Like eating glass 01/03/05 | by TrickyMatt

For the blind, the last two home games for Nottingham Forest have been something quite spectacular. Let’s see, a 2-0 (thus sounding comfortable) home win against the high-flying Preston North End. Then came the almost unthinkable, another home point, this time against the equally high-flying Derby County. The garden is full of roses then? Not quite. Maybe to compare watching Forest with eating glass is a touch over-dramatic but it certainly isn’t pleasant.

In all truthfulness, Preston should have buried us. While we struggled to string two passes together, Lewis (twice), McKenna and Cresswell all should have put the game out of the reach of a Forest side who worked tremendously hard without offering much at the other end, Kris Commons aside. Still, the work ethic Megson has instilled is apparent and let’s face it, we are due a slice of luck. Putting up with Joe Kinnear for one...

What wasn’t lucky was the delightfully lofted chip from Kris Commons which secured the three points. Now that Megson has got the lads a fitness trainer and a proper diet, we should see even more dividends from Commons and his colleagues. As his long range shooting suggests, Commons is an ambitious young man as the interview he gave in the Mail on Sunday confirms. Don’t rule out another Premiership raid before the year is out.

Having had the chance to view some of the new signings I feel it only right to offer some initial analysis. John Curtis for one has impressed me. One thing is for sure though, he is definitely a right-back rather than a right-wing-back. He is firm in the tackle and looks a generally competitive sort, in the mould of Brian Laws perhaps. I was sceptical over the signing of Andy Melville, mainly because of his great many years. However, so far, the gangly Welshman looks a decent addition for the remainder of the season. Against Preston, he was terrific although Rasiak, an obvious goal threat, did more to unsettle him on Saturday.

The funds from the Tottenham Two have afforded us the luxury of yet another striker. As Neil Harris, David Johnson, Gareth Taylor, Marlon King, Jack Lester, Craig Westcarr are quite simply not enough, we had no choice but to snap up Scott Dobie. At 26, he is a decent age although I hadn’t seen much of him before. I thought the transfer fee was a touch high, but I suppose it always was going to be given the fact that everyone knows we have received a hefty bank transfer from North London. Despite tiring a little in the second half, Dobie offered plenty of promise on his Forest debut and seemed to possess something we have simply not had since Harewood headed for the Boleyn Ground – pace.

Like any good review, praise should be followed by criticism and that is reserved for Darryl Powell and David Friio. For my sins, I know a significant number of Derby County followers and for that I am sorry. However, the reaction of the sheep to our signing of Powell has been something quite extraordinary. One fans jaw dropped, and refused to accept it was the Darryl Powell. Six years ago, he was the whipping boy of Derby County, simply considered not good enough. I am afraid to say that all these years down the line, things haven’t changed. I thought at least he may be able to get a few tackles in and break up the opposition’s play. He doesn’t seem to be capable of it, let alone keeping possession of the ball.

Friio’s arrival was met with a little more anticipation. His statistics are impressive, showing a high number of goals from midfield. My first reaction is, however, always one of scepticism. Why were Plymouth selling him as they are seemingly stable financially and we are, although it pains me to say it, Championship rivals. Add to this the fact that the offer of £100,000 was hardly a bank breaking proposal. At 32, it is clear that Bobby Williamson feels Plymouth have seen the best years of David Friio. I feel inclined to agree.

We certainly have a chance of survival under Gary Megson. I appreciate greatly the enthusiasm and order he has brought to our club at a time when it was in such disarray. A few decent additions and a reshuffle have aided the battle enormously. However, we should be prepared for an exciting, if not pretty last few months to a season which will be remembered in the annuls of Forest’s history as being something quite awful.