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Daily Forest - Ep 82 - have Forest been underestimated this season?
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James and Stuart discuss the FA Cup quarter-final win, ahead of the return to Premier League action against Manchester United tonight.
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Transcript
Introduction & Host Welcome
00:00:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello and welcome back to the Daily Forest podcast here at the Global Sports Podcast Network.
Match Review: FA Cup Semi-final & Manchester United Preview
00:00:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Joining me to review a f FA Cup semi-final appearance and a big game against Manchester United later is
James' Centre Parcs Adventure
00:00:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
James. James, you were also on a mini-break this weekend, although we weren't there together. How was your trip to Centre Parcs?
00:00:29
James
Yeah, it was all alright. It was eventful. i got a nice ear infection from the the lovely water of the human soup that is a Centre Park swimming pool and someone even added a bit of gristle to it with a nice poop.
00:00:42
James
So, yeah, it was interesting.
00:00:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Sounds was like hopefully that wasn't a ideal preparation for, for the match. Hopefully you'd already won and chit-chit on forest in that, in that semi-final in that quarterfinal win
Forest's FA Cup Journey & Game Strategies Discussion
00:00:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
beforehand.
00:00:54
James
Yeah, no, absolutely. It was... ah It was a nail-biter, you know, edge-of-the-seat stuff. We dominated the whole game, but in my opinion, even without Wood.
00:01:06
James
I mean, Iwoni had one good chance, but what do you think?
00:01:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I think it's it interesting if you look at the the starting team. So some of the mates I was watching with were kind of of confused by Alanga and Hudson-Odoi starting on the bench. They thought that meant we'd picked a weakened team.
00:01:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
But for me, i mean, that was the team we picked when we won at Anfield back at the start of the season with Alanga and Hudson-Odoi coming on to make an impact. So for me, yeah, I thought the game plan was good. Brighton,
00:01:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
had their chances, but they never dominated. And we had had our opportunities to, to through, through Tyro like you say.
00:01:42
James
Yeah, I think i think we we counted what they've been doing the last few weeks with that box midfield that they've got. We packed the middle of the park and they tried to, you know, go down the the middle, through the middle for everything. I don't know why they carried on doing it for the rest of the game.
00:01:58
James
You know, they could have got the wings, Mitoma just wasn't really doing much in the game. So, yeah, I thought Nuno, absolute masterstroke.
00:02:09
James
and Funny thing was when we watched the highlights, you know, did the Palace highlights in Fulham and, you know, absolutely showed all their goals and everything. And then our highlights, it just cut straight to the penalties.
00:02:24
James
I'm like, there's only 20 minutes of football before that.
00:02:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah Well, that's the thing. That's what we're we are we all good at now. um I mean, three penalty shootouts in a row. of course, now that there are no replays, it's the first time anyone has ever done that, winning three FA Cup penalty shootouts in a row.
Key Moments & Player Performances in FA Cup
00:02:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
And yeah, I certainly don't think that's a problem at all to be to be good at penalties. They are skill, something you can be good at, something you can strategise in games. Yeah, I've got no complaints at all that we yeah Some might say we we played pay for penalties, with especially with taking off Gibbs-White for Moretto, even that late on to get an extra defender on the park.
00:03:00
James
Yeah.
00:03:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
But yeah, and in Nuno we trust and it's a Wembley date on the horizon for for three weeks' time. time
00:03:07
James
Yeah, and yeah, that Gibbs White one scared me a little bit because he would have been one of my top five penalty takers. I'd have been like, you know, he's he's nailed on. but And to bring Murata on, I said to my lad, I said, oh, he's a good penalty taker because if we'd have rinsed through the whole first 11 and he'd have been the one to miss, Nuno would have been up for the high jump.
00:03:29
James
There'd been all the detractors out there, oh, Nuno out and everything, but it worked. So how that's... that Master strokes are master strokes because no one else thinks of them and they work. So...
00:03:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
I know, and the change in the penalty order from the previous rounds, no Gibbs-White or no Wood, means we got to enjoy that lovely moment of Ryan Yates being the one to slam us home into that Wembley semi-final.
00:03:51
James
but Yeah, and I mean, Matt Sells, what a guy. Having the balls to stand in the middle and, you know, take one and and just be like, yeah, ah shoot, I'm not going to dive. And just to to get it with his right hand.
00:04:08
James
But I was a bit annoyed with the commentators because when the penalty started, first Brighton player steps up and he strokes it into the corner. Yeah, great. And then it's sells guests the right way. And it was all, oh, you know, you're a good player and a penalty taker. It's a good penalty when the goalkeeper guesses the right way and it still goes in.
