Transcript of Nottingham Forest beat Man Utd at Old Trafford for the first time in 30 years!

Hello, everybody, and welcome back to Garibaldi Red, a Nottingham Forest podcast. I'm Max says your host, and his Forest score 3 at Old Trafford to beat Manchester United for the first time in 30 years there, it doesn't get much better than that. Chris Wood is now our all time Premier League top goal scorer. We will discuss that. Lots more records being broken, of course, throughout this season.

Discuss the game, the atmosphere, and the tears from the Manchester United fans at the end of the game. We'll discuss all of that. First of all, joined in the company by, Sam from the Tricky Tees, website and all the clothes and everything that you're doing at the minute. Sam. Great work.

Good to have you back on, mate. Good to be talking about such a positive result as well. How's things and and and how's the, you know, how's the Christmas rush with the t shirts?

Yeah. Good to be back, mate. Good to be talking about a really positive result from yesterday. And, yeah, the the t shirt rush is the Christmas is going really well, so really overwhelmed with how many people are buying the t shirt. So, yeah, it's great to see, and, check it out if you're not already if you've not seen it already on Instagram, tricky tees.

Yeah. It's going really well, so I can't complain.

Absolutely. You've got the best background out of me and Max, haven't you? There's a nice little Christmas tree in the background. So I like it, mate. Getting in the festive spirit, and the special to that win.

My girlfriend wouldn't let me, have a picture of Chris Wood on top of the tree, sadly, but, I have to do the star.

Just shuffling up there. Doesn't matter. Just just do it when she's in bed or something. She won't notice. Also joined by, Max Scott at Talk Sports.

And, Max, good to have you back on, mate. It feels like it feels like months since we've had you on the podcast. But, you've been a busy man so nice to have you back on. How are you, mate? And and and how's things you must be enjoying enjoying watching Forrest at the minute and and obviously talking about it a lot as well.

Yeah, mate. It's great. And I'm working working with a load of people that add Forrest to go down. So it's, that's quite, you know isn't it? It's nice, isn't it?

To prove people wrong. That's what Forrest have been good at recently. And, yeah, mate. Just, can't quite believe what's happening. I said, I don't think anyone would have predicted this, but I think that's what Forrest are good at.

You know, at their best, Forrest sort of prove people wrong and often, their own fans. So it's absolutely that's absolutely magic, mate.

Yeah. Absolutely. Yeah, it's I'm still waiting for something in Forest to happen this season. So, you know, maybe that was just the negativity in me, but, you know, we're like but, yeah, long may you continue. All good.

Right. Let's get into it, shall we? And, Max, you kick us off, actually. I was there yesterday, just special atmosphere. In my opinion, maybe beat the away end at Anfield.

And I was actually stared at the start of the season going into the season. I wanted 3 things to happen. I wanted Forest to win at Liverpool. I wanted Forest to win at 1 of the Manchester clubs living up here. And I wanted us to beat Leicester to get revenge on on that 4 nil thrashing in the 1st season we went.

So we've done all 3 of those things by the start of December, which is pretty special. You know, Peter Drury actually said on commentary yesterday for I think it was NBC or or something like that. And he talked about it being such a significant result again for generations. And and it felt like that in the away end, Max. So, yeah, just sum up the game for us and and sum up how you're feeling just after, you know, a huge win.

And, obviously, everyone talks about Man United. Well, it's only Man United, but still a big win. You know, they are a top 6 side, so called, if you like. And and and to go there and to to play football and and and to win the game is just fantastic.

Yeah. I mean, Man United beat Everton 4 nil, who, you know, were finished higher up the table than us last season. So I think I think it was they were just 1 above all. You know, we were in and around Everton all season. I think that says a lot.

You can never turn your nose off at beating United at Old Trafford regardless of where they are. You know, you can't compare our journey to theirs. They're still a juggernaut. They're still, you know, 1 of, if not the biggest team in the world. They've got a fan fantastic new manager.

And so while we always look at Man United recently through the lens of them not being at their best and not being at the top, they've still got world class players for outside. And so for us to go there and do that is massive. You know, it just makes me think, you know, you said tongue in cheek earlier, I'm waiting for something Forest to happen. And it made me think that's because there's a generation of us, me included, who have never seen until recently Forrest in the top flight. And so we're conditioned by mediocrity, and we're conditioned to expect things to go wrong.

And, of course, success isn't linear, and progress isn't always linear. It's up and down. And, well, you know, we've added down. We've lost 3 of the last 5 games. You know, heads heads were you know, the head loss was ridiculous on Twitter.

