[retired_bigmamma]

I think my record for shortest time managing a club has been broken, ie Ipswich.

[retired_pjscott64]

SHOCK NEWS!

Paul Rouch has today resigned from Crystal Palace Football Club and has stated that he will not be seeking employment elsewhere and intends to take a well earned break. “I feel that I have put Palace on a very even keel, both financially and performance wise, and leave them as a team challenging for top honours” said the manager. “I wish all my fellow managers the very best of luck in the future”

[retired_calliecan]

Wolves put in some terrible performances near the death and still make playoffs – rumor has it god wanted it this way


Friday 26th December 2008: QPR v Wolves: Coca-Cola Championship: 1-1 draw

QPR handed us the best possible start in this one when Lee Cook got himself sent off in the first minute, this was the sign we needed to start battering away at the QPR goalmouth, unfortunately for us it took until the 45th minute to make the breakthrough when perhaps we should have been three or four up at the time, the goal came Ikechukwo Kalu as he smashed the ball home from a corner kick.
The second half was more of the same – plenty of chances for us but no goals, we where inevitably going to pay the price of our in ability to finish off our chances and we did just that as QPR hit us on the break in the 87th minute as Marc Bricham broke with the ball and ran the entire length of the park to hammer the ball home.
5/10 must do better.


Tuesday 30th December 2008: Wolves v Stoke: Coca-Cola Championship: 1-0 loss

Again our opposition ended up with ten men and again we couldn’t take advantage of the numbers game.
Darel Russell gave Stoke the lead with the only goal of the game in the 16th minute from the penalty spot. Mohammed Hammouti was ordered off for Stoke just on the stroke of half time. As the second half got under way I was well aware we should be able to take advantage of our numerical advantage of hopefully take something from the game, again though we couldn’t do it and it wasn’t for lack of trying, we had ten good chances in the second half and couldn’t convert one of them.


Sunday 4th January 2009: Wolves v Sheff Utd: Coca-Cola Championship: 1-1 draw

Up against my former employers here and there is nothing better than getting on over on your former club, is there?
Sadly for us it was nearly Sheff Utd that got one over on us as they controlled this match from start to finish. A player I took to Sheff Utd, Joseba Arriaga, opened the scoring in the 7th minute and the match was all united right up until the half time whistle, with the only shock being that they didn’t score more than once. The second half was more of the same and it was completely against the run of play we pulled the game level as Aiden Matranga found himself with space to run into and coolly slotted the ball home, Sheff Utd continued to press our defence for the rest of the match and were desperately unlucky to take only a point from this match.

Saturday 10th January 2009: Watford v Wolves: Coca-Cola Championship: 3-1 win


Things started really badly for us in this one as Marlon King appeared from nowhere to get in behind the Wolves defence and hammer the ball home past the helpless Richard Wright in the sixth minute. We tried are best to get back into the match but were unable to make the breakthrough in the remaining time before the break.
Ikechukwo Kalu finally pulled us back into the match four minutes after the restart with one of his trademark volleys from the edge of the area. We continued to press on and got our reward in the 71st minute as we took the lead though Kalu again. Four minutes later Guti made sure of all three points as he converted his spot kick to give us a 3-1 win lead.


Wednesday 14th January 2009: Sheff Utd v Wolves: FA Cup 3rd Round Replay: 3-1 loss

The former employers again \o/
Sadly this time they done us right over, Joseba Arriaga set them on their way with his strike in the 4th minute, and it was the same man that doubled the advantage half an hour later. In all honesty Sheff Utd could have been 6-0 up at half time instead of only being two goals to the good. Ikechukwo Kalu pulled us back into the match in the 66th minute, our optimism was short lived though as Steve Sidwell restored the two goal advantage less than a minute later.

Rubbish.


Saturday 17th January 2009: Wolves v Derby : Coca-Cola Championship: 4-0 win

Comfortable win in this one, James McEveley sent us on our way in the 14th minute as he rattled home a free kick from 30 yards out leaving the Derby keeper with no chance.
That was all that really happened of any note in the first half.
Into the second half and it was more of the same as we continued to pressure the Derby box with a view to extending our lead. The goal we craved finally game in the 63rd minute through the Nigerian goal machine Ikechukwo Kalu. Paul Wotton added a 77th minute spot kick to the tally to give us a 3-0 lead, and it was McEveley completing an unlikely double with his 90th minute goal that completed the scoring in this one.


Tuesday 27th January 2009: Wolves v Brighton: Coca-Cola Championship: 2-0 loss

I hate Brighton!
Totally outclassed and outplayed in a match we could have won easily.
Colin Kazim Richards done the damage in this one, first netting from the penalty spot in the 11th minute and adding his second of the match in the 52nd minute.
Yes this match was really that simple and boring.


Saturday 31st January 2009: Sheff Wed v Wolves: Coca-Cola Championship: 4-4 draw

Tremendous entertainment in this one! Eight goals shared equally among the two sides.
Things looked bright for my lot as they took the lead through Ikechukwo Kalu in the 17th minute, and Kalu wasn’t messing about today as he quickly made it 2-0 (24mins). Leon Clarke pulled a goal back for the home side in the 33rd minute but fiver minutes later everyone’s favorite Nigerian completed his hat trick and we where looking in total control as the half time whistle went.
There was to be a shocking turn around in fortunes in the second half as Sheff Wed would storm into a 4-3 lead after being 3-1 down, goals from Marcus Tudgay (50mins), Jamie Smith (65mins) and an own goal from James McEveley (76mins) would complete the turn around.
Things went from bad to worse for us as Damien Delaney was ordered off in the 80th minute. By some miracle we managed to salvage a draw as Ikechukwu Uche pulled us level in the 93rd minute.

A draw from a game we had won at half time, gutted.


