It’s 24 hours since Forest lost 1-0 at home to Arsenal. I’ve not really got anything to say about this, which makes this perhaps one of the most pointless blog posts ever.

I watched the game on delay having basketball duties up at the University, just as the game was kicking off at the World Famous. I raced home from basketball and watched it on delay.

I had a strict embargo of not getting my phone out whilst watching the basketball. I walked back from the University and almost came a cropper when I stared into someone’s living room and saw a big green pitch, but thankfully no one celebrating or even having their head in their hands.

I arrived back at base, had a quick cup of tea, and then was all set to see Forest take on the current league champions.

That grated a little to be honest. Arsenal won the league fair and square, unlike others. I did associate this Arsenal team as being something of a collection of bottlers.

I now accept this isn’t the case. Somehow they have managed to move themselves to be the elite team in English football. That’s takes quite some doing to displace what looked like a resurgent Liverpool, Chelsea and all their millions, and yep, even Man City, before the illusion of what we all now know.

I’ve always had something of a begrudging respect for Arsenal as an institution, as a football club. They seem to do things the right way.

I can also respect how, over the past five years or so, they have emerged as THE London club, although I don’t think this was deliberate. The way that they have crafted and styled together a team that LOOKS like London, and even acts like London with the messaging, is quite something.

It’s amazing what a Premier League victory will do to flush out all those old Arsenal fans who try and convince you that they used to stand on the banks of the old North Bank back in the day.

But anyway - the cup of tea on Sunday evening was soon finished and I turned to the BOOZE. That’s not something I’ve done in a couple of months whilst watching football. The mood just felt right.

Four pints later and I was singing D***y songs in the absence of anything else to celebrate

I’ve read and heard an awful lot about the game in the past 24 hours. As ever, some of it I agree with, a lot of it I think is a load of old bollocks. The truth is somewhere in the middle.

Yes, this has been a very poor start to the season for Glassner and Forest. It’s not been awful, just poor. You can’t win away at Villa Park and have a classy 2-2 draw at Anfield and call it an awful start to the season.

But that bloody home record is truly shocking.

The Arsenal game wasn’t truly shocking for Forest. But even when you narrowly lose 1-0, you still surrender three home points. I don’t think anyone was expecting anything different ahead of kickoff.

Let’s try and look for the positives. The defence was very decent. Neco in particular, I thought, had a tremendous match.

There’s been a lot of whispers about Murillo in the past month or so. His audacious attempt at scoring the Goal of the Season towards the end should hopefully silence those doubters.

I actually look forward to Forest being linked with £75 million-plus deals for Murillo once again. At least, it will be a sign that we’ve got the old Murillo back.

I thought Delap battled well up front. He is such a bully of a player and also still so young. It’s exciting to think what he would be like in three to four years' time if he’s still around Forest. He’ll be at the peak of his physical powers and be an absolute beast of a centre forward.

Chris Wood, however, looks like he has started his farewell tour.

But it’s in the centre of the park where we really need to have cause for concern. Without MGW there’s one gaping hole in which to provide that spark and that creativity.

I thought McAtee would step up but that’s one hell of a leap to try and dictate a game in the way that MGW does.

I’m not disheartened. I thoroughly expect Forest to get three points on the road away at Ipswich on Friday evening. The run of fixtures thereafter doesn’t do us any favours.

This is certainly no time to panic. That time would be if we dumped out of the FA Cup in the third round come January.

I’m a very measured man. I have mellowed in my middle age, even with the veracity in which I sing my D***y songs.

I hope the Big Fat Greek has a similar perspective when it comes to the long term future of our club.

I did bash out some very detailed notes whilst watching what was one of the most bonkers games of football that I’ve seen in years. As the game progressed the notes got a little more absurd and even surrealist, both in content and in form. The typing went to shit - a bit like Forest. The notes got lost somewhere down the modern interweb and so I’m writing from scratch.

Maybe Forest should start from scratch.

I’m not one of those doom mongers that’s already parading around the modern interweb saying: “Glassner out!!!!” We know he’s streaky, we know he’s a slow burner but you have to ask: how long will the Big Fat Greek invest in a slow burner when, right in front of our eyes, it’s not looking that great at the moment?

I never thought I would say this but thank chuff for a three week international break. I do fear that with a hellish fixture list coming up, if we had approached a November international break still stuck on five points, then the Big Fat Greek might press the Rapha Benitez button.

