Wednesday could quite simply, not have gone any worse for Nottingham Forest.
From a seemingly unassailable position, Sabri Lamouchi’s side somehow managed to give away what looked like a secure place in the Championship play-offs, as a 4-1 defeat to Stoke, combined with results elsewhere, saw the club drop from fifth to seventh on the final day of the regular season.
It is a bitter pill for many associated with the club to take, not least because it could surely have so easily been avoided, had simple changes been made over recent weeks.
One thing that many fans appear to believe has cost the club over the course of the season, is the reduced game time for Joao Carvalho.
The Portuguese playmaker has found himself increasingly stuck on the sidelines and out of the action over the course of the campaign, and many Forest fans appeared to feel as though bringing him back into the side would have provided the club with some much-needed creative ability.
Here, we take a look at what some of those supporters had to say about the 23-year-old.
Im sure they’ll be evaluated what they’ve done wrong Over the course of the season … lack of creativity/ last min goals conceded have cost us… a few tweeks and better recruitment needed for next season. His way of playing must change criminal carvalho was never used #nffc
— matt wheeler (@mattwheelerdj) July 23, 2020
Went 2bed angry,woke up angrier, only question this morning – has he been sacked yet?Clear the decks, identify an ambitious mgr whose not afraid of playing & embraces creative players like Carvalho,u get ur rewards over 46 games & Lamouchi was well & truly found out. SL OUT #nffc
— mark leonard (@forestlen_10) July 23, 2020
Slept on it. Never like seeing managers sacked & I understand & want stability at #NFFC. Having said that, for me football should be played to win, not set up to lose. It’s negative & boring to watch every week sitting on 1 goal. Not to mention excluding Carvalho, our best player
— Kieran Gaughan (@KieranGaughan) July 23, 2020
Carvalho, Yacob, Milosevic being ignored.
Looking like a bigger mistake with every passing second#NFFC
— Jax (@CarnorJax87) July 22, 2020
If Sabri truly is sorry, then he can begin to build a bridge with the fans by explaining exactly what the issue is with Carvalho? Please. #NFFC
— Stephen Howells (@Albino_Meatpod) July 23, 2020
Can we have a manager that can use Carvalho please? #NFFC Many Thanks 👍
— Alan ⭐⭐(SILKS)🏆🏆 (@SilkyNI) July 22, 2020
