Robert Learnshaw
COYR
That was just AWFUL
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Sliding Doors - the moments that mattered
- Thread starter TrentEndDr
- Start date
Morpeth
John Robertson
Two big turning points for me:
1) Getting stuffed against Blackpool
2) The two defeats last month against ManU and Liverpool
The first was a huge shock to the system and a wake up call and the second was where the belief came back.
1) Getting stuffed against Blackpool
2) The two defeats last month against ManU and Liverpool
The first was a huge shock to the system and a wake up call and the second was where the belief came back.
Caveman Ninja
Fucjin g wot karate
Was going to mention that. A critical signing and one we only got through right at the end of Deadline Day. We wouldn't have stayed up with Hennessy in goal.
JohhnyM
Viv Anderson
1. Not sacking Cooper after Leicester.
2. Signing Navas and Felipe when we did.
3. The return of Taiwo and his goals.
2. Signing Navas and Felipe when we did.
3. The return of Taiwo and his goals.
MaxiRobriguez
Bob McKinlay
Not been mentioned yet but Navas' performance vs Leeds when we beat them 1-0.
If we lose that game (which perhaps looking back we could easily have done) then we'd be one point off Everton in the bottom three with them to play Bournemouth at home and us to play Palace away.
If we lose that game (which perhaps looking back we could easily have done) then we'd be one point off Everton in the bottom three with them to play Bournemouth at home and us to play Palace away.
MASE
Up-Front
Two key points for me, Marinakis not sacking Cooper was huge.
As was Danillo for Freuler, when suddenly the ball started to move about with some purpose.
As was Danillo for Freuler, when suddenly the ball started to move about with some purpose.
NFFCForeverRed
First Team Squad
Agree with everything already said but another key one is the realization from the coaching staff that Danilo should be allowed to join our attack rather than be seen as a defensive midfielder. That made a huge difference to our threat going forward.
Lastly, Taiwo and his 5 goals in 3 games.
Lastly, Taiwo and his 5 goals in 3 games.
valspoodle
Steve Chettle
We've all got different turning points showing that the whole season has been eventful and full of joyous and heart rending moments.
It's probably what we all expected, but what a crazy whirlpool of emotions finally coming out into a mill pond of pleasure.
It's probably what we all expected, but what a crazy whirlpool of emotions finally coming out into a mill pond of pleasure.
I’ve posted elsewhere that in my view the key sliding door was after the 4-0 drubbing at Leicester. There was a high probability of sacking the manager, but the total support of Forest fans at Leicester probably had some influence on the owner to stick with him.
Had a change been made then it is unlikely the ensuing sliding doors would have happened. Remember the owner extended his deal - quite remarkable.
The team spirit we have witnessed since has been amazing. Despite an horrendous injury list affecting every position in the team, it is the team spirit that has shone through brilliantly.
In football, like business, taking the right decision at a a time of a great pressure takes real acumen. Too frequently football takes the easy decision to shuffle the pack. Of course our owner did take big decisions on other senior employees including the CEO and recruitment staff.
Our reward has been retention of our PL status, and the related opportunity to progress to being an established PL club.
One final point - I was able to visit the boardroom and dressing rooms recently. The way which Steve Cooper has embraced our history is wonderful, but also he has created a board for players to place photos of their family members (which they view ahead of games). It is a small but significant part of building the team spirit which we see.
Of course this is replicated off the pitch with the amazing relationship between the team, management and supporters.
The sum of our parts is far greater than the individual bits - Steve Cooper deserves great credit for this.
Had a change been made then it is unlikely the ensuing sliding doors would have happened. Remember the owner extended his deal - quite remarkable.
The team spirit we have witnessed since has been amazing. Despite an horrendous injury list affecting every position in the team, it is the team spirit that has shone through brilliantly.
In football, like business, taking the right decision at a a time of a great pressure takes real acumen. Too frequently football takes the easy decision to shuffle the pack. Of course our owner did take big decisions on other senior employees including the CEO and recruitment staff.
Our reward has been retention of our PL status, and the related opportunity to progress to being an established PL club.
One final point - I was able to visit the boardroom and dressing rooms recently. The way which Steve Cooper has embraced our history is wonderful, but also he has created a board for players to place photos of their family members (which they view ahead of games). It is a small but significant part of building the team spirit which we see.
Of course this is replicated off the pitch with the amazing relationship between the team, management and supporters.
The sum of our parts is far greater than the individual bits - Steve Cooper deserves great credit for this.
Ashley
Steve Chettle
Great post, and completely spot on.
If you look at the four teams below us they all have two things in common; they've all sacked their managers (Leeds and Southampton twice!) and there is division and unrest at all levels at the club.
I'm glad we chose unity over that madness.
Timothy Pope
I know that Nuno that I know that Nuno that I know
It was when I decided to start walking to the match instead of driving & parking on Cyril Road. We’ve won every game at home since.
Timothy Pope
I know that Nuno that I know that Nuno that I know
But then someone will point to the club that scrapes into 17th and say “it worked for [insert club name here]!”
valspoodle
Steve Chettle
If that club is Everton, it worked because they were the ones that nabbed Dyche.
