HarryfromBath assesses the mood in the opposition camp ahead of Saturday’s game at the City Ground by delving into their forums.

“Well my friends, I knew we were in for a bland season but my God it’s going to be tedious”, “Make no mistake - this season is still all about getting the foundations built. The deadline day signings and away wins that followed boosted morale but we’re still a long way from challenging that top six.”

“Keep the faith”, “What is this faith you speak of and where does one acquire it?” Forest go into Saturday’s game on a five-game winless run, but Reds have been encouraged by the attractive play the team have shown in in recent home games against Burnley (a 1-1 draw) and Hull (a 1-0 defeat).

Forest lie 16th in the table and many feel this about right. “We’re bang on par for where I expected us to be all season”, “Whilst we should be aiming for the play-offs, mid-table is about fair for a team in our current condition, embargoed and with multiple players carrying long-term injuries.”

“An average team playing for an average club managed by an average manager is spot on”, “I was wondering if we were going to get dragged into a relegation fight but have seen enough to think otherwise. A transitional year keeping the manager intact while bringing in a few players is fine.”

Dougie Freedman

“I don’t envy anyone the Forest manager’s job. It’s a poisoned chalice”, “Agreed, which is why I don’t think Dougie should be sacked. Who else would do better?” “Some folk would just sooner focus on blaming someone. It’s why we get nowhere year in, year out.”

“If we can finish mid-table, Dougie has done well”, “Anyone that thinks we can get magically better with a new manager is an absolute nutcase. We’re already operating with one arm tied behind our back. He has shown he can buy in good players cheaply and get them up and running quite quickly.”

The former Palace and Bolton boss has the support of the majority of fans for his astute work in the transfer window despite the club being under a Financial Fair Play embargo. He is also regularly praised for both the style of football and the degree of teamwork the team are starting to display.

“The players are playing for Dougie. We just need a bit of luck and for results to start going our way. He needs the season and changing now would be a mistake”, “The exhaustive work we put in on and off the ball confirmed that we have a manager and players who are working in harmony.”

“I see a team on the pitch all working hard for each other, who know their roles and who look like they are comfortable on the ball”, “I go to Forest for entertainment and at the moment I am getting it. The manager should get time if playing a style of football that is good even if the results aren’t.”

The main criticism of Freedman is his tendency to be defensive. “Dougie needs the courage to open up a game, particularly when we are chasing it”, “I don’t think we’ll see the true potential of this side until he has the courage to let it attack and defend as one instead of leaving players behind.”

Formation

“I would like to know what Dougie’s plan was against Burnley as it seemed like we had no real idea of how we were attacking. When we ran at them we looked good, but then stopped doing this in favour of hopeful long balls forward. Players looked unconfident and didn’t support each other.”

“Barring individual errors, we don’t have too many issues defensively, but we don’t commit enough men forward until games are being chased”, “We have tended to lose shape with midfield staying at home and front men looking to push forward. The mid-pitch gap appears and long balls take over.”

Forest’s starting XI against Burnley on Tuesday had Freedman’s preferred set-up of four defenders, two holding players and one striker. Many want Nelson Oliveira to replace the normal starting striker Chris O’Grady. Defensive solidity has come at the expense of fluidity between midfield and attack.

“The performances are improving but I worry about the lack of goals. O’Grady isn’t a goal scorer and we aren’t chipping in from midfield.” Playing O’Grady with a partner can leave the pair isolated with no playmaker, but he is not seen as good enough to create goals for himself or others on his own.

Injuries and Suspensions

Straight red cards to defender Matt Mills (against Hull) and midfielder Henri Lansbury (against Burnley) means that both are suspended for Saturday’s game. Forest have additional recently lost holding players Michael Mancienne (knee) and Kyle Ebicilio (hamstring) to injuries.

Midfielders Chris Cohe, Robert Tesche and Andy Reid and strikers Matty Fryatt and Britt Assombalonga have also been absent with longer term injuries. The loss of the two strikers is felt most keenly as their replacements are widely seen to be lacking their quality.

