[Archived] Forest

[JBiz]

One thing that I thought koita did well was the positioning for long balls. He either won the ball or caused the defender to miss his header. A bit of continuity with Rhodes could see improvement in JRs reading of these situations.

I thought this also highlighted an improvement in Steeles distribution, bar one where he kicked it clean off the pitch :-)

[tomphil]

Steeles kicking in all situations has improved since he came thankfully. Contrast to the Forest keeper, just how many times did he punt it into touch.

[Gav]

I can't understand the criticism of Rhodes, yes he's struggling at the moment, but a more down to earth solid professional you're never likely to meet.

He needs supply, if he gets supply he scores, Lambert knows that, hence the wide men getting crosses in early.

Rhodes is the least of Lamberts worries I'm sure.

[mhead]

The lack of pace was my worry -only Olsson really attacked down the flank. Conway was crossing too early and Marshall was not even taking anyone on.

As for Jordan....if he does not score I have never seen such an anonymous contributor. Invisible last night and needs to re-orientate his game.

[had.e.nuff]

Managers have phases and we are in Lambert's Phase One. When he was appointed, we all wanted him to make an instant impact and he has---11 points in 5 games.

I have got to agree Lambert is doing what 90% of the supporters would have done first by making us hard to beat and score against, next he has to sort the midfeild and then the attack, all good teams are built from the back.

[oldjamfan1]

Perhaps this is one of the aspects of Koita's game that Lambert was alluding to when he mentioned things that he needed to improve. Whilst accepting that Koita's daydreaming almost had dire consequences, maybe it is understandable that a striker adjusting to a new league might be found wanting defensively.

Defending corners doesn't vary from country to country or league to league though, the principles are exactly the same. That was pretty basic stuff, he just switched off, twice. Your first point is perfectly valid though.

[BlueMonday]

In my opinion the first half performance was far more important than the second half. The first half showed the kind of high tempo game that Lambert will bring to the team. However, at the moment the players simply are not in the physical condition to carry that through for 90 minutes, hence the falling away of the performance in the second half. It will take a lot longer than a few weeks for the training regime to significantly improve the players previously woeful levels of fitness to allow a 90 minute performance of the same intensity as we saw in the first half.

The harder physical training needed will also ironically leave the players more tired for games. Once this phase is over I am very hopeful that we will see some exciting and energetic displays.

However, what is clear is that there is a lack of quality in the final third of the pitch. We attacked in a very one-dimensional way by getting the ball wide and crossing it because we didn't have anyone in the central areas who could challenge the Forest back four and perhaps pick a pass for a Rhodes run.

On the subject of Rhodes, he does look like he is struggling to make an impact but the quality of service that he got in the game and in others previously is not playing to his strengths - hopefully a more creative central attacking midfielder will be brought in to provide the ammunition for him.

My 7-year old son summed up Jordan at the moment when he said, " Dad when Rhodes runs he looks like a tired dog trotting around the pitch".

Good post York, sums the current situation up perfectly and the doubters just need to hold their nerve already.

[den]

Good post York, sums the current situation up perfectly and the doubters just need to hold their nerve already.

I don't think anyone is losing their nerve Bluemonday. For the first time in 5 years there is a chance to move forwards.

[grizfoot]

I was pleasantly surprised to see Koita on the team sheet and I thought his overall play was decent, he won a lot of balls in the air and his link-up play was good. Just a shame he missed that guilt-edged chance which would have seen us snatch all three points. One thing I was impressed with was tactically the shape and spacing between our players when out of possession, it really was excellent and we seemed very well drilled in that regard. I know maybe 4-4-2 shouldn't be the most difficult formation to play but I've noticed since Lambert as taken over there's a lot more communication both on the pitch and from the touchline and a lot more awareness of the positions the players should be in. Our gameplan revolved around Koita and using him as a foil to create a chance for Rhodes, that and trying to get something from a set-piece. The way we set-up with two banks of four at times was a little bit rigid and it wasn't often our midfield got the chance to get forward and support the two strikers. It was definitely a game for the centrebacks, I thought both Mills & Mancienne had good games for Forest and Hanley & Duffy were impressive once again for us. A point a fair reflection on the game and we didn't really learn anything we didn't already know. Lambert has made us a more resilient side but we still lack creativity and attacking options from the bench, again our bench was very defensive looking with no recognised striker named. It's a worrying reoccuring theme that we fizzle out towards the end games when you expect to be putting on pressure and chasing a winner. Well on top first half but towards the end of the game it was Forest who looked the stronger and if not for a Friedel-esque class save from Steele in injury time they would have stole the win and we would have been lamenting that Koita miss and our lack of options from the bench even more.

