Charlie Austin couldn’t have timed his return to goalscoring form any better. With Jay Rodriguez looking set to miss the next few weeks with a groin injury, I was concerned about our goals drying up between now and the end of the season.

I needn’t have worried. Austin, who has played second fiddle to Rodriguez for much of the season, came off the bench at Portsmouth and bagged his first career hat trick in the final fifteen minutes. He began the season well, scoring 9 goals in his first 17 appearances, but then a shoulder injury suffered against Leeds United in November set him back, and after missing four matches he struggled to find the net upon his return.

Before his hat trick at Portsmouth, he had scored only twice in his previous eighteen appearances, and I think that was down to a lack of confidence brought about by the dislocation to his shoulder. It can’t have been easy for him to watch his strike partner Rodriguez – who has scored frequently and consistently throughout the campaign – grab the headlines but his goals on Saturday should provide him with the boost he needs.

With Rodriguez facing a battle to return before the end of the season, Austin has a genuine chance to overtake his partner’s league tally of fifteen. He currently stands two shy of that mark, and a fully confident Austin could be about to benefit from a purple patch over the remaining seven fixtures. Three of those games are against teams in the bottom four, and I’m sure Austin will be looking at the next few weeks as a chance to stake his claim for a regular starting berth next season.

Of his 39 appearances so far this season, 13 of those have been as a substitute and often he has only entered the action in the final ten minutes of games. On Saturday at Portsmouth he came on shortly after half time and I think that this is much more suited to his game. It gives him the time to get up to speed with the action; as we saw on Saturday, his first goal arrived twenty minutes after coming on, and two more followed in the next fifteen minutes.

His finishes were all predatory, coming from a combined distance of about fifteen yards and as an out and out goalscorer he brings something different to the squad. Rodriguez is more of an all-round forward who holds the ball up, wins the flick-ons and scores all types of goals. Martin Paterson is a workhorse; never likely to be prolific in the Championship but his high energy performances create chances for others. Danny Ings, who scored his first goal for the club at Portsmouth, looks very sharp but as yet Burnley fans have not seen enough of him to make an informed opinion.

The types of goals Austin scores remind me of watching Andy Payton in the late nineties, and as a Burnley fan I can’t pay him a higher compliment than that. He is not particularly tall, muscular or quick, but he often finds himself in the right place at the right time in and around the penalty area. His partnership with Rodriguez has produced 35 goals so far this season, and if a Premier League club do come in with a good offer for Rodriguez in the summer, Eddie Howe will have to base next year’s campaign around Austin’s goals. His display at Fratton Park on Saturday suggests he is up to it.

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It was a night that will go down in the history books. The football equivalent of David beating Goliath. Every bet hedged against the pesky Englishmen who dared to upset the European apple cart. Tactical skullduggery was their weapon of choice in the first bout for which they were universally condemned. A counterattack lay in wait on the streets of Catalonia where the distinguished natives yearned to educate their adversary on how to conduct themselves appropriately on the grandest stage of them all. Yet the much prophesied Barcelona backlash failed to materialise. Having carved a reputation as the supreme authority of our beautiful game their shortcomings on this occasion proved exasperating.

For the millions of viewers glued to their television sets and computer screens there was something amiss. The La Liga champions looked a shadow of the team that cruised to this stage of the competition going about their business with an audible swagger. The captivating football they usually brought to the table was absent as it was last week in West London. Chelsea stifled their play with a defensive game plan plucked from the mind of a military strategist. In reality it was the handy work of a man charged with steadying the Stamford Bridge boat after it had been caught in rough seas. Roberto Di Matteo not only guided the Blues into calmer waters following a stormy eight-months under the stewardship of Andre Villas-Boas but got them ticking along at a considerable rate of knots.

He came in for a great deal of criticism for the deployment of an ‘anti-football’ game plan in the first leg that saw side sit back and soak up the pressure from their Spanish counterparts and hitting them on the break when the opportunity presented itself. The general consensus was that the Italian would bow to censure, alter his strategy and go for broke in the return leg.  That turned out to be a fallacy as Di Matteo set out his stall in exactly the same manner with identical results. Barcelona failed to adapt their style of play to break down the stubborn resistance of their Premier League opponents. It was another tactical triumph for Chelsea’s interim boss.

