A Mist Rolling In From The Trent....

[mydreamteam]

July 2012 Nottingham England Fawaz Al-Hasawi Press Conference

Fawaz..it is with great pleasure I can confirm that the new manager of Nottingham Forest is Michael Skidmore.

Talksport....Michael welcome to Nottingham how does it feel to be named as manager of the former European Champions?

Michael.......Its a proud moment for me this is the club I have supported since 1977 I sit here as a 41 year old fan of the club and cant wait to get started.

Sky Sports......Fawaz were do you see Nottingham Forest in the future?

Fawaz........I see another star on the shirt in the future but first we must get back into the Premier League.

Sky Sports....You think Forest can win another European Cup!!! What sort of timescale are you looking at?

Fawaz.....Yes maybe 6 years its possible. But first we have to build for promotion this season we will look to finish mid table I have set aside a transfer budget of £5M we must then push on and gain promotion.

Talksport....Michael will you be making any changes to the squad? and what style of play will you adopt?

Michael.....I will get to work tomorrow and evalute the squad and coaching staff I like to play an attractive style of football and will make sure any signings will be scouted thoroughly. I would like to say that I will be looking for the whole club to give 110% the hard work starts now.

Nottingham Forest Football Club 2012-2013

Expectation Mid table finish

Transfer Budget £5M

Staff Out

Peter Williams-Goalkeeper Coach

John Pemberton - Coach

Staff In

Tosh Farrell - Coach

Paul Winsper - Fitness Coach

[mydreamteam]

Pre Season Staff Meeting

Ned Kelly....On behalf of the coaching staff I would like to welcome you to the club Michael.

Michael.......Thank you, after watching the training sessions over the last few days I have identified the positions I would like to strengthen, starting with a Goalkeeper as I think Karl Darlow needs time to settle into the first team squad so I have alerted our scouts to look for another keeper to push Darlow for a first team place. I also think we need to bring in another Left Back and Winger who can play down both channels.I have also given Jonathan Greening permission to speak to Sheffield Wednesday after recieving a bid of 160k.

I want to prepare the side to play in a 4-4-1-1 formation for our first pre season friendly against West Ham next week. My preferred starting line up for the game is:

GK...Darlow

RB...Jara

CB...Collins (capt)

CB...Ayala

LB...Harding

CM...Guedioura

CM...Majewski

LM...Reid

RM...Lansbury

AM...Cox

ST...Sharp

Pre Season Friendly

Home..... West Ham W 3-1.....Reid Guedioura Cox

Transfer News

Nottingham Forest sign Montpellier winger Karim Ait Fana for £800K

Johnathan Greening signs for Sheff Wed for £160K

Pre Season Friendly

Away.....Bradford City W 3-0.....Reid Sharp Ait Fana

Transfer News

Nottingham Forest sign Wolves left back George Elokobi for £750K

Pre Season Friendly

Home.....Osasuna L 0-1

Away......Brackley W 5-0.....Majewski Ait Fana 2 Sharp 2

Transfer News

Nottingham Forest sign Augsburg goalkeeper Mohamed Asif on a season long loan deal

Pre Season Friendly

Home.....Estudiantes L 0-1

Pre Season Review

We have played some very good football during pre season and look ready for the season ahead, captain Danny Collins as caught the eye with some good solid performances. The purchase of Karim Ait Fana looks to be a good bit of business, the former Montpellier winger as chipped in with 3 goals and settled in to the fluid 4-4-1-1 system.

Transfer Rumour

Nottingham Forest are rumoured to be in talks with Nottingham born Stoke City Wide man Jermaine Pennant.

[mydreamteam]

August 2012

Capital One Cup 1st Round

Home.....Port Vale W 2-0..........Cox...Henderson

A goal in each half proved enough for the reds as they ease in to the next round of the cup.

N Power Championship

Home.....Leeds United D 1-1..........Majewski

A late 90th minute Leeds equaliser cancels out Majewski's first half strike in a game Forest dominated.

Away.....Bristol City W 1-0...........Sharp

Billy Sharp scored his first competitive goal for Nottingham Forest as the reds of Nottingham put in another good performance.

Home.....Crystal Palace D 2-2..........Blackstock.....Halford

An end to end game at the City Ground with Forest making 5 changes to the side that beat Bristol City.

Capital One Cup 2nd Round

Home.....Q.P.R L 0-1

A frustrating game for the Forest faithful see's the reds crash out of the League Cup after failing to convert a number of 2nd half chances.

League Table at the end of August

Forest have finished the first month of the season in 12th position after 3 league games winning 1 and drawing 2.

All 4 league goals have been scored by 4 different players, Majewski, Sharp, Blackstock and Halford.

Breaking News

Nottingham Forest have signed Jermaine Pennant from Stoke City for £1.2M.

Sam Hutchinson as had his loan deal terminated by request as he feels he as not featured in enough games, he returns to Chelsea with immediate effect.

August 31st City Ground

19:20 Michael and his brother Darren arrive at the City Ground to be greeted by a growing group of Forest supporters. "Is it true? a fan shouts are we signing Pennant" Michael smiles and replies "we are looking at a number of players and are working hard to finalise a deal" "YOU REDS" the Forest fans are in good voice as Michael and Darren make there way in to the City Ground. Darren will be negotiating any deals tonight for the reds as the transfer window enters its final hours. A Sky Sports camera crew are drawn to a blacked out Range Rover as it enters the City Ground car park to a fenced off area were a number of stewards are lining the route to the entrance.

As the Sky Sports camera man zooms in to see who gets out of the car a chorus of "theres only one Jermaine Pennant" rings out amongst the anticipating supporters but wait as the figure emerges from the car everyone realises this is not Jermaine Pennent but who is it, nobody recognises the Arabian looking figure. The Sky Sports studio is breaking the news that Mohamed Aboutrika the Egyptian International is in talks with Nottingham Forest they go on to say that Aboutrika is a skillful attacking midfield player who can also play as a second striker and a deadball specialist. Back at the City Ground the news as filtered back to the ever growing number of supporters who have gathered to watch the evenings events unfold.

20:12 Darren Skidmore is in negotiations with Aboutrika's people the Egyptian is close to signing a deal but his wage demands are above Forest's budget. The two parties break for a 10 minutes whilst Aboutrika and agent have a one to one. "Daz how close are we to putting pen to paper" asks Michael, "He want's £54.000 a week until the end of this season with an option to sign for another year" "I will speak to Fawaz but that is way over our budget does he know we are Nottingham Forest not bloody Manchester City"

20:47 Sky Sports report that Nottingham Forest are belived to be speaking to upto 4 players believed to be Aboutrika, Jermaine Pennant, Barry Bannan and Lee Tomlin.

21:12 "Mick the deals off he would not budge on the wage demand's, I tried different clauses in his contract but his agent became impatient an pulled out of the talks"

21:24 Aboutrika leaves the City Ground as Sky Sports are breaking the news via there reporter outside the City Ground

22.08 "Fawaz has rang Daz we are to meet him at The Park Plaza, We are close to signing Pennant"