00:04:30
James
And then ah we stepped up. Who was the first penalty taker?
Penalty Shootout Analysis & Semi-final Prospects
00:04:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
It was at Anderton for us.
00:04:36
James
Yeah, and basically we did exactly the same thing. And the commentators didn't have much to say about it. I'm like, well, tell him he's a good penalty taker as well. Come on, lad.
00:04:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it was definitely um quite strange. I mean, even Matthew Epson on commentary, we always forget he did actually play for Forrest and Brighton as well. Same with Glenmurry in the studio. So in theory, it should have been a lot more neutrality amongst that BBC panel, but we didn't didn't quite get that, unfortunately.
00:05:02
James
Yeah, be honest with you, I hope we go all the way, like every Forest fan, on penalty shootouts and that we end up holding the record for... Has it been a penalty shootout in every round so far?
00:05:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
not quite as the lute and one we did it and did in the 90.
00:05:17
James
Which one? Oh, Luton, yeah. Yeah, no.
00:05:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, so it's consecutive. So we do two more penalty shootouts, that'll be five, five in a row. That would be certainly pretty, pretty impressive.
00:05:23
James
Yeah, I think that would be amazing. like Do that. Shut all the detractors up. Get Champions League football. Man City now. but Confirmed today. Haaland's out for seven weeks.
00:05:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, i mean, I think of the Draws, you've got Villa, Palace and and City. I mean, I'd say Villa would have been the strongest, the toughest opponent of the three. Crystal Palace, it would mean they'd be super up for having everyone a trophy.
00:05:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I certainly wouldn't say City are the toughest draw at all. mean, for them, it would be a huge anti-climax.
00:05:54
James
Yeah.
00:05:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
There have been so many semi-finals, so many Wembley appearances. Just haven't convinced all season and with Haaland out as well, I certainly would would would certainly say probably go into it as favourites.
00:06:00
James
yeah
00:06:08
James
Yeah, I mean, Marmouche, he's not really done much this season, has he? gets the odd one, but he's been in the shadow of Haaland. Maybe he'll step out of that shadow and be absolutely flying um and he'll put Haaland at number two when he comes back. Well, never happen, will it?
00:06:23
James
But, um yeah, I can see, you know, I can't see us losing, to be honest.
Premier League Aspirations & Team Dynamics
00:06:30
James
um i know that's a big thing to say but i think it's going to be a villa forest final it'll be a ah championship final um what was it five years ago we were both playing each other in championships something like
00:06:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, that that famous famous five-ball draw, of course. Yeah, certainly will be very interesting to see how how far both both teams have come. i remember when we did play Villa in the league, and it was Forest Villa, Fulham, Bournemouth, Brentford, were all in a row in the table at that time.
00:06:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it was like, what is this, the Championship table 2017? So yeah, it's definitely great to see that the pyramid in English football is still ah still alive. There is still the chance of going coming through the leagues and succeeding when you get to the Premier League.
00:07:07
James
Yeah. Well, Nuno said, didn't he, when they were talking about this United game tonight, and he commented about the top six, that the the big six don't exist anymore in English football, that us and Villa and Newcastle have, well, maybe not Newcastle, but we've broken the mould and that anyone can't.
00:07:31
James
Anyone can beat anyone on their day, apart from Liverpool. Forrest can. But, yeah.
00:07:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I mean, certainly you look at the table now, that's just a completely random set teams, the big six. Spurs are 14th, level on points with Everton. United are 13th. City, or 7th.
00:07:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Chelsea also, this I think maybe, to call them the big six is ah certainly stretching the truth quite a bit.
00:07:57
James
How did Spurs ever become part of the big six? They don't win anything. You know what mean? when What was the last thing that Spurs won?
00:08:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I mean, it was the League Cup in 2008. So if you reel off the teams, we've won trophies since then. We're talking Swansea, we're talking Wigan, Leicester.
00:08:16
James
Yeah?
00:08:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Leicester won multiple things since then. So yeah, it's surely a...
00:08:20
James
I just, yeah. Like, when when there was the whole Super League thing going on, it's like, oh, the big six and everything. And everyone's just like, well, what are Spurs doing there? They've got a big stadium, yeah.
00:08:32
James
But why are Spurs in the big six? They were like the the poor guy in the corner just trying to join in. and But, yeah, it's it's definitely fallen apart um for for a few of the old big six now.
00:08:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, which, I mean, let's let's hope that it stays that way for some time, that they don't have just so much money. i mean, they don't. i mean, that's a good thing that it's not like they can spend their way out of trouble, like City did in January, spending mamo but buying Marmoush and Kusanov and one or two others for, what was it, 200 million they spent. United are theoretically broke.
00:09:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Spurs also don't don't spend a lot. So I think it will be a long, long time before top six in the Premier League is those six, if ever if ever again, because there's so much strength in and quality and in the rest of that division as well.
00:09:21
James
Yeah, and absolutely. um Should we take an ad and then go on to tonight's game?
00:09:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think if you can add and then a night preview, it's a great idea.
00:10:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
So as you said at the start, where we we both had a breaks over the weekend and there was the FA Cup and international break. So it's almost, it feels like it's it's a weird, it's been quite while since there's been a Premier League game. It feels relatively strange to have one on on a but Tuesday. But as we' were just saying about the the the big six, um we're in thor theoretically playing one of the big six tonight. But are there any concerns or doubts in your mind, James, about how how tonight might go?
00:10:39
James
I think there's there's always a concern whenever you come up against Man United, even though, you know, it could it could be the first league double that we've done over them since the days of Clough. So that'd be amazing.
00:10:51
James
But you know what? They've got one game changer and that's Bruno, you know.
00:10:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
things that I think that they have one decent player and that's Bruno. I mean, we have a few game changers plus solid players like Milenkovic and Sells who aren't game changers, but they're ideal players.
00:11:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think United have not just one game changer, but one competent Premier League standard player or top half quality player.
00:11:14
James
Yeah, ah just I just can't see them unpicking us, to be honest, especially at the city ground, being welcomed back after that Brighton win.
00:11:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
so
00:11:24
James
And yeah, i struggle to see where they're going to come from. um you know, there could be Fernandes free kick. Let's hope that Jota's not tackling back.
00:11:36
James
um Yeah, I can't see us losing. i think it's going to be 3-1 us.
00:11:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I think that kind of scoreline with is what I'd broadly go for. The only possible concern is the extra day's rest. i see that We were taken to, of course, extra time and penalties. On Saturday evening, United didn't play at all.
00:12:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
As we just said, they're dropping quality in players means they probably didn't even have as many internationals as ah as we did. Do you think when we might be the tide of this team's or will our strength in quality of the first 11 overpower United's
00:12:06
James
mean
00:12:14
James
um I think the tiredness will come from the the Wings, Williams, Ina. probably be tired I think the central defenders will be fine in the middle we won't have his many in the middle I don't think Yates will start I think it'll be Anderson Dominguez um Anderson obviously played the whole thing Dominguez got some time um And then the the wingers only played the last hour, so only played half the game.
00:12:42
James
So I think we'll be okay. Wood, that's the question. Is Wood going to be back? um And if Wood's not back, I kind of feel like I don't want him to start Iwone.
00:12:54
James
I'm a fan of Iwone. I love the guy.
00:12:58
James
But I feel like he should start Alanga through the middle and bring Jotaron or something like that.
00:13:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
mean, that's the probably the the number one ah selection dilemma, really. i mean, i I think just from reading between the lines and seeing what we saw on on Saturday, the bringing of Tyra off so early after just 58 minutes seems to be, of course, at that moment, we thought it'd be a 90 minute match.
00:13:10
James
you
00:13:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I think that was almost the intention that Tywo had been given an hour to build up his fitness ahead of starting against many United. So from my side, i would be surprised if it isn't a reversion to the 4-2-3-1 with Tywo leading the line, doing his best Chris Wood impression.
00:13:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Because, yeah, of course, at the even at the start of this season, it was not a given that Chris Wood would start ahead of Tywo as the season started.
00:13:40
James
Amen. Amen.
00:13:48
James
and
00:13:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
But Chris Wood got the nod in those opening couple of games. think Tywo had missed miss pre-season. And then Chris Wood started scoring and ah never stopped. So I really do hope we're going to see Tywo go on.
00:14:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's his turn now for for a scoring run. And then when Chris Wood returns, we aren't begging for him to return, essentially. So I'd like Chris Wood's return to be off the bench for him to gradually get back into it.
00:14:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
I wouldn't want us to have to rush Chris Wood back because Tywo has been so disappointing in the meantime.
00:14:18
James
Yeah. Although ah do you think it'd be interesting to play with Ilanga as a false nine. and You know, and and maybe have a front four and with both Ilanga and Gibbs White playing in slightly deeper roles.