More so it displayed the 41-year-old’s headstrong disposition that has transformed the Blues during his short time in the dugout. Despite being painted as lambs to a Catalan slaughter Di Matteo stuck to his guns and it ultimately paid dividends. With stints at MK:Dons and West Brom making up his managerial CV there were concerns that he’d struggle to exert his authority over a divided dressing room teeming with inner-circles and millionaire egos. It was well documented that the experienced players disagreed with the methods employed by Villas-Boas which ultimately led to his demise. However the former Chelsea midfielder has carried off something his Portuguese predecessor failed to accomplish and repaired the fissures that divided the fractured squad.

That new found togetherness has manifested itself on the pitch and hit it’s peak at the Nou Camp on Tuesday evening. Even when Di Matteo lost Gary Cahill to injury in the early stages before seeing captain John Terry sent off he galvanised his team ensuring they remained disciplined and focused on the task in hand. Egotism was a plague during the AVB era but his successor has instilled a ‘all for one, one for all’ mentality that has brought the best out a group of players allegedly difficult to manage. If you’re looking for evidence of that new selfless approach look no further than Didier Drogba. With Chelsea pinned onto the edge of their penalty by a wave after wave of Barca pressure the Ivorian sacrificed his attacking obligations to pitch in at the back.

More of the same will be required when they meet Bayern Munich in the final at the Germans’ home ground. With key figures Terry, Branislav Ivanovic, Ramires and Raul Meireles all missing due to suspension the likelihood of Chelsea returning home with the famous trophy have been severely hindered. But in Di Matteo they have a manager who has built up a serious momentum and proved to be a revitalising presence in West London. Whilst owner Roman Abramovich’s dream of Champions League glory he has a man that has taken his club beyond the realms of expectation. It was another interim boss that lead the Blues to the final of Europe’s elite club competition in 2008.

Avram Grant’s services were ultimately dispensed with after his side lost out to Manchester United in a penalty shootout on a rainy night in Moscow. The fate of Di Matteo has yet to be determined but you’d like to think Abramovich might have learnt a lesson or two after sacking seven managers in the nine-years since his takeover. One thing is for sure the Italian deserves a chance to build his own Chelsea dynasty after putting himself on the cusp of providing the trophy his employer craves the most.

[divider]

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A far cry from the French Riviera, Newcastle is fast becoming a hotspot for French players to find their Joie de Vivre. With Yohan Cabaye, Hatem Ben Arfa, Gabriel Obertan and Sylvain Marveaux all plying their trade on Tyneside, Alan Pardew and his scouting network are looking to continue the French Revolution at St James’ Park.

It was announced today that Stade de Reims Midfielder Romain Amalfitano looks set to join the Magpies after failing to agree a new contract with his recently promoted club. Graeme Carr, the clubs chief scout (and as an off topic side note the father of comedian Alan Carr!) has set up an astute scouting network in France that has already paid dividends for the team in the North-East. As well as Amalfitano, Montpellier defender Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa and Lille Full-back Mathieu Debuchy have also impressed Carr and talks with their respective clubs are on-going. Although not household names in England, Yanga-Mbiwa has assisted Montpellier in winning their first ever Ligue 1 title and has been named in the provisional squad for France’s Euro 2012 campaign. Lille’s Mathieu Debuchy is another player who has impressed across the channel this year, his links to Manchester United and Bayern Munich unsurprising considering his form. With Europa League football arriving at St James’ next season the addition of these two Frenchman will bolster Newcastle’s defence. Will other Premier League teams now sit up and take notice of the Magpies transfer policy?

Firstly, the average wage for a player in France’s top league is around £32,000. The average for a Premier League player is around £80,000. A vast difference, scouting for talent in France is financially beneficial for clubs that cannot afford to offer large wages. Newcastle, who were in a financial mess 5 years ago have now restricted their debts, largely through controlling the amount spent on player wages. By turning to French players, they are able to secure raw talent that do not expect a large rise in their wages. With clubs such as Everton and Aston Villa running on fairly tight budgets, taking a page out of Newcastle’s book could prove worthwhile.

