retired_brinker317

Jeffers and Bowyer, I like someone who takes a risk.

This is excellent :thup:

retired_claire

Great Story so far :thup:

love the news of the world court case and the jenny/kelly storylines

pick kelly

retired_teju

Thanks displaced_seagull, as for Jeffers and Bowyer, yes I like taking a punt on talented rejects, it’ll be no skin off our nose if they fail anyway. Thanks also wisla_krakow. I was sceptical about changing the writing style to include outside events but it has turned out to be really fun. Glad you’re enjoying it too.

I wasn’t full of confidence leading up to our first encounter, a televised game away to Sheffield Wednesday on Sunday. The squad wasn’t dreadful or anything, yet until we tested ourselves we wouldn’t know if we’d be struggling at the wrong end of the table.

The lads were excited before the game, and set off at a furious pace. Bowyer had a perfectly good goal disallowed after 4 minutes. From there, we fluffed a considerable number of chances, before conceding a crap goal after 39 minutes. This was precisely the sort of weakness that would be ruthlessly exploited in a higher division. I wasn’t too hard on the lads at half-time, and they rewarded me by keeping the good play going, resulting in an equalizer. Bowyer headed down a corner for Tyson to tap in with just under an hour gone. Our assault continued without further reward, and a sending off for the home side came too late for us to capitalize on. A draw that felt like a defeat, considering we outshot them 19-7.

Sheffield Wednesday 1-1 Forest Att: 27522

We were complemented at the press conference afterwards for having controlled the game from start to finish with composure. I was unimpressed. We still got gypped out of 2 points, and that was all that mattered.

A very tough home opener against relegated Spurs on Tuesday night was next on the agenda. This time it looked as though the game would unfold in a reverse scenario. We led after a 4th minute penalty from Murphy. They equalized straight away and battered us, yet Jansen undeservedly restored our lead 5 minutes before the break. Despite my urging to keep it tight, we were pulverized in the 2nd half, conceding in the 46th, 50th, and 79th minutes. I was angry because we pulverized our opponents last week and didn’t get the 3 points, yet I had to realize that these things happen, especially at higher levels. Bignot had been totally exposed in the match by Jermaine Defoe and I would have to reconsider starting him at centre back. He was still a great prospect, though seemed like he needed a bit more experience before mixing it in this company.

Forest 2-4 Tottenham Att: 27218

Our unbeaten run had ended. Reality had begun. Kelly interviewed me for local radio and TV afterwards, and I cut an irritable and pre-occupied figure. I whispered to her that I’d call her as soon as I could, though she seemed a bit p***ed off with me. As though I shouldn’t have been touchy when I was interviewed by her. It’s messy when business and pleasure mix. At least that’s what I think it was. I can’t for one minute imagine she knew that I had done the dirty with Jenny whilst I was in London.

I was reading in the paper before Saturday’s trip to Doncaster that we were 20-1 for promotion with the bookies. I thought this was highly optimistic, especially given the gulf in class between ourselves and Tottenham, which was frankly more embarrassing than the scoreline suggested. Still, I was very hopeful that we could get 3 points on the board in this game, though I didn’t make the mistake of telling the lads that.

Morgan replaced Bignot and Jansen moved up from the bench for Jeffers, in what turned out to be a bizarre game. They opened the scoring after 5 minutes, then it turned into the Jansen show. Two identikit headed goals, after good work on the left from Tyson, gave us a lead that only lasted till the 32nd minute. We responded 7 minutes later, comical defending allowing Murphy to saunter in unchallenged and drive home. Shots continued to fly in from everywhere, and Bowyer finally got an unstoppable one on target after 70. They scored on 79, then Jansen completed his hat-trick with another simple goal on 86. With the last kick of the game, the hosts scored again. It’s a win, and I praised the lads to keep morale up, yet the defending was absolutely diabolical. If we defend like that the rest of the season we’ll get relegated.

Doncaster 4-5 Forest Att: 9165

With a week till our home game with Plymouth I made a rare trip to the training ground to sort out our defending. The forwards moaned about having to come too, but I made it clear in my pre-session bollocking that they were just as much at fault as the defenders. I hoped the session ironed out a few of the bad habits. More than anything I wanted to make it clear that the lads are going to get punished this season if they play like they did in League One.