And I look I always remind myself to never judge a fan base based on Twitter because it's just not reflective of what the majority of people think. But some of the stuff people said to me or some of the stuff I read after the loss against Newcastle, after losing to Arsenal, how dare we? You know, as if we are we god given rights go to the Emirates and be 1 of the best teams what's been 1 of the best Premier League teams the past couple of years. And, and the thing that the last thing I'll say is we've we've lost 3 out of the last 5 games and we're still 5th. That's it.

That tells you everything you need to know about where we are at the minute, what a fabulous job Nuno has done. And the the board and the owner of Angelos Marinakis deserve massive credit for really honing in on a transfer strategy, picking the right man for the right club at the right time, getting the right players in. The players love playing for Nuno. The culture's great at the minute. And, yeah, it's absolutely wonderful.

Yeah. Absolutely, mate. No. Just lovely words. And I and I think you're spot on about the generational thing.

You know? We're probably all from that kinda similar generation of Forest funds where we haven't seen much. And and and, Sam, actually, you know, is it do you do you share that feeling with me that you always worry maybe that something Forest will happen, or is it just simply that you're enjoying it so much at the minute? And and almost can you believe it's happening? Because the Premier League, as Max was alluding to there, you know, Forest is still 5th.

We've lost 3 out of the past 5, but it is such an open season almost this year. And and you just feel maybe you you you do start to, not get ahead of yourself, but start dreaming about whether Forrest can do something special this season?

Oh, 100%. I mean, I have been since the start of the season. Like, you you try not to get ahead of yourself, but you it's so hard not to. You've gotta win you've gotta enjoy these highs while you've got them. So dreaming big and and looking ahead of you in the table is what we should be doing right now as a fan base.

Obviously, not getting carried away and not thinking that we're we're nailed on to to get a European spot. But while we're here, we've got to enjoy it. We've got to we've gotta think positively, and we've gotta go out there and just, yeah, enjoy what we're going through right now. I mean, like I said, the generational thing. I grew up kind of in that generation when, as you as you both did as well, where Man United were dominant.

And we all grew up with Man United friends at school that had never been to a game. Gloria, supporting Man United fans. And to to to see this kind of change, like, going into that way an away game at Old Trafford, being ahead of them in the table. And on, like, in form. I know we lost a few, but, like, this this season, like, in form compared to them.

And then going and beating them 3 2 in their own back garden. It's just so good to see, and it's so nice that I can then go and rub it in those glorious supporting Man United fans' faces afterwards. So, yeah, it's it's a good time, and we've got to enjoy it. Like you say, enjoy it, but not quite a classic Neil Warner, but enjoy it by being disciplined. So so, yeah, it's it's all it's all positive at the moment.

We gotta stay positive and just keep riding the high.

Yeah. Absolutely, mate. Spot on. In fact, actually, Sam, let's go back to the first half an hour of the game because even though Forest scored early and it was great to see Milankovic on the scoresheet, actually stood in your way. And I felt quite nervous.

I felt like not that Forest didn't deserve to be ahead because we took the chance, and we did what all you you know, we did what Man United have struggled, recently, which is defending set pieces. And for once, we were on the opposite end of that. Milankovic gets the early goal, which maybe quietens down like, almost quietens the nerves down if you like, but it still felt I thought the first half an hour was a little bit shaky, and then Forest did grow into the game, didn't they? And and maybe that's that kind of mentality from the players of we're away. It's a big game this away.

Old Trafford, you know, we're a bit nervous. We had a bit of a poor resort in Manchester the other night, so maybe that was playing into it. But the first half, and I was quite nervy. Did you agree?

Yeah. It was. It was 1 of them where I it it kind of had shades of forest from the previous couple of seasons where we'd nicked nicked a goal, but then we just got into our shell a little bit and let them play. I mean, they were getting breaking the lines between Armisteadle and defense quite easily. But it's it's funny.

Like, you say, I was nervous watching it, and then I don't know if you've gone back and watched Match of the Day. Match of the Day, it it just seemed like it was all us the whole game. Like, even the first half, like, all the chances that fell to us. It didn't it didn't feel like that watching it. It felt like we were kinda sat back and and soaked up a lot of pressure.

But if you actually turn it into, like, clear cut chances, obviously, they they scored the goal. They have the Fernandez free kick that hit the bar that shouldn't have never been a free kick. But apart from apart from those 2 chances, they really didn't create much, and we could have had another couple of goals in that first half. So, yeah, it was a weird 1. I did feel nervous watching it, but looking back on it now with with kind of hindsight, we we were actually better than I maybe gave us credit for.

Yeah. Absolutely. Talk to us about that goal, Max, because just a thought, you know, a great a great header from Milankovic. And I thought 1 thing that that Forest showed yesterday and maybe the change actually from from last season, especially away from home, is that we're almost capitalizing on teams' weaknesses. And, obviously, United had this weakness with set piece, and that would have been talked about for days before.