Speaking earlier in the year Alan Pardew admitted that their transfer policy has been noticed and admired by other teams;

“We’ve had big success in the transfer market just recently and other teams have noticed, it isn’t lost on them.”

“So when we come in for a player suddenly another club gets interested and the prices start going up. Suddenly we get into a bidding war. That’s something we try to avoid.”

Fortunately, Newcastle have gone about their business quietly so far this summer and advanced talks with aforementioned players, have not been interrupted by other clubs interest. However, if United complete these signings and continue bringing relatively unknown French talent into the club, then it will only be a matter of time before others jump on the bandwagon and dip their toes into the vast array of cheap Ligue 1 talent.

In the past, Arsenal have handpicked some genuine talent from relative obscurity in France. Laurent Koscielny was playing for Ligue 2 FC Lorient before Arsene Wenger bought him to the Emirates. The Frenchman is now a fully-fledged international and one of the Gunners most valuable players. It seems that transition from French to English Football is relatively easy. The style of play in the two leagues is fairly similar. Fast paced, end-to-end action intertwined with Strong, powerful strikers that aerially dominate Defenders. You only have to see the talents and success of Didier Drogba in both leagues to understand that the transition to English Football is easier for Ligue 1 than other European leagues.

Another successful season for Newcastle in 2012/2013 will only increase the spotlight on its transfer policy and it won’t be long before other teams look toward France for securing cheap talent. If this transfer policy pays off for other Premier League teams, a massive ‘Merci beaucoup’ will be owed to Alan Pardew and his superb scouting network.

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Is a French revolution the answer? Go tête-à-tête with me on Twitter. @mattpegg1

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Football often throws up the most implausible surprises, yet there are some things in football that should happen, set in irrevocable stone. Real Vallodolid should beat tiny Alcorcon and reach La Liga. Steve Evans should never have been allowed to manage another football team. Cristiano Ronaldo should be the most impressive player at Euro 2012.

However, things do not always go to plan in football. After the craziest of seasons in the Premier League, we have seen the unpredictable nature of football grab our collective attentions and place us on the enthralling edge of our collective seats. At the European Championship, though, the fear is that once again Europe’s leading lights will go disappointingly dim after the travails of the league season.

The post-mortem following Holland’s disastrous defeat against Denmark has focused predominantly upon the failure of the nation’s most menacing attacking players to decamp with their festive attributes when it most matters. Sneijder, Robben, Van Persie: all magnificent throughout their respective domestic seasons, yet startlingly impotent in the famous orange.

Likewise, much focus was placed upon Cristiano Ronaldo’s mediocre turnout against Germany. Indeed, the issue of his inability to replicate glittering club form on the international stage is one which has been a perennial weight upon his broad shoulders throughout his career and a exasperating pest unlikely to be shaken in the near future. In fact, the issue is one which has characterised the club/country debate for many years now; why are the best players in Europe so frustratingly plain in the most illustrious of settings?

There is of course, the most obvious and cliched of explanations. Footballers play too much football. After a long, hard slog of a season, are footballers suffering from smothering burnout come the summer of an international tournament. Perhaps, though there may well exist deeper and more alarming reasons which compromise the integrity of international football.

Of course, the ‘winter break’ conundrum is often cited as a foundational reason behind a national team’s success. However, of the 28 players who featured in the 2010 World Cup Final, a quarter were at a Premier League club the season before. A similar trend was present at the 2008 European Championships. At no point was were the fitness levels of those players noticeable worse than their colleagues afforded a rest over the Christmas period.

The fact is that, on the whole, most players competing in this summer’s championships will had a similar amount of minutes on the field over the course of the season. There will be deviances as injuries, form and suspensions dictate differing levels of minutes played, yet the majority of players at the tournament will have accumulated corresponding levels of fatigue. Essentially, tiredness is not a sufficient vindication for the disconcerting degree of mediocrity on show at international tournaments.

Instead, the riches afforded through the prominence of the club game has resulted in the dwindling salience of international football. Playing for your country can simply not offer the financial incentives that the money mastery of club football can. Besides this, a glorified perspective of club football is driven into the football supporting conscience by the media and television companies, particularly Sky Sports’ rampant hype of the Champions League and Premier League. As such, all levels of football’s institutional structure is geared towards the promotion of club football over internationals.