But it’s not all as bad as that. The team at least showed we had some limited flexibility. We were pre-warned with the three possible injuries ahead of kick off. It was great to see Nico out there once again. I was surprised to see no Sangare and was even hopeful of CHO, but nope, Glassner is rigid.

The afternoon got off to a half decent start with good old Harry Hodge on BBC Radio Nottingham retelling his famous Palace story once again. I never tire of hearing how BC disliked the South London club so much that he pulled off Harry, so to speak, and allowed Forest to play with ten men back in the day to prove a point.

Such an act these days against such a faux rivalry would have caused a riot down at Selhurst.

The game kicked off. WTF? Forest were absolutely dominant, which makes the mockery of writing a Crap Match Report saying we were crap all the more so. This was possibly the best 45 minutes we’ve seen so far this season.

Sure, Palace had the odd chance to break through what looked like a very wide and exposed Forest defence, but when we were attacking we were shit hot. It’s just a shame that we weren’t ruthless.

The early goal of course steadied the nerves as well as silencing Selhurst. The key for any successful team is then to build on this and kill off the opposition there and then. We should have been 4-0 up at half-time. Instead we were trailing 2-1.

Funny old game, eh?

Selhurst was awakened. It wasn’t exactly a beast being awakened but Selhurst was awakened. Fair play to Forest for not crumbling but coming back from what then became 3-1 down and still pressing right until the end.

Glassner at least showed some flexibility in bringing CHO on. He looked a little off the pace.

Sangare was dominant. I still love the way he looks so slow and sluggish moving around the pitch but somehow manages to progress the ball.

Chris Wood tried but is clearly lacking that sharpness he had during that Nuno season. It was that kind of game where, as good old Billy Davis was fond of saying, small margins, etc.

And so lay off with your Glassner out, modern interweb statements. Do you really think we would be in a better place if we were to go for what would be our sixth manager in almost 12 months? And who would you want exactly?

We need to accept that Glassner is a project builder. I’m in no way comparing Young Nigel to an elite European manager, but just look at what the Number 9 is achieving up the road at Field Mill after being given time - plenty of time - at Mansfield.

Five points at this stage in the season is poor. I do fear for what’s to come with Arsenal at home next weekend but we know we have the players, if not the luxury of a large squad, to help us see it through. Plus I still think Glassner can deliver if he perhaps just shows a little more flexibility.

Well done Palace. I really haven’t got any ill feelings towards you. I can’t be arsed to get sucked into what is a fake rivalry. Enjoy your moment and then we go again.

Oh yeah, Glassner made some pretty bat shit comments afterwards on BBC Radio Nottingham. It wasn’t just that he was referring to how much he enjoyed the adulation from both sets of supporters but he also put the defeat directly down to him, saying he was the distraction.

No one likes a football club to be all about themselves, not unless you’re BC and can get away with it.

And so we come to Coventry at home, the first time that these two teams have played each other in the Premier League in over a quarter of a century.

What could go wrong for Forest?

Well first of all let’s start with that dreaded home form. We were in desperate need of a statement win to help us get through the three long weeks of the stupid international break.

The team news landed. It looks like The OG has settled on his strongest starting eleven and is going to run with this week in, week out if he can manage injuries and suspensions.

Coventry offered little threat right from the kick-off. You know where this one is heading, right?

MGW was looking like he had a point to prove after being left out of the England squad once again. His flicks, tricks, and kicks pretty much dominated the first half.

Meanwhile McAtee looks transformed. He is in peak condition and was able to muscle in and make his mark in his No. 6 role.

The World Famous City Ground was also looking rather handsome. All that was needed was this elusive home win.

Forest had most possession during the first half but they weren’t clinical. This won’t come and kick us right at the backside, will it?

There was a very scrappy end to the first half. It looked like Coventry were here to take a point on the road whilst Forest seemed to accept they are going to struggle to score goals at home.

There’s not a great deal to say about the second half apart from Coventry’s goal on the break which was a great effort. Rushworth made a superb pass and split the entire pitch. He also looked rather charming wearing a traditional green goalkeeper kit. More of the same please.

It’s not that Forest were crap as a team, it’s just that we couldn’t score. This wasn’t the best of games for Ndoye.

Jesus rightfully took his place. His goal showed the determination that he has as a player, but as ever, fuck VAR.

And so we go into what seems like an eternal break away from the Premier League, with the club not perhaps being where it wanted to be.

It’s not been a disastrous start to the season but three points at home to Coventry would have set us up nicely for what is to come.

The team news dropped. Oh dear we appear to be without three established centre halves - which is something of a problem when you’re playing a very rigid system with a refusal to be flexible with your back five.

