Forest can end away day hoodoo - if they convert their chances, insists Davies
NOTTINGHAM Forest will end their away day hoodoo – once they start converting their numerous chances.
That was the confident message today from Reds boss Billy Davies, as his side travel to Reading hoping to bring an end to a run of 12 away games – stretching back to a 1-0 defeat at Derby in January – without a win in the Championship.
Forest suffered a 1-0 loss on the opening day of the new campaign at Burnley. But Davies is convinced that the Reds are playing well – and that the simple addition of some cutting edge will get them back to the kind of form that saw them go 19 games unbeaten prior to that Pride Park reversal.
"It would be nice to get that hoodoo broken, with the way things are going for us away from home," said Davies.
"The performances have generally been quite good, we have deserved a lot more.
"But, for whatever reason, we have not picked up the breaks away from home that we deserved.
"The problem is clearly that we have lacked a little quality and composure in front of goal, which would help us to kill teams off.
"If we can take our chances, we will be fine.
"And I am sure we will create a lot of chances with the players we have got."
Davies says Forest do not need to change their approach or their attitude as they prepare for a trip to the Madejski Stadium.
"The approach is still very much the same, we have not changed anything in training," he said. "It has not been a (mental) problem, I would not say. When you are playing well and putting teams under pressure, it is not a problem. You just try to keep doing what you have been doing."
Davies does admit, however, that the spectre of speculation will continue to be a distraction until the transfer window closes at the end of the month, as he looks to end his traditional managerial habit of making a slow start to the campaign.
"You can do your job when you have a recognised group of players ready to work together," he said. "At the moment there are still ten days left until the transfer window closes and there are still comings and goings, possibly.
"There is lots of disruption with regard to speculation."
Davies says there has been no further contact from West Ham over keeper Paul Smith, following his trial at Upton Park.
"We have heard nothing about it," he said. "He is back with us. We just have to wait and see what develops."
42 Comments
View all
by Hulk, Nottingham
Sunday, August 22 2010, 12:15PM
“Yeah mate but we still finished 22 points clear of your lot so how rubbish are you ?”
by Patrick E Tree, Nottingham
Sunday, August 22 2010, 12:13PM
“Tricky
I'm sure Billy does his best to lift his players confidence, but when certain members of the team keep making silly mistakes or blasting the ball over the crossbar from a few yards (repeatedly), surely that means they are not good enough. I was at work yesterday and listened to two seperate radio stations and both the commentators used the word 'fantastic' to describe the football Forest were playing. At the top level, finishing is a lot more clinical. Teams convert a greater majority of their chances. We have to be able to do that. Post match, Chris Cohen was interviewed and even he said that we need additions to the squad. I'm slightly confident that we'll get one of our targets by the end of the month, although reading between the lines of Billys comments yesterday (the club has to decide on valuations and personal terms of transfer targets) it would seem the agents of said players are cranking up the pressure!
As for this ridiculous speculation about Martin O'Neill, well I'm always wary about former heroes returning in management roles. Martin has just left Aston Villa allegedly because he was not getting enough money to spend. Why on earth would he want to come here and have to deal with 'the panel'? U Reds!!!”
by Paul, Sheep Land
Sunday, August 22 2010, 11:19AM
“and the away form fell away when we kick the s''T out of you little boys at the big Ground
Even our manager joined in and gave Davies a good kicking !!”
by bblockbilly, nott'm
Sunday, August 22 2010, 10:20AM
“graham, old news”
by graham, beechdale
Sunday, August 22 2010, 9:40AM
“Martin O'Neill could be in line for a shock return to management with former club Nottingham Forest.”
by Stenners, Leeds
Sunday, August 22 2010, 9:20AM
“Camp - quality
Wilson - not good enough at top level
Wes - not good enough at top level
Gunter - quality
Chambo - never given a run in the centre of defense
Bertrand - too early to say
Chris Cohen - not good enough...can't pass it
McKenna - rumbled by opposition now
Majevski - light weight - Lewis better in long run
McGugan - needs to buckle down
Moose - can go missing but ok
Blackstock - not enough return
Ernie - will always score at this level provided he doesn't have time to think about it
Billy was right all last season up to January - we are not good enough to go up.
Ando - no end product.”
by HI HO WE HATE, DERBY!!!
Sunday, August 22 2010, 9:05AM
“exactly a pie an pint
PLEAT -OUT
MARTHUR-OUT
DAVIES-OUT
DOUGHTY-OUT (UNLESS HE PULLS HIS HAND OUT HIS POCKET)
PETER WHITTINGHAM-IN (PROBABLY IMPPOSSIBLE TO GET HIM NOW, WELL DONE AP)
A QUALITY STRIKER-IN (JASON SCOTLAND PERHAPS)
A QUALITY CB
MARTIN O'NEILL OR IAN HOLLOWAY-IN
A RICH INVESTOR-IN (FU*K NOWS WHO)
anyone who believes davies is the best manger at this level is a idiot cleary it's holloway. people might say i,m a part-time supporter but i can assure you i haven't missed a league game in over 3 seasons and just want my team to get promoted.
IM FOREST TILL I DIE!!!!!!!!!!”
by A Pie An A Pint, U.E.N
Sunday, August 22 2010, 8:58AM
“Billy Daives has recently siad again that we NEED more players ( and so has EVERY SINGLE f*cking fan) if that scum pleat convinvces ND to sack Billy and appionts some f*cking idiot, I swear to god i'll rip pleat's f*cking head off!!!!
Nigel Doughty OBV has no further ambition, it's been nice having Nigel but it's time to move on and before you go sack that wa*ker Marthur and his an*l buddy Pleat.”
by HI HO WE HATE, DERBY!!!!
Sunday, August 22 2010, 8:51AM
“found it anyway
http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/sport/football/916602/ONEILL-LINED-UP-FOR-FOREST-RETURN.html”
by HI HO WE HATE, DERBY!!!!
Sunday, August 22 2010, 8:50AM
“Found it anyway
http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/sport/football/916602/ONEILL-LINED-UP-FOR-FOREST-RETURN.html”