00:14:37
James
But then... doesn't really Doesn't really work for it, does it? Because we go down the wing so much and get the ball in, we need a big striker in there to nod it in and to be getting the tap-ins. You look at how many Chris Wood scored um this season from the back post. i mean You just look at the Man United one where he got up higher than everyone else and everyone just kind of left it because I thought it was going wide and it trickled into the far post.
00:15:02
James
So, yeah...
00:15:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think one yeah another interesting point to note about Tywo is that the games he's mainly started this season it whether it was Luton it was Exeter so his wingers players feeding him were Jutta Silva and Ramon Souza so he's actually had relatively limited time on the pitch being fed by Hudson-Odoi and Alanga so maybe with but better quality of them on that wing, he might have more, get more opportunities that he hasn't really had and those in those other games he's he started or played significant chunks of.
00:15:33
James
Yeah, possibly.
00:15:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
So yeah. I mean, I think it's all about, um I know that we were, lot of fans would have wanted us to bought a third striker in in January. On balance, I don't think that's proved as being a mistake because as you say, even if Taiwo is not up to it, we do have Elanga, you could argue, is the third striker in the squad.
00:15:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
We do have other possibilities, other opportunities.
00:15:54
James
yeah
00:15:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
If we had bought big in January, would that new signing have disrupted our balance? Would that new signing have taken minutes and goals away from Wood and we wouldn't have been better?
00:16:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Just different persons scoring the same goals. So from my side, we were right to have not strengthened in that January.
Transfer Window Strategies & Squad Optimization
00:16:15
James
I agree. And I think it'll only stand us in good stead with this summer transfer window being a massive one, probably the biggest one since we came up um with the the step up now to Europe.
00:16:28
James
But I think one thing about having Taiwo on the pitch, even if he's not scoring, the gravity uh you know he's sucking defenders towards him he's he's you know he's that presence in the middle of the pitch where they can't leave him they have to mark him they have to have two on him at times which as we saw with chris wood a couple of games ago freeze up ilanga to come running through um
00:16:59
James
And ah maybe Nuno will play that that system with the Lange coming from the wing a bit more central at times and say to him, you keep keep doing that, get the knockdowns from Taiwo or find the space you know around Taiwo when they're marking him.
00:17:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it says certainly, as you said, it isn't.
00:17:17
James
So...
00:17:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
we We do have options. I mean, we've again, we've discussed a fair few times before, we don't need to do so again, that it's really 14 players that that newton Nuno trusts. there's no There's no 25-man squad here, it is just that that core group. But within that core group, there are our options. Anderson can play deeper, can play in the 10, can play out wide.
00:17:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Gibbs-White can play deeper. Even Dominguez has started on the wing at times. There'd even be the possibility of yeah having Alex Moreno as a option as a wide left winger as an option.
00:17:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
So um i'm I'm not concerned. I mean, this squad strengthening over over the summer we will be interesting.
00:17:54
James
right
00:17:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's definitely a lot of it's needed.
00:17:57
James
foundation
00:17:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
A lot of changes to the squad to that to to the 25, not to the 11 will be needed. But in terms of specifically about tonight, the game we're watching in a few hours from now, i'm I think it would now we're at the point where it would be a surprise if we don't win or a disappointment even.
00:18:17
James
Yeah, if we get nothing from the game, I think it'll be a total surprise. It'll be Man United a smash and grab from them. They're that bad at the minute. um <unk> Here's a question for you, right?
00:18:29
James
So we get Champions League football, comes to the summer window. We've got our current 25-man squad. Who do we lose from that? who which Which five players do we lose in order to um replace with proper quality?
00:18:45
James
You know, if you went to the bottom, do we lose Toffolo? Sure.
00:18:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I think, I mean, goalkeeper first, I think we could lose probably Carlos Miguel. Keep Wayne Hennessy as the experience number three and get an upgrade at number two, second choice goalkeeper from Carlos Miguel.
00:19:04
James
okay
00:19:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Then, yeah, Toclo and Bolli. So again, Toclo, he's, again, at the moment, I probably get a stronger right back to
00:19:09
James
Yeah.
00:19:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
complement and to push Einer. Einer started every single league game this season. He can't start every league game, in every European game. So again, a new fullback and that could be a more right-sided one to once replace Toffolo.
00:19:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Willy Bolli, although his contributions have still been decent, I just think his contract's up. i think it would be strange to renew it. I could go for a younger option. It could even be ah Tyler Bindon, the guy on loan at Reading, or it could be Obabamodeli back in the squad after a promising loan spell, someone like that.
