Smith Stays – Cash Goes – Forest’s Future Still Looks Bright

Cast your mind back little over three years and to the last day of the season, Sunday 7^th May 2017, when Nottingham Forest needed to beat Ipswich Town at the City Ground to stay in the Football League Championship.

With 38 minutes gone during a tense but sunny afternoon in Nottingham, Danny Rowe’s speculative shot from range was blocked by Joe Worrall before bouncing to Dominic Samuel 14 yards from goal with just the goalkeeper to beat. As defender Michael Mancienne in desperation threw himself to the ball he deflected Samuel’s target bound effort up in the air towards the top left hand corner of the Trent End goal where the rooted Jordan Smith had to move his body, stretch out an arm and tip the ball on to the crossbar before David Vaughan headed away from danger.

That moment, quite possibly the pinnacle moment of the match for Forest was the moment that young Jordan Smith ‘saved our season’ for Reds fans. Less than five minutes later the Reds went up the other end, Bialkowski chopped down Osborn, Assombalonga scored from the spot before second half goals from Chris Cohen and Britt again, sealed a memorable win that meant the Reds would stay up.

Since that day, Jordan Smith will forever walk on water when it comes to gratitude from appreciative Nottingham Forest fans… But since that day, things haven’t quite gone the way Jordan Smith would have hoped either?

Against Ipswich, another youngster and Reds Academy graduate Matthew Cash would come on for the final five minutes of the match to enjoy a bit of keep ball with the Reds 3-0 up before the celebrations started, since Forest’s ‘escape to victory’ that day they have slowly improved as a team, Matty Cash has rapidly improved as a player, but Jordan Smith’s progress has sadly declined.

Following Mark Warburton’s departure, Smith was not fancied by Aitor Karanka upon the Spaniard taking charge and was loaned out to League Two Mansfield Town in 2019 before returning to Forest last summer under Sabri Lamouchi, but found himself below in the pecking order of on loan Manchester City goalkeeper Arijanet Muric.

After a disastrous debut for Muric, Lamouchi was quick to bring in Brice Samba who has since been a revelation with many confident displays in warming himself to the Reds faithful as undisputed number one. But all the while Smith has been in the background, working hard to push Samba in training and he was rewarded by playing the last two games of last season which although Forest lost both, was far from the fault of Smith.

And yesterday the South Normanton born shot stopper was rewarded for his efforts and dedication by signing a new deal that cements his future at the club with Smith stating “I’m delighted, it’s a club I have been at since I was seven-years-old, so to walk away from this place would be very difficult.”

He said “It is a very exciting time at the club. The manager, the ownership group and everyone around the place has made it evidently clear that they wanted me to stay.”

Funnily, the day Smith committed his future to Forest at what will quite possibly be largely as an understudy to Samba, was also the day that Matty Cash moved for £16m to Premier League giants Aston Villa. How two paths have gone their separate ways since that last day win under Warburton.

But whilst Cash leaves with the blessing of many following sublime displays in his newly found right back position, Smith may feel he still has a point to prove, and as Samba is very much regarded as Forest number one, the 25-year-old Derbyshire man may still have a big part to play as deputy with the club looking to achieve promotion after a long long wait outside the Premier League.

Smith and Samba now provide Lamouchi a nice dilemma to have when it comes to having quality to choose in between the sticks. At right back now that Cash has gone the Head Coach can also choose between Jenkinson and Darikwa, two international footballers, certainly no slouches themselves.

At centre half the club will go into their first match of the season in the Carabao League Cup against Barnsley on Saturday with options to choose from too. Whilst Worrall and Figueiredo currently have the shirt, Dawson & Blackett can reliably cover. Blackett signed by Reading a former Manchester United player can also cover at left back where Youri Ribeiro was brilliant last season. Quality options in all positions, something Sabri has ensured he has more of this time around.

A packed and congested season coming due to the covid layoff and later start will mean more flexibility needed in the selection policy. Forest at the moment have Ben Watson and Jack Colback, they have Samba Sow and Fouad Bachirou, like for like replacements in midfield with experience ‘ready-made’ to fulfil their duty whether it be Brentford or Bournemouth, Watford or Wycombe?

In attack Sabri has strengthened an area he needed to address. In comes Luke Freeman, a ready made Championship locksmith. A player who knows how to breach defences at the level.

Tiago Silva and Joao Carvalho will offer more attacking midfield cover with Ryan Yates used for those point needing away days no doubt, whilst Lolley and Ameobi will play big parts again, Lewis Grabban finally has the support he needs to rest his ageing legs thanks to the free capture of Lyle Taylor from Charlton.

Youngsters too with Forest’s famous Academy equipping the side with something to be proud of. Alex Mighten has recently upgraded his contract whilst Brennan Johnson could get plenty more minutes in the campaign ahead.

There’s other players I have failed to mention that might still need to prove themselves at the Championship level but in losing Matty Cash to the benefit of £14m plus up front, in securing Jordan Smith a reliable squad player and in addressing the areas that needed to be addressed, many will think Nottingham Forest are in a much stronger position now then they were a year ago. Which is reason itself on having optimism for what might lie ahead.