Ashley
Steve Chettle
To be fair to Everton, sacking Frank Lampard is completely understandable.
joefretters
First Team Squad
I remember this really starting last season when lyle Taylor scored 2 in injury time at bristol city and since then we have got better all the way to the premier league when no one expected it
joefretters
First Team Squad
I agree and this would have ended in tears if we ended up with allardyce or dyche
Alf-engelos Mindminackers
The Artiste formally known as "Wanksy"
This^
Not just saved our season, but could likely make our club from here onwards.
Joe Baker's Dog
Grenville Morris
I left the Leicester away game thinking that Steve Cooper would get the sack. I couldn't sleep. I expected the worse the next day & didn't dare listen to the radio or TV. Thank god Mr. Marinakis realised what a gem we have & gave him a long term contract. That was so important. Imagine if we'd appointed Sam Allardyce.........I've broken out in a cold sweat just thinking about the many bullets we dodged. Getting key players back such as Awoniyi was so important. Keeping MGW fit was also vital. The signings of Felipe & Navas were so important......although someone needs their head examined for Wood & Shelvey. The key game for me was Liverpool away........I expected a thrashing but we could have won. I think that gave us hope. Although losing at Brentford when we should have won nearly wiped away that hope.
ubik
Geoff Thomas
No season ticket, so limited to games available on Now TV (and missed one recently which I didn't realise was on BT Sport!)
Definitely the fans backing Cooper after a 4-0 mauling at Leicester, marking the owner's card that we need to keep this manager.
And when I say mauling, I think I did get to watch that and there was a sliding doors moment the other way with Awoniyi hitting the post at 0-0. Next thing I knew we were a couple of goals down. Maddison scored with an inch-perfect free kick. 4-0 probably flattered them, but the players must have been demoralised.
Who knows? A new manager might have worked wonders, but more likely would have struggled to mould a group of largely new faces into a team, and we'd probably have gone down. Even when we got safe, then took 3 points from 11 games and were headed down, the owner noted how strongly the fans backed the manager and kept faith.
I think Leicester were well ahead of us after that game, but the wheel has turned and they look doomed unless they win at Newcastle tonight. While we're safe...with a game to play! Still have to repeat that a few times before I can believe it.
Definitely the fans backing Cooper after a 4-0 mauling at Leicester, marking the owner's card that we need to keep this manager.
And when I say mauling, I think I did get to watch that and there was a sliding doors moment the other way with Awoniyi hitting the post at 0-0. Next thing I knew we were a couple of goals down. Maddison scored with an inch-perfect free kick. 4-0 probably flattered them, but the players must have been demoralised.
Who knows? A new manager might have worked wonders, but more likely would have struggled to mould a group of largely new faces into a team, and we'd probably have gone down. Even when we got safe, then took 3 points from 11 games and were headed down, the owner noted how strongly the fans backed the manager and kept faith.
I think Leicester were well ahead of us after that game, but the wheel has turned and they look doomed unless they win at Newcastle tonight. While we're safe...with a game to play! Still have to repeat that a few times before I can believe it.
MaxiRobriguez
Bob McKinlay
They actually moved above us on GD after that win as they had a 2021/2022 Forest-esque start to the season losing 6 and drawing 1 from their opening 7 games. That win vs us took them to a heady 4 points from 8 games, same as us.
Leeds had a decent start and were on 9 points from 7 games.
IJPS
Supporting NFFC since 1977
I remember landing in Miami Airport just to see we were 3-0 down vs fester. Then 4-0 and no way back.
Saw our supporters backing for the team and SC and believed that it wasn't time for change. The support for SC is unmeasured, and it'll take us dropping into the bottom 3 next season to even consider his position.
Saw our supporters backing for the team and SC and believed that it wasn't time for change. The support for SC is unmeasured, and it'll take us dropping into the bottom 3 next season to even consider his position.
ubik
Geoff Thomas
I'd forgotten that - I'm clearly thinking of the time a few weeks later when Forest were bottom with 10 points from 14 while Leicester had recovered to sit 14th with 14 from 14 (inspired by that 4-0 win?)
A few games later we'd gone above them.
Galaxie
A. Trialist
Am I the only one that kind of would like Everton to survive due to the Dyche/Woan/Stone connection?
EmmersonForest4
Steve Chettle
Sliding doors moment was Cooper changing the tactics and having the slightly more attacking system with Brennan and the more defensive system with Danillo.
Taiwo coming back also helped massivley. We just battled well and fought hard which ended up in points. Scoring more is what helped us but I dont neccessarily think we were creating a whole lot more so maybe it was just Taiwo. The Arsenal game there were no mistakes even though we defended for huge periods. Thats almost unprecadented this season for us. When we defend that much we always have a mistake in us.
So not sure what what prompted that but obviously delighted. Cooper will need to change how we play slightly as well.
Taiwo coming back also helped massivley. We just battled well and fought hard which ended up in points. Scoring more is what helped us but I dont neccessarily think we were creating a whole lot more so maybe it was just Taiwo. The Arsenal game there were no mistakes even though we defended for huge periods. Thats almost unprecadented this season for us. When we defend that much we always have a mistake in us.
So not sure what what prompted that but obviously delighted. Cooper will need to change how we play slightly as well.