Hi all,
I am currently having vague thoughts of pursing a career in sports journalism and would be interested to see what everyone thinks of this article which I've just knocked up this morning.
Let me know about what I've written (ie. am I just talking shit) and don't worry about slating it if you so wish - all comments will be appreciated!
Oh, and of course, U REDDSSS for today!
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Davies pleads for fan power as Promised Land beckons
Billy Davies knew when he took over at the City Ground 14 months ago that winning over the Nottingham Forest faithful would be one of, if not his greatest, challenges. However, having guided The Reds to 3rd place in the Championship prior to their match against Preston today and a more than genuine chance of promotion, Davies now feels that he, and his team, have earned the right to be cheered over the finish line during the final 11 games, whatever that may constitute.
The Scotsman does not underestimate the power of the Forest fan base and realises that they can play a key part in potentially catapulting the team to the Premiership this term. Although a poor run of results was the main catalyst that put the noose around the necks of Messrs Kinnear, Megson and Calderwood, it was ultimately fan pressure that forced Chairman Nigel Doughty’s hand to open the trapdoor.
With Forest sitting 22nd in the league, the challenge that faced Davies on his appointment was no mean feat. However, it is one that he has indisputably succeeded at to-date. Tasked with initially saving a side careering towards relegation straight back to the wastelands of the third tier, he has managed to turn around Forest’s fortunes in a significantly shorter timeframe that probably even he expected.
He has built a team that has far exceeded pre-season predictions, containing a potent blend of grit and determination in the form of re-born stalwart Wes Morgan and captain Paul McKenna, along with a healthy dose of flair in players such as Radowslaw Majewski, Paul Anderson and the recently-arrived George Boyd. Make no mistake, this is now Davies’ team and cynics may observe that this can also be seen in the gainsmanship displayed by goalkeeper Lee Camp and defender Chris Gunter on a more regular basis than frustrated opposition fans would like to see. These players reflect Davies’ overall ethos – win at all costs, make friends later. The fact that Forest have actually gone about this business this season with more style than could be previously expected from a ‘Billy Davies team’ is probably seen as an added bonus to the diminutive Glaswegian.
Although Forest’s transformation this season has been remarkable, to look at Billy Davies is to look at a man who appears to be almost constantly at odds with the world. Despite overseeing the largest net spend in the Football League during his time at Forest, regular snipes in relation to the club’s inability to bring in even more players have become a common theme. In the current economic climate, this could be compared to a disillusioned child asking his parents at Christmas why the bicycle they have given him not a Harley Davidson. He is always wanting more, a point which is not lost on most fans and arguably provides the greatest source of hope in relation to the club’s future. With Davies in charge and a Chairman seemingly willing to do what it takes financially to facilitate a return to the top flight, as promised in the wake of the club’s promotion from League 1 in 2008, the relatively recent nadir of Playoff capitulation against lowly Yeovil Town now seems a distant memory for most fans.
Davies’ insistence that the Forest faithful have a big part to play in the club’s fortunes should only increase his stock further. Often seen as isolated and distant, he is now slowly immersing himself in a club that feels it deserves another shot at the big time and wants a man of his conviction at the helm to take them there. False prophets are not welcome on the banks of the Trent after recent dawns have failed to materialise.
Even if it doesn’t occur this season, guiding the twice-European Cup winners to the Premiership and, equally importantly, keeping them there, may just earn him a place in the hearts of Forest fans, many of whom derided the decision to bring in an ex-Derby County manager of abrasive nature. However, it could be correctly observed that Forest’s fortunes did not suffer too badly the last time that happened and whilst the man who famously proclaimed that he ‘might not have been the best manager in the business, but was in the top one’ will always occupy top spot, there may just be scope for Brian Clough to have a number two if Forest’s progress under Davies continues at its current pace. Now that would be a management team.
