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Daily Forest - Ep 74 - Crossover Thursday - which Forest will turn up this week?
14 Plays16 days ago
Stuart joins Gavin of the Daily Fulham to discuss whether it is more likely the Forest that played Bournemouth, or Brighton, will show up this Saturday.
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Transcript
Introduction and Premier League Return
00:00:02
Speaker
Every club. Every day. The Global Sports Podcast Network. work What's up, everybody? Welcome back to the Daily Fulham Podcast. My name is Gavin Ruffell. And this weekend, the Premier League takes center stage again, after a little break with the FA Cup action.
Preview of Fulham vs Nottingham Forest Match
00:00:19
Speaker
This weekend, Fulham hosts Notting Forest. So it's that time of week where two podcasts become one. So joining me from the Daily Notting Forest podcast we have Stuart. Stuart, how are you doing today? Yeah, we're all good. Gavin, thanks for having me. And yeah, looking forward to getting back to the Premier League after a
00:00:37
Speaker
A scare, we we can call that on Chiwis in Iber Forest and the f FA Cup. It was a scare, so both of these sides came through just about against League One opposition, much changed sides, I don't know Fulham made ten changes, not on Forest, I think, was it ten or eleven? Something like that. The the big hit that's came on towards the end, the likes of Gibbs-White and Chris Wall, what did you make of that display then against Exeter? Because they they did make heavy weather of it, didn't they? Yeah, I mean the general feeling and mood amongst the Forestlands on social media is this is that the good old days of struggling to be at the like so eantter or non cold tuesday night
00:01:10
Speaker
So yeah, I mean again guess we can go into when we come into previewing the Fulham game specifically, in terms of which of those 10 changes we expect to be reversed back to our a league form. But yeah, it was just a ah ah show that if we are to be looking for European football next season, and yeah, I think we should at least get some form of European football right now.
FA Cup Strategies for Mid-Table Teams
00:01:32
Speaker
It just shows that perhaps those second string players now aren't necessarily of the required standard to become a second string player for a european tie in the midweek So it probably showed a lack of depth and maybe, I know it's, we don't want to panic too much, maybe a decision not to sign anyone in the transfer window might come back to bite us. But again, more on that later.
00:01:57
Speaker
How do you think Nuno sees the FA Cup in terms of priority? I feel like the FA Cup represents an opportunity for a lot of clubs this season because there's a lot of the big hit that's currently out. I think for the likes of Fulham and Bournemouth and Brighton and Nottingham Forest there's potentially an opportunity to lift some silverware which they haven't done in a long time while Fulham haven't ever lifted major silverware. So do you think Nuno, now that they're in the last 16, they've got a home tie against ah Ipswich, he'll draw more of a focus on that and start to play as his best players? It's really interesting, to be honest, guy the short answer is
00:02:36
Speaker
we don't really know ah what newno priorities are for for the fa cap because in the first two matches this season so Luton the day after they sacked Rob Edwards then exited this midweek have been teams who have on paper been far, far weaker than, than Forest east have for even the first second string so many of that Ipswich game is, again with no disrespect to Luton or Exeter it's our first test in the FA Cup, and I think the team selection there will really give us a hint on what he really sees of the FA Cup. If it's, again, 10-11 changes against an Ipswich team who ah we were runners close to the city ground earlier in the season, then I did i think that would show that he doesn't really care about the Cup at all. But if they do start in the start against Ipswich, then it'll be our clue that, again, that maybe he does
00:03:33
Speaker
CC Wayne with silverware, because there's a, again, back to back to film, I think probably film is best chance to get into Europe this season would be by winning the FA Cup. Whereas forest because the Champions League is so tantalizingly close is that it's a possibility. I just don't i think We'd be more likely to risk players because we wouldn't want to miss out on the Champions League, which would bring, I know we don't always like talking about money, but that would bring a transformative amount of money, a Champions League qualification.
Nottingham Forest's Transfer Window Insights
00:04:02
Speaker
Yes, unfortunately, if when Ipswich comes around in the cup, there's a couple of players with knocks. I think we would prioritise the league, whereas Fulham should be prioritising the FA Cup, would be the way I'd say it.
