2018/19 has been a season of deja vu for Nottingham Forest, who tailed off in 2019 after a fast start to the campaign under Aitor Karanka. 

The Spanish coach was getting the best out of many players at the City Ground, but a poor run of form leading up to Christmas led to the board forcing him out of the club.

Ex-player and European Cup winner Martin O’Neill took the reigns, and despite getting a few good results along the way, the mood at the City Ground is significantly worse than it was under Karanka. 

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Over the course of the season, there have been a few heroes in red, but also a few players who have disappointed.

Here, we choose one hero and one villain from their 2018/19 season - one player who has excelled, one not so much. 

Do you agree, or have we missed a hero or villain from our selection? Let us know in the comments section below.

Hero: Joe Lolley

After failing in the Premier League with Huddersfield, it felt like Joe Lolley’s best days were potentially behind him, but he has revamped his career at Forest and been one of the best players in the division this season.

He has been the hero of the City Ground on many occasions, and thoroughly deserves the awards he gets (and some that he has missed out on much to his annoyance!)

Villain: Gil Dias 

With all of the money Forest spent on big stars, as well as good loan deals, there was always going to be at least one failure - Gil Dias was this man.

Now at Olympiacos, it is evident that the Portuguese winger flopped at Forest, whereas Joao Carvalho has kicked on despite O’Neill barely playing him at first. 

Therefore, Dias has to go down as the villain at the club this year.