00:19:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
So four and five.
00:19:48
James
Yeah.
00:19:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Again, probably, um probably Soza and Jota. I know we've spoken about them most episodes. But yeah, if if they aren't at the moment, they they do they're fine players. I'm sure if we'd finished mid-table, we'd have seen a lot more time on the pitch for them. But are there going to be the difference between next year, if little we finish third this year,
00:20:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Will Jota and Soza next year help us second or first instead of third?
00:20:16
James
Yeah.
00:20:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't think so. So i think there's where we can splash big, whether it be on a Kunja, whether it be on a 50 million plus player like that. i don't know. But I think if if those five, Miguel, Toffolo, Bali, Jota and Soza drop out, I don't think there'd be many cases to to keep them in to build a Champions League chasing squad around those five.
00:20:36
James
Yeah. Well, they were talking this morning on Talk Sport about Joe Bellingham. a And i mean, I've not seen much of him for Sunderland. Everyone thinks he's amazing.
00:20:47
James
But they were talking about, you know, Arsenal and Chelsea and United and places like that. And then they said he shouldn't go to anything. mean, it would be really good for him. And they gave this big build up. And I was like, they're going to say Forrest. They're going to say Forrest. You know what they Crystal Palace.
00:21:02
James
was like, why would he go to Crystal Palace?
00:21:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I mean, it yeah.
00:21:05
James
Bring him but What are they in?
00:21:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
the did Did they say Ezi and el Elisa was that their only evidence, a two-man evidence? Oh, they've had one yeah get young black midfielder do well, get get the next one. it I think as it was as lazy as that.
00:21:19
James
Yeah, I thought that was absolutely shocking when they said that. I was just like, he's got no idea. i would Yeah, Palace are pushing for the FA Cup just like we are, but does he want to be a perennial mid-table finisher?
00:21:32
James
You know?
00:21:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I think, i mean, for Forest, should be An attractive proposition v for players like like Joe Bellingham or Liam DeLac players like that, because he we've seen players before.
00:21:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
think of the Palace example, Wilfred Zaha, who when he was playing well for Palace in the championship, when he was there as a young kid, he went straight from them to Manchester United. where the pressure pressure was too great for earth from him he had to drop straight pretty much straight back down.
00:21:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
So what Forrest can offer it is quite unique.
00:22:00
James
I don't know.
00:22:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
They can offer European football. So players that shouldn shouldn't jump to an Arsenal or a Liverpool just for Champions League football. And Forrest are not yet that huge club it would be an all-encompassing pressure cooker.
00:22:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
So a young player would get that unique place of Champions League football, but without the pressure that they should be winning the Champions League or be qualifying for it every single year.
00:22:16
James
ah but
00:22:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I think we have a lot to offer a young talent come the summer.
00:22:27
James
Yeah, i think I think people see him in the the and kind of model of his brother there, don't they? And think, well, he's... Because where did he go?
00:22:38
James
Birmingham to Dortmund and then back on then Real Madrid and, you know, maybe Sunderland to Forest to Barcelona, maybe.
00:22:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Birmingham, yeah. yeah
00:22:51
James
I don't know. does Will he ever need to leave Forest? Because we'll be winning in the Champions League anyway.
00:22:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Exactly. I think that that placed in the pecking order at British Dortmund, I offering that Champions League football without the anticipat anticipat expectation of winning it. And with and but it, so players would also have the mindset there is still another step in the ladder.
00:23:04
James
ah Exactly.
00:23:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
So it's not like, Forrest and Dunne, you've seen players go to big clubs, think they've made it, and they're not push on. But Forrest, like Gibbs-White being a classic example, Gibbs-White might have the back of his head. He wants to join ah Liverpool or an Arsenal in two years' time, but he knows that he can achieve his ambitions at Forrest whilst knowing in his driver's motivation there's still something something to work work for. Or is that too down on Forrest? Can Forrest be the end destination for a top, top talent?
00:23:40
James
Yeah, i thought well, I think, you know, if we carry on this trajectory and there's no reason to say we can't, but there's no reason to say that we will at the same time. It's so such a random season for us.
00:23:54
James
that who knows what next season will hold and who knows if we can keep up this this form we'll definitely need some smart transfers and a bigger squad in order to do it um but i think we're we're at the beginning of not becoming a feeder team um you know, of being the the one of the final destinations or at least a place where people don't steal players from constantly. You know, Europe's which everyone knows De Lapp's going.
