Post by QPR Report on Aug 11, 2009 6:33:15 GMT
Nothing here re his QPR loan/departure, etc. But I imagine sooner or later, he's going to say something (further than what he's already said)....And then maybe we'll see.
Nottingham Evening Post
Strong bond can guide Forest to success says Blackstock
SPENDING five minutes in the players' car park at the City Ground can inspire several obvious conclusions.
The collection of gleaming Range Rover sports, top-of-the-range Audis and BMW sports cars signify a group of men who are clearly very well paid.
But, as training comes to an end, the area also provides evidence to lead you to a more significant deduction; this is obviously a very tight-knit group of players.
Because, while the work for the day is done, there seems to be little urgency when it comes to going home.
Instead, the players mill around chatting, arranging how they are going to spend their afternoon.
And, for Dexter Blackstock, this togetherness is one of the main reasons why he is convinced Forest can challenge for promotion this season.
"A lot of us will meet up after training," he said.
"It does help that we are all of a similar age, it does help you to bond.
"Being together and being united is massive when it comes to being a success, I think.
"Even before I came here, while I might not have known all the lads, there were plenty of them who I had played with at a young age.
"It is nice to come here and be welcomed and to have a lot in common with the other lads.
"It was the same in Southampton, where I was part of a very successful youth team.
"We used to live together, a lot of us. And, in the games, we were almost like brothers.
"That is why we were so successful.
"If we can generate that kind of feeling and vibe here, we will be unstoppable. And I think we can."
When it comes to the squad Billy Davies has assembled at the club, Blackstock believes there has been an obvious blue-print in place when it comes to signing young, largely local players.
And, if the group can be kept together for years to come, Blackstock believes almost anything is possible.
"QPR had a good squad, I have to say," said Blackstock. "But the thing that is really good here is that we have a lot of English players.
"And, if you take a few of the lads out the equation – the likes of Dele and Paul McKenna, who added some much-needed experience to the squad – then the squad is very young.
"The squad has not reached its peak yet so, if we can stay together and get to know each other more and more, it will only improve us as players and a team.
"There are not a lot of clubs out there who can say that.
"A lot of the lads are home-grown as well, which is very important.
"They can see the passion that is required and how big a club this really is.
"We really feel like a team."
Blackstock is one of nine new signings brought in over the summer and the striker believes the squad is better equipped for it, following his loan spell last season.
"The squad has changed, the club have brought back most of the players who were on loan and added a few more as well on top of that," he said.
"You do feel that the squad feels stronger and more experienced, which only bodes well for the future.
"The goal is always to improve. But then everyone knows that a club the size of Nottingham Forest should not be fighting against relegation.
"If we had gone down last season it would have been a disaster.
"But I always felt that, if the club did stay up – whether I came back or not – they would not be in the same position this season.
"I strongly believe that.
"We are quietly confident in what we have; in the depth that we have and the options we have.
"We believe we can give it a good go this season. The aim is to progress and move forwards.
"If we can do that, we will be where we want to be in a short space of time – and that place is the Premier League."
If that happens, there are certain to be a few more flash vehicles added to the ranks of shining metal in the car park.
But, as long as their owners can fit into the tight social group as well as the current crop of players, that will not be an issue.
www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/homesport/Strong-bond-guide-Forest-success-says-Blackstock/article-1238912-detail/article.html
Nottingham Evening Post - Forest duo: Billy is the man to take us up
BILLY Davies is perfectly equipped to guide Nottingham Forest into the Premiership.
That was the message today from new skipper Paul McKenna and striker Dexter Blackstock – who insist the manager has the experience required to turn the Reds into promotion contenders.
Davies twice took Preston – and McKenna – into the play-offs and guided Derby into the Premiership via the same route.
They started this season with a 0-0 draw at Reading on Saturday and both players believe that the influence of the focused Scot can be crucial.
"From what I have experienced of him, Billy will not accept anything less than success," said McKenna.
"He is a very intense, he is very thorough, he leaves no stone unturned. He will be a top, top manager one day.
"At this level he has had three seasons that have included a play-off final, a play-off semi-final and a promotion.
"It is not through luck. He knows what this league is about and he knows how to get out of it.
"He brings that experience and it will only be a matter of time before he gets the club moving in the direction he wants."
Blackstock has also been impressed with Davies' methods since his arrival from QPR.
"It does help when you have a manager like that, who knows what it takes," said Blackstock."Sometimes things might not go well, we are going to lose games.
"But it will be down to the manager to pick us up, to instil some belief.
"And, when he speaks, you have to take his word because he has done it before.
"Everyone is behind him. We trust his methods and believe in what he thinks.
"We will give it a go and will stay behind him.
"We have players here who have played in the Championship regularly, who know the division.
"And we have a manager who knows the league."
McKenna added that Davies was one of the main influences in his decision to move from Preston.
"It was a number of things. When the gaffer came in, I had worked with him before and it was tempting," he said.
"I had been at Preston for 13 seasons and you can sometimes get a little stale.
"It was a fresh challenge for me and it has given me a new lease of life. I could have played there for another three or four seasons quite easily.
"But I feel energised by this. I feel I have a point to prove."
