2-1 win not a clue why I think/feel this, but we have to turn it around sometime....oh yes and I live in Nottingham so need us to win this so I dont get any abuse on Wednesday...............I'm back for the match thread after being delayed on Saturday.....starts at 7 pm.
Hopefully the crowd get behind and support the team. Forest should beat us on current form and they outclassed us in both games last season.
I would like us to stick to a formation for a couple of games to see if it works be it 3-5-2, 4-4-2 or 4-5-1. Injuries aren't helping but nor is having different personnel coming in every week
As I swerved Burnley, I had a good look at Forest in the Sky game against Derby.
Forest use a the 4-4-2 Diamond System, with a flat back four of Lichaj - Hobbs- Collins - Cohen. Moussi started at the base of the diamond, Lansbury & Reid were right and left, with Majewski at the point, behind the front two. Henderson was at Centre Forward with Mackie playing off him as the second striker. When Moussi went off injured after 20 mins, Lansbury switched to the holding role, Cohen moved to right midfield and Harding came in at Left Back.
The Forest pattern of play, was to use a quick short passing style of play through midfield into the last third, around the Reid-Majewski link, mixed up with more direct play into Henderson as the target man.
Forest produced a good overall performance and despite the unbalanced highlights on the FLS, were not particularly convincing winners or looked as good as they were against us in the two games last season. After a very good opening 10 minutes in which they had threatened to run riot, Derby settled down and contained them for long spells, without showing the cutting edge themselves to capitalise on their own good spells of play.
When Forest had possession, both full backs got forward to join in the play on their side of the pitch to link up with Majewski & Reid and Forest looked to get crosses in for Henderson to attack, particularly from the left flank through Reid. When Majewski picked up possession in space and linked up with Reid, Forest always looked dangerous. But after a lively start to the match, in which Forest had dictated a quick tempo which Derby had struggled to cope with, Derby gradually got to grips with it and closed down the Forest midfield for long spells, until the game opened up in the latter stages when they were reduced to ten men. Prior to the Keogh sending off, Majewski had been hooked after 64 mins and replaced by Abdoun, as Forest struggled to break the shackles.
In attacking play the front two will often split left and right to create space for Majewski to move into as a third attacker. When Forest get the ball wide, Henderson will pull away to the back post and make runs across defenders to meet crosses and missed an excellent chance early in the second half when running onto a Reid cross from the left. For much of the game, the front two lacked enough quality service to be effective, as Derby closed off midfield and forced Forest to go long, and a lot of build-up play broke-down around Henderson, who lost the majority of high balls against the Derby Centre Backs. As a result Mackie was forced to feed off scraps, although he ran-in behind and down the channels all afternoon, as he normally does. When forced to play long, Collins and Hobbs lacked accuracy in their passing and both lacked composure on the ball when put under pressure. However, Darlow has an excellent long kick and when allowed to come out of his area, almost reached the opposition box.
In Defensive Play, the Forest Back Four dropped off quickly to defend the 18 yard line, with the midfield quartet working back into the space in front. When doing so they often failed to get organised into two banks of four, although the central areas were often congested. Derby were allowed plenty of space 25-40 yards from goal and had a number of long range shooting opportunities. But overall, Derby lacked the speed in their play and penetration in attack, to expose a disciplined Forest defensive line.
By dropping off early to defend the eighteen yard line, Forest quickly took away the space for Derby to play into behind them. Both Centre Backs are strong in the air, but look short of pace and could struggle if isolated and turned, which Derby failed to do. Both CB's conceded free kicks when pulled forward to defend balls played into the space if front of them, although the midfielder at the base of the diamond obviously has the job of preventing that happening. Moussi did a good job of protecting the Centre Backs when he was on the pitch, but Lansbury is a more creative midfielder and therefore not suited to the role.
Lichaj at Right Back was the weakest of the Back Four, with a tendency to dive in when faced-up in one-against-one situations and had weak positional play in general. Cohen is very sound at Left Back, but looked awkward as a left-footer operating on the right of the diamond after he had switched.
