MarcusX

Same on Wednesday, we made the subs and changed shape (in part due to personnel) and lost control for the last half hour of normal time. Musf admit I haven’t seen today or read anything yet, except catching a bit of radio bristol and your opening post, but my initial excitement at the result seems like it doesn’t tell the full picture but points are points!

Having since watched the highlights I had a few more observations. Our goal came from playing out of the back, through the midfield and a decent strike (and save) from King. Cornick's chance doesn't really look any easier in the replay than it did in real time. It was a half chance I think. James' strike was closer than I realised. Still no idea how Wells hasn't scored at the end though. Max maybe should have saved the last pen? Gets a hand to it. Always feel a bit harsh saying a keeper should have saved a pen though

I believe it's any games since (and including) Ukraine at home They did in the last nations league, nothing to suggest they won't yet.

Do you not think all that happens at lower levels? As a player at those levels I think it's almost as bad, if not worse because it's easier to get away with the cheating. Another issue I have with the sin bin rule at the moment is there's no fine or punishment after the game for it. Maybe that's a good thing to some? But there's no deterrant really other than losing a few minutes in a game. After 5 bookings you receive a 1 match ban, there's no cumulative punishment for abusing a ref every week - other than perhaps from your own team.

Exactly what happens in amateur level. Good idea, badly implemented because it's still so inconsistent. Last weekend in our game the ref spent the entire game warning people if they carry on he'll use the sin bin - he didn't, they carried on. No authority at all some of them.

Thought it was the tamest atmosphere I've ever seen between us and Forest. Last time I went up there I remember being charged down in the car park and it all kicking off. Back on topic, I spotted the dogs and the people searching everyone and neither were interested - even asked if they needed to search me and they said no need. Don't know how I feel about it personally - I've always been of the "nothing to hide why worry" thought, but then i also understand peoples rights, people who are uneasy around dogs etc. Also, as someone who isn't going to be taking in something that the dogs are looking for, it's potentially in the interest of my safety that these things are found / prevented

Shame they had their music belting out as the City were singing his name after the final whistle. Hopefully he could hear it, great performance tonight, he didn’t deserve that

Yep that’s awful. Hasn’t even got their best chances let alone ours. I can think of at least 8/9 moments missing from there across both teams

Our best striker was taken off too early Mebude wasn’t eligible

Not too far for me so back already. I was a bit harsh in the first game (probably elevated expectations after West Ham) and didn’t think it was that good a performance. Certainly some nice football played but never really looked like scoring - and I was critical of the atmosphere. Well, tonight for 60 minutes that performance was very good. A little unlucky to go behind but forest started much better than they did a week ago Friday. Suspicion of handball from us in the ground, by Origi but VAR checked it out. We got back into it quickly though, plenty of pressure and several shots. Some of more quality than others but we forced Turner into a few good saves. I don’t know if we tired, or the changes disrupted us, or Forest just stepped it up but after the triple sub we were second best and didn’t create a whole lot that I can remember. Seemed to be hanging on for extra time at that point. Extta time it livened up again and both teams had a good go at it. Sam Bell with some great wing play put a ball across the 6 yard box that was just begging to be tapped in. Somehow Wells ended up in the back of the net but the ball didn’t. Minute later and Bell has made an incredible recovery run and tackle to save the game and take it to pens. Some observations tonight: Williams was exceptional, felt like he was everywhere. Bell probably had one of his best games for us, I still think there’s a player in there that needs a bit of time. Wells was incredibly frustrating. Bullied by their CB to the point he was on the floor 5 or 6 times, then petulantly gave away a silly foul with a 2 handed push. He grew into the game in ET so maybe I’m just being a bit harsh there. Max was very good again, some great saves and did well with crosses and a couple of one on ones. Knight-label had a solid game, fair play coming in into that game against some top players. The atmosphere was a bit hit and miss in my opinion. Forest were terrible for starters and barely heard a peep until the pens. Even at 1-0 they were silent. We were good again up until 60 mins or so. That 20 min spell near the end of normal time was getting a bit downbeat, fair bit of moaning, I’m sure there were some boos too for some reason. Got good again in ET though and at the end of the game very supportive of the lads. On the whole it was a good night and a very good performance, much better than the first game. There shouldn’t be any reason we can’t out that effort into the league now.

I’m meeting my boss first, a forest fan, I might suggest amici bar see if it registers

One of those things I just can’t comprehend. I do plenty of endurance running, but being out at sea is something else entirely. Even the thought of being out there terrifies me. Fair play to him!

Bloody optimist

Expectation - remain competitive, win more than we lose, progress up the leagues, a few decent cup runs / away days. Keep the likes of Swindon / Rovers well away from us. Hope - to get to the Prem and establish ourselves, bringing more support, backing and opportunities to the club. Be even more competitve in cup competitions and who knows? Push for Europe? When I was growin up we were a third tier team. Might occasionally reach the second but, it was something like 15/20 seasons in tier 3 growing up. Since that promotion in 2007 it's now 14/16 seasons in tier 2. So based on that, we have improved massively as a club. We're now an established Championship side (albeit sometimes that status looks a little precarious), with a great stadium, decent reputation amongst other fans with a few Prem "giantkillings" under our belts. And we aren't a million miles off of challenging for the top 6, although it may feel like it after the last few games. Things could obviously be better, and I'm frustrated with a lot of the actions and statements made by the people in charge - but I believe we do have owners who genuinely want the club to do well. It could be much worse

Yea of course, but you see where I'm coming from - the intial decision to go watch City was based on them being the most successful side locally, even if that "success" is simply in relative terms to other options. Similarly, growing up a lot of the kids my age went to watch Swindon - why? Because they were the better local team in the early 90s, and made it to the Prem. Some have still abandoned that for top 6 clubs or see Swindon as their "second" team though. Just like I'm sure if we made the Prem and somehow stayed up, we'd see a huge influx of kids (and parents) more publically supporting City over the top 6 clubs.

2 points off the drop (Luton with a game in hand) I'd suggest this will not be Forest's "last meaningful game" by any means!

Gray is brilliant and he’s only filling in at RB. moved up 2 England youth levels last year too, u17s, 19s and now 20s. big future ahead, they’re doing something right at St George’s Park

Think there’s debate whether the 200ish left on sale is from the overall allocation of 2800 or from a reduced allocation Has jt been confirmed anywhere?

Yep was just going to post this In light of @Shauntaylor85 post about signings not being able to play (because it’s a replay) then there shouldn’t be different rules either

Great idea, and very interesting especially seeing how many made their first appearance each season - some there seems to be loads and others only a few

Not so comfortable for them in hindsight! Looking forward to this one, we've got family there and I should have plenty of caps by then to get tickets. Just need to negotiate work

Exactly that, Bowen left on deadline day with 16 goals already that season. We've still got the players that can put the ball in the net, with the right supply. Twine coming in and Sykes coming back should strengthen us on that front so i don't think it's a fair comparison

Thanks for that, we selected post thinking it would arrive by Friday if last posting date was tuesday / wednesday but it arrived Saturday. Should be with me tomorrow though

I dunno, wouldn’t read too much into it. Even the top teams used to argue with each other - listen to the Arsenal / Utd players talk about the early 2000s they would argue like mad after a defeat. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. Forest did it too within the season. In fairness most people were excited about Mehmeti, it certainly wasn’t seen as a waste at the time

We don’t need to worry about a relegation scrap, although some people were spouting that rubbish around the time we lost to Cardiff with Pearson here - we weren’t in danger then either.