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Ep 56 - Brentford Review and Spurs Preview - how far can Forest go this season!
8 Plays30 days ago
Stuart and Mark revisit Mark's crazy pre-season prediction of Conference League for Forest - can they actually make it?
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Transcript
Podcast Return & Reunion
00:00:01
Mark
The Global Sports Podcast Network. Welcome back to the Daily Forest channel. And I am finally back from flu. I feel so nice to be back. It's me, Mark and Stuart. Hello, mate. You've been so long since we've done a podcast together.
00:00:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it's crazy. I think when when we were last on together, forests were looking
Nottingham Forest's Season Start
00:00:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
good. We've had a good start to the season, but now I think we're past that good start and now and into the good season territory.
00:00:25
Mark
Yeah, I think we're all kind of relishing it and panicking at the same time. But do you know what, what I had a thought when we beat Brentford kind of towards that 30 point mark, I was like, well, the good news is we're playing Premier League football next season.
00:00:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, completely.
Confidence in Avoiding Relegation
00:00:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Whatever happens, is and I know we're not mathematically safe, but we're a point away from our last season total. So yeah, there's no way we're going to lose 21 games. but We're completely safe and we can now start to start to dream.
00:00:55
Mark
touching that ward, touching that ward. Imagine if we did lose 20 games. I'd be for you, man. For you, man. But yeah, it's been a great season. And I think one of the one of the key points, obviously, I um ah quite like diving into the analyticals and the gameplays and stuff. And one of the things that's been really reassuring, I know there was one or two moments against Villa that maybe we got a little bit lucky, especially with the 50-50 on cash for Anderson to get that ball at the end to square it back to Alango.
Merit-Based Victories
00:01:19
Mark
But with Villa, and of course with them with Brentford as well, and and a few games this season, like West Ham at home,
00:01:25
Mark
What's been nice is, you know, we've won a lot of these games, but we've deserved to win as well. It hasn't been like we've got through it and survived. We've actually deserved to win. And I feel like, you know, it's quite nice to kind of be in the top half. And I mean, up up to fourth, I know we've had one or two lucky games, but generally we've kind of got there on merit.
00:01:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, completely. um you're're right So some of the people might say, oh, Forester only fourth because City have collapsed or United are nowhere to be seen. But that's not really the case. As you say, we've been winning the games, we've been winning the
Tactical Shifts & Defensive Strategies
00:01:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
games well. At Brentford, there was a possibly unexpected to switch to three at the back that we weren't necessarily expecting.
00:02:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
So yeah, is it's completely, we've deserved to win and win well in every single one of the games. And you mentioned the Anderson on cash tackle. It was what minute 90 plus three, and we were in the opposition's box. And so if you're not in the opposition's box, then you can't win games. So we're really making our own luck, uh, by being positive, being creative and showing, uh, the right tactics, the right game played according to the situation.
00:02:28
Mark
I mean, that tactical switch at Brantford. Let's talk about it because again, genius from Nuna. I mean, when the Liverpool lineup came out, we all kind of went.
00:02:37
Mark
And then we won. But I mean, Brentford, I think one of the things that we all looked at was that, you know, Brentford has scored in the first minute, like four times at home, they've scored like 19 goals in three of the games they've played there. And I think Nuno has looked at it and gone, well, let's attack them.
00:02:52
Mark
Let's see what we do if we go for them. And I know, you know, we managed to survive that first half an hour and it is a different game when the away team score first at Brentford, which hasn't happened that much this season. But how much do you think that tactical change caught Brentford off guard because they're kind of used to being the ones that dominate teams at home, aren't they?
00:03:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I think so. I mean, certainly from the start, this is the first time we've started on as a back three this this season. I know we often go to it as our playing out the clock game, bringing Morata on, but with him coming into the starting lineup for for for the first time this season, it certainly would have not been what Thomas Frank and Brentford would have been practicing before the game. It wouldn't have been in any of their plans, any of their their own playbooks. Yeah, I think we or automatically knew that, OK, by mashing up against them, we're going to make Yates wasn't fully fit. So rather than swapping in like for like, bring in Morato, who has been pushing for that start for weeks now, changed the shape and it didn't ah affect our player, it didn't affect our confidence at all.
