NOTT’M FOREST v MIDDLESBROUGH

comment by reddave (U8660)
posted 2 minutes ago
For some obscure reason we can’t play at home. We are one of the better teams of a very average championship this season, any other season we would be in a relegation scrap. Having gone ahead we did just what we did at Millwall, invited pressure. We offer very little going forward, with a minimal goal threat, all of which means we have little chance of making the play offs. Most people think one or two additions in January will give us a chance of the play offs, realistically we are quite a way off, some of the blame must lay at Sabri’s door, he is being too loyal to players who aren’t performing I include Carvalho, Lolley and Ameobi in that statement. If we keep aimlessly tossing points away as we are, it won’t take long before we are mid table.
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Yes please, that’s painful to read, but absolutely true

This league was there for the taking - and we can beat the crap of this league at home - and when we do get ahead - we just gift the points back

We were top of the league at one point, we’re not double figures off automatics - pretty woeful really

now*

On the plus side, if this is Forest’s mid season dip, they are still taking points out of it. Not often we have said that for many a season. Still think Lamouchi can pull a rabbit out of the hat in January.

Lolley seems to be running down a lot of blind alleys. I think he is trying too hard and it isn’t quite so off the cuff as last season. Teams also have him worked out and know not to allow him onto his left foot. Probably not helped by Forest’s slow build up play of recent weeks.

comment by ThE ReVoLuTiOn Is HeRe (U22182)
posted 40 minutes ago
comment by reddave (U8660)
posted 2 minutes ago
For some obscure reason we can’t play at home. We are one of the better teams of a very average championship this season, any other season we would be in a relegation scrap. Having gone ahead we did just what we did at Millwall, invited pressure. We offer very little going forward, with a minimal goal threat, all of which means we have little chance of making the play offs. Most people think one or two additions in January will give us a chance of the play offs, realistically we are quite a way off, some of the blame must lay at Sabri’s door, he is being too loyal to players who aren’t performing I include Carvalho, Lolley and Ameobi in that statement. If we keep aimlessly tossing points away as we are, it won’t take long before we are mid table.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yes please, that’s painful to read, but absolutely true

This league was there for the taking - and we can beat the crap of this league at home - and when we do get ahead - we just gift the points back

We were top of the league at one point, we’re not double figures off automatics - pretty woeful really
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Look at the likes of Fulham. Two defeats on the bounce from where they were a few weeks ago. That’s a proper dip in form.

Teams seem to be doing their level best too help us out, but we just keep looking gift horses in the mouth. Not one team around the play off places has any kind of consistency, even Brizzie’s decent run ended with a home defeat. The worrying thing for me is we haven’t produced more than a couple of inspiring performances all season, along with the fact we aren’t putting enough chances away, Grabban seems to be almost completely isolated during home games. We lack any creativity, and can be quite slow in our build up play. After dominating games like this evenings we really should be getting more than a point, especially as we basically gifted Boro their pen via some dopey defending. We had four winnable home games, the first tonight, where we should have been aiming for a 10 point haul, it will be interesting to see how many we actually achieve, my guess is 5.

I think teams are all playing roughly the same type of formation so are all beating each other. Other than WBA, no one is really looking like they can dominate games. Therefore, it is a real mixed bag of results in the chasing pack.

Lamouchi needs to find a way to improve Forest’s game management when they are leading games. Boro has done nothing to trouble Forest last night and shouldn’t have been allowed the opportunity to play forward balls into the Forest penalty area, or just outside as many people reckon Robinson’s foul was outside it. Haven’t watched it back yet.

I’ve now watched it back and it was on the line of the penalty area so inside. Should have been academic with the number of chances Forest created and missed beforehand.

Well that was disappointing again.

I still think we are close to being a very good team. The back five is fine and would be even better with Jenkinson/Darikwa and Ribeiro. In front of them Watson and Yates are doing ok, and again will probably be better when Sow returns. Grabban has done his bit. So that leaves the three attacking midfielders - not so good.

None of them offer a consistent threat. They all seem reluctant to run at the opposition and when they do it lacks conviction. Movement seems to be in straight lines rather than trying to make an angle for a pass. They don't gamble and make runs into the box.

Our attacking midfielders seem to have more impact coming off the bench rather than over ninety minutes (not last night though)

I wonder if the coaches are partly to blame; are they placing to much emphasis on keeping possession in the final third?

We are still in a very good position but we do need the right moves to be made and January

I think there is a lot of emphasis to keep hold of the ball in the final third. I think teams are cottoning on to this and are defending in numbers quickly whenever Forest win the ball.