Motorways, queues, service stations, lagers, loads of rain.
At one point there was a football match too but that bit was fairly dull.
Last night’s game surely consigns Forest to the play-off drama – and secures Newcastle’s promotion.
The mood at the end of the game was certainly one of finality.
Forest fans descending the 15,000 steps sang Que Sera Sera while the Newcastle supporters, newly awakened after their 70-minute slumber, slapped each other’s backs and planned for the Premiership.
The last time we sang the ubiquitous (and presumptuous) Wembley song Forest launched into an impossible unbeaten run and snaffled second spot.
I don’t see it happening again. But on a more positive note, at no point were Forest embarrassed.
It was a fairly solid performance across the board but the difference in quality was fairly obvious.
One or two of our players froze on stage and became preoccupied with trying to avoid mistakes, stunting our creativity. We can only hope this isn’t a precursor to a Wembley meltdown.
Deploying Tyson as a centre forward, and thus using him in his only viable position, could have changed the game.
The pitch at Newcastle looked as long as the stadium is tall and Tyson’s only real contribution was a burst of pace in the opening exchanges. On the wing he was hidden, or hiding, and his pace was rarely exploited.
It was a fair effort, but really it was far too easy for a side who should have been worried about playing us. The first goal ended the game.
And without wanting to sound like Billy Davies, two or three new faces in January – or even March – may have reduced the gap.
With the play-offs fast approaching we must address our away form as a matter of urgency. It will also be important to maintain our home form if we’re to bag a Wembley spot, but how we will adapt to our compromised ambitions remains to be seen.
The ‘famous’ Newcastle supporters were a fairly predictable brew of the jobless, brainless and hopeless. Quiet too, regardless of what the sycophants on TV may have said.
But the more affable sorts boozing in the town centre afterwards were predictably talkative and humble in victory. Significantly better company than the slurring chumps we see most weekends.
It’s the sort of trip to the sort of stadium we ought to be making more regularly. Here’s hoping.
Ratings:
Camp – 8 – several smart saves to keep us in the game.
Perch – 7 – far more suited to right-back, several eye-catching tackles and an improved all-round performance. But from where I was sitting, admittedly about nine miles above the pitch, he still looked lost.
Wilson – 7 – a solid performance overall
Morgan – 7 – seemingly dependable on any occasion
Gunter – 7 – caught wrong-footed several times on the left, but a Gunter operating at 60 per cent is preferable to Perch or Chambers lumbering in the same role
Anderson – 7 – never really found the freedom to make an impact, but he didn’t give up trying
Majewski – 7 – plenty of effort but little to show for it on the night
Moussi – 7 – improved distribution and a better all-round performance on the bigger pitch
Cohen – 5 – the usual blood and guts, but a lot of his passes seemed to end up in the wrong hands – or the crowd.
Tyson – 5.5 – up front or nothing as far as I’m concerned. He’s useless on the wing.
Blackstock – 7 – won plenty of headers but there was no way through.
Tuesday 30 March 2010
Saturday 20 March 2010
Billy's World
The reason for Angry Bill’s ongoing rage is obvious.
For Billy Davies, the world and all of its elements are orbiting Billy Davies.
It is an uncompromising system of attack from a man whose success lies in relentlessly expecting the worst.
Every kick, every slide tackle, every cough and every splutter is a potential plaudit in his name. Likewise they hold the key to his downfall.
By January he saw glory and adulation within snatching distance. He heard the lauding of his name, tasted the satisfaction of proving critics wrong, revelled in the absolution for ‘that bloke from down the A50’.
In his mind the riches were stripped gracelessly from him by a lack of ambition from above.
Of course, he has a point. Three new signings at a cost of around £4m would probably have carried us over the finishing line - and he wants everybody to know about it.
I can almost see him on the Wembley turf, head cocked sideways to the camera, enthusiastically blaming defeat on ‘missed opportunities to strengthen’ and our ‘learning’ side.
It’s a symptom of a Billy Davies management, and one that endures in its appeal to those who grew exasperated to fury at Colin Calderwood’s meagre grovelling.
Another symptom is points growing on trees. Games like today’s would so often have ended in defeat under previous regimes, but the current Forest side has fostered the ability to spring a surprise.
It was a miserably wet afternoon. Heavy, oppressive and muggy, with bad smells lingering in the air. The match was a chore to watch and, evidently, a chore to play.
Peterborough were slow to start and looked every inch a League One side. But when our opening goal was out of the way they broke out of their chains and had a real go.
We defended both wings poorly, inviting attack, and our own advances were all too frequently into blind alleys and cul-de-sacs.
It was a non-event, sodden by teeming rain and further dampened with bickering and poor performances across the board.
But it was three points.
Everything is pointing towards another season in the Championship, but as long as Billy is at the helm there remains a distinct possibility that something ridiculous will happen.
His sides invariably have that ballistic capability.
He’s a miserable bugger and needs to stop moaning. But after all, the world does revolve around him...
Ratings:
Camp – 8 – a string of excellent saves to keep us in the match
Gunter – 6.5 – scrappy and got forward often, but he was too easy to pass at times.
Morgan – 7.5 – bison-esque, including trying to head a ball that was literally on the ground. The striker’s foot just bounced off his chops.
Wilson – 7.5 – a solid performance.
Perch – 6 – oh well, we’ll have to sign a left back on loan then... I wouldn’t be surprised if the outward hobble was scripted.
Anderson – 7.5 – at times he was our only outlet, despite having to feed on scraps.
Moussi – 6 – did a fairly good job of keeping things ticking over, but under Billy he seems to have been put on the leash. The livewire 75-yard crosses and miraculous wriggles have been replaced by an altogether more sensible Moose. I’m not sure I like it.
Majewski – 7.5 – always had a pass ready. Another individually competent performance in a midfield system that flopped. He and Moussi were too far apart, but he had a good game.
Cohen – 7 – the usual blood, guts and thunder.
Blackstock – 7 – a handful throughout, but no cutting edge.
Earnshaw – 7 – lively enough, stunted by his selfishness at times but he notched the winner.
Subs:
Chambers – 6
McCleary – 7
Adebola – 6.5
For Billy Davies, the world and all of its elements are orbiting Billy Davies.
It is an uncompromising system of attack from a man whose success lies in relentlessly expecting the worst.
Every kick, every slide tackle, every cough and every splutter is a potential plaudit in his name. Likewise they hold the key to his downfall.
By January he saw glory and adulation within snatching distance. He heard the lauding of his name, tasted the satisfaction of proving critics wrong, revelled in the absolution for ‘that bloke from down the A50’.
In his mind the riches were stripped gracelessly from him by a lack of ambition from above.
Of course, he has a point. Three new signings at a cost of around £4m would probably have carried us over the finishing line - and he wants everybody to know about it.
I can almost see him on the Wembley turf, head cocked sideways to the camera, enthusiastically blaming defeat on ‘missed opportunities to strengthen’ and our ‘learning’ side.
It’s a symptom of a Billy Davies management, and one that endures in its appeal to those who grew exasperated to fury at Colin Calderwood’s meagre grovelling.
Another symptom is points growing on trees. Games like today’s would so often have ended in defeat under previous regimes, but the current Forest side has fostered the ability to spring a surprise.
It was a miserably wet afternoon. Heavy, oppressive and muggy, with bad smells lingering in the air. The match was a chore to watch and, evidently, a chore to play.
Peterborough were slow to start and looked every inch a League One side. But when our opening goal was out of the way they broke out of their chains and had a real go.
We defended both wings poorly, inviting attack, and our own advances were all too frequently into blind alleys and cul-de-sacs.
It was a non-event, sodden by teeming rain and further dampened with bickering and poor performances across the board.
But it was three points.
Everything is pointing towards another season in the Championship, but as long as Billy is at the helm there remains a distinct possibility that something ridiculous will happen.
His sides invariably have that ballistic capability.
He’s a miserable bugger and needs to stop moaning. But after all, the world does revolve around him...
Ratings:
Camp – 8 – a string of excellent saves to keep us in the match
Gunter – 6.5 – scrappy and got forward often, but he was too easy to pass at times.
Morgan – 7.5 – bison-esque, including trying to head a ball that was literally on the ground. The striker’s foot just bounced off his chops.
Wilson – 7.5 – a solid performance.
Perch – 6 – oh well, we’ll have to sign a left back on loan then... I wouldn’t be surprised if the outward hobble was scripted.
Anderson – 7.5 – at times he was our only outlet, despite having to feed on scraps.
Moussi – 6 – did a fairly good job of keeping things ticking over, but under Billy he seems to have been put on the leash. The livewire 75-yard crosses and miraculous wriggles have been replaced by an altogether more sensible Moose. I’m not sure I like it.
Majewski – 7.5 – always had a pass ready. Another individually competent performance in a midfield system that flopped. He and Moussi were too far apart, but he had a good game.
Cohen – 7 – the usual blood, guts and thunder.
Blackstock – 7 – a handful throughout, but no cutting edge.
Earnshaw – 7 – lively enough, stunted by his selfishness at times but he notched the winner.
Subs:
Chambers – 6
McCleary – 7
Adebola – 6.5
Saturday 6 March 2010
Beautifully Fickle
Of all the people.
You could almost see the knowing smirk filling Chambers’ chops as the cross sailed by the goalkeeper and landed on his forehead.
A long afternoon of clubbing balls into the stand and wrong-footing himself were forgotten in a second. Football at its best.
The unadulterated rage of the Swansea supporters still mourning the penalty decision was the icing on the cake. When I calmed down after three minutes of screaming I expected a further five of clinging for dear life.
But there were no such tribulations.
The game seemed to end a few seconds later and the job was done. And what an important job it may prove to be.
Every time I unfurl the white flag and brace for the play-offs Billy pulls another rabbit from his magic hat, sparking butterflies and wild thoughts.
West Brom are Championship heavyweights with a deep and proficient squad which should, at face value, have no problem storming over the line.
Newcastle, all of a sudden, are on a different planet.
Forest have a threadbare squad, minus a captain, with League One footballers stepping off the bench and plunging thousands of feet into an alien promotion charge.
Exactly one week ago the writing was on the wall, now Billy’s scrubbed it off again and anything seems possible - injuries or not.
Silly season is well and truly underway, and it makes a nice change for us to be at the sharp end of it.
Ratings:
Camp – 6 – a few dodgy clearances and an otherwise quiet afternoon.
Gunter – 7.5 – a spirited performance; dug in at the back and surged forward with real determination.
Chambers – 6 – not a defensive masterclass. If Wilson is out for weeks not days it will be a grave concern. But his goal could prove vital.
Morgan – 7 – found Kuqi a handful, but kept him quiet overall.
Cohen - 7 – better than Perch, but with McKenna crocked he may be needed elsewhere.
Anderson – 6.5 – let down by his failure to take on the last man. Again.
McKenna - /
Moussi – 6 – needs a water-carrier to set him loose, he isn’t a ‘midfield general’.
Boyd – 7 – flashes of excellence but there’s more to come.
Majewski – 6.5 – bewildered in the floating role, but fed on scraps and thrived in the 10 minutes before he was subbed.
Blackstock – 7 – did an important but thankless job of leading the line alone.
Subs:
McGugan – 6.5 – sloppy at times but he grew into the performance.
McGoldrick – 7
McCleary - 7
You could almost see the knowing smirk filling Chambers’ chops as the cross sailed by the goalkeeper and landed on his forehead.
A long afternoon of clubbing balls into the stand and wrong-footing himself were forgotten in a second. Football at its best.
The unadulterated rage of the Swansea supporters still mourning the penalty decision was the icing on the cake. When I calmed down after three minutes of screaming I expected a further five of clinging for dear life.
But there were no such tribulations.
The game seemed to end a few seconds later and the job was done. And what an important job it may prove to be.
Every time I unfurl the white flag and brace for the play-offs Billy pulls another rabbit from his magic hat, sparking butterflies and wild thoughts.
West Brom are Championship heavyweights with a deep and proficient squad which should, at face value, have no problem storming over the line.
Newcastle, all of a sudden, are on a different planet.
Forest have a threadbare squad, minus a captain, with League One footballers stepping off the bench and plunging thousands of feet into an alien promotion charge.
Exactly one week ago the writing was on the wall, now Billy’s scrubbed it off again and anything seems possible - injuries or not.
Silly season is well and truly underway, and it makes a nice change for us to be at the sharp end of it.
Ratings:
Camp – 6 – a few dodgy clearances and an otherwise quiet afternoon.
Gunter – 7.5 – a spirited performance; dug in at the back and surged forward with real determination.
Chambers – 6 – not a defensive masterclass. If Wilson is out for weeks not days it will be a grave concern. But his goal could prove vital.
Morgan – 7 – found Kuqi a handful, but kept him quiet overall.
Cohen - 7 – better than Perch, but with McKenna crocked he may be needed elsewhere.
Anderson – 6.5 – let down by his failure to take on the last man. Again.
McKenna - /
Moussi – 6 – needs a water-carrier to set him loose, he isn’t a ‘midfield general’.
Boyd – 7 – flashes of excellence but there’s more to come.
Majewski – 6.5 – bewildered in the floating role, but fed on scraps and thrived in the 10 minutes before he was subbed.
Blackstock – 7 – did an important but thankless job of leading the line alone.
Subs:
McGugan – 6.5 – sloppy at times but he grew into the performance.
McGoldrick – 7
McCleary - 7
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