Media exposure creates increased importance and interest, which in turn creates greater demand for club football; players and mangers alike must  then cater to this demand by pouring the majority of their physical and emotional resources into their club exploits. What we are left with is the vacant natural enthusiasm that all players should assume without endeavour every time they pull on their national shirt.

This is not to say that footballers no longer feel pride or motivation to play for their country; it is simply that an increased volume of their interests are forced into the club game at the behest of the altered footballing landscape.

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There are also other contributing factors. Fatigue is undoubtedly affecting yet not the sole reasoning. The necessity of adapting to an often wildly varying tactical system may also affect a player’s game, whilst the absent comfort of regular team-mates must be a destabilising detail.

However, the increased gravity of clubs in world football has instigated a rapid reversal of previous trends whereby representing your country was the ultimate achievement. When the inevitable ‘why can’t England players replicate their club form’ argument re-opens come July, look no further than the relentless elevation of club football above all else.

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Samir Nasri’s latest petulant outburst could land him in hot water with the French Football Federation (FFF) after he reacted angrily to reporters’ questions in the wake of his side’s Euro 2012 quarterfinal defeat to Spain. The Manchester City midfielder has earned a reputation for voicing his opinions but may have taken things a step too far amidst reports in the French media suggesting he could face a ban of up to two years from the national side and potentially miss the 2014 World Cup.

This is not the first time Nasri has caused controversy with his comments but given there’s so much attention on professional footballers nowadays, wouldn’t it be more sensible for Nasri to keep his mouth shut and focus on his football?

After all the playmaker is particularly talented but he seems to be letting himself down with his insensitive reactions. While many will understand his emotions were high after being knocked out of the Euros, surely he can appreciate how tactful players have to be considering their comments can be so easily misconstrued. He recently tweeted an apology but it remains to be seen how remorseful he truly is.

“Too many false truths are circulating at the moment. I want the supporters, particularly children, to know how much I sincerely regret that my words could have shocked them.

“I love the French football team, football and I have a profound respect for the public. For the rest, it was a personal issue between me and a few journalists. I will explain myself when the time comes”

A public apology is always the most sensible response but Nasri’s decision to delay any explanation of his behaviour is typical of a player who is far more comfortable playing the victim. He may have accepted responsibility as a role model for youngsters but he’s also cleverly sidestepped the issue by insisting he’ll explain himself at a later date. It’s this sort of insincerity that confirms public opinion of him as a provocative character. His emotive response in Donbass may have been understandable but he still told journalists:

“You are looking for s***, you are looking for trouble, f*** you”

This sort of reaction is completely unacceptable from someone who is already the focus of so much media attention. He’s not the first outspoken sports star nor will he be the last but it’s vital he learns to pick and chose his words more carefully. If a player shows genuine regret for his actions and admits the error of their ways then few will deny them a chance at redemption, unfortunately Nasri’s reputation means he’s unlikely to be forgiven so quickly. Last season the midfielder launched a verbal attack toward Arsenal fans upset by his decision to defect to Manchester City.

“I hope they are watching me now collecting my Premier League winner’s medal, I believe they have not won a trophy for many years now.

“I now hope the Arsenal fans can get on with their lives and forget me, they should celebrate their third-place achievement and I will focus on winning titles.”

His tactless comments didn’t go down well in North London and while Nasri’s newly polished Premier League winner’s medal justifies his decision to change clubs, he must appreciate the unnecessary controversy he causes and how damaging it can be. Considering their position in the public eye, professional footballers have a responsibility to censor themselves, especially given the oversensitive nature of the media. FFF president Noel le Graet dismissed Nasri’s behaviour insisting he must hold himself to greater standards when representing Les Bleus.

“You can do what you want when you play for Manchester City but not when you wear the France team shirt,”

It would appear that at the no longer tender age of 25, Nasri still has a lot to learn about public relations. His inability to curb his opinions has not only overshadowed his obvious talent but has also tarnished his reputation. While his childish behaviour may be dismissed as entertaining at domestic level, there’s a certain standard to International football that supersedes one player trying to be the centre of attention. A two year ban may seem a bit harsh for someone whose emotions got the better of them but since this is far from his first offence, Nasri could well be made an example of and given his disrespectful actions, it’s about time he learned his place in the football machine.