00:24:26
James
and You know, people like, well, us, as we were last season, you know, if we'd not have done so well this season, I wouldn't anticipated Gibbs White staying in the summer, Ilanga, Aina, Murillo,
00:24:42
James
You know, thought we were lucky to hang on to everyone last summer. and so yeah, I think think we're we're doing well. I can't see any of those players.
00:24:53
James
Aina's the big question mark, obviously, with his contract, but I can't see any of the others and wanting to move on.
00:25:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, no, we've certainly been well run the last year or so. We'll play our second advert and then we'll very briefly talk about the Clever Counts that came out couple of days ago.
00:25:23
James
Thank you.
00:25:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
So just before before we go then, James Forrest, for the first time, probably ah since well before the pre-Fawaz days even, made made a profit, i made £12 million pounds profit ah based on the second year of Premier League TV money and the sales of Johnson, Neokarte, Mangala and Likodemos.
00:26:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
um
00:26:04
James
Mate, it's tasty, isn't it? When you look at some of the other teams that have got these massive stadiums and you think, oh, we can't compete with them commercially because they they've got all these, you know, they're selling 8,000 tickets a game at Tottenham and Man United and Liverpool and stuff like that. And we are competing.
00:26:28
James
And we're allowed to... we're allowed to not spend as much as them, but I think we're going to have such a free hand in the summer um because of that.
00:26:40
James
that Yeah, it's good stuff.
Financial Success & Future Branding
00:26:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, and I think the um the club, the hierarchy, they've earned our trust as well. I mean, if this had been two years ago, perhaps people would be joking, oh yeah, now they've made a profit, they're going to spend £500 million and get straight into so to the red again. But that's that's not going to happen now. I think lessons have been learned from that first Premier League summer.
00:27:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
I still think our sustain at sustainable recruitment model will continue, even though we've got this ah background of... and of being financially secure. So I think we'll still invest smartly.
00:27:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
There won't be that fire sale of talent that we feared last summer either. So it's a very, very healthy place to be. and
00:27:21
James
Yeah, no, I totally agree. And I think that the Premier League need us to succeed to show you know, say smaller teams the smaller teams revenue wise can compete because if we fail if aston villa fail you know fuller bournemouth you know coming into europe and different things if we can't break the top four which we have at the minute aston villa have um if you can't break it then what's the point you can't break it without an 8 000 seat stadium
00:27:57
James
and then what are you doing? or Or without, you know, oil barons behind you, some prints of somewhere, or being owned by a ah nation state, Saudi.
00:28:10
James
And...
00:28:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, and I think it certainly is for the for the product. I mean, which the Premier League doesn't feel great calling it a product rather than a sporting competition. but ultimately, they do need um stories. that I think it definitely helps their TV money, of course, if the big teams win most of the time. But they need the other teams to win enough of the time to make make the overall offering of the Premier League a success. And that's what is happening this year. We're seeing that other teams have good seasons and we're with the but but but beneficiaries
Anticipating the Nottingham Forest Documentary
00:28:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
there.
00:28:40
James
Yeah, and now Netflix have got the documentary coming out in September, and the Nottingham Forest documentary, so that'll be interesting. i bet they wish they'd had their cameras behind the scenes this season um and done a a Wrexham style, you know, um what did they call it?
00:28:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, yeah.
00:28:58
James
the the They did Arsenal, didn't they? They did Man City.
00:29:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
All or nothing was the Amazon one, yeah.
00:29:02
James
All or nothing. Yeah, that's it. Imagine that in the Forest dressing room this year. They're pretty good.
00:29:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
and so Yeah, certainly. A lot of characters, yeah, the if they caught the Maranacis spitting in the tunnel incident on ah on a documentary camera, that would be pretty pretty good pretty good stuff.
00:29:15
James
Yeah, it was clearing his throat.
00:29:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Just clearing his throat. Speaking of, yeah, and definitely.
00:29:20
James
Ref just happened to be walking past.
00:29:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Speaking of clearing the throats, um hopefully not made too many people were doing that in that in the Centre Park's pool when you were there earlier on the weekend.
00:29:31
James
Well, they must have been I'm in a right state and not a good one.
00:29:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
um
00:29:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:29:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I'll let you get off, James. thatank Thanks all all for listening. And yeah, we'll be back shortly with our reaction on what should hopefully be another successful week for Nottingham Forest Football Club.
00:29:48
James
Thanks everyone. Come on your reds.