This story
www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/homesport/Forest-duo-Billy-man/article-1238918-detail/article.html
Nottingham Evening Post
Strong bond can guide Forest to success says Blackstock
SPENDING five minutes in the players' car park at the City Ground can inspire several obvious conclusions.
The collection of gleaming Range Rover sports, top-of-the-range Audis and BMW sports cars signify a group of men who are clearly very well paid.
But, as training comes to an end, the area also provides evidence to lead you to a more significant deduction; this is obviously a very tight-knit group of players.
Because, while the work for the day is done, there seems to be little urgency when it comes to going home.
Instead, the players mill around chatting, arranging how they are going to spend their afternoon.
And, for Dexter Blackstock, this togetherness is one of the main reasons why he is convinced Forest can challenge for promotion this season.
"A lot of us will meet up after training," he said.
"It does help that we are all of a similar age, it does help you to bond.
"Being together and being united is massive when it comes to being a success, I think.
"Even before I came here, while I might not have known all the lads, there were plenty of them who I had played with at a young age.
"It is nice to come here and be welcomed and to have a lot in common with the other lads.
"It was the same in Southampton, where I was part of a very successful youth team.
"We used to live together, a lot of us. And, in the games, we were almost like brothers.
"That is why we were so successful.
"If we can generate that kind of feeling and vibe here, we will be unstoppable. And I think we can."
When it comes to the squad Billy Davies has assembled at the club, Blackstock believes there has been an obvious blue-print in place when it comes to signing young, largely local players.
And, if the group can be kept together for years to come, Blackstock believes almost anything is possible.
"QPR had a good squad, I have to say," said Blackstock. "But the thing that is really good here is that we have a lot of English players.
"And, if you take a few of the lads out the equation – the likes of Dele and Paul McKenna, who added some much-needed experience to the squad – then the squad is very young.
"The squad has not reached its peak yet so, if we can stay together and get to know each other more and more, it will only improve us as players and a team.
"There are not a lot of clubs out there who can say that.
"A lot of the lads are home-grown as well, which is very important.
"They can see the passion that is required and how big a club this really is.
"We really feel like a team."
Blackstock is one of nine new signings brought in over the summer and the striker believes the squad is better equipped for it, following his loan spell last season.
"The squad has changed, the club have brought back most of the players who were on loan and added a few more as well on top of that," he said.
"You do feel that the squad feels stronger and more experienced, which only bodes well for the future.
"The goal is always to improve. But then everyone knows that a club the size of Nottingham Forest should not be fighting against relegation.
"If we had gone down last season it would have been a disaster.
"But I always felt that, if the club did stay up – whether I came back or not – they would not be in the same position this season.
"I strongly believe that.
"We are quietly confident in what we have; in the depth that we have and the options we have.
"We believe we can give it a good go this season. The aim is to progress and move forwards.
"If we can do that, we will be where we want to be in a short space of time – and that place is the Premier League."
If that happens, there are certain to be a few more flash vehicles added to the ranks of shining metal in the car park.
But, as long as their owners can fit into the tight social group as well as the current crop of players, that will not be an issue.
www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/homesport/Strong-bond-guide-Forest-success-says-Blackstock/article-1238912-detail/article.html
Nottingham Evening Post - Forest duo: Billy is the man to take us up
BILLY Davies is perfectly equipped to guide Nottingham Forest into the Premiership.
That was the message today from new skipper Paul McKenna and striker Dexter Blackstock – who insist the manager has the experience required to turn the Reds into promotion contenders.
Davies twice took Preston – and McKenna – into the play-offs and guided Derby into the Premiership via the same route.
They started this season with a 0-0 draw at Reading on Saturday and both players believe that the influence of the focused Scot can be crucial.
"From what I have experienced of him, Billy will not accept anything less than success," said McKenna.
"He is a very intense, he is very thorough, he leaves no stone unturned. He will be a top, top manager one day.
"At this level he has had three seasons that have included a play-off final, a play-off semi-final and a promotion.
"It is not through luck. He knows what this league is about and he knows how to get out of it.
"He brings that experience and it will only be a matter of time before he gets the club moving in the direction he wants."
Blackstock has also been impressed with Davies' methods since his arrival from QPR.
"It does help when you have a manager like that, who knows what it takes," said Blackstock."Sometimes things might not go well, we are going to lose games.
"But it will be down to the manager to pick us up, to instil some belief.
"And, when he speaks, you have to take his word because he has done it before.
"Everyone is behind him. We trust his methods and believe in what he thinks.
"We will give it a go and will stay behind him.
"We have players here who have played in the Championship regularly, who know the division.
"And we have a manager who knows the league."
McKenna added that Davies was one of the main influences in his decision to move from Preston.
"It was a number of things. When the gaffer came in, I had worked with him before and it was tempting," he said.
"I had been at Preston for 13 seasons and you can sometimes get a little stale.
"It was a fresh challenge for me and it has given me a new lease of life. I could have played there for another three or four seasons quite easily.
"But I feel energised by this. I feel I have a point to prove."
This story
www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/homesport/Forest-duo-Billy-man/article-1238918-detail/article.html