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I am off on my annual holiday so the Fan Talk pages will not be updated for a couple of weeks. Thanks to you all for your posts over the past year - ed
i write basically to once again congratulate billy and the lads for what has been, in my opinion a successful season. we've played teams of the park and at times shown truly exilarating pace and tremendously fast flowing football, against sides that last season would have battered us. I'm delighted and relieved that billy davies has decided to stay with us, i dont see another manager at this level i'd rather have, and i'm so pleased we didn't win promotion, strange statement i know ,but i totally agreed with billy when he said we aren't ready, the aquisitions panel saw to that in january, in my opinion it has to go and give full control to the manager, but i guess we have david platts mess to thank for that, our chairman won't let that sort of reckless spending happen again it nearly finished us.as for blackpool, well..... i like holloway he makes me laugh, but i think if they open up like that and play open attacking football at stamford bridge, old trafford and white hart lane, where they go box to box in about 5 seconds, Derbys monumental 11 point relegation season is going to look like a cricket score in comparison to blackpool, who could quite possibly concede more goals than any side in history.but back to us roll on next season and i totally agree with the statements predicting a top season for the reds, i reckon we're looking at going up as champions, if the right stock is aquired. COME ON YOU REDS
RED DOG underwood
Having again finished my daily read of the fans talk,I must agree with Mark,We are for sure not going to have an easy season,I would like to add my congratulations to all involved with nottingham forest football club for the fantastic season we had,but as we all no thats done and dusted,Im just a little nervous that if we dont get of to a flyer,some of the moaners will reappear,and that could ruin our season,im praying for a top two finish but if it was to be the play offs again then i would still consider that a good season,so again let us all show our love and support for our fantastic football team and cheer them through thick and thin
Chris Stevenage Red
Re Malvern Red - How can you say next season is going to be easier? Plymouth and Peterbrough (two poor sides) are replaced by Leeds and Norwich who i think will both be looking for a play off spot atleast, then there was last seasons under achievers, Qpr, Reading, Middlesbrough, Sheffield United and Ipswich, I also think Derby and Bristol City will have a good season, then there is still other good sides in the league. Next season will be a lot tighter and i don't think there will be much in it from top to bottom. I think we need to sign 2 defenders, 2 midfielders and 2 strikers, not including Boyd, hope we sign him. If we do this and keep ALL our players i think we can go up, but its certainly not be easy.
Mark, London Red
Next Season Will Be Easier
Is next season going to be the easiest one for years to escape the championship? None of the three teams leaving the prem are 'big guns' - certainly no bounce-back certs like Newcastle were. Some of these relegated teams - plus a couple who remained in the CCC - will be hit with points deductions due to financial difficulties - cutting them out of a Top Two finish from day one. I guess Leeds will be playing with some momentum, but even so, I reckon the odds of Forest winning straight promotion to the prem have never been so good.
Malvern Red
what a disapiontment the playoffs have been! Billy was right it is a lottery and although Blackpool played well throughout the playoffs, it didnt refect there profomace this year.if i had my way this is how i would do it. teams who finish in the 3 - 6 places would still be involved in the playoff. If you finish 3rd you are one of the teams going to Wemberly Playoffs Final if you finish 5th or 6th you play each other in a two leg match. the winner of the 2 leg match plays the team that finished 4th. Winner of that 2 leg games joins the 3rd position team at Wembly. the benifits of finishing 3rd in the leauge means you only have 1 game to win at Wembely, finishing 4th means you only have semi Final games to will against either 5 or 6th place. if you finish 5th you have to win 2 play off semifinals and also win at Wembely, seems right to me. What do you thimk!
Allan Rinder
Well my faith in football has been restored with Blackpool's promotion which incidentally I predicted several weeks ago.
There is proof finally that you can make a silk purse from a sow's ear and the little man sometimes wins. Look at Blackpool's team. Yes Adam is a top drawer player, the type we need and Brett Ormerod is a classy player at Championship level. But look at the rest of the team..average players like Taylor-Fletcher, Evett, Vaughan, Southern, all turned into top players by a manager who while he is very slightly insane (and I love it) knows how to get that little extra from a player.
That is 2 years on a trot where a club tipped for relegation wins promotion and surely there are lessons to learn here.
Players that play for each other, team spirit, work ethic, a manager who is dedicated to the cause with positive attitude. Yes they may only have one season in the big time but its one more season than Forest are having.
Adele McGuinness
So, we read in the press that King Billy and Chairman Doughty have had a satisfactory clear the air meeting and that as a result Billy is staying and new players are now being sort - Wonderful!
Now, lets see a joint statement from both our leaders on the Forest website spelling out situation. As we have had to endure weeks of ever increasing speculation regarding the future of the manager, the transfer committee (David Pleat) etc, the least the Club Board and Management can do now, is let us, the paying fans and the club's main shareholders, formally confirm that all is well and what the general plan is regarding the way forward. This will not of course include the names of players to be targeted. The greatest transfer tactition of the modern era, was our own, late, King Brian C. Statements were made by him and we read in the press, when the deals had been done, not when they were being contemplated, thereby risking others to contemplate the same and start bidding wars for transfer targets.
Well done Blackpool today against Cardiff - you deserve to join the Premiership for the determination, spirit and skill you have demonstrated in recent months and particularly in the playoffs. Hope you manage to stay up there the following season, when Forest will be coming up to join you in the top flight. We will then avenge those defeats you inflicted on us this past season!!
Forest supporters should now be able to look forward to a great season starting in August. There will be some explaining to do Chairman Doughty and King Billy, if you are not able to take us into the Premiership a year from now - the clock is ticking, so make sure all internal barriers / distractions are removed this summer and then get on with the job, we the supporters, pay you to do.
Looking forward to an exciting and successful season for our Red warriors.
UUUUUUU REDS
RED EYE
First of all congratulations to everybody at the club for such a brilliant season. What a difference one season and one man makes. Just found out that BD is staying and "phew" what a relief. I for one cant believe that so many fans wanted king billy gone! Yes hes outspoken and wants things done his way, but so did the great one, BC r.i.p, and how many of you wanted rid of him? BD WILL return this club to the PL and he will make us a force once again, starting with promotion next year. I am looking forward with great anticipation to our dealings in the transfer market over the next couple of months as BD puts the final pieces of the jigsaw together. However to help him on his way may I make a few suggestions.
1, Nicky Shorey. If we do nothing else this summer please get him back to the CG.
2, Darren Pratley.
3, Charlie Adam. When Blackpool miss out on promotion
4, Marlon Harewood. Would be most welcome back at the CG.
5, Wilfred Bouma, Free Agent!!
And whatabout a couple of loan signings,
1, Jermaine Jenas. Not exactly a regular at Spurs
2, Jack Wilshire. Great talent and would be playing the kind of football that AW would like him to be playing.
3, Carlos Vela
Bit ambitious maybe but hey, just a thought. Good look to everyone at the club for what I hope will be a very successful 10/11 season.
Andy Vardy (lifelong red and hater of all things Derby)
Re Nick Moseley - it's just an opinion, football is full of them.
I would say though Roy Keane comes from better stock than Mr Calderwood et el. although great players don't make great managers, you can't argue with his football calibre - one of the best players this club has ever had - period! Shame we can't seem to muster up that kind of winning attitude he had as a player and go and grab our place in the premiership rather than excuses excuses. When we will reach the promise land one has to ask.
Anyway roll on next season. Lets hope Boyd gets his chance, looks a decent player.
Robert Preston
In reply to: Jon G Main Stand D Block - yes I know the rules are there, but they are ridiculous rules. We were top 2/3 for a vast amount of the season, Blackpool scraped in on the last couple of games, and our whole season goes doen the toilet due to a SKY TV money making competition.
My argument is, that teams who work hard, consistantly during most of the season, get NO ADVANTAGE AT ALL come the play-offs. In fact we get a dis-advantage. There needs to be more advtantage for finishing all those points above, othwerise why bother having a 46 game season?!
Playing 1st leg away, in my opinion is a disadvantage, as you are always expected to win at home, adding even more pressure for the 2nd leg, and you could also be playing catch up, as we were.
How about this for a fair rule: every 3 points you finish above the team you play (if applicable) - you should have a 1 goal start for the play-offs. So we would have began 3-0 up. It would make your season's hard work mean something!!! Otherwise, why have a league, and not just a cup competition from the start.
I probably sound bitter but I am very frustrated and feel cheated by the FA/SKY TV. I feel I have paid hard earned cash supporting my club during the championship season, for a season that obviously means nothing. 3rd place, means 3rd best over the whole 46 games, so we deserve to go up!!! Cup football shouldn't determine promotion!!!
(Leeds doing Man U, Pompey doing Spurs, etc in the FA Cup - cup football's a lottery, not a true reflection of how good a team is and what they deserve over the ENTIRE SEASON!!!!)
Steve, St Anns Red
Well not too sure where we are at the moment with the managers but read in the Guardian that the "clear the air" talks took place yesterday and all is well in the land of Billy. I assume we can now go for Darren Pratley from Swansea and the loan signing from Chelsea - Patrick van Aanholt (Left back); these would be two great signings. Saw Aanholt last season as mate a Chelsea fan (he cant help it and is receiving treatment).
Forest is a great club so we need total commitment from the main man, still unsure about certain aspects of his leadership but isn't that always the case.
Anyway roll on next season, should be favorites for top 2 finish - I hope.
Cheers all for a cracking campaign and let's play some football.
Rob (Trent End)
RE: Robert Preston's letter: Roy Keane? You have just got to be joking! What on earth has he done for the clubs that he has managed? - No don't bother I'll tell you. Precisely nothing! If we want to go back to the Calderwood days then bring him in by all means but it will be a decision to regret.
Nick Moseley
This might not be popular as Billy's recent comments have been viewed as disloyal, but I can't help support what I think Billy is trying to achieve with these comments. People on this board have been consistently against the transfer-panel approach at the club, but now that Billy is trying to make as stand and get it removed, they have turned against him. Whilst people have applauded ND's comments following the play-off defeat, the line ''We're the youngest squad in the Championship and we'll carry on with that strategy'' really worried me - i.e. 'we will continue to rely mainly on youth and I won't be signing the sort of experienced (expensive) players that will get us promoted automatically'. Billy wants to take the team onto the next stage, and feels that the transfer panel are diminishing the chances of this, just like they did in January.
As stated on here, being boss of Forest is a great job, but more potentially than in reality. If Billy is not going to get the backing he needs then there are much better jobs out there, and who could blame him for taking one. If he was really disloyal he would just leave, he wouldn't' be kicking up this public stink. It's the fact that he cares that mans he feels this is necessary. He could have performed better tactics wise against Blackpool and shouldn't be looking for scapegoats, but I don't feel his post-match comments were reactionary - he just trying to achieve what needs to be done to take the club forward. I hope he wins this power struggle, because he is a man that has taken clubs up before and nearly took us up this season. ND, whilst his heart is in the right place, is the man who appointed Megson and Calderwood. I know whose footballing opinions I value the most. ND has a right to set a budget, but he doesn't have the expertise to delegate football decisions away from Billy, and the transfer panel don't have the expertise to reject his views.
Cheers,
Gavin Bishop
Nigel Doughty said after the Blackpool game do not believe all you see and hear in the Media regarding Billy Davies's future.
However with the greatest of respect, I think he seriously tends to forget that the communication we fans get from the club on what really matters is almost verging on poor to say the least, so in the absence of information from official sources what are, and more importantly who are we supposed to believe??? Fans have a right to know whats going on, even if its calming assurances!!
Why has it taken almost two weeks to arrange a meeting between the Manager and Directors?? Dont tell me that people are on holiday!! (They would have missed the wembley Final) Even though we are not in the play off final it appears that most other clubs are already planning their summer signings, does this mean NFFC will again miss out on potential targets?
One other point, I understand that the unsucessfull loan signing of George Boyd cost the club over 400.000 and he never really got a fair chance. That amount of money just might have gone a long way in paying Nicky Shoreys wages until the end of the season. Enough said.
Kendo
Like many fans on here I too am dismayed at the erratic behaviour of BD currently. I was one of the few that originally wasnt all that keen to bring him to the club mainly because although I felt he could take us up I very much doubted he could keep us there (memories of Bassett) Admittedly I was ecstatic during this season to see how well he had done, however doing away with reserves along with other niggles I suspected he wasnt here for the long term and was purely seeking a great club underachieving to catapult himself into contention for a top club job. As for potential replacements I was surprised to see Robert Preston mention Roy Keane. Great player yes. Management no way. Have yet to see any real improvements with the clubs he has managed so far. He would rule by fear and not exactly one to keep his mouth shut when it comes to his feelings.
My choices:
Paul Hart - Great bloke. honest. worked well under restricted cash, would do well with some money to spend. Would be welcomed back to the club with open arms Im sure.
Steve Coppell - Good tactically, nice football
Roberto Martinez or Slaven Bilic.
Steve Cotterill not done too badly across the river. Untried but maybe worth a punt
Steve - Oakham Red
A most depressing day yesterday as the reality of the Blackpool defeat sinks in. My son had a school trip to Wembley Stadium. He was greeted by the sight of huge banners and advertising for Blackpool v Cardiff and information about Blackpool's semi-final win. How wonderful it would have been if he could have seen the Forest flag flying and to know he was coming back on Saturday for the final! It might even have made his Man Utd / Arsenal friends that little bit jealous of a Forest fan for the first time in their lives.
Adam Wilson
Colchester Red
A quick point to Steve, Forest Fan from St Anns. I did not suggest that either Blackpool or Cardiff are ready for the Premiership. Granted we finished well ahead of Blackpool on points. The point I am trying to make is that for what seems like ages everyone has known that 3rd to 6th place play off for the final promotion slot. IF next season we do not finish in the top 3 I bet YOU will be happy to get another chance of promotion via the play-offs. It is not as if it was a surprise at the end of the season or something new that has just been brought in. I want to see us back where we belong and am as disappointed as everyone that we failed in the play-offs. I do not expect miracles but would want to see that when we do get up that we can hold our own in the Premiership. You also mentioned luck. OK we lost at home early on this season having been all over them for most of the game. We have hit the post on countless occasions and had decisions go against us but 4 games against them and 4 losses, 5 goals scored yet 10 conceded bad luck can not just explain that away. The two play-off games did show that we are not ready. When we needed to step up a gear we failed. For the first 20 odd minutes off the away leg we were in command then allowed them back into the game. Their equaliser was down to poor defending. OK the penalty was a harsh one but do you honestly think that in the second half we deserved to get anything else. The home leg again we started well. Missed chance after chance and again decisions did not always go our way but can you honestly say that we were robbed???? No!.
I do not think that I am being negative. Be honest. Be proud. We failed this time and we should not be pointing fingers at individual players.
Jon G Main Stand D Block
To judge from the tone of the articles in the Guardian and the Nottingham Evening Post it looks as if BD may have seriously blotted his copybook by being disloyal in public to his current employers. I cannot imagine ND rewarding BD's apparent unwillingness to honour contractual obligations freely entered into in any other manner than any employer would. I think it is perhaps time for discreet enquiries to be made in the direction of some high profile, but currently unemployed, football managers. Managing Forest is a great job, for the right man. I thought BD could be the right man but, if the newspaper articles are to be believed, I'm not so sure.