I am currently having vague thoughts of pursing a career in sports journalism and would be interested to see what everyone thinks of this article which I've just knocked up this morning.
Let me know about what I've written (ie. am I just talking shit) and don't worry about slating it if you so wish - all comments will be appreciated!
Oh, and of course, U REDDSSS for today!
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Davies pleads for fan power as Promised Land beckons
Billy Davies knew when he took over at the City Ground 14 months ago that winning over the Nottingham Forest faithful would be one of, if not his greatest, challenges. However, having guided The Reds to 3rd place in the Championship prior to their match against Preston today and a more than genuine chance of promotion, Davies now feels that he, and his team, have earned the right to be cheered over the finish line during the final 11 games, whatever that may constitute.
The Scotsman does not underestimate the power of the Forest fan base and realises that they can play a key part in potentially catapulting the team to the Premiership this term. Although a poor run of results was the main catalyst that put the noose around the necks of Messrs Kinnear, Megson and Calderwood, it was ultimately fan pressure that forced Chairman Nigel Doughty’s hand to open the trapdoor.
With Forest sitting 22nd in the league, the challenge that faced Davies on his appointment was no mean feat. However, it is one that he has indisputably succeeded at to-date. Tasked with initially saving a side careering towards relegation straight back to the wastelands of the third tier, he has managed to turn around Forest’s fortunes in a significantly shorter timeframe that probably even he expected.
He has built a team that has far exceeded pre-season predictions, containing a potent blend of grit and determination in the form of re-born stalwart Wes Morgan and captain Paul McKenna, along with a healthy dose of flair in players such as Radowslaw Majewski, Paul Anderson and the recently-arrived George Boyd. Make no mistake, this is now Davies’ team and cynics may observe that this can also be seen in the gainsmanship displayed by goalkeeper Lee Camp and defender Chris Gunter on a more regular basis than frustrated opposition fans would like to see. These players reflect Davies’ overall ethos – win at all costs, make friends later. The fact that Forest have actually gone about this business this season with more style than could be previously expected from a ‘Billy Davies team’ is probably seen as an added bonus to the diminutive Glaswegian.
Although Forest’s transformation this season has been remarkable, to look at Billy Davies is to look at a man who appears to be almost constantly at odds with the world. Despite overseeing the largest net spend in the Football League during his time at Forest, regular snipes in relation to the club’s inability to bring in even more players have become a common theme. In the current economic climate, this could be compared to a disillusioned child asking his parents at Christmas why the bicycle they have given him not a Harley Davidson. He is always wanting more, a point which is not lost on most fans and arguably provides the greatest source of hope in relation to the club’s future. With Davies in charge and a Chairman seemingly willing to do what it takes financially to facilitate a return to the top flight, as promised in the wake of the club’s promotion from League 1 in 2008, the relatively recent nadir of Playoff capitulation against lowly Yeovil Town now seems a distant memory for most fans.
Davies’ insistence that the Forest faithful have a big part to play in the club’s fortunes should only increase his stock further. Often seen as isolated and distant, he is now slowly immersing himself in a club that feels it deserves another shot at the big time and wants a man of his conviction at the helm to take them there. False prophets are not welcome on the banks of the Trent after recent dawns have failed to materialise.
Even if it doesn’t occur this season, guiding the twice-European Cup winners to the Premiership and, equally importantly, keeping them there, may just earn him a place in the hearts of Forest fans, many of whom derided the decision to bring in an ex-Derby County manager of abrasive nature. However, it could be correctly observed that Forest’s fortunes did not suffer too badly the last time that happened and whilst the man who famously proclaimed that he ‘might not have been the best manager in the business, but was in the top one’ will always occupy top spot, there may just be scope for Brian Clough to have a number two if Forest’s progress under Davies continues at its current pace. Now that would be a management team.
. That will probably need tweaking in order to write in a journalistic style, but that's the easy part. Having the vocabulary and natural flair is the hard bit, which you have.
