Great Expectations
Dan Mounser
I’d like to think that in general, Nottingham Forest supporters across the world are a knowledgeable bunch. In part, down to the managerial upbringing of Billy Walker, Johnny Carey and Brian Clough’s footballing sides being passed down from generation to generation. The ‘Forest Way’ if you like – tidy, attractive, passing football with an emphasis on either a flair, attacking or counter-attacking style.
Others have tried and ultimately failed to change this way of playing or even tried to wipe out the history books and photos on the wall altogether – yes Megson you are a true ****! However the Forest DNA should always be embraced. Agreed, it will always require adapting – football is evolving every year so you can’t rest on your laurels or become predictable but in general, the management, fans and players should be looking to the future but willing to embrace the past.
Thankfully it appears the new hierarchy and management are doing exactly that and it is our duty as supporters to also help push the club forwards.
Support in terms of bums on seats and season ticket sales cannot be questioned however the mentality of supporters can and should be. The majority understand that it is a work in progress at Nottingham Forest and rightly so. The minority seem to have this great expectation or tend to get carried away when things are going well and are then suddenly suicidal when we hit a rough patch.
This has got to stop.
We all want and crave the same thing which is for Nottingham Forest to be successful. It can’t be done overnight and can’t be done without everyone pulling in the same direction and taking a step back every so often to look at the bigger picture.
In the new world of social media and everyone ‘being a Mourinho’, it’s easy to go off on one when emotions are running high or to jump on a needless bandwagon just for the opportunity to have a bit of a moan. It’s like wildfire and can actually become detrimental.
I’m not saying don’t have an opinion and don’t voice it. Far from it in fact. Everyone has one but nobody has a correct one because that’s exactly what it is – opinion.
All I ask is that you take a moment before tweeting. Take a moment before booing at the final whistle when you’ve just lost despite winning four of your previous six competitive games. Take a moment before moaning that you’re selling your best goal scorer when you’re getting a club record sale fee, sold for profit AND haven’t reinvested any of the money yet.
You get the picture.
Just imagine if / when we manage to get back into the Premier League. You can go weeks or even months without winning a match depending on how the fixtures fall. Last season, Stoke City didn’t win a single game until 15th October but still ended up finishing 13th and only 2 points off 8th place. Forest fans would be calling for blood and yet another managerial casualty if we were in that scenario!
Stability and positivity is the key. Give the players and management your full backing and just see where this season takes us. If we make the playoffs then brilliant. If we finish mid-table then fine. If we lose in the playoffs or just better last season’s final standing then so be it. We can go again next season.
I have every confidence in the work being done off the pitch by Mark Warburton and his backroom staff, Nicholas Randall QC and the new owner Vangelis Marinakis. The future really is looking bright but we can also make a difference. Our duty is to make the difference.
So let’s finally keep a manager, keep supporting and most importantly, keep the faith!
You Reds
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