Chris Forrester

[Charlie Darwin]

I say that, not heard much mention of Forrester in the game though, McClean got a mention for a rather dodgy tackle though, of the sort
he is prone to making.
Was a fair enough tackle I thought. Caught him with the trailing leg though.

Forrester hasn't been mentioned much but he's constantly on the ball.

[tricky_colour]

Just been another full blooded tackle from McClean, can't be much fun for the opposition player
when he comes flying :plane: in.

[nigel-harps1954]

Forrester sitting in midfield and doing a great job. Really looking every bit as much a Premier League player as anyone out there.

McClean has been impressive for West Brom and really getting forward at every opportunity from left wing back.

[tricky_colour]

Was a fair enough tackle I thought. Caught him with the trailing leg though.

Forrester hasn't been mentioned much but he's constantly on the ball.


Yes fair, but in days gone by nobody would have batted an eyelid at it, but it is pretty much a non-contact sport these day.


"and a superb sliding tackle from McClean there" (got in a key block in penalty area) he plays with a lot more energy and aggression than most.

Forester praised at half time.

[SkStu]

Forester looks very comfortable out there and I thought he was excellent in the first half. My stream died just as they were talking about him at h/t - what they say? I thought McClean was a little unlucky with that tackle. Full blooded but no malice. He's been one of Broms better players.

[Stuttgart88]

Turned on at start of extra time. Jonathan Pierce very complimentary of CF. Crowd booing McClean.

[nigel-harps1954]

Forrester has been one of the best players one the park. Superbly entertaining game.

[osarusan]

If Peterborough had a striker worth a crap they might have gone through. Angol's rubbishness extended all the way until the decisive penalty miss.

Forrester was really good. BBC praising him a lot, with the commentator wondering if he'd ever wasted the ball once all night.

[Olé Olé]

Forrest looked brilliant midfield. Used possession so well and his positioning was excellent. I think his passing and use of the ball sets him aside from other deep-lying midfield of a couple of levels above him.

Got serious amounts of praise on BBC, yes. Collison, Kilbane and Lineker were all at it and the commentator constantly referred to him positively.

[Dodge]

http://www.balls.ie/football/chris-forrester-bbc/324128

BBC praise there. Pearce on commentary sounded in love with him

[CraftyToePoke]

If Peterborough had a striker worth a crap they might have gone through.

Was thinking the same as I watched it, they sold that player in the window, and it was apparent too in Forrester's game, he would usually pick a through ball or two out in a game but the runs weren't there tonight ahead of him.

He did play well though and the BBC guys had him as a possible for our squad for the finals, whatever info they are working off.

[Hitman]

http://www.balls.ie/football/chris-forrester-bbc/324128

BBC praise there. Pearce on commentary sounded in love with him

On the 5 Live commentary Phil Brown compared him to Jimmy Bullard. I'm not sure if that counts as praise or not.

[Stuttgart88]

How rubbish were Posh's missed penalties? I know they're only kids but they were awful

[DeLorean]

They were truly horrendous. They were both totally reliant on Foster going early, once he stood his ground they hadn't the momentum from their run ups to strike the ball powerfully enough. Foster is a good man for the penalties, he uses his brain and realises that the chances of all five being blasted perfectly into the corner is unlikely, so he either doesn't guess until very late, or doesn't guess at all. That's all I saw of the game but great to see Forrester getting so much praise.

[Stuttgart88]

The other keeper was as bad as Shay for diving out of the way

[CraftyToePoke]

How rubbish were Posh's missed penalties? I know they're only kids but they were awful

So were you disappointed CF didn't step up to a kick ? I was, a little, as you are looking for your key players to lead maybe, as the CB Bostwick did, but the midfield fulcrum and play maker after having taken their last spot kick in a league match (but missed) didn't. Instead an 18yo on loan with very few apps for Posh, and a striker only in the side cos the replacement for the striker they flogged in the window was cup tied took them, and looked terrified, the pair of them, and took two kicks so poor it was hard to watch.