Red Ted
Do we really need a manager like this:-
"There is not a job that I would not consider," Davies said in one interview on STV when asked about the vacancy at Celtic and whether it was true that he, as a Rangers man, was genuinely interested. "From my point of view I certainly would not turn my back on any potential interested party if they make it official to Forest, if they agree compensation, and they do what is necessary."
Negative away tactics, marching off the pitch in play-offs agaisnt Blackpool and basically ingnoring the players, what kind of leadership is that. I will drive you back to Scotland Billy.
Bring in Roy Keane!!!!
Robert Preston
Hello one and all.
I have been a diehard Forest fan since before I can remember. I'm from Ireland and my old man was a red before me. A picture of the great man of big headed fame hangs proudly on the wall of our family dining room alongside Samuel Beckett, W. B. Yeats and Albert Einstein. I'd like to congratulate the team on a magnificent season. The progress made has been absolutely phenomenal. Unfortunately, I've been in New Zealand for the last year and a half and haven't been able to get to my beloved city ground for a long time. I'm moving to london in july because my country, as i'm sure you've heard, is bankrupt. Expect to hear me singing my lungs out with my fellow reds next season.
The reason I felt compelled to write is that I believe there is a player who doesn't get the credit he deserves. Granted I only get to see the televised games and highlights on
Forest World (great service by the way), so I may have to humble myself before those with greater insight. The Player in question is
Guy Moussi. He's big, strong, quick, has good skill, and has an impressive range of passing. On the forums, people always debate the merits of moving Cohen to the middle, or else praise McKenna (not unfounded) for his contribution and leadership. I believe that losing the mouse was a major blow to our playoff chances. Whenever I watch him I'm impressed. He's also at an excellent age where he can only improve. Anybody agree?
Similarly, I have been disapointed to see McGugan relegated to the periphery. Wasn't he voted in the top ten best players outside the premiership last season (Skysports I think). He always looks like he has time on the ball to see a pass which I was brought up to believe was the mark of a true footballer (Tyson, McGoldrick, Adebola, Perch etc take note!!!) and there's the matter of his ferocious shooting as well.
Wilson, Morgan, Gunter (top flight ability all day in my opinion), McKenna, Raddy, Cohen, Anderson (why he was dropped is beyond me), Blackstock and Earnie should all be proud of their sesaons. They have restored so much pride to our wonderful sleeping giant (for so long comatosed) NFFC. Next season is going to be fantasic. A young squad, that with a few additions (Shorey, Pratley, Tarabt, Harewood, Whittingham, Seamus Coleman, and that other blackpool fellow who I still cant bring myself to forgive would be a fine start). Also, please, please, please Billy, give Brendan Maloney a chance. We went to see him play for the Irish under 21's against portugal. It was no great surprise that they gave us a proverbial spanking. However, Maloney's maurading surges from full back frightened the life out of them. For a big lad he has lots of composure and a great, elegant stride. I also hope we unearth a few hitherto unkonwn continental gems in the Majewski mould. And for heavens sake, somebody start sneaking createne into the little magicians porridge. I teach kickboxing and will happily train him, at my own expense, in order to give him the physique to compliment his wonderful ability.
Billy!!! In the words of the worlds greatest living song writer, Conor O'Berst "...I dreamed you were carried away, on the crest of a wave, but dont walk away, PLEASE!!!". You are the best thing that has happened to our club in years (Kudos too must be given to our dedicated and generous chairman). Although, the abolishment of our reserves still gives me cause for concern. Have some more faith in the likes of Maloney and McGugan, and our successful youth academy, and stay where you are wanted and adored.
I look forward with great excitement and optimism to what I'm sure will be a another wonderful season. Though I may be foreign my blood runs as red as any of the wonderful native fans who support our lads through thick and thin. I can't wait to be surrounded by my red brethren and be able to talk all things forest without some misguided sunshine liverpool or Unitedl fan referring to my beloved Tricky Trees as bloody NOTTS ha ha.
Is fua liom a Derby agus slan leat. ("Goodbye all and I hate derby" in Irish). Till next season.
Eoin the Irish red!!!!
I agree whole heartedly with the 'Old Timer' all the requests to get Forest supporters behind the goal in the Lower Bridgeford stand have fell on deaf ears,once again clubs will bring 3-4000 fans making a heck of a noise behind the goal and spur their teams on!!!!!! Well if thats the way they want to go all well and good but I think they are missing a trick, by keeping the away fans down to the minimum ticket allocations to start off with and if it looks like we cannot fill part of the Lower Bridgeford with our own fans then yes release some more to the away team.This happens on a regular basis to our away support!!!! time and time again we get extra tickets, yes is a money game as well but I think our club should come first when it comes to ticket allocation and our fans need to be given the chance to support their team.
I also think a few names in our team will be released, but who do we want ?
Yes a left back, with Julian given a chance to get back into the squad, strengthen midfield, and the attacking options, give Garner a chance next season he has done a job for us when he has played, I am a Tyson fan but his end product has been poor this year, McGoldrick well has he been played in his right position? 1 Million spent but not much return, Boyd I feel wont be staying, McGugan ? not shown enough for me,plus points Gunter, Morgan, Wilson ( Most improved player for me this year )Cohen, McKenna ( at start of season believe he should not have come back for play offs )Majeski, Earnie, Blackstock, Anderson, Moussi when he got match fit constant injury niggles a worry, oh nearly forgot Mr Camp ( apart from his home leg debacle been
superb)
So a lot to ponder over but a very very good season, end result a not good but lots of positives to take forward so lets hope the wrangling between the board and Billy gets sorted and new additions start flowing in sooner rather than later. Expectation will be high now so a good start next season will be crucial or the more fickle forest fans will start the usual moans and we dont want that!!!!!, Roll on next season and the season ticket will be purchased in the near future.
Mick Wagstaff ( Young Timer ) Worksop
With the passion of the fans getting better and better as is the atmosphere at
the city ground, even though Forest still give the best end for noise to the visiting team, to the point that a 1000 fans can make so much noise, is it just me or should they put them right in the corner and not behind the goal ???? Also great to see the scarf's out and all parts of the ground singing at the start of they game but surely they should they speed up the Forest anthem at the start of the game........??????
Wozza
Regarding Jon G Main Stand D Block's comments:
I disagree that Blackpool were the better team, as were proved we were by finishing 9 points, plys a big GD above them after the entire season.
Yes they may have been a better "cup" team, and on the day were very lucky, especially with the 2 crucial offside decisions and the wicked deflection for the 3rd goal, not to mention the post we hit twice at Bloomfield Road and their soft penalty.
Pompey beat Spurs in the FA Cup semi finals, a shock result, but they are not a better team than Spurs, as the league table does not lie! Teams shouldn't be promoted via cup football.
Second point, about Forest "not being ready to go up" - well, tell me this: Are Blackpool? Or Cardiff? NO, nowhere near, so all this too early to go up talk is utter garbage!!! You can't pick your season, you have to go for it when you get the cance too.
Billy Davies has been saying for a lot of the season, we are too young too go up, it's too early etc.... but now he's not even got the bottle to commit himself to the team he was aparantly "building!" What a joke. Next season we will be a lot worse off.
Steve, Forest Fan from St Anns
Reading the statement that Billy Davies is due to have 'crunch talks' with the Club this Friday - I just wanted to add that there is no doubt that Billy Davies is our best manager for many years, and I really hope that he stays with us and guides into the Premiership - in his hands (and the Chairman's) Forest can achieve this.
However his behaviour at the end of our defeat to Blackpool lacked both maturity and modesty - he berated the performance of the players (this should have been saved until later), and he pursued his own self interest -- he has to remember that he does not have a preserve on being the only one that is hurting -- so in future (if there is one for him and Forest) please Billy balance your fire and determination with some sensible judgement.
As a contrast on the same night, it was good to hear from the Chairman, who was suffering like the rest of us, but gave us some much needed hope for next season - wise words at the right time, something for Billy to reflect on I believe.
Red Dave Papplewick, 55 years a Red.
Very good posts from Karen and Derby Red. I do not accept for a minute that we are an inexperienced side OR that Billy has been handed a load of youngsters against his will. Excuses are simply not necessary - we have had a good season. In his post match interview his first comments were basically 'I told you so' You're the manager Billy were you not invloved then!!!??! 'That's what you get with young players' incinuating that he'd somehow been handed a bad handl!!! and 'I've been saying we're not ready and people laughed at me' People didn't laugh at this because of the point you were making, they laughed because it is such a dreadful way of inspiring any confidence in the team on the pitch!! It's appalling in terms of man management. By modern footballing standards I think we have some loyal players at Forest and the likes of Morgan Wilson Chambers McGugan Cohen etc are simply NOT inexperienced players. How must these players feel when described like this by the very man who picks them? As things stood at the time the additions made to the squad in the closed season could have been described as the pick of the summer signings - (Blackstock, Adebola, McGoalDrought all previously top scorers and Camp & Anderson the real gems) ALL Billy's choice and, on paper, all good quality players at this level with good track records. The majority of the players have proved themselves to be more than capable in this league and ripped many teams apart this season. One freak final performance along with some very odd post January management decisions (e.g. away from home continually not playing Earnshaw our only consistent/natural striker and leaving Anderson on the bench for the final game against Blackpool while starting Tyson on the right??) does not change that. I am totally fed up with the success we have had this season being tainted by Billy's incessant whingeing and that decent, hard working players that have given everything this season (and in previous seasons) are being undermined by their own manager. I am afraid that there is no way that Billy has any genuine commitment to Forest - he has taken every little opportunity to dig and niggle at everyone from the board to the fans all of whom, in my opinion, have given him their full backing to move this club forward. As for the boring and relentless 'January Transfer' whinge - I just don't understand why Billy and some fans can't just accept that we are where we are and there are always going to be limits to what we can do. Or should we perhaps get Ronaldo? Let's be realistic - the money won't always be flowing and the 'right' people will not always be ready, willing or able to come. Also - January has gone we can't change what happened now!!
So, as many fans are saying - let's celebrate a great season and look forward to another one in a good competitive league that we have as good a chance as any other team of winning. Billy - you're either with us or you're not. I for one don't want anyone here whose heart isn't in it. I can't see how this could ever be a good thing for the club. Your Celtic, Rangers, conversations with the board comments are not what any genuine Forest fans want to hear. I don't think you're too hard done by. Stop moaning and sniping and maybe try to enjoy yourself! Either that or move aside and let us bring in someone who wants the job.
Garybaldi Red
very sad that the season ended as it did. the team did everything that the fans could have dreamed of for the majority of the season. I have to say that some of the team never lived up to what was required of them.
I do not think that
Nathan Tyson is a championship player 2 goals in a whole season speaks for itself.
David Mcgoldrick (not even sure i spelt that right) that's how unimportant he has been, he has given nothing to this team over the season.
James Perch having been injured for most of the season was asked to do an awful lot and I believe he did a good job, mostly out of position. Mckenna was great for most of the season but to be included in the play offs
after being unfit for so long was at the least doubtful.
Paul Anderson is a match winner and never stops trying.
Wes and Kelvin along with Gunts are awesome defenders and Ernie should be in the team for every game when he is fit whether it be home or away. Regarding the left back problem, may I suggest Carl Dickinson.
This player is a great tackler, gets his headers in, has good pace and a fierce shot he also is a life long Forest supporter and does not appear to be in Tony Pullis's long term plans at Stoke City, could be a great buy.
Come on Mr Pleat have a good look at this lad.
All the very best for the next season you redsssssssssssssssss.
Reds pensioner in Hastings.
It looks as though the many letters and emails regarding the allocation of seats for away supporters has fallen on deaf ears. No season tickets for 2010-2011 are available for The Lower Bridgford End. Without a ball being kicked we appear to have already handed the opposition a few points. As stated in an earlier email though it`s nothing more than a commercial decision to keep things as they are. If we could guarantee 27500 forest fans at every home game I`m sure the seat allocation would have been altered.
So nothings changed there but what about on the field of play? Some players will have to seek other employment and I wouldn`t be surprised if there are fans favourites included on the managers exit list. We got caught out last season with a lack of left sided players particularly in defence. Mind you I never have understood why any professional footballer can`t kick a ball with both feet!
Traditionally teams who fail in the play-offs find it difficult in the following season. Its going to take good managerial skills therefore to engender enthusiasm following our a big disappointment. Lets hope changes in personnel come sooner rather than later. If there is a delay as there has been in previous seasons it will be seen as nothing more than a lack of ambition. There are players out there who would fit the bill for us so might I suggest we don`t tell Mr Pleat and just go out there and buy them. BC would have done!
John Rider Old Timer Worksop
Just a quick point to all those people who say that the third promotion spot should go to the team that has finished third in the league. I am sure that many will agree with you at the moment. HOWEVER, how many people will agree with that if next season the MIGHTY REDS, led by KING BILLY finish in either 4th, 5th or 6th place. Sure we can all moan about it but be honest. Over two matches the best team got through to the play off finals. Billy has said all the way through that we are not ready. Let's re-build in the next few months. Get a side that can not only stay in the Prem but give a good account of themselves, and also be crowned champions of the Championship, or failing that a team that are capable of walking through the play offs and the play off final.
Jon G Main Stand D Block
Hi all you Red fans.
I fully agree with Angry Steve from Nottm. regarding the play offs, i think we should return to the old system of 3 up and 3 down without 3rd to 6th placed teams having to play off for promotion. How unlucky can a team feel if they have finished many points ahead of the other teams and then through bad or good luck ( as we saw it happen to Blackpool ) then that team is deprived of taking its place up to the EPL.
I have been a RED fan for over 50 years and i will continue to be one, when i lived in Nottm. i was a regular in the Trent End and followed the Reds all over the country and nothing would make me happier than seeing NOTTINGHAM FOREST'S name back in the top league.
From John Howe Canberra Australia RED
There are two players in the danish league worth looking at..Mikkel bechmann(dane)and Yura Movsisyan(u.s.a.).The latter adapted well and became a huge sucess in just six months.Is strong,fast and is skilfull.Worth a look.(Randers F.C.).See his goals on you tube.
Good luck next season. R.
Hi too all forest fans and i just want to say that the comments made by boamy and ian mccluskey are spot on! At the start of the season if someone said you will finish 3rd and lose out on automatic promotion by two teams who just came down from the premier league i think every forest fan would of bitten their hand off! Billy Davies is a great manager and can take us to the promised land!! Everybody got on billys back when he said were too young and not ready but he was clearly right. Were too young and havent quite got the ability/experience to cope in the premier league! Next season or the season after when we made some good quality signings we will be their or their abouts!!! Lets get behind the reds next season and hopefully propell us into the premier division! you reds!
Brad-Mapperly red
I've got to say I don't think I can remember such an enjoyable season in my 30 something years as a supporter. I recall many people having a go at Billy with his 'let's just see what happens' and 'we're a young side and maybe not quite ready' comments. But the fact is, he was right. It's great to see someone with a grip on reality and a true understanding of his team's ability. Yes, I'm as gutted as everyone that we didn't make it but we've got to be happy with the season. Facts are that if you don't win away from home since the turn of the year and are unable to perform in front of nearly 30,000 fans in the play offs then what chance of going to Old Trafford, Anfield and Stamford Bridge and getting anything? It's at this point you have to question if you really are good enough for the top flight.....
Great season though and I'm looking forward to the next one.