Do you agree with Nasri’s comments? Should Nasri be punished for his actions?

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Let me know your views and opinions by following me on Twitter – Tweet me @Alex_Churcher

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Arsenal are poised to announce the signing of Santi Cazorla after he passed a medical, whilst Arsene Wenger also wants Real Madrid’s Nuri Sahin on loan, reports The Guardian.

The Spanish winger is on the verge of a £16 million move from Malaga, after impressing in the Andalusian side’s advance to the Champions League qualification places in La Liga last term.

Cazorla is said to have passed a medical at the Emirates Stadium, with a move all but completed.

Meanwhile, Wenger is also set to approach Jose Mourinho about taking playmaker Sahin on a season-long loan deal.

The Turkey international moved to the Santiago Bernabeu last summer from Borussia Dortmund, but had a tough first season in Spain, not playing very regularly due to injury and the strength of the Madrid midfield.

With the likes of Sami Khedira, Kaka and Xabi Alonso ahead of Sahin Mourinho’s preferences and a move for Luka Modric being the Spanish champions’ number one priority this summer, the eastern European man is expected to play a bit-part role next term.

Mourinho has recently admitted that he would be willing to listen to offers for Sahin, and Arsenal are keen to bring him to north London.

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By Gareth McKnight

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The elephant in the room at White Hart Lane is becoming a serious cause for concern for Tottenham Hotspur. Their lack of depth up front is threatening to undermine their start to the new Premier League season and the arduous sub-plot to the acquisition of Emmanuel Adebayor has become an energy-sapping nightmare.

But the truth is that Adebayor should have signed on the dotted line for Spurs ages ago. The big Togolese striker will not get a better footballing option than what is on offer at N17. He’s done so much to change what was a relatively damaged public perception. But events over the past few weeks have cast a real cloud over Adebayor. The omens do not feel good.

Emmanuel Adebayor’s initial loan switch to Spurs was greeted with more than a touch of scepticism at White Hart Lane. He has always appeared to be something of a controversial figure in the Premier League, but for many it was simply impossible to look past his time with the red half of North London.

Adebayor’s spell with Arsenal saw him well and truly vilified by Spurs supporters – so much so that only four months before he signed, the club had to appeal to fans to stop their malicious abuse of the forward, after controversial chants were aimed during their Champions League encounter with Real Madrid. Genuine bad blood had existed.

But on a purely footballing basis, Spurs fans knew just as well as anyone what he was capable of. Adebayor put Tottenham to bed in the Champions League with his two superb headers in 2011. During his time at Arsenal, the Togolese hitman continuously haunted his North London rivals, nailing eight against the Lilywhites during his time at the Emirates. Anyone who was at White Hart Lane in 2007 will remember his goal of the season for Arsenal in a comprehensive 3-1 win.

But more than anything, he represents a rare breed of Premier League striker, who has been proven to produce the goods. Adebayor took time to settle into English football, but when he did, he quickly became one the league’s more formidable target men. His ability to combine both physicality and astute hold up play with a neat finish and smattering of skill, represents the sort of striker who is sought after in the modern game – especially within the Premier League. His landmark of 24 goals for Arsenal in the 07-08 proved he can pull out a real goal scoring shift.

Adebayor’s ability, however, has never been in doubt. What has been called into question, on more than one occasion, is the striker’s persona and character. A fiery character, Adebayor isn’t quite of the mould of what one would perceive an ‘archetypal’ footballer to be like. He speaks both articulately and passionately and in his one season at White Hart Lane, he certainly seemed to be adored by his teammates. But that burning passion has often skewed his decision-making on the pitch.

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The now infamously distasteful knee slide against Arsenal when playing for Manchester City, is probably the zenith in the controversial career of Adebayor. But incidents such as stamping on Robin van Persie’s head, a training ground scrap with Kolo Toure and the public feud with Nicklas Bendtner that even turned physical on the pitch, have left a controversial watermark over Adebayor’s resume.

