Os Tres Amigos

I write this on the eve of our first home game of the season; optimism hardly dented by a creditable point at the weekend. As an England supporting Forest fan it’s been a glorious Summer of optimism and renewal – rekindling a sense that anything is possible in football and, yes, sometimes even my team(s) can do well. The World Cup semi final exit blow cushioned by Nicholas Randall’s weekly transfer signature pose: Pickford forgotten as Pantilimon signed, the tricky trio of Sterling, Lingard and Alli replaced by an attacking triumvirate of our own.  
 
Of course, the secret fear with packing our midfield with young Portuguese flair players was that they’d flatter to deceive and be a luxury we couldn’t afford. In other words we’d end up in a ‘Nani State’. Pleasingly the early signs are that they’re a steely bunch not afraid to put a tackle in and I was drawing upon the laziest sort of Johnny Foreigner xenophobia. Speaking of which, is everyone totally happy with the ‘Three Amigos’ epithet being used online to describe messrs Dias, Gonçalves and Carvalho? It’s problematic but I can’t help but smile at the thought of a marauding Steve Martin latching onto Martin Short’s pass, taking on a full back and finding the cultured left foot of Chevy Chase. One for the teenagers there, perhaps. 
 
Seeing Forest shoot to the top of the ‘Spending League’ on Sky Sports News the other day gave me an initial pang of guilt – like skipping across a pedestrian crossing on the red man whilst a young family are patiently teaching their children to wait for green. Yet I can’t deny the thrill of seeing us top any ranking and if anyone deserves a bit of luck in terms of club ownership it’s Forest; as a friend of mine always says “its capitalism – no one’s hands are clean”. So we continue to roll in the dirt of transfer speculation, eyes sore and Twitter thumbs tired for that last great signing to take us to the top of the league that really matters. 
 
Last season my 6-year-old son wearily accompanied me to almost every home game, buoyed more by the thought of the half time Haribo I desperately promised (don’t tell his Mum) than anything happening on the pitch. Following the transfer news with me this Summer and – bless him – checking the Portugal page of his World Cup sticker book for any new Forest players, he might even concentrate on the game a bit on Tuesday night. If he does, and we have a good year, his ten quid season ticket will be the bargain of the century. 
 
So, if for no other reason, lads, do us proud on Tuesday night – and don’t let the Haribo win. Come on you Reds! (Or ‘Vem cá, vermelhos!’ if Google Translate is to be believed). 
Gareth Watts (@tokyobeatbox)