Nottingham Forest banter 8

03 Jun 2026
New image uploaded to the
Nottingham Forest Player Sightings page entitled,

Click picture for larger image

03 Jun 2026 10:52:32
Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass, Lewis Carroll's superb, though trippy, novel. In a world of his own imagination, perhaps opium inspired.
I saw an incredible production of it one summers evenings at Newstead Abbey many years ago. We, the audience, were taken to a beautiful spot by the Lake with our picnics and wine, then after a while everyone started to "wonder" when the action was going to start and where the stage was.
Right on cue, a large boat was sighted being rowed across the Lake towards us full of the characters in full costume ( like in the poster).

Rowed by mice.
Then every scene was done in a different spot by a mobile professional cast ( with the Cheshire Cat grinning from the branches of various trees, chatting to us, the audience. I remember the King, a Brian Blessed type actor, remarking to me conversationally that the Queen of Hearts " wasn't the woman he married you know" as she pointed out people with the words "Off with his head".
Very funny and amazing special effects.
A magnificent evenings entertainment

{Ed001's Note - seriously Stokey, he was a paedophile having paedophile fantasies, they are vile books. They make my flesh crawl.}

03 Jun 2026 11:18:23
Well that took a dark turn didn't it. ?

03 Jun 2026 11:25:43
Now look what I've started? ?

03 Jun 2026 11:34:06
DTP, mate, that's one badge of honour that I wouldn't be proud of. ?

03 Jun 2026 13:36:48
Ed 1 mate. There was never a shred of evidence to support this. Sure, Carroll was an oddity, very shy, odd looking with a stutter and deaf in one ear. A loner who never married. The photos he took were always with the Alice Liddells parent (s ) present and Alice herself ( nor her highly respectable family) never made any allegations. She lived to a ripe old age and had children of her own.
The photos are uncomfortable to us but were common in Victorian times with those new fangled things called cameras. John Ruskin and the dozens of Pre Raphaelite painters were well into it and it was widely regarded as harmless at the time.
Unlike say, Eric Gill the sculptor ( who famously created the iconic Ariel and Prospero statues outside the BBCs main door in at Broadcasting House).

He committed dreadful sexual crimes against his daughters as kids, incest, bestiality and paedophilia, were confirmed in his personal diaries found after his death and confirmed by his daughters ( who, sadly, were brought up at home and rarely let out, and assumed it was natural behaviour).
The BBC recently restored his statues after they were attacked by a man with a hammer shouting " Pedo" and who was arrested and is pending trial. It cost £500, 000 quid including a protective screen to prevent further attacks

{Ed001's Note - you haven't read the letters then? There is plentiful evidence to support it in them.}

03 Jun 2026 15:04:18
I stopped believing you, Stokey, when it got to the mice rowing the boat. ??

03 Jun 2026 15:09:06
Well, I had drunk most of a bottle of red by then to be fair. ? ?

03 Jun 2026 14:09:44
I've read a large selection of them Ed. Just seemed, from what I remember as background reading in my University days, that they were odd but harmless. Juvenile word play, as if he was a man with an immature and juvenile sensibility. Playing games with words and a bit boring to read after a while ( a bit like my posts I guess) ??

{Ed001's Note - maybe I am just suspicious, as one of my friends' daughters was the victim of a paedophile, but to me they were seriously creepy. Nothing like your posts at all. Asking to take pictures of a child on its own is a massive red flag to me. It is not normal. You only have to look at the stuff in the Epstein files etc to see that it is very much the kind of thing they used to do, wanting young children to be models etc. It is very much grooming.}

03 Jun 2026 14:40:00
No doubt your spot on your spot on Ed1, Stokey as always been a bit sus ??

{Ed001's Note - he has obviously just got a less cynical mindset than me.}

03 Jun 2026 15:42:49
Fair enough Ed. As I said, the photos nowadays make for uncomfortable viewing.
My own experience of paedophilia and child abuse is pretty horrific
I've spent a significant portion of my career putting the perpetrators inside. I was on the Broxtowe Child Abuse enquiry, if anyone remembers it? From beginning to end. It was basically an extended family ( dozens of adults and over 150 kids, almost a clan) committing sexual abuse going back generations, right back to long dead great grandparents. Basically, the abused became abusers in their turn. Organized abuse " parties " by extremely low intelligence swamp dwellers who had somehow escaped mixing with the rest of society ( their kids rarely attended school and confused the authorities by changing addresses and hiding from social and educational visits.
Some of the more extreme excesses ( such as Satanism) were, on our prosecution barristers advice, not brought up in the trial in case the jury wouldn't believe it and it tainted the rest of the evidence.