Saturday 7th February 2009: Bristol City v Wolves: Coca-Cola Championship: 0-0 draw

Quite possible the most boring match of the season, that is all.


Tuesday 10th September 2009: Wolves v Leicester: Coca-Cola Championship: 4-1 win

Things started really badly for us in this one as Matty Fryatt gave the foxes an early lead in the second minute. The remainder of the first half was a fairly open game with both sides creating some good chances but neither side able to take advantage of the chances that fell to them.
The second half was a completely different story as we took the game by the scruff of the neck and got stuck right into our playoff rivals. Guti pulled us level six minutes after the restart, in the 70th minute Darren Ambrose gave us the lead and five minutes later he completed his double to all but secure the points, and well we can’t have players scoring for fun around here without Ikechukwo Kalu getting in on the act can we? He added the 4th in the 90th minute.


Saturday 14th February 2009: Charlton v Wolves: Coca-Cola Championship: 1-1 draw

After our 8-1 hammering of Charlton earlier in the season they were going to be out for revenge in this one, sadly for them it never happened and they found themselves lucky to escape with a draw as on another day Wolves would have taken advantage of the chances that fell their way and would have won this match comfortably.
The first half was an even affair with both sides making and missing chances.
Darren Bent turned the game on its head in the 46th minute as he gave Charlton the lead. After this it was all Wolves, still we couldn’t manage to score though and were giving a helping hand when Michael Skrtel was ordered off for Charlton with 14 minutes remaining of the game, still the goal wouldn’t come as the woodwork denied us twice, we finally made the breakthrough in the 90th fecking minute as Kalu hammered home to grab a point when I feel we should have taken all three.


Saturday 21st February 2009: Wolves v Fulham: Coca-Cola Championship: 4-1 win


Another game where we never played until the second half and how it showed as Fulham were brushed aside we relative ease in the end.
Darren Ambrose opened the scoring in the 46th minute; Ikechukwu Kalu doubled our advantage nine minutes later. Louis Saha finally scored another goal for Wolves (seems like ages since he last scored for us) in the 57th minute to pretty much put the result beyond all doubt. Kalu grabbed his second goal of the game in the 81st minute to make it 4-0, Paul Gallagher pulled a consolation goal back for Fulham on the stroke of half time but alas it was always going to be Wolves day today.



Saturday 28th February 2009: Ipswich v Wolves: Coca-Cola Championship: 1-0 loss

Pretty rubbish affair this one, no really, it was.
In the first half there was one chance created by either side, and it was only a chance if you count a 30 yard strike hit straight at the goalkeeper a chance.
The second half wasn’t much better and again only one chance was created but the difference is that Dean Bowditch scored it this time in the 68th minute to give Ipswich the three points.


Tuesday 3rd March 2009: Wolves v Preston: Coca-Cola Championship: 2-1 win

Preston’s Paul Connolly done us a massive favor in this one by getting himself sent off in the 9th minute. A mere minute later Romeo Castelen gave us the lead and we never looked back. Ikechukwu Uche (everyone’s second favourite Nigerian) gave us a two goal cushion in the 26th minute. In the second half we pretty much took our foot off the pedal and waited for the game to be over. Dave Nugent pulled one back for Preston in the 83rd minute due to some sleepy defenders but alas it was too much to ask for the ten men of Preston to get back into the match.


Saturday 7th March 2009: Birmingham v Wolves: Coca-Cola Championship: 5-2 win


Don’t let the score line fool you, Birmingham had by far the greater number of chances in this match, in fact we only had five shots on target, sadly for Birmingham, they all hit the back of the net.
Ikechukwo Kalu opened the scoring in the ninth minute to send us on our way, he quickly doubled his tally a mere two minutes later and looked like we where cruising in this one.
Rawez Lawan had other ideas though as he pulled Birmingham level in the 15th minute, Could Birmingham get back into the game? Step up Louis Saha with the answer in the 34th minute as we moved 3-1 ahead. The scoring wasn’t done for the first half as Kalu completed his hat trick with a stunning goal in the 41st minute.
Two minutes after the restart Bjarni Thor Vidarsson pulled another back for Birmingham, could they yet again attempt to get back into the match? No! Ikechukwu Uche put the result beyond all doubt as he grabbed a 55th minute goal. Then it was, everyone could pause for breath and reflect on the mugging they had just witnessed.

The result proved too much to handle for Birmingham Manager Rob Perry who said he could not cope with the shame of losing to Wolves of all teams and he promptly resigned immediately after the match.


Saturday 14th March 2009: Wolves v Sunderland: Coca-Cola Championship: 1-1 draw

Not the prettiest game in the world this one as both teams scrapped away to take something from this match and the draw was probably the fairest result as neither team really deserved to lose this one.
Al Bangrua sent Sunderland on their way in the 35th minute. Damien Delaney equalized from the penalty spot in the 50th minute to share the points.


Saturday 28th March 2009: Wolves v Hartlepool: Coca-Cola Championship: 4-0 win

Still on winning form as the playoffs draw closer and looking good for a playoff spot at this rate.
It took until the 44th minute for us to make the breakthrough and it came courtesy of a Louis Saha penalty kick. In the second half we stepped up a gear and blew Hartlepool away, Ikechukwo Kalu make it 2-0 in the 67th minute, Paul Wotton added a 3rd 4minutes later and Kalu completed the massacre in the 85th minute. Gareth Bryan was also sent off for the visitors.


Saturday 4th April 2009: Leeds v Wolves: Coca-Cola Championship: 2-1 loss

With Leeds pressing us all the way for a playoff spot it was imperative that we took something from this game, in typical Wolves fashion we took nothing and made life hard for ourselves.
Ex Celtic diddy Stephen McManus opened the scoring for Leeds in the 25th minute and come half time Leeds were still looking good for all three points.
Six minutes after the restart Stelios Giannakopoulos gave Leeds a two goal advantage.
Paul Wotton had the chance to pull us back into the game in the 78th minute with a penalty but blazed his effort wide of the left hand post. Ikechukwo Kalu pulled one back right before full time but it was too little too late by that point.


