The Opposition View – Nottingham Forest

With great thanks to Vital Forest editor Kev Finnegan, we ask a few questions about his club and tomorrow night’s game

With great thanks to Vital Forest editor Kev Finnegan, we ask a few questions about his club and tomorrow night’s game…..

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1) What are your hopes and expectations for the season?

Before the season began, the hopes were of promotion. Since then, the owner of the club has shifted the goalposts somewhat and I would personally be happy with survival in the Championship. If new investment comes in before January, my hopes would rise, but as things stand right now, I think mid table is all we can realistically hope for.

2) What are your strengths and weaknesses as a team?

We look very vulnerable at the back and have struggled so far in dealing with set pieces and against any team that plays with width and pace. Our normally reliable keeper (Lee Camp) had a dodgy start to the campaign, although he looks to be recovering his form in recent weeks. We have two very creative midfielders in Lewis Mcgugan and Radoslaw Majewski, but they have failed to provide our strikers with enough chances to win games. Under Steve Cotterill we do however look more solid, threatening and confident all round. It’s still early days for him, but he could get this squad playing to the levels many hoped and expected before the season began.

3) Who are the player/s to look out for?

Ishmael Miller looks capable of scoring plenty if he gets enough opportunities, but getting the ball to him appears our biggest problem. Guy Moussi in midfield is a vital player for us at present. If he has a good game in his defensive midfield role, then the team seems to do well as a whole.

4) Are you glad Steve McClaren resigned as manager?

In short, I think it was the right thing to do. He was mis-sold the job in the first place, but he failed to get a relatively successful and similar squad from the previous campaign to produce anything like the same level of performance that the previous manager did. I think most fans expected better from him.

5) How do you feel your manager has started?

Great start in truth. 3 games, which have resulted in 2 wins and an unlucky defeat so far. First impressions are different to what many of us expected from Cotterill. His teams have played free flowing and entertaining football. The players look to be right behind him, unlike McClaren who appeared to have alienated and caused friction between certain members of the squad.

6) What’s your prediction for the game?

Tough one to call, but I’ll be happy with 1-1 from this.