I still retain an optimistic outlook that we are moving in the right direction since the change of manager. But the attacking and attractive football people might have hoped for as yet to come to fruition, but it is still early days of course. At the moment in some ironic twist of fate I cannot help but draw parallels between Lambert's style of management and Big Sam's. Very reminsicient of how we use to play and set-up in that we mostly look to keep it tight defensively and have an emphasis on getting crosses into the danger area and carrying a threat from set-pieces.

[Pedro]

Does anyone have a link to Steele ' s save?

Thanks

[BlueMonday]

I don't think anyone is losing their nerve Bluemonday. For the first time in 5 years there is a chance to move forwards.

I agree Den, but some are letting their frustration boil over and loosing site of the bigger picture.

Like I said, I choose to be encouraged by last night, and have faith Lambo will address the short comings.

[den]

I agree Den, but some are letting their frustration boil over and loosing site of the bigger picture.

Like I said, I choose to be encouraged by last night, and have faith Lambo will address the short comings.

I was encouraged over all. The fading away at half time was a bit baffling. I can't believe fitness was the reason because everyone's legs don't tire exactly on 45 mins. It had to be a mental or tactical thing.

I think last night also showed that we certainly didn't have a top6 squad. The bench gave Lambert virtually no opportunity to change the tactics or improve the side.

I just hope, like I said after the PNE game, that the manager sticks with the higher tempo game - taking those that can do it with him and leaving those that can't behind. One small worry for me is that he doesn't overtrain the players. That would actually take their fitness backwards.

[JAL]

Well we had enough chances to win that game in the first half

You've still not provided the answer chaddy was it the centre half that im thinking of.

[BlueMonday]

I think last night also showed that we certainly didn't have a top6 squad. The bench gave Lambert virtually no opportunity to change the tactics or improve the side.

I just hope, like I said after the PNE game, that the manager sticks with the higher tempo game - taking those that can do it with him and leaving those that can't behind. One small worry for me is that he doesn't overtrain the players. That would actually take their fitness backwards.

Agree. Hopefully the Jan window will see Lambo able to start fixing things. He must have been assured an exit from embargo and a transfer kitty otherwise I don't think he'd be here.

[Mike E]

You've still not provided the answer chaddy was it the centre half that im thinking of.

JAL, your Mystic Meg act is winding up a number of posters. Stop it.

[Husky]

PL has learned a lot tonight.

Shearer hasn't!

Did he stay until the end? I didn't notice. I bet he was well bored in the 2nd half.

[Husky]

Playing for a move? How? By being poo in the last few games? Funny way to go about it...

Yeah. LOL.

Maybe he's been told that "if we get you on the cheap we'll up your wages somewhat"?

[yoda]

JAL, your Mystic Meg act is winding up a number of posters. Stop it.

Actually, I would like to know the answer as well

[Pedro]

Actually, I would like to know the answer as well

I'm more than happy to know - hopefully he has a link too ☺

[bluebruce]

Unbeaten in eight, a proper management structure, 3 clean sheets on the bounce, out of the embargo, looking up rather than down.

It's been an excellent month and some are STILL b*tching after a bad 45 mins...

Sums it up in a nutshell.

