Dare to dream Forest. You are equals not inferiors. Knock out Liverpool and it could be a springboard for a return to the Prem STAN COLLYMORE
WITH two of my old clubs meeting in the FA Cup quarterfinals today, I’m going to nail my colours firmly to the mast.
And say that I want Nottingham Forest to beat Liverpool and use victory as a catalyst to them getting back into the Premier League.
Forest are uniquely placed in the game – they’re not the size of a Manchester United, Liverpool or Arsenal, but nor are they a Crystal Palace or Bournemouth.
They have a richer pedigree than those last two clubs, they’re a big outfit who have added much to the fabric of English football, similarly to Leeds United, and it’s amazing to think they have not been in the top flight for north of 20 years now.
Forest have already knocked out two big Premier League clubs in Arsenal and Leicester, and that tells me they even have the ability to win the FA Cup this season.
If they can do that, then I’d hope such success would fast-forward the process of owner Evangelos
Marinakis doubling down on his investment to try to get Forest promoted from the Championship.
Often these days, you’ll hear clubs moaning about cup games getting in the way of league games, but I always felt they were good for getting back on form.
If I’d been a bit off it, a couple of goals in a cup game always seemed to get me back on track and I’m sure plenty of players feel the same today.
From a Forest perspective, there’s no reason for them to be overawed by Liverpool and I really don’t think they will be.
Djed Spence will see the game as another chance to show what he has got, maybe up against Sadio Mane, with several big clubs tracking him.
Warrior
And if Lewis Grabban, the old warrior, plays, he may well see a clash with Virgil van Dijk as one last opportunity to show what he can do against the big boys.
Of course, Liverpool might make one or two changes.
We’re getting to a situation now where talk of the Quadruple is starting to ramp up and that isn’t beyond
Liverpool. But if, having won the League Cup, there’s a competition in which they might make a number of changes, it’s this one and that would play into Forest’s hands.
Even if Jurgen Klopp does send out Liverpool’s first team, it won’t automatically be a hammering, because Jordan Henderson, James Milner and Co will give Forest all the respect they deserve.
So it’s about Forest’s performance and how many of them will turn up on the day and say, ‘This is a great opportunity’.
I’d certainly be looking at Forest with a full season under Cooper, with him working his magic in the market ,to get up and – like Leeds – then stay up
Forest players, fans and their manager, Steve Cooper, are all well attuned to the fact that hosting sides the size of Liverpool should be a weekly occurrence.
And, as I said, hopefully it will be a bellwether for Marinakis to put his hand in his pocket because there’s no reason why next year they couldn’t
really go for promotion. I know there’s still a chance this season but, if not, I’d certainly be looking at Forest in a full season under Cooper.
It would give him the chance to work his magic in the transfer market, to get up and, a bit like Leeds, then stay up.
Today, every Forest player needs to remember they are there as equals, not inferiors.
Traditions
And I’ll be really disappointed if they don’t go out and say, ‘We’re Nottingham Forest, we have our own proud traditions, we have seen two Premier League teams off, now let’s make it a third’.
And if they can beat the team which has won everything there is to win then they have nothing to prove to themselves. They would have what is needed to get promoted.