00:04:13
Speaker
Yeah, I definitely agree with you. And it's crazy to think that Not In Forest at this stage, they're the highest ranked club left in the competition. I just want to come back to something you touched upon there, maybe the lack of squad depth and Not In Forest were, they weren't busy in the transfer window. There were a lot of clubs that ah had very quiet windows, unlike Not In Forest, what we've seen in the past. But is that what you've what you would have expected and then? No, I mean,
00:04:36
Speaker
of course for us to have this reputation which isn't an unfair reputation of um signing lots and lots of players. So although our recruitment in in the summer was measured there at least was still five or six signings who came in. So yeah I think it was a surprise there were no no new first team signings.
00:04:59
Speaker
um And yeah, so again, we completely get that. The team spirit at the club is is very good. And with the club, if they do qualify for Europe, we'll be in a stronger position for long-term acquisitions in the summer.
Key Player Contributions and Future Prospects
00:05:12
Speaker
But no, I think with yeah the team and the further injuries we suffered on on Tuesday, do show that maybe and possibly not signing a play might have been a a mistake.
00:05:26
Speaker
Do you think then, because of the success they've enjoyed in the season so far, Nuno thinks that possibly any new additions might upset the Apple Car and he's just happy to stick with that squad of players that have had that that spirit you talked about, which is seeing them third in the league, that if they brought in someone from the outside, it might just have a detrimental effect? Yeah, I think so. I mean, we look at the the striker position so throughout all season. of of course chris wood has hit hit seventeen and the legal ready and he has been left as largely as as a substitute. ah The only game they started together, weirdly, was that the home game against Fulham back in September. But yeah, we've already seen in Tuesday, Tyro came off with with a broken nose. I'm not sure exactly what the rules are, but because when he came off, he was a concession a concussion substitute. I think that means you're not allowed to play for 10 days after being a con concussion substitute.
00:06:18
Speaker
something like that but either way i don't he's not going to be in the match day squad against fullham this weekend which means suddenly we don't have a striker on the bench now so our options in January would have been to sign a big big name striker who would compete with Chris Wood for the starting spot I agree that wouldn't have been the best decision because Then he ends up saying to Chris Wood, thank you for 17 goals. Now you're on the bench for this expensive new guy. So it's it's a good thing we didn't sign a big money person, the striker who would have upset the apple cart. But I think to go second half of the season with just two strikers, now we're already down to just one. Yeah, if there had been a a young hungry striker or maybe a more experienced option, we'd be happy to know that they're coming in to be a
00:07:04
Speaker
ah squad option and not to start I would have liked someone like that to have to have come in, but it didn't happen. Let's hope that Chris Wood stays to an entire hour when he is not out for too long with his broken nose. When you talk about Chris Wood there, he's having an amazing season and since he joined that on Forest's goal records, it's fantastic. I think it's something like 31 goals in 55 games. Even if you look at his time in the Premier League at Burnley, I think he scored double-figured Premier League goals for four seasons in a row and that's ah in a Burnley team that probably don't create the chances of some of the teams higher up in the league. So what is it do you think that makes him an effective and almost underrated Premier League striker? Yeah, so it's a it's the way um the t team has set up. So even in Burnley, he's partnered with Ashley Barnes, players like that. Even Chris Wood, he was not the big man in that front too. He was the player who was expected to leave the play, which again, a lot of people
00:07:58
Speaker
maybe forget or don't realize that he was actually the creative around one of those strikes front to even dropping deep into almost like a 10 role in sometimes. So I think what Nuno has done is he's recognized Chris Wood. Yes, he's a big aerial threat, but he's better at linking to play and dropping deep than a lot of people might realize. And then the relationship he has with in particular, he was white and Alanga who assist many of his goals. I think Alanga would combination is the most goal-to-assist combination in the year and a half they've been at the club together. yeah I think it's just a mixture of um knowing how to use him, knowing his strengths and building up those relationships with the
00:08:39
Speaker
are the creators in our team And Chris Wood has just recently put pen to paper on a new contract. One of the players who's done the same is Murillo. Murillo is a player I've liked ever since he's joined the club. I'm sure not in Forest fans feel the same. He's got a good the partnership with the fence there along with Melankovic, who's probably been one of the signings of the season. If I'm giving you a crystal ball now, I know he's put pen to paper. I think it's till 2029, isn't it? um Where do you see him being in five years time? I know for not in Forest fans, they want to see him at the club. Obviously competing in the Champions League season after season. What do you think his ceiling is?
