I enjoyed the game last night. Shame Costa wasn't starting otherwise I was looking forward to the game. I think the loss of Costa was felt by Marshall and Cav more than anybody else as they really missed the outlet on the left and whilst others have said Weimann was great
The goal is a great piece of play from Lonergan to Dangerous to Doherty to Weimann and then a tap in for Dicko, fast incisive and above all clinical. But....it all started with an abysmal corner from Marshall. Marshall's corner was cleared straight to Vaughn (I think) who passes to Brerton and Cav tracking back makes a cracking tackle/ interception only for Lonergan to tackle Cav, the bellend leaving Brerton a tap-in only to find Super-Coady flinging his size ten in the way (I still think he was trying to control it).
We played some lovely stuff in patches and when we have possession we are really good with it, incisive, fast and with real purpose. Cav was at the heart of most of it but a tip of the hat to Dave Edwards whose forward passing was in the most part brilliant (yes I know, Dave Edwards), even Doherty was playing some good passes short and long. Overal our attacking play was very good to watch albeit with missing Costa's obvious flair and threat and Weimann's running through the middle rather than out wide. Defensively we are still very indifferent. Ball in the opposition defensive third we pressed very well, as soon as it goes into midfield we sit off and drop deep for the counter. It doesn't really work and the two systems are at odds with one another. Individually the players all know what they are doing now and look a coherent team which is the first time I've seen it since Stoke.
I thought Forest huffed and puffed and neither Forest wide men troubled two of the worst defensive full backs in the division. On the whole they looked like Reading did when they came to our place early in the season but I was impressed with Asombalonga's work rate and possession and he looked a threat on the ball, they just didn't get him in the right places to do much damage. He would be a handful in our team up front and he looks over his injuries right now.
Lonergan - A mixed bag, pulled off some excellent saves but his command of his area, defenders and general decision making is pretty abysmal. He tries though and you can't fault that. 7 (+1 just for that save at the end)
Coady - A willing, running, athletic player who is only surely a right back. His delivery was good from deep and his passing was OK, defending he got caught a few times but he's actually reading the game very well and his on pitch intelligence is much better in this position rather than midfield. He still can't trap a ball and his touch in general is like a man who has had his instep replaced by some kind of football repellant. 7 (+1 for that save too)
Batth - This is the player everybody likes to sing about, headed it, kicked it and won headers. Looked commanding and fitter than I've seen him i a long time. Him and Hause still don't have a great understanding though and he needs to work on his communication. I don't think he's the leader in the back line we are looking for. Dealt with Asombalonga in the main really well, only getting turned once in the whole game. Also played two absolutely inch perfect passes to Dicko on an angle and to the players feet (we'll gloss over the odd hoof). 8
Hause - Top class centre half in the John Terry mould. Needs to work on his comms too but does everything you want a top player in this division to do and looks more agile as the season is going on. Almost got a nose bleed when he found himself striding through the Forest team with only on man to beat he saw the glory.... and almost passed it straight out with two very good options. I wanted him to round Mills (I think) and stride purposefully toward goal, alas this didn't happen. 8
Doherty - Going forward he was excellent if a little lackadaisical. Still looks like he needs a slap to wake himself up (Is this OK to say now?) and sometimes he looks like he's planning his next curry photo opportunity rather than concentrating on a game of football. 6
Evans - Not his game tonight, almost everything he tried going forward didn't work for him but kudos for keep trying. About as mobile as a bus with about the same speed, however this hasn't done Xabi Alonso any harm and if he can improve his accuracy and decision making he will be a very good player in our midfield. 5
Edwards - Please don't stop reading...Dave Edwards was excellent, he pressed at the right time, his passing was in the main excellent and he played a Captains performance. Yes he was even creative wit the ball at his feet too. Got booked for a very naughty tackle but I kind of liked that and fair play he had a very good game tonight. 8
Weimann - Worked incredibly hard, pressed, defended and tackled like he was playing for a move and he deserved one on this performance. He's not a wide man and I'd have liked to see this kind of performance in a forward role as he would be tearing centre backs like Mills and Fox apart for 90 minutes. His passing was good, he hasn't got much lair and I don't think he possesses that sheer fear factor full backs have when facing a Costa. 8
Cavaliero - Sublime in patches and technically miles better than anything in this team bar Costa. Got kicked to ribbons by a fairly dirty Forest team but stil had ability to beat players and put crosses in. His awareness of the goal os very good but his decision making sometimes lets him down but I think that will be much better next year. No more messing around with him, he's a 10 that floats around and at his best when playing with equally good players like Marshall and Costa. 8
Marshall - Like Evans nothing really worked for him tonight, his set pieces were in the main very poor but you could see what they were trying to achieve in crowding the young Forest 'keeper and putting him under pressure. Unfortunately his delivery never actually did any of that. On the ball he's excellent, has that lovely languid style of the kid in the playground who you couldn't get the ball off and when he gets his passing right it's incisive and purposeful. 6
Dicko - A goal for Dicko and I am pleased for him, made some very good near post runs and also looked to strike on goal when he could. But something isn't right with Nouha, he isn't as mobile, strong or purposeful as he was and he just isn't the same threat off the shoulder or deep. A shame for him as a player but I think we are coming to the end with him. 7 (for sheer sentimentality).
Saiss - I like him as a player, a beast of a man with the touch of a velvet glove. Looked better than Dave in the centre of midfield and Evans seemed to get more out of him playing with him rather than Dave. Played some excellent balls as well as steaming into a couple of challenges. Played a magnificent ball to Gibbs-White too. 7
Gibbs-White - Looks a really good player and was equally as good centrally as he was out wide, has pace, touch, technique and a directness people love to watch. Upended in a professional foul but recovered well. A very good cameo and a class above Enobokhare at the moment. 7
Bodvarsson - Oh dear Jon Dadi, this was a shocker. His decision making was beyond abysmal and whilst you can't fault his work rate he is just trying too hard right now and making bad decision is costing us more goals. 4
Lambert - Got his tactics spot on. 8.
Referee - missed Brerton catching the ball twice! The penalty decision for Dicko could have gone either way and his linesman bottled that more than he did but his general decision making was indifferent. 5
I enjoy tactical football and so I enjoyed the game, might not have been for everybody though.
