Barnlsey 1 - 0 Nottingham Forest - Report

Article by e-Nottingham Forest Correspondent David Bassett

Remain united in achieving the same goal.

A third successive defeat occurred at Oakwell on Saturday after a display which was largely disappointing. Barnsley battling for relegation demonstrated the qualities needed to get out of the situation they are in, whereas, Forest produced a very average performance which highlighted the lack of quality in the ranks at the minute. A Forest debut for Kevin Gomis who had a decent debut alongside Lascelles.

The highlight of the defeat was Djamel Abdoun’s performance. Abdoun in my opinion has an excellent first touch and his movement is top notch too. However his end product is very inconsistent. In his Forest career to date he has had some flashes of class but has mostly been average. On Saturday he was good and was unlucky not to score when he hit the outside of the post from range.

The aftermath of the defeat is something I want to highlight and is nothing short of ridiculous. Nottingham Forest fans have a reputation of demanding the very best. Nothing wrong with that as long as there is a sense of realism and perspective for our current situation.

Let’s consider some facts:

1- Forest have 7 of their best and most influential players out injured
2- Billy Davies recently signed a new 4 year contract
3- Fawaz has, more than a half a dozen times, declared his support for Billy Davies
4- 3 weeks ago we were on a 16 game unbeaten run.
5- When fit we have an excellent blend of youth (Darlow, Lascelles, Paterson) and experience of the highest quality (Reid, Lansbury, Wilson, Hobbs, Vaughan)
6- Forest have a lot of average players at the club who at the minute can’t provide enough quality to win football matches.
7- A section of supporters have a vendetta towards Billy Davies and want him removed from his position.
8- Billy Davies has a major issue with the media. Based from his previous tenure he doesn’t have a great relationship with them and is often very childish in his approach to the media.
9- Billy Davies is serving a five match touchline ban which is entirely his own fault and deserves criticism for this.
10- Forest have appointed McClaren, Cotterill, O’Driscoll and McLeish and Forest fans wanted them all out at one point in their tenure.

Fawaz Al-Hasawi has chosen to place his faith in Billy Davies to get our beloved Nottingham Forest into the Premier League. Yes we are poor at the minute but Forest fans have very short memories of the disaster that followed with Mclaren who had “European and Premier League” experience and Mcleish who Forest fans didn’t want.

Who next? I have asked Forest fans if they had their wish granted of Billy Davies going who would they want instead. The names astounded me…

1- Glenn Hoddle- in some ways I want him to get the job just so it would stop the rumours every time the job is vacant. He has a bang average managerial record and at Wolves he drew 19 games in their attempt to get promoted and was ultimately sacked. Fans get wrapped up in the fact and he speaks an excellent game.

2- Malky Mackay- why on earth would he drop down again to manage in the Championship? He has Norwich City written all over him IMO next season.

3- Sean Dyche- Yes Nottignham Forest are a bigger club than Burnley but again why would he swap Burnley for Forest when he will be managing in the Premiership.

4- Justin Edinburgh- this was the worst for me. Cries of “lets go for an uproven manager, we never do this”. Er Colin Calderwood? Justin Edinburgh is NOT qualified enough to manage this football club. FACT.

Basically we have a situation where some Nottingham Forest fans don’t want Billy Davies at the club. Most of them haven’t got a clue who they want to replace him, they just want him out. The fans that I have spoken to have suggested the candidates above which hardly excite me as a supporter.

Forest lie in 5th position and have an excellent chance of gaining promotion via the playoffs if all the fans regroup and work in the same direction as the manager and owner wants to go towards.

The owner isn’t going to sack the manager now so there is simply no point in being negative towards the manager. Give the manager this season and next. If he doesn’t deliver promotion he deserves to be sacked. However in the meantime stop with the questioning about Fawaz faith in the manager and continue to support the club in the remaining games.

Forest travel to Middlesbrough tomorrow night looking to pick up some points in the middle of a stuttering run. Fawaz has provided free transport for the supporters which is a great gesture.

Let’s return the favour by supporting the whole football club from Fawaz to Billy to the players.

*Comments welcome*

COYR!

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