The Plymouth game was horrible to watch, and frustrating considering we utterly dominated it. Murphy converted a penalty in 1st half injury time. Any attempt to push on from there was de-railed by a series of injuries to Commons, Pedersen, and Foy who was a substitute in the first place. We got that vital 3 points without too many alarms, and it was a better win than last week’s. More comforting for our long term prospects anyway.

Forest 1-0 Plymouth Att: 19234

Pedersen and Foy only had minor knocks, of 1-2 weeks duration, but Commons had a bad one. He’d somehow managed to damage his spine, and wouldn’t be available again for 2 months. He’s always frigging injured, and if somebody offered a few million for him I’d take it. Potential is no use if you’re never actually on the pitch.

The following Wednesday, a shadow squad of all reserve players suffered a humiliating exit from the League Cup at Lincoln. A combination of their incompetence and my arrogance, so we’ll gloss over that one.

A big, televised local derby awaited us on Sunday the 26th, at Derby. I tried to use the midweek humiliation as motivation, even though the 1st team hadn’t been involved. It seemed to work. We absolutely dominated the game from start to finish, yet there was always a foot in the way or a great save from their keeper. I was getting pretty agitated inside on the touchline, then with just 4 minutes left the pressure finally told. Sub Jeffers used his pace for once, and his stinging shot rebounded to Tyson for an easy one. Not a great performance, still too much for our rivals, which was encouraging. Our fans were magnificent, which was nice because the whole team, and myself in particular, took a huge amount of rather vicious barracking from a section of the Derby fans. It was nice to shove it up them at the end.

Derby 0-1 Forest Att: 33568

Morgan and Padula were injured during the match, both for 1-2 weeks, which meant we’d have to cobble together a side with Bignot at left back and Turner in the centre for Tuesday’s home game with Millwall. We had much the better of a dreadful game, which again left me in a good mood about our long term prospects, yet it felt like 2 points dropped against a hardworking, but extremely limited Millwall side.

Forest 0-0 Millwall Att: 21083

Tyson picked up a knock that would keep him out for up to 2 weeks. The squad was getting a bit thin with these injuries, so I moved to sign versatile Swedish DL/DM/MLC Sebastian Larsson for 3 months on loan from Arsenal. Then with great relish, I looked forward to a 14 day break before our next fixture. I was providing some studio analysis for the BBC on England’s upcoming games, which is hardly work, so I’d be swanning off to London for several days to see what kind of hedonism I could find. Just before I left, I had a long call with Kelly, who was pleased to hear from me, though asked if I still irritable.

”I never was,” I laughed. [i]”Well I was…but not with you. Can we meet up soon?”
”Is tonight soon enough?”
“It would be, except I have to go to London to do the studio work for the England games.”
“Oh. Well call me when you get back then.”
“I really want to see you more often. Formalise things, although I don’t mean make it heavy or anything. We’re doing a bit better in the league now, so I can concentrate on the finer things in life.”
She laughed. ”As compliments go, I don’t think I’ve ever been described as one of ‘the finer things in life’. I suppose I like it, although it sounds as if you’re putting me in the same bracket as a bottle of Chablis.”
“I wouldn’t know about that. My frame of reference is all in terms of beer I’m afraid. Can I compare you to a pint of Stella Artois then?”

She laughed again, and I felt excited about getting back to see her in a week or so. I had actually toyed with the idea of getting her down to London, but after the bollocking I’d received from the BBC about having birds in my room in Germany, that wasn’t a good idea. Then again, I couldn't resist living dangerously.

retired_teju

The fact that England beat Malta 7-0 in the first of the Euro qualifying double header actually made summarizing it on the telly quite hard work. It’s much easier to sum up what a side is doing wrong. When they’re winning that handsomely, what can you say? So Lineker, Hansen and me were trapped in cliché hell that Saturday afternoon, a place where they were comfortable and I certainly wasn’t. I tried to liven things up by suggesting that Malta must be involved with a betting fiddle to play that badly, and instead of laughing, Lineker came off with some po-faced remark about that “not being the view of the BBC”. All I could do was sit back and think of the money we were being paid, which was substantial.

All roads led to Saturday night, when me, Hansen and Ray Stubbs hit the town. We ended up at ”Tramp” nightclub, where we enjoyed the company of several drinks, and three young tarts who as usual found our notoriety something of an aphrodisiac. By 10pm, my two colleagues were ready to make for the nearest hotel room with their quarry in tow. I blew my girl out, saying I had an appointment to keep.

