Garry Birtles: Nottingham Forest have not matched their summer ambitions this January

“Garry, sorry my friend, but your article is pointless. You should have waited until tomorrow. Same as the people having a go at the owners before the window shuts. It's a bit like a kid being told there is no Santa Claus (there is, by the way). An lo and behold, on Christmas morning what's under the tree? Loads of stuff! (Unless you are one of Mark Arthur's kids, then there really wouldn't be anything).”

“the whole team is not pulling together in the right direction collectively and individualy, i have to admitt i havent been impressed with danny collins but he has done it with stoke and do think he is a better player than his prefomances are saying he is,
yes more width and pace is needed to be added to the team but it not do us anygood if we cant get our shape right, it starts from the back, we need to push up more stop playing so deep and when we have possesion go forward in numbers, this brings the midfield into the game then and stops the forwards having to drop right back to get to have any of the ball, then they will get better service cos imo the deeper we defend the whole team has to come back or that when the hoof ball starts and the midfield get left out if the forwards try to push up when the defence drops of, to be a quick passing team the players need to learn when to push up together and when to drop of together, get this right and our avarage looking players will soon start to look good”

“BrindersGod....

As I clearly stated in my post.... "Whether they will deliver is, of course, an entirely different proposition."

What I'm saying is, based upon being a ST and watching them play for many years, that I believe they (Reid, McGugan & Majewski) are good enough. I'm not saying they are or have been delivering what they should - that is my very point!

Is their lack of consistency solely down to them, is it the manager, the other players, the tactics, lack of match time? I'm not sure but I suspect a mixture!

"As for Gillett, he's a League One player, full stop" - totally disagree and his performances when he first joined us 100% prove I'm right. Even AMc has said he rates him, so clearly not just a SOD biased purchase. Not at his best currently, but at worst a very good sub to have for closing out games. Everyone has off spells - Fernando Torres is a classic example!

One thing is certain though, and I'm sure we agree here (Halford excepted).... our defence is very poor. That is our main problem - along with no pace/width on the right. I think we'd be a different team if Garath McCleary was still playing for us!

Striker wise, sometimes good to have different styles, such as a target man (Blackstock or Henderson), but if we played to Cox and Sharps strengths I think we'd be on fire. We are far too slow and you see little of the fast, free flowing football (pass and go) that "on paper" we look capable of.

Anyway, for me it is glass half full and I see the potential. This season I have always been happy to settle for mid table obscurity, next season is where we really need to be taking big strides forward - consolidation followed by further improvement.

Guess we all see things differently, but isn't that the beauty of football?! :o)

PS - Mr_Popper.... to answer your question, our defence is the MAIN problem (I'd already agreed with you on this; excepting your Halford comments) along with the lack of speed width; particularly on the right of midfield. Sort those out and I think the rest will fall in to place - albeit, probably not until next season to its full extent.”

“Scran: then please enlighten us as to why - with all these great players you point out - we are where we are in the league, playing goddamn awful football and leaking goals left, right and centre; I am sure we would all like to hear the reasons?”

“Can I just say that I watch Forest with MY OWN eyes, and I am sure we all see thing differently; that however, does not make me a Direby fan. How pathetic for that tom come out just because I make an observation that I think is valid; does not mean others think its valid, but there is no need to call people Direby fans...Just for the record I have been following the Reds for about 30 yrs, a distant cousin is a Forest LEGEND and England international (Woodcock, if you know the name). People make me so angry on here sometimes.
(apologies if this appears more than once)”

“Scran,

Apart from the comments on Greg Halford, everything else you said is pure fantasy.
Majewski is talented but what impact has he had this season? Has he scored a goal? No. Has he created one? Not, that I can remember. He's an attacking midfielder, right? McGugan is finished at Forest, as hasn't performed for 2 seasons. No, Cox and Sharp aren't best attacking partnership. Cox has scored five goals all season, including one in the League Cup and a penalty.
As for Gillett, he's a League One player, full stop.
This squad is not good enough or we'd be in the top six. They've not been held back by Sean or McLeish, results speak far louder than opinions, I'm afraid.”

“Mr_Popper - Agree regards Collins and probably Harding, although 90% is rather harsh - even through my critical eyes! Halford however, rarely makes mistakes and is a far more capable footballer than the rest of our defenders - the sooner he replaces Collins at centre half, the better.

Halford can use both feet for starters (very few in our squad can!) and is composed and skilful enough to bring the ball out and present a threat coming forwards - shades of Joel Lynch and Kelvin Wilson. Obviously not perfect, but you don't command the transfer fees he has (£2.5m Reading, £3.5m Sunderland, etc) if you're that bad. To say he is shocking 90% of the time is just ridiculous - I can only assume you rarely watch us/him live; or attend with your eyes shut, lol!

