This article is part of Football League World's 'The Verdict' series, which provides personal opinions from the FLW writers regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

Nottingham Forest's solid start to the season continues, with Sabri Lamouchi's side in 10th place in the Championship following the weekend win over then league leaders Swansea City.

Lamouchi seems to have got a grip over what was one of the largest squads in the league and with Forest now unbeaten in eight in all competitions, the City Ground faithful may just be starting to believe that they are a side in the ascendancy.

So is this the year Forest finally make the play-offs?

We discuss........

Josh Cole

“Despite losing his first game in charge of Forest, Lamouchi has since led the club on a fantastic unbeaten run in the Championship.

“Whilst the season is still very much in its infancy, it would not be at all surprising if the Reds finally break into the play-offs next May under the guidance of their new manager.

“Having recently secured impressive victories over Fulham and Swansea City, Forest are currently brimming with confidence and thus will looking to push on over the coming months.

“Providing that they don’t experience a drop-off in form, the Reds should bring their nine-year wait for a top-six finish to an end in 2020 and thus give themselves the chance of achieving promotion to the Premier League.”

Ned Holmes

“Yes, I really think it could be.

“Forest’s start to the season is for me more impressive than their standing in the Championship suggests.

“The Reds are 10th but when you consider that they have played six of the top eight sides in the division (and Fulham) and taken points from all but one of those games

“I think we’re going to see them climb over the table in the next few weeks as their fixture list looks slightly kinder over that period, with Barnsley, Stoke City and Blackburn ahead.

“12 new players and a new manager arrived in the summer, so I think this is a team that is just going to improve as the season wears on and could be a real play-off contender.”

Louie Chandler

"I think it will be, Forest fans should be excited.

"They are playing some really good football, with Lamouchi building a side capable of playing slick, attacking football.

"But they have also become very streetwise. Swansea looked like they would be tough enough to take a point from the Reds, but they gradually wore them down.

"Their big test will come when they lose again. How they bounce back from that defeat will be a huge indicator of their top-six credentials."