00:09:12
Speaker
Yeah I mean he in in five years time um yes to answer your question very literally I see him at the 2030 World Cup i'm not as follow brilliant football enough to say who whether he'll be a a starter or just in in the twenty six i'm not sure exactly how odd their other central defenders will be there but i can certainly see based on his attitude and is resilient and yet coming straight in from Brazil to having started almost every single league game since since he came. He certainly will be a very, very successful player. He'll go on to have a long career in Europe. now and Unfortunately, this is modern football. He he won't decide a new deal without a release clause because that's just how how things go.
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00:09:59
Speaker
So without knowing the details of it, I think he will have one more year at first
00:10:04
Speaker
i think in in the assumption we but was like for some sort of European competition he'll be there for one more year. there We talked about 2030 World Cup then if he doesn't quite make the 2026 Brazil World Cup squad I think he will leave next summer after three years at Forest in terms of a trajectory whenever he has a ah weekend off he goes to Paris he just takes the Eurostar to Paris so yeah well um whether that means he's already looking at where he's going to look when he joins PSG who knows but yeah I mean
00:10:37
Speaker
going to take a lot of money. Forest, we've got we've weathered the storm of the PSR issues. So yeah, then I think based on <unk> how much you'll take to take them out of the club, again, at least 60 million, if not many more than, you know, my my punches who joined PSG summer 2026. Interesting, and very interesting. We'll continue this discussion about all things Forest
Nottingham Forest's Season and European Aspirations
00:11:03
Speaker
shortly. But before we do that, let me tell you a little bit about our sponsors.
00:11:07
Speaker
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00:11:31
Speaker
Well, Stuart, I've got to be completely honest with you. I think when I was doing my predictions at the start of the season, that I may have had nothing for us to go down. If I didn't have them to go down, they were certainly somewhere near the bottom. Why? I thought they would be in the mix for relegation. There's 14 games left to go. Your third's in the table. Would it almost be a disappointment now to miss out on the Champions League? Or if you had the consolation of Europa League, Conference League, would that still be deemed a success given the start you've made?
00:11:57
Speaker
Yes, it's a very loaded question. I mean, when we did our pre-season predictions of the four of us and on our part, I think three of us said 14th, and the fourth one, Mark, said maybe conference league. So at the start of the season, conference league would have been an unbelievable achievement. So um even though I do do fly over. A few times a season, and I am based in Germany. So for me to be able to see Forrest playing up somewhere drive to overland, someone like Brussels or Amsterdam or here in Germany would have been a dream even even in the conference league. So yeah, I mean, but i said I do now think we will we should now get the Champions League. Again, squad depth is is now the nagging down at at the back of the mind. But yeah, ultimately, there will almost certainly be be five Champions League places available to English clubs. So for Forest to
00:12:54
Speaker
for us to drop to sixth or lower from this position after 24 games, we're now, again, it's a missed opportunity. It wouldn't be a failure. It wouldn't be a lack of expectation because again, the expectation was comfortably 14th. So to get Europa League or Conference League would be still for fans would absolutely love it, but it would then, there would still be the nagging doubt. Maybe this was our year to get the Champions League because yeah, next year we are in the Europa League.
00:13:23
Speaker
you'd have to assume, look at Brighton, look at even and further back, Fulham, the European League final, you weren't also challenging for the Champions League in the league that year. So if the Forex are in the Europa League, then that probably means yeah we will have missed our chance to break into that Champions League top five, because that's the Man United, City and Spurs won't be as poor next season as you think.
Strategies for Newly Promoted Teams
00:13:47
Speaker
here it's It's now or never for the Champions League, which is why hopefully we are going to take that opportunity.
00:13:54
Speaker
Do you think there's a greater sense of belief given the last two fixtures have been very contrasting? The 5-0 defeat a form of where they probably would have been out some outside noise where people would be thinking, ah, this is where they they stumble now, the bubbles burst, they'll foot drop down the table now. And then you react in the most emphatic fashion, beating a decent side in Brighton at 7-0. So that, got I guess, shows the character for the players to come back from such a heavy defeat and inflict one of their own just a week later. Yeah, but again, but we don't donmin know.
