Filip to rescue? Or do Forest need more...?
REDS SUPPORTERS CONCERNED BY LAST TWO DISPLAYS AFTER UNBEATEN RUN
THERE is less than a week to go before the January transfer window closes, with Nottingham Forest still hoping to get further business done.
On the pitch, they face Barnsley this weekend, aiming to put successive defeats - in the Championship and FA Cup - behind them.
With plenty to talk about, Reds reporter Sarah Clapson held a live webchat, answering fans’ questions and responding to their comments.
■■Q: Do you think we’re pinning too much on Filip Krovinovic being the creative spark? Also, do you think we are actually playing a formation or system that actually suits the players we have? Chris Hughton does seem to be reluctant to try a different formation.
A: Hughton definitely sees Krovinovic as someone who can help. But ideally, I think he’d still like to strengthen further in the attacking department. All depends on being able to get the right player, though.
Interesting question about the formation. I think Forest do have the players who could suit a 4-3-3 but Hughton seems very settled on 4-23-1 now.
He has tried a 4-4-2 and a 4-1-4-1 but I think he’s keen to get some consistency – both in terms of formation and personnel.
Not sure it entirely matters what system you play if players aren’t at the top of their game, though.
Need to get back to doing the basics right.
Get back to being resolute at the back. The goals they conceded on Saturday were awful.
■■Q: Hopefully Forest’s last two matches will sharpen minds. Recruiting pacy attacking players is a must. Getting in nobody or players who can’t cut it in the final third will leave us 50:50 for relegation. The core skills of scouting players seem lacking. Do you know what changes are taking place within scouting/recruiting to ensure we don’t repeat mistakes?
A: Agree about the need to get recruitment right.
Can’t see many more signings being made before the deadline just one or two at most.
And Hughton has been at pains to stress that they won’t just bring someone in for the sake of it. Has to be the right player.
Desperately need someone who can create chances, though.
Feel sorry for whoever plays up front at the minute because they are just not getting much to work with.
And you make a good point about the last two matches. Don’t think anyone was getting carried away amid that unbeaten run but the last two games are very much a reminder that Forest are not out of the woods yet - even if one of those defeats was in the FA Cup and not with the first XI.
Got to hope that lessons have been learned from last January. Very different situation now, of course, but no less important - maybe even more so - to get it right.
As for changes to the scouting and recruiting, Hughton has made it clear that he’ll have the final say on whoever comes in.
Filip Krovinovic was someone the manager had been tracking for a while. He’s very much a Hughton signing.
Worth saying that Gary Brazil also plays a role in recruitment now. So there have been changes - even in the summer when Sabri Lamouchi was still in charge. Most of the summer signings were Lamouchi targets.
I know we say this almost every year but, for me, this summer window is going to be crucial.
Hughton will have more chance then to put his stamp on the squad. Difficult to do that this month.
■■Q: Got to say I’m fed up with Forest at the minute. What are your thoughts on the manager? I don’t think he is doing a very good job. I get the argument for having patience, these aren’t his players etc, etc, but he was brought in to do a job and frankly he’s falling well short. Different situation I know but Thomas Tuchel at Chelsea will be expected to achieve success and they aren’t his players.
A: Don’t think there’s any getting away from the fact the last two games have been grim.
Saturday’s defeat in the FA Cup in particular was terrible. But I think the players can’t escape criticism for that one.
Most of the XI out there should have been busting a gut to keep their place in the team for the next match. Can’t say any of them really did that.
In fact, they’ve made Hughton’s job pretty easy when it comes to picking his team for Saturday.
But before that, Forest were on a good unbeaten run. It felt like - to me anyway - they had been making progress. Even if it was only small steps.
I think the reality is, Forest are not at a consistent level as a team. There are going to be ups and downs. The last few weeks have really shown where they are at.
Against the top sides, they struggle. Against mid to lower teams in the table there’s a decent chance they can get a result – if they play like they did against Millwall, for instance.
I still believe Hughton is a good choice.
He’s steadied the ship. It’s going to take time for him to do much more than that – that’s why I think the summer window is going to be so important.
