Back From The Game - Nottm Forest

[chilipepper91]

An intriguing game. The new style took a lot of getting used to (was so frustrating to just see us knock it around the back, was screaming for a hoof just to put my nerves at rest!) but I think in time, once people get used to the system and know the runs to make, it could be good. Nottm Forest didn't really offer much.

Federici - 7 - one key save, good quick distribution
Rosenior - 5 - one key clearance but otherwise poor passing
Pearce - 7 - commanding at the back
Cissé - 8 - as above, but with great distribution too
Bertrand - 7 - looked good forward and back
Tabb - 7 - all-action as always
Karacan - 8 - lynchpin today, everything went through him
Davies - 9 (MOTM) - two great shots, good tackles, great runs - speak it quietly, the new Sidwell?
Kébé - 8 - great runs but as ever, final ball/decision poor. Good signs
Robson-Kanu - 7 - some good tricks and crosses
Church - 6 - hard to judge, being the only man up top. Isolated
---
Long - 7 - injected pace and urgency, first touch has got better

I assume the Forest player was sent off for an elbow?

[Readingfanman]

Federici - 6.5 - Great stop, good distribution.
Rosenior - 5.5 - Poor crosses, considering the oldest player, didn't play well.
Pearce - 7 - Natural leader. Played well.
Cissé - 7 - Played well, came forward, missed a sitter though.
Bertrand - 7 - Great run in the second half. Linked well with Kebe.
Tabb - 6 - Never noticed him, but knew he was there if that makes sense.
Karacan - 7 - Good game, put some key passes through midfield, looks to be key.
Davies - 7.5 (MOTM) - Unlucky with his shots, will only get better I think.
Kébé - 6.5 - Only player to run at them. No end product again.
Robson-Kanu 6.5 - Good first half. Second half not great before coming off.
Church - 6 pace and urgency, first touch has got better

----------------

Long 6.5 - Bought pace to the pitch, but always seemed to go backwards.

[rfcjoe]

Frustrating, toothless, good football.

[Terminal Boardom]

I thought Karacan was outstanding and ran the game from midfield. Kebe. What to say about him. I want him to do so well and he does the hard stuff but then, as in the first half it is as oif his brain freezes and he really has no idea what to do next. Rosenior got better the longer the game went.

All in all, a god start and enjoyed watching us dictate the pace of a game for once. Florist's frustrations were evident as they couldn't get the ball from us.

A bit more bite and decisivness up front please.

And I take back what I said about Cisse. He put in a very assured performance at CB.

Overall, 8 out of 10

[cmonurz]

Rosenior - 5.5 - Poor crosses, considering the oldest player, didn't play well.

Jay Tabb is older, Jimmy Kebe is older than the both of them, and Kalifa Cisse older than all three, to be pedantic.

[barmy_army008]

I thought it was promising. There was a lack of end product and I think we need to bring in a striker but the possession and build-up play was good.

[Readingfanman]

Rosenior - 5.5 - Poor crosses, considering the oldest player, didn't play well.

Jay Tabb is older, Jimmy Kebe is older than the both of them, and Kalifa Cisse older than all three, to be pedantic.

Weird. I could have sworn BBCRB said Rosenior was the oldest player.

[79Royal]

Frustrating, toothless, good football.

Add promising to that and I think you've hit the nail on the head.

[cmonurz]

Rosenior - 5.5 - Poor crosses, considering the oldest player, didn't play well.

Jay Tabb is older, Jimmy Kebe is older than the both of them, and Kalifa Cisse older than all three, to be pedantic.

Weird. I could have sworn BBCRB said Rosenior was the oldest player.

They are all 25, tbf.

It's still a stupid reason to expect someone to play well though.

[Readingfanman]

Jay Tabb is older, Jimmy Kebe is older than the both of them, and Kalifa Cisse older than all three, to be pedantic.

Weird. I could have sworn BBCRB said Rosenior was the oldest player.

They are all 25, tbf.

It's still a stupid reason to expect someone to play well though. [/quote]
Most expierenced player comes with being oldest usually.

[FiNeRaIn]

Well, how encouraging, we played them off the park at times and in pearce we will have one of the best centre backs ever to play at our club.

