Billy Davies OBE

[earthworm]

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_6049385,00.html

Billy Davies feels he would be deserving of an OBE were he to guide Nottingham Forest to promotion.
The experienced Scot has the Reds well-placed to make the step up into the Premier League, as they currently sit third in the Championship.
A recent wobble on the road has put a serious dent in their hopes of securing automatic promotion, but a play-off place is virtually guaranteed.
Success has been achieved with a thin squad, with injuries having rocked the Reds at crucial times.
Davies has also seen his hands tied in the market, with Forest's much-maligned transfer committee failing to back their boss in January.
He feels Forest are 'punching above their weight' heading down the final stretch and admits the odds are stacked against his side securing a place in the top-flight.
Proud

"If we can finish the job off, it'll be a remarkable achievement," Davies said.
"If that happens, I'll get an MBE, an OBE and a visit to see the Pope.
"At Derby and Preston (his former clubs) the squads were much deeper at this stage. We're punching above our weight but we're proud of what we've done."
Davies missed Saturday's post-game press conference, following a 1-0 win over Peterborough, sending assistant David Kelly to speak with the media instead.
He had been openly critical of the Forest board once again ahead of the match, but insists that had no bearing on his decision to steer away from the limelight.
"I wasn't hiding or avoiding questions, I stand by comments," he said.

Move over 'ode Big 'Ead, New Big 'Ead is in town ... :blink:

 

[Hoax]

Twat head more like

 

[Dorset Red]

Cup half full- trying to deflect attention from players to ease pressure.

Cup half empty- big headed twat.

Take your pick, I prefer optimism.

 

[winnits]

Pragmatic option - Billy made a throwaway comment in jest which has been made the focus of the article by a self-serving journalist.

 

[Kier]

People really should lighten up and not take every word Billy says so seriously.

 

[earthworm]

We'll probably hear the same interview on Radio Nottm tonight before the match, and no doubt Big Bad Billy Davies will have a smile in his voice when he says it.

In all seriousness though, pipping the likes of Middlesbrough who've spent arse loads of money to promotion would be pretty f***ing special.

 

[Ken]

Every time I open a paper or switch on the telly all I hear is Billy bleating about squads etc to differing degrees. Just been to the gym hoping for a 'billy break' before I start slashing my wrists, and there he pops up again....this time on Talksport around 9-45!

Although it was a bit more subtle than his normal attack, could not help having the 'we are punching above our weight', and 'beating various teams that have invested in squads'. Thing that made me laugh was he used Preston and Sheffield Utd as examples (among others). Ask any Blades or Preston fan (and probably anyone apart from Newcastle and WBA) and I think they would snap your hand off for a squad swap. This is where I just don't get him.

Would just be nice if he could take the Roy Hodgson approach. They have a paper thin squad, but he does not bleat and just gets on with it. Look at what they did the other night against Juventus.

 

[zigga-zagga]

Our 'paper-thin' squad has six forwards (plus one on loan) costing a total of around £6million who have mustered the magnificent total of 32 league goals this season.

We have a 'paper-thin' midfield of seven players competing for four places and a 'paper-thin' defence of seven players for four places.

 

[king_congo_red]

Our 'paper-thin' squad has six forwards (plus one on loan) costing a total of around £6million who have mustered the magnificent total of 32 league goals this season.

We have a 'paper-thin' midfield of seven players competing for four places and a 'paper-thin' defence of seven players for four places.

Thing is...look at the back of Saturday's programme. Even Peterborough United have a bigger squad than us...

 

[earthworm]

Thing is...look at the back of Saturday's programme. Even Peterborough United have a bigger squad than us...

That's frightening ...

Talking of Fulham having a paper thin squad, wasn't that Calderwood's plan? Only he called it a "small, tight knit" squad or something.

 

[Ken]

Our 'paper-thin' squad has six forwards (plus one on loan) costing a total of around £6million who have mustered the magnificent total of 32 league goals this season.

We have a 'paper-thin' midfield of seven players competing for four places and a 'paper-thin' defence of seven players for four places.

Exactly. Also two decent goalies. So apart from the fit specialist left back issue (most clubs have issues in certain positions, even Man Utd) cannot agree with him.

Its alright him using the 'don't believe anything I say in the media' disclaimer, but the fact is supporters (and the squad) still absorb managers comments to differing degrees/impact.

Its the same as when people use the cop out of 'I am just being honest' or 'all due respect' phrase before insulting someone....it still has an impact. Rant over.

 

[Jonathan]

Seven players competing for a defensive place?

Gunter, Morgan, Wilson, Chambers... Lynch - INJURED, Perch - INJURED, Bennett - INJURED

Midfield - Cohen, Anderson, McCleary - Had injections as carrying an injury, McGugan - Completely out of favour, Moussi, Majewski, Boyd, McKenna - INJURED

The only part of the squad that I'm not worried about is the attackers, and I don't think Billy is either. He wants to make sure we have cover where it's needed - in defence and midfield. Don't think there's anything wrong with going on about it.

 

[zigga-zagga]

Seven players competing for a defensive place?

Gunter, Morgan, Wilson, Chambers... Lynch - INJURED, Perch - INJURED, Bennett - INJURED

Midfield - Cohen, Anderson, McCleary - Had injections as carrying an injury, McGugan - Completely out of favour, Moussi, Majewski, Boyd, McKenna - INJURED

The only part of the squad that I'm not worried about is the attackers, and I don't think Billy is either. He wants to make sure we have cover where it's needed - in defence and midfield. Don't think there's anything wrong with going on about it.