Oh how we could have done with Morato, albeit the West Ham Morato, who somehow was transformed into a wing back wonder last night.

Out came the teams. I’ve always had a soft spot for Villa. I think it’s a Midlander thing. Plus we are European brothers in that we’ve both lifted the big trophy.

I’m not too up to speed with the Villa of 2026. The best thing I can say about them after today’s performance is that their home kit looked very sexy.

Not so the Forest third kit ripple effort. That’s a jersey that only a hardcore Forest fan could fall in love with.

I said the same thing about the third kit during the Nuno European push season. Our relationships with football jerseys are intrinsically linked to the performance we see whilst they are being worn.

Villa started strongly. Matz Sels, in the middle of our goal, was superb. He certainly kept Forest from falling behind early on and possibly being out of the game.

Villa are also something of a niggly team. We got the first sighting of the Forest Britpop physio this afternoon.

Murillo remains such a worry on the injury front. He’s only one overstretched run away from being a long term injury.

Somehow Forest found their feet and rallied. They had the better of the closing 15 minutes or so of the first half.

I managed to miss Delap’s debut goal. My VPN was playing silly buggers.

Wait. We’re back.

Running the midfield for Forest was Schlager. He was absolutely commanding, with an incredibly industrious performance that I think should edge him ahead of Sangare in future team selections. He has so much energy and also ideas when he’s on the ball.

Meanwhile McAtee was finally looking like the solution we need. As well as possessing the ability to twist and turn whatever way suits the style of play, he has also added a physical element to his game.

Dan Ndoye was also something of a trooper. I had strong Steve Stone vibes from back in the day, watching Dan the Man run around with cotton wool shoved up his nostrils.

The goal did the power good for Delap. He was incredibly powerful and unselfish when needed. He could quite easily have pressed on when he was forced out wide on another occasion, but chose to make the correct pass instead.

1-0 up and the game became very nervy for Forest. We needed to finish them off whilst we were on top. One goal is never enough.

Erm, yep.

Whatever, a score draw away at Villa Park is not to be sniffed at. It looked like The OG felt the same as he brought on Sangare to shut up shop.

Nope. Villa fucked up with their substitutions and played out the final 10 minutes with 10 men.

Attack! Attack!

Attack! Attack! Attack!

Forest finished stronger and were clearly looking for the winner. We owe Villa one after the Europa semi last season.

And then it came. JESUS! He walks on the Trent.

And so our season finally gets going. 2-1 seems like a fair score. This is also the scoreline when it comes to European Cups lifted by both teams.

That’s some record that The OG has got against Villa. I hope we draw them in the FA Cup third round come the start of the year.

Oh yeah, SHOUT OUT to the Forest fans who made the short journey over to the West Midlands. They were magnificent from start to finish.

The briefest of brief Crap Match Reports.

Disclaimer: I was running my arse around town doing various things in the lead up to KO. I was pretty knackered when KO came. I confess to dozing off for maybe 15 to 20 minutes during the match.

There, that’s the kind of detail you won’t read in a Daily Telegraph match report. Judging by the quality of some of the journalism I read in the Telegraph, I’d wager that some of the journo’s are often fond of taking a snooze midway through a game as well.

Certainly not asleep on the job was Delap. It was a bold move for The OG to start the new record signing and see him make his home debut.

This sets out the stall as to where we stand with the forward line this season. Respect to Chris Wood, etc, but it seems that he has possibly reached the end of the road in terms of his powers. Age catches up with all of us - and so does sleep, to be honest.

This was a game in which Forest desperately needed to sort out their abysmal home form. It seems an age away now when the World Famous was the fortress that gave us home advantage in keeping us up in the Premier League for those first two seasons.

As for lolspurs - I’ve never liked them. I’ve never forgiven them after the 1991 Cup Final. I never will. Nasty, nasty club.

Spurs pressed right from the start. There seemed to be a succession of nonstop corners from the away team. Yet weirdly Sels, in the middle of our goal, was rarely troubled throughout the entire game.

Forest’s midfield struggled to get a look-in in the opening half an hour or so. I’d never doubt a midfield has the quality of MGW, McAtee, and even Ndoye. But the control and bossing around wasn’t there.

At times it felt like we were playing Cooper Ball all over again: a low block and then trying to hit any visiting team at the World Famous on the break. We all know how that one ended.

The second half was a little livelier - I think. I lost track of when I dozed off and then when I woke up again. All I can remember is thinking, Christ, Spurs are shit. They were there for the taking.

The main talking point will, of course, be the Neco Williams goal. It was impossible to tell from what seemed like limited camera angles if he touched the ball or not with his hand. Clear and obvious is the VAR mantra, right?

Whatever, it was certainly a bloody brave move on his behalf and was reminiscent of Joe Worrall away at Stamford Bridge when he made that tackle with his head.

And so our run of four consecutive wins against lolspurs comes to a close: a point at home in the Premier League is always decent but this felt like an opportunity lost.

Remember that The OG is always a slow burner. Having a slow burner, however, means that you might be nine points or so off where you should be at the end of the season.

As long as we’re not pissing around in the bottom third of the table come Easter time, then I will take any long term gains if it means short term pain right now.

An early morning walk around Weird Wiv. I passed some random who was wearing the pinstripe home shirt of last season. I’ve never seen this random around Weird Wiv before.

“U REDS!!!!”

A fist bump and a return of U REDS!!!! followed. This has to be an omen ahead of a possible third consecutive away win at Anfield, right?

Sticking with the kit theme and it was good to see the debut of Forest wearing their third strip, which was making its debut at Anfield.

Disclaimer: no football club should have a third strip. Modern football is rubbish, against modern football, etc. But we are where we are.

I can’t say I’m truly won over by the Sky Blue third strip of Forest. I don’t even really get the ripples of the Trent on the strip. But it looks a damn sight better than the late 80’s pigeon shit throwback that Liverpool ran out in.

The game kicked off and Ndoye looked lively right from the start. He was having a few issues staying on his feet, possibly wearing the wrong studs?

The aim of the first 15 minutes was always to keep Anfield quiet. 20-25 minutes later and it was job done. In your Anfield slums, etc.

It looked like Ola was playing for his place in the team, possibly in the squad. He put in a great early cross as a benchmark to show the OG what he’s capable of.

Meanwhile in midfield, McAtee was simply majestic. I was surprised to see him starting after such a lacklustre performance against Leeds in midweek. This was the McAtee that we were all led to believed we had signed a year ago.

The goal from Ndoye was superb. It’s happening again. You Scouse bastards. It’s happening again. Yep.

And then whaddyaknow? Liverpool get an equaliser.

But wait! What’s this? Oh gawd I bloody love VAR. I bloody love Michael Oliver. I don’t think anyone at the ground - or even watching on the telly - saw that as offside.

The inevitable legit equaliser then soon followed after half time. I had just posted on BlueSky that it looks as though Isak had gone AWOL. His goal in front of the Kop got the crowd going.

Delap came on and looked decent on his debut. Within seconds he had engineered a genuine penalty claim for Forest. How many of those have we had turned down over the years at Anfield?

I had hoped that Delap might step up to take it and absolutely TWAT the ball to score in his debut. Instead the ball was handed to MGW.

Oh dear.

Don’t stutter please don’t stutter. He didn’t stutter, 2-1, back of the net, GEDDIN.

An unlikely third consecutive away win at Anfield seemed likely. The second equaliser that followed was far from deserved.

Hey hoe.

An away point at Anfield is always something to celebrate. This might just be what finally gets our season going under The OG.

What a thoroughly miserable evening with very few positives to take. In fact there were zero positives to take. The best I can offer is the smile I raised when news dropped that Taiwo had scored early doors for Coventry. We’ll miss him when he’s gone…

Shortly before KO it was confirmed that Delap was about to sign for Forest. There’s some neat symmetry there. Farewell Taiwo, hello Delap.

I can’t but help think they are both very similar players in terms of confidence. Leeds at home in the League Cup would have been ideal for Big T.

I was reflecting earlier in the day about the epic League Cup semi against Leeds back in 1978. Yep, I was there. I still have the programme to certify this. That seemed like an absolute proper cup tie. Tuesday evening in August felt less so.

The team news wasn’t any great surprise. Five changes from the 1-0 home defeat against Leeds only three days earlier suggests that OG was taking this competition seriously.

I had to watch the game on crappy ITV. Sadly I couldn’t get Sir Colin of West Bridgford’s commentary as it wasn’t even available on the Forest app.

Forest walked out in what looked like a League Cup walkout kit. That’s going to become something of a collector’s item on eBay in years to come. Almost box fresh, worn once. Whatever did happen to those Europa League whistle and flutes?

Leeds really are a horrid side. I can’t take any team seriously that has a player in goal sporting a man bun.

Forest weren’t poor in the first half. They just lacked pace and attacking ideas. Ola seems to be making progress down his wing as part of his new role. Not so Neco, Surprisingly he was caught out more than once.

