I’d have never thought we’d be sat 4th in October. Two points off top, one point of Auto’s and after Saturday, a quarter of the season gone.
Unbeaten in nine, we match up against Brentford as follows:
Last Six:
Forest - DWWWDW
Brentford - DWDLWL
Three of this seasons away losses for them have come against Leeds, Charlton and Preston. Sandwiched between an early win at Boro and a recent win at Barnsley. An impressive performance which saw Watkins score 3 headers.
In their most recent game they drew at home to an injury ravaged Bristol City. A curling effort midway through the second half being enough to secure a point after City equalised late.
Eight of their twelve points have come in their last five games, so they have a bit of form. However, they only have that 1 point from anyone in the top half.
We’re more than capable of winning this. Hopefully we line up like this:
v Brentford (H)
——————
Samba
Cash WRL Figueiredo Ribierio
Sow Watson
Lolley Carvalho Ameobi
Grabban
Muric Chema Robinson Semedo Silva Adamoah Mir
Plus:
* Milosevic Bostock Johnson
Injured:
* Darikwa Jenkinson Benalouane Dawson Yates
Prediction:
Forest to win 2-1
I think the subs will make the difference. Adamoah, Semedo and Silva coming on to hold out for the three points.
Int. Break League Position:
The teams above us all have winnable games, so whilst not a must-win for us, a win will see us 3rd, as one of the teams above us doesn’t take maximum points.
Forest v Brentford - Match Thread
posted on 6/10/19
I think we have a really good chance of the playoffs as things stand. Lack of goals is the only blot on the landscape. Keeper looks top class for this division; Jenks, Dawson, and Robinson not in the back line but we are still rock solid. Watson and Sow provide excellent protection, with Bostock and Semedo to come in if required. The back sevens performances have meant we haven't needed to score many to get a result. However we do need a bit more quality and firepower in the final third, and cover for Lewis Grabban.
If we can have a good January window we will have a chance of automatics.
Couple of weeks for rest, recovery, and fine tuning and we should come back firing on all cylinders.
posted on 6/10/19
Atleast with our recent defensive performances were always in the mix for atleast a point, and that gives licence for our attacking players to both play freely and without pressure. I remember -was it under psycho? - where we ‘Needed’ to score because the defence was leaky but the pressure involved in keeping that system going eventually buckled the team and we collapsed.
Carvalho did struggle though, but he was on the wing with only grabban holding the line, lolley was playing it quiet safe until the last ten so there wasn’t much to play to. He would of flourished coming on with ameobi and Adomah.
We’re spoilt for attacking options for our front 4, all play with different styles, and all put in a shift to the point of being interchangeable. Make us very hard to defend against.
posted on 6/10/19
https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/football/teams/nottingham-forest/11828311/nottingham-forest-1-0-brentford
posted on 6/10/19
Can’t fault Watson. He is showing the quality that saw him play all those years in the Prem for Palace, Watford and Wigan. Lamouchi is feeling the benefit but I’ve no doubt Karanka and O’Neill envisaged him doing something similar for their teams. Think the work Sow does is a major factor in allowing Watson to concentrate on his own game more and not be overworked in the centre of midfield. The goals are the icing on the cake. Sign of a player really at ease with his role in the side. 👏🏼
posted on 6/10/19
Heard lots of moans and groans from Bees fans online. Fact is, Forest have become so adept at defending their penalty area, you have to produce something special (WBA) or a fluke (Stoke’s first goal) to score past Samba at the moment.
posted on 6/10/19
Can’t remember a Forest side as defensively solid as this since Frank Clark’s boys who had Crossley in goal with Lytton, Cooper, Chettle and Pearce across the back with David Phillips, at a similar stage of his career as Watson, screening them. It’s a worthy comparison at the moment, I reckon.
posted on 6/10/19
Should read Lyttle, of course. A top right back and lovely bloke when he did a night at the Southbank a few years ago.
posted on 6/10/19
Tyler’s on fire, the Mackems were terrified!
https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/11828522/lincoln-2-0-sunderland
posted on 6/10/19
Sorry Michael Appleton but surely a recall in Jan is the plan. He is looking very accomplished in my eyes. He is working the keeper more often than not. He is looking strong and timing his runs into the box really well judging by the two goals.
posted on 6/10/19
Could be a real ace in the pack for Lamouchi in the tight games that will come in the New Year as the pitches start to get heavy.