1865: The Nottingham Forest Podcast

Once again, we welcome football journalist, Forest correspondent and local boy George Harbey to the podcast. In part 2 of our conversation, George tells us more about the ups and downs of football journalism, and being embedded at Forest. What was it like reporting on the demise and departure of Sabri Lamouchi, and what it's like being at the City Ground without fans - is the job made even harder...

As it is an international break, we wanted to bring you something extra to keep you warm on those cold, dark nights. We welcome football journalist, Forest correspondent and local boy George Harbey to the podcast.  In part 1 of our conversation, we discuss how George got started as a football writer, and how this led to him reporting on his local team. We also hear about the difficulties of footba...

A tough first month for Chris Hughton, with no fewer than seven games; but the Reds' record has improved from P4 L4, with the new gaffer overseeing three wins, three draws and a solitary defeat at miserly Middlesbrough. Rich Ferraro is joined by Steven Toplis, Baz, the Maradona of the Midlands and new contributor Tom Newton; your intrepid podcast team discuss Hughton's impact, improvements at both...

Phew. Bloody hell. We didn't deserve that did we? Obviously Forest fans were concentrating more on the Reds' fortune than the Sky Blues' pain, but having taken a deserved first-half lead, Forest really played poorly in the second period, allowing Coventry to take control and almost take the points. A draw would have been more than we deserved, but luckily Forest had two players who kept playing un...

If Chris Hughton’s first job was to steady the ship, this match shows that there has been some progress but there is still a lot of work to do, especially in the opposition half.  There were never going to be too many chances in this match, but Forest really struggled in the second half against a Boro side with a four-month head start on them, in terms of organisation, playing culture and style. H...

At half-time it looked a bit bleak, and a few Forest fans were rather despondent as the Reds were a goal down and a man down. Whatever the arguments about Nicolas Ioannou's red card, the inescapable fact was that Forest were down to ten men and would need to find a way to get a result. There were also a few wags commenting that Forest players couldn't see each other in the grey camo kit... It was...

On the face of it, it was a fair result, but Derby weren't happy after their disallowed goal, which stole the headlines. In truth, the Rams were probably the better team for most of the first half, and the latter stages of the second, but Forest did plug away and deservedly drew level when the excellent Lyle Taylor showed a real striker's instinct (and real eloquence in his post-match interview)....

A frustrating evening at the City Ground as Forest played well for a bit, then didn't, but turned up the heat at the end to earn the point - but it could and should have been more.  The big talking point was Lewis Grabban's miss when clean through on goal, but our reporter Baz points out that he does a whole load of work for the team, even if it doesn't always look like it. Grabban also managed to...

It wasn't a classic, but no-one really minds do they? When the scoreline starts with "Blackburn nil" it was always going to be an improvement.  True, Rovers were missing some of their wise old heads, particularly in the middle of the park, but Forest managed to look more solid, with special mentions for Toby Figueiredo and Ryan Yates. Of course the icing on the cake was Forest's push in the last f...

With new manager Chris Hughton preparing for his first match in charge of Nottingham Forest, we speak to Brighton fan (and resident of Newcastle) Rick Loosemore. We discuss tactics, formations and style of play, and whether we can expect to see Forest play with inverted wingers and two upfront.  Rick also gives us an insight into Hughton's popularity on the south coast and in the north east, and c...

Well that has been another turbulent week for #nffc fans, hasn't it? In the spirit of Monty Python (ask your parents/grandparents, kids), "Now for something completely different..." We speak to North America's Nottingham Forest superfan, Big Wes Hall, to hear the story of how a case of mistaken identity on social media led to him discovering soccer (sorry) and become ever-so-slightly obsessed with...

Things hadn't been right for some time, had they? Even before lockdown, the legs had gone, the poor January transfer window hindered the manager and then everything crumbled in lockdown. What seemed like promising recruitment quickly became insane, with sooooo many new signings, and in the meantime the manager had signed a new contract and recruited new backroom staff. Just another year in the lif...

We bring you a bumper podcast this month, as there is just so much to talk about:  #nffc's poor results have kept the focus on Sabri's future We discuss results and performances - is there a glimmer of hope? If keeping the manager was supposed to ensure stability, what message does it send to sign a whole new team? Does the club actually have a strategy? We also welcome back Jeremy Davies for an e...