But you feel confident now when Forest get a free kick or or or get a corner because you've got the height in the box. And we look at Ward, and we look at players like Milenkovic that airily are are are very good. But then you've also got players like Jotasilva who hits the bar with a header as well, and and he seems to jump for everything even though he's quite small. So, you know, you do feel that you you feel that confidence now almost in the side. And, also, great to see Milenkovic on the score sheet again because just what a player he's becoming.

I I can remember Max, actually. I think we reacted to him signing for Forest, and we both said how, you know, good a piece of transfer business it was, and and and that really is paying off now for the club, isn't it?

Yeah. For sure. I don't know if there's a bit of a lag, but I'm just gonna crack on. I mean, what I I I think you've got to compare the 3 2 loss last season at Old Trafford to the to our victory today. And I think, you know, I love Steve Cooper.

I'm, you know, forever grateful for what he's done. But that the way we won yesterday tells you everything. And then now and the fact that we know what we're good at and we're playing to that, I think, tells you everything about how actually that was the right decision and who knows the right man in charge. And that's partly because of the peep the people that he brought in, Milenkovic to partner Murillo. You know, that header was absolutely fantastic.

We we've never shown that sort of grit. We've never shown that sort of dominance in the box while we've been in the Premier League until now. And I think that's indicative of the progress that we've made. Jota Silva, I was saying it because I was at work yesterday watching the game and, you know, I I was saying to my colleagues at work, this Jota Silva, watch him in the air. The first time I saw it was when, against Liverpool when we were 1 nil up, Balls get sent up and he beats Van Dijk and it goes through to Alanger who should have scored and made it 2 nil.

And that's when I first realized that how great aerially he was. And so finally Forest is sort of and that and that goes both ways. You know, it's not just attacking, is it? It's defensively. We we conceded the most set pieces last season.

We've complained about it all, you know, all year. And, you know, so we've we've got that sort of aerial dominance, which is what Club Black Forest needs. You know, We we are markedly different to the style of a Man City or a Liverpool or even a Spurs who are nowhere near those 2 sides, sort of on paper. I know I know Sydney aren't doing very well at the minute, but, you know, Nuno I I said last night on air, I think Nuno stands alone in that he's not trying to be following the footsteps of Pep and Jurgen Klopp, which is an admirable thing to do, and I understand why clubs want to do that. You know?

People teams like Leicester are trying to do that. Teams like Brighton are trying to do that. But Nuno has a, you know, a really clear way of playing. And what what I'm beginning to think is that's not bad football. You know, defending well, watching your team defend well, soak up pressure, and then go on blistering counterattacks really quick, you know, attacking forward play, that's exciting to watch as well.

In fact, I would argue it's much more exciting than watching teams like City as we have in the past pass the ball along the back 4 for 20 minutes and then sort of slowly eke up and then, you know, get a ball to a Haaland. I just think it's the perfect football for where Forrest are at the minute. And, I think we're seeing perhaps, like, you know, you've got an old school big center forward up top like Chris Wood, who's not particularly agile, not particularly skillful you know or I'm not saying he's not skillful he's not like a Morgan Gibbs White let's say and I feel like we're almost in Forrester in a little bit of a return to the sort of noughties era or you know that Barclaysman era of no nonsense defense and then them scoring when you need to, being dominant in the air, all that sort of good stuff. And for me, I what's wrong with that? It's great to watch as a Forrest fan.

We've we've not seen anything better for decades.

Yeah. No. Absolutely, mate. I'm just, I'm just picturing that image of Sean Dyche by the wall. Yeah.

I keep seeing that Shane about us, especially about games being called off in Liverpool and Everton yesterday. Yeah. Some, even when Forest didn't go behind, but when Forest conceded to United, not quite quickly, but but fairly quickly after and obviously to make it 1 1, do you think, you know, as a fan now, especially more this season than last season, you have confidence that that that Forrest can still go and win the game, and and and you don't feel it'll almost be like total capitulation. We saw last season how quickly Forrest would concede, and then most likely, we concede another 1 and very rarely come back from a losing position or even just conceding to go to a 1 1 or or or or a 2 2 in the game. So that's an improvement, isn't it, massively that you almost have confidence now that Forest can almost beat any side, you know, put up a fight against anybody.

And if we concede, that's fine because, you know, dust yourselves down, roll up your socks, we'll go again.

Yeah. So that stat that Sky put on about, Forrest, I think, that scored the most goals first in the game of anyone in the Premier League, and got on to win most of them, which is a really good sign. It shows how far, like, the defensive kind of work has come and and and that like like Max said, that that Nuno kind of style of football was being solid at the back, and that's that's the basis of everything, and and having those exciting players going forward. And, yeah, it's it's comfortable. Like, it you you start to feel more comfortable as a Forest fan, having those having those periods where we go through games, we're so over pressure.

