Davies: We will turn things around
BILLY Davies today said he expects to shoulder the blame for Nottingham Forest's Championship struggle, but insisted: "I am confident we will turn things around."
The Reds are looking to halt a run of six games without a win when they travel to face promotion chasing Reading tomorrow.
And, as manager, Davies admits he is responsible for inspiring a change in fortunes.
But he says there are positives to be taken from their recent performances and is convinced Forest will avoid the drop.
"I would blame the manager (for the recent run), he is the one that picks the team," he said. "I am the manager and all managers take the blame. My job is to get results on the park and, at this moment in time, we are not getting results.
"So if I was a fan, I would turn my anger on the manager, the man who picks the team.
"I am a winner, I'm disappointed and annoyed that we're being beaten. I'm concerned with the softness that runs through this side, with the way we have lost matches. But there have been lots of positives in the matches, lots of good spells."
In the meantime, Davies is ready to face public criticism and says having a thick skin is part of football management. "I know I am a public figure, I expect stick, I expect some fans to dislike me, I expect all of that," he said. "It is not a surprise, it does not change my philosophy. I am not being arrogant when I say that.
"But I am going to do the best job I can and I am confident about what we are doing.
"Even the top managers need the resources and, without resources, life becomes more difficult."
Davies says he found himself in identical situations at Preton and Derby.
"Is this the first flak I have had in football? I had flak in my first week at Preston," he said. "I had flak at Derby, too, when I first took over.
"After the first week at Preston I was Billy 'Who?' when they wanted a different manager, a man with more experience and more of a track record.
"But they were not saying that two years later after the second play-off final.
"It was the same at Derby, when we lost the first two or three games. They did not say the same thing at the end of the season, when they were £100m richer (because of promotion to the Premiership).
"I am very patient, I am very focused and very realistic. I will work very hard in the short term, to keep the club in the division.
"After that we will work on what needs to be done to guide this club to play-off finals and hopefully to promotion."
122 Comments
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by alwaysared, nottingham
Saturday, February 28 2009, 2:22AM
“rich nz,
firstly i live i long eaton so not what itthat far from sia.
i agree that it would be better red but it it is what is.
i lived in nelson for 2 years and then wellington for 1 year. i had a great time there and to be honest would move back there at the drop of a hat.
i was playing football out there.
but more pressing things at the moment is the state of our beloved reds.what do you think?”
by Mark, Mapperley
Saturday, February 28 2009, 12:28AM
“The fact we have to accept defeat to Reading ( who the f@ck are Reading )should shock every Forest fan to there foundations, what ever the reason it is surely shocking we have to worry about a home counties town that mainly support Chelsea !”
by Mark, Mapperley
Saturday, February 28 2009, 12:07AM
“Donny beat the sheep at home, it would mean next to nothing to Donny, we play them twice and they turn us over,we need some b@llls”
by Billy, Preston, ah meen Darrrby, ah mee Notts Koontae
Friday, February 27 2009, 10:31PM
“Am sick a ye wee scunners callin me oot fa nae bayin enni guid new talent. The shait we got is planti guidnuff n buggenuff fer steein in thas league an the chairmans a greet guy. But the skwords orfal depleted rait nauw an fulla bairns an wi kanna win nuthin an the wee shait er a chairman iz az meen az skort wi mae hanz. Sa dinna ye kip greeting on abbae ma tee cos ah luv all the fans a Notts Farrest.”
by jay tabb uncle, kettering
Friday, February 27 2009, 10:30PM
“right you reds fans tomorro we are goin to get slaughtered at reading so here guys if jay tabb starts the game take him to score first goal should get a good price so you can all have a good drink tomoro night he always scores on his debute”
by Rog, Tupton
Friday, February 27 2009, 10:01PM
“"Shame we cant sack fans with no faith or trust in the manager who has experience in taking a club into the premiership."??? If we sack fans with no faith or trust in the manager, there will be nobody attending the matches. "...experience in taking a club into the Premiership."?? Buying a load of old has been Championship players for inflated prices and expecting them to perform a miracle? Leaving the sheep with the heap sh** on a spurious row with the board?? Is this some kind of joke? I think I'll go and get legless with Dougie Bader, Dougie Bulwell and the three Dougie Arnolds. It's the only way I'll feel better. Yew Red Dougies.”
by michael, lincs
Friday, February 27 2009, 10:00PM
“If Davies has said all he has meant to he is starting to sound very arrogant. do the talking on the pitch,i do genuinly think he will keep us up then in the play offs!”
by James, Chesterfield
Friday, February 27 2009, 9:27PM
“Super Reds and Liam are talking nonsense. Billy Davies will drag Forest to even lower depths than they are in at the moment. Support your team by all means but you cannot support someone who only looks after his own interests-and manages to do that as badly as he does everything else. Get real and see things as they are rarther than what that what you would dearly wish them to be.”
by Liam, Cambridge
Friday, February 27 2009, 8:52PM
“Christ there are a lot of morons on this board. Wanting Davies to be sacked already? At least he has the guts to confirm what a shambles this club is. If we go down but he ruffles enough feathers to get things changed at the top, that'll be a great result as far as I'm concerned. I also don't believe doughty is the main problem. I think he is a bit naive with football matters and knows this and so has entrusted things with Arthur. Sadly he cannot see Arthur is clearly incompetent. If Davies helps him see this, hallelujah.
Give Davies time and I am confident he will be the best thing to happen to this club for a long time.”
by Super reds, Nottm
Friday, February 27 2009, 8:20PM
“true forest fans should be patient and back billy davies 110% Idiots wanting him sacked after 7 weeks dont know what they are talking about.Billy's experience will not only get us the players in to keep us up but he will bring some quality to the squad in the summer.Shame we cant sack fans with no faith or trust in the manager who has experience in taking a club into the premiership.”