Thread to choose your Best Forest XI's of this century

[Kjetil Osvold's Cat]

I'm abstaining from voting here, but I thought it would be interesting at this point (even though there might be similar threads from a while ago) to ask people who they'd put in a Forest XI from players who've played since 2000.

I think picking two teams would be interesting. Team A being the XI you'd pick on prime form, over say at least a few months (so someone like Gary Gardner could be considered, you might include Raddy Majewksi based on his first season or whatever) and Team B being the XI you'd pick on overall contribution to the team over a longer time (maybe Chris Cohen might make this team even if he didn't, and he might, get a place in your Team A; ditto Andy Reid even?).

So that's it basically. Feel free to name Team A and/or Team B.

 

[BryanRoy]

My Best XI wouldn't go to far away from Hart's side.

Ward
Louis-Jean Dawson Walker Brennan
Scimeca
Williams Reid
Huckerby
Harewood Johnson

Would probably consider Beasant, Rogers, Lester, Bart-Williams, Jenas, Prutton, Bopp, Morgan, Earnshaw, Camp, Gunter, Cohen, Wilson, McGugan, McCleary, Majewski, McKenna to see if any can fit into the above side.

From the current side. Lichaj, Antonio, Britt, Lansbury need to do more. Hobbs' injuries have allowed him not to have shown enough yet.

 

[Kjetil Osvold's Cat]

I will give example teams actually (but don't be too harsh - I think I had more of a clue on the Forest goals thread than on this one - hence why I'm interested in what everyone else think I guess!)

Example Team A (prime form)

Beasant; Scimeca, Dawson, Mancienne, Cohen; Gardner; Olsen, Jenas, Majewski, Reid, Antonio; Earnshaw. Subs: Paterson, Lansbury, Assombalonga.

Example Team B (overall contribution)
Darlow; Louis-Jean, Hjelde, Wilson, Cohen; McKenna; Guedioura, Reid; McLeary (maybe more Team A material?), Blackstock, Commons (er maybe Antonio again if one season is enough!) Subs: Brennan, Williams, Scimeca.

 

[Kjetil Osvold's Cat]

My Best XI wouldn't go to far away from Hart's side.

Ward
Louis-Jean Dawson Walker Brennan
Scimeca
Williams Reid
Huckerby
Harewood Johnson

Would probably consider Beasant, Rogers, Lester, Bart-Williams, Jenas, Prutton, Bopp, Morgan, Earnshaw, Camp, Gunter, Cohen, Wilson, McGugan, McCleary, Majewski, McKenna to see if any can fit into the above side.

From the current side. Lichaj, Antonio, Britt, Lansbury need to do more. Hobbs' injuries have allowed him not to have shown enough yet.

Cheers mate. There wasn't a team listed when I started to post my example line-ups. When I tally things up I won't include that but will definitely include yours!

 

[Kjetil Osvold's Cat]

If I was to have a proper attempt rather than a quickly hashed example I'm pretty sure I'd put in Bart-Williams though now I think about it! Whether he was better in 97/98 is debateable I guess, but I reckon he could make Team A anyway. For a while under Platt he was the main star player wasn't he?

 

[youreds1986]

................Smith...............
Louis-Jean.Wilson...Dawson..Brennan
..............Bart-Williams..........
......Prutton............Williams....
Huckerby..........................Reid
..............Earnshaw..................

 

[Kjetil Osvold's Cat]

I thought about Smith tbh but he went through a tough spell didn't he?

 

[derbyshirered]

Might as well have a go.

Beasant
Perch
Chambers
Morgan
Cohen
Mcgugan
Bart-Williams
Reid
Commons
Harewood
Johnson

Thought about Woan but couldn't remember if he ever played in the year 2000.

 

[Kjetil Osvold's Cat]

McGugan was another that slipped my mind for consideration re: Team A. I might rather choose Bopp but not sure that would be correct (maybe only feasible on being a bit more team-oriented?).

 

[Strummer]

I thought about Smith tbh but he went through a tough spell didn't he?

A much underrated goalkeeper and unfairly targeted by a proportion of our supporters.

And I shall always remember his goal against Leicester in the Cup!

 

[Kjetil Osvold's Cat]

Might as well have a go.

Beasant
Perch
Chambers
Morgan
Cohen
Mcgugan
Bart-Williams
Reid
Commons
Harewood
Johnson

Thought about Woan but couldn't remember if he ever played in the year 2000.

Not much if he did at all (and not near his best form surely).

btw I never mentioned Petrachi for Team A because his qualifying form would be like one game or something I guess lol! And some people would surely nominate him if we were doing the opposite exercise!

 

[Kjetil Osvold's Cat]

A much underrated goalkeeper and unfairly targeted by a proportion of our supporters.

And I shall always remember his goal against Leicester in the Cup!

Yeah that was a nice moment.

The as yet unmentioned player from your signature must surely be pushing for inclusion on a thread like this soon if not already? (Osborn).

 

[Strummer]

Yeah that was a nice moment.

The as yet unmentioned player from your signature must surely be pushing for inclusion on a thread like this soon if not already? (Osborn).

He'd be in my team, to be honest.

There's something about him I just like. We've got a potential cracking player on our hands there, and an Academy grad to boot.