”Who with? Alcoholics Anonymous?” she said snidely. Cheeky cow.

Instead I took her phone number, not intending to use it, and headed for Jenny’s. Initially she didn’t appear to object to my turning up drunk and randy, yet after the deed was done, remorse set in. She felt that she had let herself down and not held me to a pledge to get serious with her. I’m afraid I didn’t exactly cover myself in glory, since that’s the last thing a bloke wants to hear when he’s plastered. I said “not that s***e again” and got up and left. That must have hurt her, and after I’d sobered up I felt dreadful about it, though too embarrassed to call her.

Before I’d sobered up, I engaged in more boorish behaviour, heading straight for the home of the tart I had blown off in the nightclub. She had no such reservations about welcoming me drunk and randy. I felt remorse about that later, but for a different reason. I was paranoid that she was the sort of classless bimbo that would turn up in a tabloid newspaper doing a kiss-and-tell about me.

England’s Wednesday game was a terminally dull draw in Ukraine and I was glad to get away and back to Nottingham for Saturday's date, at home against Hull. Pedersen, Padula and Morgan returned to the side, though it didn’t prevent a pitiful 1st half, and a petulant display from me in the dressing room at the interval. It didn’t do any good, so on 70 minutes I went s**t or bust, and Jeffers outpaced their tiring defence to give us the lead. Plenty of chances to finish them off came and went, though in the end one was enough.

Forest 1-0 Hull Att: 22681

Jansen was a casualty of our win, and would miss 1-3 weeks with a gashed leg. I am including a league table from after this game, I forgot to do it at the end of September.

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre"> | Pos | Inf | Team | | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 1st | | Fulham | | 7 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 16 | 5 | +11 | 17 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 2nd | | Blackburn | | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 2 | +7 | 16 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 3rd | | Tottenham | | 7 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 11 | 6 | +5 | 15 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 4th | | Nottm Forest | | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 9 | +2 | 14 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 5th | | Wolves | | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 6 | +3 | 13 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 6th | | Coventry | | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 11 | 7 | +4 | 12 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 7th | | Brentford | | 7 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 5 | +4 | 12 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 8th | | Norwich | | 7 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 4 | +2 | 12 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 9th | | Sheff Wed | | 7 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 9 | 5 | +4 | 11 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 10th | | Luton | | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 8 | -1 | 11 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 11th | | Preston | | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 8 | +1 | 10 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 12th | | Cardiff | | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 7 | -1 | 10 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 13th | | Crystal Palace | | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 4 | +3 | 9 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 14th | | Hull | | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 9 | -4 | 8 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 15th | | Derby | | 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 7 | +1 | 7 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 16th | | Ipswich | | 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 13 | -8 | 7 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 17th | | Sheff Utd | | 6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 11 | -4 | 6 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 18th | | Reading | | 7 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 6 | 10 | -4 | 6 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 19th | | Crewe | | 7 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 10 | -6 | 6 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 20th | | Leicester | | 7 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 6 | -3 | 5 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 21st | | Millwall | | 7 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 6 | -3 | 5 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 22nd | | Plymouth | | 7 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 8 | -3 | 4 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 23rd | | Q.P.R. | | 7 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 8 | -4 | 4 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 24th | | Doncaster | | 7 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 13 | -6 | 3 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| </pre>

I saw an article in the Sunday paper that annoyed me when I was sitting at home. A motley collection of so-called “experts” were making comments on our division, and were saying stuff like “they should enjoy the spotlight while they can”. I found it unnecessarily nasty. I’m building for the long term not the short term so I don’t care what they think anyway. As far as I'm concerned, they can sod off. In the meantime I might use the article to motivate the lads. They’d need some, since we were visiting Fulham next.

I wasn’t expecting anything from this trip to London, and after conceding a poor goal 14 minutes in, my prediction looked well founded. I was irritated without going over the top at half time. Basically it was a crap game, and they deserved to win. Not exactly outclassed, though we never looked like winning it either.

