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Showing posts from June, 2013

Getting defensive part 2: Partners in crime

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Since our return to The Championship, Forest have appeared to be particularly vulnerable down their flanks, no matter who is in charge or what formation they employ – it has led to some of our full-backs looking poor. We at Forest Boffin would contend however, that this problem has not been one of personnel – it has been down to a poor relationship between those full-backs and their midfield support. The centre-backs is not the only defensive partnership on the pitch, a 'winger' (or any midfielder responsible for the space down our flank) must form a relationship with his full-back as well –  left to fend for himself the full back will simply become outnumbered ( see an example from the Cardiff game below, in which Jara is left to defend alone. All pictures and diagrams on Forest Boffin can be enlarged if clicked ). Whether because of the unsettled side, tactics or the attacking nature of certain midfielders wearing the Garibaldi , these partnerships have been rare at Th

Getting defensive part 1: Full backs and square pegs.

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Perhaps the most lamented tactical issue since Forest’s return to The Championship has been the left-back problem. During the last four seasons we have seen an excessive amount of players tackle this position – 12 in fact, with the slot currently occupied by Chris Cohen. Can he hold onto his place here next season? And is the shuffling between left backs clouding over a more serious defensive issue which leaves Forest especially frail down our flanks? The hunt for a permanent left-back has been an ongoing source of frustration for the fans over the past few years, various managers have swapped between various players – some being played out of position – we will adopt Billy Davies terminology and call them square pegs – and some being 'proper' full-backs ( round pegs ). For all his ruminations about " s quare pegs in round holes" , Davies seems to use them more than the average manager – for example, he has played a non-full-back as left back in 53.3% of his

Player analysis: Adlene Guedioura

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Robert Snodgrass steps up confidently and whacks in the penalty - Forest Boffin must have used a months subscription of Forest Player on this clip alone, usually wearing a glib expression. As the Leeds player celebrates, you can see a frustrated Adlene Guedioura in the bottom corner of the shot - possibly cursing in Arabic - he'd just given away the penalty that put his side behind and looks angry. Leeds won't like Guedioura when he's angry... Guedioura's riposte - a thunderbolt that almost vaporised the Leeds net - was the catalyst for one of the most memorable victories in recent memory, a 7-3 victory at Elland Road. Under Steve Cotterill Guedioura proved nothing short of a revelation. One of several loanees used to patch up Forest’s makeshift side, he helped avert what would have been a disastrously timed nose dive into League One (you would argue that any such relegation could be described as disastrous, however for ownerless Forest, staying up was essential).