00:03:55
Mark
Yeah, it was really good. I mean, a lot of Bonfica fans, when we saw Marato, 18 million quid, um good player. But a lot of them were like, you can have him. He's not very good for us. We're like, OK, fine. Well, we had Vlokodimos, and he was terrible, and you used to love him. So I don't know how much I'd trust your judgment. But he stepped in against Brentford, and they they go with a 4-3-3 this season. They've been known to do 3-5-2 and all sorts. But the three up front, Shada and Bermo and Visser, quick, really good players.
00:04:23
Mark
How much do you think having those three of Marato, Marillo and Milankovitch against them actually benefited us? Because I think the one of the major things is one, they've all got pace, especially Marillo and Marato. But also, they're all big lads as well. So they're going to dominate those three. And I think a lot of the time those three overall, a two central defensive partnership, right?
00:04:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, no, I completely agree with you that our forester, the three M's, um they have different attributes, they have different different strengths. um So as and as a unit, they were they're incredible on on Saturday. and Yeah, you mentioned when we were attacking, so a three or three 1v1 marking almost, but when when we had the ball,
00:05:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Morato as the third centre back meant Morello was basically playing in the field. That's another way of sharing his showing his strengths and showing his unbelievable dribbling and passing ability that he was able to step out of defence even more than usual.
00:05:19
Mark
Yeah, well, I think what worries me from mur is he's so good. And he's so quick that I'm always like, every time you start st dribbling, I'm like, when's, when's it going to get to the point where it's that fast that he loses control of the ball? That's the only thing that I wonder because he's that he's that good.
00:05:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I think that is true. It does look look look amazing, does look incredible, but maybe from his 70, 80-yard dribbles, we haven't yet seen a...
00:05:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
definitive end product, it's not yet ended up in ah in a wonder goal, it's some maybe pre-assists, but it certainly is a way of quickly transitioning from defense to attack, but you're right, maybe that's why it was Forrest who who picked him up from Corinthians and not directly Madrid or Barcelona because there are still so certain things in his game that he needs to work on, but he's going to work on them with the insurance policy of Milenkoic alongside of him, but that's that's perfect.
00:06:09
Mark
Yeah, 100%. I mean, ah ah the the one time he's come close to it was that Crystal Palace Maisie run on it when it was at Sellers Park. Oh, what a goal that would have been. But brilliant, brilliant game at Brentford.
Team Cohesion & Nuno's Impact
00:06:20
Mark
And I think one of the things Nuno has done is created a unit, right? He's created one overall squad. he He's shortened the team, which we've desperately needed. We've talked about this for like 50, as long as I can remember being a Forest fan, even back to the League One days, we're like, we've got to get rid of a load of players.
00:06:35
Mark
and he's done that. He's created a really um small squad, kind of like Maresca's done at Chelsea, actually, we looked at Maresca in Chelsea, and he's he's really got his core 20 and just kind of doesn't use the rest of them. He's like, this is the small squad I want. That's it. Nuno's done the same with us. And the he's really got them all buying into ah the game plan each week, whoever plays, like you look at the goals of the weekend, Aina, brilliant finish, you know, and he's been another one that's been a real standout under Nuno.
00:07:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, completely. I think squad building, you can completely write it. Yeah, whenever you look at those ah terrible or banter accounts on on social media, it's always the forest team bus arrives to training or the Chelsea team bus arrives to training. It's a picture of like a massive double decker bus or three buses in a row, but that's just not really not really the case at all. Like like you say,
00:07:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
We've been clever, we've been shrewd with Nuno like Mariska said, okay, these 20 players on my team, anyone else, get rid of them. And a lot of them like Joe Worrell, Josh Bowler, Jonathan Panzo, all got moves. And the one that didn't, Emmanuel Dennis, he's just not in the squad. There's no point in having an unhappy Emmanuel Dennis hanging around. Nuno's been backed and he said, okay, this is my team. Whoever's not in it, you're not in it. And those who are in it, they back him a hundred percent, Alareno as well. um Peered a lot on left back last year.
00:08:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
In comes Moreno and Aynor's been able to make the right back position on his own. And even with Nico playing the last few games, Aynor stayed right back because that's just where he's in incredible form at the moment.
00:08:05
Mark
Mm hmm.
