Players with little confidence, manager and chairman feeling the pressure and the team currently lying in an unconvincing 20th place in Division One. Not only that but it looks inevitable that another of our rising youngsters could be plucked away from under our noses by the lure of Premiership football.
Andy Reid is attracting interest from Spurs, Birmingham, Blackburn and Charlton and Michael Dawson is tempting the likes of Newcastle, Manchester United and Liverpool.
We've already lost Jermaine Jenas (now full England international) and David Prutton (Southampton first-team regular) and it looks like Dawson and/or Reid will be next.
Dawson is worth £5m and Reid is easily £3.5m perhaps higher but the likelihood is that we'll accept offers well below their estimations purely because the club remains around £15-20 in debt.
Football is a business. Everyone knows that now but there has to be give and take with regards to the footballing side of things. We sell Reid and/or Dawson, okay, so it keeps the bank happy for another 12 months but what about on the pitch?
Forest are struggling. We're in a relegation battle but no-one wants to admit it. Yes, we've had injuries, lost players, etc, etc, but the fact of the matter is that unless the fans, players and management pull their fingers out, we'll be playing against Notts County next season (providing they stay up of course)
Even if we get good money for Reid and/or Dawson, I bet only a tiny fraction will be given to improve the squad if at all.
You're never "too good to go down". I'm sure Manchester City and Sheffield Wednesday fans will tell you that. Personally I'm 100% behind Paul Hart and the players. I don't boo players off the pitch at the final whistle and I certainly don't leave with 10 minutes to go if we conceed a goal or miss a half chance.
It's not constructive critiscism, it simply makes matters worse and dents the players confidence even more than it already is.
I'll be at places like Sunderland away in the snow and hopefully at every other game we play this season because at times like these, the supporters get the club out of trouble.
Happy New Year and here's to 2004!!
Youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu Reds!!