The irony of the Premier League's top clubs faltering at this stage of the season is that Nottingham Forest should have been the ones to take advantage.
After 32 games last season, the Reds were in third place with 57 points. The same points at this stage would have them in third place, two above Manchester United and Aston Villa.
If strengthening the squad last summer could have kept us on the same trajectory, then the depth and quality would have kept us in the race for the Champions League – now confirmed as five places again for the Premier League for next season.
That points tally would put us nine clear of sixth-placed Chelsea and, feasibly, last season’s total of 65 points would probably be enough for a place in Europe’s top competition.
As it is, football – as Liverpool, and possibly Arsenal, fans will confirm – doesn’t always follow logic. And the season we have is the season we have.
Except the opportunity to write our own history, as it was back in August, is still ours to own. Vitor Pereira's steady hand took us closer to a Europa League semi-final last Thursday and Sunday's draw with Aston Villa was a warm-up against our possible opponents should we beat Porto on Thursday.
Pereira is notably the first of our four managers this season to successfully shuffle the squad in a cup game and not be embarrassed.
While hindsight is a wonderful thing, conjecture is also dangerous and each game as it comes is the sensible way to proceed. But if you can't dream in football, what can you do?
Forest's season can still go several ways but the redemption arc is one in which our failings in the Premier League could be redeemed by Europa League glory.
A place in the Champions League and Premier League status retained? The dream remains alive.
Find more from Pat Riddell at The Famous Club