Boamy
Hello, can I take this opportunity to express my thanks to ALL at Nottingham Forest for a great season. And I do mean all - stewards, groundspeople, shop, caterers, media, ticket office, academy players, health & safety, right up to the playing staff for the first team and board etc. - everyone!
Yes, we'd have taken a play-off spot last August and obviously I'm bitterly disappointed at not getting promotion especially as we have come to endure failure each time we get to that stage - that's football. But what a season! Finishing as the best team not to get up - by far - is something to be proud of, and if we had gone up I too think it would have been at least one season too early and I'm grateful that we didn't. Our under 18's had success and our academy still produces footballers of quality.
Mr. Davies clearly knows what he's doing and has the backing of Mr. Doughty (the internal discussions are for them not us) and the fans alike, so let's focus on the positives we brought out of the last season and a half.
We're a young side still learning to cope with pressure at the upper end of our league - something almost every club would envy. Every terrace manager knows our strengths and weaknesses - which is why we return to our jobs when not at
The City Ground! I have total faith in our management and board and believe they want the same as us - why would they want anything else?
I'm already looking forward to the new season, new faces on the pitch and a belief this time that we can go all the way - are you behind us?
Thanks again,
Ian McCluskey
Urgent Message for King Billy and Chairman D.
Gentlemen, here is an opportunity to take the edge off the disapointment we Forest Fans are currently suffering, from missing out on promotion. Get in touch with Jamie Carragher, word has it that he is awaiting your call and you may find he is interested in joining our team of Red Warriors, after the World Cup finals. Move quickly and complete the season's loan of Man Utd's Corry Evans. With these two on board we will have made an excellent start in creating a future Premiership team.
Good Luck men and have a good, productive, summer.
RED EYE
It has been a great season and far exceeded most fans expectations. However, Billy needs to stop playing the blame game for why things ultimately went wrong. It seems to be everybody elses fault that our form dipped. Why could Billy not get to the bottom of why our away form was so diabolical? We we're great at home but for some reason hefelt the need to chop and change away from home and we were awful. Too many average players were given games when others were never given the chance. Tyson, Perch and Mckenna were next to useless in the play-off games and the likes of Boyd and Garner who had shown they were capable of making a difference in the last 2 games of the normal season were not given ONE minute to show what they could do in the play-offs!
If Billy is not happy here and feels that the club isn't as ambitious as his ego clearly is, maybe he should do us all a favour and resign now. We don't won't weeks of speculation as to his future during the summer as it won't don't the players or the club any favours.
Karen
bert crory from larne you are spot on with all your comments and a good call from a mr dave leach , however we cant say the play offs is a lottery blackpool have beat us 4 times this season good luck to them in the final ,
dave shelton castleford
Living in Derby & reading the local rag, I've seen & heard all this before from BD, no money, no backing, moaning about his own squad & a longer contract required. The squad is too young & small. Well Billy of the starting 11 against Blackpool at the CG you signed 5 of them & all 3 used sub's you also signed all 3. So who's fault is it that the average age is too young? Please tell me any other manager that has to come out of his dugout to get the fans singing, instead of giving advice to his players on the pitch?. I personally think you are a championship manager (unemployed until NFFC offered you work) & comments about your own players don't help in giving them any confidence.
Now I know everybody won't agreed but if BD wants to go to Celtic (not much better than Sunday morning football) then let him go. We all know that there is no loyalty in football eg BD use to play for Rangers now he hasn't said no to Celtic. BD use to manager the Sheep, got sacked then took a job with NFFC, which proves as long as footballers / managers are getting paid they aren't fussed to who is paying them.
Alan Pardew or Alan Curbishly would be a better football & pr choice.
Now I do think BD has done a good job this season it just seems his attidude is never quite right or doesn't seem loyal to the reds & is just using us as a stepping stone to a bigger club (but in the championship there aren't many bigger than us).
So for me thanks Billy & good look in your next job
Derby Red
A most entertaining season. Despite the collapse in away form which began at D**by, and the failure to land Nicky Shorey, or any other experienced left back, we'd certainly taken 3rd before the season began. Next time, no messing with the play-offs, we shall just have to go for an automatic promotion spot by outperforming the likes of Leeds, Norwich, Middlesbrough, Portsmouth, Hull, etc. Onwards and upwards. Can't wait.
Red Ted
Possibly the final effort for the season, how about this team for the final push next season?
Camp, Smith
Gunter, Perch, Chambo, Bennet, Wilson, Morgan, plus new left back(Still no idea though, ,sorry)
Anderson,McLeary,Lewis,Mousse,Cohen,McKenna,Raddy,Pratley,Boyd, Wallace(i remebered)
Blackstock,Earnie,Wright-phillips,Garner,Sharp or Maynard.
Release Adebola, Tyson(Sadly),Mc Goldrick and Lynch
A strong 24 man squad with plenty of options and cover.
Billy, if you stay, copy Fabio at England, and every time somebody hoofs the ball in training, stop the sesion and bellow loudly "NO LONG BALL"
Get Campy to pass it to the full backs and build from there. We have a great pitch so get them to play on it.
Should Billy make the mistake of leaving, would anybody object to Ollie Holloway?
I would love to see that sort of effort and style from our reds.
Heres to a great transfer packed summer, and a return to the promised land come next May, with a side capable of staying there, enjoy it reds
Adrian and Mrs Warren(Getting over the heartbreak, and preparing for glory Essex Reds)
Great to see so many balanced comments following the defeat on Tuesday - disappointment mixed with appreciation for a very good season.
Sentiments I share fully.
In retrospect, and as we all know, the cruel facts are that if we had been promoted we would have faced better teams than Blackpool almost every week of next season. A couple of summer signings wouldn't prevent a difficult and possibly financially crippling year. Far better to continue building for another twelve months whilst allowing our younger players to gain more experience.
After 55 years of supporting Forest, the last few in exile, I want promotion back to the top tier as much as anyone, but only when the time is right, as the consequences of failure are now so high, (e.g.
Portsmouth, Hull). Our form during the last three months has proved that we are not there yet. We need to build up our squad, strengthen our defence and look seriously at our strike force, some of whom have distinctly under-performed.
As for the PANEL! We are not a wealthy club - certainly in the context of the Premiership, so restraint is needed. The Chairman must continue to strictly dictate budget, wages, etc, but he (and only he) should approve any proposals for new signings. If he wants to take informal advice from others then so be it. There is no need for this formal, expensive, additional layer of beaurocratic nonsense which achieves little, if anything, and drives a wedge between Chairman and Manager.
So, lets go for the Premiership next season, with a Chairman who is in sole control of financial decisions, a manager who is comfortable in his position and a team good enough and confident enough to win the league.
Not forgetting the fans of course who will, like me, continue to moan and groan, but who will support our team every inch of the way.
Neil Taylor
France
A fantastic achievement this season and a massive thankyou to all the players, BD and his staff for giving me many hours of pleasure. I stated here, pre-season that Billy would build a team capable of challenging at the top. Third place! Holy s***t! Can you believe that!
The Wembley dream is over and major team surgery will now be needed for the expected automatic next season. We all know which players deserve to stay and those who should be released. Listened to the radio interviews on the long drive back home, got the impression there could be 'loads a money' available for already selected targets. Maybe that left back square peg will be the first and let's have some additional natural left footers. Quality players who have a football brain, can play comfortably on the floor and not just athletes can sprint 20 yards in record time invariably with limited ball control.
Peter Boothby. Downham Market. Norfolk.
Well done the Reds for a great season, but am I the only fan who is pleased that we didn't go up this time?
Frankly we have not been strong enough during the second half of the season, and against the premiership big boys we would have been soundly beaten. I'd hate to see the Reds go up and then straight down in humiliating fashion. Like many clubs we have to rely on a few star players and many supporting team members, but you cannot survive in the premiership like that as so many have found. We need the nucleus of this team to stay together and grow in maturity, and be bolstered by a few seasoned professionals in vital areas.
To me Dexter looks half-hearted at times and compared to Robert isn't a play maker. Contrast the difference between the two play off games. Oh how I wish Shearer was younger and available! Also our midfield simply loses the ball too often and seems incapable of retrieving it. At times in the first leg at Blackpool they looked like an enthusiastic young Sunday league team, full of running but with little idea. To get promotion, and stay up, you must have midfielders who can put their foot on the ball and control the game. We don't yet have that compared to Blackpool who passed the ball with great skill and confidence and deserved their win.
All in all its been a great season and a superb result to finish third, but we are where we ought to be for now. I hope Billy will stay and see it through but I fear that the money he wants to build a new squad will be greater than he is allocated.
I remember the glory days of the European Cup and the old first division, and although it would be great to see that again for now my only real concern for next season is being up in the play-off zone again with a better squad, oh and of course beating Derby home and away!
Phil Jeffs
Thanks to our chairman ND, BD, all the players and back room stuff. It has been a marvellous season. This time last year we were happy we avoided relegation this year disappointed because we lost the playoff semi final!!!! (Worse would have been if we made it and lost the final!!) What a contrast.....I call that massive improvement and solid foundation. Team needs some fine tuning and if the job is left to BD to decide who to bring in, sure that next season FOREST will win the championship. Come on reds let's stick together and show how massive Nottingham Forest FC is!!! Hope one day we will see Forest in Malta after so many years!!!!! Come onnnn youuu reedddsssss....
Martin - Malta
Having had a couple of days to reflect I would like to thank BD, coaching staff and players for a good season where we havent had to look over our shoulders. We HAVE made real progress and BD should stay and finish the job.
ND, please have a review of the season and note where it went wrong..ie failure to sign a quality left back, goal poacher and crosser of the ball. Address the problem before the new season starts and lets kick on next season.
Adele McGuinness
Firstly, the game on Tuesday night needs to be forgotten. We need to turn to next year and try and sign a decent LEFT BACK !. I think Billy will make his mind up pretty soon and on the way back from the match on BBC radio Nottingham BD didn't seem to convinced on staying. but a little message to Nigel. if Billy does stay and wants some cash to spend. GIVE IT HIM! let him do what he does best. thanks
Brady P forever red !
Just like to say congratulations to the whole team at Forest for a season above and beyond all my expectations.
It would`ve been nice for Billy to be more upbeat after the game and to have also taken some responsibility for the defeat. The game highlighted that not only do the players need more experience but also the manager himself. Poor tactics away from home since West Brom , lack of ability to adapt to the oppositions tactics during the games vs Blackpool (home and away) and insisting on focusing on the negatives regarding non transfers have all also played their part aswell.
Hopefully Billy can get over his issues sooner rather than later and we can all focus on what should be a very exciting 2010/11 campaign.
STEVE ALLEN
As well as Billy Davies has performed over the last couple of seasons, he should look at himself a bit more rather than simply stating that "We had too many players who froze on the night". Having said that, he is correct in pointing this out but it was apparent to anyone who saw the second half of the away leg that they would do exactly that.
However, after Forest had equalized on the night in the early stages it was clear that Blackpool were overrunning the midfield and that Tyson and Perch were having difficulty in getting to grips with the game.
How Tyson survived the whole game is a mystery to me. Totally inept in everything that he did and even when he was obviously told to switch wings he was of little help in either forcing the right back into defending, or tracking back to help out the overstretched left back position, which Blackpool targeted from the kick off.
I felt sorry for Perch, trying to cope out of position, but why on earth was Anderson left on the bench for so long, or McGugan not brought on to help in mid field? He was given little protection from mid field and it was no surprise that 3 of the Blackpool goals came from balls channelled through this area. Chambers and Gunter might have been a reasonable alternative.
On and on the match went, with Forest being out played and no attempt at a substitution. The whole thing reminded me of Calderwood's ineptitude when it came to subs.
It's never a good sign when the manager resorts to the 'Let's get the crowd behind the team' thing. If everyone did their job properly the match could be played behind closed doors. Forest were level on aggregate twice in the second leg, with no need to chase the game, yet there he was gesticulating to the crowd for more noise. It would have served him better if he had gesticulated to Tyson to get off at half time, and Majewski shortly afterwards. He was another who amazingly survived the whole match, The subs were brought on at 78 and 83 mins, which is really pathetic in terms of allowing them to make an impact, particularly as they went ahead again at 56 mins.
I never could understand all the "We're not ready for the Premier League" stuff all season long either. The players needs to believe they are ready, even if it isn't. Harping on about it just leads to a lack of self confidence. {as if they hadn't enough already}
Overall, he's done a good job changing the team into a contender, but it wasn't one of his best nights, and he was badly out coached by his excellent opposite number.
Bert Crory
Larne
Congratulations to the players, Billy, & all at the club ( not least forgetting the ground staff who have done a fantastic job all season of producing & maintaining a wonderful surface to play on). I'm sure we all agree that we have achieved so much this season our best to date in years, particular thanks should go to Nigel Doughty for his constant support & loyalty to the club, there aren't many directors these days that show his passion & commitment to there football club, with out him I dread to think where we would be. He clearly supports Billy Davies but I can't help but wonder about his-Billy's. he expects it of others, the players, his backroom staff & the fans but it appears that first sign that he doesn't get his own way or things don't go as planned& he spits the dummy. His post match comments about the players freezing on the night & lacking confidence was down right out of order. when ever do you hear any other managers say that in similar circumstances? he should be there consoling them & saying how well they've done immediately, not as an after thought. It appears that he considers it's every one else's fault but his; too young no money, David Pleat, The director the supporters, well I'm sorry, but we don't select the team & we didn't get rid of the reserves! If he'd have played Earnie last Saturday & given Garner a run out then it could have been a totally different match & we wouldn't have been on the back foot to start with on Tuesday. McKenna should have been substituted 20 minutes into the 2nd half & Tyson shouldn't even have started, he was so ineffective. he talks about them "freezing" so why didn't he change it? I'm afraid he needs to start looking at his own "front door " & stop passing the blame onto every one else. But my biggest question is, why didn't he go on the pitch at the end to console those lads? he should have walked round around & gone to every one of them but he left it to Ned & Co. We could back back to the beginning of the season as well when he was given x amount of money to spend in a very volatile financial time ! he new he needed a left back so why go for 6 strikers who he couldn't possibly accommodate & keep match fit week in week out which make the decision to dismantle a perfectly good successful reserve team all the more bizarre.
If he does go so be it, this club was here along time before him & will continue to be so, I'd be quite happy for him to stay provided he stops the temper tantrums & stops blaming others when things don't go well; he wants to remember who gave him a job a year after being in the wilderness when no one would touch him. These lads have done fantastically well, they've given every thing & you can't ask for more. He talks about square pegs in round holes & how, that can't be helped in order to keep the club afloat & neither can those lads help being the age they are.
Finally, all those so called supporters that got up & left after Blackpool's 4th goal, YOU ARE NOT SUPPORTERS BUT GLORY HUNTERS, shame on you, you disgust me.
Ruddington Red
Can I just say I sit in the Trent and have done for the best part of 25 years along with my dad who passed onto to join Mr Clough 6 years ago - I just know he would of loved the football we have been playing this season - its not all doom and gloom is it - come on lets take positives from this.
We finished 19th last season and if it wasn't for the loss to Derby away and our then dismal away form we could, and should of gone straight up.
I also had the displeasure of sitting right in front of a 'vocal' female forest fan constantly chanting that our lads didn't 'want it' !?!? Are you serious, of course they wanted it, this set of lads are the best we have had for ages. I was very disappointed in a few supporters having a go at a young team who had a brilliant season, you could see it hurt them a lot, the lads were distraught! Get behind them or stay at home. The play - offs are a lottery we all know that, look at Leicester last night.