Saturday 11th April 2009: Reading v Wolves: Coca-Cola Championship: 2-0 loss

Oh yeah we are doing this the hard way now, Leeds breathing down our next and desperately trying to steal our playoff place and we go and fecking lost to Reading.
Dave Kitson opened the scoring for Reading the 7th minute and Pedro Vega doubled the advantage in the 48th minute. We on the other hand offered up nothing in the way of resistance.


Monday 13th April 2009: Sheff Utd v Wolves: Coca-Cola Championship: 3-0 loss


Up against the former club again! And they murdered us /o\

The first half was a pretty tight affair with neither side creating very much in the way of goalmouth action. However, whatever the Sheff Utd manager said to his side at half time certainly made all the difference as they quite simply overwhelmed us in the second 45.
Joseba Arriaga grabbed the first of his double in the 52nd minute. Matters were not helped when my idiot keeper, Matt Murray got himself sent off in the 56th minute. Ex Chelsea player, also signed by me, Jiri Jarosik converted a penalty two minutes later to make it 2-0 and Arriaga got the second of his double in the 88th minute.


Saturday 18th April 2009: Wolves v Coventry: Coca-Cola Championship: 1-1 draw

Desperately needing a win here as Leeds can overtake us if we don’t win and go sixth.
Louis Saha gave us a good foundation to build on as he put us into a 20th minute lead.. But as usual we could not build on the good start and allowed our opposition to find a way back into the game. Coventry’s way back into this game came in the 74th minute via a Shaun Cummings penalty.
On the plus side though, Leeds didn’t win :thup:



Sunday 26th April 2009: Millwall v Wolves: Coca-Cola Championship: 3-0 loss

We just needed to win this to be sure, couldn’t even manage that could we?
Kevin Foley fired Millwall ahead in the 4th minute, try as we might we couldn’t find a way through for the remainder of the first half. The second half was a pathetic affair from a Wolves point of view as Johan Bergstrom made it 2-0 Millwall with 14mins to go. Jody Morris compounded my heartache with nine minutes remaining on the clock as he made it 3-0.

The good news? Leeds got gubbed by some lowlife scum, Wolves finish 6th \o/



The playoff adventure


Sunday 3rd May 2009: Wolves v Sheff Utd: Championship Playoff Semi Final First Leg: 3-3 draw

After all the hard work of the season it all came down to this, a two legged affair with my former scum…erm… employers.
Could I finally put them in their place? Or would they shatter my dreams again?
Things started really badly for us as Clinton Morrison scored within the first sixty seconds of the match (yeah he was another one I signed, bastard hardly ever scored for me). This goal was quickly cancelled out by a Paul Wotton penalty in the 8th minute. Wolves then took the lead in the 22nd minute through Ikechukwo Kalu and everything was looking rosy in the garden of Molineux. Clinton Morrison threw a spanner in the works though as he equalized for Sheff Utd in the 34th minute (why didn’t you do that for me Clinton?). Into the second half and Sheff Utd took the lead for the second time in the match through Chris Webster in the 68th minute, Romeo Castelen was not about to lie down and let Sheff Utd take any kind of advantage into the second leg and volleyed home from 30 yards in the 79th minute to tie the game up once again.

3-3 first leg I’ll take that at least they never showed me up this time!


Wednesday 6th May 2009: Sheff Utd v Wolves: Championship Playoff Semi Final Second Leg: 4-0 win: Wolves win 7-3 on agg
This is it! Do or die!
Could we overcome the hated Sheffield United and march onto the playoff final?
Darren Ambrose sent us on our way in the 6th minute, still not safe and secure after the way Sheff Utd played in the first leg we knew they were more than capable of turning this around in their favour. Ikechukwo Kalu doubled the advantage in the 11th minute, at this moment myself and most of the fans allowed ourselves to believe for a moment, before we knew it Damien Delaney had fired us into a 3-0 lead and it was looking increasingly likely that we would be on our way to the final! Louis Saha made it 4-0 right on the stroke of half time. The second half we just saw out our win and made sure the hated evil of Sheffield would not be going to the premiership this season.



Sunday 17th May 2009: Sunderland v Wolves: Championship Playoff Final: 3-0 win

This was it! The big one! Would we go up or would be bottle it at the final hurdle?

The answer was simple, Ikechukwo Kalu had worked too hard and scored way too many goals to allow Sunderland to stand in the way of his premiership dream and his two goals put Sunderland to the sword here, he got the first in the 38th minute and added his second a minute after the restart, the third goal came via Ikechukwu Uche in the 65th minute which secured the win for Wolves.
The players just played out the remaining 25 minutes waiting for the final whistle and when the referee sounded it Wembley simply exploded a crescendo of noise, Wolverhampton Wanderers were now a premiership side \o/

[retired_abubaker]

The Forest Frenzy - A new year and a new era perhaps?

Yes folks after a traumatic second half to 2008, everyone at Nottingham Forest football club hopes the new year can be the start of a new era. Manager Andrew Hepburn has had so much going on that it has not really been about the football and it's the one thing that he hopes he can fully concentrate on and get this great football club up the league fighting for titles in the upcoming years. They lie in 9th place just now in the Premiership, unable to really sustain a great run of form but they are doing superbly well for their first season back in the Premiership. Here is the latest from the City Ground....................................


FA Cup 3rd Round

Nottingham Forest v Norwich - (H) Sat 3rd January 2009

Forest started off the new year with a comfortable win over Norwich in the FA Cup. With all the talent Norwich have at their disposal it seems the manager is not getting the best out of them. A goal in either half was enough for Forest. The first came from Harewood and the second came from Aliadiere who finally scored his first goal for the club and has not really lived up to expectations at all. It was a good performance without really being exciting but they did not have to be. Forest safely through to round four.

