Poor toe

Exactly, I don’t know how you couldn’t enjoy that last night. Yes it was a bit chaotic, woeful finishing and very Forest at times but it was also enjoyable and entertaining. Great atmosphere too. We might get thrashed by Villa and relegated but you might as well enjoy these evenings as I still often stand there, as I did last night, and think of those bleak midweek Championship and League One evenings in a half full CG.

He played in the Club World Cup didn't he so yes late end to season.

He was in the middle East before Brazil, and didn't get a break between those either. I think this summer will be his first time of (of any note) in about 3 years. So yeah - I'm still hopefully he could be an 8-10 goal PL striker next year. Hopefully for us.

Absobloodyutely. If you can't enjoy this cup run, what do you want from all the angst, time and money you invest in Forest? I really want us to avoid relegation, of course. But I also want to see a shiny 'Europa Cup Winners 2026' on the side of the Bridgford Stand. The rare chance of actually winning something is why we go through it all, isn't it?

If Wood had stayed fit, Jesus would have probably played most of the Europa games, scoring a load of goals, mostly come off the bench in the league and everyone would be asking why he hadn't started more. Even in the brief period before he got injured, it's obvious that what Wood gives you in finishing, he loses in pressing where he lumbers around half-heartedly closing down.

I think there's plenty of scope for him to develop into the player we want next season. It's mostly a being a fraction sharper in finishing.

There’s also a Kalimuendo shaped elephant in the room that, had it worked out, would have taken some more of the pressure off him.

And he’d be ideal right now. A far far better option than Lucca.

So i have managed to get 2 tickets for the final through UEFA site this morning. I am not going due to work. I am now stressed I wont be able to re sell them and I will be out of pocket!

Did you have to give the name of other other person going?

If not then you must be ok to transfer on as your guest could need to arrive independently of you and wouldn't have their name on ticket?

£35 for Villa, sold.

I think this is an interesting position at the moment. Arguably being in the Premier League and in Europe is as good as it gets for a club like ours now. Some people are loving it, others are feeling quite worn down by it, others probably a bit of both. Marinakis has a bit of the Billy Davies about him, you could say he's one of Doughty's "unreasonable men" who is driving us on to heights we wouldn't otherwise reach, or you could just think he's a bit of a dick and possibly an international gangster, chucking money up a wall hoping some will stick. We're mostly competitive, when we're not shooting ourselves in the foot, but the costs are going up and we're probably hitting a ceiling. We've got Brazilian internationals in our squad (and lots of other internationals too), but we also churn through players at an alarming rate, and there is far less of a local feel to the team and club.

I took my son when tickets were plenty and affordable and he's a bit stuck with it now. As a result, I'm a bit stuck with it too. I probably would have given up watching if it wasn't for him, and if I was having my family now I'd probably be taking them elsewhere, whether that be another club or another hobby entirely. I'm currently reading a book about Union Berlin. They've gone through considerable success whilst retaining, and building, a community based in a particular place, but there are definite tensions appearing. The book constantly goes back to the focus needing to be on that place, those people who are local to it, working towards a common goal, earning success not buying it, prioritising the people in the physical space over commercial opportunities and international markets. That's the football I'm interested in, I realise that the "problems" are always there but there is an orientation that puts values and identity over money and results.

The old Union Berlin fans talk about newcomers who only want to look, rather than participate. I don't get much from just watching Marinakis spend, spit and kick his way through English football, but we are a Marinakis club now in every way, we rely on his money and we mimic his personality. It's not a club I would likely pick to support now, but 40 plus years of habit is hard to break.

First world problems, I know.

No, I didnt have to give any details of the second ticket, so thats a good sign. I will have to start making some Villa friends so I can sell them onto them as I cant see us getting past them over 2 legs

It's a minor point, and I agree with much of what you say, but our churn is way lower than it was when we were in the championship. We currently have 6 players who've played 100 times for the club, another 3 in the 90s and further 5 between 50 and 90. I'm pretty certain that hasn't been case since .... Doughty fired Davies(?)

I have loads as I've lived in Brum for twenty years. If the worst happens I'm sure I can find someone who will take them.

Hopefully no bluenoses though?

Them too. The degenerates.

Match day pass.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VdGOxx9rz0

Unsurprisingly 1 game shot - the goal.
Padded out with 'fans' stuff.
And yet, still lovely.