00:08:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
but
00:08:12
Mark
Yeah, let's just briefly touch on those two points before goes to the ads. um The first one being that, you know, um Niko's come in. ah for Moreno and Moreno was brilliant against Liverpool brilliant for a few games and you're thinking I feel sorry for Nico because again he he's struggling against these two superstars of Moreno and Ina but he's got his chance he's got in I think Moreno's probably injured at the minute isn't he he's not been in the squad but so I was obviously ineligible against Villa as well but Nico's been brilliant he's really really been good and defensively we looked solid I think one of the worries with Nico was that going forward like a bit like Trent brilliant going forward defensively not that good
00:08:47
Mark
But he's I think he's really sorted it out and having Nuno as a coach has probably benefited massively, right?
00:08:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, definitely. um So I think when Nuno got the job um a year or so ago, he sort of, I think Gonzalo Montiel was... played in Nuno's first few games, those wins against Newcastle and United. And even Nuno Tavares got a a run at left back. So Nico, he had to work and to earn his place again towards the end of last season. And now, and you're right, he's maybe recognized that even though before he was known as an attacking fullback, as an attacking fullback, he's not as good as Olaena. So he's had to maybe work on the defensive side of his game because he knows if he's going to get a chance in the team.
00:09:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
then maybe it'll be as more of a defensive-minded full-back. First and foremost, ah but then whilst keeping up his attacking ability to get the assist, the nice wing-back-to-wing-back goal, and open the scoring for us on Saturday.
00:09:36
Mark
Yeah, it's nice from to get his rewards as well. And just final one, Emmanuel Dennis, he got a chance in pre-season, Nuno did play him. And he just kind of disappeared off the face of the earth again. It's clearly an attitude problem. we We heard a little bit about it from when he came from Watford. But what do you think the issue with Dennis is? Because he's not a bad player. Like, I mean, especially in the cup games, he's probably good enough still to get into our squad. Like what do you think is going wrong there? And do you do you think there's any way back for him?
00:10:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I mean, for for me, I would, as I say, you're completely right. he He played in preseason, so that was almost like he was being put into the shop window. That was as proving he wasn't injured to any potential buyer, like he's playing in these friendly, is he he's available, he's at least fit.
00:10:16
Mark
I'm with you, right, okay.
00:10:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then where when it came to the season, um I mean, for for me, I know we, same with fourth on the table, we can't really be complaining that Emmanuel Dennis hasn't been on the bench, but um but what I would have done, I think there was one game I think it was five or six weeks ago, um where there was a couple of injuries and Forrest had six defenders on the bench. So Bolly, Toffolo, I'm a mandelli, Marato and Silver Marrera. And for me, you have to have Dennis in ahead of six defenders, because even though he's not.
00:10:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
anywhere near first choice or even first choice of the bench. He's not a so is a or a jotter. Yeah, there must be something that's gone on behind the scenes. That means he's not even playing at all.
00:11:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's not even in contention for that spot on the bench. So you're right.
00:11:04
Mark
Yeah.
00:11:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, Dennis isn't going to be the difference between where we' we're finishing this season, but I would have at least had him in my 25-month squad.
00:11:12
Mark
Yeah, I mean, I don't know, obviously, what's going on behind the scenes, but I would imagine it it seems like he's not even training with them. Do you know what I mean? It seems like he must have been out. I think he was out on loan at one point, wasn't he? don't know weird anyway, ah we'll we'll go to the first ads, and we'll learn we'll go on to the next fiction next.
00:11:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, he's definitely not in any of the training social videos, no.
00:11:51
Mark
Yeah, it's been good to us then cast us really good. And here we are back on it talking about forest. um Fourth, people have started to clock now that we're doing well this season. We've hit Christmas. um Second half of the season. Can we keep it up?
00:12:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
yes um so let's think of the 17 games so we aren't quite at the halfway point so it let's assume in the next two games Spurs and Everton we've picked up four points from those two games that's ah a bold prediction or a realistic prediction that means after the 19 games we will still be fourth so if you're a fourth or halfway through a season you should be looking okay we want to be finishing between third and sixth maybe you can push on and get one position above but realistically as long as you don't drop more than two or three positions you're having a good season so I know that yeah we would all have been taken 12th or 14th at the start of the season but if you are fourth place in at the halfway mark you've got to be taken seriously and you've got to be looking that okay this is but where we where we are to stay.
00:12:54
Mark
Mm hmm.
00:12:58
Mark
Yeah, okay. Let me ask you this question,
European Ambitions
00:13:00
Mark
right? Europa League Conference League is seventh. I made that prediction at the start of season as ah as a like a, you know, I'd like 14th but you know, it might be a fluke season and it is. Would you take eighth just missing out on the conference league at this point now?
