Back From The Game - Nottm Forest

[Ian Royal]

Harper in the Karacan role, Matejovsky in the Tabb role and Davies or Karacan in the Davies role.

Harper has quick feet, strength and a good turn on him. He'll increase the pace at which we bring it out from the back and distribute it so we can do damage rather than walk it around inside our third. He is also very aware and able to slot into the back four to release one of the defenders forward easily and effectively. Perfect role for him.

Karacan can get stuck in and has a shot on him. Same with Davies. Matejovsky can use the ball and create the openings up the pitch.

[winchester_royal]

Karacan - 7 played well, but for me isn't suited to the holding role unless he improves. Doesn't move the ball or turn quick enough. I know we want to play a passing game, but we need to move the ball forward with more urgency and drive.

Disagree there. Karacan was as good as i've ever seen him, and totally bossed the game. A couple of forest fans i've talked to agree with that. He just needs someone like Marek or Harps in the midfield with him to help push the team forward.

[Ian Royal]

Karacan - 7 played well, but for me isn't suited to the holding role unless he improves. Doesn't move the ball or turn quick enough. I know we want to play a passing game, but we need to move the ball forward with more urgency and drive.

Disagree there. Karacan was as good as i've ever seen him, and totally bossed the game. A couple of forest fans i've talked to agree with that. He just needs someone like Marek or Harps in the midfield with him to help push the team forward.

But surely you must agree we need to use the ball further forward and not take half an hour to leave our half?

[chilipepper91]

Karacan - 7 played well, but for me isn't suited to the holding role unless he improves. Doesn't move the ball or turn quick enough. I know we want to play a passing game, but we need to move the ball forward with more urgency and drive.

Disagree there. Karacan was as good as i've ever seen him, and totally bossed the game. A couple of forest fans i've talked to agree with that. He just needs someone like Marek or Harps in the midfield with him to help push the team forward.

--------Karacan-------
Matejovsky---Davies

or

-------Davies-------
Matejovsky---Tabb

would be my two picks

[SteveRoyal]

Karacan - 7 played well, but for me isn't suited to the holding role unless he improves. Doesn't move the ball or turn quick enough. I know we want to play a passing game, but we need to move the ball forward with more urgency and drive.

Disagree there. Karacan was as good as i've ever seen him, and totally bossed the game. A couple of forest fans i've talked to agree with that. He just needs someone like Marek or Harps in the midfield with him to help push the team forward.

But surely you must agree we need to use the ball further forward and not take half an hour to leave our half?

Where a player like Matejovsky would help. Matejovsky always looks to pass forwards - he doesn't often look behind him. He's not the most combative midfielder and his tackles are fouls waiting to happen, but his passing and vision is second to none in the Championship. Wait for his return and see how many more chances we get.

[Tutti Frutti]

It's inevitable that when we try to revert to a passing game, some will have a pop at the team that it isn't immediately highly effective.

There was lots to like today, and a few things to be concerned about. On the whole though, the negatives (for instance the sometimes over-tentative passing) were about a team making pretty much a collective debut, or in areas where we know we need(ed) to strengthen. When they settle, this team seems to me to have a lot to offer, and will strengthen towards May. Whether its this year of next, it can challenge.

[Royal Rother]

Average age of <23, a team packed full of Academy players, completely new style of play lots of passing, no hoofball, and all this achieved by a new manager with only about 5 weeks to get his ideas across, yet some supporters still found it dull and uninspiring and are already convinced this squad isn't going to score enough goals.

Everyone is learning to play new football under Rodgers - no reason to think the strikers can't improve from where they were today.

Patience!

[loyalroyal4life]

with the average age of the team being under 23 it is inevitable that mistakes will be made but ultimately and i think glimpses were shown today, the mistakes will be costly mistakes that will provide opposing teams with outright chances to score this being down to the way we play, passing it from the back etc. I cant recall feds even hitting long for 1 of his goalkicks!!?

i thought we played well but as predicted would draw 0-0 due to there being questions over where a goal would come from. we need a striker not sure if it is a link striker (as said by buck) that we need or an out and out.

one thing is i think we will win games by the odd goal etc and i believe this team will play like shades of mourinhos chelski team!!

think rosy was poor, picking off from last season. davies, bertrand impressed

[Royalee]

Average age of <23, a team packed full of Academy players, completely new style of play lots of passing, no hoofball, and all this achieved by a new manager with only about 5 weeks to get his ideas across, yet some supporters still found it dull and uninspiring and are already convinced this squad isn't going to score enough goals.

Everyone is learning to play new football under Rodgers - no reason to think the strikers can't improve from where they were today.

Patience!

Spot on.

[Winvey]

Really enjoyed the first half today, second half wasn't as good but still very promising.

