The four hours or so leading up to kick-off for Forest’s first home game of the season against Leeds United on Saturday were spent with some serious podcast action catching up.
I had hoped that the pre-season would mean a bit of a break from all the Forest obsessive pod listening. Time to concentrate on the cricket, right?
But nope. The content has been relentless. Back in the day I used to look forward every evening, reading the Nottingham Evening Post sports section from start to finish. If I missed out on a minor paragraph about Gedling United then my knowledge of local sport was incomplete.
I find the same OCD absorbing of online digital content playing out 40-odd years later. MY Forest world isn’t happening unless I’ve listened to all the audio, right?
The end result was that shortly before kick-off and ahead of Sir Colin of West Bridgford addressing the nation on BBC Radio Nottingham, I was all caught up.
I knew that we were in for an optimistic season with a finish anywhere between eighth and twelfth. We will go deep in one of the cup competitions. Europe would be on the cards once again.
The OG dropped a few curve balls in his first team selection. Starting in defence was Brazilian Jair Cunha ahead of new signing Diomande. It was also interesting to see McAtee being given something of a forward pressing role alongside MGW.
The most important selection in the matchday squad was young Zac Abbott. It seems that the OG is not only aware, but also respects Forest’s proud record of having an academy player in every squad dating back to the early 1940s.
Kick-off came. Earlier in the day I had panic buy session with a slightly pricier than expected renewal of Peacock TV. I was all in place with the us telly pics and Sir Colin in my AirPods synced up.
Forest got off to a shaky start. Matz Sels kept us in the game early with a half-decent save. Down at the other end and the header from Jesus could have got us going for the season.
The yellow card for Ola seemed about fair. A red card would have been bloody awful so early on in the game. Leeds, however, were able to live up to their dirty, dirty tag without being punished.
Wilson’s effort putting the ball in the net and then being judged offside was an early warning sign. Leeds were clearly here to play the perfect road game: hit them on the brake and then bugger off as quickly as possible with three points in the bag.
Forest were much improved in the second half. We seemed the most likely to score. Once again Matz Sels in the middle of our goal kept us in the game.
McAtee came and went. He was withdrawn. Everyone seems to talk him up behind closed doors but he has yet to ultimately deliver where it matters.
This was a game that was there for Forest to win. Conceding late, late in the game was pretty poor. The free kick was decent but Selz could have kept it out.
Leeds pissed off back up the M1 with a perfect smash and grab job.
See you next Tuesday etc.