Nottingham Forest banter 8

22 Jul 2026 09:47:08
Well, the vultures are out with cheque books ready, MGW and Williams being targeted. I have to say again, where is the money coming from?

How can Chelsea, Spurs, Man U, Man City, Arsenal spend so much on players, agents and wages?

Do they all have Russian mobsters in the background?

How can football survive for another 10/20 years? It's been mentioned already today, ticket prices, shirt prices, price of a pie ? and a Bovril?

Players' wages are ridiculous to be honest, how can they justify £200/350k a week.

Now the young West Ham player signing for the Saudi Pro League, probably on £500k a week, and playing Sunday morning style football - he has no ambition in life, just greed!

I am so pleased not to be a young football fan today, the best times have gone! I remember going to the first game played on a Sunday, Blackburn away, Forest won, Bert Bowery score a couple of goals. I bought a shirt, train travel, match entry, program, pie, Bovril - £5 plus change. ? ? ?

22 Jul 2026 10:26:46
Still sold out stadiums at every Premier ground.
It does not cost anywhere near that as a season card holder, though.
It only equates to £30 a game for me, plus lots of other discounted tickets.


Away games are cheap if you can get a ticket, as they are capped.
So football will carry on.
No one makes you buy a pint or food inside the ground, there are plenty of places to eat and drink.
Just saying.

22 Jul 2026 10:48:16
Season cards are all well and good for retired people, but if you work and can't guarantee a Saturday off, it's pretty pointless.
Out of interest, how much is a season card at present? I can get a National League season pass for £400. ?

22 Jul 2026 11:01:29
Mines £565.
Nephews is £200 more.
If you can't get you can always sell it on the Forest web, so no losing out.

22 Jul 2026 12:04:10
So I'd be looking at 765 ish. It's crazy money when I can't guarantee which matches I'd be able to attend. I became a member of Sunderland and Newcastle last season to get tickets for our games up here. Might just rinse and repeat whilst looking at other sides like maybe the Manchester clubs.

At least that would be four games I could make, throwing in an extra few. Sunderland tickets were relatively cheap to be honest. ?

22 Jul 2026 13:07:44
You wouldn't get one, there's a long waiting list anyway.

22 Jul 2026 18:17:28
My friend got one this season in the standing area of the upper tier Robertson Stand. He was on the waiting list for three years.

21 Jul 2026 23:08:54
Anthony Taylor retires from refereeing. He won't be missed.

22 Jul 2026 08:13:59
He didn't do Forest any favours! He's retired because VAR is being used to show up the mistakes he and his colleagues make week in and week out!

21 Jul 2026 21:54:49
Rant time from Legolas. As Mrs L has been catching up with Eastenders for over an hour, it's given me the chance to read all the various reports about the World Cup, FIFA and Trump's influence from around the world.

The last hour of reading and my watching past games has just reaffirmed my thoughts that our great game has been hijacked from us - the paying supporters. Money in football has led to greed, which in turn has led to corruption and to, ultimately, paying supporters being treated as mugs. Ticket prices at the World Cup and even the ticket price of attending a game at Forest (let alone buying a home shirt) has become out of reach for many true football fans.



Even my mates who support Bristol City are complaining about how 'corporate' and boring Ashton Gate has become. You can double that feeling in the Premiership.

The fact is that our loyalty as supporters is being exploited financially by those who, frankly, don't give a s*** about football. Owners, Managers and sometimes even Players are exploiting the loyalty and goodwill of us supporters.

Personally, I hate the way our great sport of football has nosedived into what it is now.

Sorry Reds. Rant over.

21 Jul 2026 23:09:35
I've actually posted about the same.

22 Jul 2026 00:48:12
Spot on, Lego and Bowie, for your previous posts. I've been looking at tickets this season, and honestly I'd consider myself priced out. It's actually cheaper looking at away games up north than a visit to Wfcg. In the same vein, forget visiting an away side south of Yorkshire. Once you price in petrol/crazy train fares, an overnight stay, food, and a few pints, let alone tickets, a long weekend in Spain or Portugal is far more feasible.

Don't get me wrong, I'll be at a few games, but nowhere near the level of the past. Sadly I've even considered getting a season pass at Hartlepool just to get my live football fix, but then I started thinking clearly. ? ?