And you think in recent years thinking, oh god. Here we go. Goal's come in. You can just feel it you can feel it come in. Yeah.

And I just didn't it just didn't seem that way at all. Like, even even when, Fernandez scored at the end, and we were holding on kind of towards the end of the game at 32 thinking in recent years, there's that that we just shipped a couple of goals. Like, I mean, it happened at the Old Trafford last year. We we went tune it up and just kind of bottled it, kinda got into that position, and then didn't think it's it's almost like an ego thing. Like, we didn't we gave them too much respect, thought we're we shouldn't be here.

We shouldn't be in this position at Old Trafford, and and it just kind of we just let them come back into the game. And now we're we've got this kind of confidence, this swagger about us that we we should be here. We should be winning these games and competing in these games. And when we get into the lead, it's right. You're now got you've now got to come break us down.

We've we've got the we've got the points in the bag. You've got to come and get them off us, and we're not gonna make it easy for you. So it's it's not it's just, it's great to see. It really is.

Yeah. No. Absolutely. Totally agree. We'll come back to defensively in a minute.

Wanted to talk about midfield because I thought from afar yesterday, and after actually watching the game back on match of the day, last night and this morning, I thought that that Forest won the game a lot of the time in midfield, and and and that's where we've lost the game recently. And City was a bit different, and maybe you can write the kinda kinda that 1 off. But in in terms of that result against Newcastle, I felt like the turnover of play and the transition during midfield, Forest really struggled with. But I thought yesterday was excellent, and maybe bar Ryan Yates having a having a bit of a poor game again, which we'll get on to. I thought that that that I thought Elliot Anderson was excellent for Forest.

I thought Dominguez was good when he came on. I think he had a great game considering he's had a bit of a poor 1 against City. Just wanna pull up some stats about Anderson. Actually, he created the most chances yesterday on the pitch, which was 3, and he made the most tackles of 5 on the pitch as well as assisting the first goal for Forest. So just goes to show how crucial he is and how much we've missed him actually recently.

Max, we talk we, you know, we have talked about it most weeks when he's been playing, but just how key is he to Forest in this almost, you know, this put not push up, up the table, but but almost, you know, success at the minute and almost how vital is he in terms of that transition of play and winning the ball in midfield.

Yeah. I've said it before. You know, he's he's playing where he should have been playing at Newcastle. And, I think it's great that yesterday, it looked like Nuno really found how to play Gibbs White and Anderson. It it felt for a time when Gibbs White was injured that, you know, Anderson was playing in that position in his position, and he was doing really well in there.

But I think playing him a little deeper and then allowing Morgan Gibbs White a little bit more creative freedom.

Oh, we've lost him. The Wi Fi and the powers that be. He was he was making some really good points then about Anderson. Oh, he's back. Oh, he's back.

Max, we lost you, mate. Sorry.

Yeah. No. Just I think it's a relief that he's this he and Morgan Gibbs White are playing in the same start in 11, and that he's playing a little bit deeper because I think he's got that sort of those physical attributes to be able to do that week in, week out. So, yeah, really happy with that midfield and and the start in 11 at the minute and how it looked how it looked yesterday.

Do you think there's an argument, Sam, about him and Gibbs White playing together? I had someone talk to me about this actually at man Man City Way just in the crowd about they thought that maybe those 2 didn't work well together. But, obviously, yesterday, until Morgan came off, I thought they were both excellent. So does that maybe put that argument to bed perhaps?

Yeah. I think so. I mean, Anderson, like Max said, he is he's just a he's a proper number 8. I know he wears it on his back. He is he can he can do everything.

Defensively, I was so impressed with him yesterday. Obviously, like, he saved that start about him making the most tackles. He was he was fantastic, and, yeah, that was obviously been that conversation about whether he is just kind of a number 10 backup, but it showed there that they can both play. I I actually thought Morgan was a little bit quiet for the like, particularly in the first half. I thought he was struggling to kinda get onto the ball and and, really have a impact going forward.

But he's he's 1 of those players that just needs a moment of Mona magic, and, obviously, he scored scored his goal. Well well, a bit of a hand from the from United's goalkeeper and Ana, but, scored his goal and then put a great ball in for Chris Wood's goal as well. So he's 1 of those players that he he's a mo he he can be a moments player. He can be a player that drives games. And if he's not doing it and he's not driving the game forward, then he can have those moments and and and come up and and put his put his name out there and put his name in lights.

So, yeah, I think they're both of those 2. Well, I'm Chris Ward must be must be I mean, you probably got 11 names that you that should be the first name on the team sheet, really. They're all playing so well. But those 2 in particular have, are really working together really well.

