If, buts and maybes. The only time we came close to scoring legitimately was the Giles chance which based on the decision to shoot, which was probably wrong, was a hard chance to score from that angle. We never really looked like scoring otherwise even in that 15 minutes after half time which summed us up in 2022, toothless. Our only goal in the last 7 games was a direct free kick which was a bad goalkeeping error. I don't see any positives in our attacking play without Brereton. He like all of our other attackers needs to actually start being productive, the stepovers are nice, the pressing is genuinely important but he hasn't done enough in the last 2 games (like everyone in attack, not just him) or indeed really anything that showed a genuine goal threat which is what we need. My suggestion was very much a further attempt to change our attack which is not looking like scoring, and to change the false 9 system slightly which was fundamental to our success at the end of 2021 but which without Brereton has not provided a goal threat at all really in the last 11 games. Hedges is the one who hasn't really had much of a chance, I'd start him, I would put Gallagher central (I am not convinced that he will be much more productive there but needs must) and get Giles on his natural left side putting in crosses.

The false 9 formation did work very, very well for a fair few months, that should not be forgotten. The formation seemingly is reliant on Brereton playing, who proved prolific from that left hand side. Buckley and Khadra also worked well in tandem with him. That being said, it definitely needs looking at and did so a few games ago. The criticism should be sticking to it once its effectiveness started to wane rather than it being used at all, especially once Brereton was absent. The back 3/5 should stay as our results are built on being usually solid at the back, so I understand why that has changed. Things in front of that do need tweaking, a lack of a budget in January meant that we didn't bring in a striker and despite popular demand, I am not convinced that Gallagher central would be too much more successful, many of his weaknesses are highlighted more from there, so I get that the choices are very limited. Dolan was more effective than Buckley last week to an extent but he shares his lack of end product in the final third. I would probably try Giles, Gallagher and Hedges from left to right v Millwall, but the choices aren't the best without Brereton and Dack.

Whether they are improved contract offers is fairly objective, but you nor anyone can possibly state that the offers were good. We don't know, seemingly they aren't good enough to tempt 3 regular players in a top 6 Championship side to commit, so how can you possibly state as a matter of fact that they are good? Of course we should have a wage structure, but if that ceiling was increased by the owners, then we could potentially retain key assets, sell them and be better off as a result in spite of the original wage increase.

Of course teams go through runs of good and bad form, but its very flippant to just put it down as one of those things. The driving force behind the last couple of months of poor form has been a total impotence in front of goal, and a predictable one at that. The squad does not have many goals in it with Brereton and Dack unavailable. Gallagher has never been prolific. Players like Dolan and Khadra tend to flatter to deceive and rarely offer a goal threat or creativity, just lots of skills and stepovers. Giles is more of a creator, but we don't have the goalscorer on the end of it. Players like Rothwell, Buckley, Travis, they aren't players who score goals. This run of home games is critical but something major will have to change in an attacking sense because we have rarely even looked like scoring for most of the time since Huddersfield at home. 3 goals in 11 games is piss poor, including a record equalling 5 game barren spell.

I would suggest that the worry is not a loss in the toughest game of the season in isolation. Our form in the last 7 games has been 1 win, 2 draws and 4 losses. A giant worry is the fact that we have scored 1 goal in 7 games, and 3 goals in 11 games, most of which are without our main striker who will miss at least 5 more games. We don't look like scoring. Even defensively, in the main that is where our strength is, but our 2 main right wing backs are injured, and our captain and also our sole effective defensive midfielder are both 1 game away from a 2 game ban. Our sole back up at centre back is injured too so we may need to change the formation to which our new found defensive solidity has been built on.

Results as ever are a mixed bag, some rivals won, some rivals lost and some rivals drew. Key is that it is down to us where we finish, and not to worry too much about other results. Will probably take 6 or 7 wins from 11. The question is are we capable of that and I have serious doubts. In the main, our strength is certainly the defence, I think the commentator said 6 or 7 goals conceded since the use of a back 3, so I don't think we can change it. That being said, with Travis and now Lenihan both on 9 yellows with 2 games before the cut off, Rankin Costello destined for a run on the right and Ayala nowhere to be seen, there is a huge chance of us needing to change that formula, whether it be going back to a back 4, slotting someone in like Johnson who isn't a defender or removing the protection from the midfield, it could lead to us being more defensively vulnerable. At the other end, @chaddyrovers was very keen to suggest that others would step up upon Breretons absence, that is clearly not happening. Khadra is very inconsistent, Dolan all energy but little goal threat or creativity, Giles perhaps better from wing back and has been guilty of poor decisions, Hedges unfancied and not prolific himself and Gallagher so limited yet probably our biggest goal threat despite his lack of striking instinct, so that is saying something. The midfielders and defenders aren't chipping in either which considering their own respective goal histories isnt a big surprise. We need both Dack on the bench and Brereton back fit ASAP, although it might be too little too late. We have to accumulate some points at Ewood in the next 10 days.

There is no evidence that Venkys are committed to making "a really good football club" or that FFP is the thing that is stopping them. They wouldnt authorise a desperately needed 2m pitch revamp which isnt even relevant to FFP.