22 Jul 2026 14:54:46
Bowie, Lego and RRH, all good posts and entirely true, my friends.
The only ray of light potentially for the future is our new PM. AB knows his football, season ticket holder at Everton, Hillsboro campaigner. More pertinently, more left wing than Sir Kier and much more keen to redistribute the obscene wealth of the Premiership to lower leagues and level things up regarding the dire experience of the fans atm.


He has spoken about what the Prem fear most, a more involved and positive supervision by the football regulator to the benefit of the many and not the few.
Hope so anyway. He could start by giving the Prem a bit of a hurry up regarding the, frankly, embarrassing situation regarding Manchester City.
Watch this space.

22 Jul 2026 18:17:54
Also, in nearly a decade as Mayor of Manchester Lego, you will be encouraged to know he was big on trying to sort out the homeless and has stated he will make it a priority as PM.

22 Jul 2026 18:21:41
More left wing?
Banned from driving cus he can't look right at roundabouts ????

22 Jul 2026 18:43:57
Feels like we're just going around in circles. I don't do good on merry go rounds, hand us a sick bag. ?

22 Jul 2026 18:49:57
Yes left ones now without a clue who pays for it
Hang on, taxes going up ???

22 Jul 2026 21:58:46
Thanks for the comment, Stokey. It's strange that you mention this now as I'm seriously toying with the idea of going out (possibly alongside the Salvation Army) to distribute food and other essentials to the homeless during the night. I still have contacts in the Army, who seem keen to help me with this, with regards to 'signed-off' food rations, bivvies and clothing.

Watch this space!

22 Jul 2026 19:30:14
Problem is stokey he never sorted it
Its ok to say you'll sort it, but words are cheap unless you deliver and he didn't on homelessness in manchester
He will plunge the country into recession as a labour leader blast from the past
Untried and untested making promises that are impossible to deliver
Labour knives are already approaching his back and quite frankly i have no sympathy

22 Jul 2026 20:27:55
Don't mind taxes going up as long as it's for good causes mate. I assume you've never used the NHS for example on principle. ?

22 Jul 2026 22:48:27
Comrades gives you away as a lefty stokey.
Wait till the collapse happens and see if you don't mind paying more taxes.
Seen it all before government building council houses and nationalising failed business
Burnham got a magic wand on that one?
You pay more tax pal, i'm not in.

23 Jul 2026 11:25:15
DTP you are entirely wrong on nearly all counts mate .by the way, I had to laugh about your last line " You pay more tax mate, I'm not in"?.Do you have some sort of offshore account and a stable of retained tax lawyers? We all pay tax and with the Government having a 170 seat majority you (and me) will have comply or go to prison whether you disagree with tax policy or not.

Burnham was massively successful in Manchester regarding the homeless. I won't bore you with stats but have a quick read of a BBC article from yesterday by Ewan Gawne. A good summary of AB's efforts which he will extend to the whole of England and Wales.

I notice you conveniently ignore the 14 years of Tory Government which preceded the 2 years of Labour. A lot to put right after that shambles and a lot of unearned wealth to redistribute.

As for nationalisation, take a look at the water, steel and railways. Thatcher handed over Water to private companies with no debt and a fully functional structure, accountable to the State. Now, Water companies are massively in debt ( I'm talking billions here take a look at Thames) and pump millions of tons of sewage into our rivers and seas. But don't worry, the wealthy dividend holders and the bosses are still making loadsamoney!
Dont get me started on Railways. The tax payers subsidy goes straight into the shareholders bank accounts and the trains don't run on time and are expensive and unreliable. Oh and the state picks up the bill for track maintenance and infrastructure.
Steel in Wales and other places will be nationalised because Labour has recognised that the Chinese are in control of the stuff we build tanks and warships from.

I also notice you swerve my question about the NHS, an enduring Labour success despite its underfunding and waiting times. I presume that on match days you go to games using tax payer funded roads and perhaps have a pint or two ( DTP) where the contents of your glass are controlled and inspected by a Public Analyst, tax payer funded to prevent it containing ingredients which could kill you. If your beautiful garden catches fire, ( God forbid) the superbly equipped, trained and tax payer funded fire brigade will put it out. If you wish to stand on a soap box and espouse your views, the Police, security services and military will defend your right to do so without a British Putin throwing you into a gulag. All tax payer funded.

