Billy Putting It How It Is

[Jon NFFC]

http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/f...-signings/article-1925690-detail/article.html

refreshing to have a manager who openly says his views rather than beating around the bush.

 

[RedRobbo]

Suggest that we now close all transfer threads until next season based on this latest message from Billy.

 

[Gary]

 

[zigga-zagga]

I sometimes wish that Billy would just change the record - he seems to have hit on a theme that stikes a chord within a certain sector of Forest fans and he's playing that chord to death!

Billy is saying that because of our inactivity in January we have lost ground to WBA and Newcastle but since the loss of our 'unbeaten away record we have lost to:

Derby who were 19th
Coventry who were 15th
Doncaster who were 16th
Leicester who were 6th
Preston who were 13th
Barnsley who were 13th

Only one team in the top half and all teams that we had beaten earlier in the season.

So why the dramatic turnaround?

Could it be the policy of reguarly leaving one or both of our top scorers on the bench? Could it be the refusal to play someone who can kick with his left foot at left back? (Don't forget that when he first arrived Gunter played left back)
Could it be the failure to recognise our best 11?

One thing that I am sure about is that it isn't tiredness. Wes has played 41 games this season and will play a maximum of 12 more making 53. That's just 10 games less than an ever present in the European Cup winning sides made on pitches like puddings and including the travel all over Europe.

We have lost ground on the teams BELOW us! We have become a worse team! It's time for Billy to stop spouting to the press and motivate the team.

If anyone cares to do the research they will find that Billy did exactly the same at his previous clubs - tried to deflect attention from himself by publicly berating the upper management. Let's hope that history doesn't repeat itself and we become a laughing stock like our friends along the A52

(Dons tin helmet in preparation for bombardment)

 

[Hoax]

I sometimes wish that Billy would just change the record - he seems to have hit on a theme that stikes a chord within a certain sector of Forest fans and he's playing that chord to death!

Billy is saying that because of our inactivity in January we have lost ground to WBA and Newcastle but since the loss of our 'unbeaten away record we have lost to:

Derby who were 19th
Coventry who were 15th
Doncaster who were 16th
Leicester who were 6th
Preston who were 13th
Barnsley who were 13th

Only one team in the top half and all teams that we had beaten earlier in the season.

So why the dramatic turnaround?

Could it be the policy of reguarly leaving one or both of our top scorers on the bench? Could it be the refusal to play someone who can kick with his left foot at left back? (Don't forget that when he first arrived Gunter played left back)
Could it be the failure to recognise our best 11?

One thing that I am sure about is that it isn't tiredness. Wes has played 41 games this season and will play a maximum of 12 more making 53. That's just 10 games less than an ever present in the European Cup winning sides made on pitches like puddings and including the travel all over Europe.

We have lost ground on the teams BELOW us! We have become a worse team! It's time for Billy to stop spouting to the press and motivate the team.

If anyone cares to do the research they will find that Billy did exactly the same at his previous clubs - tried to deflect attention from himself by publicly berating the upper management. Let's hope that history doesn't repeat itself and we become a laughing stock like our friends along the A52

(Dons tin helmet in preparation for bombardment)

Couldnt agree more with this

 

[earthworm]

> (Dons tin helmet in preparation for bombardment)

I'd like to slag you off for that because I hope you're wrong. But some of it does ring true sadly.

I think the confidence has gone for some reason. I'm sure Billy's right that no signings didn't help either though.

 

[le/red]

I sometimes wish that Billy would just change the record - he seems to have hit on a theme that stikes a chord within a certain sector of Forest fans and he's playing that chord to death!

Billy is saying that because of our inactivity in January we have lost ground to WBA and Newcastle but since the loss of our 'unbeaten away record we have lost to:

Derby who were 19th
Coventry who were 15th
Doncaster who were 16th
Leicester who were 6th
Preston who were 13th
Barnsley who were 13th

Only one team in the top half and all teams that we had beaten earlier in the season.

So why the dramatic turnaround?

Could it be the policy of reguarly leaving one or both of our top scorers on the bench? Could it be the refusal to play someone who can kick with his left foot at left back? (Don't forget that when he first arrived Gunter played left back)
Could it be the failure to recognise our best 11?

One thing that I am sure about is that it isn't tiredness. Wes has played 41 games this season and will play a maximum of 12 more making 53. That's just 10 games less than an ever present in the European Cup winning sides made on pitches like puddings and including the travel all over Europe.

We have lost ground on the teams BELOW us! We have become a worse team! It's time for Billy to stop spouting to the press and motivate the team.