Yeah. Absolutely. And and and, Max, on Morgan Gibbs White, again, we talk about him so much. But maybe he's had a bit of a quiet start to the season, and and maybe, you know, he he he needs to find himself scoring the chances that he often creates and and and finds himself in. He had that big chance against City.

We all talked about it recently, and, you know, that changes the same with the wood 1. It changes the whole complexity of that game. But he had a chance whether, you know, on Ohana gave him a hand or or or what. But Forrest scored from open play, which was good to see given the concerns over that recently. Morgan Gibbs White gets on the score sheet to put Forrest 21 up, and and just a special moment for him as well.

Yeah. Look. I think you've got to remember he has been injured, and he's been struggling with it with that ankle pretty much most of the season. I think I think Sam said it absolutely right. It can be a moment there, but he can also control and drive games.

We've been used to him seeing driving games up and down, sort of making big tackles, getting a crowd up, and that's just not been what he's able to do this season. But I think that's partly because we've been less reliant on him. You know, we've we've invested really well. We've developed as a as a team tactically, and so we don't need to go through him as often. And I think we'll see that we'll see him drive games more and more, I think, throughout the season as long as he stays healthy.

Yeah. Absolutely. And and just on that, Max, and maybe this is a weird thought for me, but when Morgan plays against them as the top 6, if you like, and the better quality teams in the in in in the Premier League, does he, you know, does he's almost does he as a player shine through more than maybe others? Because, for example, it is a difficult game, but Morgan comes out on top as 1 of the best quality players in the side. I'm not saying that anyone had a really bad game yesterday.

Whereas other games, potentially, if you're playing an Ipswich or a Southampton near the bottom of the table, other players that aren't as good as Gibbs White will maybe do you get what I'm trying to say? Maybe just, you know, maybe just almost cover, you know, and and all have good games rather than rather than just Morgan. Maybe. Yeah. I've not

really thought about it, but, you know, if you're playing against, you know, an Ipswich, for example, they might be sort of like, right. We need to lock him down. Whereas you play against the Liverpool or United, they're more focused on what they need to do to go and win the game. And maybe we're in a position where we're thinking, right, how do we sit on Bruno Fernandes? But there's no doubt Morgan Gibbs White is a top 6 player caliber player.

And so, you know, he probably looks like he, like he belongs at that level, which he is at Forrest because we're 5th in the table. I also think that there's sort of a media narrative thing there where everybody knows Morgan Gibbs White is Forrest's best player, whether he's whether he's been bang on his top form at the minute, that doesn't really matter, he is. And so the narrative around him is always Morgan Gibbs. They're always speaking to him after the game. They're always looking at what he's doing.

And when he scores and gets an assist against United, then that narrative continues. So maybe all the players don't get as much attention, and so it feels like he does really well in those games. But, yeah, I think, yeah, that's what I'd say.

Yeah. Absolutely. Let's talk about kind of other players and and especially Jotter still, where we mentioned him earlier. Just to think, you know, the pace and I I wouldn't say that Jotter's probably tech you know, technically the best player on the pitch. However, when he gets the ball and and there was times when Forest broke yesterday and, actually, I think it was Jamie Redknapp, Redknapp highlighted it on Sky quite a bit and and focused about how quickly almost Forest broke.

And and you could tell. And and and with Jota and and and Callum on the wings, you just felt like the pace was back there yesterday. And when Jota got the ball, he continued to run it, and he got some good crosses in the box. You know, he had a chance of an assist if if if if Wood gets at the end of that and scores. And, obviously, that header where he hits the bar, I don't know about you, but his energy and he's obviously started the past 2 games for Forest, which has been quite it's could've been 3, actually, past 3 games.

His energy and his enthusiasm really seems to be to be benefiting the side and and maybe turned a little bit of a poor dip that that Forest were in.

Yeah. I I agree. I think him coming into the starting 11 was a little bit overdue, to be honest. I think he he probably deserved it earlier than earlier than he got. I think maybe a langer Hudson Adoay had kind of got a bit comfortable in there starting 11 spots and and particularly a langer.

I thought we've we've not seen the best in this season so far. And if you've got someone like Jota who's gonna come on, he's gonna run his socks off, he's gonna compete for everything, and he's gonna do everything he can to to get himself into those attacking positions. And he's he's a very talented footballer like like Mac Mac said as well. He's he's good in the air. He's he's just a nuisance, and he's there's not many there's not many players like him in the Premier League, and I think that's what is so good about him.

He's he's a different kind of he's a different winger for most fullbacks and and center half staff to have to deal with. He's not, he's someone that's gonna be hard into a tackle. He's gonna be he's gonna be strong. He's gonna try and take you on. He's gonna put balls in the box.

