But in front of Lambert you have both Holt of Norwich and Graham of Swansea. I was gobsmacked that neither of the front 3 for Swansea was included in the England squad. Back to topic, I have been impressed with Morgan. No-nonsense, strong in the air and the tackle, and does have speed even though others were suggesting he was as slow as a dead donkey. Our defence has looked a lot more solid since he came into the back 4 and long may it continue.
Evening, Thinking man's Red Dog here with a friendly opinion or two on Big Wes. Basically, we love him down the CG, so much so that about 1 person has slagged him off for going to the Whateveritscalled Stadium, which compared to Gareth Williams is bloody good. He was part of that same crop of players Williams was from, and basically all we had left from the Paul Hart generation once we'd sold Reid, Dawson, Prutton, Harewood. Possibly except Perch, but recently Perch has gone to Newcastle and still gets a game occasionally, so that must tell you something. He's massive, which helps, he's got a hell of a ****ing shot on him on the strangest occasions - not a goalscoring defender by any means, but the opposition stand off him when he runs at them having drifted up-pitch for some unknown reason - Youtube should have his thunderous shots, look for the Notts County game this season. He does read a game pretty well, he's fair and steady in the tackle, not dirty, nor the most gifted dispossesser you'll ever see, but he's top-end championship when in form, for certain. You don't get to 400 games for Forest at his age without playing just about every game since coming into the side and that's what he's done, all through the third division years and ever since. He has so far raised his game in line with the ambient skill and performance level around him, and lowered it as well. He's not been injured for Forest that much this year, and when he has played he's been made to look good by Chambers who is having an absolute ****ing dog of a season. Lynch has been our outstanding defender so far this year and Higginbotham is doing a better job than Morgan did since he came in, primarily because he's more experienced and a leader, which Wes is not, however talismanic he might be. His distribution varies from the highly competent to the hopeless, again having a good midfield in front of him helps, and good match preparation - he shone under Davies in this regard sometimes but as soon as McClaren came in he looked a right hoofer and Cotterill hasn't helped. I'd imagine Pearson should be able to bring his game on somewhat. From what I gather this chap born in the shadow of the City Ground who supports the team and is best mates with half the squad was never going to be offered a contract commensurate with his earning potential at the end of the season, and we've brought in three players, two of whom might just be instrumental in keeping us up, so it was a sensible deal to be made, although Cotterill has said he didn't want Wes to go, the truth seems to be that Morgan was never offered a promised contract under Davies or McClaren, which says a lot more about our Chief Exec Mark Arthur than it does about Wes, although bear in mind how strong we've been the last two years and were expecting to be this season - he'd be an expensive makeweight in the Premiership where it might have been kinder to let him go for a free and play every week elsewhere in return for his loyal service. Forest fan or not, he's as honest a payer as you'll ever cheer on. Do right by him and back him through bad patches and you'll wonder why you bothered with a **** like Mills. England? In an injury crisis against a smaller side I'd back him with better players around him, but he'd be at Villa or somewhere now if he was considered high-level competitive material. Shame, as he's got more heart and soul and grit than most of the ****ers who I've seen play in the England defence in a good few years. Then again I subscribe to the Des Walker/Stuart Pearce/Viv Anderson school of defending, so I'll never be happy. Anyway, as things are looking we might even play you a couple of times next year as well, you'll see the response he gets from the A Block if that happens. Cheers.
Cheers mate for an honest assessment. Wes has looked very good so far along side Sean St. Ledger but Wes knows like St. Ledger if they dont perform they will be out the team because we have 5 quality centre halfs and Nigel has pretty much had enough of under performers. Matt Mills distribution is awful so Wes couldnt be any worse.
Heh, lack of competition in defence has done for us this year. And last year. And the year before, and so on. Pearson might not be a popular man in Hull where I'm living but he seems to have a common sense approach to things like that and seeing as your owner wants to spend as much money as possible regardless of FFP regs on the way, a few strng candidates is not going to harm your chances. 'We' did think we might get St. Ledger coming the other way as he didn't seem to be starting for you but Higginbotham will do nicely. Anyway, I had no idea this place existed. Seems relatively cordial.
A very good move by NP if you ask me. I just hope we bring more quality players in like him in the summer & sit on top of the table with every one posting... "we are buying the league". Looking forward to next season already
We, without question, have the best central defenders in the division, When Sol Bamba (who we could probably get £3 million for) and Matt Mills (Who we paid £4 Million for) can't get in, and Sean St. Ledger and Wes Morgan look class together, epecially Morgan. We have, without question, the best goalkeeper in the division in Kasper Schmeichal, Lee Peltier is a good right back (I think the only reason I don't think he is great is because he is the replacement for Kyle Naughton, who was one of the best players we have had for a while), and since Nigel came, Paul Konchesky has looked class. We have probably the best central forward partnership in the division in David Nugent and Jermaine Beckford, Ben Marshall and Danny Drinkwater look impressive and Neil Danns has been finding the net a couple of times recently, but I think a 2nd Winger and 2nd CM would make our squad complete.
We have said for sometime we pretty good all over the pitch except the midfield wasnt good enough. Andy King wasnt pulling his weight, Richie Wellens was off form, Neil Danns couldnt get in the side and played like a headless chicken, Yuki Abe was too easily bullied and when Danny Drinkwater came in and King got injured the midfield looked better
1 FOR & a couple of MID´s (in the right positions) & we´ll be well up for it next season. Trim the squad down by getting rid of the 'deadwoods' & happy days.
PR - thanks very much for your measured and honest comments - Wes could well become a cult hero with us at this rate which, for an ex-Forest player, is some achievement.
He's Earnshaw-y enough to be loved wherever he goes. And as with Earnshaw the exception would probably be Derby.
Early impressions of Morgan are...The goes stops everything, considering Mills was £4million this guy is quality, I honestly think Morgan is better than Mills, Schmeichal+Morgan+Bamba+Konchesky+Peltier, Reserve Mills+St Ledger=Best defense in the Division.
Best central defence is clearly: James Chester & Jack Hobbs They have played every game this season in the meanest defence in the division. Yes that Jack Hobbs that so many of you on here said was useless, NP knows a good defender when he sees one which is why he keeps signing Hobbs. Shame a lot of you lot are so one eyed when it comes to spotting talented players. Shame!
Kidding yourself! Clearly not the best forward partnership. Look at all those teams above you with better strikers!
The Jack Hobbs that hoofed everything and was beaten in the air by Aaron McLean? Yeah, he's well good.
Pipe down. Millwall have scored more than you! Coventry have scored more home goals than you ! Ipswich have scored more away than you have at home ! We've scored 14 goals more, and we've been ****e ! Yet you wonder why we call you 'Dull'. You play the most boring football in the league.
I don't think any (or at least not many) on here think that Hobbs is useless. Heck, we voted him our player of the year 2 years ago and it was, and still is, clear that he has talent as a defender. There were a couple of things that did for him here, IMO. One wass the fact that both Paulo and Sven wanted him to play out from the back when it was clear that wasn't his strength. Also, when he was at his best, he had the very experienced Wayne Brown next to him who was a real leader and that seemed to help Jack. Then, last season, he was put next to other young centre-backs and he had to lead the back four which didn't seem to suit him. Now, when I look at your team, it seems that you play a lot of football on the deck and Hobbs, I'm assuming, passes the ball out well. Added to that, he plays with James Chester who is around the same age as him and is the captain of your side and that indicates to me that he's matured and improved greatly on the aspects of his game that he needed to. I like that in a player and I was disappointed to see him leave. Granted he wasn't happy at sitting on the bench but I still think we should have got probably at least double what we actually did get.