If anyone cares to do the research they will find that Billy did exactly the same at his previous clubs - tried to deflect attention from himself by publicly berating the upper management. Let's hope that history doesn't repeat itself and we become a laughing stock like our friends along the A52

(Dons tin helmet in preparation for bombardment)

Absolutely spot on. All this talk of "lack of signings" is getting tiresome now.

 

[Ravi]

I sometimes wish that Billy would just change the record - he seems to have hit on a theme that stikes a chord within a certain sector of Forest fans and he's playing that chord to death!

Billy is saying that because of our inactivity in January we have lost ground to WBA and Newcastle but since the loss of our 'unbeaten away record we have lost to:

Derby who were 19th
Coventry who were 15th
Doncaster who were 16th
Leicester who were 6th
Preston who were 13th
Barnsley who were 13th

Only one team in the top half and all teams that we had beaten earlier in the season.

So why the dramatic turnaround?

Could it be the policy of reguarly leaving one or both of our top scorers on the bench? Could it be the refusal to play someone who can kick with his left foot at left back? (Don't forget that when he first arrived Gunter played left back)
Could it be the failure to recognise our best 11?

One thing that I am sure about is that it isn't tiredness. Wes has played 41 games this season and will play a maximum of 12 more making 53. That's just 10 games less than an ever present in the European Cup winning sides made on pitches like puddings and including the travel all over Europe.

We have lost ground on the teams BELOW us! We have become a worse team! It's time for Billy to stop spouting to the press and motivate the team.

If anyone cares to do the research they will find that Billy did exactly the same at his previous clubs - tried to deflect attention from himself by publicly berating the upper management. Let's hope that history doesn't repeat itself and we become a laughing stock like our friends along the A52

(Dons tin helmet in preparation for bombardment)

Excellent points. Interesting that Billy makes reference to his time at Derby where they were top and then just staggered over the line into the playoffs. At Derby the fans blamed the introduction of new signings in Jan for the dip in form, at Forest the fans are blaming the lack of new signings for the dip in form! Billy blamed the dip at Derby on people inside and outside the club trying to unsettle the squad, at Forest he is blaming lack of new signings and tiredness.
I do believe that he is the best manager we could have at the moment, but you really wouldnt want to invite him round for dinner as he'd bore the pants off everyone.

 

[Forever Forest]

The thing is Billy gets interviewed by various sources - Official site/Forest world, BBC, Evening Post, Five Live etc. They all ask him the same thing ... Why have the wheels fallen off? He gives the same answers every time. He isnt going to change his opinion based on who he's talking to.

The fact is the bloke is absolutely spot on. We didnt strengthen when we needed to and as a result the form has suffered. I agree, it does get tiring listening to it but why dont the journo's ask him something else.

After every game he s being honest, were struggling because we havnt got a left back - Perch is filling a void. He wanted to sign Pratley as cover for Kenna. Got got injured so now we dont have a natural leader out there - this showed at Barnsley.

We are trying to sign players in March, BD wanted them in Jan as he told everyone it is hard to get the required quality at this stage in he season, hmm guess what, we are struggling to get anyone decent in on loan in March.

Boyd wasnt on his first hoice list and after his performance at Barnsley you can see why! Probably harsh on the lad, bu you get the point.

I for one love the fact the BD is giving the board a kick up the arse publicly as it will hopefully make them think next time we are in this situation

 

[zigga-zagga]

I for one love the fact the BD is giving the board a kick up the arse publicly as it will hopefully make them think next time we are in this situation

Billy has to be careful though because ND has big boots and might kick back!

 

[incapable hulk]

The thing is Billy gets interviewed by various sources - Official site/Forest world, BBC, Evening Post, Five Live etc. They all ask him the same thing ... Why have the wheels fallen off? He gives the same answers every time. He isnt going to change his opinion based on who he's talking to.

The fact is the bloke is absolutely spot on. We didnt strengthen when we needed to and as a result the form has suffered. I agree, it does get tiring listening to it but why dont the journo's ask him something else.

I think thats absoloutely spot on mate

 

[weasel]

I notice he actually names the players we didn't get there.

Moses, Shorey, Pratley.

2 of which went to the Premier League instead, the other is one of our nearest rivals best players. How can he realistically moan that we weren't able to sign these people?

'well, I made my request to the acquisitions panel that we sign Pele. If we don't get him you can't blame me'

Oh be quiet.

 

[Lee]

I notice he actually names the players we didn't get there.

Moses, Shorey, Pratley.

2 of which went to the Premier League instead, the other is one of our nearest rivals best players. How can he realistically moan that we weren't able to sign these people?

'well, I made my request to the acquisitions panel that we sign Pele. If we don't get him you can't blame me'

Oh be quiet.