Now maybe he did fancy one and his manager sent other guys up, who knows.

[DeLorean]

I was thinking the same. Was kind of hoping McClean would burst the net and run around the pitch giving fist pumps to the crowd too. :D

[Dodge]

Forrester missed a penalty for Peterborough in a recent league game.

[CraftyToePoke]

Forrester missed a penalty for Peterborough in a recent league game.


but the midfield fulcrum and play maker after having taken their last spot kick in a league match (but missed) didn't.

Yes Dodge, very good.

[DeLorean]

The fact that he even took one in a normal game makes it more strange, regardless of missing. Most penalty takers have missed at some stage. Maybe it's a Louis Van Gaal type situation and if you miss you're sent to the back of the queue! I'd like to think it was something other than simply not having the balls to take it. I suppose you could just not fancy it at a certain moment in time but you'd think after performing so well his confidence would have been up.

[bennocelt]

Great to see CF do well, but is he really a "M Carrick kind of player", surely he is better than that!

[Charlie Darwin]

Interview with him from today: http://www.thesun.ie/irishsol/homepage/sport/irishfootball/6926831/Chris-Forrester-An-Ireland-call-up-would-be-incredibleI-dont-know-what-Id-say.html

[Olé Olé]

http://www.theposhforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=27246&start=90#p408224

The Posh fans are waxing lyrical about Forrester. One reckons they need to hang onto him for a couple of yeas when he'll be worth £20m to them. But someone gives him a reality check by stating Delle Alli was sold for £5m so they won't get near £20m, closer to £10m maybe. Quite funny.

There's hype surrounding him but that interview CD linked shows what a grounded lad Forrester is and he just seems to be interested in reaching the highest level he can and earning enough to set up his family's future.

Now that the January transfer window is closed, it'll be interesting to see what happens to him in the summer, particularly if Posh don't go up. Championship move inevitable but the skillset he demonstrated and role he thrived in against WBA suggests to me he's more suited to the PL. No harm learning his trade in the Championship for a season though. He's young and many players don't seem to master the holding midfield role in England until later years (Whelan, Carrick, Barry).

[CraftyToePoke]

Peterborough 0 - Bradford City 4

I went to this on Saturday and CF was rested, after his mammoth efforts against WBA. His side looked flat, shapeless and the manager has since said he got his selection and set up wrong. He specifically mentioned CF in this but said he is trying to mind the player who hasn't had a break due to the timing of his move. He made one change well before HT and also introduced CF at HT, and while I would like to be able to say that changed the game, as Posh were 0-1 down only at HT, it didn't and they went on to take a right hiding at home. They are now tenth and six points outside the final play off spot.

CF didn't play badly, he did what he does, got on the ball and found passes. His side had been unable to do this well enough up to is introduction so ended up going long too often. So he did improve this aspect of their play but Bradford were set up well, and very effective in how they executed this. Something new I noticed in the usually quiet CF on Saturday was after possession was lost for the second and third goals, he was talking to the players ahead of him, the strikers mainly, and waving his arms around. The three up top for Posh all struggled, and their movement was lacking all game in giving good passing options and he wasn't shy about telling them this by the looks of it. But no two ways about it, a tough day and a huge comedown after the FA Cup plaudits of midweek.

On a brighter side of things, Josh Cullen started for Bradford. He was visibly and by some margin their smallest player, in a team of L1 giants. He started in the middle of a 4-4-2 with wide men. Early on he showed for it a few times but the CBs and FBs elected to pitch it over his head in a lesser risk, lower percentage ball down the field and after almost four minutes of play he still hadn't had a touch. Then his side were awarded a free kick and the Bradford LB couldn't make up his mind who to lump it toward, so after a couple of stalled run ups, Cullen ran over and hit a short free kick to the nearest player, the left winger, took it back off him, turned and spread the play over to the right. Very simple, but very nicely done too.