Fulham 1-0 Forest Att: 24685

Saturday 16th saw another away assignment, and another tough one at that, when we visited Wolves. This time we were totally outplayed in a dreadful 1st half, though they only netted once, in the 23rd minute. I didn’t bother going into the dressing room to show my displeasure. It didn’t alter the outcome, though Morgan’s dismissal on 71 minutes for 2 yellows rubbed it in. I cussedly went for all out attack with 10 men, resulting in two further goals for them, then ranted and raved in the dressing room for good measure. Perhaps the pundits had been right and this was the start of a major slide. Not if I had anything to do with it.

Wolves 3-0 Forest Att: 26368

With eight days till a Sunday televised encounter with Coventry, it was time to take care of personal business. I spinelessly put my shame and embarrassment about my treatment of Jenny into a letter. I couldn’t face calling her, and e-mail or text was just too impersonal for someone I cared about. The gist was that I was ashamed of myself and didn’t deserve her, which I suppose was a cop out way of ending the relationship, and it didn’t make me feel much better.

I got that special feeling from calling up Kelly and going out to dinner with her. I resisted the urge for hanky panky, which surprised her, and I must admit I didn’t half surprise myself, yet I felt like starting out properly dating her. Doing things the right way, which she seemed to be impressed by. It wasn’t a load of bulls**t. I had acted disgracefully of late, and wanted to regain some sort of dignity in my personal dealings.

We needed to regain some dignity on the pitch too, and a 7th minute opener for Coventry that Sunday didn’t promise much. However Doriva leveled with a lovely chip, after Holt had been denied. Just two minutes later, the same striker broke through again, this time there was to be no save from the goalie, and we were 2-1 up. Joy was quickly confined by Padula getting himself sent off for a professional foul another 2 minutes later, and I feared the worst. However, our leaky defence held on stoutly. The visitors were stunned when Doriva effectively finished them off with a fabulous free kick (78), then Tyson rubbed it in, sprinting clear to net a 4th goal on 83. I told the lads they were sensational

Forest 4-1 Coventry Att: 22112

Just two days later we were in action again, at Ipswich. We edged possession in the game, though they had far more shots. I wasn’t happy at half-time, then with 20 minutes left decided to shut up shop and take a point. My plans unravelled when Breckin gave away a penalty, then was quite disgracefully sent off by an incompetent referee. He wasn’t even the last man, and I was foaming at the mouth on the touchline, to the point where he sent me to the stand, although I initially refused to go until I had given him a real foul mouthful. As far as I was concerned, his buffoonery had cost us the game.

Ipswich 1-0 Forest Att: 23336

Saturday 30th gave the lads a shot at redemption, at home to QPR. Brecks appeal had been outrageously unsuccessful, though at least Morgan and Jansen returned to the fray. I didn’t rate the visitors much, and we duly dominated. After 22 minutes, we got a penalty, which Murphy converted. I was determined the lads wouldn’t get careless, but things were tight until they had a man sent off in the 88th minute. Quite rightly too, since they’d been kicking lumps out of our players all day long. We don’t complain, but we expect to be backed up by the referee, and he was as weak as wax in this game. Straight after the sending off, Jansen headed in a lovely goal to seal it from Bowyer’s cross. A decent performance, though we could have won by more.

Forest 2-0 QPR Att: 21946

Perchy is going to be out 1-2 weeks with a neck injury, which is a bummer. The board are still delighted with me, and with the relatively modest profit of 134K for the month.

retired_teju

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre"> | Pos | Inf | Team | | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 1st | | Fulham | | 12 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 23 | 9 | +14 | 26 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 2nd | | Tottenham | | 12 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 17 | 8 | +9 | 26 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 3rd | | Crystal Palace | | 12 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 25 | 8 | +17 | 25 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 4th | | Blackburn | | 12 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 14 | 9 | +5 | 24 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 5th | | Preston | | 12 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 23 | 14 | +9 | 22 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 6th | | Brentford | | 12 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 18 | 12 | +6 | 21 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 7th | | Cardiff | | 12 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 13 | 11 | +2 | 21 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 8th | | Wolves | | 12 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 17 | 14 | +3 | 20 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 9th | | Nottm Forest | | 12 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 17 | 15 | +2 | 20 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 10th | | Sheff Utd | | 12 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 18 | 14 | +4 | 19 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 11th | | Norwich | | 12 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 12 | 9 | +3 | 18 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 12th | | Derby | | 12 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 18 | 12 | +6 | 17 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 13th | | Ipswich | | 12 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 13 | 20 | -7 | 16 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 14th | | Sheff Wed | | 12 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 12 | 13 | -1 | 14 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 15th | | Coventry | | 12 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 16 | 18 | -2 | 14 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 16th | | Leicester | | 12 | 2 | 7 | 3 | 8 | 9 | -1 | 13 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 17th | | Hull | | 12 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 13 | -5 | 13 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 18th | | Luton | | 12 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 8 | 18 | -10 | 12 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 19th | | Millwall | | 12 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 11 | -4 | 11 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 20th | | Plymouth | | 12 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 9 | 14 | -5 | 9 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 21st | | Crewe | | 12 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 5 | 18 | -13 | 9 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 22nd | | Doncaster | | 12 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 12 | 19 | -7 | 8 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 23rd | | Q.P.R. | | 12 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 9 | 20 | -11 | 7 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 24th | | Reading | | 12 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 8 | 22 | -14 | 7 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| </pre>

