Wave hello and say goodbye!

By David
May 20 2004

End of a season and end of an era for Nottingham Forest, for this summer brings about new faces, new optimism but the same challenge, the challenge to mount a sustainable push for promotion.

So what has let us down before? Only one season of note really and that was the play off season. Other than that year we suffered under the mis-guidance of David Platt, footballs very own scud missile, along with Bryan Robson and Chris Kamara , three managers who adopt sure fire methods of pushing your team to the wrong end of the table.

Harty’s season it is then, that’s our only really crowning glory in the last 5 years and we got beat to a team who played us off the park at times and a team managed by Scarboroughs own Kick and Rush expert, step forward my Neil Warnock.

So where did Hart fail and how can Forest overcome those failures with our latest man at the helm Big Joe. Many have pointed the finger at Wardy, dodgy mistakes here and there, remember the howler against Man City ? That would be unfair though, we got him on a free and as well as stepping up a division he has pushed hard for a place in the Welsh team as well as making some outstanding saves for the Garibaldi.

The diamond formation had its critics, as did the frontline partnerships, who filled in if DJ or Harewood were to be injured? Then of course both players became unavailable to us through two differing reasons. Which brings me to Strength and Depth, two words that have been lacking at Forest for some time, the academy has been brilliant in filling the gap but this was Harts downfall.

Yes I know that sounds crazy but Hart was so strong with the academy and so successful no one dared to question his actions and when you considered he was form the Clough era and how we all dream to those days again, Harty was untouchable. Even when we lost to Coventry 1-0 there were no protests. No protests from the A-block? No protests on the forums? Yes that’s right and that’s testimony to how Harty got it right with the academy and more importantly how Nigel Doughty was also caught up in this cheaper way of forming and financing a squad.

So big Joes mission is to turn Doughtys hand, where the chairman never really backed Hart before, our summer signings were woeful, Kinnears mission is to get some cash.

But will he do it?

From the evidence we have seen so far, yes Kinnear will be backed with cash, Doughty has already said if he wants a 5 million quid player he can have one, but he would have to fit in with a wage structure.

So why is Kinnear getting the cash and not Harty? Well it’s a question of personality and Joe has it in abundance, we all guess he must be great at cards. Kinnear makes the team laugh, the players look and feel good as does Nottingham, we are all smiling again. And when you smile you are more willing to hand over your cash