Gillett is not at his best currently, but he was excellent when he first joined - reminded me of Paul McKenna (before he got injured) doing the simple stuff well. Not many players are good at receiving the ball with their back to the opposition, but he is and he rarely (ignoring the Derby game!) gives the ball away cheaply - I think he'll find his form again, but I believe Guedioura is a more than capable replacement, with Moussi no doubt keen to prove himself again too.

Not convinced Boyd is a good signing - what does he offer that Reid and Majewski don't already provide? He has absolutely no pace whatsoever and that, for me, is what we desperately need. I'd much sooner see us land Burke, but I think £500,000 is a fair price so Birmingham can "do one", and lose him for nothing in the Summer, if they want to be greedy!

Contrary to your opinion, and excluding the majority of our defence, I do think our squad is good enough. Look at it on paper and most of them would walk in to more or less any Championship team. The problem is that they are all under-performing; they need to pull their finger out and the manager needs to start motivating them too.

In terms of game changers and stand out players, we have Reid, Majewski and McGugan in the midfield who all have bundles of ability - I haven't seen a player with better (two) feet in the Championship than Majewski? Cox and Sharp up front is as good as any strike partnership at this level. So there we have it, apart form the sieve at the back, plenty of quality to do the business in this very average division; hence it is so tight.

Whether they will deliver is, of course, an entirely different proposition. Fingers crossed we will come good soon, but need to stop shipping goals first of all!

We all need to stay positive and get back to thinking/accepting/believing that it is a medium-long term plan/journey. The owners sudden change to a short term (this season) push is short sighted, highly unlikely to succeed and the cause of much unrest amongst fans - and probably players - as it creates undue expectation and pressure. Rome wasn't built in a day and I don't fancy taking over from Derby in the lowest PL points table!

COYR! :o)”

“Mr Popper, when Collins, Harding, Halford & Gillett were signed, we were all pleased because we had no defenders. They've all played well this season so when they have a poor game we can't just kick them into touch and replace them. Halford has been good this season although playing in a few positions, to say he's been shocking makes me think you haven't seen him much or are a derby supporter. Collins is the captain, somebody with more knowledge than you made that appointment.

It's obvious to most supporters that we need a quick wide player similar to Gareth McLeary”

“as i said the other day , time is running out for these 4or5 stella signngs. face it forest fans, your new chairman has duped you.
he may have a bit of money , but not as much as he made out.
if he really wanted promotion for forest, he would have kept sean o driscoll,by replacing him with the ginger one he has guarenteed you champioship football next season.... or worse.”

“These comments from Birtles show him to be the clown we all know he is.

Everyone with half a brain knows the Jan window is a complete nightmare for all managers who risk losing their best players mid season or not getting reinforcements they want. Chairman who risk being held to ransom paying over the odds money for players. Comments from managers like Wenger and Rednapp saying things liek Jan is like 'gang warfare' and it 'should be banned' should give Birtles a bit of a clue.

Yet Birtles wants our new owner to go and pay inflated prices and over the top wages just to bring players in. Who does he think we should go and buy? E.g. Does he think Burnley will sell us Charlie Austin and he would want to sign for us? Well yes if we offer £10m and give him £50k a week but other wise, no he's not for sale. Does he think that Fawaz made his fortune by paying over the odds money for stuff that will be worth less than half that a year or two later? Wake up Birtles, you have the business nouse of dog **** you cretin.

Me personally, I see nothing wrong just settling for quality loanees and buy them in the summer if they are good enough and not getting ripped off. I don't remember Birtles complaining when the likes of Guedioura came in on loan and Sharp too.Surely loaning players before signing makes more sense too as you can see if they are going to fit in or not. If you've spent £1m+ upfront on a player and a 3 year contract and he's dross then we're a bit stuck aren't we; McGoldrick, Greening, Harding to name a few.

Birtles, keep your scaremongering to yourself with drivvle like this and getting fans on the owners back. You're not helping so jog on...

PS mark my words Burke will be a NFFC player before the day's out. Boyd too if we can peruade him to choose us over Palace. Also 2 quality loanees next week and suddenly we'er all rosey again and Birtles hasn't got anything to scaremonger about.

PPS Mr Popper you're being harsh on Gillet, Halford and Collins too with your comments. All have had more good games than bad this season and at times have shown themselves to be excellent additions to the squad. Gillet after 10 games was being touted as the signing of the summer and other champ clubs were chasing him according to Sky!”