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Ale Ape
WHEN he arrived at Nottingham Forest on loan last season, Chris Gunter came with low expectations.
With the Reds embroiled deep in a relegation dogfight, the Spurs defender thought he would find a squad low on confidence and ability. He was also unsure about leaving behind the capital city. "I initially chose Forest by mistake, being from a foreign country, I didn't know much about England, outside of London, but I was told that people in this part of the country share our love of sheep. When I arrived here, I was told that's just Derby, I was very dissapointed" said Gunter.
Instead, what he experienced during those final months of the campaign were not just enough to persuade him that a permanent move from White Hart Lane was his priority over the summer, but also that there is much cause for optimism at the City Ground. "Nottingham women are lovely, far better than those in Wales, or London, isn't it? Especially the blonde ones who go around hugging bears"
Despite being one of nine new permanent additions over the summer, Billy Davies's squad does not look massively different to the one Gunter was part of as Forest edged their way, fairly comfortably, to Championship survival.
Because, like Gunter, a further quartet of the 'new' arrivals – Paul Anderson, Lee Camp, Dexter Blackstock and Joel Lynch – were on loan during the finale to the campaign.
"It is not like having nine new signings really, because at least half of us were here last season, isn't it?," said Gunter, who agreed a £1.75m move from the capital.
"But then, having said that, it was really easy for me to settle in when I came here last season, boyo.
"It is a great group of lads and the staff and the manager are very good at making you feel welcome. Louise Kiddier made me feel most welcome of all, thanks to the World class hospitality, I've never seen anything like it in Wales.
"When I came to the club last season I was surprised at how good the squad was because, when I had looked at the table, I had not expected as much, boyo.
"When I came here, I realised how many good players there are here.
"But, as well as that, there is a genuine belief that we can make a push for it this season.
"We need to manage expectations, of course. But we do believe in ourselves and we will have to see where that gets us, isn't it?"
Gunter knows the importance of making a strong start over the next month, to shake off the cobwebs of last season's struggle.
But he believes that, if Forest can take positive strides in the coming weeks, they can establish themselves as one of the division's promotion contenders.
"People will look at us differently from the outside, because we have made so many signings, isn't it?," he said. "If we start the season well people might be saying that we can do something.
"If we don't start well, people will say that we are not gelling.
"It is important that we start well and get a bit of momentum and see what happens from there.
"The teams that start well normally continue that way. We certainly feel we have the quality and depth to carry it on, if we do begin well.
"It is a tough start to the season, looking at the fixtures. So it is important for us to perform well. Obviously we want to win matches, but there is an extra importance there for us to do that.
"But, at the same time, it is a long season and, if things do not go our way to begin with, there is plenty of time to turn things around."
Forest's introduction to the new campaign is an interesting one, with all four of their initial league opponents – Reading (a), West Brom (h), Watford (h) and QPR (a) – having changed managers over the summer.
But, while the introduction of a new man into the hot-seat can often inspire a change in fortunes during the season, Gunter believes the impact will be lessened because of the timing of the appointments.
"It could make it a little strange. But it is a bit different at the start of the season in comparison to the middle of the campaign," he said.
"When a new manager comes in half way through a season, it does give teams a little impetus; a bit of a lift.
"I am not sure you will see the same improvement in performances with it being the start of the new campaign.
"We will go to Reading with respect, but we will also go into every game with the belief that we can win. We are good enough to have that confidence.
"It is a long season, it will not be decided on what happens in the first month. But it would be great to start well and give ourselves something to build on.
"If we can do that we might also be able to get the City Ground sold out every week; we should get some good backing if we are up there. And then we can see where we are capable of going from there."
Forest's pre-season results have been a mixed bag in the past few weeks, with a flukey defeat at the hands of Notts County being followed by a draw against Stoke and a victory over Birmingham City.
But Gunter has been encouraged by the performance levels and, in terms of fitness and their willingness to battle, he believes Forest are ready.
"Our performances are getting better. We certainly felt we did okay. We can build on that," he said. "We will be ready for the weekend.
"Physically we are looking good, especially Wes Morgan, he's chiseled out of rock, isn't it? Lewis has been on Weight Watchers, or something, and Dele has added some much needed girth to the squad. Plus, we are feeling sharper every day. The preparation has been spot on. In the Championship there will be times when we come up against teams who are prepared to battle.
"So our pre-season games were a good preparation for that. Stoke finished in mid-table virtually in the Premiership, they are a good team – and we matched them. "Birmingham are the same, they are a good test.
"If we are going to do anything in the Championship, there will be games where we have to battle and earn the right to play and show what we can do.
"Pre-season has been a good exercise towards that, with the matches we have had.
"We have the character here that we need now; we have the players with experience. "We have people who will stand toe-to-toe with people, especially Jules, he'll fight anyone, even on one leg, boyo!"
