Birtles: Billy can be the best since Clough
NORMALLY, I can make my way around the supermarket without any fuss.
It is not as if I am David Beckham. I don't normally attract crowds of people.
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Garry Birtles
I am not usually hounded by autograph hunters.
But this week, as I wandered along the aisles, I had five or six different people eager to talk to me.
All of them were enthusiastic Forest fans and all of them had one thing to ask.
Is Billy Davies the best manager the club has had since Brian Clough?
At the time, I wasn't really sure what to answer.
But the more I think about it, the more I start to believe that, if he isn't already then – given time – he certainly could be.
There are some big shoes to fill, after all.
I am not talking about Clough here – and let's be clear, there is a long way to go before Billy can be mentioned in the same breath as him.
But let us not forget what was achieved under Frank Clark.
In the immediate aftermath of Cloughie, what Frank did may not have seemed too fantastic.
But to finish third in the top flight in 1994/95 was no mean feat. Nor was getting to the quarter-finals of the Uefa Cup the following season.
Billy's immediate task is identical to Frank's – to steer Forest back into the top flight.
And what is encouraging the fans so much at the moment is not just the fact that he seems to be surging towards that goal, but the manner in which Forest are blowing the opposition away.
They are playing some outstanding, entertaining football.
Today, they will be hoping to do that again in a trip to Pride Park for an East Midlands derby of epic proportions.
Unfortunately, things will not be as cut and dried as the form book might suggest.
Derby will be a tough nut to crack.
Forest, without question, have the qualities to do it.
On their day, they can beat anyone in the Championship. At their best, they can do so easily.
They have proved that already, as Davies has shaped them into a team capable of winning promotion.
Equally importantly, he may have laid a good foundation for their survival if they do make the top flight.
Such a foundation will be crucial.
Today they face a Derby side that, only a few weeks ago, had 14 players sidelined with injury.
Depending on Wes Morgan's fitness, Forest are likely to have only Julian Bennett sat in the stands through injury at Pride Park.
They have been remarkably fortunate with injuries.
But it will not last.
Which is why the club must throw their weight behind the manager now.
They will not find a better man to lead a promotion push and they will not have a better opportunity.
This is it.
When Paul Hart guided Forest to the play-offs in 2002/03, they had a fantastic opportunity to build.
Instead, the squad was dismantled the following season, which was the start of a steady demise.
I hope they do not make the same mistake again.
With the addition of three or perhaps just two new signings over the next few days, Forest can send out a double message.
Firstly, that they mean business and intend to take their promotion fight to the wire.
And secondly, that they have faith in their manager's judgment.
I understand the principles and the logic behind the acquisitions panel.
Forest have been stung in the past when they have put their faith in a manager's judgment in the transfer market.
But Billy has surely earned that trust now.
His belief is that Forest need more strength in depth.
Why not listen to him and give him what he wants?
Darren Pratley would be a good signing, as would Victor Moses.
Signing either would be a key message of intent.
But they should be making a real effort to get Nicky Shorey back on loan and to tie up Raddy Majewski on a permanent deal.
Billy could be the best manager since Clough.
But he needs support if he is to fulfil that potential.
12 Comments
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by Gazza.Reddog, 3rd & still potetial CHAMPIONS
Thursday, February 04 2010, 1:30PM
“I guess Mr Birtles read my email yesterday ,as i commented on how he always seems to be intent on being very negative about Forest , it makes a refreshing change to hear somthing positive for once,after all WE ARE STILL POTENTIAL CHAMPIONS”
by Ady, Derbyshire
Sunday, January 31 2010, 11:09PM
“Frank Clark had to rebuild after losing:Clough, Charles, Keane, Sheringham, Walker and bought: Collymore, Cooper, Lyttle, Philips, Bohinen & Roy and all this in the shadow of Sir Brian.”
by Ady, Derbyshire
Sunday, January 31 2010, 10:34PM
“Truth is Arnold, Billy was trying to steer his assistant away from the pitch after the melee involving the foolish McEveley & Gunter.”
