(19-01-2020, 11:29 PM)zicorice Wrote:

(19-01-2020, 10:39 PM)Salvatore Matrecano Wrote: I share quite a few of your reservations about him Zico however you are being unfair IMO because he plays as a #8 not a #10. We dont really play a 10 hence no role for Carvalho under Lamouchi, whether he would had we a more consistent  player in that role I dont know.
I get the impression Silva is doing as per his brief, he has improved 100% in many aspects and is certainly a decent tidy player to have to link up play. However is he the dominating midfield presence a promotion chasing side needs?

If I am wrong (wouldn't be the first time) then what you are saying is that we are set up at home with a back 4, 2 defensive minded midfielders-albeit very good ones- and a box to box midfielder, who doesn't go box to box. Plus 2 wide men and a CF? Against bottom of the league? Not sure I buy that. 

I thought the reason Carvalho wasnt starting was because he hasn't been able to get going this season with his sporadic appearances, no one's fault other than the thug at Alfreton. As a result, Silva has made himself 1st pick for the most advanced midfield role most of the time.

To reiterate, I like Silva, he has done an ok job (as a#10 if that's what he is) a slightly average job as an 8 ( if that's what he is) and a reasonable job when asked as a holding player. Out wide too, he has done OK.

No complaints, I would pick him at present, but ask him to put ball at risk more in  final third or on break. Ironically, our equaliser came when Silva lost the ball in midfield and Watson piled in to recover it (arguably committing a foul on Lua Lua in the scrap) and we broke through Ribeiro. (What a pass by the way).

Funny old game. He rarely gave the ball away, creating nothing, but when he lost it we broke and scored, that's football.

(19-01-2020, 11:29 PM)zicorice Wrote:

(19-01-2020, 10:39 PM)Salvatore Matrecano Wrote: I share quite a few of your reservations about him Zico however you are being unfair

Funny old game. He rarely gave the ball away, creating nothing, but when he lost it we broke and scored, that's football.

(20-01-2020, 01:06 AM)PsychoStanleyStone Wrote:

(19-01-2020, 11:29 PM)zicorice Wrote:

(19-01-2020, 10:39 PM)Salvatore Matrecano Wrote: I share quite a few of your reservations about him Zico however you are being unfair

Funny old game. He rarely gave the ball away, creating nothing, but when he lost it we broke and scored, that's football.

Sorry Zico, look every player in the squad could probably be upgraded by a replacement, i am not saying Silva is the most phenomonal player ever ... however ... your observation well i got say in the kindest possible way ... extremely inaccurate

took a good free kick, forcing a 'save' hence winning a penalty

did anyone keep a count of who won the most free kicks for us today, even if not among the highest he wins free kicks consistently

he had a fine effort, virtually with his back to the goal, excellent technique, he also had a very good shot on goal close in

he also had quite a strong penalty appeal

virtually everything he does, and it is alot, is usually positive, ie forwards and with good technique, ok sometimes too ambitious

he is also tenacious tackling back and helping out

i think he has goals in him, i really think Sabri should of let him take the penalty as he won it but mainly because it would give him a chance to break the hoodoo, i think with all players .. the first is always the most difficult ... Andy Reid didn't score a goal for us for 3 years!

this isn't to do with making out Silva to be a £50m gem better than Sow, Watson and Lolley put together, it's just i think it's a travesty if his relentless and quality input were not appreciated, which is the case with your comment

the best players in this league are those that give 100% week in week out, the miracle signings could crash and burn for a number of reasons but probably because they just don't care enough to work hard, this is where we have to be careful

(21-01-2020, 06:29 PM)zicorice Wrote: "...ok sometimes too ambitious "  Quite the opposite, he doesn't try to open up defences enough or score goals. Ben Watson has scored more and I wouldn't be surprised if he has more assists by now, especially outside of set pieces.

He did score a lovely goal in pre season I think, but we need more.

As I said numerous times, I like him and I would pick him at present. He has done a reasonable job in various positions he has played, just not enough when at #10- which he has been on numerous occasions. He is brave, neat and tidy, busy, draws fouls and takes a decent  set piece, but we need more and I am yet to see the evidence that there is much more to come. 