He did this type of thing all game, took it, took a good touch, found a possession consolidating pass and moved to give an option to his side. He didn't dictate the play or the pace of the game, didn't threaten his opponents goal with shots or through balls. But neither did he waste possession, selected good options throughout and was still doing so when the final whistle went. I counted six, or maybe seven pass intercepts also from him, three with his head and the others from reading the intention of his opponent and closing the angle well and after each of these there followed a good touch and a ten / twenty yard ball to move his side up the field. As the second half wore on his defenders even saw fit to roll a few into him to get turned on. As his side walked off I saw several of the Bradford City giants by comparison tousle his hair in a kind of 'you are tiny but you've done well' gesture which was funny and nice to watch.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Hasn't played in yonks. Injured?

[Dodge]

Yes, was injured

[tetsujin1979]

sent off tonight, two yellows in three minutes

[DeLorean]

Must be a Dublin-Cork (http://www.the42.ie/chris-forrester-red-card-peterborough-united-barnsley-2725442-Apr2016/) thing!

http://img2.thejournal.ie/inline/2725457/original/?width=558&version=2725457

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Can't see the Forrester for the trees.

[seanfhear]

Must be a Dublin-Cork (http://www.the42.ie/chris-forrester-red-card-peterborough-united-barnsley-2725442-Apr2016/) thing!

http://img2.thejournal.ie/inline/2725457/original/?width=558&version=2725457
The ref cut him down to size there. It probably could have been a straight Red but nice from the ref to give him the second yellow and then the red.

[CraftyToePoke]

Manager of Peterborough gone this evening - http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36122210 - the fall from 5th to 17th a few weeks back and today's home defeat sees the club on the lookout for another new dawn. Becoming a recurring theme there.

[CraftyToePoke]

Sacked P'boro manager on MacAnthony - http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/sport/football/posh/posh-sacking-manager-and-chairman-fell-out-over-players-1-7357111? , now that reads a little bit like a chairman having more than just a passing comment here and there on team selection.

Still, he loves Forrester at least.

[DeLorean]

Player of the year award (http://www.newstalk.com/BBC-Radio-Cambridgeshire-name-Chris-Forrester-as-their-Player-of-the-Year)

[Stuttgart88]

Just made club captain (http://www.theposh.com/news/article/2016-17/mccann-3160187.aspx)

[samhaydenjr]

Picked up where he left off last season, with a 25-yarder in Peterborough's victory over Rochdale: http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/36929920

[CraftyToePoke]

Peterborough 5 Millwall 1

I went to this the other night and Forrester started, in front of the back four again with everything going through him all night without ever giving it away in his own half that I can remember, gave it away once deep into the opponents half deep in the second half while trying to slide someone in on goal. The difference I noted was that inside the first half an hour he had won possession back for his side in challenges or battling for second balls maybe half a dozen times. All game long picking it up in the middle third, left foot control, right foot forward pass including a few diagonals and angled ones that had the locals applauding.

In the warm up they were doing shooting he skied two and pulled one badly so was getting plenty chat from his team mates, then for his fourth he shaped one way & then slow dragged his shot in off the post with it never leaving the ground making the keeper look very silly. Everyone looks great in a 5-1 home win I realise but he makes L1 football look way easier than it is at times.

[CraftyToePoke]

Peterborough 1 Swansea 3

Was at this one the other night and the home side walked into a vulgar display of power from the Prem players, even having made ten changes after a 2-0 loss to Hull on Saturday so lads were motivated maybe feeling there are places up for grabs. It was a full six and a half minutes before Peterborough had any kind of real possession as Swansea played keep ball, frequently well inside their opponents half too. In terms of quietening the crowd it was pretty effective and laid down a real marker out on the field too I'm sure. They pressed high also.