It broke my heart and occasionally the horror of it haunts me and breaks through the veneer of civilisation we try to inhabit.
I remember one Mother saying in interview " Well, they're all our kids, we can do what we like with them can't we? "
All the offenders were potted after a massive operation and the kids went into care and many were fostered. We had specially trained foster parents because often disclosed fresh horrors off the cuff at say, breakfast or whilst watching TV.
I remember one pair of foster parents having the run of a huge house with around 25 kids in it. Meals were in sittings. The thing that haunts me is that not one single person arrested believed they were doing anything wrong. And these beliefs were inculcated into their kids over several generations.
When society or a section of it goes wrong, it goes very very wrong .

{Ed001's Note - that is such a sad story Stokey. Horrific too, but sad that people could treat their own children that way.}

03 Jun 2026 23:26:16
The human animal has an infinite capacity to be inhuman. I don't have much faith in the majority of people, and have more faith in animals, especially dogs and horses.

04 Jun 2026 10:48:03
Anyway, to lighten the mood, thank goodness it's the start of the First Test against the Kiwis at Lord's in ten minutes, weather permitting.
Back to civilisation.

04 Jun 2026 10:45:20
I have a great deal of sympathy for your thoughts BSE.
I must stress that this clan was exceptional its isolation from society and longevity of abuse. They were of very very low intelligence and basically feral. The biggest problem we had in evidence gathering and interview was in complying with the "Mcnaugten Rules" where we had to prove that they knew that what they were doing was wrong. They were right on the boundary according to the social psychologists who assessed them.
As you say Ed, very sad indeed.
They were definitely at the the other end of the spectrum of intelligence of abusers we were discussing, the Eric Gills of this world.
I mentioned in an earlier post the wonderful, light and joyous book by Gerald Durrell " My Family and Other Animals ".

Thus time last year I read " The Alexandria Quartet" by his brother Lawrence. Altogether darker.
One of his daughters ( he was married 4 times) committed suicide at a very young age and in her diaries revealed that Lawrence had committed incest and abused her as a child over many years.
Nothing was ever proven but in his book the main character has an intimate knowledge of the child prostitution brothels of Egypt where he was stationed during and after the War when he worked for the Foreign Office.
It's a tough old read though a magnificent novel ( or 4 novels).

02 Jun 2026 20:20:05
Anyway……

I’ve heard that the Arsenal club shop are selling back to school writing and drawing kits for kids. They are going cheap because they’re missing 2 pens …… .?

My World Cup tip for Scotland when playing Brazil, Haiti and Morocco is to give yourselves more of a chance by sending the mascots out…… .??????

Just to give you all the heads up I’ve formed a Glenn Campbell fan club and now I’m getting cards and letters from people I don’t even know…….

.?????

03 Jun 2026 06:01:20
???
Stokey...
Finally getting round to watching Four Weeks That Shook The World Italia 90...
What a tournament that was!!!

03 Jun 2026 08:48:01
Wishing speedy recoveries to John Barnes, Kevin Keegan and King Kenny in their fight against the b****** that is cancer.

03 Jun 2026 15:10:41
Rogie, yes, I keep meaning to catch up with that.
And you are completely right about cancer mate. ?

02 Jun 2026 10:57:19
GKs
We have a 1st choice in Sels
Ortega off to Germany
Gunn (off to get 1st team footy)
Victor (competent back up?)



CBs

Bindon
Murillo
Milenkovic
Morato
Abbott
Cuhna
Boly (becomes a 1st team coach?)
(Savona - I'm a right back, honest Guvnor)
Also that other lad who was out on loan.


FBs
Williams (LB/RB)
Aina (RB/LB)
Netz (LB)
Savona (RB)


MF

Yates
Sangare
Ando
Dominguez

AM

MGW
McAtee


Wingers
Ndoye (more to come?)
Bakwa (I think he'll do better 2nd season)
CHO (good on his day but average most of the time)
Hutch (decent)


Strikers
Lucca (gone)
Wood (won't play enough games)
Taiwo (decent but not 1st choice if we are going for Europe)
Jesus (good link up but better as supporting striker false 10 type thing)




Honestly:

One senior keeper for backup to Sels.