Wes n Kelvin you have been immense all season and it's been a pleasure to watch you both. We have the players to do this straight up next season but we need to bring in someone who bosses the midfield and scores goals from that area.
Billy - you needed to be more positive after the game, your heart seems elsewhere man, no one is bigger than club - let us know what's happening fella!
You reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeedddddddddddddddddddddddssssssssssss
Rob
(Trent End)
A great game for a neutral but for all of us devoted Forest Fans a sad end to what has been a fantastic season for us all. The play off lottery strikes again !!! but I must give credit to Blackpool for the way they played and at times looked the best team thats been to
the city ground this year, I wish then all the best in the final.
Where do we go from here? well lots of positives throughout the season but Billy was right when it came down to the pressure games our young lads froze, and Earnie was the outstanding player, yes 2 offside decisions and a clear handball were not given for us, and a wicked deflection off Wilson but overall we could not claim to have deserved to win over both legs.
Listened to Mr Doughty on the way home saying all the right things but Billy will say his piece about whats needed to progress and if he feels the support is not their well will he go ? he has 2 years left on his contract so I cannot see him walking but if another club want him who knows !!!
We have come on leaps and bounds this year the problem we now have is that old chestnut that haunts Forest and that is EXPECTATION, and people will now expect a top 6 finish next season and that wont happen without investment.
So we will have to wait and see but great credit must go to the Fans, Team, Billy and his team for the excepional effort they have all put in over the course of the season.
Mick Wagstaff ( Young Timer ) Worksop
Once again another dismal play off campaign. It happens all the time we just turn into a different team, we dont get the ball down and play and we just crack under the play off pressure!! Leaders are needed!! yes we have a very young but capable team but we need the balance right and a few more wiser heads would give us that experience we dearly need. A horrible end to the season but all in all it hasnt been to bad has it? The football we have seen has been top draw and we finished 3rd behind two teams who just came down from the premier league!!! Im proud to call myself a forest fan and will be back next season supporting the lads!!!
COME ON YOU REDS!
Bradley - tearful red...
The morning after the night before: I can honestly say I haven't felt as depressed for years.
I now appreciate what it must be like to be a Derby fan! ha ha.
Still, just want to thank BD & the team for a fantastic season. Its such a shame we fell short at the end.
The left back situation has cost us. The imbalance in the team has been there for all to see. Shorey left and its crazy that the interference panel let us down.
Its hard to understand how Blackpool - yes, a very good team- turned us over 4 times in a season. I dont buy into the bogey team rubbish. They just know where our weaknesses are and attack them (left back)
They seem to have just worked out how to play us. I dont understand why we havent worked out how to deal with them though??????
BD please stay.
ND please back your manager, he seems to know what he is doing.
A new left back, goalscoring midfielder, left winger, striker would do the job. Maybe off load a few of our less effective players?
Special thanks to
Kelvin Wilson. I think he has been superb all season. My player of the year, closely followed by Wes.
Cheers
Ian T
BC Upper
just want to congratulate billy davies and his fantastic young team on their achievement this season they have given us such a wonderful roller coaster of a year.if we had finished 7th or 8th this season we would have been over the moon and said we have made progress on last year.hope the club continue to invest wisely and also nurture and look after the young players we already have for a go at it next year,you know,billy may just have been right all along,we are not ready to up.....YET!!
Brendan
Last night was nothing short of a disaster for the the club, but maybe given how the season went we aimed our expectations a little too high.
Maybe Billy Davies was right by saying the squad isn't ready, or maybe he knows more than he is letting on at what is going off behind the scenes.
Nigel Doughty has said he was disappointed by last nights result, I wonder if he ever looks on the web site and sees not only how disappointed us fans are but also how angry we are by the transfer acquisition panel and the role of David Pleat.
His 60k a year position would go well to funding quality players wages. I am baffled why David Pleat has a say on who comes into the club. Call me old fashioned but isn't that the managers responsibility and on his head be it if it goes wrong?
The acquisition panel has been proved at having a negative effect on transfer targets and this has been highlighted by Billy Davies's frustrations.
If Nigel Doughty is committed to BD then he needs to scrap this panel, get rid of DP sending him back down the M1 to Spurs and give the best manager we have had since Brian Clough sufficient funds to bring in quality players for an automatic promotion push.
P Parr Carlton
While It's nice to see Billy being honest about the player's shortcomings and how well Blackpool played but he doesn't include any criticism of his own tactics and selection. As far as the players go this young team tag is geting tiresome as it is full of experienced players.He was well and truly outdone by Holloway as far as tactics go. We were overun in midfield and yet Billy did nothing to counter it and when his subs came it was too late and the wrong players yet again.He got the balance right away but when he went to 442 at home we were overun and he did nothing to change it.Several have mentioned how McKenna was unfit , as he was, but no one has commented about how Cohen also went missing. How was it that our stand out player for effort and drive in midfield did less in this game than in any match all season. Two games in gour days after a bout of mumps perhaps? Surely Billy could see that he was shot even before the second half. So with two tired central midfielders and Raddy who is too lightweight without protection is it any wonder that they were flooding through in midfield virtually unopposed. Where was the midfield insurance and why were they not replaced to tighten up? Why did he put McGugan on the bench and not use him?? Another baffling decision was to start with Tyson and not bring Andrson on till the game was over. Surely our most efective and energetic wide man. Tyson really does not relish this role with all the chasing back it involves and he has lost his confidence with having to play out wide. Everyone in Nottingham knows this!!
So, this was a game too far in many respects. For the third time Forest choke in the play offs when they have their destiny in their own hands. It got too much for my young son who has seen all three and on the way home he said to me that he felt sick and could not take any more of this disappointment. Maybe he will feel better in a couple of months time but it was a long, quiet journey home and the Forest faithful are still waiting for a manager who can deliver. Don't tell me its about money. We have spent more than anyone and wasted plenty and Blackpools team was bought on a shoestring. Its about how you play football and a manager who can make the players believe they can win.
The hardcore fans will keep the faith. I'm still not convinced about Billy's football principles but there is no doubt that we have several players who are not good enough to take us forward even in this league and our squad needs more depth. As we are Forest I suppose we will have to pay for them but we need to start nurturing our young talent, especially those who can play football.
Wakeyfan
The season wasn`t a failure---- far from it. What a disappointment on Tuesday night though.We all got ourselves into good voice and although we scored the early goal we all wanted we never really "got going" In fact for me it was a case of men against boys for the majority of the game.
You have to have a bit of luck in most sports but at the same time if you are going to be successful particularly in team games every player has to be on the top of his form. This is where we failed.
It was most disappointing to see so many of our players being out manouvered and out played by a very strong and experienced Blackpool side.
Could we have done better? Well we have played some excellent football this season particularly around Xmas time. During our good spell we had Mckenna, not only acting as a major driving force within the team,but also demonstrating his ability to play good football. On Tuesday he was a shadow of that standard.
We also had to overcome the loss of Shorey who during his time at Forest performed so well it added confidence to the colleagues around him.
Blackpool were far too strong for us. Our deputy left back had a torrid time but his position was made even worse following his early booking. From then on he appeared reluctant to put in any hard tackles for fear of receiving the dreaded red card. Surely he should have been rested at half time along with Mr Mckenna who had been struggling all night to put one good pass together.
Despite the scoreline "true" Forest fans stayed behind to applaud their team which was great to see. Many of us will be there next season but will our manager? Lets hope so as he`s certainly transformed our team during the past twelve months. He has some difficult decisions to make none more so than the players he wishes to retain. There could very well be a big exodus of some very popular names. I will leave the guesses to the fans who contribute so well to this site.
John Rider (still with ball on the ground} Worksop
first of all this is the first time we have contributed to the fans page,
can we just say how proud we are to be season ticket holders in the Brian Clough stand P block upper, we have had highs and lows throughtout the season and have on several occasions lost our voices singing and shouting the boys on, i must admit my lowest point was apart from the defeat at derby, was the defeat at home in the semi final to blackpool, and the absolutely devistated faces of the players
lee Camp and Robbie Ernshaw, as well as the fans that did stay right to the end.
Then we took the long walk to the car, talking of what might have been if only we had won here and there very upset.
We then turned on the radio listen to king billy post match speach when they started to play the first few bars of the world famous mull of kintyre (city ground hope ive spelt that right!) that was it, the tears started to fall all the way home but it made me feel better knowing we have next season to look forward to and hope that next time we do it without having to go through the dreaded playoffs and even better still knowing this season after all the heartache we still finished above the grass munchin sheepshaggers, now that got to be a good reason to carry on and do it again next year!!
BILLY PLEASE DONT GO THE JOB IS ONLY HALF FINISHED!!
THANKS FOR WHAT I THINK WAS A GREAT SEASON ANYWAY
Karen & Gary
P block upper
So we were totally outplayed by a better team, and probably saved from ritual humiliation next season in the big league.
How to address this for next year then?
One word EXPERIENCE, whatever the cost, we need leaders to stop the headless chickens and the hoof ball we revert to in times of need.
A proper left back, this will not be easy.
Darren Pratley wants to come so we are led to believe, GO GET HIM THEN.
A proper left winger, the scottish fella at Preston(His name escapes me) light years ahead of dear old Tys.
2 new strikers to enable Dex and Earnie to be rested without the team falling apart.
Bradley Wright - Phillips at cash strapped Plymouth would be a good start, and possibly Billy Sharp or Nicky Maynard?
All are capable at this level, and that would make a change from the current shot shy back up we have, once again, we had nobody troubling the scoring charts!!!!!!
I still think Perchio would be a good back up for Mackenna, and we already have Chambo as cover for Wes and Kelvin.
Good back up for the keeper as well, Lewis, Raddy,Cohen, Mousse, Pratley, would make the engine room far more competitive, and fresher.
Boyd as cover for the left?
Mc Cleary for the right?
Release MC Goldrick, Tyson and Dele, not effective enough.
This squad is not top heavy, but it would be far less light weight.
Now the left back, anybody got any ideas??????
Adrian and Mrs Warren(Another year in the Championship then, Essex reds)
WELL SAID BILLY ! - Your post match assessment of last night's defeat was spot on.
Sorry lads the Governor was right in his assessment. Some, but not all, of you appeared totally overawed by the occassion and failed to step up to the plate, as we old railway men would say. There was an all too familiar scenario of, a collapse of confidence and the failure to accuarately pass the ball along the ground. This basic flaw was a regular feature during the second half of the season, specifically, away from home. This resulted in that appalling number of away defeats.
Congratulations to Blackpool, they demonstrated that they wanted to win the game more than our Red warriors. They had the sense and composure to do the basics correctly and the courage and spirit, inspite of the brilliantly hostile atmosphere, to battle for a well served victory. Hope they go up to the Premiership, but dont fancy their chances of staying there for long. Still, the financial prize of getting there, the increased parachute payments when they descend and the fun of a season in the top flight, will make it all worthwhile. Good luck to them!
Congratulations to our Red Warrior Supporters Army. We gave it our best shot to frighten the Tangeriners and put them off their stride. We gave our all to roar our Red Warriors on to victory. Unfortunately, on the night, our warriors froze, forgot the basics and in the end timidly lay down and surrendered.
Never mind - learn from this "young men", we live to fight another season. Subject to Billy being given the opportunity, by the club, to do the buying and Selling during the close season, then we will be far better prepared and equipped in August - only twelve weeks away - to enter the arena once more and this time carry off the Championship Trophy and automatic promotion.
Keep the Faith Billy, we deserve a leader such as you and you deserve brilliant, loyal, supporters like us!!
Wake up you young (some not so young) Red warriors and smell the coffee. Don't take your Army of Loyal Supporters, your place in the team, or the right to be promoted, for granted! You have to earn it! You have given us a great season of exciting football and its has been a resounding success, even without the ultimate prize. Have a well deserved break, come back to pre-season (those of you still on the payroll) reinvigorated and ready to fight and achieve Forest's automatic promotion to the Premiership.
To
Wes Morgan, our most skillfull, consistently good, loyal, Red warrior - Well done and many thanks!
Looking forward to next season.
Come on You Reeedddddddddddddddddssssss
RED EYE
I have such mixed emotions after last night. On the one hand, it has been an incredible journey this season, plenty of ups and downs and our best finish in years, but, last night the crumbling of the team as the pressure took its toll on the players. I listened to Billy Davies after the game and his summing up was absolutely spot on, great set of players, but, didn't have the courage on the night, which to me was disappointing, because Blackpool were there for the taking and the team let themselves down a bit on the night, or in reality over both the games.
The big question is now for the Chairman. You have now found a manager than can deliver, do you support him with what he needs, rather than making him our "Oliver" "Please sir can I have another player" Whilst acknowledging the factors behind some of the players we wanted, not coming, Shorey in particular, we need to be more decisive and positive in our transfer dealings, I think we will see a bit of coming and going this close season, but, we need to make sure we are getting what the Manager wants and not the transfer acquisition panel see as good cheap alternatives, otherwise I would imagine Davies could be one of the goings.
Hope you all have a good time in Vegas, for those players that are going and see you all at the start of the new season
C. Macdonald
Derbyshire
Whilst disappointed with the both play off games & the way we played in each. It has still been one of our better seasons for many a year. All credit must go to BD, his Staff & all the players. I owe Blackpool a apolgy, after watching Sat's game on the tv, I came to the conclusion that they were a long ball team. Whack it up front & hope for the best. After Sat I thought this would play into our hands with Wilson & Morgan having an easy game. At half time that didn't seem to bad a conclusion. However during the 2nd half Blackpool played some good football (on the ground) & rang rings round all our midfield & back 4 (I like Perch & his effort, but Billy this guy is / was struggling at left back). For me Camp had his worst game since being at Forest & was at fault for DJ's first goal (he really didn't need to come off his line, with DJ running the ball towards the corner flag), very poor distruibution of the ball. However the guy has saved us more than once this season so can't be to hard on him. None of the Forest midfield turned up throughout the 90 minutes & I think that cost us big time - in turn not setting up many chances & then not protecting the back 4 enough. Again I like Tyson, plenty of headless running but no point to it or any end product. Blackstock for me is not a top 6 championship scorer - looks as though he can't be bothered. Earnie for me is player of the season, pure class & but not playing him away from home I think cost us automatic promotion.
A few players need to leave & hopefully a few new ones to come in & improve the stanard of football & will to win. Lets not get too carried away with BD's comments about what the club wants, let us not kid ourselves he is after a better contract after all. Whether it be at the CG or elsewhere. Whilst he has done a very good job this season motr importantly he has put NFFC back on the map, so good or better football managers would want to come here, so lets not panic.
Derby Red
Me and my Dad went last night and had a really good feeling about the match. After the 1st half we still had that feeling until Camp made that mistake and we both said to each other its over cause by that point Blackpool were full of confidence i really expected better from the team to be honest but some things dont always go the way you want them to. The atmosphere was amazing from both fans but i was really really disappointed how the stewards wouldn't let anyone stand up and sing and you had the blackpool fans jumping up and down singing there heads off which i thought was shocking how they let the away fans do what they want but not the forest fans ! but 2nd half we gave it to Blackpool on a plate it got to the point when we scored and u were just waiting for Blackpool to score thats how disappointing it was and me and my dad left
the City ground 2 unhappy forest fans. But on the plus side what a fantastic season we have been treated to from were we came last season to this is amazing and hopefully next season we can do it one better and get automatic promotion and please please Billy !! dont go stay at the club who loves you and the loyal fans who love you and sing your name every match. We defiantly need some better players in the summer mainly a left back. Get Shorey back or Bouma who is on a free and some more experienced and better midfielders and strikers. And sell the players who haven't in my opinion haven't done enough this season like Adebola, Mcgoldrick and Perch. All the best for next season lads ! I will always have forest blood pumping in me for life !!