All we need is for a striker and for the ball NOT to drop to kebe in the box and we'll have a great season.

[LoyalRoyalFan]

A high intensity game to kick off the new season. We played well considering the style of football is a lot different from last year. To be fair, Forest were the right team to test our new style against. They strong in the challenge and made us move the ball around quickly. However the lack of a finishing touch was obvious.

The same problem as last season seemed to be creeping back in. There were not enough players getting into the box.

Federici - 7 - Not much to do.
Bertrand - 7 - Looked good, going forward. Looked ok in defence.
Rosenior - 7 - Just a 7. When everyone else was playing the ball on the ground,Rosenior insisted on hoofing it up the field. However he did make some cruical tackles.
Pearce - 7 - Played well. Not much to do. But when he was called upon, he dealt with the pressure well.
Cisse - 7 - Same as above. Good performance.
Kebe - 7 - Looked ok. Played well with the new style. However the end product was lacking sometimes.
Karacan - 8 - My Man of the Match today. Worked his socks off. Good passer of the ball and was good in the tackle.
Tabb - 7 - Worked his sock's off again. Got stuck in.
Davies - 8 - Looks a decent player. Today he looked strong and had some good shots,whilst trying to find the through ball.
Church - 6 - Struggled up front on his own. Sometimes there was not enough support given to him.

Long - 6 - Came on and did well. He was a like for like replacement for Church and again couldn't cope on his own up front.

[starbug]

Loved the passing instincts, obviously need to be more creative but that should come as everyone gets more familiar with the system. Would have liked to be a bit more direct late on though.

Shocking tactics from Forest, cynical fouls and time wasting as soon as the match started

[LoyalRoyalFan]

Was it me or was Steve Coppell at the top of the tunnel for today's match?

[eleventh earl of mar]

Was it me or was Steve Coppell at the top of the tunnel for today's match?

You should know if it was you!!

[Fubar]

MOTM for me was Cisse. Everything started with him and he was as assured as I've ever seen him. It was great to see football played on the ground again. For a 0 - 0, it was a good game Long may it continue. (No pun intended)


Federici - 7 - Good distribution, sure handling when needed
Rosenior - 6 - Did OK
Pearce - 7 - Won everything in the air. Will be a good captain.
Cissé - 9 - (MOTM) Started nearly every move
Bertrand - 7 - Looked good in both defence and attack
Tabb - 7 - Action man!
Karacan - 8 - Great distribution
Davies - 9 - Just edged out of MOTM by Cisse
Kébé - 7 - Good runs, no final ball
Robson-Kanu - 7 - Good crosses
Church - 6 - Worked hard on his own
---
Long - 7 - Pace and positioning much improved. Always looked dangerous

Thoroughly enjoyable.

[LoyalRoyalFan]

Was it me or was Steve Coppell at the top of the tunnel for today's match?

You should know if it was you!!

I think it was. But my view of the tunnel isn't great.

[tomrfcurz]

Davies no doubt will be a star, brilliant performance by him today. Looks like his free kicks could grab us a few goals this season, the one against chelsea was a good one as was the narrow miss one today.

Federici - 7 - Good kicking but not too busy today
Rosenior - 7 - Good getting forward but nothing amazing
Pearce - 6 - Not a great performance, bit bland
Cisse - 7 - Good getting forward and pretty solid
Bertrand - 7 - His runs were pretty good, defending ok
Kebe - 6 - Didn't quite get Bertrand's good runs
Tabb - 6 - Nothing special but nothing was too bad from him
Davies - 8 - Quality shots, good freekick, also good passes and runs from him (MoTM)
Robson Kanu - 7 - Pretty good runs, beat the wing backs well too
Karacan - 6 - Nothing special really, was ok though
Church - 6 - Hasn't really got the edge yet on defenders but ok

Promising but nothing special, could get a lot better though i reckon

[Royalee]

You've changed your tune!

[URZZZZZZZZ]

Early days of course, but I definately got a whiff of the Swansea about us today. I think we'll see our team play some nice stuff this season, but will draw too many matches which will cost us.

I for one though would take this if it means we get 46 games as good as this one. Thoroughly entertaining!