One young keeper as 3rd choice.

FB
One new FB.

CB: We are fine and have too many.


MF
One if Ando leaves.

AM
Keep. McAtee will improve this season and he wants to leave for 1st team lend him out and replace. If we sold not we'd get bugger all so needs to play and increase value.


Wing
Look for upgrades but don't change all four.

Striker
We need another main striker. Wood won't play enough, Taiwo and Jesus are decent but to qualify for Europe we need more goals.


Overloaded.

02 Jun 2026 20:09:03
We are being linked to a Roma CB. You couldn't make it up. The only position we don't really need anyone for.

02 Jun 2026 20:24:42
Got to agree, Cyclist, not a lot needed.
Even Arsenal struggle to find a 20-goal striker.
We're in good shape to move forward, and no Europe to stop us.
I said we weren't ready for Europe, and it's cost us in the Premier, but we will come back stronger.

02 Jun 2026 21:15:20
Ffs, Reds, of course we need a good injection of players. Especially if we lose our star players. "Geordie voice, who goes? You decide."

02 Jun 2026 23:17:20
We don't know we are losing any key players. I mentioned Anderson. Not convinced any of the other key players will be allowed to leave.

03 Jun 2026 00:04:50
Anderson is not a sure thing either.

Mr M won't sell for less than top dollar, which is north of 100 million. Man City are thinking 80, apparently.

He has plenty of time left on his contract and is still improving.

He is an asset on the books. Also, he doesn't strike me as the type to spit his dummy out.

If no one comes up with the money, we should get another season of him in the Garibaldi.

03 Jun 2026 11:25:36
That's a really good point, 67, keeping Ando would be a result and better than signing ten new players. Only going to get better. Knows the club and players around him. Win, win. ?

01 Jun 2026 23:39:57
I'm back as I've realised that I shouldn't let people like DTP and Larry ruin my overall enjoyment of this site.

They are the minority, intent on winding every other poster up on here.

Over the years I have come to realise that the vast majority of the posters on this site are of genuinely great personality and loyal supporters of our great Club. OK, we may disagree at times - but overall we are a happy, yet disfunctional, family! These 2 people alone turn this site venomous. I even doubt whether they support Forest.

02 Jun 2026 04:55:48
Oh, I support Forest Lego, and not from Cornwall because they were the team winning things when I was a school child. But, because I'm Nottingham born & bred, thats my local team.
That's not winding people up, it's a fact that Essex empties when the Manchester clubs play at home & if people supported the local team, football's riches would be more evenly distributed.

02 Jun 2026 05:57:39
Welcome back, mate.

02 Jun 2026 00:10:02
Welcome back mate, let me know if anyone is p*****g you off. I can hold em still and you can show them what a wheelchair rugby player can do to a tackle pad or just run em over.♿??

02 Jun 2026 08:40:38
Couldn't agree more, Larry
I'm still a season card holder, so Lego you assume wrongly.
Why don't you say something about Forest for a change.

02 Jun 2026 11:32:51
Nobody can deny your loyalty, dtp, & the amount of revenue you invest in your team each season. ??

02 Jun 2026 10:51:32
They weren't winning duck all when i was at school Balloons, quite the opposite. Half my family is from in and around Nottingham, my Grandad was Forest through and through, took me to my first game and hooked me for life.

The other half of my family are egg chasing neanderthals.
So i ask this gentleman, if you took your grandson to a game and they become reds, would you question his loyalty because he doesn't live in Nottingham❓??

02 Jun 2026 12:41:29
It's small club/time thinking to want every Forest fan to come from Nottingham. To grow the club, you need more interest and revenue from further afield.

02 Jun 2026 13:05:37
Totally agree, Stevie, mate...

02 Jun 2026 13:47:42
You would have to, Rogie, ironically. ??

02 Jun 2026 15:18:33
I was only putting Lego right on being a season card holder, blondie. ??

02 Jun 2026 17:46:59
DTP, you simply can't help yourself, can you? At least I've never posted a picture of my garden on here....

