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Davies believes in Forest's vision for the future

Monday, February 09, 2009, 08:00

BILLY Davies believes if he can get the balance right in the Nottingham Forest squad he can turn them into a side for all others to envy.

The Reds boss watched as his depleted, young and inexperienced side came from behind to earn a 2-2 draw against big-spending QPR.

That came despite losing Nathan Tyson to a nasty cut above the eye after only 15 minutes.

Despite not making a signing during the January transfer window, Davies said he understood the club's blueprint when he arrived at the City Ground.

And he believes he can help nurture the young talent at the club although he would like to add experience when the loan window reopens today.

He said: "It is about getting the balance right and when I joined this football club I knew exactly what I was coming into.

"I knew the young players we have, the lack of experience and they were sitting in this position because of certain things I wanted to change.

"I am coming into a club that wants to grow from bottom to top, wants to develop young players and then hand pick one or two to come in. If we can get this right, in a year or two's time we could be a top, top side.

"When I came here the remit was simple. Different from Derby because Derby wanted to buy success and get to the Premier League very quickly.

"This is a growing club, full of development, young players, [it is about] working with young talent and trying to develop it over a period of time and I think the board deserve credit for that approach.

"So I am very much aware of it and how can I fault these players? They had a magnificent attitude, magnificent courage to come back from behind and the work ethic was second to none.

"Losing Tyson, a very important player, losing Perch, another important player. And we are matching all these big spending clubs and they deserve credit.

"It does affect you [losing Tyson], he is a big player, a big asset to this club and you lose players like that and Earnshaw and it destroys all plans.

"But I am looking forward to the challenge here. The challenge is simple, to keep this club up."

Forest took the lead through Lewis McGugan's penalty but conceded in first-half stoppage time and then again straight after the break. But Chris Cohen's header rescued a point.

Davies knows a team full of youngsters will make mistakes.

He added: "I am looking forward to the player development, to them growing and if we can get the balance right, get it sorted and take away naive defending to concede a minute before half time, we will be okay.

"Take away the square passes, the backwards passes, there is a lot of naivety in our game but I have to tell you, they are an absolute joy to work with.

"We have great character, which is something this group of players does not lack. It is a fact, the Newbolds, Heaths, Moloneys, Thornhills, guys like that, have done a great job against another big-spending club.

"It is satisfying at the moment because of the injuries we have. We lost Tyson, we had to take off Garner because of his shoulder and we are playing against vastly experienced squads, playing against clubs that are spending huge amounts of money and matching them, back to front."

"And when you have fans like we have here, who I felt gave the players first-class support under the circumstances, then it looks good.

"If we can keep working away it is a very bright future and one I am looking forward to."

Billy Davies

Billy Davies

 

   




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