Strap yourselves in, it's gonna get bumpy

Yep I agree. I think with some stability and with Dougie having kept his job with this current squad we'd be set for a top 8 finish. He was too defensive at times but it was down to the players he had available. Our current squad with one more striker would be doing well if there was some consistency. The new boss has to start again with a squad that largely isn't used to his style of play.

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I just don't think we have anywhere near enough in attack. Britt is brilliant but he needs help with goals. Velios looks woeful, a Greek version of O'Grady. Burke has potential but hasn't done much really and doesn't seem to get too many goals yet. ward has 10 goals a season in him at best and is average in my opinion.

I think this is why Dougie went defensive in he end. He realised we don't have enough up top to attack teams so went with he strengths.

The big test will be in a week or two's time when the vultures descend and Prem clubs come calling for Assombalonga and Burke. Has Fawaz got the ambitions to withstand the inevitable big money bids?...

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Having the manager in at the start of the summer may have been a bit more conducive to these aims. I know Forest are sitting at the top table when it comes to picking a manager but several championship clubs had their management teams signed up quite a few weeks before Forest. Always seem to be playing catch up.

Ultimately, it is down to the players, whether they are sufficiently motivated and have the luck to stay in form and injury free for as long as possible. Both things have hamstrung quite a few of the Red's previous season's efforts.

Agree with your assessment of Freedman, having no option other than be defensive, making sure we stayed in the Championship with a view to next (this) season, no embargo and a chance to build his own team. Still think he was unfairly sacked, but the moaners always get their way. I would have liked to see what he could have done, he signed some pretty good players with no money, not his fault everyone was injured.

How do we judge how good a player is?

We might think Jamie Ward is a good player, but isn't that just because he is better than Jamie Mackie. Oliveira was a good player because he was better than Henderson.

Our Olympians have shown up the nation's footballers for what they are - and it isn't very flattering. Would any of the Forest players be prepared to get up at five in the morning, travel many miles at their own expense, put in the time and effort training for twice the hours footballers do, for the same money the Olympians get and if they prove themselves the very best at what they do, the very best in the world, be happy to receive a medal for their reward?

Until we get some players who are prepared to put in just a fraction of what Olympians put in (which is what Leicester did last season) we will not progress.

Eleven modestly gifted grafters will always be better than eleven talented slackers.

I don't get the constant slagging off of footballers. Especially the England ones. How many of us are the best in the country at what we do? Not many! I certainly am not! You don't get to be a professional footballer without working hard for a lot of years. It doesn't just happen. They also have to take care of themselves physically and make a lot of sacrifices.

I don't get why they are always then labelled a "disgrace" or somehow shown up by Olympians! They are overpaid I get that. But that's not their fault. You can't blame not winning anything for 50 years on he players can you? They are just not good enough. There is no disgrace in not being good enough. None of us are good enough to be there are we?

It's the same old problem. Expectations! England are not good enough to win anything, just like Forest this season. It doesn't stop fans and media blaming players though if they don't achieve the impossible!

That's my take anyway!