Forest boss Davies backs Earnie to banish away-day blues
ROBERT Earnshaw will start the new season with a clean slate when it comes to being involved away from home, Nottingham Forest manager Billy Davies said today.
The striker was rarely used away from the City Ground last season, with Davies believing the Welsh international lacked the work-rate to fit into Forest's more defensive ethos on their travels.
But Earnshaw – whose 17 goals last season only included three away from home, where he was mainly a substitute – was included on the opening day at Burnley and was unlucky not to earn a share of the spoils with a driven shot that hit the post.
And, having been impressed by his attitude and fitness levels during pre-season, Davies says Earnshaw will have the chance to cement a place in the side, home and away.
Earnshaw was on international duty with Wales in midweek but will return to face Leeds on Sunday.
"Every season you start with a blank sheet of paper," said Davies. "People come back in pre-season with a different approach and with a different body shape.
"Their body fat ratios can be less, their fitness can be better. And, every summer, you start afresh with those things.
"You give everyone the chance to stamp their authority on the team. Earnie has come back and he has worked very, very hard."
Earnshaw became a father towards the end of last season and Davies believes that has had a positive influence.
"There is no doubt that having a baby has settled him down," said Davies.
"And, with the extra work we have put in and the conversations I have had with him, we are seeing a great reaction."
And Davies hopes to see the same attitude from all his squad in the coming weeks.
"You get paid to contribute and you are paid to go and do your job," he said.
"Whether that is to keep a clean sheet, to make tackles in midfield, put balls into the box or score goals, you have to do your job. You need that from every member of your squad."
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by Marco, The Ropewalk
Friday, August 13 2010, 5:07PM
“Finally Billy has realised that you can lead the line superbly even if u are not 6 foot tall! (a la Sharp and Lita!) - Earnie is BY FAR our best player in terms of ability - in fact, sometimes his thinking is way ahead of some of our other players in terms of his movement and short passing upfront.
I've been banging on about this for ages but Earnie needs to start EVERY game he's available for - Blackstock has already shown at the end of last season and the start of this that he's not a proper goalscorer and we all know about the deficiencies of Tyson, Adebola etc in front of goal.
What we could do with now is somebody to put real pressure on Blackstock to perform as I do actually quite like the guy but he's never going to get you 20 goals - Scotland (although quite old) would have been a snip at this level for 750k - there may not have been any resaleable value with him (one of the AP's considerations) but he would have given us a two-pronged strikeforce instead of just Earnie.
Ross McCormack (who we were after before he went to Cardiff) would be another good option - but looks as is Ipswich are going to snaffle him too.
It's about time our "Acquistions Panel" were renamed "the Panel" - as they don't seem to make any acquisitions!”
by phil, swansea
Friday, August 13 2010, 8:24AM
“hurry up forest sign pratley so we can get someone in to take his place”
by paul, arnold
Friday, August 13 2010, 6:16AM
“but they have said he is worth more to them for one more season then 1.25m now. and risk losing him for free. dont know how he will play for another season when he knows he will be leaving. we got 1.5m for perch, why dont we just use that money and put it all up front.”
by Posh Red, Peterborough
Thursday, August 12 2010, 11:02PM
“All Seeing Eye, Psychic Ville,
Tomorrow lunchtime then, right?
We'll see then if you really are psychic or just another Crazy!
I suspect the latter.”
by they're not in a position to dictate terns, and pratley just forced their hand anyway
Thursday, August 12 2010, 10:50PM
“It's defo true that pratleys had failed contract talks with swansea in the last 48houirs. So watch this space. Does'nt mean he's coming, does'nt mean he's coming now......but whatever happens i dont think he's staying with them long term and there's nobody else sniffing around him like we have been. If they've got any sense, they will deal now or they WILL lose him for free, depite all the feet stamping and huffing and puffing. They know it too, thats what all the feet stamping is about.”
by All Seeing Eye,, PsychicVille
Thursday, August 12 2010, 10:47PM
“Notice how it's gone quiet on the Whittingham front...There's a good reason for that: Whittingham to be unveiled as a RED tomorrow lunchtime...”
by Come on you reds, notts
Thursday, August 12 2010, 10:35PM
“Well we will at least get some players in Jan if what you say is true Posh Red but it will probably be too late again and we will fizzle out in a lackluster way again without promotion”
by Posh Red, Peterborough
Thursday, August 12 2010, 10:34PM
“No sh!t Dean?”
by dean, Nottingham
Thursday, August 12 2010, 10:30PM
“Swansea City have confirmed Darren Pratley has broken off contract talks and the midfielder may now be allowed to run down his current deal.”
by Posh Red, Peterborough
Thursday, August 12 2010, 10:10PM
“Ghostman and The Future's Bright,
I truly hope I'm not right.
I've sided with ND and the panel all the way through but I've now got this feeling of dread.
All the signs are there.
Other teams are signing up left, right and centre. The morning papers are full of transfer news.
The season is now under way and, apart from one loan signing - which isn't even for a full season - not a sniff for Forest.
Both Pratley and Whittingham were ours for the asking if we had offered realistic amounts.
But oh no, let's screw them.
Well that worked, didn't it!!”