The Champions League has been alive and kicking for quite a few years. Remarkably, Norwegian champions Rosenborg (Hjelde's former club) have been present in eleven successive seasons, despite having to go through the qualifying rounds almost every single time.

Last Tuesday, I sat down in front of the telly to watch the match against Celtic. An old Forest hero appears: Martin O'Neill. Celtic would stand a good chance of going through to the second phase by beating Rosenborg. Rosenborg have been miles ahead of any other Norwegian side the past ten years, mostly due to having the financial backbone achieved through their Champions League success. Therefore, most people tend to dislike them. They're just as annoying as Liverpool in the 80s and Man Utd in recent years. Incindentally, people from the Trondheim area are also renowned for their moustaches and awful hairstyles, just like the scousers.

Now, Martin O'Neill had to see his side being beaten. I pitied him, I really did. I'd love to have seen him as Forest manager some day. But, I don't believe that will happen any time soon.

At the same time, Forest were playing Watford in London. A mate of mine was in London at the time, and had gone to Vicarage Road to see them. He's a Liverpool supporter himself, but he fancied seeing Forest. I got updates on my cell phone as the game progressed. When I got a message saying we were 2-1 up - 'scorer no. 14' - I was delighted. Finally an away win? Yes, indeed!

I watched the highlights from the Millwall game on the web, and I was really impressed by some of the attacking play Forest pulled off. So have we finally got a decent striker again? I sure hope so! And hopefully John isn't like Collymore when it comes to personality.

I remember seeing Stan Collymore at Cyprus in 1995. I was there on holiday (well, obviously) and was sitting at the beach, using a Forest cap to shield my eyes from the sun, and making it harder for the big-breasted blonde right in front of me to see where I was staring. Enter Stan the Man. He had recently completed his 'big move' to Liverpool and looked like a big hero, attracting Nordic blondes as soon as he made his appearance. I was sitting about 30 yards away from him, but as soon as he saw the Forest cap, he gave me the eye. Bloody hell! What was that about?

Now for something completely different...

I believe it's about time for predicting the English season: Premier League: Football teams wearing brand names will play each others. Some matches will end in a draw. A team will eventually end up on top of the table. Derby, Leicester and Southampton will be relegated. Gordon Strachan will then end about 50 years of continous top-flight football for two clubs in just two years. He will then become the new Man Utd manager, leaving Fabio Cappello without a job.

Nationwide, Division One: Wolves will continue their good run, and eventually be promoted. Birmingham will once again fail to win promotion, despite spending millions on strikers all looking the same. Man City will fail to win promotion, since Kevin Keegan never has been able to organise a defence. Luca Vialli will leave Watford to manage a Serie A outfit. The big surprise to most will be Forest's unbelievable run of 26 straight wins, and Stern John's 39 league goals, including six away at Crewe Alex. In the FA Cup third round, Forest thrash Derby 8-1 at City Ground, with Hjelde scoring an own goal in sympathy with the hapless sheep shaggers. In the quarter final, Forest's impressive cup run is thwarted by some Premier League brand name. Paul Hart has created a miracle at the City Ground; Forest are back in the Premiership without spending a pound in transfer fees this season.

Oh, well. It could happen. Couldn't it? I mean, Des Walker and Nigel Clough are back together at Burton Albion.

May the fiords be with you!