by derbydan, blackpool
Sunday, January 31 2010, 9:38PM
“how could you even mention billy's name in the same sentance as cloughie frankly i think its utter tosh yes billy can perform well at this level as most managers would do with the amount of cash he has spent but best since clough?? have a word will ya”
by a, b
Sunday, January 31 2010, 4:48PM
“I think the NEP should take actions against your silly little post. Enjoy the 3 points cos thats all it is - its not like you''ve stopped us from getting promotion or dragged yourselves way back up the table with that result. I expect that you'll crow for weeks over this result whereas we're already thinking about sheff wednesday and the promotion that beckons at the end of our season.
I wonder what beckons for you at the end of yours....”
by Billiy is a Silly little Man, Arnold
Sunday, January 31 2010, 11:10AM
“Brian Clough never liked defeat but was always gracious. Unlike little Billy who refused to shake Nigel¿s hand after yesterday¿s game. The FA should take action against him and Forest for these unnecessary actions”
by Romanis, London
Saturday, January 30 2010, 8:28PM
“Always nice to see a former player showing interest in the club.
Birtles is right, Davies needs to be given time and a free rein.
1 thing that has always been a troubling mainstay at the club, in the 30 years I've followed them, is that we always dismantle our good teams pretty quick.
True some players stay on like forever, Chettle, Pearce etc, but the composition would be different every season. Even the great Clough did that. He was too quick to sell players like Woodcock, Withe, Robbo, Shilton, Francis etc. if that 78-80 team stayed on a bit longer, I was pretty sure we'd have won something in the early 80s.
So it continued under Clark, (Roy, Collymore etc), Basett and Hart. I know some were enforced because of financial needs, but again it showed how fragile a good team is.
Also patience must be provided for the manager. I still think we were hasty in ditching Hart and Megson, although correct with Calderwood.
However Davies does appear to be different to them, in the way he shapes and prepares his team.
He does seem to control the dressing room, enforce discipline and confident in his job.
He mustn't be pushed aside if things go awry and should be backed sufficiently that he won't be tempted to move on before his mission is completed here.
Most of all, we must try to hold on to the current team and the players he wants for as long as possible, and not sell simply to profit, unless suitable replacements are likely to come.
And where possible, players he wants should be brought in, if the price is reasonable.
If this is how we approach it, then as Birtles puts it, Davies has an excellent chance of being remembered as the best manager since Clough, when his time here ends.”
by mickydooflop, mistysideofthetrent
Saturday, January 30 2010, 11:09AM
“FRANK;
Spot-On matey! I think Billy has had a very simlar job to that of Cloughie when he came to Forest!
We were strugling to stay In the old 2nd div, & looked to be going nowhere but DOWN! Billy has got stuck straight In & done It his way, + the fact that he has a fantastic team of guy's at his side just like old big-ed!
God weve had some absolute crap manager's & Ive got to say Nigel Doughty has been very nieve In that area, he must have dropped a Boll**K when he thought of Billy cus there's no-way he would know what we were all In for! the rest as they say Is quickly becomming history!
In "KING BILLY" we trust! U REDS! U REDS!”
by parko, sherwood
Saturday, January 30 2010, 10:59AM
“apex, whats with the negativity? seriously, theres no pleasing some people. if you can't be happy when your clubs flying high in the league, beating top teams and doing it in style when can you be happy?
if we don't make a signing deal with it, it's not the end of the world, we've got this far haven't we? i do agree we need a couple more people, but dont start being so negeative now.. you should be cheering the fact we're doing so well, getting behind Forest and supporting them..
look, if we balls it up, we balls it up, but deal with it then. at the minute we're untouchable so do me a favour, stop moaning and start cheering!”
by apex, nottingham
Saturday, January 30 2010, 9:44AM
“I will be surprised if we sign a single player..we will also lose out on Shorey and Majewski at the end of the season....
The AP did brilliantly before the season started...but that was then this is now!! I can see Billy leaving us, what a shame, this is the best chance we have had for years to get back and the club are going to balls it up..”