Review of January - New year, same problems
01/02/04 | by Adam Gray

Any of the last three months or so could have been considered as awful months of our season, but I really mean it this time. January could not have been any worse for Forest, and there really is no light at the end of the tunnel at the moment.

Where is it going wrong? Part of the blame must lie with Harty, yet he is still the right man to steer our club out of its unfortunate, but sadly not unexpected, predicament. Yes, he has made poor decisions this season, but he is still our best manager since Brian Clough. 

It is the players who have to take a long look at themselves. They have felt sorry for themselves for far too long now, and they have got to realise that nobody else feels the same, despite the “Have a look at Nottingham Forest, who’d have expected that?” comments we hear every week on Soccer Saturday and the like.

Marlon King and Gareth Taylor have been pathetic this month. In fact, ever since we bought them. If they can get us into the competitive position that Mr Doughty keeps gabbing on about, then I’m a Chinaman. They cannot use the “no service” excuse either. It gets there, but you will never beat a First Division defence from the far post or from the 18-yard line.

Any positives to take from the month? Some of our performances defensively have still been good. We haven’t been thrashed this month (except perhaps against Sheffield Utd, and that could have been close), we have only conceded six goals, and our goal difference is still okay: -3 is far superior to the rest of the bottom six. But at the end of the day, we are in the bottom three for a reason.

Here come January’s awards.

Player of the Month
This obviously has to be a defender, and this month’s award, despite his recent injury, has to be Wes Morgan. The character he has showed despite his inexperience has been outstanding. The rest of the team should take note.

Goal of the Month
Marlon King versus WBA, when he drilled the ball past Russell Hoult from 12 yards out when in acres of space. Ok it was a penalty, but you can’t blame me for getting excited. This unfortunately has to win the award by default. 

Performance of the Month
The WBA game in the FA Cup, it was a win, simple as that. If not for that, it would have to be the Cardiff game, where we could have done better.

Idiot of the Month
The fans I have heard at the City Ground shouting nothing but abuse at the team are doing nothing to help whatsoever. Yes, you can have opinions of the lads, but it’s neither the time nor the place to announce them during the game. You have read what I have written - it might not be complementary much of the time, but I still get behind them at all times, because it’s what they need.

What does February bring? Our fight for survival enters a crucial stage. Up next: Coventry (7th), Walsall (14th), Rotherham (21st), Gillingham (25th) and Bradford (28th). All of those are teams we could catch up again with a win or two, but I know its gonna be a hard slog.

E-mail me with any comments at adamgray50@hotmail.com