And the other playing for a team one place below us.

For at least those three players, you can't blame the club. And for the other potential signings, we can't comment as none of us have any idea what is going on.

The players might not want to come here, the player's club might be asking too much money..etc etc..

I don't expect the club to pay over the odds just because we have more money. It's just silly and it could lead us back to the dark times of before.

 

[fsor12]

I 100% agree with what most of billy is saying, But come on "how hard is it to find a left back better than Perch" ffs

 

[Jonathan]

Agree with what Zigga-Zagga's saying, but I think making no signings also contributed to it on a rather large scale.

 

[Rigler]

I agree with Jonathan's agreement with what Zigga-Zagga's saying.

 

[thehockleyhustler]

There was a time for moaning about lack of signings etc but now is the time for Billy to do what he is paid to do and manage with what he's got.

The players are obviously in need of a confidence boost and Billy coming out in the media every day saying they are not good enough is hardly going to have us playing free-flowing football again.

We need everyone pulling in the same direction over the next few months and Billy needs to let it lye and get on with trying to get this side promoted.

 

[Kier]

I sometimes wish that Billy would just change the record - he seems to have hit on a theme that stikes a chord within a certain sector of Forest fans and he's playing that chord to death!

Billy is saying that because of our inactivity in January we have lost ground to WBA and Newcastle but since the loss of our 'unbeaten away record we have lost to:

Derby who were 19th
Coventry who were 15th
Doncaster who were 16th
Leicester who were 6th
Preston who were 13th
Barnsley who were 13th

Only one team in the top half and all teams that we had beaten earlier in the season.

So why the dramatic turnaround?

Could it be the policy of reguarly leaving one or both of our top scorers on the bench? Could it be the refusal to play someone who can kick with his left foot at left back? (Don't forget that when he first arrived Gunter played left back)
Could it be the failure to recognise our best 11?

One thing that I am sure about is that it isn't tiredness. Wes has played 41 games this season and will play a maximum of 12 more making 53. That's just 10 games less than an ever present in the European Cup winning sides made on pitches like puddings and including the travel all over Europe.

We have lost ground on the teams BELOW us! We have become a worse team! It's time for Billy to stop spouting to the press and motivate the team.

If anyone cares to do the research they will find that Billy did exactly the same at his previous clubs - tried to deflect attention from himself by publicly berating the upper management. Let's hope that history doesn't repeat itself and we become a laughing stock like our friends along the A52

(Dons tin helmet in preparation for bombardment)

Spot on. The lack of signing is not a valid excuse at for the collapse in our away form. At the moment Billy can say what he wants as he is exceeding expectations but if the time comes when thing aren't going to plan, will the board tolerate comments like this on such a regular basis?

 

[Gary]

There was a time for moaning about lack of signings etc but now is the time for Billy to do what he is paid to do and manage with what he's got.

The players are obviously in need of a confidence boost and Billy coming out in the media every day saying they are not good enough is hardly going to have us playing free-flowing football again.

We need everyone pulling in the same direction over the next few months and Billy needs to let it lye and get on with trying to get this side promoted.

Agreed.

Imagine working for a company where you overhear the boss basically saying "We need new staff to get where we're going". It's hardly going to inspire confidence is it?

 

[matt1982]

I think thats absoloutely spot on mate

If they were the main and only targets in January, I'm not surprised we didnt get any of them. Moses was always going to go the premier league, Shorey likewise once PL clubs became aware of his availablility for loan and after his spell with us, whilst why are swansea gonna sell us pratley, other than for silly money?! I do think Billy contradicts himself tho sometimes. One minute, he's all we need more bodies/numbers, next it's 'only to be better than what we've got, no gambles'. i tend to agree with the latter, but make your mind up! plus sometimes a gamble can be worth it, look at wba taking a punt on steven reid, not played a long while at blackburn, and giles barnes, and they seem to be doing well so far

 

[Fitzcarraldo]

Billy's been 'putting it how it is' all season, and in doing so has shown himself as being a tad confused by his own reality.

Listening to Billy in the first half of the season, i believed his reluctance to talk about the prospect of promotion and constant reference to his experiences at Derby, and inexperience of the squad was a ploy to manage our expectations. Seemed to work too as most fans felt we were getting more than we could have hoped for and simply started to enjoy the journey - something we haven't done for years.

More recently, his constant bemoaning of the lack of 'suitable' players and Clubs transfer ambitions is starting to read like the ramblings of man conflicted by his own desires. I'm not even sure he knows what it is he wants anymore (apart from a decent left-back).Best thing to do in such situations is to point the finger elsewhere, say '**** it' and convince yourself that one day someone somewhere will give you exactly what it is you need. We create our own reality.

