17 games played. 6 wins, 7 draws, 4 losses and 25 points in the bag. These are the cold facts of Forest’s league season to date; a season that has provided cause for optimism and frustration in equal measures. However, on the whole, they are far from in crisis, as the doom mongers would suggest, and with a bit of perspective the majority of fans can see they are in a good position to make a success of this season.
Prior to the win against Norwich, some pockets of fans had started to question Stuart Pearce’s ability to take the club forward and get the best out of what is clearly a squad with promotion potential. Firstly, the Championship is a league that has proven time and time again that it owes nothing to anyone. It is ridiculous for any team to ‘expect’ a top two finish. If Psycho has the team in the playoff picture at the end of the season then his first campaign will have been a success; and Forest are only 3 points off that at present.
Furthermore having seen five managers since the Al Hasawi regime began (four if you don’t count Cotterill who never managed a competitive game under Fawaz) surely its plain to see that there is no benefit in chopping and changing on a bi-annual basis. Stability is the way forward and at least this time the manager genuinely cares for the club. He hasn’t manipulated the emotions of the fans to land the job and implement a hidden agenda as the previous incumbent did.
Short of delivering an old cliché about Rome and its development it is hard to make it clearer that this is not an overnight job that will require patience.
Fans need to be more resilient to the effects of media spin. After the loss to Cardiff, Forest were being described as ‘without a win in five league games’ which factually is true but, prior to that game they were described as ‘unbeaten in 11 league games’. Some fans took to the negative mind-set like ducks to water and with social media being what it is this view became endemic. Confidence of the fans and team both took a battering, and it was clear to see on the pitch. Forest went on a dismal run picking up a solitary point from a possible 15. When you revisit some of the goals conceded in that period – Blackburn in particular comes to mind – they were not being outclassed. Rather, quality players low on confidence made mistakes that were pounced on, for example Michael Mancienne. If fans stand by the team, not only by attending on a Saturday, but by not accepting an unnecessarily negative mindset, the team may do likewise, resisting the Twitter trolls and maintaining a confidence that allows them to perform their best. Perhaps a bit idyllic, but still, would it be that painful to give positive thinking a try?
The greatest reason to be optimistic is plain to see: the goal scoring exploits of Michail Antonio and Britt Assombalonga. Not since David Johnson in 2002/03 has the club witnessed a striker, or any outfield player, break the 20 goals a season (in all competitions) mark; a telling fact that finally looks as if it will be overcome with Assombalonga sitting top of the Championship scoring charts with 10 league goals, not even halfway through the season. Antonio is only one behind with 9. Who knows, maybe the club will have two players reach that 20 goal mark.
Whilst there is room for improvement on the pitch, Antonio’s injury time winner against Norwich proved the team has the potential. This team can link up well, turning defence to attack in a few passes, and they can be clinical in front of goal. Goals win games, and Forest have the ability to score them.
In the same manner that saw the side surrender top spot, they are only a short run of good form away from returning to the top six. After going in to the international break on the back of a win, the team has had chance to rest and refocus. Starting with Wolves on Saturday they can start reclaiming points on the teams above them and start moving in the right direction once again. The smart man would call for fans to remain patient, back the manager, back the players and back Nottingham Forest.
