thehockleyhustler
Stuart Pearce
Something we have all be calling for for years. Now we have Mr Davies on the case I expect we may well see something happen...
http://www.thisisnottinghamforest.c...midating/article-1851429-detail/article.html?
HAVING equalled a club record eight consecutive home wins in the space of a season, the City Ground must already qualify as one of the most intimidating venues in the Championship.
But, as his promotion chasing squad look to make it win number nine in succession on home turf against Middlesbrough today, Billy Davies has one goal in mind.
The Scot wants to make it an even harder place to come.
Having visited places such as the Bernabau and San Siro in recent seasons, Davies believes he knows exactly how to achieve this.
And he wants to start by moving the visiting supporters from their current position, just behind the goal.
In recent months, Sheffield Wednesday and Derby have packed out the lower tier of the Bridgford Stand, with their fans providing noisy vocal support.
And, while that may make for a rousing atmosphere on the banks of the River Trent, Davies is concerned Forest are giving their opponents an unnecessary aid.
Now he wants Forest to hand out as few away tickets as possible – as is often the case when they travel themselves.
"It doesn't help when we hand out 4,000 tickets to away fans and then go to their place and get less than 2,000 for our fans," said Davies, in a veiled dig at East Midlands rivals Derby County. "These things do not help us.
"What we have to do, as a club, is learn who our friends are.
"Whatever clubs do to us, we have to return the favour.
"We have to look at that right through the club and realise that all these little things matter.
"Personally, I would like to see the away fans put somewhere high up in the stand in a corner, with about 1,500 tickets available to them.
"I went to the Bernabau Stadium. I know it is a different situation there but, if you compare it, the away fans are on the very back tier of the stadium.
"They are miles away from the pitch, a little pocket of fans, and they have no influence on the game at all."
Middlesbrough are likely to bring a reasonable away following to Nottingham today, even if it won't be to the same level as their more local rivals.
"Sheffield Wednesday and Derby come to our ground and their fans have a big influence on the game, sat right behind our goal," said Davies.
"The quicker we remove that influence, the better we will be at the City Ground.
"Against Sheffield Wednesday I had to drum it into our players at half-time – I had to tell them not to drop deep and let them get sucked towards their travelling fans.
"We have to review the situation and see what can be done as soon as is possible.
"It is not up to me to decide, I can only recommend these things."
Davies believes the form of his side – and the standard of football they have been playing – have attributed to the rise in home attendance levels this season.
But, while that is an encouragement, he says his main aim is merely to give the side the best possible chance of maintaining their remarkable run of form, as they come into the critical final months of the campaign.
"The only match we have lost in months at home was against Blackpool and you can remember Ian Holloway's comments after that.
"It was a match we deserved more from.
"Our (average) home attendances are also up by more than 2,000 on last season.
"That tells you the great support we are getting, so great credit to everyone.
"But it is a situation we need to look at.
"There must be a way we can give visiting teams less of an advantage."
In the meantime, Davies says Forest's mental strength will be as important as their physical attributes in the coming months. He said: "It is exciting nerves now. It is not like last season when we were fighting relegation.
"We just have to remain confident and positive.
"With the points we have on the board and the remaining matches we have, we just have to remain focussed. We will not get too excited when we win, we will not get too down if we draw.
"And we will certainly not let it affect us if we lose a match.
"We will keep working away, because there are a lot of points to be played for.
"But the important thing is that we are fighting it out at the top end of the table and we have to be confident.
"And our fans can play a part for us as well, if they can help us make sure this is a tough place to come for the rest of the season."
http://www.thisisnottinghamforest.c...midating/article-1851429-detail/article.html?
HAVING equalled a club record eight consecutive home wins in the space of a season, the City Ground must already qualify as one of the most intimidating venues in the Championship.
But, as his promotion chasing squad look to make it win number nine in succession on home turf against Middlesbrough today, Billy Davies has one goal in mind.
The Scot wants to make it an even harder place to come.
Having visited places such as the Bernabau and San Siro in recent seasons, Davies believes he knows exactly how to achieve this.
And he wants to start by moving the visiting supporters from their current position, just behind the goal.
In recent months, Sheffield Wednesday and Derby have packed out the lower tier of the Bridgford Stand, with their fans providing noisy vocal support.
And, while that may make for a rousing atmosphere on the banks of the River Trent, Davies is concerned Forest are giving their opponents an unnecessary aid.
Now he wants Forest to hand out as few away tickets as possible – as is often the case when they travel themselves.
"It doesn't help when we hand out 4,000 tickets to away fans and then go to their place and get less than 2,000 for our fans," said Davies, in a veiled dig at East Midlands rivals Derby County. "These things do not help us.
"What we have to do, as a club, is learn who our friends are.
"Whatever clubs do to us, we have to return the favour.
"We have to look at that right through the club and realise that all these little things matter.
"Personally, I would like to see the away fans put somewhere high up in the stand in a corner, with about 1,500 tickets available to them.
"I went to the Bernabau Stadium. I know it is a different situation there but, if you compare it, the away fans are on the very back tier of the stadium.
"They are miles away from the pitch, a little pocket of fans, and they have no influence on the game at all."
Middlesbrough are likely to bring a reasonable away following to Nottingham today, even if it won't be to the same level as their more local rivals.
"Sheffield Wednesday and Derby come to our ground and their fans have a big influence on the game, sat right behind our goal," said Davies.
"The quicker we remove that influence, the better we will be at the City Ground.
"Against Sheffield Wednesday I had to drum it into our players at half-time – I had to tell them not to drop deep and let them get sucked towards their travelling fans.
"We have to review the situation and see what can be done as soon as is possible.
"It is not up to me to decide, I can only recommend these things."
Davies believes the form of his side – and the standard of football they have been playing – have attributed to the rise in home attendance levels this season.
But, while that is an encouragement, he says his main aim is merely to give the side the best possible chance of maintaining their remarkable run of form, as they come into the critical final months of the campaign.
"The only match we have lost in months at home was against Blackpool and you can remember Ian Holloway's comments after that.
"It was a match we deserved more from.
"Our (average) home attendances are also up by more than 2,000 on last season.
"That tells you the great support we are getting, so great credit to everyone.
"But it is a situation we need to look at.
"There must be a way we can give visiting teams less of an advantage."
In the meantime, Davies says Forest's mental strength will be as important as their physical attributes in the coming months. He said: "It is exciting nerves now. It is not like last season when we were fighting relegation.
"We just have to remain confident and positive.
"With the points we have on the board and the remaining matches we have, we just have to remain focussed. We will not get too excited when we win, we will not get too down if we draw.
"And we will certainly not let it affect us if we lose a match.
"We will keep working away, because there are a lot of points to be played for.
"But the important thing is that we are fighting it out at the top end of the table and we have to be confident.
"And our fans can play a part for us as well, if they can help us make sure this is a tough place to come for the rest of the season."