Some fans will allege that Adebayor can be a poisonous influence in a dressing room and before his move to Spurs, it felt as if he was running out of friends in the Premier League, fast. But despite the grievances of some Tottenham fans, Adebayor’s loan spell was more or less an overwhelming success. Football will always be a fickle game and if you put the ball in the back of the net 17 times, as Adebayor did for Spurs in the league, then much will be forgotten.

But there is the feeling that after giving Adebayor the platform to breathe life back into his Premier League career, that Spurs could be about to be bitten on the backside. It’s true that Tottenham arguably needed Adebayor as much as he needed them last term. But there was the feeling that a permanent deal was something of a formality at the back end of last season. It should have been, in footballing terms, anyway. As it stands, Spurs now look to be staring down the barrel and starting next season with only one recognised striker.

From whatever reports you wish to gauge, Adebayor has been offered a highly lucrative financial package at White Hart Lane, but for various reasons, he has still not signed. The current line is that Adebayor wants his transfer fee reimbursed back to his charity, which is all very well. No one is denying that his work back in Africa isn’t to be applauded and backed to the hilt – but to drag that into his protracted transfer is missing the point.

Adebayor was offered a once-in-a-lifetime contract at Manchester City. However fluctuated the market was, he was not and still is not worth wages of £170,000 a week. To perceive that as otherwise is completely warped. The fee Adebayor reportedly wishes to claim for his charity is based on the concept that he must be compensated for a loss in earnings he will undertake by going to Spurs.

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But City don’t owe Adebayor anything. A contract is a contract, but the concept of the Togolese refusing to leave City because they won’t donate £50,000 a week to his foundation seems absurd. If he feels that strongly about it, why doesn’t he donate his rumored £6 million signing on fee that he’d get at Spurs to the cause? Bringing the name of his charity into the argument does not vindicate his stance or give it any sense of morality.

Because ultimately, the proof will be in the pudding. If he doesn’t move to Tottenham Hotspur, than we will discover where his true motivations lie. He will not get a better purely footballing offer than what’s been offered at Spurs. He has no future at City, United and Chelsea have little need for him and there’s no point even mentioning Arsenal. He’s won over most Spurs fans and he’d still be made the club’s record earner after earning a mammoth signing-on fee.

Yet still, Adebayor hasn’t signed on the dotted line. Of course we don’t know the intricacies of the deal, but something feels wrong. Spurs are willing to make Adebayor a wealthy man and give him a footballing platform he won’t receive elsewhere. But if the big Togolese still doesn’t think that’s enough, then the writing may already be on the wall. Either way, Spurs must find the resolution to this soon – they have to sign a striker.

Are you sick of hearing Adebayor’s demands or do you feel that Tottenham now have to sign him? Let me know what you think, get involved in the Spurs talk on Twitter – follow @samuel_antrobus and bat me your views. 

A week is a long time in football.

But in Sean O’Driscoll’s first week of league games in charge of Nottingham Forest, he’s managed to retain the belief and posotivity of the fans. Emotions of football fans fluctuate at the best of times, but the thousands following Forest at the moment remain quietly optimistic.

It’s tradition for Forest to get off to a slow start. This is a new era, though. New owners, new manager, new team.

As they headed into the opening game against Bristol City at the City Ground, there was a different feel to the game, as if times were about to change, and so they did. Forest ran out 1-0 winners thanks to a goal from Adlene Guedioura on his 2nd debut for the club.

Tapping the shirt as he runs away in elation, Guedioura showed more passion in his celebration than many that represented the club last year did when they played.

Forest had got their first goal on an opening day for so many years, and coupled with that, their first win. A great start to the Al-Hasawi reign, leaving the supporters going home satisfied, and many staying behind to queue at the ticket office, buying for future games. The taste of a convincing victory, the positive atmosphere, and people were left wanting more.

What was the message from O’Driscoll and Fawaz Al-Hasawi?

“Forest will do better in future games”, says Fawaz Al-Hasawi.

“It’s a beginning”, remarks Sean O’Driscoll.

Nobody is getting carried away, and that will be the story for every game. Everyone is singing from the same hymn sheet, with the intention of striving for improvement in the next match. Anything beyond the next game is quickly dismissed in a calm but stern manner.

