There seems to be one echoing statement shared from the social corridors of the internet when it comes to what fans think of Sabri Lamouchi and Nottingham Forest.

“If Sabri’s team continues to play the same old way, Forest are doomed”

Is pretty much the unilateral opinion that deafens the walls of Facebook, Twitter and other like-minded social sites not quite used as wide.

But there is a flip side to this damning verdict… “If Sabri changes his way and the Reds play a more attacking possession-based game next season, then Forest might just do ok” with room for optimism amongst those who ‘still believe’.

The infuriating thing for fans is that following the display at Barnsley in the Carabao Cup where Forest had one shot at goal it seems ‘Sabri has not learned’ from last season and in giving 62% of the possession away to the home side, who remember finished inside the bottom three of the Championship but for Wigan’s points deduction, it does not bode well for what might follow.

One thing Sabri has got right this summer is his recruitment. Addressing key areas where Forest needed to improve, he (or those above) brought in Lyle Taylor, Jack Colback, Tyler Blackett… Players that completely alter the spine of the side. In come more experience with Fred Bachirou, Miguel Angel Guerrero, Luke Freeman… It certainly adds ‘depth’ to the Reds squad on last year.

Matty Cash will be a big loss but even the most ardent of fan despite stating ‘the club lacks ambition – and should keep its star attractions’ will underneath agree that Cash deserves to play at a higher level. At least the club were well reimbursed financially especially after losing millions through the covid lockdown having played the back end of last season and the start of this without fans.

Those fans have often been the object of much criticism in recent years, recent months, recent weeks and days even but last season when inside the world famous City Ground they were often the 12^th man… Oh how we need them back.

The problem for me is that everytime Forest lose the fans seem to harp on the same old train that states the same old thing… The problem I have is not that the fans particularly do this in numbers, but that the coaching staff can’t see it.

Lamouchi and his managerial team, including the addition of former Moroccan International Ahmed Kantari this summer will ‘need’ to be more ambitious in setting their side up to attack this year or I worry that the much-loved, much-adored Frenchman and his staff will be shown the door before too long.

Forest crumbled last season from beating Leeds in February with a chance to make the automatic places to giving away leads and more importantly losing late late goals that would see them fall outside the playoffs in the final five minutes of the campaign.

Form in its entirety has not been good. Including Barnsley it has been three straight losses and no win in seven for the Reds. The new season can provide new hope with new players and new ambition, but should Forest get off to a poor start that ‘new confidence’ might soon disappear.

The Reds are tipped (as they usually are) by bookies to do well. A top six finish is ‘expected’ with the quality they have in the squad. Should the fans get their way and Sabri concedes to suddenly play ‘entertaining attacking football’ then Forest in my mind will ‘romp’ the league. The fact that he probably won’t alter his tactics has me thinking his time is based solely on results with no compassion for style, as performances will no doubt be far from enthralling.

Should Forest defend for their lives and win every game 1-0 next season I doubt there will be a fan in Nottingham that says ‘Sabri should go’… But if those 1-0’s become 1-1’s with more ninetieth minute equalisers conceded and should Plan A not always workout the way the Frenchman likes, as it didn’t always last season… I fear that it may be Auvoir, before the turn of the year as Forest make ‘yet’ another Managerial change to find that Mr Perfect.

For Sabri only he can change the style and philosophy of his team to something the fans want. If he doesn’t he will in my mind soon fail, if he does he’ll be everybody’s hero, I’m sure of that, once again like he was when he took them to the top of the table at Stoke. My worry though is that Managers are often stubborn. Set in their ways I still feel the tactic he constantly uses is ‘perfect’ for facing ‘top quality’ opposition who are better than Forest in possession but not so against those middle range and bottom table Championship teams that just want to fight man for man and chuck balls into the box.

Never mind his usual Plan A, Forest have mastered that against Leeds, at Swansea and against Brentford last season… It’s a Plan B, a Plan C and a Plan D that Sabri needs next. An attacking option or two that can beat the likes of Barnsley and get the best out of quality showmen like Carvalho, Ameobi, Freeman, Lolley and Silva should he stay.

The Reds certainly have the players to play with attacking and stylish intent, I bet every pound I’ve got that the players want to play that way, I know for sure the fans want to see it too, so why not the Coaching Staff believe a little more in having some ambition? Because if Forest fail playing the same old Sabri way ‘everyone’ will say it didn’t have to be like this when it all ends sour and he gets pushed to walk… Should Forest shape up to have a go just on the odd occasion to start with, it might be the catalyst of something bold and brave that could define the clubs season being the difference between success and failure.

If I were Sabri I would at least listen to what the fans want… You never know, if you do you might just become a fan of the way Forest play too. Then we’ll all have something proud to shout about!

*Article provided by Daniel Peacock (Editor).

*Main image @NFFC Sabri Lamouchi will be under pressure to gain results early-doors of the season.