24 May 2018 20:57:30
Annual Review of the NFFC Family - A Red in exile's view from the outside looking in.

What a difference a year makes?
One year ago, this month Fantasy Fawaz and his desert caravan were sent packing and our club as we know it was quite literally saved from extinction!

Our new owners finally snared their prey having been led up and down the garden path for over a year by an owner who was completely out of his depth and put saving face before having a proper plan and doing the right thing for the club?

Reviewing this relationship there is evidence that suggests the "door knocking" started in 2013 when Fawaz delivered out of the blue 2 Algerian" trojan horses" from Olympiacos.

Thankfully for us EM playing the long game finally paid off!

So, a year on where are we?

A May 2017 take over, stability and support for Warburton (the Fawaz management appointee) for doing his job. Understandably a limited budget while the new owners looked more closely under the carpet having moved in. (10 months on the skeletons left prompted litigation) .

January 2018 the recruitment failings of the last 5 years combined with an inflexible but naïve football "philosophy "of a decent manager prompted firm and very decisive action and a statement of intent not seen at the City Ground since the appointment of OBE.

Enter Aitor Karanka (Mr Marmite like most successful managers) . Playing weaknesses identified and addressed as far as the transfer window allowed in a matter of days. New player impact excellent but remaining weaknesses struggling to step up to the plate. However, salvation achieved to justify the new owners decisive action.

Behind the scenes a proper admin infrastructure built, a positive engagement with the fan base and attractive pricing policy in a competitive leisure and entertainment industry. Result 17,000 record season ticket sales. More importantly brand and reputation rebuilt to attract players and fans who want to succeed together?

IMO Michael Dawson is NFFC's equivalent to John Terry a player who earns and demands respect and a rock upon which to build the foundations of a successful club. Age has no limit to that sort of ability. Good habits and good character follow one another so for the first time in over 20 years we are rebuilding club on rock not sand!

Too many false dawns make fans impatient so remember Rome (and Athens) were not built in a day but they stand the test of time and the builders were ruthless with the dissenters to their plan.

The football will not be pretty during construction but at least the team will not fall by the wayside and will be admired as a success when built!

Attendances and season card sales are proof that the majority of fans agree we are on the up and making progress.

Therefore, to all those Foremoaners who continue to bleat like sheep, spring lamb is cheap for a reason. You get what you pay for!

So, remember this reality when most of you are sitting in some of the best seats at the cheapest price of any top football club moaning about the fayre served up!

Like good meat the entertainment will improve with age and when the head chef has finished adding the ingredients.

So, either put your money where your mouths are and pay more. Only then do you have (like Arsenal fans) every right to complain about your team not meeting expectations?

In conclusion, in the words of my favourite Forest Comedy Character of all Time "We are where we are" to which I would add so be grateful we are in good hands at last!

Enjoy the summer weather and cheer up. I'm off talent spotting in North West Spain.

Onward and Upward.

Ole Ole Ole Aitor Karanka.

1.) 24 May 2018
24 May 2018 21:17:52
In the words of the late great Ian Dury. . 'reasons to be cheerful'. Positive post RIE, let's pray the project bears fruit. FTID.

2.) 24 May 2018
24 May 2018 21:28:59
Interesting summary , but this inference that Forest fans are impatient really gets my back up,20 years outside the top flight and still pulling in. 20000 plus gates, I thiink were the patient fans around , most clubs of our size and plenty smaller have been up and down twice since were last promoted

3.) 24 May 2018
24 May 2018 22:09:31
Stevie, good point well made.

4.) 24 May 2018
24 May 2018 23:11:02
When we were winning all those trophies in the 70s and 80s I used to wonder about and admire the fans of lower league teams who turn up Week in week out at poor stadiums with no facilities supporting teams that had won nothing and had no hope of winning things in the future.
They are the true supporters that have to be admired.
Yes we haven’t had a good 20 years but we have had some outstanding glory in the past.
Makes me laugh when Arsenal fans moan about what a disastrous few years they have had. . . fans sometimes need to have some perspective .

5.) 25 May 2018
25 May 2018 10:48:26
Stevie
We were never going to get promotion under Doughty or Fawaz. History shows you need a good infrastructure even for a lucky manager to succeed.
Every time we have got close the owners have blinked and not backed the manager.
Under this regime you can be sure they know when to stick or twist?
Fans have been impatient for 20 years because of this so now we need to be patient while our club is rebuilt?

6.) 25 May 2018
25 May 2018 14:19:08
Here Scouse!! Let's hope come next May people we'll be saying about our team. "There Ain't Have Been Some Clever Ba*ta#@ds!!"😂😂😉😉

7.) 25 May 2018
25 May 2018 14:21:50
Redinexile we are being patient we still turn up in numbers home and away, every club has a few fans who call for the managers head after a bad display,even a great manager like wenger has been eventually hounded out,something which I think they will regret very soon I think the vast majority of our fans realise how difficult getting out of this division is, but think we should at least be competitive.

8.) 25 May 2018
25 May 2018 14:53:46
I think the patience comment comes from the constant calling of managers heads when most managers recently have had there hands tied by poor structure

9.) 25 May 2018
25 May 2018 14:54:03
Hala Madrid Rogie.😁👍

10.) 25 May 2018
25 May 2018 15:14:09
Let's see how long the patience last if we're not in top half of table come xmas

11.) 25 May 2018
25 May 2018 15:26:01
Last year I said I’d be happy with a top 15 finish, next year I’m going for top 10. I believe it’s going to take 3 years to get into the top 6. FFP has been the millstone round our neck, get rid of it and we can start afresh, as long as we utilise the young talent that is coming through.

12.) 25 May 2018
25 May 2018 15:51:27
Skegsjay I think if we aren't in the top half by Xmas we’d be entitled to be asking questions,surely another bottom half season is unacceptable.havnt we had to put up with too many of those in recent years?

13.) 25 May 2018
25 May 2018 19:56:10
You have to learn to walk before you can run! We have been crawling for a very long time!

14.) 25 May 2018
25 May 2018 22:34:32
And as you can see by some thumbs downs and some answers karankas fans will turn and the chosen ☝ will be no more if we're not in top half come xmas just saying.

15.) 26 May 2018
25 May 2018 21:54:13
Sgetty Cardiff went from a crawl to a sprint last season

16.) 26 May 2018
25 May 2018 21:54:21
Let's see what financial backing the manager gets before making your predictions.If he gets decent money my expectations will be fairly high.If he is scratching around with peanuts to spend and relying on loans and freebies the new mid table will be the lot for me because this current squad is below average obviously.

17.) 26 May 2018
26 May 2018 09:07:18
Stevie f. Achieved on what size of budget, I wonder?

18.) 26 May 2018
26 May 2018 10:18:49
Sgetty don’t know for sure mate but would hazard a confident guess not much different to ours

19.) 26 May 2018
26 May 2018 10:46:01
We'd better be quick off the blocks then!