Nottingham Forest started the season with Nuno Espirito Santo in charge after a European finish last season. What were the key factors behind his dismissal?
By all reports he fell out with Edu, the group’s Global Head of Football (big title I know) and it got to the point where one had to go and unfortunately it was Nuno, which was a real shame after the season before. He was critical of the summer transfer business, or at least the timing of it, as well so his exit was inevitable.
Next came Europa
League winner Ange Postecoglou, which always felt like it would be a difficult transition mid-season. Was it a case he tried to change too much too soon?
Initially, he did yes but the whole thing just unravelled so quickly and the last couple of games he was a bit more defensive.
Overall, it was a disastrous appointment though. He came in and looked totally drained by the Spurs sacking. He needed to take a much longer break by his own admission. His football is so intricate that you can’t appoint him mid-season.
After that, Sean Dyche came in, but he also struggled to generate form. What would you say went wrong for the ex-Burnley boss?
There’s a lot of debate about him, but I would say his downfall was terrible football and terrible performances in some games (Everton home and away, Braga home, Leeds away, Villa away to name a few) and interviews which really wound people up.
He’s good at deflecting blame. He did get points though, whatever people say.
The man who appears to have changed Forest’s fortunes is ex-Wolves boss Vitor Pereira. What has he done differently?
Got the players enjoying their football and the fans enjoying watching their team primarily.
He’s been a real unifying force as well. Tactically, he’s made good subs and always looks to change games positively.
In the league, Forest are on a five-match unbeaten run. Are Sunderland facing them at the worst time?
We’re certainly in our best form of the season, although it’s been a bad season.
We’re on a good run and some players have really found form like Gibbs-White. We do have injuries though to Murillo and Callum Hudson-Odoi, so while we’re better, we’re not the team we were last season.
Also in Europe, Forest have reached the Europa League semi-finals. Although it may have been a hindrance to your league form, I’m certain it’s worth the memories made and the prospect of a final?
If we can stay up as well, it is. I don’t think it’s been a hindrance.
We’ve actually had good results after European games. One reason though is that we’ve rotated a lot in Europe and not really been able to attack it fully, so it’s really good we’ve got this far to be fair.
Which Forest players would you say have impressed you most this season?
For sure, there’s three that stand out. Elliot Anderson dominates the stats in so many midfield metrics, not just in the Premier League but in Europe. Morgan Gibbs-White has 12 league goals and has been excellent since Dyche left. The other one would be Neco Williams, as he’s incredibly consistent.
If you were Regis Le Bris, how would you set up to exploit Forest’s weaknesses?
I think we’re still vulnerable from dead balls and long throws.
We’re actually pretty tight in open play. I’m not sure Jair Cunha is a weakness as Murillo’s cover, but I would get Brobbey to test him.
How do you think Pereira will approach the match tactically?
Most likely 4-2-3-1, but one of the wingers will be Gibbs-White or Dominguez, if not both, so we have every presence in the middle of the pitch.
I don’t think we’ll be too attacking in the first half. We’re very patient on the ball. Too patient really, especially in the attacking third, but we’ve been good of late.
Are any players missing and what do you think the starting XI will be?
Murillo and Hudson-Odoi are missing, so I would say… Sels; Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams; Sangare, Anderson; Hutchinson, Gibbs-White, Dominguez, Wood.
Sunderland won 1-0 in the reverse fixture. What is your score prediction for this time around?
I’m expecting a tight game, so I’ll say 1-1.
