lost that loving feeling - It's good to be back

Well, the new season has just got underway after an action-packed summer break and isn't it great to have domestic football back! Although it has been an extra-long summer with the World Cup being held in Japan and South Korea, it doesn't seem that long since Forest travelled to Preston on the final day of last season. However, after the excitement of the World Cup, everyone is looking forward to the winter months ahead, where we'll be following Forest up and down the country.

It's been an indifferent summer this year. Although the World Cup provided some excitement throughout June, the collapse of the ITV Digital deal has made transfer dealings limited in the Nationwide divisions. Not only that, but it has threatened many clubs with closure. As you all know, Bradford City came very close the going out of business this summer. They were forced to release 15 players and many expect Bradford to struggle because of this. Many other clubs have been forced to offload players in an attempt to reduce debts and Nationwide football is struggling financially because of it. Didn't I say ITV were ruining football?

Even though transfer dealings have been limited throughout the leagues, Forest have been busier than normal. Paul Hart has managed to bring in three new faces and still hopes to strengthen his squad for the long season ahead. Des Walker, Eoin Jess and Marcus Hall on a pay-as-you-play deal, have all signed and as I write this article Forest are giving a two-week trial to Boca Juniors star, Esteban Herrera. The 21-year-old striker is looking to impress Hart and if he does, he may sign a year's loan deal with the Reds. But I expect this will come to nothing and Paul Hart will have to look elsewhere for a striker.

The three signings made so far are great additions to the squad and address some of the weaknesses in the side from last season. In young Dessie Walker, we have a natural leader who will bolster the defence and offer the youngsters some help on and off the field. Eoin Jess should offer more goals from midfield, which we lacked an awful lot last year. And finally, Marcus Hall will offer competition with Jim Brennan for the left back spot. It's no secret that Paul Hart has been watching Hall since Christmas time and he is an extremely talented player who will be pushing for first team place. With one more addition in the striking department we will have a strong enough squad to challenge for a top ten finish at all. David Johnson and Marlon Harewood have started the season in tremendous form, but I still feel we need another striker to boost the squad and provide cover for injuries that will occur over the winter months.

This season Forest should be looking to finish in the top ten of the table, pushing for the play-offs. Last year was a learning curve for the younger players and, now they've had time to come to terms with what is required of them in Division One, they should be more prepared for the long season ahead. Add to that the additions made over the summer, and the squad does look very strong and capable of surprising a few people along the way. Des Walker is a massive signing for the Reds, because his leadership skills and determination are something we've lacked for many years. Don't rule out Forest pushing for promotion this season. If the youngsters continue to play like they did last season and the strikers can score more goals as well as midfield players chipping in with a few, I'm confident we'll be looking at the top end of the table come May.

This campaign will also see local derbies against the sheep shaggers and Leicester returning to the City Ground, something that everyone has been looking forward to for a very long time. This season will prove that Forest really are the biggest club in the East Midlands when we take six points from our rivals. Unfortunately both sides have made decent starts to the season but don't expect this to last when they have to sell the majority of their squads due to crippling debts. That should stop the bastards taking the piss out of us when they're in a worse financial position then we've ever found ourselves in!

So far this season Forest have played three games and are due to play Walsall this weekend. It's been a funny start to the campaign. After our opening day defeat away to Portsmouth and the 2-2 draw at home to Preston, our last game against Sheffield Wednesday was superb. The 4-0 result didn't tell the whole story because we could have scored many more. Wednesday aren't the worst side in the division, but we made them look very average.

David Johnson has been in fine form so far this season, as have Marlon Harewood and Jack Lester, and they ran the Owls ragged. If Paul Hart's team can continue to play like this then we are in for an enjoyable season. The demolition of Wednesday sent the City Ground crowd home very happy indeed and I can't wait for the next home game against Wimbledon.

Our next match against Walsall is a no-go for many Forest fans because we've only been given 500 tickets for a local game. Never mind, we'll just have to go the Coventry in our thousands and if the match is anything like last season's, it should be a cracker.

The next couple of games are important because it could provide us with a good platform to build on. If Paul Hart's men could pick up six points from the away trip to Walsall and the home match against Wimbledon, it would give us a platform. This hopefully will set us up for the many months ahead and take us into next week's away game at Coventry in a positive frame of mind.

Well let's hope that Forest can gain as many points as possible over the coming weeks and start progressing up the table and showing everyone who the biggest club in the East Midlands really is!