02 Jun 2026 17:53:09
You need to have a longer sabbatical, Lego. I thought you were coming back to talk football & banter. You're not quite ready yet, mate.

02 Jun 2026 18:02:11
You could well be right, Larry.

02 Jun 2026 18:05:33
You do realise that this is currently bordering on bullying? Bullying others off the site is pathetic and yet it goes on in plain site. ?

02 Jun 2026 18:54:32
I'm a proud Geordie, and if you lot ask anyone I know, I live Forest, not going into it, as I've posted it before. FTID only thing keeping me half sane atm. Gets rid of my frustrations in life.

02 Jun 2026 19:37:53
Hang in there Bud. ?

02 Jun 2026 19:38:28
Why say you're back one minute, and then start the same argument, but add Larry?

02 Jun 2026 19:52:50
Exactly Bowie, well said, mate, duck them all. ?

02 Jun 2026 19:58:37
If you want to all play nicely.
Then you don't say I'm back and then talk about posters you don't like?

02 Jun 2026 20:05:22
I'm bored of the soap opera and cat fighting. I have an idea. Shall we chat about footy in a forum somewhere. ?

02 Jun 2026 20:06:30
I'm back. And I don't like anyone. ???

02 Jun 2026 19:22:40
If people don't like what other people post, just go to 'My Profile' at the top and put their names in the 'Ignore' list.
I did that yonks ago with the 'rise and recline seaside simpletons' so you don't have to listen to their incoherent ramblings.

Anyone else secretly hoping Henderson gets an injury in the friendlies and GW gets a call up?

02 Jun 2026 20:10:59
Exactly Skeggs.

02 Jun 2026 20:14:47
I can't wish injury to any player tbh, not nice.
To me, Tuchel has picked his squad, rightly or wrongly, and he will be judged on that decision.

02 Jun 2026 20:39:36
Right, are you all over your Ginger Genius getting the boot then? Brilliant! We can start enjoying life under a modern coach at last.

So, when we are thinking of signings, we need to think about ones that are a bit more flexible and not just low block counter-attack.

02 Jun 2026 20:47:11
Wasn't rocket science that Dyche had too many riches to cope with, or how to play them.
It was run till you drop, and he got sacked for doing it, as Sinatra said, "My Way."

02 Jun 2026 20:54:53
Cyclist, you ain't even got windows (me and Rogie joke). I give up on future signings, as with this club, anything can happen. For me, eggs in one basket, Bowen. Especially if we lose mgw.

02 Jun 2026 20:13:04
I wasn't starting an argument DTP. I was just stating a fact about you and Larry which has become obvious to myself and many other posters on here.

I find it ironic how good you two are at 'dishing it out' to others, irrespective of how your poisonous comments may hurt some, and then stand aghast when anyone even softly gives it back to you. Total hypocrisy. I stand my ground against you both and refuse to be forced-off this site.

Thanks for your loyalty Winter.

02 Jun 2026 20:38:36
I've no wish to get involved in this ridiculous spat, but what I WILL say is that Legolas has over come more than most so called men could ever possibly imagine, and yet he works tirelessly to ensure others have enough food and roofs over their heads on a daily basis.

Shame on those who ridicule him. Is it any wonder that others don't come on this site. Eds should take note.

02 Jun 2026 22:03:57
Many thanks, Vale. I appreciate that, mate.

02 Jun 2026 22:08:54
Yet again, same subject, Lego.

02 Jun 2026 22:43:06
DTP, are you totally heartless? If you cut me in half I'd have 'Forest' written through me like a piece of seaside rock. However, dare I say that there are more important things in life than football. Food, water, shelter, companionship, support etc. I love my Club, but aren't these things more important than Forest?

Just to annoy you, DTP, you may remember my case when I was trying to help a RAF veteran who'd been evicted from his rented caravan and was living rough. This guy, who had served this country to defend your right to free speech, was living in a tent and eating pot noodles to survive.

I ended up getting the guy into a homeless shelter and worked hard to get him more settled back into society.

I received a text from him a fortnight ago or so. He now has his own privately rented flat, is no longer claiming benefits, and has a full time job as a helicopter technician once again earning good money. He even now has a girlfriend and has taken up oil painting again!

You can slag me off as much as you want, DTP. I love our Club, but I am proud to post other things which may inspire you and others on here to help those less fortunate than ourselves and, hopefully, to better our society as a whole.

