2-0. Game on.
a month ago
59
Entirely possible if we return to what has put us in this position. Namely concentrating on the shape without the ball. We have goals in us, what we don't have is chasing the game with high field position with ball possession - we are a sieve, ready to be flooded in that configuration.
Bin this 'going for it' bollocks, and go back to being sneakily effective. Then 2-0.
Yes this.
Guessing Yates will be back in the starting line-up to that end.
Agreed, especially having scored. Though I'm not taking much from him being back in - as they said on the Forest Focus podcast I think it's more a case that Nuno doesn't know who his first choice between Sangare, Yates and Dominguez is.
I think he'd like it to be Sangare - that's why he started the season with him. But the actuality of his performances doesn't match up to the theory and he gets bypassed a lot.
I think the owner would like it to be Sangare too, giving how much money he cost.
Interesting that Danilo didn't even make the matchday squad yesterday (he travelled, but wasn't selected - instead Nuno went with two left-backs on the bench). Also no Boly, but he didn't travel, so I presume he was injured.Agreed. Nuno, the owner and most of us would like it to be Sangare. But he needs to up his performances (not getting enough minutes probably isn't helping).
I think Sangare is nearly there. Given illness in his first season, this is really his first season of adjustment. The physicality and range of skills is all there, he still needs a bit of adjusting to the tempo and reading ahead of the game. Tantalisingly close in his case though. I can see him getting there. Dominguez has all the mental side but is a bit underpowered. Danny Lowe is beautiful on the ball, but also a bit underpowered and being overrun which means he's untidy and gives up the ball too much... And not the best without the ball. Will get there when he gets back to full physicality. Yates is a bit short all round, on the physical skills side, except because of his elite mentality he could play for a combined earth eleven against the rest of the universe and still do an important job.
Defence is top notch, apart from at left back. Forwards are second tier elite and can hurt anyone (MGW, Wood, CHO, rhythm). It's that engine room where we are currently lower end mid table. So we need to keep what they are defending small, and not stretched.
I'm going to commit sacrilege and say that if we want to be challenging for Europe consistently Wood doesn't do enough and one (2/3rd?) season of freakish overperformance in terms of his finishing doesn't change that. I'd swap him for the main striker at any other club (apart from Brighton, weirdly) in the top 13.
But I'm not going to claim that replacing him would be easy or cheap.
It's been a bit of a fluke season. This can be a hope, but I think it would be bonkers to make it an expectation. We should aim to capitalise on where we find ourselves, by making the squad better, and see where that takes us...but if it establishes us as a 'ship club not in serious relegation contention we should feel quite pleased after only three seasons in the division.
Big fan of Welbeck, and always have been. Apart from the made of glass thing.
You could, potentially, improve all the forward positions....at great cost and potential hardship. You can make the biggest difference to the team, with the lowest cost, and the most available options, with a couple of better bodies in midfield. The midfield is not of the class of the rest of the elements of the team. Midfield is, overall, the most important of the special teams.
We almost certainly don't challenge for europe next season with that midfield. We could with that defence and forward line (plus a couple of extras, for the extra games).
Agree - and I'd add Elanga to that as well. His pace is frightening, but, er, there's not much else, as highlighted yesterday (and at Citeh).
Tbh, at Citeh the only Forest player who appeared comfortable at the truly elite level was MGW. I wonder if they are eyeing him as a KDB replacement?
(I do think we bought Anderson almost as succession planning for the No 10 role, then Sangare and Danilo can play 6/8).I think with the way Anderson has developed over the season, you'd now probably be looking to play Sangare as the 6 and Anderson and Danilo as two 8s - similar to how Newcastle line up.
Agree with all of that except the first statement. There's no evidence in front of my eyes to suggest he's nearly there. I hope he will be, but if he didn't have that price tag and 'potential' he wouldn't be anywhere near the match day squad never mind the team.
There are other examples where there has been a lot else. but not consistently...he's not a top level player, but he's capable of being unplayable (when it all comes together). This is a take the crunchy with the smooth of a very good value player scenario. Also....very good set piece delivery.
I don't disagree with that. The big question is what player would he be if he found the tempo and read play at the level better. It's a stretch, and might never happen for him. But the physical attributes and potential is quite high level. Realising that potential being the hypothetical.
The chasing teams are as follows:
City away at Spurs, could find that hard as Spurs have picked up a bit recent.
Newcastle away at Liverpool, wouldn't expect them to get anything.
Bournemouth away at Brighton, another difficult game for them.
Chelsea home to Southampton, so good chance they are back in the top 4 or 5, despite their shit recent form.
Villa away at Palace, who have found some form recently.