00:14:22
Speaker
make two big reactions after each game but we have had another almost set back in in the cup mid mid week against exeter so yeah i'm not saying we're going to be be full of seven nil but equally um it's again it's a bit of up down below bromo for hiding brighten logan's exeter so yeah again that's why this film game is certainly got to be quite interesting a lot of it intrigue to it and yet it's of course you've lost five games in the Premier League this season uh four of them we're playing those teams all in a row so yourselves Newcastle, Arsenal and Man City so if we can get
00:15:01
Speaker
at least get revenge on two of those four teams to have beaten us and get maybe six points out of 12 from these four games. And that would really show that we we mean business. By that point, there'll be just 10 games left in the season. And as we get through this patch of playing the four teams who we've lost to still in in that top, top three, top four, then we should really be booking our trips.
00:15:25
Speaker
This question is kind of relevant to both teams because there's some parallels there because they both got promoted the same season along with Bournemouth and we've seen how well those three sides have done this season but in the last couple of seasons we've seen the teams that have gone up from the championship go straight back down. We look at the bottom three now, they're the teams that went and the went up last season.
00:15:45
Speaker
what do you think needs then for What do you think it takes for a team to go up and survive? Because it seems like it's proving more and more difficult season on season. Yeah, so if you look at the three three of us, Forrest Fulham and Bournemouth, of course, Forrest were the only non-parachute payment teams that you guys had been down just for one year at that point. You were bouncing straight back up and Bournemouth had been down just for two seasons. They're still in with their parachute payments. So yeah, Forrest are the only, and that's it to do it this year, which it might do, whereas the only non-parachute payment team to have stayed up since Leeds did it and Leeds went down in their third season and Forest are not going to go down in our third season. so
00:16:24
Speaker
Yeah, to be honest, what our method was, was to spend a lot on experience and get the experience to keep you up and then invest in the youth to help you thrive. So by experience, I'm talking about players who were there in our first season, Serge Orier, Kaylon Navas, Sheku Koyate, Willy Bolly, who's still there, big players less often now. I think it was that experience that helped us across the line in that first season. Even look at Big Switch, some of their big money buys, Liam Delappe, Omari Hutchinson, a few other players like that. A younger, they're the ones to kind of play as in a forest perspective, like Alandora Hudson-Adoy, who we've signed in the second and third seasons. But maybe at Switch, if they do go down, it's because they didn't have a Sergio Orreira or Kayla one of us to help them survive at all costs in the year one. And then you start playing better football years two and three.
Debate on Premier League Survival vs Championship
00:17:21
Speaker
Yeah, it's it's a balancing act, isn't it? It's quite difficult, because it's what approach do you take? Do you spend a lot of money on maybe proven experienced players? And then, I know not for us, got hit with the points deduction last season, but if you were going to get hit but with a points deduction, it was probably last season, because the three relegated teams were three of the poorest relegated teams we've seen in in this division. But do you think that's what it takes then, having just, you need to have a goal, basically? um Yeah, I think yeah otherwise, what's the,
00:17:49
Speaker
What's the point, almost? um So, I mean, I know that some some fans of clubs like, and I've heard Mid-Billsborough fans say, in particular, they prefer the championship to the Premier League, because the recent Premier League years' experiences have been So, unenjoyable, but I don't understand those who say they'd rather finish eighth in the championship every year than try and scrap for 17th in the Premier League because, yeah, 17th in the Premier League is better than eighth in the championship because it's it's higher and in the pyramid and no one who's finishing eighth in the championship does it without the aim of thinking, let's finish top two in the championship next year. So, yeah, I think
00:18:29
Speaker
Yeah, of course, whether I would like to see salary caps, I would like to see rules saying you have to have a certain number of homegrown players in your squad. I mean, of course, but that is not going to happen anytime soon.
Player Retention and Team Evolution
00:18:41
Speaker
Unfortunately, so yeah, whilst those rules aren't in place, having a go is what you need to do.