Come on you reds !!!!!
Michael Cleaver, Rugeley
Now that the dust has settled and the disappointments are getting less I think we have to look back 12 months and see how brilliantly the youngest team in the Championship has come on, and what a remarkable achievement it has been to finish 3rd.
Obviously it would have been good to have gone on and got promotion but we now need to regroup and hopefully bring in some new talent and go for automatic promotion next season, forget the lottery of the play offs they are not for us.
I would like to thank Billy and his staff, the players and Nigel Doughty for a very memorable season. I also hope we don't lose Billy to another club as he would take a lot of replacing.
Bob Rimmington
Craigellachie
Well played Earnie-your name should always be first on the team sheet from now on-class! (maybe a few more on the night, don't agree with the ref and linesman). I'm going to have to say that if we played Camp, Gunter, Wilson, Wes and included Anderson who was fantastic away at Blackpool it would have been different. Credit to BD and staff for a fantastic season-hope your around for a while and carry on building-you have my vote of confidence. I know a lot of fans are not happy, I'm upset to get beaten four times by Blackpool, we just have to remember we are now heading in the right direction lets back Billy and ND.
Tony- Watford
I am so disappointed, as usual the sky tv money-spinning pathetic play-offs have cost the 3rd place team promotion. What a joke. We got no luck whatsoever over the 2 legs, a soft penalty away, 2 massive off-side decisions last night and such a ridculous defelection for the vital goal last night.
It makes me sick. Why do we bother to have a league consisting of 46 tough games, only to end it with a cup competition. We finished 10 POINTS (inlcuding the GD) above Blackpool, it is a complete joke.
I am very upset and bitter today, I cannot except us being top 3 for most of the season and seeing us denied promotion by a cup competition.
As much as I love Forest, I despise SKY TV for killing football and making it a complete and utter farce which only suits them and their bank balance. The Premier Legaue has already been totally destroyed by SKY with top sides so far ahead, and mickey taking with stupid 7-0 and 8-0 wins regularly!!
I will not bother wasting my hard earned cash next season on a 46-match league which obviously means NOTHING come the end of it. Why bother to be a good consistant team, you get no rewards for consistant hard work.
Play off's are a joke. It is cup football. It is not a fair way to decide promotion. It should be 3 up and 3 down.
I hope Cardiff go up now as they were 4th, and deserve it more than Leicester and Blackpool.
One criticism of the game, Anderson should have started the 2nd leg. He was awesome on Saturday, Tyson was poor last night. His touch and passing is not consistantly good enough.
Steve, angry, upset and very bitter Forest fan from Nottingham.
Can I just say to those fans moaning about the lack of investment in January to stop using this as an excuse for whats happened in the second half of the season. It was the same players that got us up to second in the league.
On BD's list of possible targets were 3 players in particular he wanted to bring in. Firstly, Nicky Shorey earns in the region of £25k a week at Villa. Villas terms were that they wanted us to pay all his wages if we were to take him on loan again. Victor Moses was offered the chance to play in the Premiership with Wigan and lastly Swansea at the last minute changed their valuation of Darren Pratley from £2.5million to £4million.
I'm sure there were one or two others on the list but look at the facts. The current side got us to second in the league so it was clear the quality was there within the squad. Adding ordinary players to the squad for the sake of it i.e George Boyd who effectively did nothing for 4 months albeit a good goal against Scunthorpe is pointless. We needed better players than what we currently had and unfortunately players wages or transfer fees were to much for us.
The bottom line is Im afraid is we weren't good enough to go up. Beaten by a better side over 2 games.
DAN SHAW
I woke up this morning without my voice and with a very disappointed feeling still in the pit of my stomach. This was certainly made worse when I saw the front page of the news paper which announced that we now also have a coalition government in place lead by David Cameron. Omg....was last night and this morning just a bad dream. What a day to stick in the memory for all the wrong reasons hay ha ha.
On reflection last night was a gutting way to end what has been a great season. A season with so many ups and downs and great memories.....such as beating the Sheep at home, spanking the Leicester and turning over Newcastle at home on my 30th birthday. Plus the best highlight of all, having to be our away win at the Baggies.
With such a young team under Billy's astute guidance and without huge money to spend on new signings we came soooo close. However in real terms and on reflection looking at the way we played last night.... it was oh so far away still.
So many people will come on here now and vent their frustrations, lash out and air their concerns....no doubt make their points of how we could and should have gone up. I am not sure any of that will achieve anything.... as lets face it as Billy said all along... we were not ready to go up. It was there for all the world to see last night in very clear terms. Forest were weak in so many areas and certainly were not clinical enough throughout the team. The boys just seemed to choke under the pressure of the occasion.
We got an absolute schooling at the back by DJ, who is in my opinion only a good in form Championship striker at best....but lets make no mistake about it, he is no Rooney or Drogs is he? So I for one am pretty relieved and happy with what we have achieved this season. I am quite content in the knowledge that with the price of my season ticket next year, comes the realisation of watching some of the best young players we have had at the club in years... bond, grown and developed into the real deal. Rather then having them all crushed by a season in the top flight where we would have been the whipping boys of the league. Unless of course we spent on half a new team that managed to bond over the close season.
It's time to consolidate and build for a better future long term at the club. We have a massive imbalance in the playing staff at the club and I don't think that half of our current crop of players could cut it at Prem level. So let's thank them for their best efforts to date and sell them on in order bring in the right players for that job.
My final thought is on Billy....you have done a brilliant job so far.... but you really are only half way there! So don't jump ship and become know in English Football as the nearly man! Listening to the radio interview last night it sounded to me like it was a farewell message to the club. If that is the case great job....but please do all of us the favour now of making things clear where you stand so we can make the best possible use still of the summer to rebuild. However if that is not the case BRILLIANT!!!! but do come out and at least pledge your future to the club as we all want to know whether you are to remain a Derby hating Red?
Come On Youuuu Reds.....role on August for the start of a new even better season.
AD
Compared to the last number of years, it has been a fantastic season, compared to where we were last season.
Thanks to Billy, his backroom staff and the whole squad for making it season to remember, although with a disappointing end.
Let the staff and squad take a deserved rest, dust themselves down and regroup and hopefully we can build on this.
Galway Red
I think Billy's decision to play an under strength team away at Blackpool and lose in the league will come back to haunt him. Had he not lost that game then Blackpool would not have qualified and the game would have been against Swansea who are not such a bogey team.
Dave Leach
Well, well! Our dream of a Premiership comeback is now over! It was a fantastic season for NFFC & that had a bad ending! This proves that the play offs lottery is no good for Forest. This is the case of 3rd time unlucky! From this Forest must learn that playoffs are not for us. The best position is to get automatic promotion. Being 3rd in the league does not mean anything when playoffs are involved. One must admit that Blackpool are a very good team. Beating Forest side 4 times in a season is not a joke! The way they played & scored goals against Forest says it all. Wish B'pool a happy return to the upper shelf after 39 years.On the other hand wish our beloved Forest team a better season next year. From this we must all learn that football is football. Better luck next time Forest! Thanks for this season & build upon the good foundations.
Fan from the Med. G. Camilleri. Malta.
I like many others am bitterly disappointed by last night, but credit to Blackpool they deserved the win and I have a feeling we got beaten by the team that might just make it to the premiership. However despite my disappointment I would like to say what a great season it has been and I hope the players take heart from the season and try to forget about the disappointment of last night. This season Forest's achievement have been miraculous. I sit here typing with actual optimism for next season I believe with some key signings Forest may actually go all the way. For the majority of this season we kept pace with two teams predicted to walk the division and with the likes of Hull and Portsmouth coming down with all their financial difficulties there may well be an opportunity to get an automatic spot.
My major concern is Billy Davies and all the specualtion surrounding him, all my optimism hinges on him staying at the club. I implore the board to do all they can to ensure his happiness at the club. I dont for one second doubt should he stay he will get sufficient backing from the board unlike some people who write on here I think Mr Doughty has done an expectional job when it comes to backing his managers. One only has to look at last summer and even the January transfer window when we bid another 2 million on both Moses and Pratley after spending about 6 million in the summer.
If this management team and players stay together, next season could well bring some glory back to
the city ground.....
Tommy Bartles
Watching with great anticipation both games of the semi finals, I have the feeling that FOREST lost a great opportunity to visit the Wembley and chase our dream… Everyone involved in the club did their best through an extremely tough and tempting - by all means - year and although each of us has complaints or different aspect of what should have been better, I think that we must show to the chairman, coach stuff and players our true support! Moaning is surely a point of view but our club has survived through fire and surpassed much more difficulties after the glorious Brian Clough era. Let's leave Billy Davies do the talking and stop thinking with a narrow mind… We're NOTTINGHAM FOREST for Christ's sake! We've lost just two games not the entire war… Don't get me wrong, I'm still feeling frustrated but life goes on lads… The wheel is turning round and round and I'm more than sure that with the appropriate additions and an even more focused fighting spirit, NOTTINGHAM FOREST will fill us with pride the following year! In union we must stand brothers!!! YOUUUUUUUUUU REEEEEEEEEEEDS!!!
Gregory Baxevanidis
Athens, Greece
Well 2 great matches but overall very disappointing for all involved at NFC. Who would have thought the one team that we couldn't beat in 4 games in one season would be Blackpool. All credit to them, they out played us and wanted that Wembley trip more than we did. Their passing was crisper and they attacked us from the off. Forest have looked disjointed since NS went back to Villa. Having this transfer acquisitions committee has yet again been architectural in our downfall. That's if you can call finishing third a downfall. I understand why the board has a committee given the awful state Pr..Platt left the cub in, however, if we seriously want to challenge for a Premiership place then the club really need to listen to the Manager who has once again proven his pedigree. As proved before January when we went on a fantastic run, we were always going to be a natural left back away from Wembley glory and perhaps the Premiership. Well done to all the Manager, coaches and players for a fantastic season. Message to ND if you are serious about getting into the Premiership then listen to the manager of lose him.
I am all ready looking forward to the new season and the purchase of a quality left back.
Tony Millar-Kent
March, Cambs
To all @
the City Ground Well done last nite on a fantastic game of football. Unfortunately we didnt get the rub of the green again , a perfectly good goal disallowed
which changed the game for me . Good luck for next season lets come back bigger and stronger and lets get back to where we belong!!
CCCCCOOOOOOMMMMEEEEEOOOONNNNNNUUUUUUURRRRRRRREEEEEEEEEEDDDDDDDDDDDSSSSSSSS
Jeff baddesley redps my daughter had her photo took with Mr David Johnson and can i say what a lovely person he is
Well done lads on a great season, hope we can go that step further next year. Nottingham Forest Football Club FOREVER.
Steve
Overwhelming feelings of bemusement and disappointment. Not like Yeovil (anger, shellshock, sickness) or Sheffield United (exhilaration, pain). Watching the Blackpool fans find their voice as our attacks petered out after 20 minutes, was the warning sign. And, just like the first leg, the warning signs were ignored and Blackpool kicked on in the second half as Forest were powerless to prevent it. Out thought, out fought, out passed!
Davies must shoulder much of the blame. McKenna was misplacing passes throughout the first half and should have come off at half time. Perch is just not up to it. I do not think Newcastle will be coming in for him again. Why not Cohen at LB? The goal drought strikers (Tyson, Adebole, McGoldrick and, yes, Blackstock) all stood out as blank-firing duds. Why not Garner? Camp chose yesterday for his worst Forest game - his distribution being particularly alarming (could he not see Tyson losing all the headers?).
Perhaps this is for the best. Shouts of annoyance from my stand of "this is Blackpool, not Man Utd!" sums up the obvious problems we would have faced if we'd gone up. I can't help feeling that this team has been found out over the last 3 months and some easy home matches have covered up a multitude of problems. So next year, then? Maybe….
Adam Wilson
Colchester Red
I was hoping not to have to have another Billy rant this season but I thought his interview on Radio Nottingham last night was disgraceful. To say that the players let us all down is ridiculous. Last night was a freak performance. Simple as that. Totally out of character and we were beaten by a well organised team. Forest have been great to watch all season and to be-moan the square pegs in round holes again, at this stage, is pathetic. We seemed to manage 3rd place in the Championship with square pegs in round holes!!! We also went on a 20 game unbeaten run!!!
You cannot blame last night on people playing out of position. We have other options - I personally thought the Chambers at right back and Gunter at left back option had some mileage. Water under the bridge now.
I am not surprised at all by his comments about 'assessing his future' this is the kind of manager we have I'm afraid. My message to him and the players is let's see the same loyalty from you as you get from us week in week out. Stay put and commit fully to the job we have started. Billy should take a lesson in media management from ND who has a level head, a true love for the club and the common sense to know that blaming others achieves nothing more than to make yourself look foolish.
Thanks for a great season lads you deserved a trip to Wembley for your hard work. In the words of Carl from Carlton on the Matchline C'MON YOU FOREST MEN
Have a good summer everyone.
Garybaldi Red
Must say that I agree with Billy that we froze on the night. Blackpool were by far the better team on the night. Think it is unfair to have a go at any single player because of how well they have performed all season.
We should all be honest with ourselves now. At the start of this season if anyone had said we would finish third in the league having been second for periods of the season, even first for very short periods, but loose in the play offs. I am sure that we would have snapped their hands off. If blame is to be levelled at any one then Pleat should be prime target. The lack of a left back has cost us dearly and he must now take some of the blame.
Well done King Billy and well done boys. You have put some pride back in Forest and I for one am already counting down the days to next season.
Keep the faith.
YOU REDS!!!
Jon G Main Stand D BlockPS For sale one pair of not so lucky knickers (ladies & slightly soiled) offers required!!!!
Yeovil re-visited. Played off our own pitch, bossed in our own areas and outplayed in our own backyard. I am trying not to be too harsh on the lads but Blackpool were stronger both physically and mentally. On many occasions this season it has been obvious that the team we have are a fair weather team. When the going gets tough, the tough isn't Forest.
Grit and determination was being used in orange and white and unfortunately our team lacked this in comparison.
Some good performances, Earnshaw was great, that's what experience brings. Dexter was abysmal. Our defence demonstrated a repeat of their headless chicken dance for Blackpool's first goal, just like Saturday. Ball watching and looking mediocre.
We weren't allowed to pass the ball the way we do. Basically, we played like the visiting team.
With all said and done, we have to brush ourselves down, take it on the chin, accept the banter from work colleagues and move on.
For the people who said we were not ready, hats off to you, you were right. We need another season at least, the team cannot compete when the heat is on, how would they react in the premiership when the heat is on every week? Inexperience plays a part of course, we'll be ok.
C'mon you reds. Next season-lets do it automatically. Enough of this playoff rubbish.
Keep the faith.