[Tom]

Actually, I would like to know the answer as well

Anyone can try and find out it's not Chaddys responsibility to find out for people is it? Not quite sure on the direction of the question

[yoda]

Anyone can try and find out it's not Chaddys responsibility to find out for people is it? Not quite sure on the direction of the question

What makes you think I was not asking JAL ?

[Tom]

What makes you think I was not asking JAL ?

I meant the original question from Jal and the follow ups

[RevidgeBlue]

While I agree that Browns a donkey I think he would have buried that header.

Because Brown's a donkey I very much doubt he would have got himself on the end of the chance to miss it in the first place.

Koita on the other hand does appear to have some raw potential, and may or may not come good however if he is to imo he needs a run of ten games with Rhodes to try and forget some sort of partnership or understanding.

On Rhodes he was poor last night. I wonder if PL doesn't value JR as highly as he might and JR is picking up on those vibes. Imo if you have a goalscorer as good as Rhodes you play to his strengths and that involves either a creative midfielder picking out his runs or players getting beyond him and pulling the ball back, neither of which happen at present.

As for the team as a whole very reminiscent of the Sheffield Wednesday game. I thought we were extremely good for the first half hour and completely dominated Forest for the first half hour with our high tempo game. That tapered off as the first half drew to a close and there was no passion or intensity whatsoever to our game in the second half with the result that their midfield were first to every loose ball in the second period. Basically I thought they looked much fitter than us as the 90 minutes wore on.

Bit disappointing but as others have said longstanding bad habits and lack of fitness levels probably won't be completely eradicated overnight. Anyone who isn't extremely happy though with eleven points from five games needs imo to have a word with themselves after seventeen points from 16 games before PL arrived.

[Neal]

I find it really bloody strange to observe some peoples behaviour on here at times...

I've seen people on here at the start of the season totally write off Shane Duffy who in my opinion (heading at goal aside) has been excellent this season.

People already writing off Koita, who for all his flaws has a lot of raw ability, has played very few games in a totally different league and on top of that is trying to fill the shoes of a lad who'd been scoring for fun... But let's forget all that, because in some expert opinions the lad is a donkey and thats the end of that. Give him time AND the manager time to work out how he actually fits in, get him up to standard AND THEN JUDGE HIM. He didn't come as a goal scorer so don't expect one.

I've seen people write off Akpan, who given his physique... Could play total football and score goals would be at a club much bigger than ours but he's not... He has limitations but also has time to develop still. Given the circumstances (credit to the previous manager) has been a really good signing so far but I'm sure people expect Patrick Vieira or something. Not great against Brum but some pretty solid performances on the whole since he's come in and has plugged the gap from previous seasons of watching teams wander right through our non existent centre midfield... Surely it's no coincidence the back 4 have been able to keep more clean sheets. Yes he misplaces some passes, yes he makes the odd mistake but his presence on the field has counted for a lot and shown us something that we were desperately missing for many seasons.

I've seen people slagging the football within a month of Lambert being in charge and has 3 wins in 5 and is unbeaten.

Some criticism I can understand... Rhodes has his limitations, we all know that but it's to an extent understandable. The criticism of Henley I can understand because he's a boy in a mans league and something of a weak link that gets targeted BUT that's hardly his fault, he needs time to develop but he needs to go out on loan to earn his stripes.

Sometimes I really do wonder what people expect, to play perfect football IMMEDIATELY, be in the top 6 IMMEDIATELY... That's how it comes across anyhow.

Have some bloody faith in finally what we have in a proper manager like Paul Lambert. He's making the best of what he has, he will make us better, we are better in fact, he will make us fitter, he will get us playing better football, he will bring in a better quality of player, we're bloody tough to beat and horrible to play against and we will have a more positive season that what we would have this season under Bowyer. There's plenty to look forward to as a Rovers fan these days, it's time we gave ourselves a break and change of mindset and do what those not worthy (former recent managers) told us to do... Be positive. We have the right back room staff, a decent squad and FINALLY the right man in charge...

In Lambert I trust.