Nottingham Forest fans have a perception that the pundits predicted they would go down from the start of the season, but was that the case?
Now that the Reds have finished 16th and secured their Premier League place for another season, we looked at what was predicted by the likes of Roy Keane, Gary Neville, Jamie Carragher, talkSPORT and the national press to see how accurate they were.
Sky Sports
Roy Keane: I think it's going to be so tough for the three teams. Nottingham Forest have really gambled, they have to get a good start. If players don't bond together then the manager will be in trouble come September or October. I fear for Bournemouth and Fulham. The Premier League is so strong.
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Jesse Lingard has signed at Forest on a one-year deal, is there real commitment from him and the club? He's a talented boy but the most goals he's scored in one season is eight. He was at Man Utd for 11 years and played 150 games only. I wouldn't be hanging my hat on Jesse Lingard.
Gary Neville : It was so poorly played, that one, by both. Why didn't they just do a two-year deal whereby if they went down he could leave on a free? Be a bit smart about it, make it look good for everyone.
Speaking of Neville....
The Overlap
When asked who will go down on his podcast live show, Neville said: "I’m going to go with the three that came up going straight back down.
"The reason I say that is the inequality in terms of the actual money, is pushing it more that way [down] all the time."
To which Jamie Carragher said: "So, Bournemouth, Brentford and I’ve said I want Forest to stay up and I think in terms of Marco Silva.
"I think he’ll make it difficult for teams… I’m going to go – even though I don’t want them to go down – I think Fulham might stay up and it’ll be Forest, Bournemouth and Brentford."
talkSPORT
The station has the reputation of being Forest's biggest critics, but Jamie O'Hara and Gabby Agbonlahor not only said they would stay up, but would be this season's biggest overachievers.
Meanwhile, Martin Keown and Simon Jordan gave their reaction to Forest's prolific spending. We're cheating a bit here as this was said two games into the season.
Martin Keown said: "Forest, you start to look at the chemistry of that dressing room and the number of players. Can they get it right?
"You can only imagine the changing room has had to be extended to get all these players through the door. It's got to work for them. It has to happen quickly. A lot of work for the manager to gel this group. There's a lot of talent. There's good players there.
"There's something magical about Nottingham Forest."
Simon Jordan said: "You can't argue with the quality he(Evangelos Marinakis) is buying. It won't win them things but it will give them a platform to stay in the Premier league and build things. This is an owner who that has done what he said he would. It's a significant amount to spend in your first season but that's the culmination of 23 years in this man's mind.
"It's only crazy if they can't subsidise it or substantiate if they go down and can't sell players. If he's bought well, at a reasonable price they can still get out of the cart.
"The man has a lot of money and a lot of ambition. He wants to embrace the opportunity a great club like Forest can get with Steve Cooper. It is an unedifying amount for a club that has been promoted but that's their business. They've spent all their money from the Premier League and more on transfers.
"I'll always applaud someone who does what they say they are going to do. Then you wait for the moment of adversity. If it goes wrong where will he go? At this moment there's no indication he'll do anything other than stay behind him (Cooper).
"I love Nottingham Forest as a football club. I grew up watching John Robertson and John McGovern. I employed Trevor Francis. I want them to do well. I don't like the state of the transfer market. It's madness what's been spent. "
The BBC
Predicting an 18th placed finish, Phil McNulty wrote: "Nottingham Forest have marked their return to the Premier League after 23 years by making an expensive and spectacular splash in the transfer market.
"Owner Evangelos Marinakis has rewarded Forest's excellent manager Steve Cooper by making the sort of funds available that he hopes will ensure the two-time European Cup winners do not return to the Championship.
"There is an element of gamble as Cooper's brilliant rejuvenation was based on great team spirit and there is always risk in incorporating so many new faces.
"And in Forest's defence, they had no choice other than to embark on this rebuild as seven of the 14 players who took part in the play-off final win over Huddersfield Town have departed, including keeper Brice Samba and a selection of loanees, such as defender Djed Spence, who has joined Spurs.
"Jesse Lingard is the most eye-catching signing of all after his free transfer from Manchester United. He opted for Forest ahead of West Ham and will have a huge responsibility in this revamped team.
"But I worry about the sheer churn of numbers into Forest's squad after the success of last season, even with Cooper's expertise, hence this pessimistic prediction.
"I am saying Forest will go down but think they could draw others into that particular fight and may yet stay up."
Where will Forest finish next season? Have your say in the comments section below
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