Final Score - Nottingham Forest 2 v 0 Norwich
Goals - Forest - Harewood (30), Aliadiere (54)
Att - 20064
MOTM - Luka Modric (Nottingham Forest)


Premiership

Nottingham Forest v West Brom - (H) Mon 12th January 2009

Another good performance here from Forest who dominated most of the game but could not turn their pressure into more goals and left the fans a little nervy before pulling through in the end. It was Harewood who kept up his fine goalscoring record by firing Forest ahead after only ten minutes of play. Forest could not find that all important second goal and let West Brom back into the match in the second half and they managed to get an equaliser much to the dismay of everyone inside the City Ground. Forest then stepped it up and just when you thought they were never going to find a winner, up stepped James Harper to score with only two minutes left on the clock. It should have been over long before then but Hepburn was just happy with the three points.

Final Score - Nottingham Forest 2 v 1 West Brom
Goals - Forest - Harewood (10), Harper (88)
Goals - West Brom - Allen (57)
Att - 30582
MOTM - Luka Modric (Nottingham Forest)


Premiership

Cardiff v Nottingham Forest - (A) Sat 17th January 2009

Hepburn left the St Davids stadium wondering how on earth his team did not come away with all three points from this game. Forest had dominated it for long spells but had real trouble finishing off the great attacking football that they displayed. Marlon Harewood had Forest one ahead in twenty eight minutes only for Cardiff to go up the pitch and equalise almost straight away due to some poor defending from Forest. Cardiff then grew in confidence and started the second half a lot better and again poor defending cost Forest another goal as Sidney Govou waltzed his way through the defence and placed the ball past Enyeama. Hepburn could not believe what was going on. He demanded more from his players and immediately they went in search of an equaliser but the Cardiff defence held firm until injury time when Jesus Navas scored an equaliser to cap off a great individual performance from him but Hepburn knew they should have been taking all three points back to Nottingham.

Final Score - Cardiff 2 v 2 Nottingham Forest
Goals - Cardiff - Amaral (30), Govou (55)
Goals - Forest - Harewood (28), Navas (90)
Att - 29355
MOTM - Jesus Navas (Nottingham Forest)


FA Cup 4th Round

Nottingham Forest v Middlesbrough - (H) Sun 25th Janaury 2009

It was back to the FA Cup for Forest where they faced cup holders Middlesbrough at the City Ground. It was a game of two halves from a Forest point of you as they were outstanding in the first half and poor in the second half. They were 2-0 at half time and seemingly cruising into round five with a double from Roland Kazubowski but were made to pay for not getting that killer third goal as Boro scored twice in the latter stages of the second half to force a replay. Hepburn was furious with his team and let them know just unhappy he was after the match.

Final Score - Nottingham Forest 2 v 2 Middlesbrough
Goals - Forest - Kazubowski (16,39)
Goals - Boro - Malbranque (73), Birsa (89)
Att - 20348
MOTM - Luka Modric (Nottingham Forest)


Premiership

Nottingham Forest v Crystal Palace - (H) Wed 28th January 2009

With the defensive problems Forest were having, the last thing they needed was Paul Rouch's Crystal Palace coming to the City Ground, intent on keeping up their superb unbeaten run. Forest started the game well and Luka Modric scored a brilliant fre kick to give Forest the lead but it seemed to make Palace angry. They went on to dominate most of the half and Forest were hanging on but defending well and went in at half time 1-0 up. Their resistance did not last long in the second half as Collins John raced away down the right and fired an unstoppable shot past Enyeama in the Forest goal to equalise and it was no more than they deserved. They tried to find a winner but for once the Forest defence was in great form and the match ended 1-1. A good defensive performance from Forest here for once!!!

Final Score - Nottingham Forest 1 v 1 Crystal Palace
Goals - Forest - Modric (11)
Goals - Palace - John (52)
Att - 30579
MOTM - Leighton Baines (Crystal Palace)


Premiership

West Ham v Nottingham Forest - (A) Sat 31st January 2009

A poor performance here from Forest as they were easily beaten 2-0 by a rampant West Ham side who in actual fact should have won by more goals. Forest showed no energy or determination and West Ham took full advantage of it. After the match Hepburn took his team straight back to the City Ground and made the whole squad do extra training as he was furious at what he had seen on the pitch earlier. A poor end to the month for Forest but I am sure they can get back to winning ways.

Final Score - West Ham 2 v 0 Nottingham Forest
Goals - West Ham - Sotil (40), Cheyrou (83)
Att - 31599
MOTM - Alessandro Frara (West Ham)


Although they had a poor end to the month, Forest still lie in 9th place although a lot further behind in the chase for a European spot. Hepburn will have to look at how his team defends as at times it schoolboy and Forest cannot have aspirations of European football next season playing like that.

[retired_abubaker]

The Forest Frenzy - Consistency? Where the feck is it!!!!


We enter February and Forest still seem unable to get a decent run of results going, to push them further up the table and challenging for the european spots. Hepburn is trying his best but the results have just not been going his team's way. Here is the latest action from the City Ground...............................


FA Cup 4th Round replay

Middlesbrough v Nottingham Forest - (A) Sat 7th February 2009

These two had to battle it out again for a place in the fifth round of the cup after a Forest threw away the first game in the second half. Forest started the game full of life and quickly went ahead through James Harper and Hepburn thought his team were heading for round five. How wrong could he have been!!! Boro then went on to smash Forest for five as the Forest defence showed just how fragile they have become and Enyeama had his worst game in a Forest shirt. Boro were clinical while Forest were just woeful and Boro marched impressively on to round five in their defence of the FA Cup. Forest left the north in shock at what had just go on!!!