Meanwhile Kalimuendo seemed to be playing for his place ahead of the transfer window. It was disappointing to see Diomande look so shaky on his home debut.

It was round about here that I started to lose interest as the first Leeds goal went in. It had been something of a long work day and I confess to resting my eyes on more than one occasion.

I was just about present and correct to see that we’re still as shit as ever at defending set pieces - or even taking set pieces. I can’t see what Delap brings to the table on this front.

The inevitable second goal followed. Heads dropped, the body language looked shocking for Forest. It looked proper miserable to actually be there at the World Famous.

And so we crash out of the League Cup once again in the early rounds. At best this was a Forest performance on par with peak Dyche. SHIT THE BED. That’s saying something.

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.

The missing piece in my quest to try and buy up all the old Forest tops that I either once owned and flogged on, or some retro ones that have been reproduced.

Here we have a blackout kit. I know, I know. It’s what all the cool hipsters are wearing down at Selhurst.

Maybe I should clarify that: all the cool hipsters down at Selhurst aren’t wearing Forest blackout kits, but you get the idea.

This is actually a really great design. It’s based on the legendary Forest 92 green away kit that was never worn in any competitive match. Replacing the green is… black.

I’m being drawn towards black an awful lot of late. It’s a black and white world - or rather it’s a black and white world when you have a body mass that is covered in more black ink more than naked flesh.

Forest would look cool as fuck to be honest these days if they did have a black kit. Chris Wood would look the bollocks in it.

And so the first pre-season for Forest with a short trip made across the Trent to take on Notts County. Blimey, the World Cup hasn’t even finished yet.

Poor old Notts. Meadow Lane is falling down, etc. I’ve always had a soft spot for the Barcode Boys on the other side of the Trent.

This dates back to the mid-1970s when we were given freebie tickets to watch the Pies at school. Forest were in no such need of having to entice young ankle biters into the World Famous City Ground even back then.

Charlie Palmer Day was not so great, but I do have fond memories of watching Colin Wanker’s team during their consecutive promotion years down at the Lane. We had the last laugh though a year later when Lars Bohinen completely destroyed the Magpies midfield.

But yeah poor old Notts, the more they hate us the more we like them. Bring back the County Cup I say.

I did ponder about forking out the £1.99 for the Forest stream. I’m such a tight arse that I even did a momentary search for some dodgy internet feed. In the end I buckled and reluctantly handed over my dosh.

It was worth it alone to hear Jason Lee on comms. He has a foot in both camps.

Forest had an incredibly strong starting 11 for OG’s first match. In charge. I wasn’t expecting that.

I also wasn’t expecting to see Yates still wearing the Captain’s armband. No complaints, Yatesy scores we’re in the Trent etc, but from which side will he be entering?

The new shirt still looks shit. I can’t get over that blob that is supposed to represent the mist rolling in. It was rather pleasing, however to see no sponsor’s logo as yet, leaving a rather fresh feel to the Garibaldi red.

It’s three years since we last played this slot in a pre-season. Both clubs have come a long way since then.

Forest more or less managed to improve with every transfer window; Notts have finally got themselves back into the old Third Division. It’s always good to know where you belong.

Kick off came Both teams were a little rusty, as to be expected. Notts are slightly ahead of us in their pre-season preparations. Hutchinson in particular seemed to struggle.

Also struggling was the fella doing the main commentary. I didn’t catch his name, and he certainly didn’t capture the name of Forest’s leading man. It seems that we have signed Morgan Rogers - surely some mistake.

The first goal came from Jesus. He walks on the Trent as the song says. It was a very cool finish as he ran straight down the middle.

Notts really struggled. They are even worse at set pieces than Forest. I didn’t think this was possible.

I did doze off ever so slightly at the start of the second half. I woke up feeling rather confused, seeing the complete change of personnel. This meant the annual appearance of Omar Richards.

When’s the next flight out to Greece?

Kalimuendo took his goal very well. He reminds me very much of Keinan Davis, being something of a battering ram up front.

We may just have solved our striker dilemma. There’s no need to go splashing the cash with Kalimuendo looking so sharp. Cheers Dyche for setting him back six months or so with a complete lack of confidence.

Elsewhere and Taiwo looked more than capable as well. I love the way he surprises us each season, always proving the doubters wrong. He looked mean and fighting fit.

And so a 2-0 win on the other side of the Trent for OG’s first outing. We picked up no injuries and there looked to be plenty of depth in the squad.

Next up: some more new signings and some shiny new toys please.