00:18:47
Speaker
And if we further compare and contrast, I think for them from that promotion winning campaign, they still have quite a few players at the club, the likes of Anthony Robinson and Kenny Tay, Harrison Reed, Tom Kenny, Rodrigo Moniz. If you compare that to far as correct me if I'm wrong, but I think Ryan Yates is the sole survivor from that promotion winning campaign. So what do you think Steve Cooper and then Nuno subsequently have seen in him, which has meant that he's the sole survivor from that side? Yeah, I mean, just to go.
00:19:13
Speaker
so ah slightly further back i mean even look at Brentford, I think Brian and Voimo and play your and Vissa were there in the championship five or so years ago. So I think the reason why we have so a few survivors, because our promotion was was so unexpected, done with a lot of lone players and those whose contracts had run out at the end of the season, but still the interview which have picked, I mean, Ryan Gates, a lot of loan spells, including at Knox County in League Two, and no one watching Knox County in League Two at the time would say, Oh, yeah, that, that, that Forest Loney, he's going to catch in Forest to when he got Anfield. But what they would have seen or what they would agree with is, is his world to win and his ability to consist consistently take
00:19:59
Speaker
challenges in his stride and continually improve, continually learn. And yeah, he'll also be a bit of a bit of a a nuisance, bit of a menace on the pitch as well. A lot of opposition fans don't like him. In Ryan Yates, he isn't captaining Forrest at Anfield because he's good around the dressing room. He is good around the dressing room, but you don't pick players in your 11 if all they are is good around the dressing room. So he's just shown he can meet any challenge hes he's come up against with Dinello and Sangare.
00:20:27
Speaker
back from their long-term injuries now. Yates is, again, fifth or sixth choice. Central midfield well was unused sub against Brighton, but I wouldn't be surprised if at the end of the season he's forced his way back into the starting 11 again, because that's what we've seen from him so many times.
Global Sports Podcast Network Offerings
00:20:44
Speaker
Interesting. In the final part, we will look ahead further to the game by giving some team news what we might expect to happen from the game. But before we do that, let me just point you in the direction of GSPN.
00:20:56
Speaker
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00:21:16
Speaker
Well, this fixture last season resulted in a resounding full of 5-0 fresh, and I think Steve Cooper was sat a couple of weeks after that. What are your memories from that night? um Yeah, so, specifically, it was mid-December or so, wasn't it? So I was out for ah out at a a christmas Christmas event, and I came home at half-time.
00:21:37
Speaker
um So yeah, I just remember receiving all that whenever I checked my phone while still out, goal, goal, goal. I'm thinking, yeah, should I sit down and watch the second half? And yeah, it was a bad decision to to do so, even though I think actually goes with the first half was still no nothing nothing to see in the second half. Memorable, of course, for the backing that Cooper still got from the fans. But I think that was in a thanks for everything. We know this is is the end of the road type thing, I don't think.
00:22:06
Speaker
that the Cooper chants in that game against Fulham were begging Maranakis to keep him as they had been at crucial points in the season before. ah They're certainly in the way of um thanks for everything. So yeah, I think because it was at the end of Cooper, he got two more games, but that was only because they were finding his replacement in the background. They weren't giving him another chance. He was essentially his own caretaker manager until he was out and Uno came in.
00:22:33
Speaker
So because it was so, so era. It was the end of an era. I don't really look back on it and saying, wow, for them a great or forest up or I don don't think there's any resemblance to what we'll see on.
Leadership Changes and Match Tactics
00:22:48
Speaker
on the weekend, for example. In that game, Ibrahim Sangare, the big signing of that summer play, like terribly, came off for Gibbs White. Gibbs White had been dropped for that game even. But for the game this weekend, after his performance against Exeter, I think Sangare will be the only survivor from the Exeter team starting. But if you'd asked a lot of fans after that Fulham game,
00:23:09
Speaker
Last year people would think I'll get get rid as soon as possible, this guy's no good. So yeah, I don't think we can draw any conclusions purely due to um the fact that it was clearly the end of Steve Cooper's time here. Unless maybe everyone, maybe there was something you saw in Fulham that it can replicate any particular tactics that you think caught Forrest out.