00:13:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, um, because for me, like, i um, I gave it, yeah, again, I was, I think I was, I was the one saying 14th when we did that prediction episode.
00:13:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
So back then' yeah but but but then I would definitely have taken eight, but now no, because it would feel at this point that we've missed out, because let's say, I don't know.
00:13:27
Mark
Yeah, we I think we all did to be fair though.
00:13:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
I say, no, no, I don't want to take eight and we finish 14th after all. Then to me right now, 14th and eighth are the same thing. I'd like us to push on and and get Europe, which is why I'm not going to settle for Justin in the the top half. So no, I would not take hate if it was offered now.
00:13:56
Mark
I'd absolutely I'd actually but I'd actually be happier with conference league than Europa League, I think, which I know sounds daft. But yeah I mean, look at Villa this season, like, and look at Newcastle when they got to the Champions League teams really struggle to keep up with the Champions League.
00:14:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
but
00:14:10
Mark
And especially like we're our squads on on paper is probably still a bit behind where Newcastle were where Villa are now. when they got into the Champions League. So if we did get in, I know we'd probably go out straight away anyway, but it it potentially could really damage our Premier League season next year.
00:14:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I think with, with the conference league, um, we could, it'd be fun, fun for the fans because we'd be playing the so-called lesser opposition. It means we would win more games.
00:14:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Uh, and also, yeah.
00:14:39
Mark
Yeah, i think we'd battle i think we'd be able to I think we'd be able to last the squad longer as well.
00:14:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, definitely. Yeah. Like if we're ifre we're in the champions league and we draw one of the two of the big names, then as you say, like, like really we're doing, because we would play all of our big names and put our all in against the very, very big teams, we would I think then struggle on the Saturday.
00:14:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think Villa have lost every single away game after a Champions League midweek match. Whereas in the conference league, we'd maybe play only six of our 11, our strongest 11.
00:15:06
Mark
Hmm.
00:15:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
So therefore we could rotate a bit more.
00:15:10
Mark
Hmm.
00:15:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
The opposition would in theory be be easier. And yeah, you build up to the conference league and then in the year Europa and the year after the Champions League, I think you mentioned Newcastle, of course, they got straight to the Champions League after 20 years of of no Europe.
00:15:13
Mark
Hmm.
00:15:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
And now this year they're not on Europe at all because they couldn't balance last year's Champions League campaign with maintaining in the Premier League. So yeah, I think there's certainly definitely an argument for...
00:15:30
Mark
I think they were two years ago, mate. I think they've been out of it. I think this is the second season they've not been in the Champions League.
00:15:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, yeah, so I think they need you need to build up like like in anything. We've built up our Premier League team over these three years. We need to build up our European team over two or three years.
00:15:45
Mark
Yeah, 100%, it's a long process, unless you know you're like Man City. But even now, you can't really do a Man City because of PSR. i yeah ah What I wonder for the second half of the season, I know we didn't have Gibbs White, I think for both of these games, for Arsenal away and for Man City away as well. And on paper, they still have a lot better squads than we do. But we got hammered in both. And I know in both games, we happened to be terrible in both games. you know It was probably our weakest performances of the season. but I know we've already got those two out the way, Liverpool's out the way as well. But for these games to come like Tottenham, for example, next at home, how much of a scale is that in comparison with where we are right now, like measuring wise, because if Tottenham come and and the batter is three or four nil at home, you know, you look at the fiction, I know we won at United and we won at Liverpool and we got away with it at Liverpool, but
00:16:39
Mark
you know, if if we're still getting bad half the times by the top teams, do you think that's something that will need to be addressed in January, maybe?
00:16:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it's ah interesting that this Spurs game comes on Boxing Day, so just before the transfer window.
Transfer Strategy & Spurs Match
00:16:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, I mean, I would hope that our plans for January are not going to be too much swayed by one game, but equally they they might be.
00:16:54
Mark
Yeah.
00:17:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, the good thing or the only good thing about the city and Arsenal lost us is how we responded to them by beating United in the next away game after those two. So it showed that we what our heads hadn't gone.
00:17:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
we um hadn't lost our confidence or lost our edge against the big teams, but we haven't actually had that that statement home win yet this season.
00:17:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, you could maybe maybe include the crude Villa as that, but as we said, they were tired from the Champions League.