Forrester played and to be fair, when you see how some of his team mates got picked off all night, he was decent I thought. He was still able to get it and pick out forward passes but it was coming back a lot more than usual, usually having changed hands. His midfield partner was an example of a player who didn't make the adjustment, caught out on the ball and had his passes read and intercepted all night till he was hauled ashore early in the second half just not able for the better anticipation of his direct opponent and the narrower avenues to pass into being closed down collectively before he could decide.

But Forrester could, and did play his passes although noticeably more pressured, he didn't fold. He also cleared one from under his own crossbar after getting in position to cover his keeper, this was two quick Swansea passes after his midfield partner gave it away where you cannot give it away. A couple of last ditch slide tackles from him too and a couple of hairy moments when defending, like the all home players, but not at fault on the goals, to my eye anyway. He broke three times, on the ball but the final through ball was cut out on all three.

After tormenting everyone around him all night, and scoring two on his debut McBurnie (I checked, he's a Scot) who looked a real player was taken off, replaced by Llorente, holder of a WC and EC winners medal with Spain which really emphasised the gulf in resources. His first involvement though was to hunt Forrester down from a cleared corner with only one other player in the home half, and Forrester looked in trouble but he side foot flicked it perfectly to the covering CB in a lovely bit of composed play which left Llorente spinning away to his left having to circle round. It took balls at 0-3 down I thought. He was replaced with about twenty to play as his side went three at the back.

He emerged with reputation intact, maybe even a touch enhanced IMO on a night his side got a real lesson & I found it fascinating to see the difference in Prem squad/contract lads Vs L1 first team regulars close up.

[SkStu]

nice Pantera reference above CTP!

[CraftyToePoke]

You win the prize, gold star spotters award ;)

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Tekkers..


http://vid.me/CVl0#0m0s


Chris Forrester: Another class performance from the skipper highlighted by a quite brilliantly taken goal. Ran the show from the base of the midfield diamond with his precision passing and expert reading of the game 9


http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/sport/football/posh/player-verdicts-captain-chris-leads-a-fine-all-round-display-1-7620161

[SkStu]

Lovely stuff.

[sbgawa]

Tekkers..


http://vid.me/CVl0#0m0s



http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/sport/football/posh/player-verdicts-captain-chris-leads-a-fine-all-round-display-1-7620161

Running the game from midfield......can anyone think of a side that is playing tommorow that could do with someone in midfield that knows how to control and pass a football ??

[TrapAPony]

......can anyone think of a side that is playing tommorow that could do with someone in midfield that knows how to control and pass a football ??

Moldova?;)

[sbgawa]

Moldova?;)

Lol ��

[nigel-harps1954]

90th minute winner for Posh away at Northampton puts them up into 5th in League One.

[CraftyToePoke]

Injury time winner in a local derby fixture, as if Posh fans didn't have a big enough boner for their captain already. At home to Paddy Maddens league leaders Scunthorpe Tuesday.

[DeLorean]

Priceless moment from the same game (http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11764/10666215/watch-peterborough-player-mistakes-steward-for-team-mate-and-passes-to-him)

[CraftyToePoke]

Linked with Cardiff in the window, one Cardiff forum saying he has had talks this week & a look around but that could be pure fantasy. Peterborough owner forced to deny he's leaving though - http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/sport/football/posh/latest-news-moncur-to-leave-forrester-to-stay-1-7749374

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Chris Forrester: Seemed to be in the thick of the action for 90 minutes. Pretty much ran the Posh show from midfield with a dymanic display full of athleticism and accurate passing. Outstanding 9

http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/sport/football/posh/player-verdicts-captain-chris-was-class-bostwick-was-a-beast-1-7755162

Linked with Reading, Derby and Brentford.

http://thetilehurstend.sbnation.com/2017/1/2/14144482/reading-fc-interested-in-signing-highly-rated-league-one-midfielder-chris-forrester-peterborough

[paul_oshea]

nice Pantera reference above CTP!

CTP didnt have you down as a Pantera fan, nor you SkStu. A minute a lone with someone can give you a lot of insight into that person, rather than casting a shadow.