00:23:31
Speaker
No, it was just, it was a funny little time looking back because Fulham won the next game, 5-0 against West Ham as well. So all of a sudden they turned into the best team in the world out of nowhere and then went back to the new league after that. But so just want to look at the hearing now, obviously things are going a lot better for Nott and Frost. And one start I've picked there, which is,
00:23:48
Speaker
It's kind of mind-boggling really is how Forrest seems so intent. Well, they and night obviously intent because every team wants to score the first goal, but they've scored the first goal in 19 of the 24 games of the season. Why do you think they've been so successful in doing that? Yeah, it's a is is it a good good question. um I mean, they they're very good. This is the short answer. Good good teams tend to score, I mean, not necessarily Amy to score the first goal, but because they've been better than a lot of teams they've played. So that's why they score and then they're good defensively so that they don't then concede. um I mean, it's possibly, again, we touched on lack of depth, but
00:24:28
Speaker
we our best options off the bench are defensive. Based on the Exeter team, I think we will start with three three at the back on on Saturday, but when we've started with with the flat back four, our best substitute has been Marato, who comes on and closes the game.
00:24:45
Speaker
But then in those handful of games where we haven't taken the lead, we haven't really had the attacking options to come in and change the game. So, yeah, it's not, we are intentionally aiming to score the first goal because everyone who plays football wants to score the first goal. No one has a game plan that involves conceding the first goal. But yes, the only reason why we are strong at it is because we are solid defensively and have informed players like Gibbs Wyatt, Alanga, Person Adoying, Wood, who couldn't even hurt teams.
00:25:16
Speaker
And as you you mentioned earlier, Fulham did win the game at the forest during the season when they were pretty bland, getting nothing much to speak about around him and his penalty. Who do you see as the threats from the Fulham side then? Yeah, I mean i think um and we've definitely been impressed by Emilio Spithrow this season. um So we've talked about his in a similar way to Elangora Hurston-Adoy. With us, he's someone who never quite established themselves as undroppable at the big they club that they came through at our arsenal. So that can either go two ways. It can be a Jesse Lingard time situation, who who came to us, did nothing, and he's now in South Korea. Or you can rebuild your career. I know he didn't come directly to Fulham, but Alex Owobi is another someone who who finds their level and they're happy to
00:26:05
Speaker
I'm happy to to build that and to grow and I can see Smith Rowe becoming a future a feature film captain if if he's not already occasionally warned the band in games. Interesting. So we know obviously not in the farest made a lot of changes against Exodus. We're not going to see that same side. How similar do you think it will be to the side that beat Brighton 7? So I would say it'll be Well, one change from Brighton, which is means, again, ten change from Exeter. So I think Ibrian Sangare will play, instead of Danilo, as the partner in Elliott Anderson in the midfield too. Bjorn Lucas-Sangare did have a good game against Exeter with with two assists. And Danilo's injury was maybe more serious, so he's maybe not yet up to starting.
00:26:57
Speaker
3-3 in a row, and Tsangari should in theory, of course he didn't didn't at Craven Cottage last time, offer a bit more defensive solidity than Danilo in ah in a mid-field too, so yeah I expect that to be one change from Brighton, Tsangari in for Danilo, and therefore we had 10 changes from Exeter, with only Tsangari keeping his spot.
00:27:18
Speaker
I'm not asking you for a prediction, well not just yet anyway, but what type of game are you were expecting? Because ah as I said in the game earlier on in the season, it was very tight, with many chances, full and just won by a goal tunnel thanks to that penalty. Are you expecting something similar or are you expecting a more expansive open game?
