Alexander Milosevic was an astute signing by Martin O’Neill when he signed the Swedish defender last season.
At the time, Nottingham Forest needed a bit of extra cover at the back with Joe Worrall at Rangers and Michael Dawson out injured – and Milosevic performed well.
But such is the strength in depth now available to Sabri Lamouchi, it’s no surprise Milosevic has been allowed to move on, having not featured at all under the Frenchman.
That’s just a reality of playing under different managers. It’s all about opinions, and Lamouchi clearly has his and the Swede isn't part of his plans.
No matter what generation, it’s always going to be the case and it’ll be the same longer after we’ve gone.
Players understand it, managers understand it, and if you’re not in favour then go and find somewhere where you do want to play and will get to play.
I’ve talked numerous times in this column about players sitting on their backside and being happy to take the money, so I do like it when a player isn’t happy about being left out and does manage to get away.
It also gives him chance to prove those doubters wrong.
What worries me a little, however, is the recent tinkering that we’ve seen from the manager.
During that 10-game unbeaten run, he was able to keep selection of the side relatively consistent, and that certainly went in his favour.
I felt the five changes at Wigan, coupled with the formation shift, had a negative impact. Then against Hull, there were four more to counter the ones made previously.
It wasn’t broke, so why the need to change it?
You can’t help but think it added to the confusion, the players coming in have been on the periphery a little bit and aren’t quite as sharp.
When you play a different system with different personnel, it’s a difficult one for sure, and a move that Lamouchi probably thinks massively backfired.
Granted, injuries and suspension play a part.
Losing Michael Dawson, Samba Sow, Alfa Semedo and Carl Jenkinson have not aided things, but it’s important the manager gets back to keeping a settled side as quickly as possible, especially heading into the busy build-up to Christmas.
You find that at the very highest level, so of course you’re going to see it at Championship level.
I just hope Sabri, since losing to Wigan and Hull, will take a step back and look at what got Forest flying in the early stages of the season, what helped them go 10 games without defeat in the league.
The key is to be honest with himself, and say that making such changes at Wigan just did not work.
While that is in the past, it’s important to remember all the good things he and his players have done thus far, and try to get back to those standards.
Should the Reds go to Luton and win, before beating Derby on Saturday week, then the past two losses will pretty much be forgotten, though they should act as a warning.
Drop your standards, get complacent and you’ll come unstuck.
Even with Saturday’s City Ground postponement, results have still been relatively kind to us.
When you look at the table, it’s absolutely bonkers.
Forest are 10th, but just three points off second and have a game in hand.
I mean, that’s just ridiculous – and when you factor in that they’ve lost the last two, so there's no need to panic, just focus on the next game and pick your strongest XI to get the job done.
Garry Birtles was this week in conversation with Barry Cooper