Dont get too hung up on the " comrades" bit. I use it habitually as a friendly figure of speech. My sympathies are unashamedly socialist but I generally appalled by the entire current political classes of all parties. For example Starmer was hopelessly out of his depth and has wasted 2 years of opportunity to really change things. Loads of own goals and weakness.

If you get a couple of hours read Stuart MacConies brilliant " The Nanny State Made Me" . assuming that the tax payer funded Education system taught you to read.

I am the product of my working class background ( Dad a welder at Raleigh, Mum a cleaning lady, from Radford and the Meadows respectively) but I think, for all its problems, socialism is the way forward.

23 Jul 2026 12:43:54
Good work, Lego. The Sally Army is one of the charities we regularly contribute to. Saw a lot of good stuff they were doing at first hand with the Police in Nottingham. If you get past their proselytising, they do get stuck in and get their hands dirty, mate...

23 Jul 2026 12:23:21
That was a Party political broadcast on behalf of the Labour Party
Now we return you back to football ????

23 Jul 2026 13:11:23
You been up all night working on that?
Take a look around manchester and see if there are no rough sleeplers?
There, s plenty pal
I"ll use my vote to get them out next election
Like i said before to easy ?

23 Jul 2026 13:34:15
Up all night or not, at least he has the decency to try and answer your questions/digs. Now, your turn to be decent and answer his questions. ??

23 Jul 2026 13:38:03
I have winter.
Short and to the point.

23 Jul 2026 13:43:54
Nope I don't think you have. Read again. ?

23 Jul 2026 13:41:55
And for the record i'm neither left or right. Ambidextrous or Anarchist, which ever label fits me best on that day??

23 Jul 2026 13:44:43
If you can actually bother to read my post (and the BBC article )DTP you would see that I didn't say he'd completely eradicated rough sleepers ( that would be impossible in any major cities) but been " massively successful " ie improved the situation drastically as per the stats.
NHS swerved yet again and 14 years of Tory mismanagement.
Anyway, don't let me confuse you with the facts once your mind is made up eh? Same old same old DTP.

I'll just let you carry on living in darkest ignorance.
By the way, I don't know when ( if ever) you've been to Manchester. It's only 30 miles from me and we go often. I don't see what you ( purport) to see regarding rough sleepers.
As for the " all night" comment it took me 10 minutes to read the BbC article and 15 to knock out the post. I'm obviously not as slow as you mate .

23 Jul 2026 14:04:28
Burnham failed to deliver.
I'm from council estate but have no allegiance to socialism.
The NHS is as successful as it can be, but the problem with it is that its can't cope with the population explosion in this country, never had a problem with it.
I've seen labour go down this road before it's old hat and won't work.
There you go, no need to write an essay.

23 Jul 2026 14:55:57
Well, we will leave it at that. If you won't read the facts DTP as per the article I've referred you to then your opinion that Burnham failed to deliver is demonstrably wrong, but there you go mate.

23 Jul 2026 20:32:04
Read the article again ot states that homelessness in manchester has risen year on year since 2021
FACT

23 Jul 2026 21:00:44
Read it again, this time carefully mate. It has risen but from a much lower base due to AB's efforts. Despite austerity by Tories and Labour, rising cost of living, fuel shortages and expense due to the Iran War and lack of social housing, all conducive to increased levels of homelessness everywhere.


The homeless charities are effusive in their praise of AB.
But at least you took the trouble to read it and for that you deserve credit my friend.
Personally, I think legalising drugs and more in house care for the mentally ill, as well as support for veterans would be steps forward.

23 Jul 2026 21:43:19
Read it again there are reasons it lowered initially stokey like it dud elsewhere due to a programme nationwide
But you don't wamt to digest that as it doesn't fit your agenda
You have stated you visit manchester as your not far away and you don't see amy rouhh sleepers? Correct?
Well you must have a white stick then as it states there are approx 55 rough sleepers in the city centre alone and in greater mabchester nearly 400 hundred
I rest my case

23 Jul 2026 21:55:08
Usual spelling mistakes are there for you. ??

23 Jul 2026 22:08:24
When it comes to legalising drugs, there are enough smack heads around without encouraging more.
Very dangerous road to gp down.

