Transcript of Leicester 1-3 Forest | Chris Wood's on fire!

Hello, everybody, and welcome back to the Garabaldi Red podcast, a Nottingham Forest podcast. We are live on Sunday, two days after Forest. Make sure that the East Midlands is red if there was ever any rivalry, really, there. Forest win 3-1 on Friday night under the lights at the King Power, as Forest currently sit sixth in the Premier League. That depends on the results with lots of games today and everything like that. But since Nuno's first game in charge of Forest, only Erling Haaland has scored more non-penalty goals in the Premier League than Chris would. How remarkable is that? Talk about stats, hey, to discuss all about the performance and what this means for Forest going forward for probably the best start to a season in a long, long time, first of all, joined by Forest fan and podcast regular Dave Asprey. Dave, good to see you, mate, there on Friday night. I saw you didn't have it for the game. I didn't think Robin speaks you, but I saw you from a distance and we gested to each other our prediction after a bit of banter. And yeah, I just thought what a great night Friday night was, first of all, mate, for the atmosphere.

A great night on the pitch and a great night off it. Forest Squad, management, coaching staff, everybody outstanding across the board, and the supporters were a different gravy. I sometimes feel like... I remember the first goal went in when Yatesy scored. I just stood because I wanted to let it infuse into my mind. And then all around was this broiling mass of humanity, like mad particles. It was just the best thing and the noise was phenomenal. Actually, the only thing I would say about the king power, the acoustics were so good in there. It made our lot sound even better. And that three quarters of the rest of the grams never heard anything from it. The stupid drum, obviously, but it was a brilliant night. And It will go down as one of the great nights in recent years for the team and for the supporters, mate.

Yeah, for sure. Absolutely. And we were all there on Friday night, which is nice. Also joined by Sarah Brown. Sarah, good to see you again. You make your second podcast appearance. You were nervous last time, but you did well, and it's nice to have you back. How are you? And I suppose, just how are you feeling about Forest at the minute? Because I can remember sitting by you for all those years when I was younger and in the Championship and all the terrible results that we used to see week in, week out. But it just really feels now that it's just nice to be a Forest fan at the moment.

Yeah, I think every game you get a bit more confident, don't you? Each game you go into, you think, Don't worry, Nuno is going to know how to play this. So yeah, I mean, Chelsea was great, but Friday night was absolutely brilliant. And once we got that first goal, I did really see how we were going to lose it. It's just so good being a I'm a Forest fan at the moment. I'm sat there just with a big smile on my face, living in the middle of derby. It's great.

Behind enemy lines, Sarah.

Like I said earlier, this morning, going to the middle of derby, watching my son I'll play football, and there's a girl there in the langoish, a seven-year-old. You didn't used to see that a few years ago. So I think that really shows the change in Forest to when we were sat there the 23 years in the Championship. Forest definitely is the East Midland. And Two years ago, we watched us lose 4-nil to Leicester, and that's what goes around, comes around football, and that shows you how it does. And yeah, now I'm loving every minute. I can't wait till the next game, and I can't wait till the next away game, Arsenal.

Yeah, I know, absolutely. I was just saying that. I thought I was saying this to my dad the other day, we're going away from home now, not knowing you're going to win. I don't want it to come across, but having confidence that Forest are going to at least put on a good performance. At the end of the day, that's all you can ask for, really, of your professional football players.

You're not going, How many is it today? ' One, two, three, four, five? I don't know. You're going there now thinking it might be a one-nil to them or a two-one, but you know that we're going to We've got a decent display on, and that's the difference.

We know now that this team is robustly competitive. For two years, it's been basically, 'Please don't hit us, ' especially away from home. And then we'll try and nick something on counter attack. All five away games, Forest have been, 'What are you looking at? And getting right up against the opposition. I'm watching Chelsea this afternoon pretty comfortably dominate Newcastle. A billion pounds worth of investment did not dominate Nottingham Forest two or three weeks ago to that extent. We're a quietly good side, and we're winning plaudits in places in the media and wherever else, where I think over the last two years, there's been a bit of grudge and respect based on our history and our tradition and our mythology. But I think we're winning applaud it from serious Observers of the game about what we're doing. And that's to everybody's credit.

Forest now beating in seven as well away from home, if you include obviously the tail end of last season. We are live on YouTube and Facebook. Christian says, I have the We're feeling this is only the beginning. Heady times ahead. Dj Tone says, Chris Wood is on fire.

Your defense is terrified.

It's Robin Wood now, isn't it? Robin Wood is now Robin Wood, isn't it?

Riding through the Glen. That brings back a memory, Sarah.

Let's not turn this into a sing-son podcast today. Dave, kick us off then, really, just with I have a couple more thoughts, particularly on the first half. I thought it was... I thought despite Forest scoring relatively early, it was a little bit of a cagey first half. I was the second half, Forest steps up. We were in control then. But obviously, Chris Wood gets his goal, then Leicester equal eyes. I think that was more of a mistake from Forest, bit of a switch off in particular from Murillo. And it did feel slightly cagey. But again, we're just on about it then. You just feel that Forest have that quality as well now, that you're not worried, really?

I thought the first half could have gone... I thought the score at halftime was fair. I thought Forest... I thought it was a really good watch. For a neutral, the first half was really watchable because both teams played some good football. Obviously, Yatesy puts us in front. There have been chances before, but they've been like... It seemed to me a bit of a basketball match first half. It was like a bit of Forest, a bit Leicester, as if Forest pushed Leicester back, Leicester pushed Forest back. Yatesy took his goal really, really well. Again, our lads making the most of, trying to play too much football in his own box, which is never a good idea. Yatesy took that away well. I thought Vardy's finished Which was fantastic. Absolutely superb finish because he hadn't really been in the game to that point. But that's the class of the guy. He's a quality player, Jamie Vardy. I tell you what, Jamie Vardy had been wearing a red shirt these last 15 to 16 years. He'd be a god at Outcome. So that was I thought it was a really good goal by Leicester. But in a way, I thought the Leicester equalize it probably helped us more.

Again, it was a bit of a ding-rung. It went backwards and forwards. But from the minute, I I think it was indeed, or Mabaddi picked up a yellow card with always the first action and second half. Just thought, Forrest just looked like they're in control of this. And then the big fellow scores that wonderful goal. So And from that point on, it was a complete domination, a total domination. Yatesy missed it. So the big fellow makes it 2-1. He then, with his hard work and his determination and his utter refusal to give up a loss cause, would himself and finish the third goal, his second. Yatesy could have scored, Jota Silva could have scored, Callum hit the post. Elliott then fired that rebound wide, Tywo hit into the side net, and it could easily have been double figures. So I thought it was a good even game up to halftime. And a lot of people around me were of the view that this could go either way. The second half was just... There was only one team in its second half. And how beautiful, emotionally, it was for us as fans in the ground and Boris fans around the world, our team was the one who dominated and who looked like they'd been in the Premier League for quite a long time.

I don't think we've been able to say that about our lads until these past few weeks. So it was just wonderful, Max. Absolutely wonderful.

Absolutely, mate. Absolutely. I've just realized I said that Chris Wood scored the first goal. I see I I'll just keep thinking Chris Wood scores all the goals. But of course, it was Yates. You did, mate. Thank you. I am still on a high from Friday night. But yeah, Ryan Yates doing... I think as well, he gets so much criticism. So whenever he gets on the score sheet, I know it's the whole joke about if Yatesy scores were in the trend and all of that because he didn't use to score that often. But I think when he does get a goal, it almost shuts down the doubters again. Obviously, that week in, week out, maybe continue to criticize him, and they continue to be proved wrong. Sarah, let's talk about Ryan Yates. He had one goal, 87 % pass accuracy, one key pass, four ground jewels, one, and five clearances in the game. They're just a couple of stats from Friday night. I mean, what a performance from him. And he is the type of player you need in a game like that because it can get quite feisty, it can get quite tasty early on.

And you need someone like Yates that's almost forest through and through, don't you?

Yeah, and let's be honest, he should have had two in that game. I mean, that second one, that should have been a goal, shouldn't it? I know he's just great to see, isn't it? And we all want to see one of our own in the game. And I'm just so glad that each season he's stepped up to it because I know that there's a lot of, not haters now, I wouldn't say, but they used to be probably in the Championship. And I've always said, Look, I'm no football manager, but every manager that comes into this club plays him, every one of them. So there's something about him that they see that we sometimes perhaps don't see. But yeah, no, I mean, in this season, he's just gone up another level, hasn't he? He's made the shirt his own. He should have had two on Friday night, and hopefully... I mean, he should have had one on Monday night as well because he hit the inside of the post. So hopefully that's what we're going to see him bring more to his game, a few more goals He seems to... He said that as well. But a lot of people are saying the goals came from mistakes.

But if you watch Ryan's goal, we won the ball back off them. We took the corner, lost it, and then we won it back off them, and then they obviously hit it back to him. But that's because we were pressurizing them in the box. That's what we do. All goals come from some type of mistake. You can watch Messi dink through. You could say, Well, three players should have took him out. ' But I thought he played great. He was all over the place, but it's hard, really, to pick out any one player.

Yeah. I'll tell you what, Sarah, on the subject of Ryan Yates, if you get the chance, go on YouTube and see the interview- I'm on it every day. There was a post-match interview where Ryan Yates was interviewed with Martin O'Neill.

I've watched it. Yeah, he loved him. And that Absolutely. He gave him his debut, didn't he?

Yeah, and him and Roy Keen, when they did their first training session, Roy Keen nudged Martin O'Neill in the elbow, in the ribs and said, Have you seen this kid over here? How he's training? How much he's putting in? How How honest and humble and hard working he is. I think the people who are anti-Reine Yates are like, they want everybody to be an exotic glamor player. If they look back at the greatest team that this club has ever had, there weren't that many glamor players in it, but by God, did they win football matches, and by God, were they difficult to be. Ryan Yates, what I love about Ryan Yates, he's us on the field of play. He's our representative on the field. The other lads, they're all fantastic in their way, but when they sing 'He's One of Our Own', it has actual meaning with Ryan Yates.

But he's got to learn that respect. He's got some big names on that pitch, and I'm thinking, he's still Captain, because at the beginning of the season, I thought, I don't think he'll stay Captain. ' Morgan will probably get it all. But no, he's still our Captain, so he's got to earn that respect from the rest of the players. And they listened to him, and I think I listened somewhere where they were saying that he He was telling where the players should be when we let that goal in. But yeah, no, superb. Absolutely brilliant. I love him. Well, I love them all, to be honest.

Yeah, absolutely.

I love them all.

And they earn our love. They earn our love with the way they play and the way they conduct themselves as a group of young men. And I think they're playing at the moment like a family. I go back, the brawl at Stamford Bridge, you pick on my little brother Nico Williams and you pick on all of us. And it doesn't matter if you cost a billion pound. And I love that at Stamford Bridge. Cole Barmer, he didn't want to join in and look after his team. He sat down. Our lot were like a family and they're playing like that at the moment.

Do you think, Dave... Sorry, since you're up there, mate, but do you think Do you think in terms of the Forest squad, and I think we've talked about it for ages, about having those almost homegrown players in it, but there just seems to be such a likable factor, and you've alluded to it constantly before. But at the end, when the players are coming over and celebrating with the Forest fans, and you've got Kalamod's on the door.

I want to go to the night for them. I mean, God, I was 20 of you. I'd be out of breath in five minutes.

I know Ola either.

His fashion sense is just out of this world.

But I think that's the thing, isn't it, Dave? They're a likable bunch, and you just feel like they really care about the club.

Do you know what, mate? I mean, You watch it and you see there are obviously clear little groups of close buddies in there. Ola, Callum, Anthony. I saw a photo last night. I think it was from Brittany's Instagram. And there was Elliot Anderson, Nico, Morgan was clearly there because it was Brittany's. And I think Anthony was there, and the four of them were there with the girls having a meal. And there'll be other, I bet you, the Brazilian boys like Marillo and Carlos Miguel, the man mounted Marato, who I think... I don't think he ever uses the door. He just walked through walls, that guy. So there'll be groups of them that will be at each other's houses. The 'cleeks' is the wrong word. They'll be the little groups of mates. But when they all come together. There's just a sense. Sometimes, I run a team for 17 years, and every now and then I just felt this is right. The chemistry is right. Why is it right? I don't know. It just feels right. I think at the moment, the best thing you could say about the forest community, if you like that demographic, is that if one of them is not there, you feel like, Oh, I feel sorry for him not to be in it.

I do. I absolutely love every time they sing for Danilo. Now that poor lad is going through... He's been through a lot of pain. He's going through a long rehabilitation. But such is the humanity in this squad. They're saying, We haven't forgot you, brother. We know what you're going through and you're still part of us. You know what I mean? I think anybody... What demonstrated it to me the other night was how good each of the subs was when he came on. Each one of the subs came on without a shred of irritation that they hadn't started the game. Every single one of Ramon Sosa was It was sharp as a tack. Taewo looked to me as if he's getting back to where he was. Chotter Silver just makes things happen, Portugreelish. Nico comes on. Every time Nico comes on, he adds to it. And Marato comes on. Who's going to go against him? You wouldn't drive an arm and car at that bloke because it'll be a write off. To me, it just smacks of unity and harmony, and we're all in it together and we're all singing off the same heem sheet. And that for me, Really is a fantastic thing.

They're worth my time and my emotion, these lads. They're brilliant in that regard.

Absolutely. We will get on to... In fact, we'll talk about Chris Ward. Why not? Let's do it early. And of course, no other player than Erling Haaland has scored more non-penalty goals in the Premier League since Nuno's arrival, which is just mental to say. It's seven goals in nine games for Chris Ward now, and he contributes 60 % towards Forest team goals so far this season. At that second highest, Liam Delatt for Ipswich is just in front with 66 %. And Sarah, when you look at a player like Chris Wood and Skye, we're talking about it quite a lot on Friday night when I watched a lot of the coverage back. And they talk about having that almost sole traditional striker that's returning to this modern game now. And obviously, Haaland is a classic example of that and holding the ball up and the same with Chris Wood. But Wood always seems to get in the right positions at the right time. And every time he gets the ball at the moment, you just have this feeling that it's going to end in the back of the net. I mean, his confidence must just be sky high.

Yeah, I mean, well, he's proved it in his career, hasn't he? He's a striker. He knows how to score goals. He's He's got a very creative bunch of lads behind him that are giving him the service. And I think that's what he said. So, yeah, he's just unbelievable. I mean, up to Christmas last year under Cooper, we weren't really seeing that, were And something wasn't quite right. And I mean, we went to New Castle on Boxing Day and my husband was a bit like driftwood up front, and I went, I think you might score today. Because I'm always the optimist one. I'm like, He said, Sarah, you're delusional. ' I said, 'I like to be a bit delusional. ' So anyway, and he scores three. And since then, he hasn't stopped. He hasn't stopped scoring. He's got confidence. The lads have got confidence in him. And whatever Nuno is doing is absolutely brilliant because he knows how to coach him. And I think he likes a striker like that because he's had them in his past team. So yeah, he's doing everything right and everything he touches. We just need to keep him fit, don't we?

I mean, that's the thing. And sometimes when you're playing like that, I think you just tend to... Everything seems to be just going right, doesn't it? And if it goes right all season for us with him, who knows how many could score and who knows where we could end up. And that's what I'm thinking.

Yeah, all these jokes about Chris Wood getting the golden boot, but genuinely, he could be a contender for it. I'm not saying that really with any any real sarcasm. But why not? Yeah. David, it's a bit of a funny one, isn't it? Because we talked about when it was the transfer window was still open, I can remember the deadline day stream we did and we were guttied that we hadn't got a striker and someone has back up. But you mentioned Tyro getting back to full fitness. We'll come on to him in a short while. But just about the striker situation. If Boris went and got a 50 million pound striker in January, are they really going to beat Chris Wood to start? I just don't think you'd be dropping him at the moment, right?

No, he's just the most... He's an embodiment of the whole group. Honest, hard working, humble, gives the credit to his mates. He's the consummate professional footballer Chris Wood. He traveled to New Zealand for a World Cup qualify. He scored. I think he traveled to Southeast Asia for a World Cup qualify for New Zealand, and he scored. He was back in time for Nottingham on Monday night, looking as fresh as a daisy. He scored. Friday night, second game in four or five days, as fresh as a daisy. His professionalism, his fitness regime, his mental strength is something quite remarkable. I'm one of them. A couple of years ago when he came in and I thought, Chris's best day is behind him. I don't know. ' And the old boy, he's He's a good center forward. He'll get you goals. He got goals at Burnley, Leicester, Newcastle, Leeds. He'll get them for the forest. And it's a year and a day since he went, but I still remember his words. And my dad was right about him. My dad was a proper footballer, a new footballer. You know what I mean? And Chris just... I mean, the thing is, back in the transfer window, I was like, I really love Omar Mahmoud from high track Frankfurt.

And Mahmouch is doing great things for Frankfurt. I think he's the top scorer in the Bundesliga. And he looks a hell of a player. I think at the time, Frankfurt wanted 30 million and Forrest, in a bit of a change from what they'd done the last couple of seasons, went, 'No, we think he's worth 20 million. We're not paying that. ' And it goes to the point that what they see, what we see as support quarters is entirely different from what is seen inside the walls of the city ground, if you like, inside the organization. Because maybe Nuno went, No, I've got Tewo. Chris looks really, really short. Do I really need my Moosh? I think most of us said at that time, we could do with another striker. But you look at it now, I actually think we've got three strikers because I think obviously Woody, he's doing Woody type things. And as you say, his stats for a guy of 33 are phenomenal, really. But then again, you look at Vardy. Vardy is 37, and he's still Leicester's biggest danger. So as these guys age, it isn't necessarily the case that they're going to slow down or lose what they We have, right?

And then you've got Thibault. And I actually think Jota Silva could play as a smaller guy off a big center forward. I think he's got something about him. So maybe Nuno at the time, and he's entitled to because he sees them pretty much every day to know more than we do from our distance. So it would be really interesting. I think by the time we've played Everton on the 29th of December, and that is exactly halfway, we would have played all the other 19. It'll be really interesting to see where we are. There's going to be that Arsenal City United Villa clutching games, end of November, start of December, which will be informative. But it'd be interesting when the window opens again, what will Nuno think, No, I'm all right. I've got Chris, I've got Taewo, I've got little Portugreelish. He might think, I don't need to go and buy somebody. I think there will be... We bought 70 players before because we had to, because we basically came up from the Championship on the back of loan players, right? And now we were overhauling for two seasons. Now it's like, right, strategic, we need one there, one there, one there, and it might be two or three.

And what you see with Forest, what I absolutely love about Forrest is the way they've evolved so quickly. And it's just great to see, Max. Great to see.

It is. It is indeed. In fact, Chris Sutton on 606 Live last night was saying that Chris Wood is the most underrated striker in the Premier League and that the media and everyone isn't giving him his.

Absolutely.

Yeah, there you go. Right. Let's move on and single out some of the key players. And as you said, Sarah, at the start of this podcast, it's hard not to give praise to every single player on that team and the ones that came on as well. But I wanted to highlight a player that I think goes under the radar and he doesn't get enough praise and credit is Dominguez. I just think he is. Love him.

I had always liked him.

I liked him last year. Yeah, and I think quite maybe harshly left out of the squad at the start of the season. But He slotted in and no Morgan gives away, no James Ward-Prowse. I know he's only been here the last few games, but no, those two, no problem, really. Dominguez slots in alongside Yates. I just thought in terms of transition play in midfield, the turnover was excellent, particularly in the second half, and Yatesy alluded to that in the post-match interview with Sky and everything like that. But, Sarah, you talk about Dominguez, and you said that you've always rated him, and he just doesn't really put a foot wrong, does he?

And he's like a terrier, isn't he? He's like, Are you still here? Are you still on my ankles? Will you go away? He's like, What do you do? I thought that last year, lose. I thought, I really like him, and I know he was a bit in and out, but I think he's better starting a game. I don't know what you guys think, but he seems to be better than when he comes on as a sub. When he starts again, he seems to be really getting settled in there as well. I know we were a bit... There was too many gaps first half, I think on Friday night in the midfield, but I think that was probably the I would say that Leicester had set up. I think Cooper had put a few surprises in, but they soon shut that down. And then he just excelled in there. I mean, he's quick, isn't he? He's relentless. He's on the ball. Like I said, he's biting at the heels. Yeah, I really rate him. I like his... I think he's pacey as well. He's fast, isn't he? And he's working really well with Ryan Yates. They seem to be going really well as a pair because he does the things probably Ryan Yates won't do, and Ryan Yates does the things he doesn't.

So yeah, I really rate him. I even liked his blonde hair in the preseason. We were going, Who's that?

Max, can I just come I'm so glad you brought him up. I know Elliot got the man of the match against Palace, and Elliot did some fantastic telefriendly things. He was really telegenic, beating four or five and then beating three or more to get a shot in and that was fantastic. And Elliot has been brilliant since he come in, right? I love Elliot. Nothing seems to faz Elliot. He's Mr. Stoneface. Watch him. He takes it all in his stride. But Nicolas Dominguez on Monday night, I was walking out of the city and I wanted everybody who I came into contact with to know how much I love Nicolas Dominguez. And he's underrated and he's unsung and he was very McGovern-like on Monday night. And he was McGovern-like yesterday, sorry, Friday night. When we had our greatest team, McGovern, often people were, What does John McGovern do? But John McGovern made sure he was everywhere he was needed. Dominguez did it on Monday night and he did it on Friday night. I tell you what I loved by Nuno and Rupet Pedro Silva and the rest of the coaching staff, you lot were lovely against Palace.

You've earned the shirt, go again against Leicester. And that was really lovely to see. It was almost Nuno saying, I appreciate what you did against Palace. You've earned the shirt, right? And more than anybody, Dominguez, to me, again, he's in that... He's one of those players that, if you like, and I'm going to be a snob now, the non-connoisseurs of the game will just ride roughshod over. I'm going to go over there with that guy who He can beat four or five. No, no. You need a blend. Ryan Yates and Nicolas Dominguez give us a blend to allow Elliot to do what Elliott does and Chrissy Wood to do what he does and Callum, and Anthony, and Ramon and Jotter. I think he's had an amazing week.

His energy is amazing, isn't it?

His energy is incredible. Socks rolled down, sleeves rolled up. What an upgrade on Freuler he is. I think He might be underrated elsewhere in football, but he's certainly not underrated in that dressing room or by his coach. So I'm so glad you brought him up, Max. I think he's wonderful in that.

I was worried at the beginning of the season that we might lose him because if he wasn't in the squad And I don't think he was on the bench for maybe the first or the second game, or he wasn't in the squad. And I thought, he might want to go because he deserves a start, really. So I'm glad he's in the mix. Unfortunately, not everyone can play. So it's one of them, isn't it? I love him and I love him and I love him and I love him and I want them all to play. But yeah, I'm glad he's.

Do you know what, Sarah? It speaks to the depth and it speaks to the functioning success of this squad, that our most high profile player, our talisman, he's going to have to win his place back somehow. I mean, Morgan will think... Morgan himself, because he's demonstrating It's it to me, his unselfishness, he'll think, 'Blimey, Ryan's playing well. ' 'Blimey, Nicholas is playing well, ' 'Blimey, Elliot's playing well, ' 'How am I going to get back in the team? And that's what you want, that competition for places. So it's a really- I thought Elliot was superb on Monday night.

I didn't quite think he was as good on Friday night. I don't know. Some of his passes went a little bit. So I don't know whether that's just a consistency in that position that he needs, that maybe Morgan's got... I mean, I think Morgan is really good.

There was the pass to Woody for the second goal.

Yeah, I know. I know he made the assist, didn't he? Yeah. And he could have had three assists on Monday night, couldn't he? Yeah.

Could have had three assists, and Boris could have probably had another two or three, really, We don't think we're still there.

We could have had easier.

Six or seven one would not have flattered as a match, certainly based on the second half.

And the opposition actually said that. I think a lot of the podcasts have said five or six would have been fair.

Absolutely. Just as we're recording this as well, obviously before Arsenal, Liverpool kicks up at half four. Yeah, all the other fixtures have finished. West Ham beat Man United 2-1, Palace beats Spurs 1-0, and Chelsea beat Newcastle 2-1. It means Forest will finish the weekend in seventh, pretty much. Yeah, we'll level on sixth with Brighton, 16 points. Who would have thought that, hey, with this start of the season, Forest sitting in seventh at pretty much the end of October. Absolutely crazy. You slightly alluded to it in about 15 minutes ago now, and we talk about the quality on the bench and the squad depth. But Ramon Sosa and Jota Silva, just to name the two out of the many that came on on Friday night. But just the energy, the enthusiasm, and also the confidence. I know Nuno is not on the sidelines, but the coaching staff and his instructions obviously coming down from wherever he was sat up in the stands. But to have the confidence to take, arguably, Anthony Alanger and Kalimardson-Adoy off two of your most key players, the two most probably deadly players in that final third, and to have the confidence to bring those off for no disrespect to Sosa or to Silver, But two fairly young, quite hungry new players to the English Premier League, I think that speaks volumes.

And I think obviously it just shows the job that both of those are doing on the training pitch, what Nuno must see day in, day out.

Well, I put myself in one of... Sorry, is that Dave's question?

Well, go on.

I put myself in one of the... In the fans, the opposition fans, thinking, thank God them two have gone off. Who are these two coming on? Oh my God. Because they were just pretty good.

Honestly, we have to remember, Ramon is a Paraguayan international. About a month hence, he was playing in a Paraguayan team that beat Brazil in a World Cup qualifier, so he's no mug. And the thing about him, he's such a baby face. He looks about 13. He's even, 'Fabos, fabos', and all this stuff. I've been in a couple of games when he's come on and he's not had enough time to shine. There was one game, I think the Fulham game, he came on, he really played that well. And I think Fulham was a better team that day. But Friday night, boy, when he came on, we were stood there in that corner of the king pattern. Like, blimey, what's he on? He came on and he was doing And I think what he was bought to do, and that is be a direct runner and commit people and create space by it. There's me fullback. I'm going to run at him. I'm going to go that way or that way, right? And he's got really serious pace. Jota Silva. I just think Jota Silva is unlike pretty much anybody else in the sport. He's a bit of a one-off to me.

He's just like... You talk about a terrier, he's like a staffy with a bone in his If Jules, he won't let go.

He's got bounce, I love it.

Every game he's come on, he's affected the game and he's made the game go in a slightly different way. That takes ability and skill, and it takes great character. If you think the only game he's played from the start was the League Cup tie against Newcastle, where he scored a fantastic goal. Our second string were as good, if not better, than Newcastle's first string that night. He's He's got something in that lad. There's a little bit of S Housery about him, let's put it like that, right? Ramon Sosa looks to me like an Olympic sprinter when he comes on. And then let's chuck in Taewo, because I think Taewo because I think Taewo, again, it's palace. He didn't have a lot of time to display his wearers, but I thought, Taewo looked pretty sharp when he came off Chris on Monday night. And I thought to me, something like, 'Oh, Taewo looks like he's getting back to it a bit. It was just a small sample size of Tywo on Friday night. But as you say, Max, this next man up applies to starting elevens if people are injured. It applies within the environment of a game.

And the next man up on Friday night All of them, Chuck and Marato. Marato wanted some tackles. He put a have it into the main part, the King Power main stand. They all basically said, We all like each other. We'll all go that extra inch for each other, and we have got a bench that does not reduce the effectiveness of whichever 11 is on the field. And that is to Nuno's credit. It's to the recruitment staffs credit, I think Ross Wilson has to have a mention in that. And it just smacks, the whole thing smacks of joined up thinking. And it's the best we've been for at least maybe 25, 30 years. That's how good it is at the moment. Cherish it while it lasts. It won't always be great. There's going to be some setbacks because some of the vicissitudes. But right now it's just wonderful, mate. Absolutely wonderful.

It is Indeed. I suppose then, Sarah, and not looking too far ahead because we are football fans and we can get very optimistic. But where can Forest go this season? We've only lost to Fulham so far. We're hopefully going to find some home form. We've got West Ham next. I was about to say they're on a bad run of form, but not now. They've beat Manchester United 2-1, but who can't beat them at the moment?

They're rubbish, aren't they?

Do you know what? I actually think Forest on paper, and I listened to a point last night from a Forest fan saying this, Forest on paper are a better team. But in terms of Forest at the moment, the togetherness and the way we're playing, we're a better team than Manchester United. On paper, they might have better players or whatever, and they might be highly rated on FIFA and all that. But Sarah, back to me question of, where can Forest go this season? Because I predicted us 12th. Many people will predict us mid-table. We'll obviously take wherever, as long as we're not relegated, really. It's going to be an improvement on last season. But can there be a little sneaky underdog this season in the Premier? Can it be Forest?

Well, there always is one, isn't there? There's always an underdog that comes up that no one's expecting. And I listen to the podcast and I listen to the saying at the beginning of the season, Forest are going to go down. Quite a few of them, Carriger had us in a bottom three along with Leicester and Southampton, and it's which is nowhere to be seen because it's which is the new Luton, isn't it, this year? So yeah, I think if we carry on how we are and we don't get too many more injuries, we can keep the spine of the team going. But it seems like if we get an injury, it's okay. Like Dave said, next man up, and everybody wants to play. Everyone wants that shirt on. Everyone wants to get in there. And they all seem to be giving that extra 10, 20 %. So I said this morning, maybe we could get top six, I don't know. But if I'm realistic, I think it's really hard because the big boys will start flexing their muscles. If we can I'll tell you now, though, I think we could go to Arsenal. The way they're playing at the moment, they're leaking some goals, then they're no longer...

We've took their crown off the moment with one of the best defenses in the league. I mean, they had it last year, and I think We're up there, obviously, Liverpool's above us. But yeah, if we keep tight and we keep the defense going and we're still scoring goals with Chris, well, maybe some of the others, why can't we be? Well, we're definitely, I think, I can't say definite anywhere, can you really, in football? But I think 10th, maybe even higher. I mean, like I say, I'm always a bit optimistic, so I'm always going to look on the better side than the bad, but I didn't think we'd go down because I thought we'd do better last year with Nuno, to be honest. Some of the games, especially Brighton, way when we went to that, it was a hard watch.

Dreadful, Sarah.

That was What's going on? Because we won at Newcast, we weren't at home to Man U, and then we just seemed to just go, I don't know whether it was the FFP, and it was like, But I didn't expect this from Nuno. And I'm like saying, I don't really... And there was a bit of moaning in the stands about him And I was thinking, Oh, I really don't want to get rid of him because I've seen what he's done for Wolves. And I know that he didn't do great at Tottenham, but he still had a 50 % winning record, so it wasn't that bad. I mean, I take a 50 % winning record most of the time. So I don't know. I don't think he's been... He's a bad manager, so he certainly knows what he's doing. He's got a great calming influence. And who knows? I mean, he's obviously keeping his feet on the floor. The players are as well. But us fans, yeah, We can dream if we want, can't we? That's what Forrest do. Leicester's had it. Why can't we?

Why can't we? Absolutely. Spot on. It's funny, actually. My dad's had a bet. He had a bet at the start of the season for Forrest to finish fourth. So there you go.

Well, I said to Mick, How much do you think I'll get for the win in the league this morning? He went, Yeah, you're on for it.

Obviously, that is responsible.

If you think about it, what we at the moment are reminiscent of is the Wolves team that finished seventh, two years running. There's so many parallels. Now, I am yet to be convinced we're as good as that Wolfside. But I personally think about halfway, perhaps just below halfway. I'm beginning more and more to think that relegation is not going to be an issue with the provisor that it's really still early in the season. We've only played nine of 38 or whatever it is. But at the moment, somebody asked me what progress would look like for Nottingham Forest, and I said, I'd like to go through March, April, and the early part of May, not be looking over my shoulders and not looking at, like we did last year, what have Luton done? What has Sheffield United done? What has Burnley done? What are Everton doing? So to have some relaxed football at the end of the season would be great. But it's so far so good. Sometimes you get on a roll. West Ham is not going to be easy next week, but there'll be a lot of confidence in that dressing room. I tell you, I went to a fan trust night that Steve Bennett and the supporters, I think the fan board, arranged.

And Ryan Yates was the speaker, along with Nat Johnson from the Girls' Fantastic girl, honestly. She's an absolute credit to the club and to the ladies team. Yates came on and he said, A little had asked him about... It was just before we went to Anfield and this little had asked him, Can we win at Anfield, Ryan? And Yates, he went. He said, Well, mate, it's going to be really, really difficult. And then he addressed it to the room. He said, We now go to places with more expectation than trepidation. Before we were going, let's Let's stay in the game. Let's just not get a good idea. And you know what? Two days later, that was borne out on the pitch at Anfield by a team that's won every other game and who refuse, and the media refused to acknowledge the elephant in the room that, Oh, Liverpool are this, Arnie slots this, but you lost the Nottingham Forest.

Liverpool are this, they're the lot. No, they've booked it out, haven't they?

Yeah, they have. They've booked it out with all the stats. Yeah. So I think there's a definite... I think Nuno, and if it whether it's a change of character from what we were with Steve and Steve's personality to Nuno's personality, but there's a definite, more optimistic vibe about the lads and how they feel. And that is They look now at last an established Premier League team. And it's a good time to be that because I'm telling you, I watch a lot of Championship football and I don't see anybody in the Championship at the moment. That includes Leeds and it includes Sunderland Ireland and it includes Burnley. They're all playing well in that echelon, but I don't see any of them coming up and making an impact on the Premier League. So for Forrest to be in that elite 17, if you like, and be there at We have a fixture in it. We're heading towards it, and that's what I think we need.

I think that's what we're hearing, though, aren't we? People saying, You look like an established Premier League team now. Yes, Sarah. And also, they're talking about Leicester as being this Championship team. They only spent one year in the Championship. So not like us, going up after 23 years, literally. I mean, even Leeds, if they come up, they've only spent two years. They've still got a squad probably worth nearly 200 million. Not like us with 10 million squad and a half on loan. So I see the gap, definitely. I mean, even one year, you can see the gap. But yeah, one win, two wins can change it quite a lot. I mean, if we go in and lose the next two games, it moves you a lot this early on in the season. Yeah, true. Would you say 10 games, don't we? You get an idea. Did we not normally say that?

Yeah, it's normally 10 games, so we shall see. I said to a mate as well last night, so I've got to say on here because I said I'm going to be true to my word. He said, Forest could be a dark horse, somewhere like top six. I said, There's no way. I said, There's no way that Forest will finish in the top six. I said, If Forest is finishing the top six, I said, I'll get Nuno. I said, I'll get Nuno's name tattooed somewhere on me. So there you go. I'm going to say it now and go with it.

On your forehead, Max. No, thanks.

Maybe on my ass or something like that. It's a bit more covered then, isn't it? Well, there you go. It's too late now. There you go. Too late. So I have to be.

I can't unthink of that now.

Sorry, mate. Try and get the thought out of your head. Right. I think that finishes us nicely. We've covered a lot of topics. There's so much to discuss, and we could talk about the win for hours at the start of the season we've had. But as always, there's plenty of podcast you can listen back to, and we will be back as well this week for a West Ham preview and then reviewing West Ham. Nice to have a game at Saturday at three o'clock as well. I feel like even though we did have one a couple of weeks ago. I love Saturday three o'clock. I really don't like it when it's a Friday night or a Monday night. So it's nice to have the Saturday three o'clock back. Keep listening, keep following Spotify and Apple podcasts. Sarah, Dave, thank you both very much. I've actually really enjoyed it. I've been doing it. I've been writing an essay all day for Uni on how the media influence Brexit. So I've really enjoyed this break to do this.

Brilliant. This is far better than that, mate. Forrest might not exit. They might go into it rather than exit it at this rate. Can you imagine?

Do you know what, Dave? I was going to say, if I was writing a 2000-word essay on Forrest at the start of the season, it'd be all finished by now. There we go. I've still got another 800 words to go, so I'm going to go and finish that.

You can't. You're just watching everything, aren't you? Reading everything, watching everything. It's just great.

It is, man. And I suppose- It's a buzz. Yeah, and especially I know David talks about it a lot when he comes on here, but the inside areas passes that Forrest do and release them on YouTube, the latest ones. Brilliant. And in fact, actually... Go on, Dave.

I was going to say, Max, what they do, that matchday pass videos, it was an 18 minute one. They allow us to relate to the lads and to build that rapport and to see what they're like, behind the scenes and how much it means to them and the unselfishness of each to the other in that group. I love the matchday passes. I think they're great. Same with the training videos that they do. A lot of people say, It's just corporate branding advertising. But no, they make me feel that they, as a group of young men, are worth my time, my emotion, and my outlay, and I think that's an important thing.

Yeah, absolutely. We're all watching them thinking, Can I see myself? Always, that's I have seen...

Do you know what, Sarah? I'm like, You don't. The Chris Wood video that came out, I did see. There was a bit where I saw the back of my head, and I think I was talking to the lady behind because Woody had just maybe three one and I go- You were talking, Dave.

Never.

Yeah. I said to this fellow, I said, All right, mate, if I give your lady wife a hug and you went, Help yourself, mate, with three one up, right? And it just summed up the whole atmosphere of the club, you know what I mean?

We were saying that. One last thing. We were just saying, Where is it you can go? And you don't know the people around you, really, do you? You score a goal and they're your best friend and you give them the biggest in the world. I was just coming from halftime when Chris Woodscores, halfway up, this guy just turned around and he was like, Hugging me and everything. And I was like, This is just This is why I love football, because it's just great. We've all got something in common. And you think this is such... I know everyone thinks their own clubs are great, but there's just something special about us, isn't there? There's just something special about us.

There is, absolutely. Yeah, absolutely. And shout out to the media team at Forest. It's Lauma that's the head of content. She does a great job doing those matchday passes, so big up to her. She's been at the club a while and she's followed us through the dark days, so big up to her. And thank you as well to Forest for doing those excellent videos. Right, that's enough. We could talk for hours, couldn't we? Give us a like, share, and subscribe on YouTube. Follow us across Spotify and Apple podcast. Sarah, Dave, enjoy the rest of your Sunday. And three years ago today, Forest has sat 16th in the Championship. Fast forward those three years, we are seventh in the Premier League. Time does fly. Come on, you, Reds.