 

[Dorset Red]

I 100% agree with what most of billy is saying, But come on "how hard is it to find a left back better than Perch" ffs

I find myself agreeing with you, Lloyd Samuel, Stephen Jordan, Thatcher, Bouma, various others in Prem reserve teams. At time we wanted someone a player like Jordan was available but not now. Some of the others are. BD is trying to cover himself by saying he wants better than we have but if you have no one.......? Also it is crap regards a player coming in for 6 weeks and not settling etc look at the likes of Stephen Reid. How many times have we seen a temp class player come in and rejuvenate a team then go back to his home club. He also dismisses young players but is was a young Utd player who scored such a spectacular goal for Preston. Good enough..old enough.

Seems to me BD is tying himself in Knots here. Banging on about quality players but then lamenting the size of the squad. Lets not forget, Adebola and McGoldrick were his signings, anyone impressed with them? Joe Garner can and did do a job last season but this season he is a lost soul and so on....

If BD had kept his statements at the original, we are not ready for promotion, all of this is a bonus etc, then in Jan we will suffer for not signing anyone then I would be 100% behind him.

It strikes me that with 6 weeks to go you need to be boosting your players, stating they are good enough and up for it etc etc. As it is this constant carping is detrimental to team morale and until his tactics away from home are more credible he will lose support amongst fans. It is not enough to constantly praise the fans, give them something to get behind.Perhaps decline these questions and adopt a more positive stance then fight these battles when we know what division we are going to be in.

 

[It's Baggio]

"Because we made a statement of intent and our statement of intent was clear – it is 'steady as you go' for Nottingham Forest.

He's talking rubbish there.

Our 'intent' was absolutely fine. We intended to sign 3 top class Championship players, players who were far better than anyone else that moved to a Championship club in January. Obviously none of them signed but I don't see how that was the fault of the club, when you consider the reasons for them not signing.

At the minute he wants it both ways, he wants us to sign better and more expensive (and more difficult to attain) players than anyone else but when they don't come, he complains and compares us to other clubs who are making cheap, short term, dare I say 'second class' signings. The players he obviously doesn't want.

Maybe if Billy is so disappointed with our 'intent' he should 'advise and reccomend' a few more modest targets.

 

[temp101]

Imagine working for a company where you overhear the boss basically saying "We need new staff to get where we're going". It's hardly going to inspire confidence is it?

And this is the main reason why I have personally been annoyed with his constant "we're not good enough yet" comments, in whatever form they may take (and constantly claiming that we need new players is a less-than-subtly veiled way of doing this).

I've obviously also been very pleased with the job he has done so far, but I think he is putting too much emphasis on managing fans expectations with his constant assessments of the squad's ability. I imagine what he's thinking is that if he comes out and says "we are good enough for promotion", whilst this may boost the confidence of the squad, if we don't go up then fans will blame him.

However, I would like to think that the vast majority of Forest fans will not be throwing themselves off bridges if we don't go up this season. Who actually predicted that we would finish 3rd at the start of the season?

I think Davies needs to realise that whilst it's always good to show ambition, it's not actually the end of the world if we don't go up this season and fans will not be getting on his back (at least immediately anyway - I never like to underestimate the fickleness of elements of our fan base!) Whatever happens, we have made significant progress from last season and as others have mentioned, he needs to concentrate on getting the most out of what he has (not deflating their confidence further) and not playing his games in the media.

That's my 2p anyway!

 

[matt1982]

Billy's been 'putting it how it is' all season, and in doing so has shown himself as being a tad confused by his own reality.

Listening to Billy in the first half of the season, i believed his reluctance to talk about the prospect of promotion and constant reference to his experiences at Derby, and inexperience of the squad was a ploy to manage our expectations. Seemed to work too as most fans felt we were getting more than we could have hoped for and simply started to enjoy the journey - something we haven't done for years.

More recently, his constant bemoaning of the lack of 'suitable' players and Clubs transfer ambitions is starting to read like the ramblings of man conflicted by his own desires. I'm not even sure he knows what it is he wants anymore (apart from a decent left-back).Best thing to do in such situations is to point the finger elsewhere, say '**** it' and convince yourself that one day someone somewhere will give you exactly what it is you need. We create our own reality.

yes, i think this is a good post. Now that we are at the business end, it still seems to be a case of too 'scared' to talk abou the P word, and to scared to go after it. His constant references to 'getting over the line', 'getting something done' etc are wearing a little bit thin now. What are we aiming for? whatever it is, you shouldnt be frightened / avoid talking about it.