Enjoyed the result, but felt the back four yesterday were struggling at times. Fonte was pulled around too much by hesitancy from Cort and Fox. Did we play three at the back and did Forest exploit this for their goals. Not happy with Cort at right back but what a great game.
It was a cobbled together defence forced on Adkins by injury, but I agree it is the weakest area of our team. We play the 'we'll score one more than you' style of football, effective at moment and exciting to watch, but we will get caught out by the good teams in this league..and there are quite a few of them. I'm coming to the Birmingham match next Sunday, so want our thirteenth home win a row please.
You have to remember Cork was an emergency full back, it is not his natural position, did you notice how much better he played in the second half, particularly after De Ridder came on.
I'm not worried really because there were 3 new players in the back 4 (one of them hasn't even played for a while),we also took jack cork outta the middle so there was a bit of difference there to,he's more of a tackler than spiderman so we also lacked that bit of extra bite in there.
Cork..! As in the missile that's fired from a champagne bottle. Funny thing is, this is the third time I've stumbled over this thread, and the first time I've actually noticed you referring to Jack Cork as if he was Carl Cort. The eyes can play tricks..!
My eyes are playing tricks, opened a bottle of red to have with lunch and the wife informs me she is not drinking today. Had to drink it all in case it went off. HIC!.
Couldn't understand why NA took our best midfielder and put him at right back - full stop! If Richardson was injured then where is Butterfield? If he is injured then bring in our U18 right back in - SIMPLES Don't cock up the midfield that has served us so well this season
The back four performed better as the game progressed. The new centre half was a bit match shy (not really match fit) While fox took a time to settle. Their goals came from the inside left position. This could suggest that our right hand side was at fault although both goals were scored from smack centre of our goal. Which could suggest the covering centre back was not in the right position. Both from a similar position. Very simple goals and extremely bad ones to concede.
Given that it was a new and enforced back four then I can accept that we were a bit shaky in defence. Just wondering where Butterfield has been though? He has not featured in the squad and we could have used him at right back if he was fit.
I think there is more to it than new players. Yesterday's back four had a new look about it it's true, but the defense that was pulled all over the place in the first half at Leicester was the first choice. We play an exciting attacking game which means our defense gets exposed to the counter at times. But even when we are all behind the ball, we don't always look that solid. It may be down to Nige's philosophy of entertaining football and to be honest I'm more than happy with that. I haven't seen a dull game yet this season and most of the football from us is brilliant entertainment. The problem (if there is one) is that as has mentioned above, we will occasionally get caught out by the better teams. But if we carry on like this, one defeat in every six should get us somewhere near promotion surely?
We are whizzing along buoyed by success. Getting points at this stage is all important because there will be dark days when nothing will go right. That will be the test of the team's calibre. We have to store points like a squirrel stores nuts..ready for winter.
Jack Cork's not a right back at all, is he? Both Forest's goals came from moves down our right/their left. Harding has played right back before, is he injured?
Cork has played in defence for under 21s but a waste of a midfielder. NA did not want to risk any injured players for the sake of one game, but also obviously felt an out of place midfielder and 2 new defenders were better than Martin or Butterfield (unless he's injured). Turned out OK but won't always. Still valuable match time for Fox and Jos.
In L1, no-one had the confidence to press us at home so we could play out freely relaatively unchallenged. Forest did press us and it was tricky playing out from the back. I don't think the defence were particularly at fault, just that Forest didn't give them time on the ball. Maybe NA should have instructed them to get rid quicker and play higher up the pitch?
Nigel and the team are still learning in this league. As a great man once said, 'Lose the game but not the lesson.' (Except we don't even lose the game!).