Right now, he needs to make sure Forest stay up. Then focus on building beyond that.
■■Q: Of the five loanees, which do Forest have an option on to make permanent should they want to?
A: They have definitely got options
on Luke Freeman and Cyrus Christie.
There was an option on Anthony Knockaert in the original deal which ran out this month but not sure if there’s now one for the summer in his new deal.
Not aware of there being one for Cafu but, given he’s on loan from Olympiacos, if Forest did want to make his move permanent I’d imagine there wouldn’t be too much difficulty in getting that sorted.
Going to be interesting to see if Forest do take up the options for Freeman and Christie.
Freeman looked exactly like someone who has been out for a while when he played on Saturday. Didn’t look match sharp, which is understandable.
Was really excited when he signed but he’s not really made the impression hoped for - although obviously he has been unlucky with injury.
Hopefully, if he can get back to full fitness, he’ll start showing what he’s capable of.
■■Q: Would like us to go with three centre-backs for a change as our full-backs are our biggest problem at the moment. Cyrus Christie, Gaetan Bong, Carl Jenkinson are not Championship class. Loic Mbe Soh, Joe Worrall, Scott Mckenna could easily cope, Yuri Ribeiro will miss next couple of games anyway. If we play Christie further up the pitch he might be more effective, not having to get back in position of a back four.
A: Hughton’s very much a four at the back man. He was talking about that the other day when I asked him about Tyler Blackett.
He said Blackett is capable of playing in a three but that’s not really a system he favours.
I think both Christie and Ribeiro have got forward a lot but final ball has let them down.
I’m sure there was a statistic somewhere about the amount of crosses Christie has put into the box. But Forest aren’t getting enough
from them.
Just think they need the likes of Sammy Ameobi, Anthony Knockaert and whoever plays that number 10 role – Cafu or maybe Krovinovic now – to start having more of an effect on games.
Knockaert looked like he was finding a bit of form before his loan was extended, so that’s a positive. And, hopefully, Krovinovic can have an impact.
Still think it’s an area where they need another option or two, though. Particularly while Joe Lolley is struggling for form.
■■Q: Remember the brilliant Frank Clark interview on the brilliant Garibaldi Red podcast! He mentioned during a poor run in the 93/94 season he hired a room and it was a chance for the players to air thoughts and opinions. Get the feeling the players have issues with each other, manager, etc.
A: They have had those types of meetings. And Joe Worrall was definitely not shy about airing his views publicly a few weeks ago.
It did seem like team spirit was better during that unbeaten run.
It felt like Forest were playing more as a unit in those games. I think the last two games have probably just magnified things a bit.
There’s definitely still issues to address but that was also the case when Forest were picking up wins.
Morale is never going to be sky high when you’re on the back of two defeats like Forest have just had and given where they are in the table.
Get a win on Saturday, though, and that’s quickly forgotten.
If only it wasn’t Barnsley (arrrrggghhh!!!).
■■Q: Do you think Lewis Grabban being captain affects his game?
A: I don’t think that’s why he’s not been getting as many goals. Can see why people want Joe Worrall to wear the armband. If we were starting from scratch, he’d be my choice too.
But I don’t think Grabban is a bad captain.
And I can see why Hughton has picked him.
Hughton has said he doesn’t put too much emphasis on whose captain anyway and he went with Grabban because he’d already worn the armband for Lamouchi.
If you speak to any of the players, they all clearly respect Grabban.
He’s not the typical shouter but that doesn’t mean he’s not a good leader.
Worrall is a leader whether he wears the armband or not. Longterm, he’s absolutely a choice for the captaincy.
■■Q: Always been a believer in a defender or central midfielder being a captain. More so if a player is very vocal. Joe Worrall would definitely be my choice and I believe he would excel, too, with that added responsibility.
A: Agree with you about favouring a defender or midfielder for being captain.
But I don’t think Lewis Grabban is as bad a choice as a lot of people make out. And Worrall - and Scott Mckenna - are vocal whether they wear the armband or not. Doesn’t make a lot of difference to them.
Have no doubt Worrall will be a regular captain one day, though.