Question Time: Nottingham Forest

Ahead of Saturday's important home game with Nottingham Forest, I spoke with 31 year old Forest supporter Rob Terrace.

Rob has been a Season Ticket holder at Forest for 11 years now, and also does the Forest research for the Football Manager series of games, having started that 4 years ago. He lives in South Yorkshire and works in the Public Sector.

1) How has your season been thus far?

So far its has been as a fair few fans expected. In or around the Playoffs.

The Championship is such a difficult division to get out of, and with the additions we've made over the summer, we will be there or thereabouts at the end of it all.

Of course, there are some fans who believe that we should be a top 2 team, but again, we're short in a couple of key areas (goalscoring striker, could do with a 22 year old Stan Collymore again, and a holding midfielder, although, should we get David Vaughan to stay, then that would be good).

Also, the loss of Chris Cohen, who was the driving force behind the team from left back, should not be underestimated.

However, in recent weeks, the performances against Leeds and QPR have been of the standard we expect to see from Forest.

2) Are you a committed ‘King Billy' fan?

I've never been a big Billy Davies fan.

The mentality that he establishes within the club/team is always an interesting one, and his run-ins with some elements of the media are getting a little bit tedious.

This time around, his team hasn't been as settled (he's stated in press conferences that we've had about £8 million worth of players sat injured), and he doesn't seem to have settled on a philosophy of how we should play, and despite buying two highly rated wingers (Jamie Paterson from Walsall, and Djamel Abdoun from Olympiakos), has been somewhat reluctant to use them, either on their own, or together.

I'd like to think that this would change once we get to the end of January and we've had chance to strengthen.

3) Has fan skepticism of the new owners settled down at all?

I like to think it has.

There will always be fans who are critical of the way in which we got rid of Cotterill, O'Driscoll and McLeish before deciding that to go back to Billy Davies was the way forward. If anything, they are more critical/skeptical of the way in which Jim Price (Billy Davies' advisor/agent) has found himself to be almost Director of Football/General Manager, and a mouthpiece for Davies.

However, Fawaz and Abdulaziz are both often found to be mixing with the fans in and around the ground, and that has taken a fair bit of pressure away from them, however, a lot depends on how they back Davies in January.

4) Who has been your player of the season?

I'd probably say its Henri Lansbury for me, closely followed by Jack Hobbs and Jamie Mackie.

5) Are there any Bolton players you're particularly in fear of?

I like watching Jay Spearing, although, Jermaine Beckford always seems to score against us.

6) What score do you think the match will be?

I think 2-0 or 2-1 to Forest, Greg Halford to score his obligatory header.

7) What expectations do you have for the second half of the season?

I'd like to think that its a minimum of the Playoffs for us, although, given the competetive nature of the division, I wouldn't see a 7th or 8th place finish as a failure.

8) Can Davies survive if Forest are not promoted?

I think he will do.

The entire 'Unfinished Business' talk that eminated from himself and his staff in his post appointment interviews indicated that he was here for the long run, and that he saw the project as being a 2-3 year plan.

The Chairman seems to be backing him once more with the transfer funds he needs (as I write this, theres talk of at least 3 signings being made), and he seems to be integrating more of the young players at the club into the first team setup, something which previous managers (himself included) have forgot.

9) Who should Bolton fans look out for in your ranks?
Henri Lansbury has stepped into the central midfield role that Lewis McGugan tried to make his own for so long, and landed on his feet.

He never seems to stop running, and is an effective foil for another man to watch out for in Andy Reid. The Irish midfielder, a long time winger, has seemed more at home now he has been playing in the centre of midfield for us.

He has an incredible ability to pick out a pass, and even though he lacks in pace, his passing ability more than makes up for it.

He also seems to be the fittest he has been for a very long time, and can often be found leading the charge on the counter attack. He is also a very capable dead ball specialist.