In the midfield areas, the Forest quartet try to stay compact and close down quickly around the ball, often in an attempt to win possession high up the pitch. However, as they stay narrow or move across onto one flank as a group, there is always space for the opposition to exploit along the flanks in front of the exposed full back positions and as a team they are vulnerable to quick switches of play.
At Set Plays, Forest got the goal that proved decisive from a corner on the right. Reid whipped in a driven left foot cross, which Hobbs met unopposed in the near post area to head home, after his direct opponent had been caught dozing and allowed him to run free. Majewski took the corners on the right, also whipped into the near post area with pace. Mackie took a position at the near post to hamper the defenders protecting that area and create space for Hobbs to run into: Henderson and Lansbury held on the penalty spot to assist Hobbs to get free by attempting to hamper his marker; and Collins attacked from the back of the area looking for a flick-on at the near post. Henderson is also well placed in the centre of the goal to compete for any slightly over-hit crosses aimed at the near post area.
On Free Kicks from the midfield third, Reid played angled high balls at Henderson from the left and Lichaj did the same from the right.
We all know how good Reid can be and we paid the penalty last season for giving him too much space, in both games. (My memory of the game at the City Ground last season, was Reid darting here and there and Pritchard following two yards behind him as if he was on a piece of string). We need to pay attention to what he is trying to do. If you play man-for-man on him, there is a risk he will disrupt the midfield by dragging his marker away from the left and into other areas, to create space for his team-mates to exploit, particularly the left full back on the overlap.
Forest like all of the teams in this Division are beatable. Both Centre Backs and Lichaj at right back can all be exposed on the ground. But to do so, our build-up play or counter attacks need to be quick enough to get at the Back Four before the Forest midfield can cover back into the space in front. Passing across the back line will be too slow and hoofing it forward is not likely to break Forest down. We need to run them ragged down the flanks and stretch the diamond across the pitch. Most games are won and lost in central midfield, and they have four operating in that area. We need to stop them playing before we have any chance of winning this match, controlling midfield and dominating possession is vital, but do we have the players individually and collectively to do it? Looking forward to the game, to see how we set up and how we handle it.
Thanks Tutt Tutt you have given me some hope tomorrow.
Cannot see us getting anything, unless Henderson has a mare like he did Saturday. Church has never been prolific; therefore cannot see the point of playing him up front on his own. I would like Sordell to play; however, I fear he would not be getting any decent service. We desperately need Yann, Solly and Cort back. The latter has been missed more than I ever imagined.
Hamer .. Morrison Wood Dervite Wiggins .. Stewart Jackson Cousins Harriott ... Kermorgant Church .. I would play Pigott again but as 'the crowd' seem to hate him (is it that hairstyle), it'll have to be Church. Play Morrison at right back, he likes to come forward in a (misguided) 3 5 2, see how he goes in a 4 4 2 .. play 4 fairly attacking midfielders and really have a go at Forest, not sit back and wait to be picked off towards the end of the game.
Thanks Tut Tut. That offers some hope. My fear is that our midfield are not good enough to cope at the moment. If Hughes is fit it could make a big differance. If SCP makes a loan signing in could give the team a lift.
Frimpong must be looking for a game. Bentner, Carlton Cole? Anyone?
Thanks Tut Tut. That offers some hope. My fear is that our midfield are not good enough to cope at the moment. If Hughes is fit it could make a big differance. If SCP makes a loan signing in could give the team a lift.
Frimpong must be looking for a game. Bentner, Carlton Cole? Anyone?
I fear the only way we could bring one of these into the squad is if we have a whip round on here....
Iny opinion, depending on who's fit that is as close to our strongest and most in form team we have at the moment. Obviously if Jackson is fit id swap him with Church
sorry Norfolk but in my opinion Wiggins is one of those under-performing at the moment and barely deserves his spot at LB let alone RB. Anyway, Wilson was one of our better players on Saturday so doesn't warrant being dropped. All my opinion of course. Other than that I wouldn't disagree, especially with the formation.
