After some interesting minutes trying to fit the title into the small box above, my mind turns to the night ahead in Blackburn.
The weather should be clear, although it's raining all day. Seven degrees isn't the warmest, so it's gloves on for the players to avoid any further injuries to the ones gently ebbing and flowing through QMC A&E.
It'll be to early for Britt and Pinillos and no doubt to late for Fryatt. Bendtner is very unlikely to figure despite the excellent news of no broken bones. Cash is still a big miss pencilled in for February.
I was surprised to see Traore in the starting line up, as I was beginning to believe the curse of LB had returned. Reports on LTLF weren't great, but it gave us better balance actually having a LB, play LB. As he and Carayol were replaced, i'd hope that they are being rested for Tuesday nights game.
The rest of the defence could stay unchanged despite Pereirra's excellent goal, he'll probably be on the bench again. Well, at least until we are comfortable or need a moment of magic. Or, we switch to a 3-5-2, which was effective if reports are correct.
The midfield should stay intact if Cohen and Vaughan have recovered, with the front three only changing because of Bendtner's injury. Vellios being drafted in with maybe Brereton, Thorne or Walters making up the bench. Maybe Britt, but I doubt he'd be risked away from home just yet.
So, my team prediction then:
Stojkovic
Lichaj Perquis Mills Traore
Cohen Vaughan Lansbury
Carayol Vellios Osborn
Henderson, Hobbs, Lam, Kasami, Grant, Lica, Brereton
Blackburn achieved their first clean sheet of the season so far, so things are definitely on the up in Lancashire, but, they didn't score either. This means that they haven't scored in their last three games.
What has happened to Blackburn since they took apart that spineless Derby side of old 2-1? It looks like they have returned to form...and that form isn't good. Registering just two wins and two draw in the league this season.
Forest are more of the unknown. After a convincing victory on Friday then confidence is high and we should look to pounce on Blackburn's current frailties. They have let in 10 goals so far this season and without the lump that is Hanley and the front pair of Gestede and Rhodes then they are a far less daunting team than previously faced.
Whilst our away results have been poor and some of our performances not much better, we may have turned some kind of corner. Mid-week games away are never our forte, especially winning them, but we do have an ok record of drawing those games. Especially over last season and this.
I still think we will beat Blackburn, but i'm not sure if we'll get our first clean sheet. As such, I'm going for 2-1.
A draw would't be a bad result, but if we really want to even get close to a play-off position, these are the games we should be looking to win. A win could see us go as high as 10th and with Cardiff at home this weekend, an opportunity to climb further still.
Being on the other side of the world it's great to have so many Forest games to look forward to on the tv, In December however I arrive back to the UK temporarily and dependant on my level of drunkenness I will be attending: Preston, Wolves, Newcastle (A), Barnsley, FA Cup game, Birmingham (A) and Bristol City. I can't wait
COYR!!!!!!!!!!!!
B Rovers vs. Nottingham Forest Match Thread
posted on 18/10/16
Been out and missed it all. Or not by the sounds of it. Had a feeling too many wouldn't fancy an autumnal evening in East Lancashire.
Groundhog Day.
posted on 19/10/16
You are going to get inconsistency though because of the stage we are at as a football club. New managers don't just walk in and get it right from the off (or at least rarely). Especially when the team they are going to have not done anything for a while and they add ten new players.
We need to accept where we are at and have patience. There are some positive signs. Although there are a lot of negative ones too. We are going to continue being inconsistent. Hopefully we get enough wins to be safe and we see a general improvement over the season. I think that's the best we can hope for.
posted on 19/10/16
Tuesday away days end in defeat, it's just the way forest roll
posted on 19/10/16
Reds the worrying word is 'hopefully', I agree with Rev's sentiments about PM, but FAH will definitely panic before Xmas (rightly or wrongly, ), we can not keep losing in this hapless manner.
posted on 19/10/16
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 19/10/16
The last thing I would want at the moment is for Fawaz to sack another manager and their staff, then bring in his own guy (likely Zola). Not only would this commit us to another period of the Fawaz approach but could well undermine the take over process. Knowing Fawaz though, I doubt that would be some he really cares about too much.
Since getting rid of Burke we've been fairly poor and I wouldn't even say inconsistent bar the Birmingham game. It's clear we're trying to change approach on last season fairly extensively and this takes time with injuries and suspensions taking their toll. Ironically some criticising him after yesterdays defeat (no on here that I've seen) for tinkering, seem to be missing the point he made two changes yesterday, one enforced and one I suspect might be partially fitness level related. We then get two more injuries in the course of the game, maybe he should have rotated.
Point is anyway, if we're not at dire risk of relegation we need to give time. I'm sure any 80% owner will review the structure when they come in anyway.
posted on 19/10/16
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 19/10/16
Forest seem a bit of a pushover away from home his season.
posted on 19/10/16
2 out of 21 points away from home confirms what you say Will. Couple that with nothing close to a clean sheet, home or away (including cup games), and the vultures will be circling very soon, most likely after the Derby match if things haven't improved, as this match always focuses the mind.
posted on 20/10/16
Yes, it is building towards that. Monty has an almost impossible job on his hands too if the players are disheartened by missed payments, etc.