Forest 1 - 1 Burnley

“Oh, dearie me, not good for the heart, this”, “It’s never easy, is it?”, “A fair result if we’re honest but frustrating to concede on 90 minutes and Lansbury took the shine off the game. Why can’t anything ever go our way?” “Not a bad performance at all but the red card killed us.”

With the Clarets having dominated the first half, Forest took the lead on 73 minutes when Eric Lichaj cut inside to score with a well-taken shot. The game’s turning point came shortly after when Lansbury was red-carded for a stamp on Ben Mee. Matt Taylor struck an equaliser in the last minute.

“Once we were down to 10 men the Burnley equaliser was coming as clear as day”, “That was a good point against Burnley. Freedman deserves time to build on that”, “It was a good performance, no hoofing and lots of movement but we just lack a final quality ball.”

“It helps when you go to a game with low expectations but Dougie got the mix of defence and attack about right. It was a pleasure to watch the ball played on the floor and the players gave everything they had. There was clearly a reaction to Bristol with the players and managers making amends.”

Bristol City 2 - 0 Forest

“Well, that was fun”, “Tonight was an absolute shambles”, “Comical defending, long-ball merchants, a useless out-of-position right-back, not being up for the fight, no player you could rely on and a predictable manager”, “I have never been so depressed watching my team”, “God, this is awful.”

“The players should be made to watch this over and over.” The Robins took control of the game through Aaron Wilbraham goals on four and 11 minutes, and Forest never recovered. Only a string of fine saves by keeper Dorus De Vries prevented the winning margin being larger.

This defeat was been widely seen by Reds as the one stand-out poor performance in their recent winless run. O’Grady struggled up against City’s three centre-backs and the Robins’ midfielders were free to make life difficult for Forest’s defence for whom Danny Fox had a nightmare at right-back.

“We were immobile up top, stood off Bristol and let them dominate the game”, “Our marking was poor and we couldn’t cope with the aerial ability of Wilbraham. Kelvin Wilson and Jack Hobbs were flat-footed and couldn’t win the ball in our 18-yard box. For centre-backs that is unforgivable.”

Forest 0 - 1 Hull

“Just got back, what a match. We played some cracking football”, “No need for over-reactions. We played all right and deserved a draw”, “A cracking match even though the result didn’t go for us. There was some excellent football from both teams in what was a frenetic high-energy first half.”

Abel Hernandez scored for the visitors before the break in an evenly contested game which saw Matt Mills sent off for elbowing Chuba Akpom. Tigers talked about allowing Forest to attack them with ease late on but many Forest fans felt that they were unable to lay a glove on the visitors.

“Hull were well organised and in the end our huffing and puffing and possession weren’t enough”, “Proud of the effort the players put in but I’m resigned to the fact that we haven’t got the quality to really compete this season”, “There isn’t anything to be mildly worried about after a game like that.”

Defence

“Another cross not defended, it’s laughable”, “I wish someone would ask Dougie why we cannot defend crosses. It’s an epidemic we have now”, “We seemed to be defending in slow motion”, “Our defensive frailties have been glaring since Mills’s suspension. I can’t believe people are surprised.”

Dorus De Vries

“I think we should send Doris out on his own to try to keep Burnley out. Oh, no, we tried that at Bristol and it didn’t work”, “I’m really chuffed we held on to him. If I was him I would have been fuming at the rubbish in front of me at Bristol”, “The man is a goal-stoppage leviathan.”

“I love you, De Vries. You earn your money every week, son”, “We don’t deserve him.” The 34-year-old ex-Swansea and Wolves keeper “kept the score respectable at Ashton Gate. It could have been five or six”, “There was one moment against Burnley when he elected to punch what seemed an easy catch.”

“Jack Hobbs is starting to look like his old self.” The 27-year-old ex-Hull centre-back “is fairly solid but gets caught out for pace”, “It was noticeable against Boro that our back four sat fairly deep as soon as he came on”, “He’s just very slow and worse since his ankle injury. Fully fit he’s the best we have.”

“It looked like Hobbs was running in jelly compared to David Nugent against Boro”, “He’s our most consistent defender when fit”, “Wouldn’t like to see him leave. He’s a leader at the back for us”, “He was an absolute brick wall when he arrived but hasn’t been at that level since with injury problems.”

