lost that loving feeling - Cloughie's ideals can restore Forest pride

Sat at my desk deep in the heart of Yorkshire's biggest city, I am surrounded by those who love to chuckle at the present predicament of Nottingham Forest Football Club. I can't blame them. I personally would find it hilarious if Leeds United suddenly resembled a Chinese circus as opposed to a football club and if it happened to Warnock and his band of cheating scumbags I would practically fall off my chair at the mere sight of an unhappy Blade uneasily shuffling past my PC. The fact of the matter is that I have to take the abuse on the chin and more importantly I am prepared to take it on the chin. Why? Because stupid as it sounds I believe in Nottingham Forest, I believe that one day the good times will return.

As I write Gary Megson is preparing for tonight's encounter with Bristol City after what I felt was a hard fought victory over Rotherham. I didn't think we played especially well – in fact we have played better, in patches, in every other league game this season – but there was a difference. The difference, of course, being Jack Lester. I don't think any amount of praise could do justice to the performance Jack put in on Saturday. Yes he got a goal, which is excellent for his confidence, but it was his off-the-ball running and general forward play that was, as ever, superb.

The fact that Russell Hoult had only one relatively straightforward save to make said as much about Jack as it did about our defence. It is great to see him back on the pitch and I think I speak for most fans when I say it is that kind of commitment we want the other 10 to show week in, week out. Jack seems to care the way we do. Whether its about Forest or about football in general is irrelevant, that kind of self motivation and driving passion is something lacking at all levels of football and is a pleasure to see displayed on a pitch by a Forest player.

There are still questions to be answered and tonight's game is a bigger one than Saturday, as a victory, especially a convincing one, really will cement confidence into the minds of the squad and allow us to push on and put our early season slump behind us. I believe many of the questions are about individuals; Wes for example looks out of his depth at this level, which is bizarre after his performances a league higher up and Nicky Eaden, whilst relatively adept defensively appears unable to find a red shirt with any passes.

This is where the one-for-all spirit kicks in; it is something that Megson has preached but needs to ensure the players practice. Individually we may have shortfalls but collectively we can carry them to make them irrelevant but this means playing for each and every one of your team, not simply yourself. Whether they need a spa day out, rock climbing in the Derbyshire hills (watch out for those stray sheep followers looking for their next unsuspecting woolly victim) or simply a beer down the TBI, they need to develop from a set of players into a team.

It does also need to be said that today marks one of the saddest days to touch football and the sporting world, as it is exactly one year to the day that we lost the great Brian Clough. Whilst still deeply saddened by this I feel it is time to look at the great mans outlook on the game and compare it to what we are presented with today. Clough's ethic was to have hard working players who did the simple things well and kept the ball down, they were honest professionals who did not argue with referees or blame others for their shortfalls.

Answering back to the manager, going on strike or sulking as you were only on £100 a week but your mate was on £100.50p would not only not be tolerated but anyone crazy enough to act in such a way would be considered clinically insane and certainly would be once Old Big 'Ead got hold of them. Comparing what was then to what is now I am not only envious of people who got to see this era because it was a time when my team was successful, but it seems increasingly obvious that it was a time when football really was the 'national game' and 'the sport of the people'. It is now the sport of the rich and that does not only apply to the players. Sir Brian Clough, Legend, RIP.