00:17:28
Mark
Yeah, that's true.
00:17:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
So if we do our home against Spurs on Boxing Day lose badly, then maybe that will make the recruitment guys think, okay, we need five new players, but if we do win and win comfortably, there may be so only two new players. So as I said, I hope the plans already made, but the spurs the way the Spurs game goes could have an oversized impact on our January plans.
00:17:53
Mark
Yeah, I think the the safety net is that PSR is in place so we can't sign five because we haven't got the money. But you know, I think one or two might be good just to to continue pushing off the second half of the season and just to keep fresh maybe. Let's get to the second ads and then we'll, ah we'll look at that Tottenham game because I mean, that's gonna be it that's gonna be a tasty one.
00:18:39
Mark
lovely right tighten them at home yeah I think the issue is Spurs are better away
00:18:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, um, it could go any anyway. um I think they are completely ah unpredictable. They can beat city 4-0. They can lose better at home. So I really have no clue what to what to predict. I know I'm hoping, hoping for, but I i don't know what to accurately predict.
00:19:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:19:02
Mark
that's the issue. The batter Southampton five one as well. and And I know Southampton are poor this season. I mean, this is there's a few like Sheffield United realize as well, they come up, don't really sign enough players and then just go, Oh, well, you know, we tried. Like, what? Like, if you look at their squads probably worse than last season. I'm like, how have you done that?
00:19:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it's crazy how, yeah, as you said, they've you'd think they would have okay they're in only in the Premier League two years ago, they would have gone down, kept one or two stars to then build back properly this year. But now you're right, they're somehow worse now than they were in the championship last year, definitely.
00:19:35
Mark
hundred percent 100%. But Spurs got five in the first half, which is still impressive, even as Hamilton, like, you know, so absent, don't know, they're still an all alright team, maybe not in the Premier League, but that they've still got some decent place to be five nil up a half time. That's that's strong. Madison's on form now, obviously, Brennan's having a good season as well. And so on. Those three behind fit against the lanky dangerous. And would you change from Brentford?
00:20:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah No, um for for for two reasons. So I think even if we hadn't played 3 at the back against Brentford, I would be saying switch to 3 at in the back for this first game. um so So for that I would say we can keep the 11 how it is. um And also it was a great performance. Everyone who was in the 11 who started, assuming their fit, deserved to keep the place.
00:20:25
Mark
Yeah, 100%. Yeah. I mean, one thing you could potentially do if you want to keep Marato in the team, especially with Brennan on the right, you could put Aina on the yeah right hand side of defense against Son. And you could bring Marato into the middle with Milenko, which and put Marillo out against Brennan.
00:20:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, that would definitely be a fun, fun to watch. I mean, to, uh, to quick players, to, um, passionate players. Yeah, I think, yeah, I mean, it would be interesting. I don't think Murillo has even in the last stages of the game necessarily been moved into, into left back. So, but again, in Nuno, we trust if that's how they start on unboxing day, I would trust him. So I would assume, yeah, they've must've worked on that in training and Murillo knows that that's what he's preparing for.
00:21:15
Mark
Yeah, I mean, he would nullify Brennan, to be fair. I mean, Brennan's a good player, but Marilla against Brennan.
00:21:21
Mark
Two Panthers against each other they like rawr.
00:21:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, definitely.
00:21:24
Mark
Be good. and Would you bring Yates back in?
00:21:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Again, still still possibly not. So I'm still not 100% sure whether that Brentford decision was based on Yates not being 100% or whether it was purely predetermined.
00:21:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
um but even then I'm i'm happy really happy with Gibbs-White and Anderson as as a starting two even though we're worrying they couldn't play together early in the season that they're both tens essentially but no they both did really well starting as in the two and then if we are 1-0 up or still in the game then you bring Yates on for one of them like what happened in in Brentford so no I would of course not be sad or disappointed at all if Yates starts but I don't think
00:21:40
Mark
Hmm.
00:21:47
Mark
Yeah, I know.
00:22:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
spurs are necessarily good enough that we need to go overly respectful and bringing in a hard man from the start necessarily.
00:22:15
Mark
Yeah, I think one of the things that Nuno's done really well actually is is converting Anderson into an eight. I know he is number eight actually on Squadless but like his he's kind of initial as he was younger so he was more of a kind of a cam like um and a Morgan Gibbs white or a striker really for Newcastle.
00:22:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah or even a winger like we assumed he would be an option for us on the wing i think it's maybe started the first game of season on the wing and then yeah you're right i think
00:22:39
Mark
Yeah, he covered up there. Yeah. I mean, I think, yeah, I think it was Eddie Hal that initially dropped him back a little bit and Nuno's continued it but I mean, he's been fantastic in that eight kind of the almost like Jude Bellingham for England role and he's he's doing really well with it. He's kind of really tenacious and exactly kind of what we need against next to Yates. He's like two of those like engine rooms, so to speak.
00:23:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I mean, I've not seen so much from Anderson. I mean, like you said, we knew from Eddie Howe and everyone at Newcastle, they rated him there very highly. um He was playing more and more minutes, as I said, in in a variety of roles, whether further forward on the wing or or further back. and But he just hadn't had that run in the team where he knew each week he was going to be starting. And he he's got that now at Forest and we are certainly seeing the rewards. so
00:23:27
Mark
Yeah, 100%, so sticking with the same team for Tottenham then.
00:23:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I think Dominguez off the bench, and he he's now banned. I mean, he could have been an option coming in, but I think he picked up his fifth yellow.
00:23:41
Mark
Uh, fine.
00:23:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
um So, I mean, it might have been a case a case for him, um but now that option is taken away from OCF. For that reason, I'm i'm happy to go for the same 11.
00:23:52
Mark
Yeah, 100%. I love that like you're sticking with the same attacking 11 for Tottenham. I mean, if if you're ever in charge of forest, I'll be watching every week. It'll be fun to watch.
00:24:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think he will. I think he will be a fun, and a fun game purely because yes, Spurs. Don't know how to defend. I mean, Jed Spence, another former forest player will will be playing and he's finally getting a run in in the Spurs team, but not because and trusts him, but because they're down to their third or fourth choice players, a defense. So we have to get into that. We know that, uh, Jed Spence is maybe not defensively the best. We've got a hustler doing a Langer swapping wings could confusing him a lot, I think.
00:24:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
going for the attack is is what we need.
00:24:33
Mark
Yeah, he is going forward, though.
00:24:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, so hear him himm and Johnson down down the wing will be a bit of bit of a throwback.
00:24:36
Mark
And also,
00:24:40
Mark
it is quite I can really hope both of them play on the right, even even if they end up destroying us down the left, I just it'd be just so nice to watch them play together again. ah We feel like proud parents, don't we?
00:24:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, definitely, and definitely.
00:24:53
Mark
Lovely. And I think one final thought we've got to talk about. Molly won't like me for this. But um we've got to mention Alanga.
Player Development & Loan Moves
00:25:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I mean, it's he's played really well the last two games. um I think he was getting a bit bit of criticism for his goal drought or his assist drought, but I think him, yeah.
00:25:09
Mark
hmm. It was just inconsistent, wasn't he? It was really it wouldn't know what Alanga was going to turn up. But I think especially since shotters played well, he's really pulled his socks up in this season, you know, he's now got competition of like real competition in jota. And he's, he's gone away and he's worked on it and he's come back and he's you know, he's he's pulled his socks up and he's he's putting the performances in and we've got to talk about that.
00:25:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, we've got to give him give him full credit. um He's seen Team Jota come in, and what ah even in those first few games of the season, I said Marley was calling for Jota to start each week. He didn't, and when Jota finally got the chance, he played well, but he didn't quite grasp it with with two hands, Jota. He played fine in those games, but not not amazing. And then Alanga came in off the bench, um won the game for us against Villa, and now ah the shirts Lang is to lose again, which is is what we want to see.
00:26:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
We don't want him playing by default.
00:26:03
Mark
Yeah.
00:26:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
We want him playing because he's the best option for us.
00:26:07
Mark
Yeah, I mean, we're we're still waiting to see shot through the middle.
00:26:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, that's another option.
00:26:12
Mark
But like, you're not resting Morgan are you?
00:26:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, Lang range offers together.
00:26:14
Mark
There's no way. No way, but he's it's good because going into January, you know, everyone's putting the performances in so you know, you don't and you know that you don't need to sign team any players and if you get one or two improvements, you know, it's a nice little additional bonus, which is which is good.
00:26:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I think if we had to pick, if we were going to sign two players, we've said before, we're not going to lose to Spurs, so we aren't going to panic by those five players. So perhaps another full back to be the fourth full back in the squad would unfortunately mean the end of Toffolo, but I think we've outgrown him.