“Kelvin Wilson looked very immobile against Burnley.” The 30-year-old ex-Celtic man “didn’t look right at Bristol and looked like he was carrying his back injury again”, “He looked like he was injured compared to before the international break.” Several Reds highlighted his recent lack of mobility.

“He still thinks he’s Bobby Moore. Sometimes Kelvin you need to hoof it”, “He has the physicality, ball skills, composure and experience”, “The biggest problem with Wilson is that he turns off from time to time. He can be quite inconsistent”, “He does have his ‘casual Kelv’ moments.”

“No, Dougie, not Fox, what the hell are you doing?” Concerns over the centre-backs are nothing compared to fans’ assessment of left-back Danny Fox. The 29-year-old ex-Southampton man stepped in at right-back to cover the suspended Lichaj at Bristol. “He has no business on the pitch.”

“Why is Fox marking his own centre-back?”, “Fox has terrible positioning and a complete lack of awareness of what is around him”, “If we play Danny Fox we can forget about winning”, “He is clueless and causing us problems with his indecisiveness and lack of concentration.”

“We finally have a left-back.” Summer signing Daniel Pinillos has impressed supporters. The Spanish 22-year-old left-back “looks a good reader of the game and adept at covering colleagues who stray out of position”, “He has two decent feet and tracks his man properly, all you need from a full-back.”

“Pinillos does seem to be a no fuss, no frills kind of defender. He won’t do anything fanciful but goes about his job.” The ex-Cordoba man “is very self-assured and plays a simple game. His deliveries can be floated and he’s better at finding feet but Spanish full-backs aren’t used to crossing into the box.”

Eric Lichaj

“There is some good news, guys. Lichaj is back for Burnley which means no Danny Fox.” The 26-year-old ex-Aston Villa right-back “makes us significantly more solid in defence”, “He is having a blinder this season. The goal against Burnley was the icing on the cake”, “He should get the captaincy.”

“It was a great goal and Eric worked his backside off”, “He is brilliant at closing down, chasing down and hassling opponents. His first goal had been coming as he has made a few dangerous runs and tried the odd shot”, “He seems very single-minded when he starts a bombing run forward at times.”

Central Midfield

“Freedman has struggled to get the midfield working in tandem.” With Mancienne injured and Lansbury suspended, Freedman may struggle for options in the centre. There is a widespread clamour for Jonny Williams to start while winger Chris Burke played in the centre at Ashton Gate.

“If we play a sensible formation which doesn’t involve Chris Burke being in the middle we might have a chance”, “Starting him in the middle against such a big team as Bristol City was idiotic.” The 31-year-old ex-Birmingham winger “was non-existent. I didn’t realise he was playing until half-time.”

“Burke wastes chances by preferring to run into space down the wing, take on a full-back and get in a cross”, “It’s frustrating watching promising positions go to waste”, “I like his courage and direct style”, “His pace and work rate aren’t an issue, but he comes out second best in any physical battle.”

David Vaughan

“Dougie’s getting the best out of Vaughan”, “When you watch him on the ball you feel a sense of security. He has a real gift of retaining possession. He’s not a passing player by any means but he was the first man darting towards Burnley players to close them down then they had the ball.”

“At least Vaughan puts in some effort and shows some quality.” The 32-year-old ex-Sunderland man “is quality, but he isn’t one for getting forward. His break up play is absolute class, his ball retention solid and he doesn’t waste a pass”, “If his final ball was better he would be a real route to goal.”

Jonny Williams

“We need to get Williams playing beside Vaughan. Those two are the best ball players at the club”, “I wish they would give him a start. He always looks so keen when he comes on”, “He should be starting ahead of Lansbury anyway”, “The Hull game was crying out for his flair and he was unused.”

“Bring on Jonny Williams!” The 22-year-old is on loan from Crystal Palace until January and is widely expected to start on Saturday with Lansbury suspended. “I would like to see Williams given some game time. The lad can really play this game”, “With one up top we need an attacking midfielder.”

The former Town loanee “is a box-to-box ball carrier who can allow the front three to do damage in and around the oppositions box”, “I could see Williams and Vaughan dictating a game quite well”, “He’s happiest playing for sustained periods in the final third”, “Give Williams a try, he looks class.”

Wide Midfield

“We are a better team when Jamie Ward plays, so play him every week Dougie!” The 29-year-old summer arrival from Derby “had his best game since joining against Burnley. He was all over the pitch, closing down, taking on players and busting with energy”, “He never gives up.”

“I didn’t want to sign Ward but that right wing berth is his if he is fit”, “He is a very good player who shakes up the opposition”, “He has a touch of quality and devilment about him and his energy helps us”, “Ward is a tremendous worker, popping up all over the place and also helping the full-backs.”

Ryan Mendes

“We need Mendes to have a good game. He shows lots of endeavour but little end product so far.” The 25-year-old is with Forest on a season long loan from Lille. “Mendes is brilliant at running at full-backs and skinning his man”, “He put in a massive shift against players twice his size against Hull.”

“Mendes never stops running. We have a few who could learn from that”, “He did put a shift in at Bristol and tried to make things happen”, “A busy bee with no end product”, “He was a thorn in Hull’s side all game”, “He plays really well but his final ball or shot is poor.”

Strikers

“We just can’t score, can we? We miss Britt so much”, “We need a change of personnel up top”, “We have no recognised goal scorers in that team and not one of them has a decent scoring record”, “We still have a good wide but our inability to finish chances puts us on the back pedal.”

“I think Dexter Blackstock should be further down the pecking order if we are to progress as a team.” The 29-year-old ex-QPR man “is always chasing the play and is too weak to win anything in the air”, “He doesn’t have the movement or touch required and we end up hoofing it to the opposition.”

“As nice as it is to see a youth player come through, Tyler Walker isn’t exactly prolific and wouldn’t have been the right choice against Bristol City’s burly centre-backs.” The 18-year-old “is built like a kid which he only just isn’t, so he can’t lead the line and isn’t naturally a wide player”.

“Walker ran the channels well against Burnley”, “He came out of that game with credit, not least because he chased more than enough lost causes for the team”, “He has to be played centrally. We will ruin him playing him on the right-wing”, “He is bright and brings some intensity to the game.”

Nelson Oliveira

“I would like to see Oliveira get a decent run. Give him a chance to find his range and he could start banging them in.” The 24-year-old is on a season long loan from Benfica. “He looks a class act with an appetite for the ball, preferably to feet which is why you can see him dropping deep to get it.”

“Oliveira has been our biggest threat over the past few games as he is positive and always looks to get something happening. He should be in the middle as our main striker. He plays out of position as an ancillary midfielder”, “He looks like a striker with goals in him but needs to be nearer the goal.”

“’Basil’ seems to want a bit too much time on the ball and whether that’s a sharpness issue I can’t tell”, “The guy has class but needs time to fully adjust to the Championship”, “He is tricky on the ball and it is refreshing to see a striker get the ball, turn, drive and shoot”, “He has bags of quality.”

Chris O’Grady

“We are not going to win many matches with Chris O’Grady up front. He works hard and gives his all but Bristol showed just how easy it is to play against him”, “He might be able to throw his weight around but this isn’t WWE wrestling”, “He seems to have imploded after making a great debut.”

The 29-year-old is with Forest on a season-long loan from Brighton. “It’s clear that he is turning out to be the budget signing most expected him to be. He has done nothing for a while and is a wasted shirt if he can’t hold the ball up”, “Needs a hot striking partner for us to benefit from his strength.”

“Even when O’Grady is winning first contact he ends up killing the dangerous positions we have by being a poor footballer. He has to work on ball retention and passing and he would be a great target man”, “It’s a shame he is a striker who doesn’t score because he really puts his heart into it.”

Forest Fans’ Views on ITFC and the Game

“Our last 11 home matches in all competitions have this record: won one, drawn two and lost eight”, “That’s shocking”, “That’s drop two divisions at once form”, “We need a home win soon, if only to keep the owner out of the picture”, “It would be nice to get one over McCarthy.”

