Podcast Summary: The Athletic FC Podcast

Episode: Can Nuno survive at Forest?

Date: August 25, 2025
Host: Ayo Akinwolere
Guests: Adam Crafton, Danny Taylor

Overview

This episode delves deep into the escalating crisis at Nottingham Forest, focusing on the rift between manager Nuno Espírito Santo and the club's new global head of football, Edu Gaspar. With tensions rising, public airing of grievances, and uncertainty over leadership, the panel analyzes how the breakdown unfolded, who holds the power, and what the future might hold for Nuno and the club.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Fallout Between Nuno and Forest Hierarchy

[02:18] – [06:11]

• Nuno’s Unusual Candor: The panel reflects on Nuno’s frank press conference, which is out of character given his usual reticent demeanor.
• Backstory: News leaked (on the morning of the presser) that owner Evangelos Marinakis was considering sacking Nuno.
• Main Conflict:
  • The clash is not directly with Marinakis himself, but with Edu Gaspar, who has only been in post since July 7th but wields enormous power across Marinakis’ football interests (Forest, Olympiacos, Rio Ave).
  • "What he didn’t do is name the person who he really has an issue with, which is Edu…that’s a big issue." (Danny Taylor, [04:29])
• Irreconcilable Differences: "The relationship's broken. It's beyond fixing." (Danny Taylor, [05:13])

2. Nuno’s Tactics and Motivation

[06:11] – [08:18]

• Deliberate Outburst: The consensus is that Nuno’s openness was calculated and likely intended to force an outcome rather than simply vent.
• Facing the Owner: Marinakis is presented as a dominant figure; challenging him is politically risky.
• Club Identity: "At times, they’ve almost stopped calling themselves Nottingham Forest…it seems to be more about [Marinakis] at times." (Adam Crafton, [07:56])

3. The Nature & Depth of the Dispute

[08:18] – [14:04]

• More Than a Tiff: Danny Taylor emphasizes that this is not a minor personality clash but a "huge row" that began on day one with Edu.
• Hidden Influences: The squabble is complicated by super-agent Kia Joorabchian’s aligned interests with Edu and Marinakis.
• Aggressive Dynamics: "Of the two…Nuno’s almost been the aggressor in terms of how he sees Edu and his willingness to have dialogue." (Danny Taylor, [09:35])
• Club Politics: The management culture at Forest thrives on conflict and volatility.

4. Power Dynamics: Who Stays, Who Goes?

[11:01] – [14:04]

• Manager vs. Executive: The likelihood is that Marinakis will side with Edu, given the effort expended to recruit him and his “global” remit.
• "Managers…are quickly dispensed with and replacements are found." (Danny Taylor, [12:59])
• Fan Perception: Despite Nuno’s popularity, the executive’s position appears more secure.

5. Owner/Club Culture and Precedents

[14:04] – [16:29]

• No Response Yet: There’s been no statement from Edu or Marinakis addressing Nuno’s comments.
• Owner’s Emotional Handling: Incidents like the heated pitch-side confrontation after the Leicester match highlight a passionate, interventionist ownership style, influenced by Greek football culture.
• Changing Expectations: Club leadership wishes fans would be more demanding, akin to the reactionary norms in Greece.

6. Fans and Dressing Room Dynamics

[18:19] – [20:24]

• Unusual Fan-Owner-Manager Triangle: This season, fans are chanting both for Nuno and for Marinakis—an odd, divided loyalty.
• Players Back Nuno: Senior players, notably Morgan Gibbs-White, are seen supporting the manager publicly.

Notable Moment:

• "He’s not only very popular with the fans, Nuno, but he’s also incredibly popular with the players." (Danny Taylor, [18:48])

7. Transfer Market and Internal Structure

[20:11] – [24:43]

• Busy Summer Business: Transfers (Hutchinson, N’Doye, Douglas Luiz) may have been expedited in response to Nuno’s press comments or existing plans influenced by late European qualification.
• Decision-Making Cloudy: Confusion about who drives recruitment, especially with sporting director Ross Wilson expected to leave.
• Club Culture: August is depicted as "fraught" and "hectic" every year at Forest, with a penchant for last-minute deals and internal drama.
• Ambition vs. Instability: Forest’s growth is evident, but volatility risks undermining progress.