Poor result, giving teams around us a chance to potentially make ground on us. The next 3 home games are critical, 6-9 points are a must, but I can't see how with a total absence in goal threat. Going forward, we never, ever looked like scoring, even in the supposedly "brave" second half Fulham were in third gear and never unduly worried, we were at arms length. The closest we came was through Giles when he made the wrong decision to shoot, and with a run and hopeful shot in the first half and a couple of decent deliveries too, he was the least ineffective (double negative needed) out of the starting front 3. Khadra appeared disinterested and kept losing the ball, we improved when Gallagher came on. Dolan is all energy, all action, but 9 times out of 10 he doesn't do anything productive, for all the unnecessary stepovers he has to influence games far more to justify a regular place. Travis was the better of the 2 in the middle but neither were great. Defensively, Van Hecke had his poorest game for a long, long while, kept trying to nick the ball from Mitrovic with no success and very poor in the build up to the first. Lenihan was absolutely braindead to pick up a yellow when the game was long gone, a ban seems inevitable, Wharton was possibly the pick of the bunch. Pickering's lack of pace was exploited on a number of occasions, Rankin Costello grew into the game and was better than he has been but still look off it and his supposed delivery has yet to come out. Kaminski's error was pathetic, the second time in 3 games that he has made an error like that. Looked shaky after that too.

Horrendous first half. A lot of nonsense on here and elsewhere writing off this game as a lost cause before it started, obviously the most difficult game of the season but we are 4th in the table, fighting for promotion, we shouldn't be writing games off. A terrible performance however with no positives. We just don't ever look like scoring, Khadra looks like he cant be arsed and Dolan is as is usually the case full of energy (and a terrible dive) but lacking in anything of substance, Giles aside from one run has been non existent too Kaminski making a terrible mistake for the 2nd time in 3 games. Van Hecke has been played by Mitrovic, keeping the ball in aside he keeps getting tight and getting rolled. Rankin Costello is not a Championship footballer either, Johnson and Travis non-existent. We need the next goal.

Forest's usual wing backs are Spence on loan from Boro and Lowe (ineligible tonight) on loan from Sheff Utd, 2 direct rivals. How is that allowed?

I am not sure either is directly comparable in that those 2 players have never proven to be competent Championship performers even when they are fit, so it is hard to know how much their performances were down to fitness and how much were down to quality. But I certainly wasnt pinning my hopes on his return with any great expectations, I totally get that it will be cameos only for a while, and that he will be so rusty at first. That being said, I am excited to see him back in the fold, I think it will be a huge boost for morale, he will get a great reception and even in a cameo whilst not fully fit hes the player youd want a chance to fall to. I dont read anything into what he does playing with and against kids in tick box exercises, its all about getting through them unscathed.

Lots of buzz words to justify the idea that judging managers on results is idiotic.

Hopefully he will be back for the upcoming home games.

Venkys shouldnt be overruling the manager on transfer matters.

https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2022/march/03/bring-a-friend-to-ewood-/ Another ticket offer with strings attached. They don't learn.

He can't be questioned on Rothwell leaving on a free when it was Venkys that stopped us from getting a fee from him. I agree that the mentioned players are different situations, I was just saying that they are all academy graduates and you said that "not one of the academy lads have signed new deals." The 3 players are ones that presumably expect to be paid a wage befitting 3 key players in a team fighting for promotion, something Venkys seem unwilling to allow.

Will it rankle in Pune? Even if there is an element of public politics, im sure the main driver is money and the way we could have a much better chance of signing them is with more financial flexibility to be able to protect the assets. They don't seem to care about losing assets for free, Mowbray suggested that he was open minded to selling Rothwell to avoid him going for free and bringing in a couple of players with that money, yet Venkys stubbornly prevented that scenario. Also, Buckley, Wharton, Carter and Rankin Costello all signed new deals in the last year as academy lads.

The one thing I have learnt from this page is that, based on the fact that his agent has refused to engage, his agent has met the club 5 times in the last few weeks, he has no interest in signing and wants a new challenge, he would sign if we went up, he has been offered a very low offer, he has been offered a decent rise, ultimately none of us know what he has been offered and there is nobody ITK in this situation!

Three club rule. Even if there is any truth, I presume it was very much as one of the 2 players Mowbray had in mind with the potential Rothwell proceeds before Venkys interfered and made him stay.

Hes absolutely shit. Technically abysmal and constantly switches off. Pickering has been such a great signing and is so much better. Edun was poor when he covered but still better than Bell.

Random point and obviously too late for the fans forum but what happened to the old PR announcer? The new one is really irritating. Also, the timer isn't on throughout now as it used to be which is annoying.

Does he? The only time I can remember a decent delivery from him was at home v Reading last season for our first goal and even then it was quite a low cross that Armstrong did excellently to score from. Jurys out on Zeefuik too I agree, although early days. We need him to step up after the Nyambe injury blow.

Based on?

If we had a play off semi final against a team with Amarii Bell in it and were fearful, then something has gone wrong.

Any news on the latest minutes @only2garners