The winds of change
11/05/04 | by Daniel Hawkins

This time last year we were basking in the glories of making it to the play-offs, albeit limping home after such a promising start. With a massive return to form from David Johnson and Marlon Harewood finally coming of age, plus Andy Reid, Michael Dawson and the emergence of Wes Morgan, there were high hopes in the camp that this was going to be it - this was going to be the pinnacle of Paul Hart's short managerial reign in taking us up to the ‘promised land’. After tasting such a cruel defeat in the play-offs, we were ready for the challenge to the top, or so we thought.

Many changes were seen in the playing staff at the City Ground: out went Scimeca, cunningly off to the Foxes for a free, realising his own premiership ambition; Brennan decided enough was enough and was out of here; along with the manager’s decision to let Hjelde, Lester and Huckerby go without a fight.

Gareth Taylor came in from Burnley as replacement for Lester and - after many rumours and ‘almost signings’ - we saw Danny Sonner and Brynar Gunnarsson arrive at the City Ground. What were we to make of these players? I think it's fair to say that we were disappointed in not attracting bigger names. However, we had the youth, so we would be OK ... or so we thought!

Sunderland came on the hottest day of the year - 100F in the stadium, the crowd of almost 29,000 slowly cooking and the curtain-raiser of an eventful season was about to unfold. With a 2-0 win against our newly-relegated rivals, happy days were here again. We were riding on the crest of a wave and no-one could touch us.

Following that, some impressive performances - 12 games and only two defeats - and we were hitting the form nice and early to cement us a strong position in the league. Now, on the 11th game of this excellent run we played Sheffield United. We beat them 3-1, however, Johnno had his leg broken by one of their players. This we knew was going to be a blow, but what followed was something that nearly landed us in Division Two.

Much speculation was banded about Hart and the 'Leeds situation' (which I won't go into) and suddenly our form changed from promotion candidates to relegation possibilities. I have seen a few poor refereeing decisions fall against us, and there were a few, but they were no excuse.

There was also no excuse from the manager, and suddenly questions were being asked. Can Hart really do this job? Is he really good enough? Forest fans were evenly split, many of whom were supportive to him in blind faith that he could turn things around. Others pointed fingers at Doughty, but some were pointing fingers straight at the manager. He failed to keep good players, his signings were poor, as was his public persona.

The same could also be said of his management skills too. It is in no doubt that Hart is an excellent coach at youth level and may well be a fantastic coach at senior level in years to come, but being third from bottom with 18 games to go is not progression. Finally, Doughty bit the bullet and sacked the man seen by many fans as the messiah. After a poor display at Coventry, going down 1-0 at home, it was time for a change.

Hoddle was many people's prediction for manager - damn good coach, just bought a flat in Nottingham after moving from his beloved London - put two and two together and I think everyone was thinking Hoddle. Some were asking for Pearce and Clough, but we needed experience, we needed a change, we needed someone with charisma, we needed a manager who could search out bargains on the transfer market and get average players to perform like superstars. In steps Joe Kinnear - he cut short a holiday in Spain and immediately showed his intentions of pulling this club out of the sh*t.

One day later, he started his cunning wheeling and dealing and in came Foxes duo Andy Impey and Forest old boy Alan ‘Tank’ Rogers - some much needed experience and width, and finally some cover at left back as the Bupa sponsored Oyen was eventually shown the door.

We hadn’t scored in eight league games and we Crewe at the weekend. The Kinnear presence had started, with a plucky 3-3 draw and Marlon King finally finding his firing boots, Impey on his debut and Taylor popping up for the last gasp equalizer. Suddenly we looked like a team: we were fighting to get results that we deserved.

Next came two draws and then finally a win. Bradford were the visitors and how ironic that the last win was against them at their ground. They came to us expecting something, only to be denied in the final minute by Mr Taylor and his flying head. Now things were getting better and we were out of the bottom three, replaced by our mutton-loving neighbours. Cue mass celebrations - it was as if we had won the league, rather than celebrating our first league win in 18 games.

Kinnear added to his loan targets by extending Rogers and Impey's loan deals and the signing Everton’s forgotten keeper Paul Gerrard as immediate replacement for the injured Ward. This was needed as Barry Roche had decided he was going to show how useless a goalkeeper really could be.

Kinnear also masterminded the permanent transfer of Bradford midfielder Paul Evans for £25k. How we were going to find out in games to come that this was the bargain of the season, showing us that he could add some much needed steel to the midfield and allow the likes of Williams and Jess to finally produce some impressive displays.

So, apart from two blips in D*rby and Gillingham, we find ourselves finishing in 14th after beating most of the promotion contenders. We have Johnno back in fine touch, a renewed sense of belief among fans and players alike, and a manager who has suddenly opened the club up to the fans and embraced the support he richly deserves.

In return, we the fans are getting what we richly deserve - and that’s results and performances, along with a clear and open policy throughout the club, complemented with a manager who has shown that with just a little sense we can achieve our goal, if we add experience to the young squad and get rid of silly formations that have never worked for anybody.

So what next? Well, we have a summer ahead where Kinnear has promised that the players he wants are going to be chased as soon as the season is over. In fact, it's already started with Jess, Rogers, Impey, Gerrard and Williams being offered deals and Roche, Westcarr, Bopp and Sonner looking like they are heading through the exit door.

There is going to be no consolidating our Division One status. It's high time we showed ambition ourselves - we are not here just to survive, we are here to get up and consolidate our Premiership status, and we finally have an experienced manager that will help us get there. Towards the end of season we have seen high attendances for nearly all of Kinnear's games. It’s a fun ride and we are all jumping on it.

Player of the Season

Has to go to Andy Reid. He has worked his heart out all season and whilst I, like many other fans, may get annoyed at his ball-hogging antics, he has scored some specials goals. He has showed immense maturity in talking off the transfer speculation that has surrounded him and proved he is loyal to the final whistle. It is going to be a sad day to see him go, and if he does, when he returns to the City Ground he deserves a rousing reception.

Special mention to Des Walker - it has almost certainly been his last season with us and maybe his last season as a player. What a service he has given football and this club. Let's hope he can accept a new roll as a coach.

Chump of the Season

After such a disappointment mid-way through, there are many candidates: Sonner basically for being crap, at least he tried though; Bopp for proving that he is a prima donna and should start thinking that he will ruin that potential unless he sorts his life out; Barmby for throwing a big time strop; and finally Paul Hart - the job was just to big, shame he couldn’t accept this before he was pushed.

Special mention to Barry Roche for providing us with some entertaining moments and proving to us that coffee cups can be a hazard to your playing career.

Overall, a disappointing seaso - many lows, but finished on a high. We now can look into the summer knowing that it’s all behind us and we are building up for a season that will be one we hopefully will never forget.