00:26:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
So we've got Williams, Aina, Moreno, plus another good, good quality Toffolo upgrade.
00:26:53
Mark
Yeah.
00:26:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then maybe If Tye Way, if anyone like in Ipswich or Southampton wants Tye Way on loan, get his form back, get his fitness back, then I'd be happy with that as long as we then sign an energetic, younger striker as a backup to what as well.
00:27:10
Mark
Yeah, 100%. I also think loaning shows are out and maybe trying out another way around loan might be an option.
00:27:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, again, I would be happy with that. As long as it's two, I think I said this and I was returning to Marley in an episode last week, as long as it's to the championship, Sosa, rather than abroad, purely because he's still learning the language.
00:27:27
Mark
i agree
00:27:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
so I think if we're then sending him alone to Belgium or to Holland or something, then he's gonna be confused and not really settle into England, which is what we're hoping for. So yeah, but Sosa, although it leads, for example, that would be that'll be ideal.
00:27:42
Mark
Yeah, and I think championship is a perfect level for him to get his confidence and learn the English game as well. One dream signing that I would love to sign is Borja Saints from Norwich. He is firing that championship. My life. You watch the highlights. Oh my God, he's so good.
00:27:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, on his goals and assists, like projected, won't he break championship records the way he's going? If he carries it up for the whole season.
00:28:04
Mark
Yeah, I think he's he's like ah he scores and assists like twice a game.
00:28:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it's crazy.
00:28:08
Mark
Mate, he's so good. He looks like, you know, kind of like Zinkernagel, but faster and more skillful.
00:28:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, then maybe we are in a position to be signing the best championship players. um So it wouldn't have been too long ago that um They who wouldn't see Forrest as being a step up because they'd think, oh, Forrest is going to go back down to the championship this season. So why would I join Forrest? But the Forrests are as a minimum going to be in the Premier League next year, hopefully higher. So we are again looking as and like an attractive destination for those up and coming championship players.
00:28:40
Mark
Yeah, him or Jonathan row who used to be at Norwich, who's now Marseille, but again, that's hard. These are all dream signings. In January, we will have or maybe even before January, we'll do it.
00:28:50
Mark
We'll do a transfer special episode. I think the wildcard Wednesday should definitely be a transfer one.
00:28:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
definitely definitely yeah for a bit of fun uh we can throw in uh ones to avoid as well yeah
00:28:56
Mark
Maybe we all come in with our like top three dream signings that we want to bring in.
00:29:05
Mark
wants to avoid anyone Marley suggests no joking. Lovely. All right, well, thanks for joining us, guys. That's kind of a ah wrapping up of the Brentford game and an initial look forward to talking and welcoming back some old friends. And but hopefully with their, you know, injuries at the back, hopefully we'll get a few goals in.
00:29:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, definitely. is So it's sure to be a, it won't quite be like that Boxing Day 1963 beam that goes viral every Christmas with all those six, four, 10, three, thrilling goals on those Sky Sports graphics.
00:29:32
Mark
Yeah.
00:29:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
But you know, I think it will be, there will be a lot of goals. Why not? For four, two for us.
00:29:42
Mark
Yeah, no, no, and ands just need to ring each other. and but rock dude let's just Just don't put a keeper in. We'll just we'll it's just shoot in practice. We'll see who scores more. Perfect. That works. Lovely. All right, guys. Well, we'll ah see you on the next one very soon. And then we'll look forward to what's going to be probably quite a busy build up to January actually.
00:30:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, definitely there's plenty of ah match previews, we've got the epic up against Luton, and Monday Night Game against Wolves, and as you mentioned, the the transfer, Wild Card Wednesdays, and any reviews and ah latest news and rumors on any players we do bring in.
00:30:06
Mark
Oh,
00:30:15
Mark
Yeah, well, we'll slip in the looting game in there. I think every single forest fan is ready to forget about that already. But yeah, it'll be mentioned.
00:30:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Maybe if I only see Emmanuel Dennis wearing the Garibaldi again.
00:30:28
Mark
Yeah, but or maybe in a looting shirt, I won't be surprised.
00:30:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:30:33
Mark
Lovely.
00:30:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Perfect, then ah yeah we'll play each other out and we'll see you later on.
00:30:36
Mark
Oh,