Reserves ratings at Forest

[Thracian]

Nielsen 7 (Lots of desperate saves with his feet and hands. Had so much to do that his errors didn't matter much. MoM by default really).

Luke O'Neill 4 (Had his moments but Forest were a threat down both flanks)

Alan Maybury 5 (Simply not a centre-back and had no chance of coping with marauding 6 foot plus strikers who were getting supplied from the flanks. Battled for everything and tried so hard in possession. simply overwhelmed really).

Scott Garner 3 (Never the master in any situation. I've rarely seen him play well and today was no exception. Out of his depth).

Joe Cobb 4 (Outmanouevred and outpaced too many times and it cost us).

Ashley Chambers 4.5 (One glorious chance which he dabbed at as if he simply didn't need it enough. One determined run down the right and cross to an offside colleague and a few early moves with Newton that looked promising. In the end though, mostly disappointing and nothing like his best).

Sergio Hellings 3.5 (Substituted and you could understand it. Had little impact. Never took one pass when four would do and was largely anonymous as Forest controlled midfield with their speed, determination and movement)

Shaun Newton 4.5 (Lively start. Worked well with Chambers and others but faded fast and eventually seemed to lose heart)

Jonathan Hayes 3.5 (One or two forceful runs but so many errors of control and poor passes. Like everyone else, never looked close to first team material)

McKay 4.75 (Some deft touches but never at his best. Tried to forage in midfield a bit and combined occasionally with Sappleton quite well but most looked lightweight and too easily countered by Forest's defenders)

Sappleton 4.75 (Two threatening moments but generally a disappointment. With Forest quite slick and skillful at the back the game mostly passed him by. Subbed).

Subs:

Craig King 4.5 (One excellent run and cross on the right and his urgency helped City produce their best spell of possession near the end as Forest adopted cruise control).

Ryan Beswick 4 (Not on long but helped a the team will be glad to have him back after injury).

[Father Ted]

Nielsen 7 (Lots of desperate saves with his feet and hands. Had so much to do that his errors didn't matter much. MoM by default really).

Luke O'Neill 4 (Had his moments but Forest were a threat down both flanks)

Alan Maybury 5 (Simply not a centre-back and had no chance of coping with marauding 6 foot plus strikers who were getting supplied from the flanks. Battled for everything and tried so hard in possession. simply overwhelmed really).

Scott Garner 3 (Never the master in any situation. I've rarely seen him play well and today was no exception. Out of his depth).

Joe Cobb 4 (Outmanouevred and outpaced too many times and it cost us).

Ashley Chambers 4.5 (One glorious chance which he dabbed at as if he simply didn't need it enough. One determined run down the right and cross to an offside colleague and a few early moves with Newton that looked promising. In the end though, mostly disappointing and nothing like his best).

Sergio Hellings 3.5 (Substituted and you could understand it. Had little impact. Never took one pass when four would do and was largely anonymous as Forest controlled midfield with their speed, determination and movement)

Shaun Newton 4.5 (Lively start. Worked well with Chambers and others but faded fast and eventually seemed to lose heart)

Jonathan Hayes 3.5 (One or two forceful runs but so many errors of control and poor passes. Like everyone else, never looked close to first team material)

McKay 4.75 (Some deft touches but never at his best. Tried to forage in midfield a bit and combined occasionally with Sappleton quite well but most looked lightweight and too easily countered by Forest's defenders)

Sappleton 4.75 (Two threatening moments but generally a disappointment. With Forest quite slick and skillful at the back the game mostly passed him by. Subbed).

Subs:

Craig King 4.5 (One excellent run and cross on the right and his urgency helped City produce their best spell of possession near the end as Forest adopted cruise control).

Ryan Beswick 4 (Not on long but helped a the team will be glad to have him back after injury).

What sort of 'defence' is that? Where was Rowe-Turner or Joe Magunda?

[Thracian]

What sort of 'defence' is that? Where was Rowe-Turner or Joe Magunda?

I've not seen Magunda in a reserves squad for ages.

Rowe-Turner played for the Academy against Bolton but was not even on the bench today.

Whether they'd have made any difference we'll never know.

[davieG]

Glad you went then

[Staf]

Where was it played

[Thracian]

Where was it played

Nottingham (City Ground)

[Staf]

Nottingham (City Ground)

Was there many people there?

[Babylon]

Nottingham (City Ground)

You sir... are officially mad.

I have to be dragged kicking and screaming to a first team home game now days.

[Father Ted]

Was there many people there?

Around 137, I think it said on the report.

[Thracian]

Glad you went then

It's feeling like a form of masochism these days. I did wonder if there might be a new face or two but it was the all the usual suspects except that Ferreira and Djiziri would seem to be gone and Jimmy Nielsen might well have been making his farewell appearance.

[reynard]

Seems like a team that really isn't a reserve team. Full of has beens and never going to make it plus a couple of kids chucked in for good measure. how many of these have first team squad numbers?

