lost that loving feeling - Heaven on Earth

Finally some sanity has been restored to the world. Derby and Leicester are both on the verge of implosion, already well down the slippery slope of relegation of which the appointment of a couple of dead-weight managers will surely make certain.

Meanwhile, Forest fans can wallow in the demise of their rivals, safe in the knowledge that things are peachy in Nottingham. Currently, Forest are lurking around the edge of the play-off zone. What with already seeing off the challenges of Burnley and Bradford, holding games over some of the teams above us, possessing the best defensive record in the division and being unbeaten at home, progression into the top 6 looks inevitable.

When you take into account that over the summer Derby and Leicester both made improvements to their squads that would suggest an improvement in their league performances yet now sit rock bottom of the Premiership and with mounting debts, and that Forest were dealing with their own financial troubles coupled with the chaos of who would be managing the side for the advancing season but are now catching eyes left, right and centre with the quality of their football as they storm up the league, then it can only mean one thing:

Paul Hart is God.

Well, maybe not God himself. But a close personal friend at the very least. And I’m not talking about Brian ‘God’ Clough here. No sir, I’m talking about him upstairs. The head honcho. The creator of all life in the Universe. The big guy with the beard. God.

There can be no other explanation. He’s been pulling off miracles all over the shop since his appointment. He has banished the demons that have haunted Forest over the years; they run in fear for safer havens elsewhere in the midlands. He can turns boys into men. He can make the lame fit again. He is often seen walking over the waters of the Trent. And most impressive of all, he has turned Riccy Scimeca into a good player.

But the trouble is, I believe all of this. Like the 24 thousand that flocked to Paul’s (I’ve just noticed: Biblical name!) latest sermon, I was not disappointed by the result nor the way we played. While it was not the best performance of the season, it was so much better than what we have become acclimatised to in recent times. And this has caused me to lose my grip on reality.

Forest have an inexperienced manager, a team that is made up of kids and no money. These simple facts tell us that Forest can’t get up. It’s impossible.

But as long as Paul keeps on the right side of the almighty Lord who as a results keeps shining his light down on the pitch which as a result turns our kids into prodigies who as a result will keep up the standard of play they have so far exhibited which as a result will no doubt lead to more wins and more points, then the only result left is for Forest to be promoted.

I’m trying desperately to keep my feet on the ground. I have to remind myself that we still haven’t won away from home, that we have a tough run of fixtures coming up, that the season is barely a quarter of the way through... But then I look at the smiling faces of other Forest fans and I remember why they all look so contented and can’t help sharing their happiness.

Either way, times like this should be savoured. Come the end of the season, even if reality finally does catch up with us and we miss out on promotion, then we still have a pair of local derbies to enjoy. And for that, I thank Paul Hart for what we are about to receive.

Amen.