MATCHWATCH : Nottingham Forest (a)

[Pepe the Horseman]

He reminds me of that male teacher in school who would perv over the year 7 boys.

Fixed for you.

Our Maths teacher did actually go to prison for noncing.

[NathStPaul]

He reminds me of that male teacher in school who would perv over the year 7 boys.

Fixed for you.

Our Maths teacher did actually go to prison for noncing.

But did he manage to long division? If so then it was probably worth it.

[NathStPaul]

Think my old maths teacher got done too. Mr Rodgers......

[Pepe the Horseman]

Ours was Mr Lee. He also ran a marquee business in Woodley where a lot of the boys from school would help out

[NathStPaul]

Ours was Mr Lee. He also ran a marquee business in Woodley where a lot of the boys from school would help out

Imagine how much went on in the 70's/80's/90's that nobody has ever heard about, must be so many nonce teachers out there who got away with it.

Anyway Forest 3 Reading 0.

[morganb]

Is it just me, or does anyone else have an utterly irrational dislike of Steve Cooper?

Never met the guy, and he is probably a really good bloke, but I cannot shake my total antipathy towards him.

It’s not just you, no

He does look a bit like Sluff (sp?) from the Goonies.

Slough?

[morganb]

https://mobile.twitter.com/AndyPreston9 ... 7815366663

- Lucas Joao has been ill, may miss Forest
- Yakou Meite NOT close to being ready to play 90 mins (even though he played 90 minutes for the U23s)
- Laurent in contention for Saturday
- Hein OUT for the season, gone back to Arsenal
- Hoping to sign a goalkeeper (free agent) tomorrow

https://mobile.twitter.com/james_e1871/ ... 7376007173

Baba Rahman 2-3 weeks away.
Halilovic another week away

[YorkshireRoyal99]

Joao is crucially the biggest miss there out of them all, that is for sure, especially if Meite isn't ready for 90 minutes. That would leave us without a recognised CF unless Clarke was to play, which I'm not in favour of. I don't mind the prospect of a free agent goalkeeper though really, I can't understand why we didn't do that the first time.

[Snowflake Royal]

Almost like Clarke should have been getting minutes just in case.

[Pepe the Horseman]

Reckon Thomas Ince will play upfront if Joao isn't fit.

[Sutekh]

Reckon Thomas Ince will play upfront if Joao isn't fit.

He can play as a striker. Personally think he might be more suited centrally than as a left winger playing on the right.

Re the keeper position, is It more that Southwood is too inexperienced to play behind the ever changing sitcom that unfolds in front of him every game or just that he isn’t quite good enough for this level?

[Snowflake Royal]

Reckon Thomas Ince will play upfront if Joao isn't fit.

He can play as a striker. Personally think he might be more suited centrally than as a left winger playing on the right.

Re the keeper position, is It more that Southwood is too inexperienced to play behind the ever changing sitcom that unfolds in front of him every game or just that he isn’t quite good enough for this level?

No one is really good enough to play behind that sitcom.

Issues with Southwood are blown out of all proportion. He's made two howlers, spilled one hitting the ground hard and been poor on maybe another 3 / 4. Not good, but as a proportion of what we've conceded it's tiny.

It's fewer howlers than Drinkwater, no more howlers and fewer poor ones than Holmes, Laurent and probably on a par with Morrison.

Replacing Southwood just replaces who is put in an impossible situation. Got to solve the problem at source, defence and defensive midfield.

Still putting everyone back at corners. Would Millwall have been able to block Holmes as easily if we had left 2 up front and forced three of their players back away from our box? Maybe not.

Still waiting for the ball to come to us at set plays rather than attacking it.

Still having CBs sucked 20 yards out of position. Still having midfield fail to cover holes, give it away and get run through.

[blythspartan]

This one could be a massacre but I am going for 1-0 to us. The last time I went to Forest it was the homecoming of Stuart Pearce our B Team from memory got beat 4-0 and I remember Antonio had a field day against us. Also, fair play as there was one Reading fan giving it large to the Forest fans.

[YorkshireRoyal99]

Reckon Thomas Ince will play upfront if Joao isn't fit.

He can play as a striker. Personally think he might be more suited centrally than as a left winger playing on the right.

Re the keeper position, is It more that Southwood is too inexperienced to play behind the ever changing sitcom that unfolds in front of him every game or just that he isn’t quite good enough for this level?

No one is really good enough to play behind that sitcom.

