The ‘rebel’ Jungle

‘Forest are back’ was chanted with delight on Saturday by Nottingham fans at the emblematic City Ground, the special field, wet and cold, on the banks of the River Trent, associated with nostalgia, winning the ‘tricky trees’ two European Cups in the 80s.

The joy in the stands is not free. Forest just knocked out West Ham Julen Lopetegui (3-0) on one of the most enjoyable days in recent years in the EastWidlands capital of the United Kingdom. Behind the victory, are the Portuguese Nuno Holy Spiriton the bench, and the controversial and inexplicable Greek tycoon Evangelos Marinakis directs the new ‘reds’ project with his financial investment.

Long-suffering Nottingham Forest fans, eager to make up for lost time, regained their enthusiasm to once again stand among the best English clubs. Today we enjoy ‘Forest power’, created by Marinakis and Holy Spiritjust a year earlier it had received penalty points for failing to comply with financial fair play and the club was in serious danger of relegation to the EFL Championship, where it had taken more than two decades to leave. It was a victory, albeit a short-lived one, for Forest’s controversial Greek owner, who is at odds with the entire Premier League establishment and was only banned for five games for spitting at a referee after losing to Fulham.

The good streak comes as a result of the stability of Marinakis. Obsessed with having a good Premier club within his ‘holding’ of clubs, which also included the Greek Olympiakos, he had notable achievements, such as his commitment to a coach with Premier League experience , such as Nuno Espírito Santo, after his spells at Wolverhampton and Tottenham Hotspur, and a series of ambitious, quality signings that gave Nottingham Forest the talent it didn’t have before.

A unique owner

Marinakis It combines an atypical story, because of his refereeing ‘crusade’ in the Premier League, and because of his defiant attitude as an owner of football clubs. At the moment, he has an open case in the High Court of London to denounce “a smear campaign” for his management of Greek Olympiakos, linking him to drug trafficking, match fixing and accusations such as extortion, bribery and intimidation, which he denied, including being the leader of a criminal organization known as The System. The Greek tycoon is suing one of his rivals, Aris Thessalaonika, for this defamation case which is still in its early stages in a London court.

So far, the only certain thing about all this controversy is that on match days at the City Ground in Nottingham, two cars are usually seen driving around the stadium, broadcasting slogans against Marinakisto turn the fans against him. The Greek leader has always denied involvement in any crime and, although he has been investigated in the past in connection with match-fixing in Greece, he has never been sanctioned.

Fighting this bad environment and its bad image, Forest’s owner has designed a sporting plan for this season that aims not to suffer any more problems like the club experienced with the Welshman. Steve Cooper. Forest have stood out in the last two seasons for a dispersed hiring plan, which has not solved the needs of the squad. This led to non-compliance with the Premier’s PSR retention standards, penalty points and being one step away from relegation. This year the arrival of Holy Spirit This led to a radical change, considering the search for talented players who could provide a step up in quality to the team.

The change of technician

Since the preseason, the Portuguese coach has transformed the two-time European champion. Forest’s excellent performance now highlights its strong counterattack, and the New Zealander’s eight goals Chris Wood, who lives a second youth in Nottingham. But Forest have brought together good wingers, such as Hudson-Odoy, Elangaand Nuno’s two signings: the Portuguese Jota Silva and the Paraguayan Soda. He has a big brain like Morgan Gibbs-Whitetwo deep sides, Aina and the Barcelonan Alex Morenoon loan from Aston Villa, and a strong defence, with the Serbian Nikola Milenkovic (Fiorentina) and the Brazilian Murillo. Forest have conceded just seven goals in ten games.

Enthusiasm begins to build in the fevered atmosphere of the City Ground. Hungry for success, fans began to dream. And when the Forest players take to the field on Sunday to face Newcastle, that haunting song that is always heard before games, the anthem is taken from the song ‘Mull of KiIntire’ by Paul McCartney and Wingswill roar this time more loudly. The fans always sing it at the top of their lungs, before every game at the City Ground, as a ‘war cry’ that inspires and excites the rivals.

This has been Forest’s anthem since the glory days, when the Reds won the English title in 1978, and were double European champions. Fans of ‘tricky trees’ have adapted it to celebrate victories, including references to the thick fog that envelops the historic City Ground, on the banks of the River Trent. It’s this wonderful chorus that always drives Forest, and that makes it so special. It connects past and present emotionally, for a club that has always been ‘rebellious’ and combative, that wants to be respected again