Notable Quote:

• "They also thrive on a bit of conflict…during the Marinakis empire, they’ve positively encouraged it." (Danny Taylor, [22:54])

8. The Palace Game Fallout – The Banner Incident

[26:43] – [32:31]

• Shocking Banner: Palace fans displayed a huge, provocative banner targeting Marinakis, implying—while technically denying—involvement in match-fixing and other crimes.
• Club Response: Forest management are furious and likely to lodge formal complaints.
• FA Involvement: Banner might fall under FA investigation for offensive or defamatory content, though the process is complex.
• Fan Group Dynamics: Palace ultras are less regulated than Forest’s equivalent, Forza Garibaldi.

Notable Moment:

• "It was an astonishing banner, and I think Forest will absolutely complain about it…there will be people going into overdrive behind the scenes as we’re talking." (Danny Taylor, [27:19])

9. What Now? Pathways Forward

[35:23] – [41:36]

• Peace Talks: The club may attempt to reconcile, but history of similar breakdowns (e.g., Aitor Karanka) casts doubt on the likelihood of true resolution.
• Challenging Position: Atmosphere at Forest can be toxic for managers, with stories of past internal conflicts and media manipulation.

Notable Quote:

• "The two people that really should be working closely together have just completely blown their relationship apart, and now [Marinakis] has got a decision to make." (Danny Taylor, [39:23])

• Succession Planning: Reports link other managers (Ange Postecoglou, Marco Silva, Oliver Glasner) as potential successors; the club always has candidates in mind.

Notable Exchange:

• Adam Crafton: "Do you think Forest are at a stage where they’re already thinking about who the next coach could be?" ([39:49])
• Danny Taylor: "If you’re a well run club, you’ve always got your list of managers who you would bring in." ([40:01])

10. Broader Perspective: Forest’s Enduring Instability

[24:43] – [25:35]

• Systemic Volatility: Despite progress and ambition, Forest’s biggest issue remains their "immature and volatile" culture, with frequent cycles of conflict even in successful periods.

Notable Quote:

• "Forest’s big problem is that they can still be quite immature and volatile. And this is kind of like the classic situation of why I say that." (Danny Taylor, [25:35])

11. Final Reflections & Football Week Wrap

[41:51] – [43:01]

• Refereeing Consistency Rant: Adam Krafton criticizes the Premier League’s inconsistent approach to policing pushing vs. holding in the penalty box.
• "You either let the penalty box be the UFC zone…or you start actually looking at all of it." (Adam Crafton, [42:46])

Memorable Quotes

• Nuno Espírito Santo (on his relationship with the owner):
  "Our relations has changed. Not good. It's not good. I think everybody at the club should be together and. But it's not the reality." ([03:16])

• Danny Taylor (on Nuno’s outburst):
  "It was almost Mourinho-esque…he’s very meticulous, he thinks about what he’s doing…something has made him do this and that something is this huge row." ([08:25])

• Adam Crafton (on Forest’s culture):
  "This is not a guy who most people are gonna win against in confrontation…they’ve almost stopped calling themselves Nottingham Forest at a certain point." ([07:44])

• Danny Taylor (on the banner incident):
  "They are and will be livid. How many times did they libel him? It was an astonishing banner…there will be people going into overdrive behind the scenes." ([27:19])

Key Timestamps

• 02:18 – Episode kicks off, laying out the situation at Forest
• 03:50 – Nuno’s press conference excerpt
• 04:10 – 06:11 – Why the crisis escalated, context behind leaked stories
• 07:56 – Adam Crafton discusses Marinakis’ dominance and club identity
• 09:35 – Danny Taylor: Nuno the aggressor, shadow influences like Kia Joorabchian
• 12:51 – Danny Taylor explains why Edu is less disposable than Nuno
• 14:24 – Owner’s perspective and handling of past confrontations
• 18:36 – Crowd support for Nuno and split loyalties
• 20:24 – Transfer business, recruitment confusion
• 22:54 – Forest’s historical embrace of chaos
• 27:19 – Fallout from Palace fans’ banner, club’s anticipated response
• 35:36 – What’s next? Can there be peace?
• 39:49 – Rumors and succession plans for the manager’s role
• 42:11 – Adam’s one-minute football thoughts on referees

Tone & Language

The discussion is insightful, candid, occasionally wry—with Danny Taylor’s dry wit and industry insider tone, and Adam Crafton’s analytical yet conversational style. The hosts avoid sensationalism, focusing instead on substance, detail, and the human/political complexities behind the headlines.

Conclusion

This episode offers a deep, nuanced understanding of Nottingham Forest’s current turmoil—exposing personalities, power structures, behind-the-scenes machinations, and the club’s unique culture of chaos. For fans and neutral observers alike, it’s a revealing look at why drama so often simmers just below the surface at Forest, and why Nuno’s future, no matter his popularity, hangs in the balance.