Rowen Udell
I would just like to say well done to the lads for a great season, which at times has been really good to watch. On last nights performance you cannot take anything away from Blackpool, on the night they deserved to win and showed real composure, which unfortunately some of our players were not able to do. I really hope that Billy stays and we can build on the success of this season. Although I would have loved to have gone up to the premiership, on the evidence of last night and our recent away form it would have been a very difficult season and we would probably have come straight back down. But now we can look forwards to another new season in the championship with optimism and hopefully ending in automatic promotion. One final comment is about the phone in on radio Nottingham straight after the game. I can understand people being disappointed, but there were some diabolical comments from people who said they were Forest fans, with comments about Billy and some of the team, one in particular saying we were a joke, these people should be ashamed to call themselves fans. However, I was really pleased to see the reaction of the fans in the ground towards both teams at the final whistle.
Just a final note. I hope my two friends from Loughborough have are great summer and see you next season.
Good Luck Billy and the boys for next season.
UUUUUUReds
Dave
Newark
To Billy and the players
Thank you all for a memorable season, I'm sure that many fans will be devastated by tonight's result against Blackpool, but it is fair to say that we were beaten by the better side over the two legs. The turning point tonight was Earnie's disallowed goal, and as we were bang in line we know that the ref got that totally wrong and the goal should have stood.
As fans we have been here before, as far as the emotions go - against Yeovil, three seasons ago - so we've been through the same disappointment before, and we overcame it. I've seen the European Cup triumphs, experienced the despair of losing an FA Cup Final, and, like many older fans have followed the club down to League 1 and back up again over more than 30 years. I'm sure this season's experience will stand us in good stead for the coming season, with fantastic unbeaten runs both away and at home. And I'm sure many fans will express their thanks to Billy and hope that he and the players will stay to have another crack at promotion next year.
So where do we go from here? The only guarantee for the 2010/2011 season is that we true supporters will be behind you 100% and we will be cheering you on to give your all again to get this club back where it belongs - in the Premier League.
See you in the stands next season - we'll be there!
Phil Cotterill
I'd just like to say that I really feel for you lads after tonight's result in the second leg.
I think it's scandalous that the third-placed team in the Championship is not automatically promoted.
Forest finished 9 points clear of Blackpool; why the hell should you then have to play two more matches against a team you did so much better than?
If three clubs are automatically relegated then the same should follow for promotions.
Surely the real test of a team's worth is how well they play throughout the entire season? And not these pathetic play-offs only done to generate yet more income for the FA.
I'm a lifelong Newcastle fan and am thrilled that we have been promoted after only one season in the Championship, but it would have been so much fairer if Forest had been there with us.
I hope you fare better next season.
Cheers
Dean (in London, but forever Geordie)
Oh well, never mind. As Mr Davies said after the match, we're a young side still progressing.
I'm very happy with the season we've had, some great matches and memories to boot. Roll on next season.
I predict which ever side go up from Leic, B'pool or Cardiff they'll be relegated the following season. So i'm glad we'll be buliding a strong unit next season to really push for promotion
UUUUUUU RRRRREEEEDDDDSSSSSSSSS
Kind regards
Matt Mead
So yet more play off disappointment! Played 4 this season against Blackpool and lost 4, conceding 10 goals in the process!! Surely tonight was the night we would beat them for the first time this season. Not conceded a goal at home for over 12 hours of football and tonight conceded 4 in the 2nd half. Lost the play off game against Sheff Utd all those years ago, got thumped in the play off by Yeovil going into the 2nd leg at home 2-0 up. So what is it about Forest not being able to quite make it? Nerves, pressure of expectation, or SIMPLY NOT GOOD ENOUGH!!
Why was Perch (naturally right footed and not a great defender), playing left back tonight? Chambers is a much better defender, use him BD! Perch awful tonight, lost possession in midfield which led to Blackpools 2nd goal, he gave away the penalty on Saturday, and picked up 2 yellow cards over the 2 games. Better still go buy a left back! How did Tyson manage to stay on the pitch for 90 minutes when he contributed precisely nothing all night long. He is so left footed and yet spent half the night drifting aimlesssly down the right flank, when Anderson who is quick, right footed, direct and by far a better player is sitting on the bench.
When we needed goals, we bring on Adebola and McGoldrick and take off McKenna and Blackstock. Where is the logic in taking off 2 of our best players of the season to replace them with 2 who have just not performed all year?
If Blackpool do go up to the Premiership, I'll put my mortgage on them going straight back down, as with crowds of 8,000, a team full of loan players and a pitch in worse condition than Blackpool beach, I can see them finishing up with a record low of points.
So where now for BD and Forest? Unfortunately, I'm guessing BD will probably leave in the summer, which will be a real shame as he is an excellent manager but he obviously has issues with the board. Whatever happens I hope Perch, Tyson, Adebola, McGoldrick, McCleary, Lynch, Bennett are shown the door. Whilst BD made some excellent signings last summer, the likes of Adebola, McGoldrick and Lynch were poor signings. I'm also guessing that we will be mid-table next season if BD goes, but time will tell.
Felt sorry for Earnshaw, Gunter, Majewski, Morgan and Wilson tonight, they were excellent tonight and have been all season.
Great season ruined in the space of 4 days. The play-offs are a lottery and how a team who finishes 3rd, 9 points clear of 6th after playing 46 games doesn't deserve to go up, well its all wrong. However, we all know the score, and once again Forest proved they are not up to it. BD has been proved correct in what he has been saying all season, his team simply were not ready for the Premiership.
Adrian
Fed up Jersey Red
Tonight's match turned out exactly as I thought it would so I don't feel bad about it.
I didn't give Forest any realistic hope whatsoever of reaching the final for one simple reason which was all so obvious.
Forest are a 45-minute team who insist on playing ariel ping-pong for those 45 minutes. Blackpool played some really good football on the ground, knew where their players were, fought well and made Forest look like a Sunday league team.
We just booted long and high and if the ball found a red shirt (which wasn't very often) it was no more than a fluke and we lost it almost straight away to a far better footballing side.
The gulf between the two teams was such that Blackpool did little more than toy with us for 90 minutes. I could have lived with loosing 1-0 or even 1-2 but to get totally demolished in much the same way as Watford did here at
the City Ground was unbelievable!
Lets hope now that during the summer Billy teaches his players to play football on the ground - he, like all the supporters tonight have seen what happens when you do.
DO I NOT LIKE ORANGE!!!!
Rick Chadwick
Brian Clough Upper G Block
Out played. Out battled. Out thought.
well done blackpool hope you make it.
Forest had no confidence. No belief. No desire. No plan. We were a disgrace. They made us look ordinary. Well I guess Billy will be off to Celtic now. So who to take his place? Any takers?
Lee
Lincoln Red
AN UTTER DISGRACE !
Not the players and certainly not BD but the board and David PLeat.
We should never have been in the play offs the only reason why is that Pleat didn't approve of Billy's targets and so the money was not put up for Moses, Shorey, etc.
Having signed these players I truly believe we wouldn't have lost those 8 away matches that cost us second place.
ND needs to get rid of Pleat and tell Billy to get who he wants he has a blank cheque book and one season with him running the show. Lots of free transfers in the prem and portsmouth have a fire sale on!
Otherwise we will miss out yet again.
Listening to the commentators they put us well and truly under a jinx, I did think Perch was not up to scratch at left back, Raddy tried too much complicated stuff, Adebola was saved his blushes by Anderson at the end.
Tyson and Ernie ran their socks off, Mckenna captain's game
Well done boys for a great season, have a well earned rest and be back firing us up next time. We will never get up via the play-offs.
Good luck to Blackpool I hope they get up can't wait to listen to a certain manager on MOTD!
Forever Red, but it bit blue for now;
Gutted.
James Harvey
Difficult to talk through the pain of the now and the apprehension for the future. Thank you for all who battled for the cause.
Now to the future.
Yet before the future, one singular thing needs some kid of closure.
Supporters need to know why the club failed to secure the left back position that was evidently pivital to progress. This not to cry over spilt milk but to understand the energy that will take us forward.
Otherwise, thank you once again...much pain today, much hope, hopefully, tomorrow.
d.attard
Apart from Earnie...simply not good enough. When will we ever learn how to approach the play-offs. In a way qualifying so early for them did not do us any favours.
Well done Blackpool, as I predicted, its their year I am afraid.
Its been a long season.
Lets go up the easy way next season?
Adele McGuinness
Now the premiership is just a dream, the club have to build for next season.
My wish list of Players for next season:
Matt Fryatt
DJ Campbell (destroyed us tonight)
Charlie Adam (Again destroyed us)
Darren Ambrose
A decent left back
A centre half
Mind you, again this is just a dream because the manager will have to get past the transfer acquisition panel.
Ryan Tompson Gedling
I would like to say well done to BD on a season far from anybodies imagination. Talent, foresight and genius. Just 1 thing....... GET RID OF ADEBLOA & McGOLDRICK. Lets bring in someone who back up the talent of Blackstock and Earnie. Camp was outstanding and BiG Wes reliable as ever. So near yet so far! C'MON YOU REDS!!!!
Chris from Grantham...
Writing this with 2 mins to go and having kicked both of my cats around the living room my anger has turned to one of pride about the great season we've had. Couldnt get to the game but the support was amazing and if there was any justice in the world we'd be going to Wembley. We were beaten by a much better team in Blackpool on the night and they look an amzing team and i hope they go on to the Premiership. I have always been a big fan of ND but its my opinion that he and the AP sabotaged out season and with some investment we wouldnt even be in the playoffs, we'd have gone up automatically. I'd like Nigel to take a long hard look at himself when he's sunning himself on his yacht this summer. IF you dont back Billy this summer or the AP gets in the way of him improving the club... stand aside for someone else. I dont suppose im alone in this view but if Billy isn't backed as he wants this summer... you'll never have my support again!
Well done Billy.... your legendary status is assured and if i had to chose between Billy, ND for me there is only 1 winner!
Michael Wood
Cheshire
Well it was a good run, and Billy was right, we are not ready for the top flight. However, it begs the question - where are we going to get the money from to improve on this year. It is money that will be need, not only to improve the team, but, to keep Billy as well! We must not be too disappointed by this evenings result, we should learn from it. It showed our shortcomings and where we need to build. Well done Billy and the team....roll on next season!
Southern Red
Well what can you say, Billy got the team selection totally wrong. Tyson a mere spectator. Mckenna unfit and played off the park by a team who made us look second best.
it's time to look at where things went wrong and make major changes for next season. The first big change is to get rid of David Pleat and the acquisition panel as its stopping the club from progressing.
Serious questions have to be asked about the panel an lack of ambition shown at a vital time in the season. Newcastle and West Brom both to strengthened and look where they are. We failed to do so, where are we?
The next question is, What next for Billy Davies?
If he does stay then who do we bring in and how much will Nigel Doughty give him to spend, if ND is that ambitious.
He needs a left back, so evident for most of the season, a striker and midfield player.
We keep hearing that we are a team in progress, so lets see the board back that intent with providing the manager with a substantial transfer kitty to get this club into the premiere by an automatic place and not the lottery of the playoffs.
Phil Parr carlton
I'd just like to add my good luck for tonight, but would also like to warn against the lack of composure shown on Saturday. There were quite a few players talking when not necessary. Mckenna, unfortunately, being on of the main culprits. Tonight is really the night of all nights for us to keep our heads and keep on doing what we've doing all season.
I am one of those that believes that this is not the be and end all if we don't go up this season. I don't think it will do us any harm with another season in the Championship to really build on and consolidate the team we already have.
I would also like to give my support to Gary C with regards to his comments on the lack of a reserve side. One of Forest's key elements over the years has been the quality of home grown players. That this has more or less disappeared is a very negative part of an otherwise bright period.
Again good luck for tonight, win or lose we'll all be there next season.
Jan Francis
My favoured team for tonight would be :-
Camp
Cohen, Morgan, Wilson, Gunter
Tyson, Majewski, McKenna, Anderson
Earnshaw, Blackstock
Leave Perchy on the bench until McKenna tires in the second half.
I trust Davies knows what he's doing though, I'm just hoping he can get us a bit of luck in a big game for once. I remember the Cup Final v Spurs and Walker's unlucky own goal, I remember the Sheff Utd and Yeovil play off defeats too. Come on Forest, oh what I'd give for a 3-0 up after 20 mins scenario!!
Marky Mark
Guernsey red (wishing he could be there tonight)
The boys need one more big home performance, surely Blackpool can't get away with it a fourth time this season against us, although I already have butterflies!!
I hope the players aren't as nervous as I am?? We need a performance like the home wins against Leicester or Doncaster, although right now I'd settle for 2-1 AET and penalties.
Marky Mark,
nervous Guernsey red.
Hi all and congratulations to everyone involved in getting us this position. Please please please do it tonight for me and every single Forest Fan anywhere, I live in Blackpool and I honestly cannot believe how they have beaten us 3 times this season. Look at their team and it is full of nobody's, apart from Ormerod that is, for god sake please do something to shut Charlie Adam up aswell. All the guy can do is score penalties but for some reason he thinks he is a premiership class and runs the match, Mckenna and the Mouse should have him tucked away in their pockets no problem. I can't believe that Blackpool have finished in the play offs and can't believe Ian Holloways interview at the weekend stating that he know's how hard life in the premiership will be, a) He's never managed in the premiership so how does he know and b) is he really that confident that Blackpool will make the Premiership. The guy needs to stick to talking about hitting Donkey's backsides with banjo's on Blackpool beach, Come on guy's lets hit em hard tonight, if we play the way we have all season at home then we should be 3 to 4 nil victors by the end of 90 mins. I shall be cheering you on with all my heart and hope that my voice is gone in the morning, Youuuuuuuuuuu Reds !!!
Matt Coates
Looking forward to tonight, Good luck to the lads, make us all proud and break the Tangerine dream!
Lee Cotterill
Blimey Lads wish I was playing instead of watching - it's harder watching. Am nervous but confident.
All the very best for tonight you have made us so proud, a cracking season so far and I really do believe will shall get through to the hallowed turf of Wembley.
I do firmly believe we have the best team we have had for a long long time and it's been a pleasure to watch, long may it continue. Happy days!
Time for strong hearts and minds. Lets play them off the park.
YOU REDS!!!
Rob (Trent End)
Blimey I'm getting nervous and it's only 10:45! Best of luck, just believe. Keep it tight and no hoofers up the pitch, unless Cohen gets on the end of it(super goal). Be cheering you on from up north. No doubt shouting at the radio. Good luck lads.
Jane
Alnwick Red
Billy Davis has said 'we are going to go for it' tonight. I just hope this doesnt include the long ball tactics of Saturday. They have beaten us 3 times now this season, lets not make it 4!! We need to get back to quick ball to feet, movement and staying strong at the back. The strikers need to take their chances tonight, no excuses. Time to stand up and be counted. Good luck boys I know you'll do it this time!!! You Reds!!!
Lee
Lincoln Red
Please please please!
Do not allow the Blackpool fans to bring that wretched Drum into the ground tomorrow night.
I have said before that when we go away the Home club do everything they can to make it hostile and intimidating conditions(eg no cover unreserved seating,filthy portakabin loos etc etc)
Come on Forest stop the Drum!!!! and increase the Mull of Kintyre volume,and the fans will respond
Kendo Skegby
A plea to Forest for tomorrow night.
Ban the Blackpool drummer - he is a nightmare and we need to ensure we have as loud a support for Forest as possible. Let our fans stand, bring flags - the works.
