Rich Ferraro's Forest Ramble

This wasn't supposed to be the end of the season, was it? As Forest have dramatically and spectacularly failed to make the play-offs, Rich Ferraro leads a post-mortem on the Reds' performance in 2019-20; Baz, Steven Toplis and the Maradona of the Midlands share their thoughts on a variety of issues, and there is a short-but-sweet end-of-season sketch from Jeremy Davies: Should Sabri stay or go? Was the problem mental or physical? Squad strength and recruitment Can Forest do a Leeds next season? Follow us on Twitter (@nottm_forest), or search for "Forest Ramble" on Instagram and Facebook. We don't know what will happen to the players and manager, but we do know that we will still be supporting #nffc next season. Have a great summer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Everything that we feared, everything that we hoped wouldn’t happen, everything we had seen before against Yeovil and Blackpool - all of that came true again tonight. Forest only have themselves to blame, as after an hour, they had levelled the scores and should have been in control. Congratulations to Swansea for doing what they had to do, but once again Forest have snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. There will be much to reflect upon over the break, but tonight can be summed up by the disbelief on Joe Lolley’s face after the final whistle. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Barnsley 1-0 Nottingham Forest That was bad, wasn't it? A match which Forest not only deserved to lose, but in which they were abject and incapable of stringing two passes together. Fair play to Barnsley, they played well and were deserved victors. Only Sabri Lamouchi would know why he chose an unfamiliar formation, but no-one will know why all the players were so bad; second-choice goalkeeper Jordan Smith was the only player to come out of this one with the slightest bit of credit. Once again, #nffc succumbed to a late goal, which does not inspire confidence for the play-offs, and that's assuming results go the right way on Wednesday. A despondent Steven Toplis reports on a bad afternoon for Forest at Oakwell. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Two goals from Sammy Ameobi were the highlight of a topsy-turvy evening at the City Ground, as Forest just didn't turn up for the first fifteen minutes, before looking sharper, brighter and more creative in the second. Really, the Reds should have won this match, but were lucky not to be down to ten men as Tobias Figueiredo was subbed before he was sent off. That doesn't excuse a mystifying performance from referee Oliver Langford, who never seemed in control of the match; he had to send off Kyle Naughton towards the end, but Andre Ayew had him under his thumb all match, as exemplified by the award of the penalty (it wasn't), and his tolerance of the actual spot-kick (stuttering is allowed, stopping isn't). Overall, some pleasing elements, most notably the tactical changes that saw Forest improve in the second half; but it is hard to escape the feeling that Forest should have taken all of the points tonight. We're not there yet, and it would be great if we could gather some momentum, rather than stuttering,

A lacklustre performance from Forest suggested a hangover from Derby’s last-minute equaliser at the weeked, as Harry Arter’s goal saw Fulham take all three points. Steven Toplis reflects upon a match that never really got going, and in which any promise from Forest fizzled out as Joe Lolley succumbed to injury and Arter produced the only real moment of quality on the stroke of half-time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In an extended match report, the Maradona of the Midlands is angry with Forest for throwing Derby a lifeline via an unnecessary foul. Rich Ferraro points out that the game plan worked, as Forest kept Derby at arm’s length, and the Reds should really have been at least three goals up before the late rush of blood to the head. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In our match preview, Rich Ferraro discusses Forest’s fortunes with Cory and Jason from the Rams Review podcast. From a Red perspective, style of play and mental resilience are key factors, and we also discussed managerial tactics and Sabri and Cocu’s use of subs in the era of lockdown football. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A violent encounter at the City Ground saw Forest hold onto a one goal advantage to take three points against ten men. A special free-kick from Tiago Silva ensured the Reds won a game of few chances. Corona-football may work to Forest’s advantage, as the Reds have the opportunity to turn brittle home form into Fortress City Ground. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sabri Lamouchi celebrated a year in charge of the Reds with a comfortable victory over relegation-threatened Huddersfield, as Forest played their first lockdown match at the City Ground. We talk tactics, goalscorers, management skills and substitutions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Despite a decent performance, and a good goal by Joe Lolley, some familiar problems re-emerged as Forest struggled to hold onto the ball, and couldn’t defend a stoppage-time corner. Despite the extra substitutions available to both managers, some players were clearly struggling, including Tobias Figueiredo and Brice Samba. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With only a few days to go before the season resumes, we are all getting a bit excited! We discuss hopes and expectations for the Reds’ resumption, season card options, and players’ and manager’s contract offers - when are Forest going to tie Sabri down to a new deal? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In many ways, Dexter Blackstock's debut goal had it all…power, technique, and it was a stoppage time winner. In other ways, this was probably Forest’s most important goal of this particular season, kickstarting the form and mentality that would enable Forest to escape the drop after just one season in the Championship. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This moment was Bergkamp-esque - hard to describe, but you cannot help but marvel at the movement, and the way in which Simon Cox brings the ball down over his shoulder, before poking it past the goalkeeper in the same movement. Cox’s finest moment in a Forest shirt won the Championship Goal Of The Season that year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This free-kick was just astonishing; despite the distance (nearly 40 yards), there was never any doubt in Lewis McGugan’s mind. A combination of power and swerve meant that the Ipswich goalkeeper never stood a chance. This won the Championship Goal Of The Season and was Brazilian in its brilliance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this podcast special, we dissect Forest’s previous encounters in the play-offs. What can we learn from these experiences? Our defeats haven’t been down to bad luck and fine margins - or have they? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On a cold, snowy January night, Billy Davies’ Forest went to second placed West Bromwich Albion and blew them away. The match is best remembered for emotional celebrations by Chris Cohen and his team mates, and THAT goal by Radi Majewski; however this was a scintillating and complete performance by the Reds. Steven Toplis remembers the night. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Baz remembers the long midweek visit to Carrow Road in 1995, as high-flying Forest took on Norwich City. Much of the match was unremarkable, but the second half saw a small but vocal away support turned the volume up a notch, and a late goal from Steve Stone saw Forest take the points. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For this third instalment of our nostalgia series, the Maradona of the Midlands makes the short away trip to Meadow Lane, as the Reds took on the their top-flight neighbours. Record signing Teddy Sheringham scored his first Reds goal as Forest taught their neighbours a second-half lesson, running out as 4-0 victors. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

OK, so there is no football at the moment, but there is still plenty to discuss: is the enforced break good for Forest; Sabri Lamouchi's contract; Forest furloughing some of their staff; and who does the best workout videos - Matty Cash or Joao Carvalho? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the second of our series, Rich Ferraro stays in the astonishing 1994-95 season. Two each from Roy and Collymore added to a missile from Pearce, a smart run and finish from Woan and yet another sublime finish from Bohinen that had to be seen to be believed. Even the Wednesday fans were applauding the Reds at the end. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices