Transcript of Forest's Wood & Anderson to punish Newcastle United for transfer mistakes

Hello, everybody, and welcome back to Garaboldy Red, a Nottingham Forest podcast. I might say, as your host, and it is preview time yet again, as we record this on a Friday, ahead of Nottingham Forest clash on Sunday. We're in front of the TV cameras again on sky against Newcastle United. Forest faced Newcastle, currently sat third in the league. It doesn't get much better than does it? And Forest are flying as Chris Wood picks up player of the month today. And Nuno Espirto, Santa Wins manager, head coach of the month as well. So hopefully that curse doesn't get us, but we shall see. Delighted to be joined by Sam Evans from the Tricky Tees business, lifelong Forest fan as well. Sam, good to see you, mate. We haven't had you on actually, really, for a while. So you've been watching from afar and you were just telling me before we started recording this, actually, that you lived down in London and everyone cannot believe how Forests are flying at the minute. I mean, really, how are you feeling as a Forest fan, Sam? And how do you really rate the season so far?

I don't know. It's lost the words a little bit. It's just great. And I just can't wait for the games, the media content, it's just amazing to be a Forest fan. As you say, I'm down in London, so going into work is amazing because everyone knows I'm a big Forest fan. And They always have a comment or two, which is nice. It's nice to be on the positive side of those comments as opposed to the controversial stuff that we've had maybe in the last couple of years. So it's all positive, it's all smiles and just can't wait for another game on Sunday.

Absolutely, mate. It's pretty crazy where we're sat at the minute. And you're right, actually, about the media talk. And everyone was just in an Uber the other week around Manchester. And you get talking about football and the driver asked me who I support and then And the first thing he says is, Forest are flying. And there you go. Fun fact as well, actually, I actually ended up going to a restaurant last night and sat two tables apart from Gary Neville. I did have a little conversation with him, but he wasn't. He didn't really shed too much on his thoughts on Forest.

He's made his bed, hasn't he, now?

Yeah, maybe. In fairness to him, I might forgive him in a couple of years if he comes on the Gary Body Red podcast. In fact, Sam, Let's talk about the great news, first of all, about Nuno and about Chris Wood getting those accolades this morning being awarded. There's a great video on Forest social media. I'd recommend everyone going and checking it out. When we think about Nuno, three games he's been suspended for, but obviously, he still plays an instrumental part of setting the team up and everything like that. Chris Wood being Chris Wood with all of his excellent stats at the minute, it makes great reading. It's very well deserved, isn't it, for both of them?

Oh, yeah, absolutely. You can't argue either way. It makes me laugh that Nuno's... Obviously, he deserves it completely, but out of those four games that he's been nominated for the award, he was suspended for three of them. So, yeah, it just shows you how good the whole backroom staff is and how connected everyone is together. So it's amazing. Fully deserved. Who would have thought a Chris Wood, player of the Month in the Premier League for Forest? When he first signed, who would have thought? There was a lot of doubts, weren't there? But he's absolutely flying, can't miss at the moment. And every time you put a ball in front of him, he just seems to bag it. And it's nice watching Forest play. They've got their... It's almost like a bit of an old-school style at the moment. We've got those pacing wingers that just love lobbying balls into the box of the big man. And it shows that you don't have to just play the pep style of football and passing out from the back that the likes of Southampton are doing and not doing well with and then the lead that did last season.

Have your own identity, have your own way of playing and you can be successful in the Premier League.

Yeah, absolutely, mate. I just think Chris Wood, he did have so many doubts and including myself as well. I won't be afraid to admit and say that I did doubt him last year, but he's turned it around. I think I've mentioned it so much, but I think the key part was when Nuno came in and just almost playing to Chris Wood's strengths in a way and almost changing the style of way, I think has massively helped. Right, let's talk Newcastle on Sunday. Going to be a difficult game. Well, maybe not. Newcastle are 11th. Currently, 15 points. Not a great start to the season. Some Newcastle fans would argue, but they've had a few, we should say, mitigating circumstances, maybe with injuries and things like that. Forest, of course, third, 19 points just behind Manchester City, who are on 23 points in Southampton.

I'll never get tired of hearing you say that.

Absolutely. Loving it. Again, it is a difficult game on paper, isn't it, Sam? But we're at the city ground again. We've seem to have found home form. Actually, before we look at tactically and players-wise, I think it was really important for Forest to always pick up the home form recently, and especially that win against West Ham, not only a statement win that it's three goals, but it's three goals at home, a great display, a great atmosphere, almost showing how important that home form is for Forest to I'm going to turn that around because recently it's been the away form over the home form, hasn't it?

Yeah, which we've not really been used to seeing that way over the last few years. So it's been an odd one, but the atmosphere was amazing on Saturday. The ground was rocking and it It's back to its best. And hopefully it can be like that again for Newcastle. I mean, it's a tough game. They're all tough games. Newcastle are one of those teams that are a bit hot and cold at the moment. I think they themselves and everyone I think everything else has got a bit of a cloud of judgment in terms of just how well they've been doing over the last few years. So you expect them to be up in around the European spot. So when they're not there, it's almost like, oh, what's going on with Newcastle? But they beat Arsenal last week. So They're a fantastic team, and we're going to have to be on top of our game to beat them or draw. But I think at the moment, the confidence flowing through the team, it's just we're only aiming for wins at the moment. So So it's just nice to see.