I accept the fact that the defence has suffered with injuries but that does not negate the fact that the squad has 7 players within it who are classified as defenders.

Neither does the fact that BD does not like McGugan nor that McCleary has an injury - he still gets picked.

My original post doesn't include the young players who are registered as squad players - like Moloney, a specialist full back!

 

[MaxiRobriguez]

Considering Bennett has been out for 14 months and Lynch is about as useful as Gregor Robertson trying to look well 'ard whilst doing hoopla, I'd say 5 defenders for 4 places is more realistic.

 

[FBS]

I think it's a constant nudge at the AP to get a couple more plays. The more times he can mention it then the bigger following he will have amongst the supporters for new players.

Let him continue to talk about it, that way we don't have to read about the "players lives" in the papers and they can get on with playing football

Same trick as BC use to pull.

 

[cuppachump]

I think it's a constant nudge at the AP to get a couple more plays. The more times he can mention it then the bigger following he will have amongst the supporters for new players.

Let him continue to talk about it, that way we don't have to read about the "players lives" in the papers and they can get on with playing football

Same trick as BC use to pull.

If that's his plan, I am not sure it works with the supporters - Yes Clough used to do similar but the fans always trusted him (whether rightly so or not) Billy just seems to have a relentless whine going on.

Perhaps that's the only difference really: Clough's commanding personal aura against Davies' comparative lack of charisma? (note that I say comparative)

I Just hope the constant whinging results in new players in / promotion before the nails on a chalkboard gets too much for too many.

 

[Jonathan]

I accept the fact that the defence has suffered with injuries but that does not negate the fact that the squad has 7 players within it who are classified as defenders.

Neither does the fact that BD does not like McGugan nor that McCleary has an injury - he still gets picked.

My original post doesn't include the young players who are registered as squad players - like Moloney, a specialist full back!

McCleary is only getting picked because we have no other options, hence why he's having the painkilling injections to be able to play.

Moloney is out for the season after rupturing his knee ligaments, so unless he's going to play in a wheelchair, that's a non-starter.

The problems are clear if you ask me. We do have a 'paper thin' squad and that is shown by the fact that we've used just 22 different players this season - the fewest in the league - including George Boyd who we've only just brought in.

 

[The Maniacal Megatron]

Haven't WBA used some ridiculous figure like 38 different players?

 

[weasel]

It seems only a matter of time before his weekly mention of his incredible work at 'Preston and Derby' becomes his incredible work at 'Preston, Derby and Forest' as he moves on to his next club and continues to peddle the same rubbish.

He's clearly a very good manager, which is fantastic for us, but not a particularly likable one. It's easy to laugh this nonsense off when you're winning, but equally it's very easy to see how it quickly became intolerable at Derby when there were no results to back up his outbursts.

Still, when that day comes at Forest we'll be established in the Prem and the path will be paved for Marin O'Neil and Robbo to come home and back to glory.

 

[Rigler]

I think it's a constant nudge at the AP to get a couple more plays. The more times he can mention it then the bigger following he will have amongst the supporters for new players.

Either that or the more times he can mention it then the more fans start to think change the f***ing record will you, we're starting to get sick of hearing it.

 

[Hoax]

It seems only a matter of time before his weekly mention of his incredible work at 'Preston and Derby' becomes his incredible work at 'Preston, Derby and Forest' as he moves on to his next club and continues to peddle the same rubbish.

He's clearly a very good manager, which is fantastic for us, but not a particularly likable one. It's easy to laugh this nonsense off when you're winning, but equally it's very easy to see how it quickly became intolerable at Derby when there were no results to back up his outbursts.

Still, when that day comes at Forest we'll be established in the Prem and the path will be paved for Marin O'Neil and Robbo to come home and back to glory.

Or Mourinho [PRAYS]

 

[goatboy]

Fans can stop listening. Hodgson might have a thin squad, but he's got a very good left back in it

 

[earthworm]

Either that or the more times he can mention it then the more fans start to think change the f***ing record will you, we're starting to get sick of hearing it.

Somebody else said the other day on here, maybe its the interviewers who should change the f***ing record? If he's asked the same questions, he'll give the same answers. Add to that the fact that the situation hasn't changed. If it did change, he'd talk about something different.

If your mate asked you down the pub about Forest's promotion credentials, do you think you could answer honestly without talking about squad depth?

 

[Forever Forest]

Somebody else said the other day on here, maybe its the interviewers who should change the f***ing record? If he's asked the same questions, he'll give the same answers. Add to that the fact that the situation hasn't changed. If it did change, he'd talk about something different.

If your mate asked you down the pub about Forest's promotion credentials, do you think you could answer honestly without talking about squad depth?

Yeah that was me

The fact is we have used the least amount of players and are now struggling for players as we have injuries - McKenna, Bennett, Perch, Maloney, Mcleary (still being used). If we signed new players in Jan, he probably wouldnt be going on about sqaud depth now. We should have signed players in Jan

 

[adam09]

It looks like a jokey remark to me, blown out of proportion as usual.

What annoys me is, I was listening to 5 Live on the way home and the REPORTER asked Billy after transfers, panels etc. Yes, he rambles a bit, but Billy just answers the questions.