Nottingham Forest called on to be more of a forward threat
NOTTINGHAM Forest boss Sean O'Driscoll says his side must show more bravery on the ball to get back to winning ways against Burnley at the City Ground tomorrow.
But the Reds manager said the way to seal three points in matches will not always be to pair two strikers together.
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Sean O'Driscoll
O'Driscoll admits he is still shocked by the level of criticism that came his side's way following the 2-1 home defeat to Hull last weekend, when he went with one up front.
It was a decision taken partly because Daniel Ayala fell ill before the game, when a 3-5-2 formation was also in his thinking.
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But he hopes tomorrow's game ends in a win and cheers from the home faithful, not further frustration.
And to achieve that goal, he said it is vital his players not only keep possession of the ball, but show more forward threat when they do have it to carve out chances no matter what the formation.
O'Driscoll said: "We have not made a big song and dance about (the criticism) this week but from my point of view, you try to give players options on the ball when you are playing and sometimes they take the easy option rather than the more exciting one.
"You go through a process of keeping possession of the ball, especially against teams like Hull whose possession statistics were frightening in their previous two games.
"And we did really well, but we know we need to be more of a forward threat.
"It is not always about playing two strikers, it is about playing in a way where you can play and create chances.
"I am a great one for stats and on Saturday we had 13 shots to their five and more final third entries than them.
"That would deem the ingredients were there – we just need to put them all together now.
"It is a process and you have to do the hard graft and it is not easy. When things are not going your way, you cannot just change everything.
"You have to be a bit braver and I said to the players to stick to what they do and we are going to get better."
Centre-back Ayala, on loan from Norwich, could make a return to the side for the visit of the Clarets after recovering from his 48-hour bug, while Greg Halford could be in contention as he battles back to full fitness following a niggling calf injury.
Comments
by jillycarol
Saturday, December 08 2012, 8:54AM
“TrickyGaz...It must be tough for you mate stuck up there in the frozen north so far away from your beloved Reds! I feel your pain Gaz I feel your pain. Collins commands the back (when Campy listens and Riedy leads midfield. I'll give em a cheer for ya today pal!...KTF!
Ps I spoke to our mate yesterday he's doin ok. I'll pop in to the RC and have a beer with him before the game....... FRTMV.......YOU REDS!”
by RedNote
Saturday, December 08 2012, 8:18AM
“Come on reds lets do it today! SOD I TRUST!”
by Pudziknowski
Saturday, December 08 2012, 7:33AM
“Can't any of you see what O'driscoll is trying to do? He is trying to make the players make there own decisions on the pitch and get them playing more freely it isn't that easy to pass it about like Barcelona anyone who plays football will tell you the same it takes time, hard work and team cohesion. This season is an improvement and unlike billy who had solid foundations of a squad to build on O'driscoll has had to build a squad from scratch and those who moan about him not playing 442 get a grip the game has changed loads of teams play with 1 up front and 1 behind the striker man utd do it nearly every game So do barcelona i guess they are rubbish to and there managers aren't as tactily as good as some of you on here”
by mickycolosus
Friday, December 07 2012, 11:47PM
“ps. 12,000 at a team that was in the Prem last year against top of the league. I know it's Christmas, and on telly, but that is a s*** gate. Leicester get more than that when they play Barcelona! Whoops, forgot, they have never actually played against a European team.”
by mickycolosus
Friday, December 07 2012, 11:42PM
“For those managers that are concern themselves with match statistics, have a look at this. Then consider that Cardiff won 4-1.
http://tinyurl.com/bk7vnje”
by trickygaz
Friday, December 07 2012, 8:32PM
“JC talking sense as usual.However he must agree that our problems are...no real leaders in the
team& a lack of width/pace.Sharpy has proved,if you give him the right service ,he'll score a
hatful of goals.Lets hope we go for the throat tomorrow.FTID!”
by mickycolosus
Friday, December 07 2012, 5:58PM
“MI5 I am a season ticket holder, and was insulted by Sean saying we were 'terrific'. I clicked on TWO links and watched the extended highlights. It's pretty easy, and I would have thought a couple of keyboard warriors like yourself and Outfoxed would know about that. As for what was said M15, do the Math. Sean says Hull only had 5 chances, but I counted 6. What has that got to do with how much of the game was on the Player! Derrr! Next thing we know you will be saying that Craig Mackael-Smith is not Championship quality, or Grant Holt is a good League one Striker. Two classics from the M15 stable.
Perhaps, if some of the so called positives actually went to the matches they comment on, on here, they may not be quite so positive when they have forked out hard earned cash like some of us, and after watching two dreadful performances are told by the manager that what we have just seen was terrific.
Jilly what opticians do you use? You know were you 'should av gone' don't you!”
by TrentEndRed
Friday, December 07 2012, 5:55PM
“Will be an interesting game tomorrow.
We play bad and lose and the axeman will be sharpening his blade (not saying he's going to get sacked on monday before anyone starts up, just that there will be an increasing number of people questioning the position)
We play well and win and everything will be rosy in the garden, but expectations will be on promotion.
And before people harp on about time to gel and all that rubbish....the likes of Spain, Brazil, Germany etc play pretty well when they come together and they don't play together all the time.
You can either play football or you can't. You either know your fellow players strengths/weaknesses or you don't. It's really not that difficult and I don't need stats to tell me Andy Reid doesn't head the ball or Sharp needs it to feet.
drop the stats Sean, let the players just play.”
by jillycarol
Friday, December 07 2012, 3:00PM
“Brinders..I have seen glimpses of the flowing, passing, beautiful game this season. These glimpses are usually limited to a couple per game nevertheless, if they can produce it once it means that they are capable of reproducing it. Now all we have to do is keep producing it with repititive regularity. Easy eh?
Farcall, al....Yes agreed, passing to someone in the same shirt as yourself would be a good starting point heh heh heh heh heh!.....KTF....FRTMV....YOU REDS!”
by richardw11
Friday, December 07 2012, 2:54PM
“Here's one of the other problems that Forest (and many others) have but the TOP clubs don't; the top sides pass into SPACE !! The average ones pass to the player, or worse, a yard behind him. Much as it pains me to say it, watch Man Utd, and most of their players' passes are into space 2, 3,4 ,5 yards ahead of the target which in turn FORCES the play forward. United are ALWAYS atacking - perhaps that's why they're the most successful side ever. Sideways passes lead to not very much at all ! Rodgers had a load of praise at Swansea for keeping the ball - and they did it very well, but....they were in the bottom 6 or 7 for goals scored. Dito Liverpool this season. We have to find a way of playing nice 45 degree angled passes INTO SPACE. Play like we have the past 2 matches and it's mid-table all the way.”