Nottingham Forest’s surrender to Wigan in the FA Cup, a 2-0 loss, has been roundly criticised by fans and pundits alike. Even boss Phillippe Montanier has admitted that the performance was the worst since he’s been at the club.
Despite the nature of the defeat, despite the disappointment, Montanier says that he has no intention of walking away from the club. However, with the John Jay Moores takeover said to be happening on Tuesday, there are some that say his tenure at the club is under threat with notions that Moores will bring in a new face, ex-Birmingham boss Gary Rowett said to be favoured.
With his future seemingly in a definite case of limbo, with his back against the wall, Montanier has come out fighting saying: “No, when it is difficult you have to react. You have to address the situation you are in with the players. We are together, we have to be together and we have to fight together to recover our level.”
The level yesterday wasn’t acceptable, neither is the position of the Reds who sit in 20th place and in real danger of being sucked into a relegation battle should teams directly below them start to pick up points.
Boss Montanier speaks after FA Cup defeat
With Fawaz Al-Hasawi, according to most Forest fans, having torn the soul out of the club and with captain Henri Lansbury looking at a move away from the City Ground – beyond the golf course this time, fans are reacting on Twitter to Montanier’s resolute refusal to buckle under pressure.
Montanier stands firm at Forest – fans react on Twitter
It is a common notion that bad results lead to managerial sackings, after all football is a results-driven business. Whilst Montanier may stand firm, Forest fans aren’t in agreement with their manager’s steadfastness. Take Reds’ fan Corby for example, who questions just whether the manager realises just how lowly fans think of him.
#NFFC @nottmtails daft question, but, does Montanier realise that he has very little support amongst the fans? Or is he oblivious to it?
— corby macdonald (@corbymac) January 8, 2017
Then there’s Forest fan Dom who has captured perfectly just what a lot of fans are feeling about this season.
Phillipe Montanier trying to turn #nffc season around. pic.twitter.com/FHGKVjOEPS
— Dom B (@domthered) January 8, 2017
This Forest fan compares Montanier to former manager Gary Megson and says that only one of them did the honourable thing.
https://twitter.com/LibTard87/status/818067756977451008
Twitter user STOP Killing Forest agrees with the above.
Of course Montanier is not going to walk away from a bumper pay-off…if he did have our best interests at heart he would go. #nffc
— Hannah Forest 🔴⚪⚽ (@hannahforest) January 8, 2017
Forest fan Joesph has some sympathy for manager Montanier, linking it all back to the departure of Oliver Burke – quite colourfully too.
Who'd be a football manager? Montanier must feel like he's been teabagged by Ving Rhames every weekend since @OliverBurke55 left #nffc
— Joseph Pickard (@josephpickard) January 8, 2017
Fan hassan thinks that he may have pin-pointed the problem.
Philippe Montanier, an expert in cheese.
Sadly, not an expert in football. #nffc
— Hasaan (@HasaanTheRed) January 8, 2017
For Twitter user Mr Forest, a gif is the only thing that will do.
Has Montanier gone yet? #nffc pic.twitter.com/2xAJXAFIIQ
— Woody (@Mister_Forest) January 7, 2017
This piece of advice from Forest fan Andrew might come in handy for Montanier.
Montanier says he hasn't spoken to new owners. Wouldn't rush to answer the phone if I was you Phil, it's not likely to be good news #nffc
— Andrew Finch (@amfinch82) January 7, 2017
Whilst some Forest fans are saying that Montanier is ‘bad’, Gareth takes it to a whole new comparative level.
https://twitter.com/garethjd1860/status/817827935809925121
For those of you wondering who Ving Rhames is, he’s the guy in control here. He’s an American actor, but not part of the incoming takeover.
Who had the best headlock? Ving Rhames vs Jody? Or Kangaroo vs Dog? pic.twitter.com/ejzhBRhsL7
— Tony Ducks 🤌🏾 (@L_apostrophe_z) December 25, 2016