Final Score - Middlesbrough 5 v 1 Nottingham Forest
Goals - Boro - Miller (24,30), Luyindula (45), Murphy (65), Dagoberto (89)
Goals - Forest - Harper (17)
Att - 24239
MOTM - Liam Miller (Middlesbrough)


Premiership

Nottingham Forest v Tottenham - (H) Sun 15th February 2009

A shell shocked Nottingham Forest went into this game low on confidence but battled to a spirited draw against Tottenham at the City Ground. The draw restored some pride as the players must have been hurting after that thrashing at Boro. Hepburn put emphasis on defence for once as he tried to get his defence working properly again. Forest had their chances but Robinson in the Tottenham goal was equal to them. Forest restricted Tottenham to a range of long shots and were never really troubled. Hepburn was delighted with the performance especially in defence.

Final Score - Nottingham Forest 0 v 0 Tottenham
Att - 30581
MOTM - Luka Modric (Nottingham Forest)


Premiership

Nottingham Forest v Man Utd - (H) Sat 28th February 2009

Forest produced an absolutely brilliant performance against Man Utd at the City Ground. The whole team worked together as a unit and their hard work paid off when Kazubowski slotted home the only goal of the game. They rode their luck at times but it was just an outstanding performance. Can this reuslt spur Forest onto greater things for the rest of the season?? Lets hope so.

Final Score - Nottingham Forest 1 v 0 Man Utd
Goals - Forest - Kazubowski (58)
Att - 30569
MOTM - Alan Hutton (Nottingham Forest)


So a short month for Forest but they are still struggling to find the consistency as one game they lose easily and the next they put a great performance. Hepburn is trying to get his players playing well week in week out but at the moment it's not happening. They still lie in 9th place in the Premiership but effectively out of the race for europe unless they put a great run of wins together.

[Curvature]

So with the new season about to get underway wholesome changed have been made at Craven Cottage with Fayed getting out his cheque book many times,
Transfers In
Kenneth Vermeer from Bolton Wanderers Free
Peter Crouch from Tottenham for 1.4m
Andre Carvalho from Fc Porto B for 5k
James Dormand from Birmingham City for 2k
Julio Arca from Sunderland Free
Oskitz from Crystal Palace for 2.7m
Franck Quedrue from Austria Vienna Free
Enzo Scorza from Norwich City for 1.3m
Stipe Pletikosa from Shakhtar for 2.3m
Leandro Gioda from Norwich City for 875k
Sherman Andres Cardenas from Norwich City for 2.9m
Staff In
Dennis Rofe joins as Coach from Southampton
Bruno Martini joins as GK Coach he will stay at his current job as French National GK coach too
Kevin Pressman joins as GK Coach from Mansfield to assist Bruno
Alejandro Martinez joins as Fitness Coach from Uruguay
Miguel Angel Brindisi joins as Assistant Manager from Hartlepool
Players Out
Martin Laursen to Le Mans for 350k
Joe Flurry to Crewe for 1.7m
Liam Fontaine to Mansfield for 675k
Jay Spearing to Charlton Athletic 1.6m
Keith Southern to Coventry Free
Lee Bowyer to Motherwell Free
Antti Niemi to NY Redbulls for 150k
Dean Fox to Wycombe Wanderers for 80k
Sean Thornton to Reading for 120k
Zoltan Stieber to St Gallen for 1.4m
Paul Gallagher to Aston Villa for 5m

Pre Season Games
Braintree 0 Fulham 4
*tv* Fulham 3 Ac Milan 0

so with all the players in and out and the friendlies taken care of its time for the season to start.

Fulham 1 Doncaster Rovers 1
Paul Gallacher got Fulham off to a fantastic start putting them ahead after only 10mins, new Doncaster signing Radosavljevic would be sent off 5mins later but Doncaster didnt give up and 22mins later they where back in it the final score reflected how poor the match really was.
Attendance 21102
MOM Paul Gallagher 7

Up next was a trip to Hartlepool and after Fulham took there assistant manager how they wanted to beat Fulham.

Hartlepool 2 Fulham 1
Neil Mellor came out looking like someone had just crapped in his boots he would open the scoring on 27mins, and just ran around the whole pitch the whole game,Oskitz would get his first goal for his new club on 79mins to make it 1-1, Paul Wilkinson would seal the win after some fantastic work from Mellor again to set up the goal a full deserved victory for le pool.
Attendance 7019
MOM Thomas Gaardsoe 7

So not going to well at the moment for Perry at Fulham I can see some more players being shifted around and brought in if this bunch arent careful

[retired_redstuff]

Stupid sigames forums froze and i lost all my write up . And so i begin again.

Well after looking at my team i was not happy with the depth in the team. My aim for the rest of the season was to keep the team up and rebuild for next season in the summer break. With no money to spend in January i couldnt really improve the squad. Our first game was away for fellow strugglers Plymouth Argyle.

Championship: Plymouth Argyle 0-1 Millwall - 10/01/09
A good start to my career as Millwall boss as a late goal from Ross Gaynor give us victory. It was an even game but we were able to hang on for victory and move slightly further away from the relegation places.

Championship: Millwall 0-3 Portsmouth - 17/01/09
It was always going to be a tough task as Championship leaders Portsmouth turned up at The New Den. With their team full of players who should be playing at a higher level it was going to be a hard game and it proved. Two early goals from Kutuzov and one in the second half from Lua Lua gave them a 3-0 win.

FA Cup 4th Round: Fulham 1-0 Millwall - 24/01/09
A welcome break from the league as we travelled to Fulham who were big favourites for this game. The first half finished as a stalemate. An early goal in the second half for Fulham from Joe Flurry meant we had to go more attacking and this nearly led to us losing by more goal. Our FA Cup journey was over, at least we could concentrate on the league right?