02 Jun 2026 22:44:53
This is getting boring now. Vale, I think we've all overcome hard things in our life and probably have plenty more hard things to go. Some of us just don't mention it on site, and I'm sure a lot on here have done good things like Lego as to. And fair play to the guy. But, as others have said on here before, nobody knows about other posters and what they've been through and what they've done, because they don't post it.

Let's just talk footie and have a banter, because at the end of the day we're all on here posting because we want to escape the real world for a while and have a laugh and talk about a club we all love in the end. Thank God I sound like Stokie. ??

02 Jun 2026 23:13:16
Bravo, Skeggs.
Well said.

02 Jun 2026 23:27:07
Well said, Skegs.

02 Jun 2026 23:21:46
That's a fair point Skaggs, and I agree with what you're saying but DTP treats this site like it's his own cartel. A couple of months ago when he went off the grid with a trembling bottom lip this site was totally different, everyone got on and NO snide comments or personal attacks.

He came back and within a day it all kicked off again. Coincidence or a deliberate attempt to split the group, you decide. I've no beef with you or anyone else but it has to be said.

03 Jun 2026 00:07:01
Nailed the situation Vale. I noticed the same with DTP's absence from the site - it was far better without him.

03 Jun 2026 09:28:19
I know it's hard. But, all sides (apart from St Cyclist, obviously) are guilty. Sorry, but you are all snarking and acting like you want each other to leave. You could stop talking about each other all the time and just chat about footy and make Harmless fun of each other.

There is banter, then there is personal nastiness. Any intelligent person can see the difference.

Move on. Stop obsessing about each other. You're all wrong unless you agree with me. ?

04 Jun 2026 07:36:05
I'd like to invite Jerry Springer to host this year's first dramas page. About the only guy appropriate to mediate this reality tv nonsense.

01 Jun 2026
New image uploaded to the
Nottingham Forest Player Sightings page entitled, Just for Bowie.

Click picture for larger image

01 Jun 2026 17:06:31
??? Brilliant winter.

01 Jun 2026 20:23:52
I'll never forgive him for making me cry in 96. ?

01 Jun 2026 07:39:14
{Ed's Note - EHL2020 has posted a new article entitled, Rangers and the Dutch-Belgian Squad Blueprint

01 Jun 2026 13:08:28
Just reading an interesting article on the BBC about Icon World Cup Kits....
Mine has to be the Dutch Kit 74, Nigeria's 2002 kit, and Brazil's 82 kit.

01 Jun 2026 14:17:25
Mine was the 94 German kit. Kuntz.

01 Jun 2026 14:40:51
I'd have to go with Cameroon 1994 home green with black trim kit. ?

01 Jun 2026 16:10:12
I'd go for the ref. All black. Revolutionary. ?

01 Jun 2026 17:35:10
Not a kit but the Romanian squads bleached hair in 94 and yes back then I copied it. ? ?

01 Jun 2026 21:15:52
Hagi was superb.

01 Jun 2026 21:59:30
I remember Jimmy Hill claimed "They could see each other better".
???

01 Jun 2026 23:06:58
Was it Motty on the commentary? All I remember is that it was hilarious, 'Petrov into errrr...' ?, but yeah, Hagi and his Bulgarian mate Stoichkov, both playing for Barca, now they were proper players. ?

02 Jun 2026 05:59:46
Hagi scored a phenomenal goal at that World Cup.

31 May 2026 21:44:36
Obviously it's all a bit quiet atm. Opinions on what positions we need an upgrade and who would ideally fill said positions?

01 Jun 2026 05:34:18
Needs a fire sale, mate.

01 Jun 2026 10:42:44
Has there been a fire then, Larry? Or have you just caught up with the news from 1968, mate.
There will certainly be a fire sale at Leicester City now they are in League 1. Might be worth a rummage, certainly in their Academy, possibly one or two first teamers.

Every crock of ? might have a diamond in there somewhere?
Meanwhile, I will have a think about MV's interesting question. Just nipping out to get some Turkish lira for my hols....

01 Jun 2026 11:27:31
Jeremy Monga is definitely worth a look from their academy. ?

01 Jun 2026 13:39:35
I don't know much about Monga, RRH. Was he in "Blazing Saddles" opposite Mel Brookes and Gene Wilder? ???

