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.
strong rumours around Glasgow area that Chris Porter of Motherwell has signed a pre-contract agreement with Forest and it will be announced soon.
Hey guys , just want to congratulate you all for humiliating Manchester City in the FA Cup, well done.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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!
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
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.
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?
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.
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.
Joel Lynch in today 200k from Brighton with Thornhill going the other way on a 6-month loan. Rumours that Dexter signed today, possibly Majewski soon on yrs loan and possibly looking at Zak Whitbread, centre half from Millwall. Those will do nicely!
Majewski in on season-long loan. Scored in 2nd minute of friendly tonight. From what I've heard, Millwall wanted to much for Whitbread so that one's off.
Lost to the sadpies Saturday. Not too fussed although it will make their decade. Oh well, at least we didn't lose to Orient 6-1 (sorry Toon fans). Stoke at home Wednesday. Hearing rumours about new signings. Nothing concrete though.
Pretty good results from final 2 pre-season friendlies. At least we came away from the Stoke game unscathed which is always a blessing when you play those butchers. Great display against Brum. Disappointed we didn't get Mills in a way but didn't think we should shell out that much for someone who has played one year in the Championship and has questionable knees. Whitbread rumour still going around and I'm hearing we made a bid on Danny Shittu with that ginger nob-head Megson. Still slightly concerned about the back 4, but I'm hoping improvements we made to midfield will allow us to pass the ball better than we did last year and keep possession thereby taking pressure off the guys at the back. The passing in the last 2 matches against Stoke and especially Birmingham was MUCH better. We finally have quality to choose from in midfield: McKenna, Cohen, Ando, McGugan, McCleary and the Moose. I know the opening matches will be tough ones, but if we can get some early results it could be a fun season on Trentside. Realistically, anything above mid-table would be great but I haven't been this optimistic about Forest in years and years and years............... UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU RRRRRRRRRRRRRREDDDDDDDDDDDSSSSSSSSSSSS
0-0 away to Reading. Good start! Really need to get a quality left back in, and a quality centre back. Wes played superbly but he can't do it all on his own, and on this evidence Chambers and Lynch are still not up to it. Lee Camp was steady, confidently claiming loose balls and aggressively patrolling his area. This alone improves Forest's chances of a decent league position considerably, as we conceded too many silly goals last year because of dodgy goalkeeping
2-4 to Watford. Absolutely unacceptable. The back 4 are horrendous. WBA lose Zuiverloon Sat, get loan from Chelsea immediately. We need defenders all summer and get ******** all.
Forest 3 - 2 Derby We outplayed them in the first half. If I'm honest they were better than us in the second half but when you're three nill up at half time the hard work is done. A very tense and exciting match with the right result at the end. And Nathan Tyson is now a legend who should be given the freedom of the city. YOU REDS
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWlCf77x0F4&feature=related"]YouTube - Nathan Tyson V Derby[/ame] there are loads of these!