Everything’s not lost 23/03/05 | by TrickyMatt

I contemplated this piece following the Derby game but decided to wait. That is to form a fuller opinion, with more games to take in. They merely confirmed my thoughts but gave the unexpected bonus of seeing a whole number of players who I thought were destined to wear the red shirt only in reserve fixtures. Injuries and maybe his own indecision have led Megson to be dubbed the tinkerman in some quarters. Time for the Rambling Red to assess what should be done.

Since Megson took over, we have, according to my memory, played in the following formations:

• 3-5-2 – which often turns into a...
• 5-3-2 – which Ipswich cruelly exploited
• 3-5-1-1 – as seen in North London
• 4-5-1 – later stages of the Leicester game
• 4-1-4-1 – Leeds couldn’t break this down
• 4-4-2 – as seen at Vicarage Road

Keeping up with all this isn’t easy, as players scurry off mid-match to see Gary before returning with the prescription. At this juncture I must point out one thing, I am a Gary Megson fan. He has brought back passion, organisation, and above all else a faint possibility of survival. However, it is the point of this article (yes there is one!) to argue that Megson has to change from his liking of wing-backs if Forest are to beat the drop. In my opinion anyway.

I see the problem as this: when we play with three centre-backs, the central one acts as a sweeper, with the other two marking. This pulls the two supposed “wing-backs”, back into conventional full back positions. This pushes the entire Forest team back into a ridiculous position on the pitch, one which can be avoided. Now, against a team who play in a more direct style, this formation doesn’t cause as many problems because with so many men behind the ball it becomes easy to defend the box against aerial bombardment. Of course, you find it difficult to score yourself but that’s another matter entirely.

However, against a team adept in the art of quick, short-range passing, the formation is flawed. The reason being that the opposition are playing so close to your penalty area giving them the opportunity to either rain down efforts on goal, or slip cute balls into the channels of your area. Ipswich is the case in point. Preston looked set to do similar for the first hour until Megson went to a four at the back. So what changed?

Going for a four/five-man midfield completely alters Forest’s starting position on the pitch. Depriving the opposition of the ball in such previously advanced positions, Forest begin to defend a long way from goal, which is surely a good thing. The opposition are forced to throw balls with a greater chance of inaccuracy down the channels which Morgan usually gobbles up. We naturally find it easier to retain possession of the ball and there is an added bonus – we create opportunities. The two goals against Preston and the one against Leicester all came after a change to a four. Suddenly, a couple of passes saw Commons in a crossing position for Evans to head home and the same for Rogers and Taylor at Leicester.

The entire game against Derby, Leeds, a slice of the Watford game and the last 55 minutes against Leicester saw Forest dispense with the wing-back formation. These four games brought in eight points, which at two points-per-game is nigh on promotion form.

As I’m sure you are all aware at this time of heightened fixture-plotting and result-checking, our next three games are marked down as proverbial “six-pointers”. Against Crewe, Coventry and Plymouth, we need to take seven points at least. Anything short of six would be disastrous in my opinion. The best way to achieve this? I’d go with one of the following:

• 4-4-2
• 4-1-4-1
• 4-5-1
• 4-4-1-1

As for the player situation, well God knows who’ll be filling the red shirts come Gresty Road. James Perch must start. There can also be a case for the likes of Thompson, Gardner, Bopp and even James following the courageous showings against Leeds, a game I hope we don’t rue come the end of the season. Arsenal have a theory that if you're fouled for the penalty, you don’t take it yourself. Maybe there is something in that.

The points are there to be won and I believe we have the players to get them. It’s time to be more positive when it comes to tactics and prove that everything’s not lost.