Billy Davies tells Lewis McGugan to focus on performances and put contract talks on back burner
BILLY Davies has told Lewis McGugan to focus on helping Nottingham Forest into the Championship play-offs – and put his contract concerns to one side until the summer.
The in-form midfielder found the net as the Reds beat Ipswich and Wolves last week, to extend their winning run to five games.
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Lewis McGugan
But McGugan is also the last of the key players at the City Ground who is set to see his contract expire at the end of the campaign.
Dexter Blackstock, Chris Cohen and Radi Majewski have all signed long-term deals during the course of the season.
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But, while he is hopeful of retaining McGugan's services in the long term, Davies wants the 24-year-old to focus on maintaining his improving form on the pitch.
And, with loan signings Gonzalo Jara and Elliott Ward and Darius Henderson, who is on a short-term contract, also looking to earn a long-term future at the club, Davies hopes McGugan will not be the only player motivated to maintain their performance levels.
"McGugan has a great deal to offer us and I have had a chat with him," said Davies, who has praised the midfielder for his fitness levels since returning for a second spell as manager.
"His contract is up in the summer but I have told him to focus on games, focus on doing well and we will take care of the contract situation at the end of the season.
"That applies to one or two other guys as well, because we have five loan players here.
"The only focus for everyone is just to do as well as we can in the remaining nine games."
McGugan has started 159 games for Forest since coming through the youth ranks, while making 64 substitute appearances and scoring 40 goals.
In the meantime, Davies believes the spirit in the dressing room – and the goalscoring form of McGugan and the rest of the Forest midfield – can be an important factor as the Reds look to maintain their outstanding form under the Scotsman.
"There is no complacency, because I am long enough in the tooth to know that you can soon lose a couple of games quickly," he said.
"But when you get that spirit that we have, then you are always going to be pleased.
"Because of the shape we are playing, we have to get more goals from Radi Majewski, Henri Lansbury and the others. The situation has encouraged them to get forward more.
"We have changed the training around slightly as well, we have put a few more demands on our midfielders and that has been important. It would be nice to get the strikers scoring goals.
"The midfielders have responded brilliantly."
18 Comments
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by MichaelKeaton
Wednesday, March 13 2013, 4:19PM
“Cactus:
I am not with you. Are you suggesting that as Forest did not pay a transfer fee for him that he has no asset value and therefore there can be no loss? What about the capitalised cost of his years of development and training? What about his current value (whatever that might be) being dissipated? What about the cost of buying a replacement (an avoidable opportunity cost)? Whichever way you look at it there is indeed an economic loss.”
by Parvared
Wednesday, March 13 2013, 8:43AM
“BrindersGod:
Your'e posts are exactly why I continue to have a dig at you and the usual Anti-Billy/Fawaz Gang (figaro, M15, plainsman, Bomdia, the loony redsong etc). The lot of you are just willing the club to fail.
However, I'm loving your misery!!”
by DazRed
Wednesday, March 13 2013, 7:18AM
“McGugan does have talent but his atitude has been questioned, i think if he goes we have lost a good player but hes not consistent for years people have said he has potential but hes 24 now he should be the completed product now but hes not, Billy will brig the best out of him but it doesnt last very long, a good impact player yes, starter no.”
by DazRed
Wednesday, March 13 2013, 7:17AM
“McGugan does have talent but his atitude has been questioned, i think if he goes we have lost a good player but hes not consistent for years people have said he has potential but hes 24 now he should be the completed product now but hes not, Billy will brig the best out of him but it doesnt last very long, a good impact player yes, starter no.”
by HueyTheNoose
Wednesday, March 13 2013, 12:29AM
“Great to hear Fawaz's ambition for our club. He has done fantastically well to get rid of the dead wood at the City Ground, and I can't thank him enough. Of course, most of us knew were the problems lay, some others couldn't see the Wood for the Trees, and thought the likes of Arthur were doing a great job (seriously!). Thankfully, a few of those posters on here that used to vilify Fawaz and Billy, have come around and realised (or admitted) that actually they got it very wrong, and they are really both very good for our club. Well done to them. But it is a great shame that the likes of Brinders and PosPaul can't bring themselves to just accept that we have a very good owner, and a very good manager. And most importantly of all a club that is looking to the future and not worrying about whether we can survive another year in the Championship.
Onwards and definitely Upwards with Fawaz and Billy.”
by Craigwigan
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 10:06PM
“GREAT RESULTS TONIGHT IN FOREST FAVOUR
THE TEAMS ARE NOW STARTING TO BOTTLE IT
HOPE BILLY AS LEARNT FROM SWANS AND BLACKPOOL”
by Stoney0191
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 9:53PM
“Brinders ,,Pratt,,”
by Castus
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 6:52PM
“Michaelkeaton: you can't lose players you've brought through your academy for free can you?”
by AncientRed
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 2:49PM
“Anybody else see Fawaz's interview on SSN yesterday? Heading for the Champion's League in 4/5 years apparently. Hope his cheque book's full!”
by BrindersGod
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 1:12PM
“What a lot of people is missing is the game play between players, agents and clubs nowadays.
Often, it will go like this: Player in last year of his contract will say 'I'd love to stay .....etc etc' but one way or another talks don't get off the ground. What he's doing is a bit of marketing because he knows - particularly it at the stage of his career at Lewis is - he will have more options if his contract runs out such as higher wages as no transfer fee etc and a big signing on fee. He or more realistically his agent will then play off one club against another for the best deal. That's the way of the world even among players who kiss the badge.
All clubs will have a reasonable proportion of their players out of contract at the end of the season - not just Forest. That's one way in which we were able to re-equip our depleted squad in the summer.
There are more players than ever these days moving on frees and on loan because clubs don't have the resources to dish out large transfer fees at our level or below. But is it really good business to commit ourselves to Dexter Blackstock, good player and character though he undoubtedly is, for 4.5 years? If we get up this year, will he be any more than an occasional player in the Premier League?
Get promoted and Lewis and his agent will be knocking down our door, don't worry about that!
As for Reidy, I thought he had a 3-year deal. Pretty sure her's not out of contract in summer but when he is he'll be very lucky to get another 2-year offer.”