That includes all their CL/EL games and doesn't count the mins played so imagine that would be decreased somewhat (I'm out atm and can't tally it up!) but yeah wasn't bad, but not amazing.
Let's be honest, Dennis coming back has been an unmitigated disaster. Team morale seems to have gone out of the window and the coach was fired for the poor run of results since he joined.
We were on a poor run of results before Dennis arrived. As for team moral the results probably haven't helped that and I would argue that not playing Ryan Andrews and playing a midfielder at right back without a coherent reason or dragging off two players who have done well for us this after 20 minutes hardly helped player moral either.
He didn't play much from November I believe - no wonder the guy looked ring rusty and a lack of service or help up front wouldn't help.
If ever there was a game where Dennis will come to life it is this Friday. On TV against one of the divisions big boys, ideal for an ego that needs fuelling. Friday could be the game where he starts performing again.
One solitary player coming in on a huge wage reduction, who didn’t even start for some time won’t have impacted morale in any way shape or form. If anything would’ve affected morale, it would’ve been the complete lack of signings anywhere else to help out a thin squad and give us a remote chance of pushing for the playoffs. We also benefited from the ‘new manager bounce’ by extending Val’s contract, which was naturally coming to an abrupt end once the players started to give up again, and other teams sussed out how easy we were to nullify if they just let us have the ball to do absolutely nothing with. Raj was also obviously and clearly outperforming his actual ability earlier on in the season, before his goal contribution eventually started matching his ability. A bit like Igahlo under QSF. There is is absolutely Zero chance our position would’ve been any better had Dennis not been signed.
I don't think the players did down tools, I think we showed some spirit against Rotherham, Coventry, and did belatedly turn up to the game against Huddersfield (and of course against Brum post-Val), it's just as you say our hot streak was completely and utterly unsustainable. I suppose that only strengthens the argument to say that Dennis wasn't the problem
Don't think lack of effort was the problem but a lack of quality and ability to go and attack. Also they were given endless excuses about being tired due to the schedule from the manager.
Yeah down tools is probably wrong, in fact it was probably the opposite and we raised our game after the extension but it just wasn’t sustainable for various reasons. Either way, anyone who thinks Dennis has anything remotely to do with our form in 2024 is seriously reaching.
Working hard on the pitch. Playing for the team. Important defensive work. Stunning goal against Leeds. Hit the post today. All that and not 100% fit. Bad egg my arrse.
We don't see the politics behind the scenes but he's looking bloody good on the pitch lately. Just head and shoulders above the Champo opposition he is currently up against. Definitely a 25 goal striker at this level if fit for a season (not that I expect him to return).
Do people think any slim chance of him staying would be more or less improved by Forest getting relegated?
Definitely improved by them being relegated? But then mightn't there also be more of a chance they want to keep him for themselves if they're back in the Championship?
I'd say an outside chance, yeah. If Forest go down, apparently they're up the creek as there's a lot of talk they don't have relegation clauses in player contracts so there could be a deal to be done. By all accounts, he pushed for the move himself in January so we'd probably be relying on him wanting to stay as I could see him being a target for clubs elsewhere - perhaps one of the Saudi clubs or something.
If they are on the edge in terms of FFP as it is in the Championship, surely, as we've seen with Leicester, they'll risk being in an even worse position if they do go down wrt the Championship version of FFP
But if Forest stay up surely they'll also still want to be rid of him considering they don't use him?
If anything, if they stay up they are more likely to get rid of him. If they go down I would think they have other players that would bring in more money than him
Yes if relegated. But still a chance if they stay up. If what he says is true he's happy here that is a major factor. Then it's down to whether they can negotiate a wage he's happy with.
Starting to find his full match fitness which is obvious from the performances. If only the clown of a coach hadn’t turned him down in the summer for no reason, the season might have been a whole lot different.
But I thought we wanted independent thinkers for head coach who turn down the Pozzo / Mogi options if they don’t fit their system? Much more criminal was him giving the ok to Rajovic.