In the second game of the season, 2,200 Forest fans followed their team to Huddersfield, ready for a testing game from the team that had just gained promotion from League One and were bound to have momentum on their side.

Huddersfield Town were outplayed, and were taught a footballing lesson by a Forest side yet to gel. The much talked about Jordan Rhodes barely got a kick, as the away team left them chasing shadows for long periods. Simon Cox finished brilliantly to put Forest into the lead, and the game was there to be killed off.

It wasn’t, and Dan Harding’s silly mistake in the final minute meant Huddersfield had a penalty, which was put away by Rhodes.

Negativity from Forest fans perhaps, for chucking away 2 points?

Far from it. Despite the obvious initial disappointment, the Reds contingent were in a positive frame of mind. They had witnessed a Forest side who had yet to gel, dominate a Huddersfield team full of very capable Championship players. The new front line of Blackstock and Cox were showing promise, as was Simon Gillett, the free transfer who was receiving plenty of plaudits.

It was always going to be a tougher test against recently relegated Bolton. Their style of play and quality of players meant the Forest players had to be on their game.

They did not disappoint.

It finished 2-2, and it was a fair result at the Reebok. Not many teams will go to Bolton and pick up any points, but Forest did, and were well worthy. They went there and in the first half especially, proved to Bolton and the division they are to be taken seriously.

How did the respective managers of both teams react?

“Give credit to Bolton”, O’Driscoll kindly commented.

“That’s a game we should have won”, Owen Coyle sharply said.

Two totally different reactions. The unassuming Sean O’Driscoll showing respect to the opposition, whilst Owen Coyle’s reaction is one of a man under intense pressure, wanting to convince himself more than anyone his side did enough.

O’Driscoll is under no pressure, which will work in his sides favour this season. The only factor that has worked against O’Driscoll and Forest so far is that two of the games have been chosen for television coverage.

‘SOD’ is known for playing things down, but televised games get neutrals talking. Televised games get the media talking.

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Whilst outside appreciation is nice, it’s not needed.

Nottingham Forest fans are all smiling. That in itself is a very good achievement.

Nobody is sniping unnecessarily. Nobody is expecting. Everyone is just sitting back and watching, as it all takes shape.

Sky Sports, BBC, and any other media outlet:  There’s one message… Everything is going just fine, and there’s nothing to see here. Turn around and televise the headline makers.

Who cares if The Football League Show only show 30 seconds of highlights, and it largely gets portrayed as the opposition dominating, when every Forest fan knows different.

The longer Forest go unnoticed this season, the better chance there is of success at the end of it.

@will_forest to get in touch via Twitter.

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Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner has joined Juventus on a season long loan after being told he was surplus to requirements at the Emirates Stadium.

The Danish international spent last season on loan at Sunderland where he couldn’t convince the North East side to make the move permanent. Bendtner’s Arsenal career has never really taken off, with boastful comments in the press and underwhelming performances on the pitch causing him to be out of favour with Arsene Wenger.

The Gunners have signed two strikers already this summer and the move abroad may be the injection that the tall forwards career needs.

Juventus missed out on Dimitar Berbatov earlier today and so immediately turned their attention to Bendtner who will see out the season in Turin.

Juventus sporting director, Beppe Marotta told Sky Sport Italia: “He has talent and ability. Potentially a great player, one that has almost never been able to prove it.”

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West Bromwich Albion midfielder James Morrison is delighted to have committed himself to the club.

The 26-year-old signed a new four-year contract last week that will see him remain at The Hawthorns until June 2016. Morrison, who joined the Baggies in August 2007, is now hopeful that his team-mates Jonas Olsson and Chris Brunt will sign new contracts as well. He told the Birmingham Mail:

“This is my sixth season here now. I’m committed to the club, I feel settled here. There was no reason for wanting to leave. I’m 26, the longest-serving player and I quite like that. Hopefully other players like Chris Brunt and Jonas will follow. It feels like home. That’s down to playing every week, the team playing well, being settled. The fans have been great with me, the new manager [Steve Clarke] coming in has been a big factor in me signing.”

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West Brom are currently sixth in the Premier League table with seven points from four matches, three points behind leaders Chelsea.