The Prophet

I thought our form was on the dip well before the final. It started to creep in second half v Wolves.

That's very outcome driven thinking. What if we win the cup and don't finish top five? What if Isak picks up a season ending injury and we finish sixth? What if Forest go on title winning form from now until the end of the season? Not having a go or out, but just seems a bit futile trying to slap neat labels on stuff when so much could happen from now until the end of the season. I also wince a little bit when I see stuff along the lines of "it's a failure to finish below Forest or Bournemouth". I think the average for 5th is around 66 points. If Forest or Bournemouth manage 66+ points fair play to them, it would be an enormous achievement. Our only concern should be why didn't we and how can we fix it next season?

I think the approach has been a lot more low key and "business like" this time. Unless we rest the entire first team for a month beforehand, injuries and suspension are par for the course.

I don't know if it's the Mike Ashley years, but a lot of our fans seem to thrive on negativity, unable to enjoy the European qualification or cup finals in recent years without worrying or immediately looking ahead. Wor Flags are class, but as soon as the match kicks off fans are immediately on the players backs, moaning and groaning at and misplaced pass. It shows on here too. You can list the posters who will become more vocal during a rough patch, immediately getting stuck into the players and the manager. I honestly don't know what's keeping me tied to football at the moment. The sport as a whole is in the doldrums, the club is owned by a morally repugnant regime and our fans are incredibly loathsome. I can honestly see me packing it on in the next five to ten years, I get far more joy out of other sports these days.

It will, taking consideration of all relevant factors that could impact that. Such as not upgrading the squad for three transfer windows.

I'm grateful we have owners who don't have such linear thinking.

He's done exactly that with both Tonali and Isak.

If our session fizzles out, I'm sure he'll take some responsibility, but it's a bit simplistic to put it all on Howe.

The good news is that Big Virg might get away with throwing a few dangerous off the ball challenged at the weekend.

Putting his ability and match sharpness aside, the bloke just can't be relied on to stay fit. E.

Imagine the shot in the arm our season gets if we win this.

What do you think?

If it makes you feel better, the balls are numbered in alphabetical order so we'd have been looking at Bournemouth away.

In better news, Barnes has a belting record v West Ham.

Should be made to walk from one side of SJP to the other on hot coals.

Anthony Taylor is just a terrible ref. Almost always manages to lose control of the game.

Yep, still got a final and European places to fight for. Eddie will turn it around eventually, let's hope it's v West Ham.

The Barnes signing seemed logical in that... 1. It looked as though we wanted two players for every position heading into the Champions League campaign. 2. We'd just sold ASM, leaving us with no natural left winger. 3. Gordon, billed as a "versatile forward" had struggled in his first six months here. 4. The season before we'd struggled with finishing and often lacked a clinical edge in the box.

Still fizzing at the Schar disallowed goal. Don't dispute it was offside, more that the offside law is currently completely unfit for purpose.

I know I was in the minority, but I thought the signings of Barnes, Tino and Hall were fine at the time. I do agree though that the strategy to pay large fees for more or less sure things was never going to be sustainable given the PSR constraints.

Much like Wilson. Aye, they're surplus to requirements, but he's not going to be particularly match sharp when he's barely had a kick all season.

We'd have been City's ball so would have got Bournemouth away up next.

The upside of these poor runs of form is that we get to hear from lads and lasses who exclusive post during these times. It's good to catch up.

Get him hounded out lads.

Yuuuurs.