Championship: Millwall 0-0 Stoke - 27/01/09
A match i hoped we could win and move away from the strugglers at the bottom, including Stoke, lead to a highly frustrating day. Both teams were very [oor and neither deserved to win the game although there were chances. A boring stalemate.

Before the Watford game i was able to bring in 3 players, two loanees and a free transfer. Firstly was Ricardo Batista, a keeper on loan until the end of the season. Johan Bergstrom was the second loanee and i hoped he coul create things from the wing. Thirdly i brought Gretar Rafn Steinnsson in on a free transfer for cover of centre or right back.

Championship: Watford 1-2 Millwall - 01/02/09
It was going to be hard to pick ourselves up after a poor showing against Stoke but we started like a house on fire. Early goals firstly from Keigan Parker and then Mark Phillips with a thunderbolt header give us a 2-0 advantage at half time from the former Premiership boys. A goal from Matthew Spring halfway into the second half gave them hope but Alex Bruce was sent off soon after and we were able to control the game for another away victory.

Championship: QPR 0-1 Millwall - 08/02/09

Our second TV match in a row and it brought another victory. QPR were perhaps the better side but as the pushed forward in the dying minutes we were able to break away and Gaynor was able to slot it past the keeper and give us another away victory.

Championship: Millwall 1-2 Derby - 10/02/09
Back home to the New Den and once again a defeat, we started well enough and earned a penalty which Marvin Elliot was able to convery after only 12 minutes. This is how things stayed until the 73rd minute when Kevin Davies was able to nod Derby equal. This is how it looked like it was staying until 92minutes and once again poor marking let Davies in for the winner deep in stoppage time. Bring on more away games as we seem to play better!

Championship: Bristol City 1-3 Millwall - 14/02/09

Another away game another victory. The matchball belonged to winger Berry Powel today as his hat-trick was enough to give us the 3 points. Two goals in 6 first half minutes put us two up at half time. Bristol City were able to pull oen back through Stevenson but Powel found the net again for his hat-trick and another three points on the road for us.

Championship: Millwall 4-0 Brighton - 21/02/09

Finally a home win and an emphatic when at that. Gaynor give us the lead after only two minutes. And then Powel took over again with two goals just before half time to all but secure the 3 points. Anthony Gardner added a fourth shortl after half time to give us our first 3 points at The New Den under my management.

Championship: Sheffield Wednesday 0-1 Millwall - 28/02/09

Our good away form continued and this time Wednesday were the victims. A goal in under 10minutes gave us the victory. Keigan Parker pouncing on a defensive error to give us the lead and what turned out to be the winner. Things were helped when Jamie Smith decided to take matters into his own hands and get sent off after only 26minutes. This lead to us controlling the game and Wednesday not even having a shot on target.

Championship: Millwall 1-0 Leicester - 03/03/09

Two home victories in a row once again helped by a stupid opposition player . Richard Stearman brought down Gaynor as he was lean through on goal and was dismissed after only 21 minutes. We made ahrd work of the game though and it looked like we werent going to get the win until the 84th minute when Gaynor netted the winner. This win all but guaranteed our safety.

Championship: Charlton 1-1 Millwall - 08/03/09

Another away TV game, this time however we didnt win, but we didnt lose either. A tough away game at Charlton was not helped by the fact that we picked up three injuries. A Rurik Gislason own goal give us the lead early in the second half but James Walker equalised soon after and the spoils were shared. Still our mini-unbeaten run was continuing.

Championship: Millwall 3-0 Fulham - 14/03/09
Some payback on Fulham after they put us out of the FA Cup. Probably the best performance under my management to date. Graham Weir give us the lead after 36 minutes. Keigan Parker extended the lead halfway through the second half and Sam Higgins got his only goal on the season on the last minute. 6 games unbeaten now.

Championship: Birmingham 1-1 Millwall - 28/03/09

A tough game away to the former Premier League side. We got off to a flyer though after only 3 minutes. Gaynor in the right place at the right time to tap in from a few yards. All looked good and we were fairly comfortable until a very dubious penalty allowed Birmingham to snatch a point. Pennant the man converting after what appeared to be a dive. A good point at Birmingham but it should have been all 3.

Championship: Ipswich 0-1 Millwall - 04/04/09
Another good away performance from us as we got all 3 points again. Again it was one of our deadly duo Parker who got the goal fairly late on into the second half. This win guaranteed our safety and continued our unbeaten run we have been on.

Championship: Millwall 0-1 Preston - 11/04/09
Our unbeaten run came to an end at The New Den at home to Preston. A game which we didnt deserve to take anything from, and we didnt. Northern Irish international David Healy back at Preston scored the only goal on the 58th minute and they held out comfortably for the win.

Championship: Millwall 2-2 Sunderland - 13/04/09

A game of which goals seemed to come in twos. We took the lead after 20minutes through Parker but Steve Kabba equalised only a minute after. Thats how it stayed until half-time. But 4 minutes into the second half Al Bangura put Sunderland into the lead, but once again only a minute after Parker equalised and thats how it stayed.

Championship: Leeds 1-1 Millwall - 18/04/09
Another good point away from home. Ben Watson the former Crystal Palace man gave Leeds the lead after 17 minutes but once again one of the deadly duo Gaynor scored early into the second half to make sure we took a point away from Elland Road in the penultimate fixture of the season.

Championship: Millwall 3-0 Wolves - 26/04/09
Last day of the season seen me pitted against Steff's Wolves. He rested quite a few players for the playoffs and it showed as we strolled to a 3-0 win. Foley got us underway after only 4 minutes and thats how it stayed until Bergstrom doubled the lead on 76mins. Jody Morris finished of Wolves on the 81st minute in his last appearance for the club as he leaves at the end of the season.

A very productive few months as manager, started in 20th and moved to 13th which is pretty good considering some of the teams we were playing. Next season hopefully we can bring in some new blood and push on from here.

