|
Barnsley's Carl Tiler was the first part of Nottingham Forest manager
Brian Clough's £5 million spending spree during the summer of 1991.
Tiler arrived in late May, shortly after Forest's F.A. Cup Final defeat
to Tottenham, for a fee of £1, 400, 000. The big defender played the
first thirteen League games of the season but, with Steve Chettle and
Darren Wassall also vying for the second central-defensive berth
alongside England international Des Walker, it proved to be an up and
down first season. Carl played twenty-six League games in total with his
first goal for the club coming in a 1-0 win at Southampton. The
campaign was, ultimately, to end in disappointment for the
Sheffield-born defender as Wassall got the nod for Forest's Rumbelows
Cup Final defeat against Manchester United at Wembley.
Following
Walker's summer departure to Sampdoria, Tiler nailed down a regular
first-team spot during the 1992/93 season and was one of the few Forest
players to emerge with credit as the club crashed out of the top-flight.
With Brian Clough leaving the club at the end of the season a new
manager arrived in the shape of Forest old boy Frank Clark. One of
Clark's first signings was centre-half Colin Cooper from Millwall for a
fee of £1, 700, 000 and with Tiler injured at the start of the new
season it was Steve Chettle who lined up alongside the expensive new
boy. The pair formed a good understanding and Carl found his path back
into the first team blocked to such an extent that he played just six
League games under Clark's leadership. With his Forest career stagnating
he moved onto midland rivals Aston Villa in October 1995 for a fee of
£750,000. (David Scranage)
|