retired_jgirl87

Still continuing to shine with this effort, irishregan. KUTGW :thup:

retired_teju

Thanks Spav, really appreciate it!

Another two week break for internationals followed. I did the BBC work, though steered well clear of the “attractions” of London, staying in Sevenoaks and keeping a low profile. Besides which, Jenny didn’t acknowledge my spineless letter either, so there’s no chance of going astray in that direction.

I arrived back at the club a few days before our away trip to Sheffield United, to find that Gardener had done a hamstring, and would be out for 2-4 weeks. We got down there and produced a dire 1st half display, which the home side had much the better of. They scored a penalty after 5 minutes, but that didn’t stop us grabbing an undeserved equalizer after 23, Tyson knocking in a rebound after Doriva’s searing free kick hit the bar. I got annoyed with the lads in the dressing room, feeling that we should really be beating these teams. Things didn’t improve, and neither did my mood when Foy had a perfectly good goal disallowed for offside. Match officials have got it in for us at the minute, we haven’t had a decision go our way for months. Afterwards, I was honest with the lads and told them they just weren’t good enough. A touch harsh perhaps, though true.

Sheffield United 1-1 Forest Att: 32973

On the 17th we entertained Crystal Palace in what turned out to be a ridiculous game. We were humiliatingly outplayed in the 1st half, outshot 11-0, and I registered a protest by not bothering to go into the dressing room at the half. It was amazing that it took them till the 34th minute to take the lead. Then in the the 65th minute Palace unravelled twice in as many minutes, horrible defensive blunders allowing Tyson to tap in for the easiest two goals he'd ever score. We shut up shop and held them, and in the 88th minute Doriva produced a free kick special to give us the points. Still not done with this crazy game, Murphy repeated the trick 2 minutes later. We walked away with 3 points and a thumping scoreline. The 2nd half performance was very powerful, the first half stank, and if it had finished up 4-4 I wouldn’t have complained. As it is, it’s about time we had the luck of the green (and the refereeing for that matter).

Forest 4-1 Palace Att: 27786

Just four days later we rolled up at Crewe for a game I would normally have described as very winnable. These days I had no idea quite what we were going to produce. In this case, it was another embarrassing 1st half display. We were 2-0 down after 8 minutes, though Tyson replied 2 minutes later from a rebound by Jansen. Opting for a good cop routine at half-time, I told the lads we could win it, without the slightest belief that we would, a view that was confirmed when they added a 3rd on 52 minutes. I was furious afterwards. Against a side in 21st place, we simply had to win, instead we were embarrassed.

Crewe 3-1 Forest Att: 7874

I made the decision to have a clear-out. Not so much a response to our recent slightly bizarre performances, as a need to raise some cash for re-moulding of the side. It was now pointless asking Nigel for help. He didn’t love this club. It was a simple business proposition to him, and spending large sums of money on players was a concept he just didn’t understand. Of course, he was quite happy to sell them for large sums of money.

Our next match saw us take on another of the relegated big guns, Blackburn, at home. Our usual woeful 1st half display was duly wheeled out, and we were heavily outshot, to the extent that I was forced to give up our usual pattern and go defensive at 0-0, in the attempt to cling on for a point. From that point of view, we had reached a new low. However, we did hang on for an undeserved draw, so it wasn’t all doom and gloom.