He's he's don't really he's a he's a boxer tricks. You don't really know what you're gonna get from him. So I think defending against that is must be an absolute nightmare. So, yeah, I think he's he's deserved his spot and, yeah, just hope he can get his his his kind of Premier League goals. I think he deserves it.

Yeah. Absolutely. Do you think he should start every game for Forest now, Max? Do you think he's earned that earned that right?

Yeah. I mean, that's up to Nuno, I guess, is a politically an easy answer to say. I think it's great having Alanger to come off the bench. It's great having Jotas to come off the bench. I think he's deserved a shot.

And particularly, like, against Ipswich, I thought whenever he got the ball he was really direct and, as Sam rightly said, he's a proper nuisance. But he he didn't get it didn't get much service because, understandably, Hudson Odoi is so good at keeping the ball. He's so he's so good on the ball that a lot of it goes down that side. But, yeah, I think he deserves it. And, you know, Alain Guerra hasn't has been slightly off it, and and this is what happens in team in top level football, in team sports.

People come out the side for a bit, not not necessarily because they've had a shocker, but because, you know, there's competition for places and silvers look great as he's come on. I'd like to see him start the next game, yeah, but I think there'll probably be a time where Alanga's ready to come back in and he's looked good in training and he's maybe found found that sharpness and found that form. But what Silva does so well is he just, you know, he's so direct. When Lange gets a ball I just think, hey, knock it past him and go. And I know you can't do that all the time.

Just use his pace.

Yeah. And I think so what Silva's close ball control is probably slightly better. Maybe it's because he's not as quick as Alanger. It's so difficult being as quick as Alanger and being able to keep the ball at your feet like Mbappe, you know, not many other people can do that. So I just think it's great that we've got that again, and it's credit to the board for, you know, the people bringing the players in.

No no 1 knew who he was, and and he's turned out to be now a starter for a Premier League side in the top 5. And, yeah, we've got lot lot lots lots of good stuff going on in that team.

Yeah. Absolutely. Lots of good stuff. Let's talk about Chris Wood because, well, you know, as the Forest Ones were singing in Yesterday in the Away and Chris Wood again, Ole Ole. And actually at halftime when I went to went down into the concourse, some of this, 1 lad was singing, let them know it's crisped to them again.

I thought, that's good. He's very creative. There was quite a few ones yesterday, and there was, 4 Ryan Yates, 5 Ryan Yates. So, you know, I won't sing it, but I'm sure you can do it. And then Ryan Yates and Apatrice.

So it was good Christmas songs, just stay from the the the the the Forest faithful. It was Chris Wood again, meaning he is now the all time Premier League top goal scorer. Brilliant start, Sam. You know, another record broken for Forest this season, and just goes to show Chris Wood proving people wrong, proving me wrong when I slagged him off a year ago, and and just so, so good to see to see him doing what he just does best at the minute.

Yeah. Absolute goal machine. He's so lethal. And every time every time we play, you just you just think he's gonna score, don't you? There's no there's not a it's it's almost, like, if he doesn't score, you're thinking, he's had a bit of an off day, which is mental to think about as a as a for a Forest striker.

But, yeah, he's he's phenomenal. I mean, the goal was a bit of a weird 1.

I'm not quite sure it was

it was I'm not quite sure it was even a even a shot, really. I'm not thinking he was just kinda putting that ball back into an area. And, yeah, United's defenders have got themselves into the right mess again. But, I mean, Chris would won't mind. We don't mind.

And, yeah, he's he's just he's now now that he's kind of getting all these plaudits and and he's he's high up in the goal scoring charts, it's he's he's a focal point now that teams have to worry about, and it plays into our hands so well because the likes of Anderson, Alcidor, Gibbs White, these attacking creative players, all the attention for the defenders is drawn to Chris Woods because he's the target man. He's the 1 that's getting all these goals, and it's just freeing up loads of space. And we're we're we're just looking like a almost like a complete team. I do I do fear that if he was to get injured, I think we are very weak in that area in terms of strength and depth. Awonni doesn't look like half the player that he kinda was last season, which is a real shame because we all know the talent that is there and and and what what could have been had he not kind of had those injury, problems.

But I think while Chris Woods fit, we we look a complete team. I just I do worry that if if that kind of if any if it's an injury or suspension or anything like that, then we almost have to have to take a real different approach to things.

Yeah. Absolutely. No. I can put you great. And I think also and I was saying this to someone the other day.

Forrester an attractive club to come to in January, and everyone talks about how hard it is to sign, especially, you know, a Premier League striker, he says in quotation marks, in January. But when you think about it, you know, Forrester could be sat 5th, 6th. You know? E e even in the top 8, the top 10 by the time the January transfer window opens, and it becomes then an attractive club for for players to move to either from the championship or, from from wherever. So, yeah, just brilliant.

