FOREST BLOG: I hope Oliveira heeded my words

Part of me would like to think that the Portuguese striker had drawn some motivation from my previous article which stated that he misses too many chances.

Whilst I won’t retract that statement, as I am surely not the only person to be found lamenting Oliveira’s wastefulness this season, Saturday did show that a confident Oliveira is a real asset for the football club.

I am as delighted as anyone for the 24-year-old, who put in a royal performance at the weekend to send Steve Clarke’s men packing.

Last week I did go as far to say that I like the on-loan Benfica man as a player. I rate him highly in fact.

His overall play as a complete striker makes him a real coup for the club given their current financial issues.

His hold-up play is good and he often brings other players around him into games.

Saturday was different because he took a couple of chances and proved that he has the mentality to begin scoring goals for the Reds more often.

It can be hard for a striker to continue shooting for goal when the ball isn’t finding the back of the net.

Look at Neil Harris when he was at the club. He wouldn’t have hit a cow’s backside with a shovel in a Forest shirt and his confidence visibly sapped with every appearance.

Oliveira’s confidence is admirable to say the least; even when he wasn’t scoring he was happy to try his luck from distance and has always worked hard for the team.

A confident striker usually results in a shed load of goals and hopefully now the Reds forward can kick on and fire some more goals to lift Forest up the Championship table.

Forest boss Dougie Freedman spoke in the aftermath of Saturday’s 3-1 win about how he tried to sign Matej Vydra on loan from Watford in the summer instead of Oliveira.

The Czech Republic international, who opened the scoring on Saturday afternoon moved to the Royals after the Berkshire-based club decided to pay £3 million just to take him on loan.

Such an astronomical fee should demand more than the two goals he has to his name so far during the campaign.

Oliveira didn’t cost us a penny in terms of a loan fee and Freedman must be praised for his ability to spot such a player and then lure him to the City Ground.

I hope Oliveira follows my notes once again this week and doesn’t rest on his laurels against Fulham next week.

I might even have 50p on him netting first next week. Don’t let me down Nelson!