Right, probably about time I let my thoughts be known about this match. I'll just write a list of my musings as they come to me.

1) Yes, Clinton scored a nice goal...but he shouldn't be our first choice striker. I read him say in the paper today "If Forest can rotate, why can't Coventry?"

I'll tell you why Clintonio - it's because the Forest team has developed a style of play and winning mentality over many months that the best teams do. We won 3 in a row (which would normally be classed as the beginning of a winning run) and thought that we were suddenly brilliant, all over again.

Maybe if we'd stuck with a winning team as far as possible, we'd have a mentality and fluency about us by now. Instead, Coleman's still fiddling with the formula, and even when he comes across something that works (Best and Eastwood up front), he tries to be clever and bring you (Clint) back in.

All because he fancies you.

It's been the Clinton Morrison show all season.

2) Following on from this thought, Martin Cranie was playing out of his skin at right-back when we won those 3 games in a row, so shoving him over to left-back is rubbish. Wright did okay in the previous league match, but if you're talking longevity, Cranie is the best right back at the club. You've got to play him there.

3) There is something wrong with our tactics and ability to adjust during the game. We've played 29 games this season (league and cup), and gone ahead in 16 of those. That's a whole load of opportunities to win and progress.

We've won 8 games all season. To me, that's a very poor ratio from winning positions.

We went ahead against Ipswich, and almost immediately went into our shell and seemed scared to go for the win. People who "know" football say that's sensible. I don't think so, I'd say that's unrealistic and a negative mentality. You've got to understand the ebb and flow of a game - when to attack, when to defend. We can't do either it seems. One thing that is for certain; you can't rely on holding teams out for the entire game if you score in the first 10 minutes.

That's ludicrous.

It seems simple logic that if we play well up until we score, it might actually be because we have got something about us when we play our natural game. So why we're constantly trying to curb that and just encourage teams onto us once we do go ahead, I don't know.

4) Substitutions. Christopher, bloody identify when players aren't doing it, and change them.

And this doesn't mean identify them in the 80th minute. It's pot luck if they're going to even get the ball in that time. Give people the chance to make an impact.

Basically, take McIndoe off if he's rubbish again and bring on Carl Baker. He earned a decent crack by showing McIndoe up in the previous game.

5) We can't concentrate for an entire game. It happened against Portsmouth, and the same keeps happening again and again. Right before half-time, right after half-time, right before full-time. There's no professionalism to get the job done and they just switch off too often.

You could see it so clearly on the TV. We scored, and were so pleased with ourselves (lots of high-fiving and inane grinning) we thought it was perfectly okay to forget about shape and concentration. Gunnarsson may not be a right back, but he was an absolute country mile out of position. McPake then decided to commit himself when there was no cover, and the rest was just shocking.

It's all about decisions, and we make some crazy ones sometimes.

6) Coleman embarrassing me with his rant.

Oi, Chris. Why not focus all that rage and anger at the players who can't defend for 10 seconds?

Fact is, we scored after 6 minutes injury time, so your argument is void anyway. I appreciate the passion, but if you can't defend for 10 seconds, you don't deserve any points.

All you've done is deflect from the real issues of the game - bad tactics and our team's lack of professionalism. I bloody hope this is all a front and behind the scenes you're working like you've never worked before to address these problems.

I doubt it though.

All in all - the result was gutting. All the momentum and confidence the players built up in December has probably gone now because of this fiddling and piddling with the formula.

Bloody hell fire.

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Finally - ye olde kickball is back. It was ever so nice to finally get back to the Ricoh so I could attempt to wipe from my memory all the negativity, cross words, and everyone calling Ray Ranson a fat-faced bastard.

Following a second viewing of the match on Sky+, I've managed to dilute my optimism to a less ludicrous level, and come up with a more reasoned (brief) analysis of the game. Of course, the "we're so bleedin' great" feeling is still pretty high, and I don't apologise for that - it's what opening day wins are for.

Although I now acknowledge that contrary to my initial thoughts, we're probably not going to win the World Cup next summer. Shame, that.

Anyway, while I know we have a surprisingly good record on the opening game of the season, for the first time in years I actually saw lots of things that genuinely pleased me. Beating Norwich in the first game last season was not without its troubles, and there were signs, even that early on, that our midfield was going to struggle.

Today was mighty different to that. There was a purpose about the performance, and the entire shape of the team just seemed miles better than what we're used to seeing. There was discipline from all positions, and in the middle of the park particularly.

Sammy Clingan was very good. The holding midfield role is often under-stated, but it's been the downfall of our team for years.

We all know what Gunny can do. His game is all-action, bustling forward, driving on and creating opportunities. But he can't do it all (no matter how much he wants to), and will always need that protection behind him to allow him to get forward and play to his strengths.

Last season, we struggled because he was usually going absolutely berserk trying to force the attack, then having to cover for the regular ineptitude of Doyle and Monsieur Booz if we gave the ball away. Most games followed the same pattern; teams exploiting the gap where the holding midfielder should be, driving at our defence, and creating an unholy amount of chances.

While there were chances for Ipswich today, they were manufactured mainly from set-pieces, and you've got to expect that to be the case given Keane has turned Ipswich into a team of Incredible hulks.

Clingan kept their attacking midfielders at bay though. He focused his entire game on patrolling that part of the pitch, leaving Gunny free to link the attack. It was marvellous stuff.

Elsewhere on the pitch, Turner was immense, Ozzy played like a man possessed, Clinton showed us his clinical best, and the lad van Aanholt gave an idea of how they must do things at Chelsea Reserves (i.e. damn good). He probably won't give us the same defensive qualities of Fox, but with his pace and skill, looks like things are looking a little brighter for that left back position. Let's face it; anything has to be better than Hall.

So there were lots of positives, which added to it being the ideal start. Yeah, you can look at the possession stats all you like, but what the game required today was grit and a determination to get the 3 points. Too many times last season we folded without a fight and lost out (Watford, anyone?)

Today we didn't, and now look at us - 2nd in the Championship, on account of our alphabetical superiority no less. (I bloody love being a C).

It's a nice feeling, so please City - can we have some more?

What I fort of them there players..

Westwood - 8 | Not the all-round solidity we're used to, but he's priceless. Can always rely on him to pull something out the top draw to save us.
Osbourne - 8 | Had a very good day. Threw himself into the game, and every challenge. Couple of strange passes but always made up for it.
Wright - 7 | Can't question the commitment, worked tirelessly throughout, and rallied everyone. Painfully slow though.
Turner - 8 | Solid as a rock all game. The whole team struggled aerially from set-pieces, but in open play, he won the lot.
van Aanholt - 8 | This kid will be very good for us. Attacking positives look like they'll always outweigh any defensive frailties.
Bell - 6 | Unfit so never really got into it. Borin'. Subbed.
Clingan - 8 | Great debut - truly solid midfield performance. My Chap of the Match.
Gunnarsson - 7 | The usual chucking himself everywhere and hair-flicking, but I wouldn't change his game at all. Strong as an ox.
McIndoe - 7 | Linked well down the left to start with but faded due to lack of fitness. Nevermind, gave us proper width, which was nice.
Morrison - 8 | Two goals. One goal-line clearance. Zero whinging. Okay, maybe not the last one.
Best - 7 | Looked confident and won some decent headers. Took a knock early in the second half though. Subbed.

Subs
Eastwood - Alright, I suppose. Difficult to get into the game though, what with Ipswich all attacking and that.
Clarke - He's only 17?? Blimey, I like him. Composed and could have grabbed a goal.
Ward - Came on and did a job. Head, Face, Arse. Threw the lot in the way. (Should be first team, really).

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