Normally agree with most everything you say Smithy, but whilst I do think the S/F will be tough (obviously hope Im wrong and we cruise through), i think its a leap to say Forest will be in the hunt for Europe next season. They might be of course, but Pereira had a really big impact at Wolves before it all unravelled really quickly and whilst Forest have better players than Wolves, who knows which ones they’ll sell this summer. I can’t see Gibbs-White being there for another year.
I think they're better than their current league position indicates, and not quite as good as the Champions League chasing side of last season (mainly because Chris Wood has reverted back to the mean). But given how close the league is this year from 12th to 8th, I think the Pereira version of Forest would be slap-bang in the middle of that had he had the entire season.
As others have said, he did an amazing job to keep Wolves up given their position when he took over (much worse than Forest when he took over in Feb), and then they dropped off again the following season, but I really think that was more to do with the weakening of an already struggling squad - with their best two players in Cunha and ait-nouri leaving last summer and not being adequately replaced. They spent money, but badly (no idea how much of that lies with Periera).
I don't want people thinking I'm saying Periera is a brilliant manager who is going to best Unai. I'm absolutely not. I'm just saying he's better than the two chancers Forest have had in post this season before him, and he's got them back to playing at a level that I think is about right for an upper-mid-table side, rather than being the relegation threatened side they've been most of the season.
We should absolutely have enough to beat them over two legs, and if we don't, there can be no excuses.
