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Can this sleeping giant of English football rise again?

Can this sleeping giant of English football rise again?
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Under the guidance of legendary manager Brian Clough, Nottingham Forest dominated English and European football in the late ‘70s.

The East Midlands club was promoted from the Second Division in 1977, won the First Division title in 1978, and went on to win back-to-back European Cups in 1979 and 1980.

Forest’s meteoric rise from mediocre second-tier side to champions of Europe in the space of three years is undoubtedly one of the most famous stories in the history of football.

However, the team has since struggled to emulate the success of their trophy-laden era, and Forest are currently competing in their eleventh successive Championship campaign.

Could this finally be the season that Nottingham Forest book their place at English football’s top table once again?

Where are they now?

Since the club’s relegation from the Premier League in 1999, Forest have struggled to make a to return to the top-flight, and have also spent three seasons in the third-tier of English football.

Their most recent trophy came back in 1998 when they won the FA Cup, but the fans have had very little to get excited about since then.

Countless changes in ownership and management off the pitch have hindered the team’s progression on the pitch, and this has led to widespread instability at the club.

Astonishingly, Forest are currently being led by their thirteenth full-time manager is eight years.

Sabri Lamouchi has been brought in to try and steady the ship, and the Frenchman has generated a fresh sense of optimism at the City Ground.

Will this be their year?

The Championship is an extremely competitive league, and with so many high-profile clubs in the division, the battle for promotion is always fiercely contested.

However, Forest have made a promising start to the campaign, and after losing to West Brom on the opening day of the season, the team is currently on a five-match unbeaten run.

The club made numerous signings in the summer transfer window and many of them have been among Forest’s standout performers so far.

Portuguese duo Alfa Semedo and Tiago Silva have impressed in midfield, while Albert Adomah, Sammy Ameobi and Carl Jenkinson also appear to be shrewd additions to the squad.

It’s difficult to imagine a club of Forest’s size staying in the Championship for much longer.

If Forest are able to make a push for promotion, then the club’s stature and rich history will help attract the caliber of player required to keep them in the Premier League.

Could this finally be Nottingham Forest’s year?

Championship Regular Season
OVERALL TABLE PTS GP W D L +/-
1
Leicester City 97 45 31 4 10 50
2
Ipswich Town 93 45 27 12 6 33
3
Leeds United 90 45 27 9 9 39
4
Southampton 84 45 25 9 11 23
5
Norwich City 73 45 21 10 14 16
6
West Bromwich 72 45 20 12 13 20
7
Hull City 70 45 19 13 13 9
8
Middlesbrough 66 45 19 9 17 7
9
Coventry City 64 45 17 13 15 12
10
Preston North End 63 45 18 9 18 -8
11
Bristol City 62 45 17 11 17 6
12
Cardiff City 62 45 19 5 21 -14
13
Swansea City 57 45 15 12 18 -5
14
Watford 56 45 13 17 15 2
15
Sunderland 56 45 16 8 21 0
16
Millwall 56 45 15 11 19 -11
17
QPR 53 45 14 11 20 -12
18
Stoke City 53 45 14 11 20 -15
19
Blackburn Rovers 50 45 13 11 21 -16
20
Sheffield Wednesday 50 45 14 8 23 -26
21
Plymouth Argyle 48 45 12 12 21 -12
22
Birmingham City 47 45 12 11 22 -16
23
Huddersfield 45 45 9 18 18 -27
24
Rotherham 24 45 4 12 29 -55

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