[retired_redstuff]

Into pre-season now and I had set up the transfers on many players and decided to sell the dead wood that would not be needed next season. Here is the summary of all my transfers before the season was due to start.

Players In:

Ilyas Zeytulaev - This young left winger comes in from Juventus on a free. He is very quick and has been capped by Uzbekistan 17 times. Big things expected of him in the future.

Liam Lawrence - Liam Lawrence also came in on a free from Sunderland. He has Premiership experience and will be a big plus to have in our team, also hits a good free kick.

Vratislav Gresko - Managed to persuad Gresko to join ahead of a few clubs. Vastly experienced and can play anywhere on the left side. Capped 47 times by Slovakia also.

Zander Diamond - A good young centre back coming in from Newcastle where he had limited oppurtunities. Good strong tackler and will be a big player for us this season.

Gregorz Rasiak - Scores goals for fun in the championship but as i found out a few weeks after joining also moans for fun, i was having none of it as you will see .

Gabriel Agbonlahor - Exciting youngster coming in from Aston Villa, good finisher and has pace to burn could be a big player this season.

Rene Aufhauser - Experienced defensive midfielder coming in from Salzburg, has been capped 33 times for Austria and is the experience we need in the midfield.

Sandro Bloudek - Young attacking midfielder with a big future coming in from Villa. Good vision and has been capped at u21 level for Slovenia.

Bofo Bautista - One of our biggest signings of the summer, Bofo comes in from Blackburn after rejecting numerous clubs to join us. Attacking midfielder has been capped 55 times for Mexico and should be a big player this season.

Ciro Danucci - Another good young prospect. Defensive midfielder coming in from Newcastle, has good passing and tackling qualities, will be battling with Aufhauser for the starting DMC spot.

Lewin Nyatanga - Another exciting prospect comes in from Partick for 24k. Can play left or centre back and at only 20 has room to improve. Will be back up this season.

Thomas Nikolaysen Valo - Onr of my scouts found this very good youngster and i snapped him up for 35k. Can play also left or centre back and will be vying for a starting place.

Ibraima Balde - Another good prospect a scout spotted. He cost 90k from FC Midtjylland and s very good in the air. The striker also has very good accuaracy with his finishing. Good backup player.

Paul Scholes - The name says it all, he may be old and slowing down but he still has the great mind and finishing prowess that he has had throughout his career, for only £400 a week and also a coach he will be a great player to have here.

Ken Ilso Larsen - Another scouted player, came in from Fylkir for 50k and is a great prospect. Is very fast and skillful and could be useful up front.

Staurt Taylor - Another major signing for us as we were very short in the keeper area. Good premiership experience and still young, will be number 1 next season.

Hasan Salihamidzic - Another big name player coming in from Aston Villa for 220k. He can play anywhere on the right or left hand side and has great experience from Bayern and Villa, will be in the starting line up no boubt.

Cacapa - Another big signing, top quality centre back coming in from Villa for just 90k. Great prescene and will be our number one centre back next season.


Players Out:

Barry Hayles - Tried to get rid of him last season, past it now and was wasting nearly 5k in wages, released on a free.

Jody Morris - Off to Breadford as their was no use for him after Bautista and Bloudek joined.

Sam Higgins - Released on a free transfer after a mutual aggreement with the manager so he can find first team football.

Martin Molyneux - Didnt do enough to earn a contract after coming through the youth system, maybe Wolves could be interested?

Craig Miller - Same as Molyneux, jut didnt impress me enough to offer him a contract, released on a free transfer.

Paul Robinson - Was in reserves last season and taking up nearly 1k in wages i offered him to clubs on a free and he agreed to go to Walsall.

Berry Powel - Had some good games last season but way to inconsistent. St Gallen came in with an 80k offer and i accpeted and hes off to Switzerland.

David Livermore - Didnt really play when i came in and was on the most wages out of the whole squad, a popular player but at 7k wages i couldnt afford to have him there when he wasnt being used, sold to Bristol City for 400k.

Josh Simpson - The Canadian international never featured in my plans and Adelaide Utd offered 70k for his services and i accpeted and hes off to sunny Austrialia.

Chris Maguire - Never really showed his potential at the club and i offloaded him to Barnsley for 100k.

Jamie Langfield - Goalkeeper who i didnt really rate and was always complaining so i offloaded him to MK Dons for 24k.

Gregorz Rasiak - This is what you get if you moan all the time Gregorz . Sold after yapping to me about competition. Off to Sheffield Wednesday for 240k.

Ben May - Another player rotting in the reserves and taking up nearly 2k in wages. Offered him for free to clubs and Burnley picked him up.

Mark Phillips - Had a decent season last season but with new arrivals he was only going to be a bit part player so we both agreed that he could leave, joined Brighton for 95k.

Graham Weir - Mentally a very good striker but he was never going to get me those 20 goals a season, off loaded to Burnley again on a free.

Rafn Gretar Steinsson - Only signed in January but wanted guaranteed first team football which i couldnt give him, when Tampere Utd came in with an offer of 50k i accepted and he was off.

Those are my transfers in and out so far this summer. The new signings should be able to propel me higher in the league this season although they may take a few weeks/months to settle into a proper gelled team.

[retired_abubaker]

The Forest Frenzy - A short sharp and quite sweet month for Forest!!!

We enter March now and the season is coming to an end for Forest and they are still trying to push for a place in even the Intertoto Cup but it seems unlikely the way they are playing. They still lie in 9th place in the league and it seems destined they are staying there for the rest of the season. Here is the latest from the City Ground in March.............


Premiership

Wigan v Nottingham Forest - (A) Sun 8th March 2009

Forest came away from Wigan with a point after a spirited performance that saw them come from behind and maybe they should have went on to win the game as they did have thier chances after the equaliser. Forest went ahead in fourteen minutes as Wigan defender marc Wilson turned the ball into his own goal but Zidan who had been a threat from the start made it 1-1 right on half time. Wigan came out and started where they left off and went 2-1 up, only for Kazubowski to score the equaliser ten minutes later. Forest pressed and pressed but could not find a winner and Wigan were lucky to come away with a point from this game.