Forest 0-0 Blackburn Att: 29382

The price for the point was a facial injury to Danny Murphy that would keep him out 1-2 weeks. After the game I tied up another sale, this time of Steve Finnan to Wolves for 500K of welcome cash. He was a non-factor in his time here, and his performances were no better than someone I could have plucked from the youth team. The fans were inexplicably upset when I announced the sale. I haven’t the faintest idea why.

Beaumont replaced Murphy for our trip to Luton on the last day of October. Our usual pathetic 1st half showing yielded a 2-0 lead for the home side after. Doriva replied with a trademark free kick, only for us to ship another 2 poor goals after the re-start. I was so livid that I didn’t speak to the players at any time during or after the game. I wanted to create an air of menace, so I told Frank to let it slip that careers were on the line. It was just one s**te performance too many. This was going to stop, and stop now.

Luton 4-1 Forest Att: 6788

The board were still delighted with how things were going, even if I wasn’t. A loss of 255k for the month, and my desire for transfer funds led me to transfer list most of the first team squad. If they weren’t cutting the mustard they couldn’t expect to just stay here. This is a professional organization, and my ambitions were limitless. They have to get the results or else they’d be replaced.

retired_teju

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre"> | Pos | Inf | Team | | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 1st | | Tottenham | | 17 | 12 | 5 | 0 | 30 | 10 | +20 | 41 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 2nd | | Blackburn | | 17 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 20 | 13 | +7 | 34 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 3rd | | Crystal Palace | | 17 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 35 | 19 | +16 | 32 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 4th | | Fulham | | 17 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 28 | 14 | +14 | 32 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 5th | | Preston | | 17 | 10 | 1 | 6 | 32 | 21 | +11 | 31 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 6th | | Norwich | | 17 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 21 | 15 | +6 | 28 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 7th | | Wolves | | 17 | 8 | 3 | 6 | 21 | 23 | -2 | 27 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 8th | | Cardiff | | 17 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 16 | 15 | +1 | 26 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 9th | | Nottm Forest | | 17 | 7 | 4 | 6 | 25 | 24 | +1 | 25 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 10th | | Derby | | 17 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 21 | 16 | +5 | 24 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 11th | | Sheff Wed | | 17 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 22 | 18 | +4 | 24 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 12th | | Sheff Utd | | 17 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 21 | 18 | +3 | 24 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 13th | | Brentford | | 17 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 18 | 18 | 0 | 22 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 14th | | Millwall | | 17 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 14 | 13 | +1 | 21 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 15th | | Coventry | | 17 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 26 | 27 | -1 | 20 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 16th | | Ipswich | | 17 | 6 | 2 | 9 | 15 | 27 | -12 | 20 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 17th | | Crewe | | 17 | 5 | 4 | 8 | 11 | 23 | -12 | 19 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 18th | | Leicester | | 17 | 3 | 9 | 5 | 13 | 14 | -1 | 18 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 19th | | Doncaster | | 17 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 21 | 26 | -5 | 18 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 20th | | Reading | | 17 | 5 | 1 | 11 | 13 | 26 | -13 | 16 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 21st | | Hull | | 17 | 3 | 6 | 8 | 11 | 20 | -9 | 15 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 22nd | | Luton | | 17 | 4 | 3 | 10 | 14 | 25 | -11 | 15 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 23rd | | Q.P.R. | | 17 | 4 | 2 | 11 | 13 | 27 | -14 | 14 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 24th | | Plymouth | | 17 | 3 | 4 | 10 | 13 | 22 | -9 | 13 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| </pre>

retired_teju

Four days into November we welcomed fifth-placed Preston to The City Ground, and our welcome extended to producing our now time honoured pitiful performance. I’d tried to shake things up by dropping Pedersen and Morgan for Pidgeley and Turner, yet nothing was working. That we didn’t concede was more by luck than skill, and even after the visitors had a man sent off in the 2nd half, they still looked the better side, which pretty much says it all.

Forest 0-0 Preston Att: 21403

Another 14 day break for internationals came at exactly the right time. England disposed of Luxembourg and Iceland by a combined score of 7-1, and I spent some time in Sevenoaks, and as much as I could in the delightful company of Kelly. As sod’s law would have it, she had to go away for several days that 1st week to a residential training course about something or other, but we still got the 2nd week together in Nottingham before it was back to the grind, and very enjoyable it was too.