A massive game for us and for SCP.He has my 110% support and always will have but think it's about time he started dropping the players that are becoming complacent and think they can just turn up and expect to play ie Hamer Morrison Wiggins Jackson Pritchard.I know il get shot for saying Jackson but he just doesn't seem up for it this season.hope he proves me wrong.so depending on injuries I would go with this team.what have we got to lose.
Alnwick
Wood Cort( if fit if not obviously Morrison) Dervitte
Hughes( holding)
Stewart Wilson(why not try him in the middle?) Cousins Harriot
Kermorgant(if fit if not church) Sordell
Subs Hamer Morrison/cort Evina Jackson Piggott Pritchard Church
Looking forward to seeing Andy Reid. There was something about him that made me purr with pleasure every time we watched him. Even above Parker, Jensen , Bowyer et al he was the one who gave me more joy than just about anyone since the days of Rob Lee...
It's the only damned thing I am looking forward to... Another horrible night in the slow death of CAFC. 0-3 by H-T and then 45 mins of vitriolic atmos from those who haven't walked out as Forest see out the game without even needing to break sweat. #sinkingfast
Agree 100% about Andy Reid....he was just so good to watch and made the game look very easy. He saw passes that others couldn't see and could bend balls into the box that others couldn't bend. His ball in for Iwelumo's last minute header at Bristol City was brilliant. He was a Dowie signing wasn't he?
sorry Norfolk but in my opinion Wiggins is one of those under-performing at the moment and barely deserves his spot at LB let alone RB. Anyway, Wilson was one of our better players on Saturday so doesn't warrant being dropped. All my opinion of course. Other than that I wouldn't disagree, especially with the formation.
I wasn't at Burnley but the commentary suggested Wiggins wasn't exactly on fire, and meanwhile there have been no clean sheets. Ceddy surely deserves a go, especially in a 3-5-2.
Comments
I would like us to stick to a formation for a couple of games to see if it works be it 3-5-2, 4-4-2 or 4-5-1. Injuries aren't helping but nor is having different personnel coming in every week
But hope not
1st home game I can't make in 5years so maybee we might play like barca or real m!
Just maybee
coyr
Play Morrison at right back, he likes to come forward in a (misguided) 3 5 2, see how he goes in a 4 4 2 .. play 4 fairly attacking midfielders and really have a go at Forest, not sit back and wait to be picked off towards the end of the game.
CAFC 2 v Nottingham Forest 0
Frimpong must be looking for a game. Bentner, Carlton Cole? Anyone?
Wiggins--Wood--Dervite--Eivna
------Cousins----Pritchard-----
Stewart-----------------Harriott
------Kermorgant--Church-----
Iny opinion, depending on who's fit that is as close to our strongest and most in form team we have at the moment. Obviously if Jackson is fit id swap him with Church
Tutt Tutt for England!
We'll rock up - race into a 2-0 lead, shit our pants and drop 10-15 yards deeper and concede with 10 mins left for a squeaky bum finale. 2-1
(In reality that's far too exciting so I'll go for a 0-0 bore draw to stop the rot)
Alnwick
Wood
Cort( if fit if not obviously Morrison)
Dervitte
Hughes( holding)
Stewart
Wilson(why not try him in the middle?)
Cousins
Harriot
Kermorgant(if fit if not church)
Sordell
Subs
Hamer
Morrison/cort
Evina
Jackson
Piggott
Pritchard
Church
Wilson Morrison Dervite Wiggo
Cousins Stephens Pritchard
Stewart Kerm Harriot
I'd go 4-3-3 with stewart & harriot backing up the midfield when we don't have the ball.
0-5.
if we lose 5 nil would have to touch the ball atleast 5 times
ok then 10 times in the 1st half and 17 in the 2nd.
possession stat: Charlton 7% v 93% Forest