A repetitive theme in Sabri Lamouchi’s press conferences of late is that his players are ‘tired’ which he often relays whilst giving his answers back to the media pre & post game.

I get that Sabri’s English is much better than my French and I give him leeway for anything perhaps lost in translation as I know this sometimes sounds worse coming from foreign managers when they don’t actually ‘get’ what they are saying to British Press, but does this ‘phrase’ really help his players as they head for the final run in of their promotion and playoff push?

I always remember the likes of Warnock and Pulis, Managers that you might not like because they don’t play sexy football, but Managers that have proven they know how to get out of the Championship. They say things like ‘our side is the fittest in the league’ and ‘our boys will never stop’ which psychologically when hearing back must put their players in the mindset that they think… “You know what… I’m pretty fit… I can outlast anybody over 90 minutes”….

My thoughts on Sabri’s stance repetitively telling everyone that his players are tired is that his players might start to think it too? You can’t help thinking the effect this has late on in games, perhaps if they weren’t so ‘tired’ Worrall and Samba wouldn’t have made errors against Derby? Toby Figueiredo wouldn’t have switched off at Reading and Sheffield Wednesday? Forest wouldn’t have conceded so many late goals?

Of course everybody’s tired… Leeds United are tired… West Bromwich Albion are tired… Brentford are tired… They’re just not bloody showing it!

Lockdown has had a huge effect on the players both mentally and physically, but Forest are in no worse position than any other team in the Championship. In fact as it stands they’ll be nineteen teams below them willing to swap places regardless of fatigue.

Forest now have the chance (pending results on Saturday) to cruise in their remaining two league games before what looks to be a tough Playoff semi-final encounter (at the moment) against Fulham. Having played the Cottagers only last week there is nothing between the two sides, Fulham might appear to play the better brand of football but the Reds I believe have the ability to hit them on the counter-attack… A point at least verses Barnsley on Sunday will ensure focus remains solely on getting ‘untired’ ahead of the playoffs with a fortnight rest until business starts.

Whilst the Reds need Lolley and Cash back to fitness they need Toby and Worrall at 100%, they need Watson and Sow wrapped in bubble wrap and they need Lewis Grabban firing on all cylinders….

Perhaps if Sabri can lift these players to another dimension of fitness rather than giving hints to opposition that his men might not be able to hack ninety minutes it could give the Reds the extra lift they need going into their biggest matches of the Marinakis era.

So Sabri please stop saying our players are tired and now lets focus on getting our boys fit!

*Article provided by Daniel Peacock (Editor).

*Main image @NFFC the Reds have two league games remaining ahead of the playoffs.