Few comments on Facebook. I'll read out this 1 from Richie. Richie, terrific from Woodby in some company with Brian Roy. Congratulations bringing in so many of those into the game. And as you say, creating, so much to others as well.

Yeah. Completely agree. Max, can can Forest have something special this season? You know, I I I I'm I'm asking everyone at the minute. Yes.

We don't wanna get ahead of ourselves, but the signs are there to say we're 5th on, what, Sunday, 8th December. And providing the results go our way, we could be at the end of, you know, Premier League, you know, this Premier League match day weekend. So can we go somewhere? And can Forest do it this season? Can we almost be that surprise team a bit like Nuno was with his Wolves when he when he got them Europe?

Yeah. We can. Yeah. Surprises and miracles are in our blood. So, you know, crazier things have happened in football.

Forrester have done crazier things in their own history than than just us qualifying for Europe this season. I'm not saying it's a foregone conclusion, but, of course, I think we can. And I think you have to credit the owner for setting the standard and saying it when everyone else thought it were ridiculous. You know? And that that's that's what leadership is, you know?

It's it's setting a standard and then maintaining it and demanding that, and that's what's happening at the club. And things are falling into place, but that it's not all it's not all potluck where we are at the minute. It's hard work. It's the right decisions and the right signings. So why not?

Why not us? Again, I wouldn't be surprised if we, you know, finish 10th or, you know, even 12th. This is the Premier League. I'd still consider that a successful season on the whole, but equally, I could see us qualifying for Europe for sure. And I'm already sort of planning, you know, you know, trips to Bratislava and, you know, all that sort of stuff because that that's that's what that's what we dream of.

And and just to I think it's relevant as well, particularly to what Sam said is, I think we need to buy a striker in January, not because, not to replace Chris Wood, but if he gets injured, Sam's absolutely right. I think, you know, we'd struggle. And so in in the spirit of moving forward, in the spirit of looking up rather than down, buying a a striker, that's gonna sort of compete for a place is is, I think, exactly what Forest need to do in January.

Yeah. Absolutely. Just before we go, I wanted to highlight 1 more key player. I don't think he gets enough praise, which is bizarre because he holds 1 of the 1 of the most important positions on the pitch. You can maybe guess it with, with it being Matt Sells.

Yesterday against United, 5 saves, 4 inside the box, 8 accurate long balls, 2 high claims, and a 100% successful run out. Aerial duels won 10 recoveries and 2 clearances. Doesn't get much better than that. That was obviously 1 of the best records in a while for him during a game. He had thought he had a good game yesterday.

I think his distribution could maybe be slightly better, but that's been probably been really harsh. And I'm not a goalkeeper. But I thought I thought I thought he was excellent, and I thought some of the saves, especially that free kick, was excellent as well. Sam, how important is Matt Sells? And we've talked about it lots on this podcast before.

When he came in, everyone was a bit surprised. Everyone thought, is it gonna be the right option for Forrest? We're desperate from a for a goalkeeper, but isn't it funny that a season later, maybe a year later, in fact, we're not talking about Forest switching goalkeepers every week, are we?

No. Exactly. It's a bit of a thankless job, really. I mean, you what you want to be goalkeepers to not be talking about them. Because if you're talking about them, they're probably making mistakes and they're like, everyone's gonna be talking about Andre Ohnana in the in in the media and the press this week because he he had a bit of a stinker.

He's been really good this season, but he he had a bit of a stinker. Whereas we've not had to deal with that this season at all. Last couple of years, we've had we've had a few, few moments where that's kind of been the talking point, and and it's just nice having a kind of a settled settled keeper. And I think it it kinda goes hand in hand with this new kind of resolute defense that we've got. It's having a strong keeper behind you brings confidence to that back 4 and vice versa as well.

Having a strong back 4 brings confidence to the keeper. And they're all working in tandem together, really well. And the fact that we don't really need to talk about him is exactly what you want from your goalkeeper, like I say. So, yeah, very happy with where we are with him. He's he's solid.

Like, he's like I say, his distribution might not be the best, but keep the ball up in that, mate. That's all all we need.

Absolutely.

1 thing I'd say about Matt Sells, right, is he's just 1 of a long list of Forest players who were either written off previously or are rebuilding their career and flourishing at Forest. So Matt Sells is 1 of them. Ola Aina was a free, you know, a free agent. He'd been playing football I think in France. I mean, you know, we all we all know about the Farmers League jibe.

You look at Ryan Yates, he's been written off by his own by parts of his own fan base for years, and here he is captain in the side and, I think, doing an absolutely solid job. You've got Callum Hudson Odoi again, you know. No 1 really wanted him, and you sort of thought, oh, is he gonna be 1 of those players that you sign? I mean, he's on ridiculous wages, and he doesn't do much. He's been magnificent.