23 Jul 2026 22:47:48
GPs on drugs? I hope not, that would put a whole new angle on our mental health chats. ?

23 Jul 2026 22:58:34
Well spotted winter ??
I think we should ban people owning more than one house so as to allow more people on the property ladder?

23 Jul 2026 23:32:36
Agreed, want to relocate? I've got one for sale. ??

24 Jul 2026 07:29:54
Nah, already living in Gods County, mate. ??

24 Jul 2026 08:12:50
Don't rest your case too early, DTP. If you read it properly, you will see that he got rough sleepers down from 268, plus he cleared Tent City in Manchester City Centre and sorted out emergency accommodation.
I was in Manchester last week, and didn't see any rough sleepers at all. Perhaps it was either too hot to sleep, or you need to go to Spec Savers, mate. When did you last go to Manchester? Was it in Matt Busby's days?
Again, you conveniently forget Greater Manchester's social housing building programme and the various charities AB is involved in, including one where he is founder and patron off his own back.


As he realistically says, "I think we will never entirely solve the problem of homelessness but we can improve it massively."

24 Jul 2026 09:16:26
Look DTP don't worry about it mate. You just enjoy your garden, pay your taxes and leave the homeless to be sorted out by AB and volunteers like Lego. Just keep your fingers crossed that you don't hit hard times. It's happened to some good, hard working people through no fault of their own.

24 Jul 2026 09:35:31
You never admit your wrong stokey
You changed your statement now
I already watched the tv programme on the bbc before commenting pal
So there you go, in a nutshell, burngam tried, but it couldn, t be classed as a real success
You jyst waffle on and put what suits your agenda
I do enjoy the garden, even better since i finished building my summer house complete with bar ???

24 Jul 2026 12:52:06
I'd be the first to admit when I'm wrong DTP mate but I never am
Enjoy your garden and bar mate, you've probably worked hard for it and deserve it.
Typical right wing, I'm alright Jack eh?

24 Jul 2026 16:23:46
Too right, worked hard and still do, Stokey, as I enjoy staying fit and enjoy creating kitchens, bathrooms, and any sort of joinery.
Never catch me sat still unless I've got a pint in my hand, having a laugh with mates.
Keeps you young, pal.
Ps, I help plenty of folk out who can't afford my wages.

24 Jul 2026 17:21:04
Well, that's very commendable, DTP.
Seems we do have a lot in common, pints with friends and family-wise. Except I can sit still.
Seems I may have misjudged you and got hold of the wrong end of the stick.
As far as your work is concerned, just remember Big Bill Haywood's famous comment: "Nothing's too good for the working class". ??

24 Jul 2026 17:56:37
As a footnote, respect to you for building your own business DTP. One of my brothers built his own tree surgery business and my brother in law built a car spraying company from scratch so I’ve seen how hard it is.


Neither of them can sit still either.
I’m more like Ronald Reagan’s idea these days, ie "hard work never killed anyone... but why take the chance?" ????

21 Jul 2026 16:51:49
I'd be going for Zane Flemming with the Anderson money. cant believe Fernandes cost Spurs £85m for a player who gets relegated every year. £100m Tonali crazy.

Flemming best player at Fortuna goes 2 Milwall for £2m, top player there goes to Burnley for £7m best player there. Scored 45 goals in 164 games over 4 years. Can only get better.

My worry is the manager change VP had got us flying and now we, ve changed to a guy who plays mostly 3-4-2-1 so we, ve spent £100m on wingers he doesnt need and dont have strong wingbacks he always plays with?

Can see Ndoye scoring loads playing behind the striker hope we keep him. See us in the top 10 all season no worries.

21 Jul 2026 18:05:27
That's one of the many downsides when you have as many managerial changes as we do, Shepp. Different systems, preferences and lack of continuity.
At least OG has a pre-season, but it's not ideal. I'm sure the lads don't know if they are coming or going (literally in the case of our redundant wingers), mate.

21 Jul 2026 19:43:45
If you're a good manager you can manage. Nuno came in and nobody, even the fans, thought we could get into Europe in that season. If the players are already there, and you can get the best out of them, it will happen.