Final Score - Wigan 2 v 2 Nottingham Forest
Goals - Wigan - Zidan (44), Calaio (51)
Goals - Forest - Wilson (og,14), Kazubowski (61)
Att - 25120
MOTM - Roland Kazubowski (Nottingham Forest)


Premiership

Nottingham Forest v Chelsea - (H) Sat 14th March 2009

A tough game for Forest as Chelsea were flying and on a great run. Chelsea dominated this game for long periods as you would expect due to their superior quality but Forest battled away and denied them a goal until the second half when substitute Pazzini came on and grabbd the winner for Chelsea. It showed the gulf in quality between the two teams and Chelsea deserved their win but Hepburn was happy with the way his team played. Hepburn was also on his best behaviour after all the trouble between the sides over the kidnapping of Hepburn earlier in the season.

Final Score - Nottingham Forest 0 v 1 Chelsea
Goals - Chelsea - Pazzini (76)
Att - 30572
MOTM - Paulo Ferreira (Chelsea)


Premiership

Blackburn v Nottingham Forest - (A) Mon 30th March 2009

A great end to the month for Forest as they destroyed Blackburn at Ewood Park albeit with the help of the sending off of Ryan Nelsen in the first half. Blackburn went ahead early on in the game but after the sending off Forest took over and proved far too strong for Blackburn. A Marlon Harewood hat trick did the damage for Forest with Helguson weighing in with a goal as well to wrap this game up for Forest.

Final Score - Blackburn 1 v 4 Nottingham Forest
Goals - Blackburn - Janczyk (5)
Goals - Forest - Harewood (40,61,81), Helguson (66)
Sent Off - Ryan Nelsen (Blackburn)
Att - 28225
MOTM - Marlon Harewood (Nottingham Forest)


So Forest end the month on a high but still are no closer to moving up the table. Inconsistency has cost them although Hepburn has been a happier man with recent performances and hopes his team can maintain that level of performance for the remainder of the season.

[retired_abubaker]

The Forest Frenzy - The greatest example ever of an inconsistent football team!!!!


We're into the final month of the season and the inconsistency that has haunted Forest has been all too evident in the run in to the end of the season. They win a match then lose a couple them draw then win again it is like a merrygoround. Hepburn missed the run in till the end of the season as he was away on scouting missions all over the globe as he was planning huge changes in the summer and the chairman liked this idea as Forest really had nothing to play for so he granted him this superb opportunity. Here is the last games from the City Ground in what has been a turbulent season.............


Premiership

Nottingham Forest v Newcastle - (H) Mon 4th April 2009

A game Forest should have won quite easily as the battered Newcastle but the one man superhuman goalie Tim Howard kept them out and denied them a victory with save after save. At the other end Forest were caught on the break time and time again as they were pushing so many men forward in search of goals. Kazubowski opened the scoring, cooly slotting home a penalty after eleven minutes. Newcastle equalised in twenty four and then nine minutes from time Mendieta slotted home a penalty to give Newcastle a rather lucky win. Hepburn commented that on any other day Forest would have won about 5-1 but on this day his team his team were just plain out of luck.

Final Score - Nottingham Forest 1 v 2 Newcastle
Goals - Forest - Kazubowski (pen,11)
Goals - Newcastle - Postiga (24), Mendieta (pen,81)
Att - 30579
MOTM - Glen Johnson (Newcastle)


Premiership

Middlesbrough v Nottingham Forest - (A) Sat 11th April 2009

It was time for Forest to return to the North and to the stadium where Hepburn saw his team's worst ever performance. If they were poor that day they were just as poor again. It must be something about the North and Middlesbrough that the Forest players don't like as they simply were rubbish. Boro easily won and Hepburn commented after the game he hopes never to return to the Riverside Stadium again in his lifetime, although he will no doubt be there next season with Forest. It seems Boro have the psychological edge over Forest and they are doing their best to keep it up.

Final Score - Middlesbrough 4 v 0 Nottingham Forest
Goals - Boro - Birsa (5), Downing (14), Dagoberto (31), Murphy (pen,82)
Att - 34040
MOTM - Robert Olejnik (Middlesbrough)


That was last of Hepburn in the Forest dugout for the remainder of the season as he was off on the mother of all scouting missions to see over as many transfer targets as possible. It was left to his assistant to oversee the team for the remaining games. Here is how he got on.....


Nottingham Forest v Southampton - (H) Sat 13th April 2009
Final Score - Nottingham Forest 2 v 1 Southampton

Nottingham Forest v Norwich - (H) Sun 19th April 2009
Final Score - Nottingham Forest 2 v 1 Norwich

Arsenal v Nottingham Forest - (A) Sun 26th April 2009
Final Score - Arsenal 3 v 1 Nottingham Forest

Liverpool v Nottingham Forest - (A) Fri 1st May 2009
Final Score - Liverpool 2 v 0 Nottingham Forest

Nottingham Forest v Everton - (H) Sun 3rd May 2009
Final Score - Nottingham Forest 3 v 0 Everton


It has been one hell of a season for everyone at Nottingham Forest football club this season and some are just glad it is all over. There has been the kidnapping of the gaffer Andrew Hepburn, he then got put in jail over the whole thing , accusing Abrahovic of orchestrating the whole thing. It has been a crazy season off the pitch for Hepburn.

On the pitch well the first season back in the Premiership has went reasonably well. Inconsistency throughout the season and a distinct lack of goals did not help the Forest cause but the players did well and put the off field stuff to the back of their minds.

Lets hope next season goes just a little smoother for Forest and they can maybe snatch a top six place if everything goes well.