'd stay on for a while and keep you down there. Nothing personal, but we haven't won in 8 so we could still get dragged back into it.

[ossieend]

Relatively friendly Ram here. If any of you red dogs would like to meet a few more of your ilk, there are plenty on here.
http://www.607.proboards100.com/index.cgi#general

[Pichi]

Interim coach and three desperately needed points today on the road against the Canaries!!

Here is the match report.

Er Pichi


Former Carrow Road hero Rob Earnshaw came off the bench to seal a vital 3-2win for managerless Nottingham Forest in an epic match at fellow strugglers Norwich. Earnshaw`s late goal came after Matt Thornhill had smashed in from the edge of the area and Lewis McGugan had scored a fine solo goal to give Forest a much-needed boost after their traumatic festive period.

Defender Ian Breckin and forward Joe Garner did divert in own goals as Norwich attempted a late rally but Earnshaw`s strike ensured Forest claimed the points.

Forest reserve team manager John Pemberton took charge as the club continue their efforts to appoint a replacement for Colin Calderwood - who was sacked after the woeful 4-2 home defeat to Doncaster on Boxing Day.

And Pemberton saw his charges earn a thoroughly deserved win which lifts them clear of the relegation zone and increases worries of the drop in East Anglia.

Norwich manager Glenn Roeder steered the Canaries to a remarkable recovery last season when he took over 13 months ago but they end 2008 back in the perilous position they started it after a 14th defeat of the season.

Forest striker Nathan Tyson had an early shot well blocked by Elliot Omozusi before Sammy Clingan went close for Roeder's side.

Clingan - who moved from Forest on a free transfer during the summer - collected a half-cleared free-kick and drilled in a shot on the half-volley which whistled a few yards wide of Lee Camp's post.

But it was the visitors who took the lead in the 17th minute.

Tyson was released down the left and he expertly picked out Thornhill with a cross. The midfielder had found a pocket of space on the edge of the area and took a touch to kill the ball before driving past David Marshall and into the top corner.

It was a fine strike and Forest doubled their lead in the 30th minute.

McGugan received a throw-in on the halfway line and set off for goal. He shrugged off Clingan and was allowed to continue his run to the edge of the area where after evading Omozusi he calmly passed the ball through Marshall's legs and into the net.

The Canaries needed a lifeline and claimed one with 17 minutes remaining.

Clingan whipped in a corner to the far post where Gary Doherty had wriggled free to smash a header against the crossbar. Darel Russell was quick to react and his low ball back across goal hit the hapless Breckin to deflect in.

Leroy Lita - on his last appearance of his loan from Reading - then sent a header close as Norwich piled forward but it was former favourite Earnshaw who capped the win for Forest in the 88th minute on the break.

Garner sent Earnshaw away and after his pace took him clear of Doherty the Wales forward produced a clinical finish to chip Marshall.

There was still time for a second own goal when a cross from the left was met by the flying Garner whose attempt at a headed clearance only succeeded in beating Camp to make it 3-2 but Forest saw out the remaining time.

[frasermc]

strong rumours around Glasgow area that Chris Porter of Motherwell has signed a pre-contract agreement with Forest and it will be announced soon.

[Blue'N'Gooner]

Hey guys , just want to congratulate you all for humiliating Manchester City in the FA Cup, well done.:)

[ranny fash]

all the media focus was on City and how they lost. do Forest get any credit for playing well from anyone in the media? perish the thought.

we absolutely smashed them - yeah they had a poor game but we comprehensively took them apart. no way are we getting relegated.

[Sandlapper]

Why not stick with Pemberton if he's doing a fine job? Looks like the guys want him there. Has anyone heard more about the Porter rumor? What do you guys think about this guy?

[frasermc]

Why not stick with Pemberton if he's doing a fine job? Looks like the guys want him there. Has anyone heard more about the Porter rumor? What do you guys think about this guy?

someone i know posted this on a Celtic forum regarding transfer rumours. this guy has a good track record and obviously is or knows people, that are 'in the know'.

he stated that Porter to Nottingham Forest was a done deal but as it's a pre-contract you probably won't be seeing him until the summer.

he banged in the goals for Motherwell last season and is doing so this year proving he's no flash in the pan or one season wonder.

[ranny fash]

I have no idea about Porter - never seen him, but his record sounds good.

At some point we will need to sign a quality forward because despite our financial health it will be difficult to hold on to players like Tyson and Earnshaw because they are capable of ripping teams apart at this level (when they aren't injured). Interest from other clubs inevitably follows these sorts of performances. Hey, for the first time in ages we actually have a lethal strike partnership!

Joe Garner is establishing himself as well with good performances, maybe Porter might complement these 3 well. What kind of player is he? We lack size and strength in attack, although to be honest we don't always need those attributes the way we play. It would be nice to have that option against stubborn opposition tho.

What we lack is leadership and experience. and a Championship-standard left back (Cohen is best employed in midfield although he is a good LB as well) because we are vulnerable down the flanks and other teams know it. most of the goals we concede come from exploiting our weakness at full back. And a goalie to give Smith some competition.

Regarding Pemberton and Davies' appointment. Pemberton is still at the club as a coach, and Davies has had a very successful start! It's all good!

