by handbags_harris »
07 May 2015 14:06
siforest65 handbags_harris The thing with Derby (and many other relatively sizeable provincial clubs) is they just can't accept their natural place in contemporary footballing society. Back in the 70's, when they had a successful team that won a few major trophies, I could accept that they were truly a big club, but their fall from grace was almost as quick as their climb as a direct result of the unquestionable management talent of Brian Clough. They've been at a level now for so long that, while still a larger club with a historically working class fanbase, they simply have to accept that their on-the-pitch level is equal to us. That's not to state how far they've dropped, because it's not actually that far in my lifetime. It's been so long since they actually achieved anything other than a few seasons of Premier League survival in the late 90's, instead it is to state how far we have come that we can actually match them toe-for-toe, and have actually been the more successful club since they were relegated and we were promoted in 2002. Their fans simply can't accept that.
To a degree the same can be said of Forest, but not only are they a club that still has the aura of Clough surrounding it (somewhat tarnished by Billy Davies), but at least they have two European Cups to their name amongst other major honours. And they're one of few clubs I actually look up to, unlike Derby...
And who exactly was Steve Bloomer?
Thanks for the positive bit about Forest. I must admit I did enjoy seeing you wreck Derby's play off and also FA cup run. We got the same treatment from them at Pride Park this season and it backfired on them massively.
Agree with alot of what you've written and I think us Forest fans have had too high expectations over the last few years. Next year I think it's about survival in the championship for us.
As for Reading, I've quite warmed to living down here. It's a nice place and it was good to take in a Forest game close to where a live. If Forest did go up, I would want to see Reading go up too, partially selfish for logistical reasons.
As a Forest fan I'd expect no less of you than to enjoy any team beating Derby
I find Derby a very cocky bunch for no apparent reason, thoroughly dislikeable set of fans as a collective. One of their favourites sung to us is "you've got no history", when maybe they could check the history of results between the two respective clubs. Just at Pride Park, of 13 matches in all competitions we've won 8. Of home matches at the Madejski, we've won 7 of 11, and don't get me started on Elm Park which is pitiful from their POV!! They really are the gift that keeps on giving for us, and it's rather nice to continually shove their collective chips down their throat.
Forest fans have high expectations, but at least they're not necessarily misplaced. Bear in mind I've been watching football since 1989, some of my first "big club influences" came during the very late Clough Forest years. My overriding feeling towards Forest is one of tradition and principle, as I stated the club lives in the aura of Clough and his achievements, when former players come back to manage they can do poorly but you'll not bitterly complain or walk out angered, instead you'll tend to lose a match and head back the next week in hope that they can turn it on, and you'll back them. Under Pearce, obviously you had the phone ins with fans saying Pearce should go but it was all done with an underriding sense of "we don't want to do this", and not once did I hear about Forest fans booing at matches. The only times I remember Forest fans being truly discontented were when van Hooijdonk went on his singular strike and when your board appointed Joe Kinnear as manager. Both understandable given your club's principles.
Obviously my previous post is primarily directed at Derby in direct response to our result there last weekend, but there are so many other clubs that have a misplaced sense of achievement having had a short period of relative success in the top division and a history predominantly somewhat lower than that. There are actually very few clubs who have been able to sustain top level football continuously for decades, see the likes of Wolves, Sunderland, Birmingham, Coventry, Sheffield Utd & Wednesday, Cardiff, Stoke, Middlesbrough, even Leeds it could be argued should be in this list to a degree (and their fans are absolutely the worst around for chips). It just doesn't happen for provincial clubs for very long unless you have a particularly talented manager and sensible board.I personally wish certain club's fans could see the wood for the trees and look at where they feel they should be in comparison to where they actually should be - in some cases the two points are poles apart.
