02 Oct 2019 00:05:14
The scene was set at kick off tonight with a 2/3rd empty stadium an unexpectant nervous crowd transmitting a library atmosphere to a home side low on confidence.
Blackburn gifted the game to Forest in the first minute but lethargic finishing failed to take advantage which set a flat tone for the game and Forest mirrored Blackburn's inability to hold onto the ball and make telling passes.
Forest (as always now) kept a great shape under Watson's leadership and never really looked like conceding until two defenders went to ground to deceive Samba letting in Armstrong. Forest responded immediately and the game tempo increased.
However, instead of finishing Blackburn off an inability to find players with longer passes only encouraged Blackburn and lifted their confidence in the last 20 mins.
Ameobi was deployed more centrally but lacks all round awareness and needs too many touches unless the ball is played in front on him which summed up Forest's general play.
Two points dropped but undefeated again. It's chilly nights in Lancs under the floodlights like this where Championships are won!
We move onwards and upwards.
COYR's.
02 Oct 2019 09:06:32
Can the fans stop singing for JC to come off the bench please he is The reason we were struggling for the last 20 odd minutes coincides with his introduction for Sammy who didn't have a great game, he just isn't strong enough he is no better now than 18 months ago, I don't think there's much to pick between him and Zac Clough apart from £11 odd million, in my 40 something years watching Forest I have never heard fans call out for such a mediocre player or am I missing something in my old age? after saying that Sow must be the buy of the season we must get him on a longer contract. also great away point lads.
02 Oct 2019 09:33:38
Must be an age thing Skeggy. I'm the same as you. I'm a BC fab (before Clough) and I've got to agree about JC I just don't get what people see in him. I think if he'd have been on loan last season with an option to buy for 13 million we'd have thought it was April first. He can occasionally find a pass but he's slow doesn't always have a good first touch rarely goes past defenders. I like you think he's not much better than Clough. This league is for battlers not lightweight fancy dans.
02 Oct 2019 09:53:43
Yes Skegdyred and syred. I must be a similar vintage to you guys.
As much as i want to, i just can't see anything about JC to justify any sort of fee.
Ok he can pick a pass when he has lots of time and space to do it but with no strength or pace he just doesn't do much at all. And he looks scared to head the ball.
I would love to see him come good but no better than Clough imo.
02 Oct 2019 10:00:16
People ask for good football and when we bring in people who can pick out a pass and have a creative spark while having some actual attacking intent they call them out for being too weak for the league, but praise Watson for passing form side to side because he looks to have made no mistake all game but without taking that ‘risk’ of a forward pass or flick then nothing will happen. Our best chance was when JC came on and actually provided a bit of forward thinking.
02 Oct 2019 10:12:28
Nobody can dispute we had our pants pulled down with Carvalho but we have him now so have to keep seeing if he will eventually become a consistent performer or sell and take a massive loss.
The situation seems worse
When you think what we could have got for similar money. We could probably have got both Said Benrahma and Sergi Canos from Brentford for what we paid for him and they're far superior players as I'm sure we'll see first hand on Saturday.
02 Oct 2019 10:10:25
The call to bring on JC then AD and TS to try and win the game was correct. However, the defence without Daws starting dropping off too much out of possession and these guys spent the last 20 minutes facing the wrong way!
It's very easy to criticise individuals but the team collective late on made hard work of beating a very average team. We never looked like losing but the impact players need the team structure on the front foot to shine!
COYR's.
02 Oct 2019 10:48:58
I’ll take anything from Ewood Park, can’t remember winning there since 70’s, always been a grave yard for us,
02 Oct 2019 11:12:45
Red Fred don’t think you’re right about buying those players. No club would accept 13 million spread over 5 years. That’s why this deal was able to be made. As for Carvs he slotted adomah through on a 1 on 1 after coming on. Adomah should have scored. After that we seemed to play hoof ball. Which we played with Ameobi at that came to nothing too. The view that he is too weak to play in this league is dinosaur football mentality.
02 Oct 2019 11:44:32
Agree redtree with that assessment.
02 Oct 2019 11:45:15
I'm a JC fan, but the criticism of him is not completely unjust. He is weak, struggles to hold players off, he can give the ball away cheaply and often disappear for portions of the game, BUT! He has that magic where he can find a single pass to open up a defence, as proved last night with his through-ball for Adomah. Had Adomah put that away we'd probably be talking about JC being a game changer again and singing his praises. He is capable of that moment of quality that we don't really have elsewhere in the squad.
He either needs to bulk up or become cuter at finding those pockets of space. Space is at a premium in the Championship and JC needs a little more time and space to operate at his devastating best, it's as simple as that. Bulk up, or work harder/ smarter to find that room. If he doesn't he'll only ever be a cameo player.
02 Oct 2019 12:26:59
Redtree its not dinosaur football I would love to see us buy Canos or Benrahma who are both forward thinking goal scoring midfielders as Red Fred said but Carvalho isn't anywhere near their standard it would be great if he was, of course we all want him to do well and he did make a good pass to Albert and he should have done better but how many times did he give the ball away and not track back and is it a coincidence that under AK and MO he was a bit part player and under SL it will be no different , if we had loaned him with an option to buy he would be back playing football for the Benfica B team, I really hope he can add more to his game but after being with us now for 18 months IMO he's no better.
02 Oct 2019 12:28:18
There in lies the problem. One good through ball and all of a sudden the minutes he spends on the pitch with no input are forgotten.
His weakness to me isn't a problem as we have other stronger players to act as enforcers around him. To me his main deficiency is an alarming lack of pace. During the Stoke game he tried to knock the ball past one side of a player and run around the other side, the Stoke player had time to smoke a cigar and still get to the ball first.
Start him at home and bring him on away if we are behind.
02 Oct 2019 13:12:56
He wasn’t a bit part player under Karanka. We all know what happened with MON. Canos 1 assist in 8 starts. This season he’s played on the wing. Similar with Benrahma no goals between them. Forward thinking goal scorers. I don’t think Carvs is the finished article. I agree with you SteveSWE that he needs to be smarter, needs to draw more fouls and needs to get on the ball more. I also know he’s missed a pre season. Redfrec I remember him trying that. I think he has pace in his locker though I remember either his assist or goal against villa last year showed his pace. Watch the game again and see how Ameobi played that position, it’s one of the hardest on the pitch.
02 Oct 2019 14:18:57
Lets put it simple way if anybody else bought hi for 13 million we would of took the piss he has the odd good pass in him but that's it hopefully olympiacos will want him in tge new year for tge 13 million we wasted on him and lamouchi can invest that money wiseley to help us stay in top 6 😆.
02 Oct 2019 14:24:38
Lolley struggled to play it as well redtree.
I'll just trust Lamouchi to sort who should play as he seems to get it 99%right.
All the offensive players have been inconsistent so far this season so just imagine how good we'll be when lolley carvalho uncle Albert really find some form 🤔🤔.
02 Oct 2019 14:45:47
You’re spot on 79.