[BuckeyeRed]

Camp, Anderson, Adebola and McGoldrick in. Happy with that but the back 4 need strengthening. No healthy left backs at all. I'm listing our remaining loanees from last season (omitting Osbourne who O'Neill will not let go) and the hot rumours. Which of these will be wearing the Garibaldi next season? Anyone not on the list that should be?

Loanees: Joel Lynch LB Brighton
Chris Gunter RB Spurs
Gary McSheffrey S Birmingham
Dexter Blackstock S QPR

Rumoured: Matt Mills CB Doncaster
Rob Jones CB Hibernian
Paul McKenna M Preston
Shaun Barker CB Blackpool

I'd love to get Gunter and Blackstock in but Jones, Mills and Barker are big priorities as well.

[BuckeyeRed]

Take Rob Jones off the list. Just signed for Scunny.

[ranny fash]

Loanees: Joel Lynch LB Brighton
Chris Gunter RB Spurs
Gary McSheffrey S Birmingham
Dexter Blackstock S QPR

Rumoured: Matt Mills CB Doncaster
Rob Jones CB Hibernian
Paul McKenna M Preston
Shaun Barker CB Blackpool

Daniel Fox LB Coventry......doubt we could get him to be honest but highly rated


I'm very relieved we signed Camp....Smith needed some competition, we should now have 2 goalies desperate to retain good form knowing that if they dip, there's another guy ready for action straight away. Goalie problems really hit us hard last year and this was most apparent when we had Camp on loan - the difference in our defensive play from when Smith played was remarkable.

Anderson = I felt he was an important player for us last season, and we suffered from his absence a lot, because he brings a totally different dimension to the team that no other Forest player offers. absolute steal at £250k. Not the most technically gifted player but again, someone who improves the team's performance as a whole just by being on the pitch. It's his athleticism and the type of runs he makes on or off the ball that are really beneficial - he always finds the kind of space that our other players never think to use. This means he is always available as an outlet to attack or relieve pressure from other players, and keeps the balance of the team very well. Intelligent, fast player who should improve technically under Billy Davies.


Back 4 despearatly need strengthening, agreed! Both in terms of numbers, AND quality. Obviously if we sign Gunter it will be a big lift because he was superb on loan last season; very calm and composed and rarely caught out. We lack a first-choice right back - Perch doesn't convince me at all there, plays too square which for me leaves him very vulnerable to wide players who vary their runs and have a wide range of passes. And all I can say about Chambers is.......good job he seems to be settling in his natural position at CB as he is NOT a good RB!

If we could play Morgan and CHambers as a CB pairing every game, I expect they would cope well with most things the Championship throws at them. But that's not enough, they need competition, and we need different options. Mills is sounding less and less likely because Donny think they can hold us to ransom, although I'd love us to sign him!

LB is the real problem position now. We could play Cohen there, and I seriously rate him there, he is a better left back than our actual left backs! But then that would mean not playing him in midfield, where he is best suited to play. However, I'd rather have him there than Lynch or Wilson. Rumours about Daniel Fox are very encouraging!

We are stacked in midfield!

[BuckeyeRed]

Very good assessment Ranny. Spot on. Encouraging display by the lads last night. For those that didn't get to read about it:

Sporting Lisbon 0-1 Forest
Camp (Smith 46), Wilson (McCleary 46), Chambers, Morgan, Cohen, Moussi (Thornhill 64), McGugan (Diagne 89),
Anderson, Davies, McGoldrick, Adebola (Tyson 46).
Subs: Fairclough, Mitchell
Scorer: Anderson 79
Referee: Bruno Paixao
Estadio Municipal, Albufeira




UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUURRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRREDDDDDDDDDDDSSSSSSSSSSSS

[BuckeyeRed]

Barker to the mutton molesters. There are rumours of BD getting impatient with the acquisitions panel and Mark Arthur in particular. We better get the full-backs situation sorted or we are in deep trouble.

[ranny fash]

I reckon it's just rumours all that. I would expect they have numerous alternative options to explore. £1m for Barker seems very steep, and to be honest, I think we've learned too much from paying over the odds for average players in recent years. Not gonna happen any more!

But yeah, a lot of fans are worrying about the lack of numbers, and lack of quality at the back, including me. I think we may see a number of loan signings this season despite Billy being keen on permanent signings. Even so, I'd expect to see maybe one or two proper signings before the season starts, but they might not be the kind of player we'd expect. Who knows?

It's very odd we were beaten to the signing of Barker by the sheep. Perhaps we weren't actually all that keen on him after all? All the hype about Matt Mills has made me think he MUST be a very good player, and he is probably our number one target? But what if we miss out on him?

[BuckeyeRed]

McKenna almost in (working out personal terms with him) and Chris Gunter in according to the OS. This summer is just getting better and better.

[BuckeyeRed]

McKenna and Gunter agree terms and pass medicals. Announcement Monday. Pre-season friendly at the Pirelli Stadium:

Burton Albion 1-4 Forest
Camp (Smith 46), McCleary (Fairclough 46), Morgan (Mitchell 74), Chambers, Wilson, Davies, Moussi, Thornhill (McGugan 46), Tyson, McGoldrick (Anderson 46), Earnshaw (Adebola 46).
Scorers: McGoldrick 28, Tyson 46, 53, 56; Burton: Shroot 88
Attendance 2,013


I know its only preseason but I believe the Sheep lst at Chesterfield 2-1.