We need to have an atmosphere that scares the living daylights out of them Come on Forest Think big
Dave G Nottm
I'd like to say Congrats to the kids for beating Leicester (albeit on Penalties) and making the final of the FA Premier Academy final. However, one worrying statement I read on the website was, I quote "Considering six members of the side knew they were being released by us at the end of the season, their attitude and commitment was second to none." I realise not every youngster can make the grade at this level and admit I don't know who the lads are, but it does make you wonder when the next young player will break into the first team.
The fact that they are playing Arsenal in the final and have finished ahead of Sunderland and Newcastle in the league suggests there must be some quality players in the squad, but it's clear to me that after the disbanding of the reserves, a successful group of youngsters are being starved of the football to take them to the next level. Part of the plan Nigel Doughty put in place was to build a successful Academy, and given the results in the past decade this has clearly happened. However, whereas several years ago we were seeing player after player graduate to the first team, I think only McGugan has been promoted in the last few years.
Is this because the players are not as good, or is it because they are just not getting the chance? Personally I don't really know as I have never had the privilege of watching them in action, but it would certainly be interesting to ask whether there is a kid out there who could be more effective than, say
David McGoldrick, who as we know, was bought for $1m and has not really shined. In this day and age, it's easy to assume that throwing money at players will buy success, and to be fair, this season we have improved greatly after some good buys. However, there have in recent times been some less than effective buys and surely a club such as Forest should be utilising the best talent they have in their youth systems by bringing them through the ranks, via the reserves, into the first team.
Basically, I think we need the reserve team. Not only will it provide the outlet for the youth as argued above, but also players like McGoldrick, who don't get many games in the first team, will be able to find their form in a competitive environment. We all hear people moaning about first team players getting injured and the covering players not quite being up to the task, but you have to ask yourself how match fit these guys are.
Paul Smith for example, should anything happen to Camp, surely must be extremely rusty. I think the existence of a reserve team should be a no brainer, and if the only reason it doesn't exist is to provide more funds for the transfer kitty then I think the people in charge are going about things in completely the wrong way. There are several things that worry me about the current set up, but the lack of a reserve team, to me, could spell disaster in a few seasons.
On a final note, there's no doubt in my mind it was a mistake to play McKenna on Saturday. He clearly wasn't match fit and wasn't the inspiration he usually is. I was with most people thinking it was a bonus before kick-off, but after the game I can't help thinking it was a gamble that didn't pay off.
Regardless, let's put Blackpool to bed on Tuesday and have a day out at Wembley.
Gary C
Unlucky on saturday, i thought we could of easily been 2 or 3 goals up at half time. Obviously dissapointing to lose but its really not the end of the world, ive been saying for a long time now that if we're still in the tie coming into the home leg then we have every chance of making it to wembley. Maybe being a goal down isnt to bad because the last play-off campaign we was infront then complacency kicked in so atleast their will be none of that and the fire WILL be in there belly from the off! Lets turn
the city ground into a fortress and hopefully it will be a party after the 90 minutes! Good luck on tuesday and no matter what happens we will come back stronger next season thats a fact!!!! COME ON YOU REDS!!!
Bradley - Brian Clough Lower.
i said before sat i would take a 2-1 defeat. and it happened. just a lead by one goal at
the city ground on tuesday and with the fans behind the players Wembley is a big possibility. i would like to ask everyone to get their singing voices on for tuesday as we all know what forest are capable of. (chris cohens goal v blackpool ) i would also like to ask everyone to purchase a scarf or flag before the game and really create an atmosphere. this could be something big, weve just got to keep the faith. come on U REDS lets roar our way to victory.
Toni-Ann Perkins
Tuesday night beckons and the apprehension has raised due to losing at Blackpool. I have little doubt that we will be better at home but Blackpool seem to be a bogey team for us.
Our headless chicken defending for their first goal was annoying. We did well to keep it at 1-1 until the penalty.
What a good goal for mumpless
Chris Cohen who was obviously feeling a little less swollen to send that ball bending in past their keeper. I was well chuffed at that point. But it was early days.
The voodoo returned and we ended up being in an all too familiar position at the final whistle. An away loss which gives us an away record that is second worst in the league, bar Plymouth who are relegated. How can that be?
I firmly believe though, through it all we will be triumphant on Tuesday. Blackpool beat us before at home, but not this time.
Come on you reds, come on everybody, let's give them a welcome they will never forget, give them a beating and then show them the door.
Rowen Udell
Tuesday nights renditions of the Forest Anthem should ring out loud and clear, and lets sing the proper words this time, i.e. 'City Ground' and 'Mist rolling in from the Trent'!Lets make the ground a cauldron of constant noise in support of our gallant lads, and let the 'Seasiders' know that they've got a scrap on their hands in our own backyard - COME ON YOU REDS!!!!
Terry Farrelly
I have to say that Billy's team selection was 100% the correct one today. We should have won this tie, Blackpool got all the luck and to top it nicely the referee was absolutely dire. Not worthy of refereeing in the CCC.
Dex and Earnie up front, Ando and Tyson on the wing and how about Chambers at right back for the home leg, although would like Gunter to be in his proper position. Its a very tall order, we have to score early to make it interesting. The momentum, neutral support and force is with the Tangerine Dream.
Come on Reds, one last push.
Adele McGuinness
Another away defeat which is disappointing, BUT we looked good and deserved a draw, and McKenna looked very good on his return. It was a shame that the fat, ugly Phil Dowd had to show up and show his lack of refereeing abiloty at Bloomfield Road, but I suppose there is a karma somewhere out there!!
I am confident we will win at home, by more than 1 goal and get through to the final. But my one hope is that Earnshaw starts!!! As much as I like Blackstock, he missed golden chances today and we HAVE to take these at home.
I predict a 3-0 home win. But I hope Earnie gets his start at
the City ground!!!!!
Steve, St Anns Red!
Well,l still all to play for but it was another typical away performance. Lots of promise in the first half and should have gone in with a lead and then disappointing second half. How many times have we said that. Billy's half time talks would make interesting listening. We just sit back too much and eventually lose all fluency as we come under more pressure. Don't wish to knock individuals too much but watching on tv for a change you do see how much of a liability Perch is. Yet another stupid penalty given away by him and how many times was he out of position rushing into the middle to leave a wide man in the clear. He was even beaten twice to simple headers from corners against Bret Ormerod who is smaller than him! Surely Chambers is a better choice. Didn't think much of our substitutions either. Should have left Blackstock on to partner Ernie who can't do it on his own up front and what is the point of McGoldrick?!!
Still, sure we can turn it round with our home form and with crowd behind steamroller them out of the game. Dreaming of Wembley and Premiership.About time dream was realized Forest.......Come on you Reds.
Wakeyfan
A rousing start to the game, Anderson's strike was magnificent, and overall a good first half with play going back and forth as could be expected. The equalizing goal was unfortunately a harbinger of the second half where the defense was breaking down. Too many Blackpool players in the box relatively unmarked. The second half there was just no spark and too much frustration as the spate of yellow cards showed. Blackstock was lucky not to be redcarded for over reacting though his frustration was understandable as I don't think he could have hit the broad side of a barn today though he has been excellent for us overall. My greatest disappointment was the reemergence of the long ball in the second half. when we kept it on the ground and used the midfield to move it up we did well in the 1st half but the hail may's in the second just resulted in the ball coming back at us right away. KEEP THE BALL ON THE GROUND! Blackpools preponderance of play can be attributed to their moving the ball through the midfield. We need to play with more heart at home to move forward. Come on U REDS, light a forest fire!
Max Kennedy
Ontario Red
I Said before the Blackpool game defence Camp, Gunter, Wilson, Wes, Chambers. We got what we deserved and Blackpool looked much more hungry and dangerous as the game went on. What happened to the passing in the second half is the big question. After such a great start it was disappointing, even in the last minute Perch was hoofing to the invisible man up-front.
Would have been nice to have seen Garner play out the last 10mins two goals in two games. Good luck at
the City ground.
Tony-Watford
MESSAGE TO OUR RED WARRIORS
Go out on to the Bloomfield Road beach tomorrow and entertain us with your best creative football. Mesmerise the Tangerine boys and reduce them to collapsing castles in the sand.
Lets see you hit the ball into the back of their goal three times. We know we can rely on Mr C and the Mighty Wes not to let the ball into our Red net.
Dont get too carried away by the occassion and stay cool. Dont get any silly bookings and walk away from potential trouble - they will be looking to wind you up in order to get a couple of you sent off and suspended for the second leg.
Listen to King Billy and follow his instructions to the letter.
Dont let Earnie near the ball if we are given a penalty! Dexter is our penalty king.
GOOD LUCK MEN AND ENJOY A SWEET VICTORY.
COME ON YU REEEDDDDDDDDDDDDDDSSSSSSS
RED EYE
May I just echo every positive thing that has been said about Nottingham Forest, Billy Davies and the brilliant young squad of players that have transformed the club into genuine promotion contenders. Saturday and Tuesday are without doubt the biggest games the club are due to play since we last reached this situation against Sheff U 7 years ago. I'd like to let the team know that they will be supported away, home, across the country and in the case of some of the gents on this page, across the world. Even though we all want a day out at Wembley I do strongly believe that even if we miss out now, we will be extremely well equipped to continue the push next season. King Billy will stay, so will McKenna, Radi, Camp, Gunter, Earnie, Dex, Ando and Big Wes. They are the spine, and we will be a force in the Championship if we don't go up in two weeks time.
That said, the prize is there for the taking, and we've got a great chance!! UUUUUUUUUUUU RREEEEEEEEDDDDDDDSSSSSSSS!!!
Tony Appleton
Essex Red
Wishing players management and fellow supporters at the forthcoming games all the very best, united in the Reds spirit, sharing whatever outcome in a Forest For Ever bond.
d.attard, Malta
Great to see that the Club have decided to restrict the away following in the 2nd leg next tuesday. Remembering the scenes at Villa Park on TV a few months back during their League Cup s/f, wouldn't it be a great idea to get the Forest fans in the mood before the game by having a gant red'n'white flag on every home seat to wave like crazy when the teams enter from the tunnel. We as fans have to make the atmosphere red hot like never before witnessed at
the City Ground next week and any advantage , however small might just help tip the tie in our favour come the end of the night. Anything red and white, scarves, banners, flags, horns?
Come on Forest what about it?
Digger, Newark
Everybody is on the edge of their seats, screaming at the telly! For the lucky ones who can get to the game....be our voice, sing loud and be that 12th man. We all have everything crossed for the lads on Saturday, you can do it, just believe!
Ive had to subscribe to Sky so I can watch the games, (oh my god how expensive is that! lol), the beers are on ice, got a houseful of friends coming to cheer on the Forest (even a Derby fan!!), you just need you to do it!
Fantastic news on finally getting Radi permanent, well done to all involved.
What ever our gripes through the season, and I've had a few, from now til promotion lets be positive, no moaning, just 100% support for the team we all love and support. The world is watching Forest, now go show em whats coming to the Premiership.
Lee
North Yorkshire
Once again the nerves of the play-offs. Great news regarding giving blackpool only 2000 tickets and the signing of the little polish genius Radi Majewski!!! No matter what happens on their beach of a ground lets create an atmosphere at
the city ground which will knock them blackpool lot back. COME ON YOU REDS LETS MAKE IT 3RD TIME LUCKY!!
Brad- Brian clough stand lower (dressed as superman for the home game)
Congratulations to all at
the city ground on the achievments of the past season, now for the playoffs, the only downside to the season were the away results which finally kept Forest out of automatic promotion but months ago in an e/m to old timer I stated that the winter cow paddock pitches of many away teams would upset Forest's style of play, at the time of the 2 playoff games my wife and I will be on a cruise to the South Pacific so perhaps I will not hear the results until the day before the Wembley final when we return home, will be with you in spirit and what a sight and sound it will be for the home leg, glad to hear that the club finally partially gave way to the fans request re the Bridgford Rd. stand and the great news that Radi as been finally signed, once again all the best to everyone and with luck we will be in the Premiership next season....
Dennis Old Old Timer South Australia
I just wanted to say very well done to everyone at Nottingham Forest. It's been a fantastic achievement this season whatever happens in the pay offs and we are truly on the road to a brighter future.
Best of luck for the coming games.
Ian Emerson
Cleethorpes
Hello from sunny Lincs! Wish I could be at every game, just as I have wished since disability caused me to be unable to travel. I will be listening, watching when and where I can, kicking every ball and driving the missus crackers.
Great idea to bring Stuart back for the day, that would be a reception to hear. But remember that he has many responsibilities now, he has put his whole heart into the Under-21's and England youth football in general, as always he gives his 100% patriotic best. I think that he HAS to follow Fabio as England boss, anything else would be a travesty of justice. The young players who have come through to the full England side, and those coming behind them, all know him. Although I seem to remember a certain ex- Forest boss who did not get the call, even though he was the nation's choice ...
I hope that the next games put us back where we belong, but I also hope that we stay there. I have a sneaking feeling that this squad will be much better with another season behind them. I also feel that they will play against more teams who actually play football, if they make it. Some of the Championship sides I have seen, appear to like the ball in the air too much. They also like to see players in the air, rolling in pain from a mistimed tackle.
Whatever happens, I do not think even the most committed fan would have expected this season to have us where we are.
Get behind the team everybody, wish I was there.
CUMONUREDS!
Bob Williams
Play off time again! What happy memories of the last two attempts! I struggled up to Nottingham for the Sheffield United game with a heavily pregnant wife and snuck in to the children's section of the Trent End. Johnson's goal caused the loudest noise I think I have ever heard at
the City Ground (except perhaps Collymore's wonder-sub goal v Bolton in the 94 promotion season) and I was sure we would go on and win 3-0. One minute later…. and one red card later… I suffered the away leg in a pun in Colchester.
In the long week prior to the Yeovil second leg (staring at that 2-0 lead) I decided to save my pennies for the inevitable trip to Wembley. Five goals (and many
Paul Smith saves) later….
So I figured I'd make an effort this year and sit in the kids section with my son who must at least have jumped at the noise of Johnno's goal. Blackpool have been a tricky opponent for us ever since the League 1 days and complacency at, surely, one of the lightest teams to have made the play-offs, needs to guarded against. But they celebrated on Sunday as if they had won promotion whereas we have been lying in wait preparing for a month. It's ours if we can grab it - gosh, isn't it exciting!
Adam Wilson
Colchester Red
Congratulations to BD for finally getting his man! The permanent signing of Raddy Majewski will be a great boost for the club and player alike just as we are coming to the business end of the season. I for one am delighted to have him onboard before the richer clubs coming sniffing round and all for an absolute bargain 1 million!! Well done Raddy and BD....good luck in the playoff legs and ill hopefully see you at Wembley....YOU REDZ!!
Lee Cotterill
Carlton
Majewski is a great signing, well worth the fee. Can we have Camp, Wilson, Chambers, Gunter, Wes in defence please?. Just a little moan, I was disappointed Billy is informing the papers he's interested in managing Rangers-at this point in time. As loyal fan its just not nice to hear quotes like that, I want to read how much Forest means to you-sort it out please.
No away fans behind the goals please, good luck lads.
Tony-Watford
Great news that Radi has committed himself to the Reds. I sincerely hope that he, along with the majority of our players, is able grace the premiership next season with his undoubted talent and entertainment value.