Yeah, absolutely, mate. Absolutely. And I think it's always a quite close game, isn't it? Between Forest and Newcastle. Can remember for the past few seasons, we seem to always play Newcastle as well, whether it's in the Cup. And of course, that fixture earlier on in the season where Forest I think Forest lost on penalties in the third round of the Carabal Cup, was it now? Second, I can't remember. Second, I think. Yeah, second. So we shall see, but it will be a difficult game. In terms of Newcastle as well, Sam, who do you fear most? I I could pick out a whole list, but who have Forest really got to target the same way that Newcastle will be targeting probably Morgan, Gibbs-White, and Chris Wood at the moment?

Anthony Gordon. He's always one of those. I'm always worried about playing against fast wingers that put good balls into the box, drive in, have shots. I'm always wary about those. And Gordon is a good player. You can tell that by the fact he's got himself into a stable position in the England team. So But then again, we've got the two best fullbacks in the league, so maybe I don't have to worry too much. So we'll see how it goes. I'm less worried about individual players and just more about them as a team. They're a very well-organised team. Eddie Howe's teams always are. So, yeah, it'll be an interesting game. And like I say, hoping it'll be an entertaining one because when you play teams like Newcastle, it can either go one or two ways. I think in the last few games when we played them, it's been open and there's been lots of goals, but it can also be cagey when you play against these well-organised teams. So, yeah, we'll see what happens. But, yeah, I'm hopeful that we'll have enough. What about you? Anyone you fear?

I think Anthony Gordon, Joel Linton is a massive one. Isaac, the list goes on, mate, doesn't it? They've got some bloody good players. But I think in terms of when we talk about style of play as well, something funny you mentioned there about it being quite an open game against Newcastle. I always think, does a game, does a side like Newcastle come into the city ground, suit Forest better with the way we're playing at the minute because we can almost have that counterattacking, almost siding us. But then part of me does say, West Ham didn't really, weren't on the front foot that much. They had chances, but not many at all. Matt Sells was very quiet on Saturday, and Forest almost took the game to them. So you wonder whether away from home, Forest is setting up differently, but maybe at home, the fans potentially expect Forest to be on the front foot. There's always that unwritten rule, isn't there, football about you're the home side, you've got to be attacking, you've got to be on that front foot and in that final third a lot of the time. But maybe it suits Forest better on Sunday.

Yeah, it is that unwritten rule. You do want to see your side on top of teams when you're at home. But it does suit Forest. I mean, from the West Ham game, the only time that they really came forward was when things started that second half, where there was about 10, 15 minutes spell, where you could see they were, Right, we'd ask 10 men. We've got nothing to lose. Let's just go for it. And you saw what happened. We soaked a bit of pressure and then just dismantled them going forward on break. So it seems like doing that to us, that suits us down to a team.

Yeah, absolutely, mate. Absolutely. All right, then. Got to ask you What do you think this Sunday will go. What do you reckon? I think Forest are flying. I honestly think Forest will win. I think it'll be tight, but I'd say 2-1. I don't know about you.

I can see that. I think they might be goals. I think something like I'm going to to Forest. I'm going with.

You heard it? Yeah, I was going to say, get a bet on that.

The odds will be good on that, won't they? Yeah, they would. I'm going for that, and Chris would get a couple. But I just think that Every time I go into games now, I'm thinking, right, the bubble's going to burst and then it just doesn't. So why not just have that positive mindset going into games? I thought that against West Ham thinking, we're on track to win three games in a row if we win here. And then I was thinking, I don't think that. That's going to burst the bubble thing. And it just didn't. And we just carry on playing as we are with freedom and confidence. So I've got nothing, no evidence to suggest that it won't be more of the same on Sunday.

Yeah, absolutely mate. Do you think on Almost, Forest have to be careful of that complacency? And I think I actually heard Nuno answer a question on it last week, but it must be quite difficult for managers to almost drill that, not getting We're too almost overconfident at the moment because the players will look at the league table. They might say that they won't, but the talk is that Forest are flying and we're probably the team that have had the best start to a Premier League season out of everybody. So the focus is on Forest. It's just how the players almost forget the noise outside and really just focus on the pitch stuff and almost don't get too complacent.

Yeah, I always think that when managers say that, we just think about the next game, not getting too ahead of ourselves. But getting carried away and getting confident is the thing that builds momentum. And obviously there's a limit to it. You don't want to be a coffee side and you don't want to win a few games and all of a sudden think you're nailed on to win the Premier League or nailed on to get into Europe. But growing that confidence is the thing that pushes you on further. So I think there's obviously a time and a place for it, but let them celebrate, let them think they're destined for Europe, and that's what we'll strive for. So I just think it's a fine line between the two, but I think just keep the confidence going and grow it and keep them mentally going, and then we'll just win more and more.