Federici - 7 - couple of good saves distribution was pretty good (apart from one pass to the opposition in the first half!)
Rosenior - 6
Bertrand - 7 - good going foward and made a brilliant interception/tackle in our penalty area in the second half
Pearce - 8 - Excellent performance, won everything in the air, good passing
Cisse - 7 - Formed a good partnership at the back with Pearce
Tabb - 7 - Busy
Karacan - 8 played closest to the defense and showed a great range of passing
Davies - 8 - My MOTM, looks very composed on the ball, a couple of decent set pieces, good engine, has got a shot on him
Kebe - 7 - looked lively on the ball, but as per usual took it one step to far a couple of times, should have scored
Robson-Kanu - 7 - very good first half, looked exciting going foward (unlucky to be substituted IMO)
Church - 6 - worked quite hard on his own up front, wasn't too impressed today though, improved when he moved to the right

Long - 7 - lively

All in all I was happy with the performance, was really impressed by the youngsters especially Davies, looks to have a good future. We definitely need an out and out striker up top, though Noel Hunt could do well in that role. Exciting times - the future's bright!!

[SteveRoyal]

Exciting times - the future's bright!!

The Future's Orange.

Sorry, couldn't resist.

[Ian Royal]

It's going to be a slow start to the season. And please don't take my comments on Karacan that he wasn't good, I just think he'd be more effective further forward and that Harper is absolutely ideal for the role Karacan played today.

Admittedly Matejovsky looks like he could be key with his attacking passing and it's always hard to have a team with those two in. But I think Karacan or Davies doing the running and tackling for them will work just fine.

Whoever plays whereever. We need more desire to get to the other end of the pitch and score. We need better movement in the middle so the back 4 plus midfield sitter don't just play their own little game. And we need to get bodies forward quickly to support quick attacks.

Papereyes has spoken in the past about the change of pace that is key. We had it a few times today, but not nearly enough. Players need to take responsibility every now and then and rather than play the safe easy pass, drive forward.

We can play nice slow passing football, with virtually nothing over 30 yards. But we must beable to switch the pace up 2 gears at a seconds notice and go at the other team. Otherwise we'll get teams with more teeth upfront who take their chance and we'll lose games by one goal like we very very nearly did today.

Very promising work in progress, but there's a long wasy to go. Don't expect a lot in the first 10 games.

[Handsome Man]

Good stuff from everyone really

We didn't look that likely to score until Church moved out to the wing, but the energy and passing were as good as we have seen for such a long time.

Davies was a brilliant MotM

Sign a striker and get rid of Marek and I will be delighted

[Ian Royal]

Exciting times - the future's bright!!

The Future's Orange.

Sorry, couldn't resist.

I think you'll find it goes:

The future's bright, it's blue and white.

As coined by me about 6 years ago.

[CMRoyal]

Good, promising start by the boys, but we obviously need more urgency in the final third. BR is already talking about getting a "link man" in, but I thought Shane played that role well, and Church was a lot more effective coming from deeper and on the right. He has such a good footballing brain that boy, makes some great runs that aren't picked out, but can pick others' runs out. I'd like to see him take Hal's place next time out.

My marks - maybe a bit harsh in places, but don't want to set the bar too high this early on:-

Fed - 7
Rosey - 6
Cisse - 8
Pearce - 7
Plastic - 7
Kara - 7
Tabb - 7
Davies - 7
HRK - 6
Church - 6, but a 7 on the right
Kebe - 7

Long - 7

[andybsroyals]

With the team that started was gutted that out top goal scorer didnt score............................................................................

Cisse with 6 RFC goals ...should of played up front!

[LoyalRoyal22]

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
[url]Karacan - 6 - Nothing special really, was ok though[/url]
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

ARE YOU BLIND?

He was the best player on the pitch, started all our moves never lost the ball and had a great run forward and good shot, and won so many tackles in midfield.

My ratings...

Fed- 8-
Rosenior-6.5-
Bertrand-7-
Cisse-8-
Pearce-8-
Davies-8-
Karacan-9
Tabb-6.5-
Robson-Kanu-7-
Kebe-6.5-
Church-7-

Long- 7-

[Tony Le Mesmer]

Thought Scott Davies was top class today, easily the best player on the pitch.

As for the game itself, bore fest if you ask me. Very few chances, 0-0 written all over it from the 1st whistle. it took an hour for the 1st match corner FFS! The 1st half was like a friendly.

Patience is the key word this season.

[Ian Royal]

Thought Scott Davies was top class today, easily the best player on the pitch.

As for the game itself, bore fest if you ask me. Very few chances, 0-0 written all over it from the 1st whistle. it took an hour for the 1st match corner FFS! The 1st half was like a friendly.

Patience is the key word this season.

Yup. The plus point is Rodgers started Watford playing similarly and gradually made them more direct and attacking until they hit the right note.

[loyalroyal4life]

Good stuff from everyone really

We didn't look that likely to score until Church moved out to the wing, but the energy and passing were as good as we have seen for such a long time.

Davies was a brilliant MotM

Sign a striker and get rid of Marek and I will be delighted

get rid of marek?