Glasner already knows he has a top ten team, keeping the backbone of the side. A couple of good players, top 6. That's why they're not panicking into giving silly money away for signings.

21 Jul 2026 21:21:15
We need at least 4, mate. Squad is too small.

21 Jul 2026 21:33:02
A couple can mean four, Rogie, else I would have said 2. But, obviously, in Glasner's contract he has been given time, so don't expect miracles in the first season, unless he's got the extra players he's wanted for the right money. Don't forget there's FFP. We're not Man City. Just saying, we can't just chuck money about.

22 Jul 2026 08:17:42
Yes, Rogie, a couple can mean 4.
Like, a dozen can mean 24, mate.
Come on, keep up. ??????

22 Jul 2026 16:58:04
Bit like "A Bakers Dozen" then?.
???

22 Jul 2026 18:19:00
Unlucky for some mate. ???

22 Jul 2026 19:17:37
Or a game of fun bingo.
All the two's 2.
Six and nine anyway round?
Fifteen.

22 Jul 2026 20:30:44
I was sacked as a Bingo caller DTP...
Apparently, "A meal for two, with a hairy view 69" isn't considered acceptable. ? ?

22 Jul 2026 22:52:42
What?

23 Jul 2026 11:26:13
"Que"?

21 Jul 2026 16:07:40
Oh now that is a shocker, long term referee Anthony Taylor is retiring with immediate effect!

Ok, so what has gone off there then?

21 Jul 2026 14:44:43
Arnaud Kalimuendo is wanted by Frankfurt.
A cheeky daft suggestion we could look at a deal for Johnathon Berkhart coming to Forest. Young German player two footed and knows where the goal is.

21 Jul 2026 11:10:55
The Premier League has become a 3 tier league imo.

Tier 1
Arsenal
Man City ( cheats )
Man Utd
Liverpool
Chelsea

Tier 2
Villa
Spurs
Brighton
Everton
Bournemouth
Brentford
Fulham
Leeds
Newcastle
Forest

Tier 3
Coventry
Ipswich
Hull
Palace
Sunderland.

21 Jul 2026 12:10:34
Reasonable analysis, Munmad. ?

21 Jul 2026 13:10:29
With the money Spurs are spending atm, I'd definitely move them into the top tier. Sunderland and Palace need moving up, leaving the newly promoted sides in the bottom tier. Also, if we're branding City as cheats (which they are), then Chelsea must come into that bracket.

So, in general, it's the big six, then everyone else being picked clean of their best talent and feeding from the scraps under the table. Isn't that the Premier League in a nutshell since its inauguration? ?

21 Jul 2026 10:54:41
Well Munmad, Morgan Rogers isn't interested in playing in Europe - hence wanting the Chelski move! It's an odd move really. Will he be first choice at number 10?

I think the cost of players is pricing a lot of clubs out of buying, £117 for Rogers???

21 Jul 2026 09:02:38
Do you think that the lack of European football for us and also Newcastle is making joining our two clubs unattractive? Also, these so called big players seem to be attracted to either London, Liverpool or Manchester

Our current lack of transfer activity is worrying. Pre season has started and no new players have joined our project

Glasner is a good manager but is reknowded for his lack of patience.

We need a CM and Striker as a priority. fgs, if Spurs want 50m for Bergvall just pay it. Then our number 8 problem is sold and with Sangare playing at 6 our centre midfield is sorted

LWB position needs filling as Cuiabano seems to not be fancied.

21 Jul 2026 10:49:15
I agree, Munmad, European football is a big draw for top echelon players.
OG has, so far, been very diplomatic about the lack of incomings. He described his impatience during an interview as both an asset and a curse in his personality, which is coded for "Come on recruitment team and Mr M.

Get it done."
He wanted a full complement of players to take abroad, especially now the WC distraction is over.

21 Jul 2026 12:07:55
Why would anyone, apart from mega rich clubs, be jumping in to pay these silly prices? Bergaval looks promising, but at 60 million that's one massive gamble. I'm sure the owner will come good when the right player, at the right price, becomes available. And I don't think playing in Europe is a massive pull for all players, unless you're just going to the club for the money.