I don't know, in some ways it would have been easier if we had got thumped, then Sabri could have been relieved of his duties and at least the debate would be over. As it is, despite another defeat, Forest might have done just enough to earn M Lamouchi a reprieve for a couple of weeks at least. The headlines are that Forest are still winless and pointless, but at least Luke Freeman scored a goal t...

Another defeat, another blank and another bad night at the office for Sabri Lamouchi. It was always going to be the case that the first team to score would win this one, and despite Ben Hamer making good saves from Sammy Ameobi and Loic Mbe Soh, the Reds' night was characterised by the lack of chances created, especially in the second half. In this special match report, we are joined by the Marado...

This episode could have been called "The Hangover Part 2", as two ludicrously soft goals in the first half gifted the game to Cardiff, and Forest looked just as poor as they had done against Barnsley and QPR. Except there were signs of life as the half-time Lucozade kicked in; the first-half tactical switch that saw Joe Lolley replaced by Lyle Taylor actually paid dividends as the Cardiff defence...

#nffc have a hangover... the first two matches of the season have seen Forest slumped over the toilet, desperately in need of a win to ease their splitting headache and a terrible wave of nausea. The defeats at Barnsley and QPR have exposed the harsh reality that Forest have not managed to draw a line under the disaster of the run-in, and players and management alike need to step up to the startin...

Forest's season started with an underwhelming awayday at Barnsley in the Carabao Cup. While it might be a blessing to "concentrate on the league", the manner of defeat and style of play gave concern to many Reds fans. We debate team selection, new signing and what they can bring, and most notably whgether Forest's style of play will evolve this season.  We also have some thoughts about the club's...

As a new season looms large, we have a (slightly) new name, new (old) theme music, and a pre-season preview coming soon. In the meantime, we are delighted to have been joined by the voice of the City Ground, and a popular voice on BBC Radio Nottingham - the one and only Mark Dennison. Denno talks to us about: his experiences as #nffc stadium announcer, especially during some of the bleak times in...

This wasn't supposed to be the end of the season, was it? As Forest have dramatically and spectacularly failed to make the play-offs, Rich Ferraro leads a post-mortem on the Reds' performance in 2019-20; Baz, Steven Toplis and the Maradona of the Midlands share their thoughts on a variety of issues, and there is a short-but-sweet end-of-season sketch from Jeremy Davies: Should Sabri stay or go? Wa...

Everything that we feared, everything that we hoped wouldn’t happen, everything we had seen before against Yeovil and Blackpool - all of that came true again tonight. Forest only have themselves to blame, as after an hour, they had levelled the scores and should have been in control. Congratulations to Swansea for doing what they had to do, but once again Forest have snatched defeat from the jaws...

Barnsley 1-0 Nottingham Forest That was bad, wasn't it? A match which Forest not only deserved to lose, but in which they were abject and incapable of stringing two passes together. Fair play to Barnsley, they played well and were deserved victors. Only Sabri Lamouchi would know why he chose an unfamiliar formation, but no-one will know why all the players were so bad; second-choice goalkeeper Jor...

Two goals from Sammy Ameobi were the highlight of a topsy-turvy evening at the City Ground, as Forest just didn't turn up for the first fifteen minutes, before looking sharper, brighter and more creative in the second. Really, the Reds should have won this match, but were lucky not to be down to ten men as Tobias Figueiredo was subbed before he was sent off. That doesn't excuse a mystifying perfor...

A lacklustre performance from Forest suggested a hangover from Derby’s last-minute equaliser at the weeked, as Harry Arter’s goal saw Fulham take all three points. Steven Toplis reflects upon a match that never really got going, and in which any promise from Forest fizzled out as Joe Lolley succumbed to injury and Arter produced the only real moment of quality on the stroke of half-time. Learn mor...

In an extended match report, the Maradona of the Midlands is angry with Forest for throwing Derby a lifeline via an unnecessary foul. Rich Ferraro points out that the game plan worked, as Forest kept Derby at arm’s length, and the Reds should really have been at least three goals up before the late rush of blood to the head. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices