Nottingham Forest Banter 2

14 Sep 2026 07:39:11
{Ed's Note - HAJI has posted a new article entitled, Liverpool's Midfield Pivot Is Starving the Front Four

13 Sep 2026 21:08:38
How did Bruno not get a red card with Phil Foden? The game has gone bananas, and VAR should be scrapped in its present form. I agree that decisions have to be made, but by the ref and no one else.
The ref has a screen he can view incidents on, so why not let the ref confirm important decisions himself? They can have a second ref on the side, to say, you need to have a look at that one!
The referee is the main man, let him make the decision using technology!

With the way things are going there'll be drone ref's flying around the pitch, with vote Trump hats on 😆 🤣 😂.

13 Sep 2026 21:20:52
Keeff, I've been saying since time immemorial that football VAR should be done like they do it in Rugby League, Union and cricket, where it's seamless and ( mostly) smooth ) and quicker
Captains review and technology actually helping the ref. drives me mad that football is so arrogant that it can't learn lessons from other sports.

14 Sep 2026 07:51:37
Deffo Stokey! I remember the ref decision from last season, handball to control the ball - VAR said handball - all the pundits said handball - all the footy fans said handball - the ref said goal stands lol In rugby it would have been ruled out!

14 Sep 2026 10:28:33
Well, well, VARs new policy of being more inconspicuous and having less effects on games is going really well. Four games in and the biggest talking points from the league so far is what they have got wrong. About time they sacked the lot of them and brought in ex-pros. To be fair the new laws around time wasting seem to be alot better so far, plus, I've only seen a couple of players round more than three times after being fouled, all down to the new injury off for one minute rule.


All in all some improvement in a few areas but still useless in others. I fear they've made the offside rules so complicated that a subjective view can be taken on most tight decisions. Like i said get the ex-pros involved. 🌳.

14 Sep 2026 11:02:38
I believe Wenger, one of football's great thinkers and innovators is looking at a clear daylight offside approach in the Canadian leagues on behalf of FIFA. I look forward to his report and how (and if) FIFA apply it.


Marginal decisions should be like cricket, umpires call. Unless it's a complete reffing blooper goals should stand.
Prior to VAR no goal was disallowed for offside by a toe nail ever in the whole history of football.

14 Sep 2026 11:12:08
To paraphrase Bill Shankley " if he's not interfering with play what's he doing on the pitch ".

14 Sep 2026 13:45:46
From what I know, Wenger has been advising FIFA for years, he is one of the culprits for the current mess. 🌳.

14 Sep 2026 15:23:50
He has a role as advisor to FIFA RRH, Academy, Development and Global Planning. However, he has condemned Infantino's money grubbing and failed plan to privatise and commercialise the future World Cup. Sure enough, Infantino is now desperately grubbing around trying to survive a confidence vote.


It's ok being a knowledgeable and wise advisor who's been there and done it but your boss can still be an idiot and ignore you.thats life.
We will wait and see both as regards Infantino's future and changes to the offside rules and VAR.

14 Sep 2026 17:06:47
Yeah, im not questioning Wengers integrity, although he has had input in all current rules and was one of the primary drivers to get VAR in the first place. He's clearly a proper football man, didn't have the most amazing playing career, but his influence on top class football there after has been remarkable. It can't be that hard to implement an offside rule across all of the game. If they stuck to the old rules when i played(about ten years ago)there wouldn't be such a problem, as you say daylight.

Everyone knew where we stood, none of this subjective c@rp, 'he's clearly leaning offside' or 'his toe is clearly offside'. If your body is level, you are level, simple. Generally any Tom, Dick or Harry could run the touchline and do a decent job. I have to admit, if i was asked to run the line, even in Sunday league, i wouldn't know where to start these days. 🌳.

13 Sep 2026 18:15:45
Watching the Manchester Derby does the word Fernandez mean Cheat in Spanish and Portuguese because both of them should be ashamed of themselves for their antics during this match

Absolute DISGRACE the pair of them feigning injury and diving all over the place.

13 Sep 2026 18:34:37
True.

And Eliot Anderson putting in an outstanding man of the match performance.

13 Sep 2026 21:23:37
Ando, ( aka Judas to some of the hard of thinking on here) has been his usual brilliant self for Man City for several matches now.
Good luck to him ( except against us of course). A world class footballer and a first class human being imo.

14 Sep 2026 05:06:54
Agreed Stokie absolute top young man.

13 Sep 2026 15:14:03
Awoniyi won't be playing against us next Saturday - 3 match ban.

Don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing based on his 1st half performance.

13 Sep 2026 15:53:05
He probably didn't want to play against us. what a good lad he his. no judas there 😁.

13 Sep 2026 16:18:01
It was a bit harsh to be fair. I can scarcely remember Taiwo even getting booked. He had a bizarre red in a meaningless pre season friendly in Portugal 2 years ago I think. Cant remember against who or who was the manager.

13 Sep 2026 19:57:34
Probably cos we've had 23 managers since happened - it's understandable at your age mate.

13 Sep 2026 21:25:04
Tell me about it Gold Stars. Not many people know this, but I joined the Police when Sir Robert Peel was just a lad. 😂😂😂😉.

13 Sep 2026 22:20:19
Haha - when fagan ran the streets !

14 Sep 2026 10:32:03
It's interesting that you mention Fagin, Gold Stars. Charles Dickens regularly went on patrol with the fledgling Peelers ( a tiny, and after the Peterloo massacre in Manchester unarmed Force) in London to research for his social justice articles and Oliver Twist. He was also a special Constable in Liverpool. He knew his crime and his criminals.
Like all the big cities, London would nowadays be called Third World in Victorian times.

Think WW2 and the Warsaw Ghetto. Bodies in the streets,disease, starvation, murder, out of control criminality, anarchy and chaos.
You had to "pick a pocket or two” to survive, unless you were rich or middle class. All this when we were at the height of Empire and controlled a third of the World.

14 Sep 2026 15:13:59
Oops! Sorry Gold Stars and everyone. Went off on a bit of a ramble there. Apologies. It's an age thing.😴😔.

14 Sep 2026 17:33:24
watch out boyz, it's one of dem daan Peelers init!

14 Sep 2026 19:28:02
😂😂😂😂😂.

14 Sep 2026 19:36:44
Dahn the smoke with Regan and Carter.

14 Sep 2026 19:48:09
Dickens wrote many of his books in instalments. Particularly the crime dramas like Twist and Bleak House. In the absence of TV and Radio there were queues outside newsagents and publishers. All best sellers
Like today, the genteel upper and middle classes were thrilled at having fearsome criminals like the cudgel beating Bill Sykes and the totty with the heart of gold, Nancy brought into their drawing rooms and murdered at well known places in London.


People brought flowers to the steps of London Bridge where she fictionally met her death.

14 Sep 2026 19:57:25
Inspector Bucket, a shrewd detective on Bleak House was based on a real liffe peeler who was a close friend of and took him out on patrol with him. I forget his name.
Ooops I'm off again.🙄😔.

14 Sep 2026 19:59:43
I believe Tolkien was a keen Aston Villa fan and cycled miles to watch them.

14 Sep 2026 22:30:28
He based Gollum on Unai Emery. you've only got to see him caressing and slobbering over the Europa trophy in the tunnel on Saturday, croaking the words.” My precious, my precious ".😁🤔😉.

13 Sep 2026 11:55:06
I'm not really concerned with Villa but I know they've sold around £300 m worth of their key players and looked a hollowed out side yesterday. I saw also that Villa Park looks like a construction site.
Am.

I putting 2 and 2 together and making 5? Are they doing an Everton and building a new stadium at the expense of player recruitment?
An open question and perhaps one for our knowledgeable Eds who liaise with other sites?

13 Sep 2026 14:39:43
They are rebuilding one stand Stokey. Fabulous win yesterday, hope we press on from here and pick a few points up over the next few weeks.

13 Sep 2026 11:24:55
Anyone know the problems with Milenkovic and Cunha, hope they haven't both been injured by Delap in training 😟.

13 Sep 2026 12:11:27
Both hamstring strains apparently Oakham. Milenkovic already ruled out of Coventry game. Cunha less serious and may make that game and Brazil friendly.
Both should be available Fiorentina sure after the international break.

13 Sep 2026 12:14:28
Delap is certainly one of those awkward, strong and physical players you want on your side not against you.
Good in the air and quick with a shot on him as we saw yesterday. Just what you want from a centre forward.

13 Sep 2026 12:42:02
Don't know why spell check subbed "Fiorentina " instead of " for sure” but there we go.

14 Sep 2026 08:46:57
Red cards, European fixtures, EFL cup.it's all falling nicely for us.

13 Sep 2026 10:03:02
Schlager man of the match for me. He was picking the ball up everywhere, breaking up play, getting the ball to Gibbs-White, getting into scoring positions and nearly scored. He will only get better when he gets fitter and used to the PL.

Delap also a breath of fresh air and what I pay my money to watch, a confident, dangerous, physical striker who scores. Need to tighten up at the back and not sure about Diomande pace and fitness?

13 Sep 2026 11:15:11
I'm not sure why Ndoye starts ahead of Jesus.

13 Sep 2026 13:00:41
Totally agree.

13 Sep 2026 08:56:28
Thought the defensive 3 looked good against Villa yesterday once the first10 minutes were over

Aina Diamonde and Murrilo all have pace so we were able to play a higher line and support Schlager who I have to say was excellent again

Delap looks a handful and McAtee has been a different player under OG

Same team next week at home to Coventry please Mr G.

13 Sep 2026 09:18:21
Apparently Villa were showing off their Europa League trophy by planting it in the middle of the tunnel as the teams ran out???
Alot of good that done!!! 👌
Maybe we should do the same with our 2 European Cups,when they come to the WFCG???

13 Sep 2026 10:10:08
Good post Munmad!
Rogie, interesting psychology mate by Villa. Perhaps we could, as you say, display our 2 European Cups to their one then raise them by dusting down the ( replica) FA cups from 1956 and 1898?
Keep the League Cups for future escalation. 😂😂😂😂 Show them we don't bear grudges.

13 Sep 2026 10:49:21
Last but not least!
Our Zenith Data Systems Cup!
🤭🤭🤭.

13 Sep 2026 11:07:31
Oh man, Rogie, now you're talking.😂😂😂.

13 Sep 2026 16:27:14
Correction 1959 FA Cup win.
I898 was the date my current house was built. I often wile away those long winter evenings thinking about those first occupants ( a water works manager) moving in whilst Forest were achieving glory in South London against Derby.


We were being embarrassed by the Boers at the time but managed to turn it round.
Queen Vicky died in 1902 I think.

13 Sep 2026 16:29:06
My years are faulty. Queen Vicky died in 1901.

12 Sep 2026 18:57:28
A much much better second half.
Delap coming good (knew he would, which is why I stuck him in my fantasy team lol).

McAtee was great again today, especially second half. Better showing from MGW second half too. I do like Igor, gives his all and has always got a goal in him.

Diomande did well and looks to be getting the hang of the Prem and seems to have improved his fitness levels too.

Munoz is looking like a decent acquisition, and put in a fine performance second half. I still think Murillo is unfit and he made some awful fouls, and nearly OG'd (ok so he cleared it eventually. off the post! )

Schlager was immense and between him and Mac for MOM surely?

Great 3 points and so glad the improvement came.

12 Sep 2026 20:10:37
Just watched the highlights on you tube tonight, good result with Delap and mcatte starting to show some promise, must admit I was disappointed with the results so far this season but optimistic for the future, three points next week digs us in mid table and a perfect platform for pushing for a euro spot.

Just have to play against the lower teams like we play against the so called top six. Good result today UREDS.

12 Sep 2026 20:39:56
Good assessment of the match as usual Chim.

12 Sep 2026 23:46:58
Try one lego 👍.

12 Sep 2026 18:45:08
Individual mentions.
McAtee looked good first half and was superb second half. Ran the show in midfield.

Schlager the hod carrier, under the radar, got through a ton of work.
Aina looked excellent as part of the back 3, bringing it out from the back and getting us moving forward.

Diomonde looked composed and a good run out against a light weight Villa attack.
Sels the usual solid apart from when Murillo did a bit of Keystone Cops defending which required him and the post to save us.

Murillo definitely a bit below par. But, as they say, form is temporary, class is permanent. With Cunha and Milenkovic to come back it will be a big decision for OG to make.

MGW, incredibly slightly outshone by McAtee. With them both stepping up second half we played some delightful stuff.

12 Sep 2026 18:54:17
Good post Stokey.👍🏻.

12 Sep 2026 21:03:31
Yep, good post Stokey.

12 Sep 2026 21:30:48
Did anybody else think villa were lightweight. Or did we see Forest play one of the the better 2nd half's we seen in a long time - just wondering 🤔.

12 Sep 2026 22:16:49
Better 2nd half me thinks.

12 Sep 2026 22:29:13
Yes stokie just reminded me of one of the match of the day pundits. saying how good we are but saying how poor villa are and thats why we looked good. Just saying reading your posts mate 😁.

12 Sep 2026 22:54:43
BTW, I do love your term 'hod carrier' Stokey! It sums up the defensive midfield role perfectly.

12 Sep 2026 23:01:17
'Midfield General' or 'Destroyer' is a better description. 🌳.

13 Sep 2026 10:15:54
Skegs, I did mention in a previous post that Villa aren't the team they were last season. They've sold Martinez, Roger's, Tielemans, Watkins and Konsa. They haven't really replaced them. All world class players.


But like I also said, you can only beat what's in front of you, which we did.
I never listen to MOTD or Sky pundits. Except Murphy occasionally, he's the only interesting one with something to say.

13 Sep 2026 10:34:26
I was surprised that Emery only made one change ( and that was enforced, injury or suspension can't remember which) from the team that played in Brussels on Tuesday evening. I'm not really concerned with Villas problems but does it show lack of squad depth or, as I remarked, Emery is a stubborn old do and so trying to prove a point about poor recruitment?
It's no coincidence that they faded drastically second half, they looked knackered. The loss of a player to injury when there were no subs finished them off.

They lost another defender early too.
Credit to OG at HT too. I think he knew Villa would run out of steam and Forest would bring this about quicker by stepping on the gas, which they did.
That, and the masterful subbing of Ndoye for Jesus. Not only that the Son of God applied the coup de grace by scoring but also, psychologically, the last thing a tiring defence needs in to come up against a bundle of fresh energy like our scorer.
Great management and tactical masterclass.

13 Sep 2026 10:41:41
I like the rugby term " enforcer” myself. I think " Hod Carrier” was a term used by Eric Cantona to describe Didier Deschamps for derogatory purposes.
However Deschamps had the last laugh by captaining France to glory whilst the much more gifted ( but mercurial) genius that was Cantona hardly played for his country.