[Thracian]

Seems like a team that really isn't a reserve team. Full of has beens and never going to make it plus a couple of kids chucked in for good measure. how many of these have first team squad numbers?

It's much different from the team of two years ago which was mainly former or older Academy players who were used to playing together and who were all chasing promotion to the first team.

There's still Ryan Beswick, Billy McKay and Ashley Chambers from that group but generally the reserves are a real mixture of footballing allsorts and it will be much harder to establish a successful pattern of play.

Also having such an unweildy first team/support squad has meant lots of rotation in the reserves which really hasn't helped the football flow or to build the confidence that comes with playing regularly together.

[Thracian]

You sir... are officially mad.

I have to be dragged kicking and screaming to a first team home game now days.

I must say - no goals from a reserves team is rare. And another bad sign.

But even with such an awful result, you wouldn't call the game boring. Forest served up some tasty football at times.

Trouble is, I didn't really go to watch Forest.

[Simi]

I must say - no goals from a reserves team is rare. And another bad sign.

But even with such an awful result, you wouldn't call the game boring. Forest served up some tasty football at times.

Trouble is, I didn't really go to watch Forest.

So what's your views on Taggart then Thrac?

Right man? etc.

[Calum McDermott]

It's feeling like a form of masochism these days. I did wonder if there might be a new face or two but it was the all the usual suspects except that Ferreira and Djiziri would seem to be gone and Jimmy Nielsen might well have been making his farewell appearance.

The three trialists would have been playing but they were not elligible!

[Thracian]

So what's your views on Taggart then Thrac?

Right man? etc.

As he says, he's there to learn. And this would have been a big lesson.

I must say it hammers me big time.

I've no idea what is happening at our club right now but none of it seems to be good.

Why the hell good money has been wasted on some of the players running out for Leicester City I've no idea and no-one seems too keen to explain.

We're a sodding embarrassment.

I wish I had a video from today and Saturday. And another of the dug-out action today as well. Cos I was left wondering if anyone gave a toss.

[Simi]

I wish I had a video from today and Saturday. And another of the dug-out action today as well. Cos I was left wondering if anyone gave a toss.

That was one of the things that I looked closely at on Saturday, the dugout action. For quite long periods of the game I noticed that Ollie was sat in the technical area not really doing much to encourage or coach the players in anyway. This confused me somewhat as when he first came and at his past clubs he always seemed the type to be up there talking to the players.

I can't really think of a reason as to why he would do that. Maybe it's just something he's always done, or maybe the fact that the players are just so hopeless not even the best manager in the world could get something out of them.

Although I'm not trying to say that ranting and raving on the sideline wins you football matches, because it doesn't.

[Thracian]

That was one of the things that I looked closely at on Saturday, the dugout action. For quite long periods of the game I noticed that Ollie was sat in the technical area not really doing much to encourage or coach the players in anyway. This confused me somewhat as when he first came and at his past clubs he always seemed the type to be up there talking to the players.

I can't really think of a reason as to why he would do that. Maybe it's just something he's always done, or maybe the fact that the players are just so hopeless not even the best manager in the world could get something out of them.

Although I'm not trying to say that ranting and raving on the sideline wins you football matches, because it doesn't.

You're right, ranting at players doesn't help at all. They need to be told specifically what's going wrong and how to put it right. Quickly and simply. If it works and they start playing better it's a big bonus. Cos you've no problem then getting them to listen the next time.

The hopeless situations are the best. Put them right and the players think you can work miracles.

[Simi]

You're right, ranting at players doesn't help at all. They need to be told specifically what's going wrong and how to put it right. Quickly and simply. If it works and they start playing better it's a big bonus. Cos you've no problem then getting them to listen the next time.

The hopeless situations are the best. Put them right and the players think you can work miracles.

Once again, referring back to the Arsenal approach, something that Arsene Wenger has mastered. If something isn't going well for one of his players, you normally see him drag them over and have a word.

I'm sure that settles in the mind much more than "what the ****s that, do this now".

[Tevez]

This Craig King sounds abit of a good prospect. Even though he come on today, I've heard past appearances he has been decent.

[Thracian]

Once again, referring back to the Arsenal approach, something that Arsene Wenger has mastered. If something isn't going well for one of his players, you normally see him drag them over and have a word.

I'm sure that settles in the mind much more than "what the ****s that, do this now".

Wenger is a genius. Picking players, getting the best out of them, planning ahead, applying his principles, enhancing the game...the compliments I could pay him are endless.

[Thracian]

This Craig King sounds abit of a good prospect. Even though he come on today, I've heard past appearances he has been decent.

Yes he's promising. Seen him four or five times. Forward, quite big for his age, fastish, makes a statement. Bit greedy and a bit wasteful when I've watched. Depends how much - and how fast - he's willing to learn and improve.