Red Ted
Hi all
I would just like to say, can it be possible for all forest fans going to the home leg of the playoffs to be given a free forest scarf or atleast make then cheaper to buy on the night so we can make the city a see of red? it would look amazing if all the fans was waving there scarfs as mull of kintyre is blasted out?
martin thackeray
Just want to say that I am so chuffed to bits that we have finally sighned Radi, welcome son you are loved at
the City Ground.
Carl James
Bury St Edmunds
I have been waiting very patiently down here in Cape Town South Africa for the day that Forest return to PL football. For the memory of Cloughie, please guys only 3/4 games requiring all your efforts remain between yourselves and top flight football. It has been a shame that other clubs can actually remain in the PL when one of the most famous such as Forest are not. Lets get back up and stay there. All the best to the team, and the local fans….win Forest win.
Ian van Jaarsveld
Hello Everyone
What a crackin end to the season, in the playoffs, Signing Radi at last, reducing the away support, what next home fans getting all of the bridgford end all of the time?
cant wait for these two games, shame we've got to play the first leg on a beach.
Congrats to everyone connected with the club including the supporters of course, we have all done our bit to push the club forward.
come on you mighty reds
cheers everyone
Phil of the Forest faithful
Firstly - I would like to wish Billy and the boys all the best for the play off semi's against Blackpool! Let's be positive and get behind them like never before - especially as the powers that be have realised, albeit not quite as we would have liked that the away supporters should receive a smaller allocation for the game and we can be vocal in the Bridgford End as well. I sincerely believe we can make it to Wembley and from there well who knows?
If we do make it to Wembley (come on the boys!) I wandered if the were any Cornish /Devon reds who would have a spare seat in a car/mini bus for a journey up to London so cost's can be shared. Feel free to get in touch on 07832 133397 if you are able to help!
Let's roll back the years and get us to where we belong - the 'young man' up there will be willing us on.
Steve Roberts
Cornish Red exiled from Tamworth Staffs
At the beginning of the season I was almost prepared to loan Midge my Jack Russell out as goalie/defence. But hey what a fantastic season, play-offs and who knows. You have all done brilliantly, now just believe. Will be cheering on from up north
All the best
Jane
Alnwick Red
Can I reiterate the wisdom of what has already been said?
Make sure that Forest fans are directly behind BOTH goals in the return leg against Blackpool.
We need every advantage - please remember what happened against Yeovil!
Billy will be doing all he can to get us through to Wembley, so please do not underminbe that by giving the away fans the advantage.
Chris
aka Redleon
Bedford
Here we go for the 3rd time of asking in the play-offs. You have to be in it to win it and we have our lottery ticket, will the numbers come up. Big thanks to BD, coaching staff, players, fans.. everyone connected with Forest for making my season a more relaxing one for the first time in many years!
I would like to see Dex up front as the lone striker for the away leg. This system served us well earlier in the season. Please Billy, can we play it tight and frustrate them away?
Good move to only give them 2000 tickets.
The media seem to have forgotten all about the Reds, preferring the spot light to be on Blackpool. Its like no one else is in the play-offs and having just returned from a break in the north west can confirm that they are confident of a Wembley trip!
As I said before, I would Blackpool to know early in the tie, that the team they beat 3 weeks ago, is not the same team they will face in the playoffs.
Whatever happens, its been a good season and if we dont go up, it will be a tight CCC next season with 3 poor sides coming down from the Prem so we could have another good season next season (famous last words)
Adele McGuinness
Hi all,
From what ned says billy has been doing much of his homework on blackpool over the past few weeks, i think it was a good move to play a weakened team at blackpool a few weeks ago, where as if we had played a full strength side blackpool could of worked out how to deal with earnie, blackstock etc..., i think it is in our favour as the ando, earnie, blackstock will terrorise there defenders we know their full strength team and we know how to stop them.... keep charlie adam quiet. so if i am right well done billy! he knows what he is doing. oh and DERBY RED away goals dont count in play offs pal
Nick
super red
Great news about the away ticket allocation for Blackpool in our home leg of the play-offs. It should ensure us a full house and great support for the lads.
However, if we really want to raise the roof, how about getting Stuart Pearce back as the VIP guest at the start of the game? Just think what a reception he'd get! What better way to get the game off to a rollicking start, Blackpool wouldn't know what had hit them.
Come on Forest, dig deep and let's have Psycho back at
the City Ground one last time!
Mark Hardy
Well done Forest, for reaching the play off's & then only giving Blackpool 2000 tickets, thus giving us a chance to fill our ground to the max. I think with a high level of noise this will help the team throughout the 90 minutes. I do think we will be going to Wembley as yes BFC have done the double over us but as they have finished 6th in the league over the season which tells you they are the weakest team in the play off's, that said we have got to be on the ball. I would take a 1 - 1 draw or a 2 - 1 defeat at their place (away goal), as we all know we can beat anybody at our ground.
Derby Red
Right, it's understood that we have to give blackpool 2000 tickets but they should not under any circumstances be placed behind the goal.
Let's have our fans there! Do you want to go up? Another moan please don't price out the poor fans. Some people can not afford to go than more than two matches a season, but truley feel I'll when forest lose.
Give them a chance to go to wembley. I know you want to reward loyal fans. What's more loyal a man u fan who gets free tickets from capital one and moans at the crap he sees or a true forest fan who can afford only two games a season, I'll let you all decide.
Lee from Broxtowe.
Great to see Forest finally limiting away support at the CG. Could i just ask 3 more things?
1.Get our over zealous stewards to take a chill pill on the night and let the fans create an atmosphere. Anyone who sits in VC corner will know what i mean.
2. Get our over zealous stewards to concentrate their anti atmosphere tactics on the BLACKPOOL fans and also confiscate their drum!
3.Maybe handout some scarves / flags etc for a massive display while Mull of Kintyre is sung.
Heres hoping Billys gamble on fielding a weakened side vs Blackpool doesn`t comeback to haunt us :)
STEVE ALLEN
Have to agree with Chloe about the ticket allocation for Blackpool coming to
the City Ground - though the away allocation is something I've complained about for many years.
Blackpool's average home attendance this season has been around 8,500 (the last two games being the only 2 to generate a 5 figure attendance). To give them the whole lower Bridgeford would be a kick in the teeth to all Forest fans wanting to see the game and would, once again, give the away team the advantage in terms of support - it being the best place in the CG to generate noise.
I'm sure there are rules and regulations regarding tickets allocation but just base the % figures Blackpool are using when giving us tickets (and how other clubs have done the same). If we've got 1,000 tickets, that's 5% of our average home gate so they'll need 425 tickets in return (not going to happen I know).
Going forward, whatever division we are in next season, please can the Forest board, as a matter of urgency, look at the away allocation at
the City Ground and what our own fans get elsewhere. Take Newcastle for instance, Forest should install 3 rows of seats at the top of the Brian Clough stand and call that the away end and it'll still be a better view than you get at St James' Park. We'd also stop getting certain teams and their over-influential players moaning about our players celebrating in front of their fans.
Do what needs to be done to make
the City Ground Forest's home and not the place all the away fans want to go to as it's where they get the best view and get to make the most news.
All that remains is for me to wish the team, the management and the club all the best for the merry month of May. COME ON YOU REDS!!!
Ian Trembirth,
LE
Note to Ian and others with regard to the allocation for the home leg. Forest have to provide the away side either 10% of the total number of seats or 2,000, whichever is the smaller. So Forest have to provide 2,000 tickets to Blackpool - ed
Just a little contribution for this page & just to say a big thank you to all Forest players, manager, coaches & all who was involved for this wonderful season, the best one in years. Now that the regular season is over, there are at least 2 more games of excitment to come! Hope that with the 3 rd one Forest achieve that dream that has been on for more than ten years now. It is very important that these games will show the true Forest force. Apart from the last 8 to 9 away games, the rest of the season was superb. I believe that the last few away games that where not as fine, were a tactic, & hope that the 1st leg at Blackpool our team shows the true spirit of our game. So, eyes on the ball guys, nice football, caution & more important goals! So good luck to all players & to fans, scream your heart out & support our best team! Uppp u Reds!!!!
Fan from the Med. G. Camilleri - Malta.
In regards to Chloe VCC Corner: I agree with you fully. I was actually thinking the same myself. We should give Blackpool the exact same ticket allocation as they give us, that way we have more home advantage. It's not our fault their ground is smaller.
In my opinion we should be up by now, we are 3rd best in the league, a massive 9 POINTS ahead of Blackpool. We are also due one over them as they robbed us at
the City Ground!! I think we will beat them and I expect to see a FULL SIDE out AWAY from home in the 1st leg, ie Earnshaw, Majewski, Blackstock, Camp, Gunter all starting. Then we can make the second leg at
the City Ground really tough for them.
I'd like to see home fans in the Lower Bridgford too, why give away a lot of advantage?
One thing I would like to say and I hope happens: If Earnshaw gets a one-on-one PLEASE MAKE IT COUNT!! We must take early chances in these cup games, we can't afford to miss stonewaller's!!
I'd like to see this team starting away as well as at home:
CAMP, CHAMBERS, WILSON, MORGAN, GUNTER, ANDERSON, MAJEWSKI, COHEN, MOUSSI, EARNSHAW,
BLACKSTOCK
I am sure this side can win both legs. Let's not go for a draw away, and play defensively and tight. We must go for it.
Steve de la Salle, Forest fan, St Anns, Nottingham.
There's no doubt that Radi Madjewski has become a firm favourite at
The City Ground. Promotion or not, (come on!!), I feel first priority is to sign this little bit of magic up. It's not going to be long until a bigger club comes in and offers a lot of money, then what?
All season, the fans have chanted sign him up!, sign him up!! He is a gem, works hard, most importantly plays well for the reds putting 100% into every game. He is young, he can only get better! Let's pray forest haven't missed out on this. I don't think there would be a face in the crowd that wouldn't be disappointed if we fail this. Well done forest on a great season
Stacy & jimmy
Am I the only one wondering what is going on with Billy's team selections ? When I saw the line up for Scunny I thought it was a pre season friendly! Does this mean he doesn't know his best team after a long season? Ned went further saying that he wanted to try out a few players in different positions. A bit late for that isn't it!! Unfortunately Billy has been dong this ever since our away run came to an end and the result was that things just got worse!Unfortunately our new strikers have been a big flop and have not delivered. Also,playing strikers in wide areas means that they can't really do the job and they just get frustrated because they are not playing up front. Similarly,wide men on the opposite flanks means they can't get a decent ball into the box because they can't cross a ball on the run and the defender knows they are going to check back every time. As a result we have seen the speedy Anderson become less effective and more frustrated as his delivery has got worse all season and most crosses hit the defenders legs. It seems to be the trendy thing to do but I see no evidence of its benefits from Premiership or Championship teams.
What Scunny showed us is what we already know and that is primarily that McGoldrick is not worth a place. Neither he, nor Adebola should even be in the squad for the play offs.They have had plenty of pitch time to show that they are not good enough already. On the other hand , despite not getting enough pitch time Garner has shown that he is hungry and can score. He should be on the bench along with Boyd and McGugan who have both shown they have the ability to score and make an impact despite being given far less chance to show it. This is what is needed to come off the bench. The ability to have an impact and to score a goal. Goals are what win games and lack of them, especially away from home have been our Achilles heel and the reason we have not got automatic promotion. No other team at any level has consistently failed to play their top strikers when fit and on form as we have.There should be no doubt who we start with up front both away and at home against Blackpool. I will say it again. Goals win games.
Billy has clearly been playing mind games recently. Not taking training, sitting in the stands, letting Ned do the talking and changing the line ups to keep the players guessing. Personally, I can't see the point of it all and it's a matter of opinion I suppose but a settled , confident, winning team going into the play offs seems to have been the formula in the past. Billy is the boss and he will be judged on the outcome. We have the players to win it I have no doubt. Lets hope the wily Scot knows what he is doing and will produce what we are all desperately hoping for. It's there for the taking……"Come on you Reds "………..
Wakeyfan.
We didn't lose away! But giving away a 2 goal lead was frustrating. With all the changes made against Scunthorpe I thought we may have found a line up that will not allow the away game voodoo to beat them.
Alas, it was not to be, as the usual away game capitulation showed that there is definitely something amiss.
I am so pleased for
Joe Garner, getting on the score sheet, and George Boyd, Great goal.
The game at Blackpool on Saturday is worrying, if we can keep them from scoring too many, we should be able to set it straight at home. With respect to Blackpool, even with an incentive of a game at Wembley, we should be able to deal with them at home. Our home record speaks for itself and I would be extra confident if we can bring Blackpool to
the City Ground next Tuesday after either drawing or losing marginally at their place. You never know, the old saying of a funny old game might be appropriate if we can beat them at their place. If we do win there, then I have no doubt we will be in the final.
Come on you reds, it's in sniffing distance!
Rowen Udell
Now is the time for the board to stick up for all those fans who have followed Forest through thick and thin this season. We have been dealt a sickening blow by Blackpool in their paltry allocation of away tickets. I have three season tickets and been to eleven away matches this season - and I don't even get a sniff of an away playoff as I am so far down the pecking order. Blackpool are rightly attempting to gain as much of an advantage during the first leg as they can get.
Well let's reciprocate. Match them ticket for ticket and ensure
the City Ground is full to the rafters of diehard red and white fans.
Don't allow Blackpool one crumb of an advantage. Come on Mr Arthur - are you serious about promotion? If so then show us your hand and stick up for all the Forest away supporters who have been left bitterly disappointed. Make sure that the tangerine dreamers are hidden away in a sea of Forest Red
Mickey C
Just read about the tickets available for the 1st leg and it said, due to the small volume of tickets made available etc. In that case we should give them exactly what they gave us and give the rest of the lower bridgford end to Forest fans. Anyone else agree?? I understand their ground is smaller but this has happened to us all season, for example D*rby, when we give away teams the opportunity to have all the lower tier.
On another note, I was listening to This Is The One today by The Stone Roses and thought that would be a good song to play before the teams come out for the 2nd leg. Good song to build atmosphere and as the song says, this is the one!
Come on you reds!!
Chloe VCC corner
Just want to wish Nottingham forest all the very best for the play offs. In my opinion you all have been fantastic this season and deserve to be promoted to the premier league. I for one will be cheering you on, good luck and hope to see you again next season.
Davey mills, Newcastle United fan
I believe that most fans always knew that BD was never going to Celtic.
No disrespect to Celtic at all, but Billy played for Rangers, and is a Rangers fan. Nice to see that he has finally stated his desire to one day manage Rangers. This does not mean that he will go there at the end of the season. You have to love his ambition, and passion. The latter tells you that he will one day manage the club he supported as a boy, but his ambition also tells you that it is far too early in his career to go there. If he leaves Forest, I believe it will be for a club that he believes is suited better to his ambitions in the long term.
I don't see any problem with the ambition shown by ND. He is no doubt steering Forest in the right direction. Football is now evolving again, and clubs that have their house in order will prosper in the long term.
OK, there is a real chance that promotion to the Prem could lead to a relegation at the end of the season, but look at how West Brom get slightly stronger each year. I know many Liverpool fans that are scared of what will become of their club, with the financial side in a right mess. Arsenal have avoided it to a degree, but there are worrying times ahead for many clubs that have massive debts. ND has things spot on, and let's hope that if Forest achieve promotion, there will be strengthening options. If they do not get promoted, let's hope that the current squad can be built upon, not dismantled, and progress continues. Onwards....
Stewart Massey - Frankfurt Reds