00:27:34
Speaker
i I think it could it could be a bit more expansive. Counter-attacking style has got a few teams out away from
Fulham's Challenges and Opportunities
00:27:45
Speaker
home. um and yeah Some of those starters, although some of them did get minutes at Exeter, a lot of them have had ah time time in the sun. We had a warm weather training camp in Dubai. so i think It should be almost continue where we left off. We aren't going to beat 7-0, but I don't think we're going to sit back and invite pressure either. So I think it could be more more open and than that strange game at the city ground. I said before, is there any game starting with a front two? um And yeah, it was still early in the season. So we still, we can assume Forest Fulham in September was a mid-table clash and both teams would finish maybe mid-table, maybe between 11th and 14th coming into the end of this season. But now,
00:28:25
Speaker
It's is a a bit bit higher up the match today. Running order, it's 39th against 3rd. So yeah, I think it could be a bit more exciting than what we saw in September. but Yeah, I think looking back to that game in September, you didn't play Hudson and Doi or Alanga, did you? Which is very unusual, but you would expect them to play on the weekend, wouldn't you? Yeah, I mean, we're not quite sure of Hudson and Doi's fit. He did miss, became off injured against Southampton. So that was three or four games ago now. Then he missed the Bournemouth and Brighton losses and was not in the travelling party for Exeter. Again, whether he was fit and rested or injured, I don't actually know. So I would expect him and Alango, as I said, to both start. No, sorry, I was expecting just Alango to start. If we're going unchanged from Brighton, it was Alango and Gibson White as the dual tens behind Chris Wood. So no, Hudson and Dory, because he didn't play against Brighton,
00:29:19
Speaker
he' said i think he will be on the bench but that's because of the switch to the back three. And I guess we can't finish the podcast without giving a score prediction, so how did you see the game going? I see i see it being a 2-0 for us, especially. I think we'll get our early goal, as we've spoken about before, and then Hudson-Doy fit again, we'll then come on for Elanger and get go togo a second. So I think it being a nice 2-0 win for Forrest, it won't be easy for them.
00:29:49
Speaker
I'll offer a lot, but I think it will be will come out the other side of the vessel. You're just given my side of things. I am a bit like concerned about this fixture from a full point of view, because I think Forest are the type of teams that can cause them problems. I know Forest in that game earlier in the season, but he probably gave Fulham a lot of respect, which was surprising at home. That's why I was surprised in the way Nuno set up without having his wingers. It was pretty narrow, pretty congested in that midfield area. As I said, not much to speak about in terms of the game, in terms of highlights. and Fulham have struggled at home recently, they haven't won their home Premier League game since early December against Brighton and in that time they've struggled even against Southampton to break down a team with a low block and obviously not in Forest have got more quality players than Southampton but they might set up in that way and I expect Fulham to dominate possession to have probably 70% of the possession, probably something that vain and for not in Forest fans, ah you know I guess they're used to that in the way, they're they're not necessarily used to dominating the ball and their success has been built upon
00:30:47
Speaker
counter attacks and that sort of thing with the pace of Hudson the Dye and the Lang obviously we don't know if Hudson the Dye is going to be available so I haven't been nervous from that point of view and the fact that they haven't been winning games at home but I'm gonna go for ah one a-1 draw on this occasion. Any final thoughts before this game now? No let me just from from your side a 1-1 draw you've seen as as a good a result for Fulham are you or what are your a aims for the rest of the area? Are you hoping to crush your conference league spot in the league or are you sort of the table mindset, what's your actual prediction for Fulham for the rest of the season? I think the difference between these two sides is not in the forest, it's done particularly well against teams in the bottom half where Fulham and Stroh, where Fulham have drawn home games against Ipswich and Southampton. They lost recently against Manchester United and this is probably the worst Manchester United team in Premier League history, so it's those results that have cost them, whereas the games away from home against the sides up the table, the likes of Liverpool they've gone to, a got a draw at Anfield, they won at Forest, they won at Newcastle, they won at Chelsea,
00:31:46
Speaker
they've drawn at home to Arsenal. So they can seem to get results against those clubs, but the size lower down, they seem to struggle against them, especially teams where make it difficult for them to break down. They seem to maybe they struggle a little bit. I think realistically, gatecrashing the European places via the league is going to prove tricky because they haven't had that sort of momentum throughout the season where they've had like a not in the fast, where they've won five or six games, drunk, strong that one wins consecutively. like Beaumouth have done, it's kind of been a bit stop start, it's been win a game, draw a game, draw another game, lose, win, that sort of form. So with that, whilst it's good drawing a lot of games, you're not losing, you're not going up the table dramatically. So I think the best chance of Europe is probably the FA Cup.
Conclusion and Listener Engagement
00:32:31
Speaker
But look, that's not to say it wouldn't be a good season, still finishing in the top half and they still got the chance of collecting their record points tally in the Premier League, which is
00:32:41
Speaker
which is something to aim for, which would be a successful season in my books, certainly. But anyway, that'll do it for today's crossover episode. Many thanks to Stuart for joining me from the Daily Forest team. Be sure to catch touch their podcast. Be sure to continue to listen to the Daily Fulham podcast. That's all for now. We'll catch you all next time.