(21-01-2020, 06:29 PM)zicorice Wrote:

(20-01-2020, 01:06 AM)PsychoStanleyStone Wrote:

(19-01-2020, 11:29 PM)zicorice Wrote:

(19-01-2020, 10:39 PM)Salvatore Matrecano Wrote: I share quite a few of your reservations about him Zico however you are being unfair

Funny old game. He rarely gave the ball away, creating nothing, but when he lost it we broke and scored, that's football.

Sorry Zico

(22-01-2020, 07:32 PM)Strawberry Avenger Wrote: It's the 'weight of expectation.'  Such a 'prediction' isn't unfounded.

Forest have bottled games of burden many times over the last 20 years.

A 0-1 to Reading wouldn't surprise me.  Forest haven't been great at home.  And have struggled at times against direct times who park the bus.  However, in recent times, Forest have beaten Wigan and Luton.  So there is hope.

Forest need to win the midfield battle, create and take their chances.

I'm not feeling optimistic based upon previous 'must win' games of this type.  Will Lady Fate bar our path this time? 

I'm always somewhat hopeful (as I have been for most of the last 20 years of exile...) but history is against Forest.

Under The Coach, Forest are more measured.  And have shown some maturity to get back in the top 6 and go on a decent run after a torrid December.  But this will not be easy.

Now, if you ask me 'Have Forest got the tools' to win tonight?  I'd say, sure.  Samba, Dawson, Watson/Sow and Grabban are as good a spine of a team compared to any in the Championship.

Ameobi, Grabban and Lolley are potential match winners.  We have our midfield General in Watson and our Destroyer Wrecking Ball in Sow. 

Whilst our fullbacks are potentially 'soft' they have energy, tenacity and class and can play The Coach's system.

SA.

(22-01-2020, 07:18 PM)PsychoStanleyStone Wrote:

(21-01-2020, 06:29 PM)zicorice Wrote:

(20-01-2020, 01:06 AM)PsychoStanleyStone Wrote:

(19-01-2020, 11:29 PM)zicorice Wrote:

(19-01-2020, 10:39 PM)Salvatore Matrecano Wrote: I share quite a few of your reservations about him Zico however you are being unfair

Funny old game. He rarely gave the ball away, creating nothing, but when he lost it we broke and scored, that's football.

Sorry Zico

Zico you have predicted Forest lose tonight against Reading in the Correct Score Prediction competition, possibly the first and only ever time this has ever occurred, the funny thing is, i noticed how positive your thoughts generally were, i'm actually feeling shocked and shaken at this, so much so, i daren't look at the correct score prediction thread anymore, either your damaged, or i am damaged which i am, or we are both damaged, the cure for me is big wins, but how can we help you my friend?

(22-01-2020, 11:46 PM)Username Wrote: Samba 6
Cash 6
Ribeiro 7
Worrall 7
Dawson 7
Watson 7
Silva 7
Sow 6
Ameobi 5
Lolley 7
Grabban 7

Carvalho 6
Adomah 5

(22-01-2020, 11:59 PM)zicorice Wrote:

(22-01-2020, 11:46 PM)Username Wrote: Samba 6
Cash 6
Ribeiro 7
Worrall 7
Dawson 7
Watson 7
Silva 7
Sow 6
Ameobi 5
Lolley 7
Grabban 7

Carvalho 6
Adomah 5

Samba 5 - should have saved goal
Cash 6 - good, but final ball missing.
Ribeiro 7.5 - class act, defended well until goal.
Worrall 7 - solid
Dawson 7.5 - back on form
Watson 8 - very dominant.
Sow 6 - was targeted by Reading for some treatment.
Silva 5 - bad day at office.
Ameobi 6 - for creating goal.
Lolley 6- worked hard and put some decent balls in.
Grabban 7- Does what he does best.

Carvalho 6.5 - Looked sharper than he has for a while.
Adomah - no time to impact.