Absolutely, mate. Absolutely. James Ward-Prowse is available again this weekend. He obviously wasn't available last weekend due to being loantied and then descending off. Is he a player you'd slot back in straight away, Sam, or would you be tempted just to, if it If it ain't broken, don't fix it?

Yeah, no, I wouldn't put him back in. Yates and Dominguez have been amazing since he's been out. So you've got a real headache, haven't you? If you're new, there's so many players that you could swap in and out because the squad now looks so strong. And strength in-depth is fantastic. So, yeah, I think he's going to struggle to fight his way back in. And don't forget, you've got Ibrahim Sangare on the bench, or not on the Is he recovering or is he on the bench?

Yeah, he's still injured. I think he's returned to some training for us at the minute, but yeah, he's still out.

And then you've got Danilo to come back as well when he gets fit again. So you've got so much competition for places in that midfield that I don't know. And it's funny because next man comes up and almost outperforms the the person behind him. So you saw that when Anderson came in, who's obviously more than gives white, is the focal point of our team, and he's so important to us. But dropping Anderson for the West Ham game was much It must have been so difficult for him to do because he was incredible stepping to that role as number 10 and just was amazing. So you've got that all over the pitch now with Forest, and the competition for places is so strong I think someone like Ward Kraus is... You miss a few games for a silly red card, you're going to struggle to get back in.

Yeah, absolutely, mate. It's probably good to have that competition for the players. One last bit of news to touch on before we go. We've got to talk about Morgan Gives-White. Another England call up for him. There was a lot of talk under Thomas Tuker, whether he'd get one. Obviously, Lee Cazy is still in interim charge until January, I think. I think it's January, isn't it? So maybe Cazy is involved, but it's still good to see Morgan in the side. I I saw a lot of comments on Twitter to say that Ryan Yates was robbed of an England place. And in fact, actually, Sam, before we talk about Morgan, if you were in the England FA set up, would you be looking at a player like Ryan Yates at the minute? Because everyone talks about, oh, it's only Ryan Yates, maybe because he isn't a big name, but he's been excellent for Forest and surely maybe deserves a bit of a chance to play international football.

Yeah, I think if there was anyone in the coaching staff had any connection to Forest from previous years and knew Yatesy, then I think that he'd be knocking on the door because it's clear to see that he is a leader. I mean, his performances as well have been phenomenal, popping up with goals, just proper captive performances. And he's been dragging us through to wins in games. I would like to see it. I know probably a lot of football purists might not want to see it and other fans some other teams. But for what he does for Forest, I think maybe that's what England need, a bit of a player that does the dirty work in his pure passion and someone like that is maybe something that England could do with. I would love it, but I can't see it happening, unfortunately.

Absolutely. And just a word on Morgan gives white as well, Sam. Just great to see him in getting another call up. The confidence he must be feeling at the minute for having that almost call up. He's obviously come back from injury, but another England call up, another chance to show what he's all about. And he's loving life with Forest at the minute as well.

Yeah, so deserved. He's phenomenal. And I'm so happy for him that obviously he came with a lot of money. The price tag on him when he joined Forest was high. A lot of people just spoke about it, but he's paid that back so much and he's deserved his England call up. So yeah, buzzing for him.

Absolutely, mate. Absolutely. We shall see how Sunday goes. Sam, chance as always, to talk about tricky tease. Anything in the making at the minute? I think you've got the Nuno Madri top on at the minute, haven't you?

I have got the Nuno Madri top on yet. So very on point, considering he's just won the manager at I'm the manager of the month. So check out my Instagram, tricky. Tees. I just posted a new one as well yesterday of Ola Olaena's celebration from his goal. So that was fresh off the So, yeah, go check it out. And if you see me around wearing the games, just say hello. And it's nice. I'm seeing a few people wearing them at games now, which is lovely to see.

So thank you. Yes. No, lovely mate. Keep up the good work. I love Oleraina's video last week. And you posted on his Snapchat, didn't he? Him and Callimont had done dancing, and he had a few words for West Ham as well. So if you haven't seen that, go and check that out because it just shows the dressing room atmosphere at Forest and how much of a big character he is. Sam, Thanks as ever, mate. We should get you back on in a couple of weeks, and let's hope that Forest is still third when you are back on. We shall be back Monday. Yes, absolutely mate. We'll do a Leicester top of the league, I'm telling you. I said it. And you know what? I really don't, because I said, if Forest do finish in the top four, I was going to have to do some four. I can't remember what I said now. I'm sure Mark will remember it was clicked up on the podcast or something. We should be back Monday with our main episode because obviously Forest playing on Sunday afternoon. So we'll be back Monday for that. We'll then have a few bits and pieces of content throughout the week.

Sorry, we've been a bit quiet this week. I've been struck down with the dreaded lourgy again, so managed to shake that off. But we shall be back to normal schedules next week. And here's hoping that Forest get a great result against Newcastle on Sunday. If you do enjoy the podcast, give us a like, share, and subscribe on YouTube. Follow us across Spotify and Apple, and we shall see you very soon from third place Forest. Come on, you reds.