We were once again genial hosts when Reading came to town on the 18th. We went in 1-0 down, though it could have been 3 or 4. I decided to employ sarcasm, telling the squad I was thrilled with their performance, then promptly walking out. They went 2 up, Murphy pulled one back, then we conceded 2 more before the end. I headed down the tunnel with boos ringing in my ears, though at least I had the consolation of knowing that the fans were still behind me. It was the players they were p***ed off with, and who could blame them? I told the lads I was elated with them, they were doing a wonderful job for the opposition, and they should be proud of how well they played for Reading today. There were a few blank faces, and I realized that even sarcasm was wasted on these people at the moment. A transfer out of the club would be the only thing they understood.

Forest 1-4 Reading Att: 20804

Next Saturday’s torture would take place in Cardiff, though I was as stunned as they probably were when Tyson gave us the lead after 17 minutes. I tried to shut up shop, and we held on until the 83rd minute, for what was probably an undeserved point, considering we were outshot 16-8. I didn’t have a clue where our next win was coming from, though at least we got something from yet another shoddy performance.

Cardiff 1-1 Forest Att: 15784

As the month drew to a close, I arranged to sell Jeffers to Reading for 150K. I was the latest in a long line of managers to discover that here was a man with little to offer the game of professional football. He had no interest in utilizing his considerable talent, other than providing the odd flash of it so he could continue making money from the game. Reading would discover that in due course.

Despite a loss of 363K, the board remain very pleased with the club’s progress. I am at my wits end with the players, though it has never crossed my mind to walk away. I’ll be at this club until I am forced out, which may not be too long given the way we’re playing.

retired_teju

A sort of local derby was our first game of the always hectic month of December, a home match-up with Leicester, who were struggling in 21st. Bowyer was back on the right side of midfield. The game was an atrocity, which we had the better of, yet I was so sickened by the pathetic standard of our performance that I didn’t talk to the team at all during the game. We never looked like losing, against a team so inept that this was actually about as well as they could play, yet I was more worried by the fact that we seemed to have sunk to their level.

Forest 0-0 Leicester Att: 30585

Commons was a casualty, out 1-2 weeks with a rib problem, while Pidgeley joined him for the same amount of time, after taking a blow to the face (not from me I might hastily add, although I certainly felt like it). We had now gone 7 games without a win. Several draws in there couldn’t disguise the fact that our level of play had been a disgrace to this famous club. Once again though, whilst I was depressed about that part of it, I was still utterly determined to be at the helm when we returned to glory.

On the 6th, I decided with a slightly heavy heart to sell Doriva to Genoa for 40K. A number of factors combined to make it the right move. He was 34, out of contract at the end of the season, and I felt it was time to move on. Whilst his supreme ability from free kicks had provided a welcome boost to our goal tally, he had become something of a one-trick pony, and I needed more in that area of the pitch. The answer to goalscoring problems was to find people who scored goals. Not persist with a brilliant but ageing exponent of dead balls who contributed little else to the team.

Three days later we were at Norwich which is one of those teams I can never remember having had any decent results against in all my time in management. Pedersen and Foy replaced our injured starters, and our recalled keeper picked the ball out of the net twice in the first 14 minutes. Jansen pulled one back in 1st half injury time, yet I had no doubt that we had no chance whatsoever of turning it around. We didn’t, and Foy’s sending off 10 minutes from time rubbed salt in the wound.

I had been angry at half-time, then at full-time I really let the players have it. I was calling them all sorts (shower of s***e, disgrace to the club, worthless excuse for a footballer etc). The lads actually looked like they were hurt for a change. We’ll wait and see if we get a reaction, though I was pleased to hear Foy quoted in the media that the team had been taken aback by my fury and that things had to change.

The opportunity to make amends arrived on Wednesday at The City Ground, against Brentford, who were living down to expectations in 16th place. Jansen had picked up a knock, and was replaced by Weir-Daley, whilst Commons returned in place of the injured Foy. This didn’t prevent the time honoured rancid performance, except this time we finally went in front, a weak shot from Tyson jammily deflected past their keeper, which was about the only way we looked like scoring. I told the lads to keep it going. They defended without many alarms, and we hung on deservedly for a win at the 9th attempt. The relief around the ground was palpable.

Forest 1-0 Brentford Att: 17356

The win having dampened my rage somewhat, I took Brecks, Commons and Tyson off the transfer list. It was a shock tactic that hadn’t worked anyway, though it made me feel a bit better at the time.