 

[BryanRoy22]

When people put Gardner in their team, make sure yoo distinguish between Ross and Gary

GK: Lee Camp – However you feel about him now, he was the most inspirational goalkeeper I think we’ve had this century. When he joined, at that time he was one of the best in the league and had a massive passion and will to win. Being a Derby fan and turning against them made it even sweeter. Tough choice to leave out Beasant.
RB: Matthieu Louis-Jean – Solid going forward and back. Not far behind were Lichaj, Gunter and Hutton.
LB: Chris Cohen – Considering left-back isn’t his natural position it says it all about the man. Honourable mentions to Brennan, Bertrand, Shorey and Julian Bennett.
CB: Michael Dawson – Went on to play for England and there’s many (good) reasons for that.
CB: Jack Hobbs – When fully fit and on form, our very own version of John Terry. For me, Dawson and Hobbs just beat Wes Morgan, Mancienne, Luke Chambers and Kelvin Wilson.
RM: Nicky Southall – For his contribution while he was here, turned out to be a diamond for League 1 level. Most thought he would be a bit part player at his age but was consistent, scored some great goals and the hattrick when we beat Swindon 7-1 was memorable. Tough to leave out McCleary, who pretty much kept us up single-handedly in 2012. Burke was also considered.
DM: Paul McKenna – We just haven’t managed to replace his influence. A true leader on the pitch. Such a presence for a small man. Guedioura, Bart-Williams, Gareth Williams and James Perch must get mentions, too.
AM: Andy Reid – Two spells at the club over the last 15 years. Just absolute class, seems to have an age on the ball. Can deliver a pass or shot from short or long range with pinpoint accuracy. Commons, McGugan, Lansbury, Osborn, Majewski and Jenas have all contributed something.
LM: Michail Antonio – Only one season with us so far but has had such a major impact that it’s impossible to leave him out. Also considered Tyson for the way he played under Davies.
CF: Britt Assombalonga – Simply a fantastic striker. Intelligent runs, left foot, right foot, heading ability. He’s got the lot. Shame we didn’t get to see more of him this season. He’ll go on to be one of the best we’ve ever had, I’m sure.
CF: Robert Earnshaw – Another fantastic striker. Just pure natural ability and calmness in front of goal. Mentions must go to Agogo, Jack Lester, David Johnson and Blackstock.

 

[BryanRoy]

Cheers mate. There wasn't a team listed when I started to post my example line-ups. When I tally things up I won't include that but will definitely include yours!

Ta mate.

The thing with that Hart side is that we played the best football post Bassett promotion season to now I reckon in that side. There were goals , we played to score and win and we kept clean sheets. How did Clough put it - Defending is our forte. Attacking is our speciality.

Think a lot of our managers can't get that right. Someone like Johnson v Earnshaw is also tough. Earnshaw scored for 2 seasons while Johnson was 1 yet Johnson played home-and-away while Earnshaw was dubbed more of a home forward which is total shit & speaks so much for Davies thoughts. Todays football these sorts of forwards are diminishing though...no more Owen size come alive in the box type forwards.

I really want to get Cohen in there though. Tough, because I think left-back is his best position & always thought Brennan was decent but would probably have to change there.

 

[Kjetil Osvold's Cat]

Thanks for all the votes and comments here. I thought it could be something people might like to contribute to, and I'm sure there's more good input to come.

At some point I'll have a tally-up (it looks like one overall team rather than using the Team A and Team B idea is the way to go; with I guess not many players who didn't play very much or didn't play very well for long included in selections). And probably a repping spree too!

 

[Tutts]

I have to go with a formation I don't like just to get in the greatest libero since Sammer.

Beasant

Bart-Williams
Dawson----------- Morgan
Olsen----------------------------Rogers
Guardiora Williams Reid
Blake Marlon​

 

[Kjetil Osvold's Cat]

I think that's Robbie Blake's first mention now too!

He had crossed my mind when I thought about loan players that weren't here that long.

Slight inkling that Francis Benali (on loan) might make it a second mention for him if he posts on the thread (even as an honourable mention)

 

[Kjetil Osvold's Cat]

I'll probably be able to make a 23 man squad up at the end (with a first XI too) using all the votes.

 

[Kjetil Osvold's Cat]

I guess more votes will come in but at this stage the consensus favours this squad (with the first XI as shown in a diamond formation verging on 4-3-3 but with Huckerby off the front two)

---------------------Beasant---------------------

Louis-Jean------Dawson-------Morgan---------Cohen

------------------Bart-Williams---------------
-----------Williams----------Reid-------------
-------------------Huckerby------------------
-----------Harewood---------Earnshaw---------

1 - Beasant
2- Louis-Jean
3 - Cohen
4 - Dawson
5 - Morgan
6 - Bart-Williams
7 - Huckerby
8 - Williams
9 - Harewood
10 - Earnshaw
11 - Reid
12 - Jenas
13 - Ward
14 - McKenna
15 - Wilson
16 - Chambers
17 - Brennan
18 - McGugan
19 - Prutton
20 - Osborn
21 - Johnson
22 - Smith
23 - Perch

 

[Kjetil Osvold's Cat]

Actually, I meant to type Camp at number 13 rather than Ward, having tallied up the votes.

And Jenas at number 12 is only in due to the versatility he would have in the diamond system...plus because if I'd gone ahead and properly picked a team I think he'd have an extra vote. Smith got the final goalies shirt due to chriscl's comment similarly I suppose, but certainly Osborn is in the squad due to Chris's post saying he'd be in his team (as well as the other mention for Osborn).

 

[Kjetil Osvold's Cat]

I know this century is turning more depressing again for Forest in recent weeks (so the possible inclusions from this season might be going down) but I'll give this thread a bump again anyway.

 

[valspoodle]

Saw Darren Huckerby chatting to TV the other day after a Norwich team beat an Ipswich team (sorry, don't know the age of the teams). He's coaching Norwich academy.