01 Jun 2026 14:34:06
That's terrible, Stokey, but I suppose "Monga only pawn in game of life." ?

01 Jun 2026 16:35:06
I think it might be time for a new keeper. I love Sels, but he is in his mid-thirties now, and is out of contract next summer. I don't think Big John is good enough to take over from him, so time for our recruitment to go and find a diamond from under the radar, just like Sels was.

01 Jun 2026 17:26:56
I think he's still a class act, mate.
Just my opinion.

01 Jun 2026 17:38:33
MV mate, having pondered your excellent question, I’d break it down into the following points.
Firstly, it all depends on the outgoings, particularly of our "big guns" Murillo, MGW and Ando (and possibly players who have done well this season such as Sels, Williams and Sanghere). Also, as to how much we get in the coffers for quality replacements if required.
Secondly, VP has indicated he doesn’t want a glut of new players to deal with, and is basically happy with his squad.
Thirdly, before the start of the new season VP will have to assess the on loan players and make a judgement (Jota Silva, and the lesser spotted Cubiano and Omar Richards and, of course, Kalimuendo plus the youngsters out with other clubs).
Fourthly, get rid of the dead wood (Lucca, Victor, Boly for example).
Fifthly, by departments...
Goalkeepers... Sels, Ortega and Gunn. The first two are 34 and 33, but goalkeepers go on for longer than outfield players and are often at their best as they age. All 3 have done well this season.
Full backs... Williams and Aina top class, Luca Netz looked comfortable in the Prem.

Beyond these, we have to have cover unless VP thinks De Morera, Omar or Cubiano are up to it. It’s handy that Williams and Aina can play both sides. We struggled with playing centre backs out wide (Cunha, Abbott, Savonha, Morato). It’s a specialist position.
Central defenders we are well covered. Murillo, Malenkovic, Savona, Morato, Cunha, Abbott.
Holding midfielders ok also, Sanghere and Ando, Dominquez and Yates.
Attacking midfielders a bit light, especially if MGW goes. Jesus and McAtee need assessing in that role pre season. But, like strikers, they are gold dust.
Wingers CHO and Hutch were doing well, Bakwa has something and Ndoye needs a good World Cup. Possible reinforcements needed here.
Strikers Wood and Taiwo. Both did well towards the end of the season, but it showed how much we missed a fully fit pair and Jesus was outgunned and lightweight at spearhead. I’d be looking at splashing the cash in this area as a priority.
It’s going to be an interesting summer. A thousand pardons if I’ve missed anyone out.

01 Jun 2026 18:36:46
I thought Murillo had accepted a new 3-year contract?

01 Jun 2026 20:13:33
He has BSE, but that might just be a guarantee to increase his transfer value, mate.
Another point I'd make is that we have young Carmo and Tyler Bindon coming back from loans. I thought they looked good prospects pre season! We are truly well stocked with ball playing centre backs if Murillo goes.

01 Jun 2026 20:42:25
We could do with a proper right back to cover Aina. Savona should be back soonish, but he's not a full back, although talented. Then I would concentrate on a couple of decent forwards, one centre and one inside.
With Savona in mind, we'd have like seven centre backs on the books, and add to that Boly if he's still at the club after the summer. I'd sell maybe two at least, keeping Murillo and the Serbinater one hundred percent.
Sels is a class act; he has to stay, then I'd look for an up and coming keeper from the football league, preferably a young English lad twenty three and under. Hopefully he can learn from big Matty.
Bakwa and Ndoye I would put on notice, one stays, one goes, impress preseason or go. Hutchinson and CHO I'd keep. Then look to bring in a proper pacy inside forward who can give full backs nightmares.


I'm guessing that Ando will leave, banking us a hundred plus million. He will no doubt be hard to replace, but maybe a combination of Yates, Sangare and MGW in midfield could make up for the loss.
I'm not sure if Woody will ever get back to the way he was before injury. Lucca, thank God, will go. We could really do with getting hold of another unit with pace. Taiwo is the man, but I'm not sure he can bank twenty odd goals a season. He would be perfect backup for someone like Mateta who no doubt will be on big wages with a rather large transfer fee.
So to sum up, stop loaning players to Rio and Olympiacos, sell all the fringe players, bank as much as possible and keep Murillo and MGW.
I'm tired of typing now and beginning to ramble because I can't remember where I started. COYR. ?

01 Jun 2026 21:18:19
I'm pretty certain Boly will be gone, RRH. He's out of contract, 35 years old and is carrying niggly injuries. Good servant to the club though and apparently one of the "mentor" senior pros to the youngsters.
Talking of goalkeepers carrying on into their mid thirties and beyond. Remember Kaylor Navas, the Costa Rican? He played for us under SC, I think, in 2023 as cover for Dean Henderson, aged 36, and was absolutely superb!
Loads of examples going back to Lev Yashin, the Russian, playing at top level into his 40s.


I'd definitely be keeping Sels (unless his form drops off a cliff), and also try and persuade Ortega not to go back to Germany.
I don't know how we've come to have such a preponderance of centre backs?

01 Jun 2026 22:01:46
Good points on the keepers' longevity, mate.

01 Jun 2026 23:11:45
I'm sure Nevas is still going, mate, just checking... Now 39 and playing for Pumas UNAM in the Costa Rican Premier. I've tried signing him as back up a few times on Footy Manager, but I guess it's his hometown club because he'll never leave. ?

31 May 2026 18:29:28
Ok ED001, fans the grassroots of football, etc etc. You know I ply this to the premiership as a whole. Time and time again, yet shot down for the greed. I know you obviously didn't like slot, but I'm asking you honestly sir. What is your format on the game as it stands, I keep saying it was covid and seeing bless em, towns etc closing down, yet players bragging their cars etc.

May look nothing to outsiders, looking in. But my I know how much hurt it brings to communities etc. That faith. And togetherness. Just a thought?

{Ed001's Note - it is up to the fans to show their dissatisfaction by going to watch grassroots football instead. Nothing will change while the grounds are full.}

31 May 2026 19:05:47
Thanks for reply. ?

{Ed001's Note - very welcome mate. I have to admit, I enjoy the local footie here more than the Prem lately. It is such a dreadful watch at the moment. And I can go to the games here for peanuts and have the club owner buy me coffees and chocolates as a thank you for being a regular.}

31 May 2026 21:01:27
You know me, Bowie. I love a non league match, and all you get from it. Honesty being the main word.
Love it. If Forest are away, a midweek match, or if we have a free weekend, I will be at a local ish non league game. You can't beat it for value.

31 May 2026 22:30:06
I know you do, Gazz. Proud of ya. ? I watch my son a lot. He plays in the Northern Alliance Premier for Hazelrigg. They do ok, mate, always a great atmosphere and a cup of Bovril. Love it. And real challenges.

01 Jun 2026 05:33:04
Bowie, it was a game invented by the working man. For the working man. Then enter Sky & the money mad brigade. ?? All gone. 34 yrs consecutive season tickets holder & 2 Euro Finals, home & away every week with my dad.


I wouldn't go now if I had free tickets. ?? Backwards & Sideways everywhere we go, everywhere we go. ? Unwatchable boring crap 90% of the time. Entertainment as we knew it gone forever.

01 Jun 2026 06:21:46
Have to agree with you, Larry. My brother and I were talking about this over the weekend, no Souness's, Robson's, Burnsy's, McGrath's, etc...
These were tough, tough men.
Can you imagine any of them going to Cloughie, Paisley, and Big Ron, downing tools just because they want out after signing a hugely lucrative deal?
They'd be banished into the Ryman League, at best (no disrespect lads), until they toed the line.


Also, the squealing when they are brushed anywhere near their precious faces?
(Pearce touches on it during his interview with Jeff Stelling. Check it out, btw)
Also imagine Shilton, Jennings, or Clem falling down feigning injury?
I can't name one maverick/character in our so-called game anymore, just image conscious robots.

01 Jun 2026 09:03:00
Couldn't agree more, Rogie. Where are the Frank Worthington, Stan Bowles, Paul Gascoigne characters these days? Pure entertainment. Can't name one similar in the present day.

01 Jun 2026 09:29:31
Maybe Jack Grealish, nice lad, however, that's a stretch... "Worthy's" goal, when he fooled the whole back line with a couple of "Keepy Uppies", he turned and drilled it into the bottom corner. Can't remember who the unfortunate team was!!.
???

