Why I hate Nottingham Forest

Last updated : 06 July 2007 By Paul Smith

Yes that is right, double winning European champions Nottingham Forest have once again looked down on Notts like a bird does a worm.

"Stuff you lot who have already brought tickets expecting a competitive pre-season friendly at Meadow Lane, lets have a game with our real rivals Derby County a day later and shove the youngsters out at Meadow Lane," they are basically saying.

Clough... Would he have shown such poor professionalism?

Three weeks ago it was announced that the Reds would visit Notts for a friendly on Monday July 30. So why have they chosen just a day later for their clash with hated rivals Derby, who it should he added are now a superb two divisions higher than the double winning European champions?

Boss Colin Calderwood has been quoted as saying he will pick his strongest team for that game.

Expect then to see the so called highly regarded Forest academy in all its glory at Meadow Lane.

We should ask Calderwood what he thinks about those fans who have avoided the rush to grab a ticket already for the game in the hope that Nathan Tyson, Grant Holt and company would get a beating by the Magpies.

Going to be a bit pointless watching Spencer Weir-Daley and Jason Lee wreak havoc against their former employers with the great Dale Roberts in goal and Hamza Benchrif in defence.

But wait, they are playing the Rams for the inaugural Brian Clough trophy. The legendary late manager who brought them double European glory. Oh of course, sorry, I should have realised. Everything deserves to be second best to that.

Birtles... A disgrace to that shirt
Of course it is just Forest again thinking they don't care about us, poor old Notts they think. Down in League Two… "aww bless" even. Without realising they are just ONE division higher… just ONE.

Me thinks they do protest too much too. How often do they say: "we don't care about Notts!" Then stop saying so then. We are much closer to you than Derby and Leicester City anyhow!

And then you get Gary Birtles. The legendary striker and his usually pompous Nottingham Evening Post column.

What gives him the right to talk about Notts like a so-called expert? Because he was that much of a success at Meadow Lane wasn't he? Typically you don't see him writing for the Manchester local rag… so prolific and great he was for the Red Devils.

Another thing that gets my goat is their continual asking of "Is Kris Commons staying?"

Course he is. Nobody wants the fat lard. Yes he hit's the odd cracker, but his overweight, unfit body broke down as Yeovil Town eased past them in extra-time of the playoff semi-final last term.

And now they bring in two of the Glovers' best players.

They also had the audacity to claim the great Teddy Sheringham was going there. Ha! And now they are hunting Kelvin Wilson, former Notts YTS after missing out on Leon Best, former Notts YTS.

So much for their great academy, missed two there didn't they?

The truth is Forest are so caught up in their own self-importance they fail to realise they have lost all credence with their brilliant fall from grace.

Commons... Look at his man boobs!

Putting out a youth team for the Meadow Lane clash epitomises their arrogant attitude and lack of respect for the rest of the footballing world, particularly their poor neighbours from across the Trent.

They will do well to remember that only Clough, just one man, stopped them being Notts' own poor neighbours.

And talk about living in their past… look at their website! Delighting in the great accolade that was the 'Football League website of the year 2005-2006!'

Get over it!

Then you get some moron who frequents the NCM Messageboards - as do others highlighting that they really do care about the Magpies - saying: " I SAY IT NOW AND I'LL SAY IT AGAIN THERE ARE ONLY THREE GOOD TEAMS IN NOTTINGHAM : FOREST, FOREST RESERVES AND HUCKNALL TOWN. THERE'S ONLY 1 DECENT MAGPIES AND YOU'RE ONLY JEALOUS BECAUSE U CAN'T AFFORD A BIG MAC MEAL HA HA HA HA"

But of course they are the double European Cup winners.