With the Reds embroiled deep in a relegation dogfight, the Spurs defender thought he would find a squad low on confidence and ability. He was also unsure about leaving behind the capital city. "I initially chose Forest by mistake, being from a foreign country, I didn't know much about England, outside of London, but I was told that people in this part of the country share our love of sheep. When I arrived here, I was told that's just Derby, I was very dissapointed" said Gunter.
Instead, what he experienced during those final months of the campaign were not just enough to persuade him that a permanent move from White Hart Lane was his priority over the summer, but also that there is much cause for optimism at the City Ground. "Nottingham women are lovely, far better than those in Wales, or London, isn't it? Especially the blonde ones who go around hugging bears"
Despite being one of nine new permanent additions over the summer, Billy Davies's squad does not look massively different to the one Gunter was part of as Forest edged their way, fairly comfortably, to Championship survival.
Because, like Gunter, a further quartet of the 'new' arrivals – Paul Anderson, Lee Camp, Dexter Blackstock and Joel Lynch – were on loan during the finale to the campaign.
"It is not like having nine new signings really, because at least half of us were here last season, isn't it?," said Gunter, who agreed a £1.75m move from the capital.
"But then, having said that, it was really easy for me to settle in when I came here last season, boyo.
"It is a great group of lads and the staff and the manager are very good at making you feel welcome. Louise Kiddier made me feel most welcome of all, thanks to the World class hospitality, I've never seen anything like it in Wales.
"When I came to the club last season I was surprised at how good the squad was because, when I had looked at the table, I had not expected as much, boyo.
"When I came here, I realised how many good players there are here.
"But, as well as that, there is a genuine belief that we can make a push for it this season.
"We need to manage expectations, of course. But we do believe in ourselves and we will have to see where that gets us, isn't it?"
Gunter knows the importance of making a strong start over the next month, to shake off the cobwebs of last season's struggle.
But he believes that, if Forest can take positive strides in the coming weeks, they can establish themselves as one of the division's promotion contenders.
"People will look at us differently from the outside, because we have made so many signings, isn't it?," he said. "If we start the season well people might be saying that we can do something.
"If we don't start well, people will say that we are not gelling.
"It is important that we start well and get a bit of momentum and see what happens from there.
"The teams that start well normally continue that way. We certainly feel we have the quality and depth to carry it on, if we do begin well.
"It is a tough start to the season, looking at the fixtures. So it is important for us to perform well. Obviously we want to win matches, but there is an extra importance there for us to do that.
"But, at the same time, it is a long season and, if things do not go our way to begin with, there is plenty of time to turn things around."
Forest's introduction to the new campaign is an interesting one, with all four of their initial league opponents – Reading (a), West Brom (h), Watford (h) and QPR (a) – having changed managers over the summer.
But, while the introduction of a new man into the hot-seat can often inspire a change in fortunes during the season, Gunter believes the impact will be lessened because of the timing of the appointments.
"It could make it a little strange. But it is a bit different at the start of the season in comparison to the middle of the campaign," he said.
"When a new manager comes in half way through a season, it does give teams a little impetus; a bit of a lift.
"I am not sure you will see the same improvement in performances with it being the start of the new campaign.
"We will go to Reading with respect, but we will also go into every game with the belief that we can win. We are good enough to have that confidence.
"It is a long season, it will not be decided on what happens in the first month. But it would be great to start well and give ourselves something to build on.
"If we can do that we might also be able to get the City Ground sold out every week; we should get some good backing if we are up there. And then we can see where we are capable of going from there."
Forest's pre-season results have been a mixed bag in the past few weeks, with a flukey defeat at the hands of Notts County being followed by a draw against Stoke and a victory over Birmingham City.
But Gunter has been encouraged by the performance levels and, in terms of fitness and their willingness to battle, he believes Forest are ready.
"Our performances are getting better. We certainly felt we did okay. We can build on that," he said. "We will be ready for the weekend.
"Physically we are looking good, especially Wes Morgan, he's chiseled out of rock, isn't it? Lewis has been on Weight Watchers, or something, and Dele has added some much needed girth to the squad. Plus, we are feeling sharper every day. The preparation has been spot on. In the Championship there will be times when we come up against teams who are prepared to battle.
"So our pre-season games were a good preparation for that. Stoke finished in mid-table virtually in the Premiership, they are a good team – and we matched them. "Birmingham are the same, they are a good test.
"If we are going to do anything in the Championship, there will be games where we have to battle and earn the right to play and show what we can do.
"Pre-season has been a good exercise towards that, with the matches we have had.
"We have the character here that we need now; we have the players with experience. "We have people who will stand toe-to-toe with people, especially Jules, he'll fight anyone, even on one leg, boyo!"