You know, Chris and Chris Wood, everyone ripped him off. No 1 thought he'd be Forest Premier League all time leading goal scorer. So Matt Selsway's just that that's that's what's so endearing about this Forest side, you know, and I think it really reflects the spirit of the city and who we are as fans and what what makes us it such a historic side is that we do things with groups of players that no 1 thinks you can achieve things with, and we do. And so that's what's that's what's so, yeah, great about this size. So what's so magic about it?

Absolutely. Clip that, mate. That was it. That that that was excellent. Say that on Talking Sport tomorrow.

Spot on. Good point. Right. Just quickly before we go, and I'm gonna ask everyone with that we do the podcast with up until, Christmas actually. Where can Forrest be at the start of January?

Where can Forrest be at the start of 2025? Where are we gonna be in the league table? Sam, your answer first, mate.

There's a few tough games coming up, and we we have been on a bit of a tough run as well. I I I honestly think that we we can be top in the top 7, I think, by January. I think that puts us in a really good place to maybe get a player or 2 in in January in key positions and really just go on and build from there. Like, we've we've played the top the current top 4 all away, I think, so far this season. So they're all done.

All those away games are done. And I think that push from January, I think if we're if we're in top 7, I think Europe really is a is a a realistic target that we can aim for. Obviously, it's like I say, it's not a full blown conclusion, and it's still we're massively overachieving for what we saw at the start of the season. But putting us in that, yeah, top 7 spot, I'm gonna go I'm gonna top 7, and I think that from there, we can really make a good good push for Europe.

Yep. Max, what about you?

When you asked the question, I immediately thought top 7. And I'll but equally, I look at, you know, playing Villa and Spurs who aren't having their best of seasons. You know, you on paper are difficult and will be difficult of opponents, but I certainly think and get results out of that game. I mean, we'd be in Liverpool this season. So, I would say top 7 is realistic.

But if it's not, you know, if it's 9th, 10th, we're we're still gonna be really close to those European spots anyway, and so we've positioned ourselves really well.

Yeah. We will be. Boys, thanks as ever. Great great discussion and and, yeah. So nice to be talking.

Who'd who'd have thought we'd have been talking about Forest, bit in the Premier League, doing a podcast? It makes it so I remember we did the Brighton 1 when Forrest threw, like, nil nil. I actually text you and was like, mate, I'm really sorry, but I need you to do this podcast. I was, like, begging people to do it, because no 1 wanted to come on and talk about it. But there we go.

It's all worth it in the end. It makes it all worthwhile, and especially that special moment in the away yesterday, the Forest Fund's in in full voice. And, yeah, it was brilliant. Actually, feeling a little bit worse for wear this morning with my with my voice. I'm not I've been out drinking, but, the voice is nearly gone after after singing that much.

Max, thanks as ever, mate. Hope to see you back again soon.

Yeah. For sure, mate. It's been great.

Good. And, Sam, quick, actually. Give us a little bit of a, a promo. Anything coming up for I mean, how can people get their hands on, your t shirts ready for the for the Christmas rush?

Yeah. Just check me out on Instagram, tricky dot tees, and then the website link's through there. We've got free delivery on this weekend. So, yeah, I'm actually wearing the Gizwan t shirt if you can see that. Yeah.

Lovely. So, yeah. There's there's loads of designs on there. So, yeah, check it out. They make great Christmas presents if you're if you're still, thinking or panicking that you need to get something.

They're, no good Christmas presents. So, yeah.

I would fully recommend it, by the way. I've got 1, and it's my favorite t shirt. I was wearing it yesterday, and the designs the designs just bang on. And that that is a shame. I mean, obviously, there's no bloody you know, I'm not getting some commission or whatever.

But Yeah.

There's something going on there, Max, is it? Yeah. Yeah.

I'll sit you back I'll sit you back at 20 quid later, Max. Cheers. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

Where's my blooming commission, Sam? Cool. I boys, thanks. Great job as ever. Yes.

Give us a like, share, and subscribe on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts. We'll be back this week with more podcasts. And, obviously, before the Villa game as well over Christmas, it might be a bit disjointed, but we'll be with you where we can. We'll do some good podcasts. We will keep, talking about Forrest doing well because it's nice to do it.

And, yeah, have a great rest of your day. Thanks as always for listening. Chris Welt becomes Forrest's all time Premier League top goal scorer. And a fun fact for you, Nuno becomes the 1st manager that played as a goalkeeper in his playing career to ever win at Old Trafford. So that 1 for you as well.

Have a wonderful rest of your day, and we'll see you very soon. You Reds.