Well Forest failed to go to Reading and ruin their big celebration, but it wasn't for the want of trying. The equivalent of hanging out in the kitchen all night at the party, being awkward until Reading scored in the 81st minute and the party could then get in full swing.
To be fair, with Coventry failing to win, meaning we were staying up regardless it made everything rather pointless, so fair play and congratulations to the Royals. I like Reading, and the fact they have stormed through late this season makes it all better. Well done Reading, again.
But we clung on for so long, and according to Robbie Savage on Five Live he couldn't understand why we are way down the table this season. Particularly impressive seemed Guedioura and Elokobi.
Leigertwood, Blackstock's Antigun team mate scored with a volley from a free kick from the wing, which as usual Forest failed to deal with. Like a blast from the season past.
And Elokobi was notable as he nearly scored an over head kick which would surely grab a lot of headlines, a big burley defender doing the near impossible. SO much so Guedioura was tweeting at Elokobi about it yesterday.
There were many chances for both teams throughout the game, and Reading had a goal ruled out by Roberts in the first half The battle of the 33's was one of the main halftime talking points for Radio 5, Savage and Pougatch both pointing to it being an entertaining battle nonetheless.
Forest had been close through good efforts from Blackstock and Guedioura, Guedioura with a trademark long range pile driver that the keeper took two efforts to get hold of.
Forest also nearly equalised late on when Tudgays header was cleared off the line, which would have given Forest a deserved share of the points. Readings win was perhaps somewhat harsh, but in the circumstances you can't really begrudge it.
And it could be a lesson of how to do things. Reading sold two key players and invested a minimal amount of that cash in the team and till had a side capable of leading at the top. Lessons that can be learnt.
It could be a lesson of how to do things but I doubt it. Yes, it may be prudent not to attempt to buy promotion, let's face it, it hasn't worked for the Foxes, but to let key players go and hope to use the same money to buy equally good or better players is all very well but much of a gamble. In my opinion keeping established first team players is the key, tweaking the squad gradually with introduction new players, and resisting mass signings. This seems to me the real reason the Royals have done so well this season. I am sure had Steve McClaren not purchased mediocre players, on unrealistic wages, creating such disparity in the wage structure, we would have challenged for promotion. It was clear the squad that had done so well under Billy Davies, resented this disparity, and did not want to play for McClaren resulting in a dreadful start to the season. The dreadful start lead to a dramatic fall in confidence, which not surprisingly, as it was so fragile, took the present management some time to build back up. In conclusion, had we not suffered ‘the McClaren effect’, had either kept Billy or gone straight for Cotterill/O’Driscol, we’d all, fans and players, be much happier now.
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