Some players actually want to play every week; going to big clubs that already have top players, you would find it hard to get game time, unless you're a superstar with the big price they paid for you. So just chill, after all it's not your cash you're splashing, just saying.

21 Jul 2026 13:12:43
Good post, Skegs. I agree. I wouldn't pay 60m for potential. Considering Kone, from the France side, is being valued around 50m. ?

21 Jul 2026 13:40:45
Good post, Skeggs. ?

21 Jul 2026 19:35:19
Brilliant post, Jay. ?

20 Jul 2026 21:54:48
Does FIFA stand for “Fix It For Argentina”…. Just asking……. ??.

20 Jul 2026 22:15:09
Well, they didn't fix it, and we could have been in the final, but for Big Ears' masterstroke of a cock up.
Let it go. England and Argentina had a very easy ride to the final, and one was bound to get there.

20 Jul 2026 22:31:48
These top four seedings need scraping. They're totally unfair on the other sides, and they remove all jeopardy for those sides in the run to the semis. Talking of semis, Shakira looks good for her age. ?

20 Jul 2026 22:36:07
So do I winter. ??

20 Jul 2026 22:43:26
Whats the 2026 World cup final and the 2nd world war got in common,?
The losers went to Argentina,

20 Jul 2026 23:00:54
She's around 50 years old Winter. Three times your age mate.

20 Jul 2026 23:51:26
Lego, she's 49, she's got 6 years on me. Definitely wouldn't kick her out of bed. ? Might even make her breakfast. ?

20 Jul 2026 23:13:20
Winters at keast 45 and i hope he drew the curtains lego ???

20 Jul 2026 23:25:37
Theres a new joke on the internet stokey
ANDY BURNHAM ??

21 Jul 2026 08:04:04
I couldn't kick Shakira out of bed, just had my hip replaced - so she'd just have to deal with it. ????

21 Jul 2026 08:55:58
Hey, lighten up DTP, FIFA was a joke mate.


I'm told that when the King was told the name of the new PM he said it reminded him of the advice he gave one of his sons about his porn collection .????
By the way, you said that the WCF half time show reminded you of " when you were in Disney "? So, were you Dopey, Grumpy or Dumbo? ????????

21 Jul 2026 09:40:58
Brothers, not sons.

21 Jul 2026 10:09:34
You need to get it right first time, Stokey. ???

21 Jul 2026 11:02:05
Agreed. Being right all the time does make you get a bit complacent mate.
Anyway, tell us about your experiences with Disney ???
By the way, as you bring up Andy Burnham, I may have mentioned that my daughter in law, who is a senior partner in a Manchester law firm, has worked several times with AB and tells me he is very shrewd, very humble, personable, a good listener and ( most important of all) gets things done.
I thought Sir Keir was completely out of his depth at PM level and prone to ( easily avoided) gaffes and own goals ( Waspi women, heating allowance, Mandelson, farmers inheritance tax, private schools and defence budget to name a few).

The deployment of HMS Dragon to defend our base was Cyprus was just hopeless in the time it took to get her ready. Saying she was on the way then people in Portsmouth revealing that she was still moored up and had been for weeks.
Gave the overwhelming impression of incompetence and spouting nonsense for the sake of it
Much like yourself .???

21 Jul 2026 11:50:53
Have my kids a great childhood, Stokey.
I'd recommend to any parent.

21 Jul 2026 12:16:55
Trying to decipher that one, DTP.
Should "Have" mean "Gave"? Perhaps you need to get it right first time.
We took our kids to Disneyland Paris.
It was a great experience tbh.

21 Jul 2026 12:34:52
It's too easy to get your attention, Stokey. ??

21 Jul 2026 13:16:52
Gentleman, put the handbags away, its actually been refreshing on here for the last few days. And thanks Eds for the grammar edits??

21 Jul 2026 13:24:41
Mate, couldn't resist the Disney gaffe. Even at my age, I'm going to put those into the back of the net... ????

21 Jul 2026 20:23:35
Nowt like being funny in your own mind, Stokey. ?

22 Jul 2026 09:02:40
Well, you know all about that DTP, as other posters have mentioned.
You are usually about as funny as a fire at an orphanage tbh ?