Forest were on the box twice last week. Orthodox 4-4-2, lively in attack (Cox), and Reid still has a nice left foot to go with the spare tyre around his waist. In both matches they were poor in defence both collectively and individually. The Centre Backs were wide open (Collins/Halford & Collins/Ayala); both full backs struggled against passes in behind; Harding the left back can't defend 1v1; marking was poor on crosses; and Reid struggles when forced to track-back allowing the LB area to be over-loaded 2v1. If we get our FBs forward and get in crosses, as we did at Birmingham, we'll cause all manner of problems.
Lansbury will add more quality to their midfield, but Forest are clearly a team in transition and we are playing them at the right time. At least a point, all three if we play as well as we did at St Andrews.
I'll be there with my forest supporting brother so sitting in the home stands! I'm not that confident for this one but with Halford playing centre-back i could see BWP and Yann causing him a lot of problems. Having siad that i'm going for 2-2 with a late equalizer from Stephens ;-)
Forest were on the box twice last week. Orthodox 4-4-2, lively in attack (Cox), and Reid still has a nice left foot to go with the spare tyre around his waist. In both matches they were poor in defence both collectively and individually. The Centre Backs were wide open (Collins/Halford & Collins/Ayala); both full backs struggled against passes in behind; Harding the left back can't defend 1v1; marking was poor on crosses; and Reid struggles when forced to track-back allowing the LB area to be over-loaded 2v1. If we get our FBs forward and get in crosses, as we did at Birmingham, we'll cause all manner of problems.
Lansbury will add more quality to their midfield, but Forest are clearly a team in transition and we are playing them at the right time. At least a point, all three if we play as well as we did at St Andrews.
Agreed. Thought the same, but couldn't be bothered to post in detail.
Just think we could have a live stream thread to go with RM's fantastic commentary.
As for the match I've got a feeling we're going to sneak a 1-0 win with a Stephens rocket shot (prediction of goalscorer is subject to change in the next 24 hours).
Whoever scores first wins. I think we could frustrate them by staying tight and organized. Their creatives could find it difficult to break us down, get frustrated and we could win it in the second half.
If they score first and are winning at HT we'll find it a lot harder. They have the players to pick us off if we start chasing the game.
Al Jezera Sport 3 are showing the match! There should be a stream for it somewhere, I'll stick it up on Saturday when I find it.
Excellent news for me as I get this channel on my TV at home. Believe it or not I have a total of 53 different sports channels to choose from! Yes, half of them are in Arabic, but even so.... Sadly I fully expect us to lose our first league game of the season at the City Ground. Could be 2-0 or even 3-0.
Midfield will have to be sharper than it was v Hull if they are to stop Andy Reid running the game.
Expect Powell to go tight with no width again, but I'm confident Jacko and company (with or without Stephens) will move up a gear from last week's disappointing sluggishness and an improved midfield will be enough to ensure a 1-1 draw.
To get anything more than a point, the full-backs (who haven't quite hit last year's form yet) will also need to contribute more in terms of overlapping runs in order to compensate for the lack of width.
Comments
I, on the other hand, predict a 2-1 win.............to us !!!
there it is
Lansbury will add more quality to their midfield, but Forest are clearly a team in transition and we are playing them at the right time. At least a point, all three if we play as well as we did at St Andrews.
If I find one I'll post it.
As for the match I've got a feeling we're going to sneak a 1-0 win with a Stephens rocket shot (prediction of goalscorer is subject to change in the next 24 hours).
Cox, BWP Kermorgant
Wiggins (MOM)
Expect them to dominate the midfield but us to win 1 0
If they score first and are winning at HT we'll find it a lot harder. They have the players to pick us off if we start chasing the game.
Sadly I fully expect us to lose our first league game of the season at the City Ground. Could be 2-0 or even 3-0.
A goal by a Stephen. Quinn that is, not Dale.
Jackson 4
Wilson 3
Quinn 8 on the player ratings
Expect Powell to go tight with no width again, but I'm confident Jacko and company (with or without Stephens) will move up a gear from last week's disappointing sluggishness and an improved midfield will be enough to ensure a 1-1 draw.
To get anything more than a point, the full-backs (who haven't quite hit last year's form yet) will also need to contribute more in terms of overlapping runs in order to compensate for the lack of width.