Report: Nottingham Forest 1 Stoke City 1
THESE are times of significant change at Nottingham Forest.
Billy Davies, a manager with a reputation for the most meticulous of planning, gave the Reds faithful the chance to see seven of his nine summer signings in action at the City Ground, amid a battling 1-1 draw with Premiership Stoke City.
But they were also given a deeper insight into what the new season could hold, as the wily Scot begins to impose his influence properly.
Lewis McGugan, it appears, was not the only one with orders to slim a little over the summer break.
The midfielder returned with a toned, honed appearance – but even his thinned-down frame was nothing in comparison to the lush green pitch, that had clearly lost several metres in width, as Davies seeks to engineer a tighter, more compact playing surface.
Whether or not that provides any significant clues to the playing style Forest fans can look forward remains to be seen.
But the changes to the pitch are only a small part of the wider blueprint for success that Davies plans to implement, with further proposals to permanently switch training grounds and alter the players' day-to-day routines.
And, on the evidence of this performance, against a robust, hard-working Stoke City side, then one thing is certain.
One of the end results will be a Forest side that is already looking far tougher to beat.
Davies, who watched most of the match from the stand, rather from the confines of a dug-out that is now significantly further from the touchline, will have been largely pleased with this testing outing, although his pleasure in his side's performance will have been dampened by further injury concerns.
Guy Moussi, Chris Cohen, James Perch, Kelvin Wilson, Garath McCleary and Julian Bennett were all frequenting the treatment room prior to kick-off.
Come the final whistle Dexter Blackstock was added to that list, with the striker picking up a slight groin strain during the warm-up.
Fortunately, the performance of another front man, David McGoldrick, will have brought solace, as the Nottingham-born player found the back of the net for the first time on this side of the River Trent.
Forest thought they had taken the advantage in the 13th minute when Joe Garner, playing in an unfamiliar role on the right side, demonstrated an eye for a pass with an inch-perfect delivery to the far post, which Nathan Tyson controlled before lashing low into the far corner, only for an offside flag to cut short the celebrations.
Liam Lawrence, the winger who grew up in Retford and completed his football apprenticeship at Mansfield Town, dipped a shot against the top of the bar as Stoke broke menacingly.
But it was an incisive flourish from Forest that brought about the breakthrough in the 30th minute. Polish international Radoslaw Majewski demonstrated his potential as he lofted a beautiful ball over the top of the Stoke defence for McGoldrick.
The striker was left to supply a straight-forward headed finish into the top corner.
Unfortunately, in Dave Kitson, Stoke possess a player capable of the same level of decisiveness around the box and, two minutes into the second half, he made finishing look easy as he slotted a precise, unstoppable shot powerfully into the bottom corner after escaping the attentions of the Forest defence.
Matty Etherington slammed a crisp shot against the angle of post and bar as City produced a menacing flurry at the start of the second period.
Forest were not without threat as Joel Lynch had a sliding shot cleared off the line and Garner prodded another effort wide, while Ryan Shotton almost scored a spectacular own goal, with only a fine stop from Thomas Sorenson sparing his blushes.
A deflected shot from Whelan flashed close for Stoke and Sorenson produced more heroics to thwart Tyson amid a lively finale.
But, when the final whistle blew, it was a fair outcome and, from Forest's point of view, a performance to inspire a fair amount of optimism.
28 Comments
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by Steve, Sunny Swad
Thursday, July 30 2009, 4:25PM
“A mixture of views but would just remind everyone that it was still a 'friendly' and the tackles were not exactly flying in which would normally be the case in those conditions!
At times we kept the ball really well, tight intricate passing but not really creating a great deal of opportunities in and around the box. Seemed to lack ideas or the killer ball at times.
With our pacy players thought we would be better with a wider pitch not only to be able to isolate defenders and take them on but pull them out wide and create more room in the centre for the central strikers to exploit.
Still think the futures bright the futures red.
Direby now giving out free tickets to season ticket holders for friendly this week. Is this to reward loyalty or just make sure they get a crowd!!!”
by we were good once, Somewhere
Thursday, July 30 2009, 4:19PM
“Its going to be another long arduous season. Mid table is the best we can hope for. Lets just hope Notts dont get promoted as we could be playing them sooner than anticipated!”
by Tricky In London Exile, London
Thursday, July 30 2009, 12:04PM
“Inoff the Red, I wasn't there last night but my brother (who was) has just said exactly the same. So that's all good to hear. It is only my concern, rather than a statement of fact, but we'll be able to judge after 10 games or so I guess.”
by Tricky In London Exile, London
Thursday, July 30 2009, 12:00PM
“Maybe Joe and your suggestion makes sense and I'd be happy with that. I know it's all about results, but I do like us to play in (what through watching Forest in my youth) I've learnt to consider the right manner. As I've said before we will all have to show some patience before judging (not least me!), but the pitch reduction is a minor concern.”
by Inoff THE Red, Peoples Republic of Sneinton
Thursday, July 30 2009, 11:55AM
“Trick in Exile,
Just because they narrowed the pitch, don't think that forest have gone for a Route 1 approach. In the first half last night, they passed the ball around midfield, keeping possession, probing for the opening and looking for Goldilocks and Tys to make the runs.
It was only in the last 10 mins or so when Adebola came on that the ball was hit long. There is nothing wrong with having a plan B.”
by City Ground Red, Nottingham
Thursday, July 30 2009, 11:44AM
“Can anyone explain why, with only a handful of games under our belt, we have half a dozen players being treated for injuries?
I thought this new, fitter regime directed by BD including bringing his own people in, was suppose to help our physical condition. Instead, looks like we're gonna start the season with half a dozen players unavailable for selection.”
by Joe Baker, Zigger Zagger
Thursday, July 30 2009, 11:43AM
“Tricky In London Exile, London , my take on the pitch issue is that by narrowing it Billy will speed the game up and make full use of the speed merchants ie, Tyson, Anderson and McCleary, a couple of times last night you could see them break really really fast out of defence”
by Joe Baker, Zigger Zagger
Thursday, July 30 2009, 11:40AM
“B Mused, Nottingham , stop trying to be clever and pedantic and read what I typed”
by Tricky In London Exile, London
Thursday, July 30 2009, 11:36AM
“We will have to wait and see what happens when the season gets going but... Having a wide pitch was one of the things that helped encourage Forest to develop their passing style, even before Clough. The playing surface was bigger than the old Wembley and second only to Maine Road. Ex-Wimbledon and Sheff Utd Manager Dave Bassett immediately narrowed the pitch on his arrival and this has long been the favoured approach of many a kick and rush team. BD has proved me wrong in terms of signing mainly youngsters this summer (and I'm very happy to have been proved wrong), but as someone brought up under BC I still have a strong belief that a Forest side should be a footballing side. Narrowing the pitch because the manager does not have faith in footballers to play football and starting with a fear about the opposition rather than playing to your own strengths would be a bit of a disappointment. We'll have to wait to see what happens, but it is unlikely a passing side would do the same.”
by Ian Hall, London
Thursday, July 30 2009, 9:23AM
“Thanks for the feedback on the game, everyone: two things concern me.
1) This is the second successive game when people have commented on Lewis McGugan's apparent belief that he is a bit of a dude - Billy needs to tell him to cut out the 'attitude'... we have loads of midfielders and can't afford a passenger (as good as Lewis can be...);
2) the narrowing of the pitch - this appears to be a knowingly 'visible' statement of intent from BD that we are going for 'Wimbledon c. 1986' tactics. I am not impressed, and I suspect 'Tricky in London Exile' will agree.”