We held our weekly Nottingham Forest webchat on Monday as we discussed a host of topics over the course of an hour.
Here is the full transcript of what was discussed with Reds fans as Matt Davies sat in for Sarah Clapson..
For all our attacking players is Samba Sow the player to turn us around?
That's a good point when you consider Forest's win ratio with him in the side last season, coupled with the terrible results this season.
I'd have to dig it out, but last season there was a huge difference between the points Forest earned last season with Sow in the side compared to without. When you look at this season, they've not got it right in midfield very often.
I've been really impressed with Ryan Yates. He clearly has his detractors but for me, he's been Forest's best player this season along with Scott McKenna. The problem has been alongside him.
Harry Arter has looked good when he's fit, but Jack Colback has struggled in too many games. That's understandable given a year without games, but Sow must be wondering when he'll get a chance this season.
I wouldn't be surprised to see Sow play on Wednesday. He plays on the edge, but he disrupts teams. Forest keep going behind so they need to make life harder for opponents and Sow definitely does that.
They also need urgency, especially in the first half of games. They've started matches too slowly and Sow can bring an impetus to them.
Do you think Chris Hughton doesn’t yet trust the back four and that’s why we’re persisting with two defensive midfielders?
I think Forest have struck on a good central defensive pairing with Figueiredo and McKenna. Christie will prove a good signing and Ioannou had been mostly good before his red card. I would say the two midfielders issue is more of a case of this being how Hughton plays, especially while Forest aren't winning.
He's definitely a pragmatic manager and I think his first instinct is not to lose games at the moment. Perhaps he'll ease up and be more attacking if Forest can get some wins and find some form, but for now I think he likes the insurance policy of Yates and AN Other. The trouble is they still can't keep clean sheets.
At Brighton, he often played 4-5-1, or should I say 4-4-1-1, in the Premier League, but Brighton did score goals in the Championship. I'm not sure he trusts the team enough to play a more attacking style at present. The dilemma is that they aren't really creating enough, especially in the first half of games.
Do we need more from Ameobi, Lolley, Knockeart and Freeman?
I'd agree that we need more from the wingers and Freeman to an extent yes.
Lolley was really good in the second half against Blackburn and he led the charge against Rotherham when Forest were all over them. Knockaert was really good when he came on against Derby. Ameobi also started the season well, relatively speaking, but there is more to come from all of them.
I'd love to see Mighten get a chance, even if it is just off the bench.
There have been games where it's looked like Forest would benefit from his pace. He's got a big future and I wasn't too disappointed when the Grosicki deal failed, if it meant Mighten could play more.
I miss Milosevic. Do you know why he had to go? He should have been perfect with McKenna.
I've just looked up Lamouchi's comments when he left. They were pretty spiky for him. Lamouchi was very good with the press normally.
“Why do I need to talk about that - he is not at the club anymore?” Lamouchi asked, before adding: “I can talk about all the players who are at the club. “The club and him (Milosevic) found a solution, so it was a good deal for all parties."
That's what he said when he left by mutual consent. He couldn't get in the side. Forest had Worrall come back from Rangers and impress Lamouchi, who was also a big fan of Dawson and Figueiredo. Plus they had Chema.
Forest fans did like Milosevic a lot and I thought he did well under O'Neill. I'm not sure he'd get in the side now still though. Like you say McKenna has been really good and Figueiredo has picked up from his awful start. I still think the long-term pairing is Worrall and McKenna when Worrall is fit. Don't forget Mbe Soh too, who is a good prospect.
If the manager likes a big target man, do you think we might see one in January?
A fair bit of what happens in January depends on what Taylor, Grabban and Guerrero do between now and then. I didn't see the whole of the Boro game but it sounds like Guerrero did ok. Taylor has impressed me and Grabban has been off it but he's obviously a great striker at this level.
It will be interesting in Lamouchi tries to get Grabban to go to the Middle East in January. If Grabban hasn't picked up form by then might he decide to ask to go and make a load of money? If Guerrero can bag a few then that might change things.
Everything would look so much better if we could beat Coventry and Wycombe, but I can't see it. We need some points quickly before we're gone! There won't be a promotion push this year that's for sure.
Personally, I can see Forest winning both games but I can just as easily see them losing both! Two wins makes it 12 points form 11 games and you are in lower mid-table. If they lose both then you like a team set for a relegation battle. They're massive games.
Coventry had a good win against Reading and they play really good football. Wycombe also played well against Watford and will be lifted by their first win of the season. On paper Forest should beat them both, but at the moment every fixture looks worrying.
From 1 to 10: how much quality do we have in the team, do you think?
If the season started tomorrow with this squad, I would 8.5. They've got a top keeper, good central defenders, Christie has won promotion. Arter the same, Colback was great in his loans, Knockaert is perhaps the best player in the league, Lolley can be brilliant and Grabban got 20 goals last season.
At present though you would have to mark them down. They can't keep clean sheets, the midfield lacks forward momentum, the wingers haven't created enough much bar the odd game and Grabban has missed a lot of chances.
Still have hopes of being nearer top six even with this start?
If they win both games this week I still have top six hopes. If they lose them I'm worried we'll end up with Gary Megson and be losing to Chester or a reformed Macclesfield next season!