“This one is in our hands, so I hope we grasp it.” Forest pre-match polls are cautiously optimistic with 52 per cent predicting a home win and 28 per cent a Town victory. “We will win 2-0 with Williams and Mendes scoring and with Williams to finally show why he is good.”

“I think if we go 4-4-2 against an injury-weakened and out of form Ipswich, and if we go at them early and we go at them hard, we could do exactly to them what Bristol City did to us. I think this game could go either way but that will be down to how we approach it”. “Ipswich are beatable.”

“Sam the Eagle will have his team pumped up after their mauling off Hull on Tuesday. He knows how to come to the City Ground and get a result.”

The more pessimistic Forest fans fear a backlash from Tuesday’s game or a draw at best. “I would love a Reds win, but neither team can buy one at the moment”, “They aren't in very good form, but neither are we.”

“Ipswich have four quality strikers although Murphy hasn't actually scored this season (which probably makes him nailed on to score against us). Maybe he is starting to show he's a one season wonder. I bet they wish they took the big-money bid from Sheffield Wednesday for him!”

“I wouldn't take too much notice of Ipswich's team on Tuesday. McCarthy got quite a bit of stick for his selection. Parr and Coke don't normally start in midfield. Cole Skuse is normally their first-choice central midfielder”, “They have been on a poor run so they'll probably end it against us.”

Websites

The busiest Forest message board is the polite and well-informed LTLF Forest Forum.

@HarryFromBath

Photo: Action Images

Bluebell added 11:37 - Oct 23 Thanks Harry. Great as usual. My worry is Mendes having seen him playing for them last week. Seemed to be all over the pitch. Great that Lansbury is out. I am sure Jonny Williams will get a great cheer from our fans. He only seems to be getting 10 minutes or so from the bench which is good for us!
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TR11BLU added 12:20 - Oct 23 They sound as pessimistic as us, and long ball too! Thats a 0-0 with neck ache then, the journey home will be fun!! Thanks Harry, great read as ever.
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theipswichman added 13:52 - Oct 23 That comment from their fans 'Ipswich are beatable'. Talk about stating the obvious...
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PeteTheTractor added 16:12 - Oct 23 Hope WIlliams doesn't start, he's sure to score against us.... Mind you maybe one of our ex forest boys will come back to haunt them... Start McGoldrick if hes fit! COYB
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LankHenners added 17:04 - Oct 23 “Comical defending, long-ball merchants, a useless out-of-position right-back, not being up for the fight, no player you could rely on and a predictable manager” Which team are they talking about there...? In all serious, another great report Harry. Not expecting a particularly pretty game with two out of form teams trying desperately to get a win. A lot of their fire power is missing, whilst ours are underperforming. I wonder if it's a case of whether their lot can step up or we can suddenly get a boost of confidence and play like we know we can.

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tractorgrl added 17:14 - Oct 23 Another team that are just like us, glad that ex budgie is out. Can we kick Joniesta all over the pitch and get away with it? No, we wouldn't do that and wouldn't get away with it either! We should , on paper, beat these but probably draw. If we lose i will probably spend the rest of the winter behind the sofa. Thankyou Harry.
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Seasider added 17:22 - Oct 23 Interesting Mick saying that nobody could have done better than him on what hes got,and now saying would have liked to sign Jonny Williams;but had his full quota makes me wonder if Evans has been starving him of funds which Manager wanted. I fear that if Jonny Williams plays he will show us just what we have missed. Likewise with Brucey and Jordan scoring against their previous team already this season,could Jonny be the third. Note that loan is only until Jan transfer window. How about using some of the considerable transfer money you have acquired Mr Evans,to allow your manager to make his first marquee signing for MONEY

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WeWereZombies added 10:15 - Oct 24 Is it just me or were Forest as a side tiring in the Bristol and Hull matches? Difficult to tell in a two minute clip but if they are only an 85 minutes side we have a real chance, especially with a double ot triple substitution on the hour, of punishing them at the death (as a few teams have done to us in the last year - that at least seems to be on the way out, if only because we are already beaten by 75 minutes).

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