16 Oct 2014 19:19:54
After reading further down the posts, there was a post about Neil Webb and how good he was. Got my wondering why when players leave Forest in their prime/ full of potential they all seem to end up on the scrap heap after a year or so?
Reid, Dawson, Walker, JJ, Stone gemmil jr, Viv etc etc.
I think the only 3/4 that went on and continued there progression/ not discarded were Collymore, Shilts, Robbo & Keane. Maybe Teddy, but he never felt like a Forest player to me. Someone looking to move up the pecking order.
Your opinions on this?

1.) 16 Oct 2014
I think Dawson, Walker, JJ, Stone, an Viv would disagree with this post all of these went on to play for other clubs for years. Viv in fact went on to play for Man utd for many years. Dawson and Jenas still in the premier league now.

2.) 16 Oct 2014
If it wasn't for the cruciate Webb did playing for England then I think he would have had a fine career at Man U. He scored a beauty on his debut against Arsenal and sadly got the serious injury a few weeks later. He never really recovered from that, putting on a lot of weight. The understanding he had with Clough jr and Franz Carr in those mid to late 89's was sublime. We were never able to properly replace him, like we couldn't with Des. There were players like Davenport and Birtles who also struggled following big money moves to Man U. Equally though we have brought in players who had good careers before and all struggled to do the same at Forest: Wallace, Ward, Sheridan (farce), Black etc

3.) 17 Oct 2014
We brought Steve Hodge back from Spurs to replace Webb.
If my memory serves me well Hodge was a England regular before he left Forest for Spurs, it wasn't long before Hodge lost his England place and was replaced by Webb.
When Webb went to Utd it was rumoured (espec in Gedling) that Hodge was home sick and we got him back to replace Webb.
The irony being that when Webb lost his England place he was replaced by Hodge who was back to his best after coming hone.

4.) 17 Oct 2014
Hodge didn't replace Webb, he was already at Forest when Webb left. Sheridan was brought in to replace Webb but Cloughie used Garry Parker at centre-midfield instead and Sheridan was frozen out.

If my memeory serves me right.

5.) 17 Oct 2014
. And it wasn't a cruciate injury that Webb suffered, it was an achilles tendon that went whilst playing for England.

6.) 17 Oct 2014
When Webb left I couldn't,t have thought of a better player than J. Sheridan to replace him , he,d played against us iin the cup the season before and looked the complete central midfield player, then went on to have a good career at SWednesday, any one know why BC refused to play him,,this seemed to be the begining of the end of the great days for me at Forest
CARLO

7.) 17 Oct 2014
Stevey Hodge 1980 - 1985 before leaving for Villa playing 53 games in one season before moving to Spurs in 1986.
Returned to City Ground after 2 seasons 1988, left for Leeds in 1991.

Neil Webb 1985 to 1989 before leaving for Utd, returned to City Ground 1992.

If my memory serves me well that means the only time Webb & Hodge were together at Forest was the back end of 88/89 season when Webb was probably already on his way to Utd.

8.) 17 Oct 2014
Hodge returned at the beginning of the 88/89 season. He and webby were our midfield partnership for 95 per cent of that season. Both scored some absolute crackers. Hodgeys volley at derby and webbys winner against liverpool stick out in my mind. Re John Sheridan. The rumour at the time was that he turned up unshaven and wearing a t-shirt, jeans and trainers. Apparently that was why cloughie took a dislike to him.

9.) 17 Oct 2014
I don't think you're memory is doing you any justice :)

Hodge rejoined after Euro '88 and Webb didn't leave until July 1989, meaning Webb and Hodge played the whole 88/89 season together.

Forest then signed Sheridan in August '89, to replace Webb, but Clough used Garry Parker instead and Sheridan left in November.

10.) 17 Oct 2014
As well as refusing to play Sheridan, Cloughie also refused to play Asa Hartford and Gary(couldn't trap a bag of sand) Megson.

11.) 17 Oct 2014
Hodge signed just after the 88/89 season started. Terry Wilson partnered Webb for the first two games. Hodgeys first game after he returned was Everton away on 10th September 1989.just found an old programme!!

12.) 17 Oct 2014
Just finished Steve Hodge's book - its been out for a while now but if you haven't had a read i'd recommend it. Some great England and Forest stories.

13.) 17 Oct 2014
You must mean 10th September 1988, not '89 :)

14.) 17 Oct 2014
Stevesuttonswonkyeye. your right mate. it was 88. My mistake.

15.) 17 Oct 2014
I know in Italy 90 it was well documented, Forest had 5 outfield players in the starting 11 & subs. So they must of been together in the 89/90 season. Not to count 2 former keepers.
Only been repeated by the golden boys of stretford!
Pearce, Walker, Nigel, Harry & Webb.

16.) 17 Oct 2014
This is driving me insane!! Trickie. trust me, Webb was at United in 1990. Went there in 89 and we signed Sheridan.

17.) 17 Oct 2014
Webb went to the 90 world cup a Man U player. He wasn't really fit, but it was said Robson felt bad about Webb breaking down on England duty. He only played in the 3rd place play off match against Italy, by which time Platt was the new darling of Engand. Not sure he got another game for England but I could he wrong.

18.) 18 Oct 2014
Yep, hold my hands up my mistake. Strange how you remember stuff but can't place the timings. Old age!!!
I hated Platt back then!
Scored 1 memorable goal which to be fair even Jason Lee would of buried, to dine out on that for the rest of his life.
I remember Normans testimonial the bloke didn't even turn up! Not missed though! we had the legendary green jumper appear from the deepest parts of the tunnel the ground went nuts! Happy dayz.