I did bash out some very detailed notes whilst watching what was one of the most bonkers games of football that I’ve seen in years. As the game progressed the notes got a little more absurd and even surrealist, both in content and in form. The typing went to shit - a bit like Forest. The notes got lost somewhere down the modern interweb and so I’m writing from scratch.
Maybe Forest should start from scratch.
I’m not one of those doom mongers that’s already parading around the modern interweb saying: “Glassner out!!!!” We know he’s streaky, we know he’s a slow burner but you have to ask: how long will the Big Fat Greek invest in a slow burner when, right in front of our eyes, it’s not looking that great at the moment?
I never thought I would say this but thank chuff for a three week international break. I do fear that with a hellish fixture list coming up, if we had approached a November international break still stuck on five points, then the Big Fat Greek might press the Rapha Benitez button.
But it’s not all as bad as that. The team at least showed we had some limited flexibility. We were pre-warned with the three possible injuries ahead of kick off. It was great to see Nico out there once again. I was surprised to see no Sangare and was even hopeful of CHO, but nope, Glassner is rigid.
The afternoon got off to a half decent start with good old Harry Hodge on BBC Radio Nottingham retelling his famous Palace story once again. I never tire of hearing how BC disliked the South London club so much that he pulled off Harry, so to speak, and allowed Forest to play with ten men back in the day to prove a point.
Such an act these days against such a faux rivalry would have caused a riot down at Selhurst.
The game kicked off. WTF? Forest were absolutely dominant, which makes the mockery of writing a Crap Match Report saying we were crap all the more so. This was possibly the best 45 minutes we’ve seen so far this season.
Sure, Palace had the odd chance to break through what looked like a very wide and exposed Forest defence, but when we were attacking we were shit hot. It’s just a shame that we weren’t ruthless.
The early goal of course steadied the nerves as well as silencing Selhurst. The key for any successful team is then to build on this and kill off the opposition there and then. We should have been 4-0 up at half-time. Instead we were trailing 2-1.
Funny old game, eh?
Selhurst was awakened. It wasn’t exactly a beast being awakened but Selhurst was awakened. Fair play to Forest for not crumbling but coming back from what then became 3-1 down and still pressing right until the end.
Glassner at least showed some flexibility in bringing CHO on. He looked a little off the pace.
Sangare was dominant. I still love the way he looks so slow and sluggish moving around the pitch but somehow manages to progress the ball.
Chris Wood tried but is clearly lacking that sharpness he had during that Nuno season. It was that kind of game where, as good old Billy Davis was fond of saying, small margins, etc.
And so lay off with your Glassner out, modern interweb statements. Do you really think we would be in a better place if we were to go for what would be our sixth manager in almost 12 months? And who would you want exactly?
We need to accept that Glassner is a project builder. I’m in no way comparing Young Nigel to an elite European manager, but just look at what the Number 9 is achieving up the road at Field Mill after being given time - plenty of time - at Mansfield.
Five points at this stage in the season is poor. I do fear for what’s to come with Arsenal at home next weekend but we know we have the players, if not the luxury of a large squad, to help us see it through. Plus I still think Glassner can deliver if he perhaps just shows a little more flexibility.
Well done Palace. I really haven’t got any ill feelings towards you. I can’t be arsed to get sucked into what is a fake rivalry. Enjoy your moment and then we go again.
Oh yeah, Glassner made some pretty bat shit comments afterwards on BBC Radio Nottingham. It wasn’t just that he was referring to how much he enjoyed the adulation from both sets of supporters but he also put the defeat directly down to him, saying he was the distraction.
No one likes a football club to be all about themselves, not unless you’re BC and can get away with it.