Issues with Southwood are blown out of all proportion. He's made two howlers, spilled one hitting the ground hard and been poor on maybe another 3 / 4. Not good, but as a proportion of what we've conceded it's tiny.

It's fewer howlers than Drinkwater, no more howlers and fewer poor ones than Holmes, Laurent and probably on a par with Morrison.

Replacing Southwood just replaces who is put in an impossible situation. Got to solve the problem at source, defence and defensive midfield.

Still putting everyone back at corners. Would Millwall have been able to block Holmes as easily if we had left 2 up front and forced three of their players back away from our box? Maybe not.

Still waiting for the ball to come to us at set plays rather than attacking it.

Still having CBs sucked 20 yards out of position. Still having midfield fail to cover holes, give it away and get run through.

Agree in principle but I just think some of the errors he makes might not have been made with a stronger, more experienced goalkeeper between the sticks. Probably not the one against Hull, anybody can make that kind of error where it's just a mistake but maybe coming and claiming crosses and commanding his area might be better off with someone stronger and more experienced as well.

But, as you say, it still doesn't stop the underlying issue that the defence in front of the goalkeeper has been weak all season as well. Although I think there are some signs that is starting to improve. Some of Southwood's errors though have cost us points, particularly the one's against Derby and Hull at home, knock an extra 4 points on there and take 1 off each of them and suddenly our position looks far, far better. All ifs, buts and maybes though I suppose.

[Snowflake Royal]

He can play as a striker. Personally think he might be more suited centrally than as a left winger playing on the right.

Re the keeper position, is It more that Southwood is too inexperienced to play behind the ever changing sitcom that unfolds in front of him every game or just that he isn’t quite good enough for this level?

No one is really good enough to play behind that sitcom.

Issues with Southwood are blown out of all proportion. He's made two howlers, spilled one hitting the ground hard and been poor on maybe another 3 / 4. Not good, but as a proportion of what we've conceded it's tiny.

It's fewer howlers than Drinkwater, no more howlers and fewer poor ones than Holmes, Laurent and probably on a par with Morrison.

Replacing Southwood just replaces who is put in an impossible situation. Got to solve the problem at source, defence and defensive midfield.

Still putting everyone back at corners. Would Millwall have been able to block Holmes as easily if we had left 2 up front and forced three of their players back away from our box? Maybe not.

Still waiting for the ball to come to us at set plays rather than attacking it.

Still having CBs sucked 20 yards out of position. Still having midfield fail to cover holes, give it away and get run through.

Agree in principle but I just think some of the errors he makes might not have been made with a stronger, more experienced goalkeeper between the sticks. Probably not the one against Hull, anybody can make that kind of error where it's just a mistake but maybe coming and claiming crosses and commanding his area might be better off with someone stronger and more experienced as well.

But, as you say, it still doesn't stop the underlying issue that the defence in front of the goalkeeper has been weak all season as well. Although I think there are some signs that is starting to improve. Some of Southwood's errors though have cost us points, particularly the one's against Derby and Hull at home, knock an extra 4 points on there and take 1 off each of them and suddenly our position looks far, far better. All ifs, buts and maybes though I suppose.

Drinkwater Holmes and Laurent's errors have cost us more points. As have many others.

And yet you see very little targeting of Laurent in particular. It's mainly put on Holmes and Southwood.

[Hound]

Southwood has won us points tbf as well - Fulham away is the one that springs to mind

Problem is his main weakness - size and command of his box against crosses - is also largely the teams weakness - allowing space and crosses in and shit from set pieces

Maybe just not the right keeper at this point in time. Currently not so bothered about his stronger points - ability to play out, good shot stopping - but we really do need to improve in our weak areas

[NathStPaul]

Southwood has won us points tbf as well - Fulham away is the one that springs to mind

Problem is his main weakness - size and command of his box against crosses - is also largely the teams weakness - allowing space and crosses in and shit from set pieces

Maybe just not the right keeper at this point in time. Currently not so bothered about his stronger points - ability to play out, good shot stopping - but we really do need to improve in our weak areas

I do feel we need a big giant in goal, I think it would help us out on set pieces a great deal. I would be in favour of Pantilimon for that reason alone.

[Hound]

Yeah

[Snowflake Royal]

Not for me thanks.

[NathStPaul]

Don't get me wrong, Pantilimon is about my 50th choice in terms of a new goalkeeper but out of the three names I have seen mentioned he fits the profile of what we need currently.