OPINION: 2020 has been some year for Nottingham Forest

Perhaps only a novel the length of Leo Tolstoy’s War and Peace could even begin to adequately summarise and capture the emotions experienced in the last twelve months. Even then, it’d require an appendix the size of Wales and an end-terraced mural regarding illustrations.

In terms of the good ship Nottingham Forest and all that sailed in her, it is best to focus in on a February-shaped window in order to understand the sheer weirdness of the year.

At the end of January, Forest went to rival play-off team Brentford and walked away with three points. This was a Sabri Lamouchi style performance from the very top drawer: resolute in defence, composed and rigid in midfield and supremely efficient at taking their chances. The play-offs were very much on and everything was on the table.

Then February – the shortest of months – kicked in and everything went kaleidoscopic. Just four days after vanquishing Brentford, Forest somehow contrived to lose at humdrum Birmingham. This was puzzling as they even took the lead but the resolution and doggedness that dominated the performance at Brentford vanished in a puff of smoke.

But this team then did what it tended to do best: come back strong after a disappointing result. It promptly went and smote Leeds United at the City Ground. All was well again. This team was back on track and once again, everything was possible.

Then another four short days later, they went and fluffed their lines against Charlton Athletic at home. Actually, it would be more accurate to say they stumbled off stage while their trousers fell down. It was all a little embarrassing and unsavoury.

February wasn’t over yet – one game remained: away at promotion chasing West Brom. A point was salvaged in the final minute thanks to a delicious Matty Cash strike. Even then, Forest almost contrived to still lose the game as the hosts had a winner controversially chalked off. There you had it. Forest epitomised in the space of three minutes: sublime joy closely followed by despair. Zoom further out and February was a slightly larger microcosm of this deeply weird team: undefeated against the now Premier League teams; miserable against a middling and a League One team. Some very highs and some very low lows.

Since then, we’ve had a full house of Forest bingo. A managerial sacking. A new manager. Hope. Despair. Inglorious failure. Unusual signings. Academy youngsters breaking through and scoring goals. Academy youngsters being sold. Reports of unusual goings-on behind the scenes.

The banner in the Trent End proudly proclaims that This Is Nottingham. Perhaps the banner should be amended. 2020: This Was Very Nottingham Forest.