A lot of people have been saying of late that "we wouldn't be in this mess if Billy had stayed on" or "Cotterill should be sacked and replaced with Billy".
This has got me thinking, was he that great?
Billy spent A LOT of money at Forest, and missed out on promotion two seasons in a row. Forgetting where we had been before he arrived with us, it's fair to say that when a manager spends upwards of £6 million (can't recall the exact amount he spent) in the Championship, a top 2 finish and promotion should be the result. As it stands, we finished his first full season in terrible form and got humped by Blackpool, and then miraculously managed to scrape into the playoffs in his second full year, but had been in terrible form since at least the previous February.
When I look at managers like Adkins at Southampton, and Lambert at Norwich, who have both had less financial support than Billy had, it gets me thinking, is Billy the messiah everyone makes out, because despite managing some great Championship teams, the only team he got promoted was Derby, and look what happened to them the following season! Doughty isn't famed for his fantastic managerial appointments, is Davies just another one to add to the list (albeit much better than the dross that came before him)?
Don't get me wrong, I loved it when Davies was here. I looked forward to heading down to the CG every other week to see us win yet another game - but could it have been even better, if we had appointed an up and coming manager like Adkins or Lambert?
Thinking about Billy ....
posted on 15/1/12
Billy Davies was the best thing to happen in 15 years at Forest. Nigel Doughty was the worst.
posted on 15/1/12
I think when BD left the players saw it as a negative move and were demotivated, this was compounded when SM was appointed. This seemed apparent from the early season performances. When SM left to be replaced by SC the players got a lift from this without SC doing very much (the honeymoon period).
The honeymoon ended the night we played Leeds, and performances only started to improve again with the games against Fester and Ipswich.
I still think it is too early to judge SC. I think we have the players capable of keeping us up providing the manager does his job. If we stay up SC will have done OK, if we go down he will have failed and the clu should consider looking for a new manager
posted on 15/1/12
We had a predominantly left winger playing right full back yesterday.................why has Freeman gone to County?
Who is pulling the strings at Forest?
SC how about showing a touch of Clough genius? try playing Harewood at Centreback?
Once a long time ago Forest converted a centre forward into the best sweeper in the old First Div' remember.
We have too many forwards who do not score and too many midfielders who can't be bothered to tackle and track runners into the box. We must stop conceding the first goal and build from there. Come on Cotterill either show some initiative and sort it out or have the decency to resign. It wouldn't be so bad if we scored but lost by the odd goal [can't believe I'VE JUST TYPED THAT] we need to build confidence that comes from keeping clean sheets. NOT GIVING THE OPPOSITION THE FREEDOM OF THE CITY GROUND.
posted on 15/1/12
Istillhate.
You say -
"Clough has done nothing. At all."
You would like to think it's true but you and your mates know he is doing a brilliant job. Be glad for him. He's an ex Forest player who gave you of his best too when he was there.
Clough has got rid of all the Jewell and Billy highly paid rubbish and our wage bill is now under control. He has made some brilliant signings from lower leagues such as Barker and Shackell - the two best centre backs in the league. Jamie Ward, Frank Fielding, Brayford and Bailey, Gary Roberts, Bryson and Robinson. He has brought through some brilliant youngsters from the Acadamy and taken us from 5th bottom to just goal difference from the playoffs and has got all those players listed above playing their hearts out for him. And he’s still friends with Tom Glick.
I call that brilliant management. Billy never achieved as much at any club.
posted on 15/1/12
Istillhate
PS. I meant to metion also that I bet Brian Clough would be very proud of his son's acheivement.
posted on 15/1/12
We'll see how he does at the end of the season. No doubt you'll be higher than us, but we've seen you up there before only to slip away. As was mentioned above, he's finished 19th and 20th so far. So he's done nothing. At all. If he gets you into the play off this year, then I'll happily change my tune.
posted on 15/1/12
When I look at managers like Adkins at Southampton, and Lambert at Norwich, who have both had less financial support than Billy had, it gets me thinking
---------------------------
Ah, the Blackpool Blueprint comparison. Always like seeing that.
Barker and Shackell - the two best centre backs in the league.
----------------------------------
You're kidding, right? Tell me you're joking. Please.
posted on 15/1/12
Why don't you re-sign Pierre Van Hooijdonk.
At least he had striker credentials and I liked him. He was right to go on strike, perhaps Marcus Tudgay should follow his example, together with the other 10 donkey's.
Highlight of Lee Camp's day yesterday (apart from backache) was making a save from ex Derby product, Lee Holmes.
If only Holmes had scored. Now that would have been funny.
BELTER
posted on 16/1/12
Stillhate.
Not kidding at all. Look at the clean sheets we have kept since Barker came back.
posted on 16/1/12
At least have a read of who's commented before you speak Ramdini. I didn't say a feckin word mate.