Another home game, this time against Sheffield Wednesday was scheduled for the Saturday. The visitors sat 5th, which didn’t augur well the way we were playing, and they duly took the lead after 5 minutes. There was more fight and confidence in our lot this time though, and Murphy drove in an excellent equalizer on 14 minutes. Three minutes later another deflected shot gave us the lead courtesy of an own goal. We were suddenly on fire, and 10 minutes after that, Weir-Daley latched on to the end of a fabulous move to head his first senior goal. Another fine move after 33 saw Tyson apply the finish, and a delirious crowd couldn’t quite believe the 4 goal blitz they had just witnessed in 20 minutes. They weren’t the only ones. I had the pleasant formality of telling the lads just to keep it going, then the equal pleasure of telling them after the match that they had been quite sensational. Something of a roller coaster ride lately, but it’s amazing what a couple of wins can do for morale. The lads were laughing and joking and taking the p*** out of my bad temper just like old times.

Forest 4-1 Sheffield Wednesday Att: 30593

On the Monday I sold van de Velden to Hartlepool for 325K, representing a good profit for a player I had taken a mad punt on, and who quite palpably hadn’t worked out. On that same day Jeffers didn't turn up for training. I gave him a warning, which he accepted, and that was the end of it. If he hadn’t already been sold, I’d have come down on him like a tonne of bricks. Since he was on his way out, his bad behaviour was no longer my problem.

Two days before Christmas, we had the unenviable task of a visit to Spurs. I prefer glossing over days like this, except to say that we were thoroughly thrashed and totally humiliated, to the tune of 4-0. I wasn’t too hard on the players for the simple reason that we were outplayed and outclassed from the first whistle, and there’s not a lot you can do about that.

Tottenham 4-0 Forest Att: 36208

I was back up the motorway like a shot that evening, as I was anxious to start my second Christmas with Kelly as soon as possible, bearing in mind that we had a game on the 26th that would cut it short by a day. It was every bit as good as last year’s installment, though different in one respect. Last year I had just been dreaming of pulling her, now we were an item, though rather amazingly no-one seemed to know about it, or maybe they just didn’t care. It helped that we were both pretty busy, so we weren’t hanging off eachother’s arm every day of the week. It worked very nicely that way, although we had discussed bringing it out into the open soon.

I had to drag myself away for the Boxing Day game at home to Doncaster. I only arrived at 1:30, which was disgracefully unprofessional, though I pretended I’d been in my office for a while beforehand. I had trouble getting to the game, because we’d been up half the night drinking and carrying on. There was no way I was in a fit state to drive even the short distance to the ground, and getting a taxi on Boxing Day was like trying to get an audience with the Pope. The lads laughed when I said I had the flu, and Brecks asked, ”do they sell the flu in a bottle at the off-licence now then boss?”

I never objected to a bit of good-natured ribbing in the dressing room. Everyone went out with a smile on their face, but I’d forgotten to get serious before the start, and we were caught out with their first shot of the game, going behind 6 minutes in. Six minutes after that, the returning Jansen bent in a cracker, then halfway through the half, a nice move and cross by Perch was clinically headed in by Tyson. A fine comeback was capped by a Murphy penalty 3 minutes before the interval. We shut down the game from there quite easily, until one of our unbiased refereeing friends decided to make us sweat, giving a ludicrous penalty with 4 minutes left, and a free route for the visitors back into the game. We held on, quite deservedly so. All of a sudden we had 3 wins in a row, and were playing well enough to win despite regular injuries and all of our games being officiated by total and utter w***ers.

Forest 3-2 Doncaster Att: 19857

Our last game of the year was the tortuous trip to Plymouth. An unexpectedly lively start from our travel-worn team resulted in a 13th minute opener for Tyson. I felt we only had to play up to our potential to win this game, only for the lads to concede a s***e goal defensively straight after half-time. I was seething on the touchline, then Commons broke down the left and pinpointed Bowyer on the back post, who emphatically headed home. With half an hour left there was still potential for more calamity, though as I suspected, the home side weren’t really good enough to come back twice. Job well done.

Plymouth 1-2 Forest Att: 11513

Four wins in a row meant I could wind down into the New Year quite nicely, though Mark Wright the manager of Derby tried to embroil me in a war of words before the derby game on New Years Day. I wasn’t to be baited, and if we won he’d get both barrels.