01 Jun 2026 09:54:26
Balloons, all rose-tinted glasses. Worthington, Bowles, Marsh, and co were crap. They couldn't get into an England team that couldn't qualify for World Cups. Bowles came here into a proper team, and couldn't hack it; he walked out on the chance to play in a European Cup final. A complete fraud and bottler. Worthington's biggest clubs were Bolton/Leicester, which tells you everything.

They were unprofessional, almost certainly unfit. They wouldn't survive in this modern game. Gascoigne was a similar type, all show, achieved nothing. A few flicks and tricks don't make a top player. You can list more people rave about from that era: Hudson, Currie. Hudson moved from Chelsea to Stoke, not Madrid or Barcelona. They were ridiculously romanticised into 'legends'.

01 Jun 2026 10:45:37
I remember that Stevie... I often wondered where he ended up that night.

01 Jun 2026 11:08:12
Rogie, he was a coward who knew he was out of his depth in a proper team, where work ethic was necessary, and responsibility needed to be taken, and, all of a sudden, he was surrounded by top players, not a big fish in a small pond anymore.

01 Jun 2026 11:20:09
I remember the radio commentary by the late great Peter Jones... He was reading out the Forest lineup that night.
"And Stan Bowles, as we all know, is elsewhere."
I actually had the LP version of that commentary, God knows what it would have been worth now. ?

01 Jun 2026 14:22:58
Some very interesting and great discussion from ya reds. Love it. ?

01 Jun 2026 14:43:57
Spot on balloons btw, brilliant. ?

01 Jun 2026 15:13:26
Rogie, Peter Jones was a proper commentator. ? I always remember when the FA Cup was a big thing, and Monday lunchtime the draw was made. They always used to go over to Peter Jones in the anti room (whatever that was) at FA headquarters, then some posh blokes saying "The next business on the agenda is the draw for the FA Cup 3rd round," and the anticipation when you were young, listening to it, waiting for Forest to be drawn out.

Now we have some clowns on tv, giggling and laughing their way through it, totally cheapens a great competition.

01 Jun 2026 16:17:40
Typical of you stevie. I never said they were brilliant (although Gascoigne was) it was pure entertainment, what it was supposed to be

01 Jun 2026 17:34:38
I remember Jones would say "There's been a goal at the City Ground!!!"
???

01 Jun 2026 18:58:31
Balloons, yeah, typical of me, how dare I talk facts instead of fantasy.

01 Jun 2026 19:31:39
Balloons, the only places Gascoigne was rated were England/Scotland; the only place he had success was in a poor Scottish league. He was wildly overrated, scored the odd great goal, but was a liability because of his temperament and lack of brain power. Cheating b******; he should have been sent off in the cup final.

01 Jun 2026 21:20:52
He was going round that pitch like something possessed. That assault on Garry Parker was a straight red.

01 Jun 2026 21:27:51
One our best ever. Apart from that game obviously. Naturally gifted. As for brain power, was i actually missing something? Some of the balls he played. Free kicks etc etc. F kn ignorance stevie mate. My opinion.

01 Jun 2026 22:02:13
I didn't read anything in Balloons' comments saying he was a great player. Stevie, he said he was an entertainer on the pitch. That's mainly what people remember. Haaland, great player in 30 years' time? Do you think people will talk about him like they do about Gazza now? No, apart from some Man City fans.

02 Jun 2026 00:42:39
Skegs Balloons is a big boy. He doesn't need you to run to his aid every time someone disagrees with him. On your point about Gascoigne and Haaland, well, Haaland will just look at his vast trophy cabinet; Gascoigne not so much.

Bowie, mate, Bobby Robson didn't call him 'daft as a brush' because he was a member of Mensa; his lifestyle and actions off the pitch prove that. We'll agree to differ, mate.

02 Jun 2026 09:55:30
Fair enough, Stevie. ? He was also known to be one of the hardest workers in training. He loved it.

31 May 2026 17:45:21
Why doesn't the transfer window open when the last game of the season is played?

31 May 2026 18:06:44
That's because playschool is finished, cyclist. If I were you, I'd ask the square window, bud. ?

31 May 2026 14:57:48
I didn't watch the match but I hear poor old Gabrielle missing that penalty.
She should have taken that eye patch off.

31 May 2026 16:30:19
Brilliant mate.
???