This weekend, Nuno Santo will manage Forest for the first time.
This Saturday, Nottingham Forest will play its first match under new manager Nuno Espirito Santo when they host Bournemouth at the City Ground.
Forest enters the match fresh from yet another heartbreaking loss, a 2-0 home loss to Spurs that ultimately resulted in Steve Cooper’s dismissal.
With just three victories from 17 games, the Reds have been playing poorly since September. The Garibaldi supporters will be hoping that their new manager can invigorate the team and get things going quickly.
Fortunately, Santo can make three changes from the Spurs loss because he has nearly the entire squad at his disposal.
1) GK – Matt Turner
Despite not playing a game for Forest in the whole of November, Matt Turner seems to have become the number-one choice again over the last two weeks. The American is expected to start in between the sticks once again this weekend.
2) RCB – Willy Boly
Willy Boly will link up with his former Wolves boss again, and he should keep his spot in a right centre-back role. The 32-year-old has started 12 games this season, and he will be hoping to use his aerial strength in the opposition box.
3) CB – Murillo
The 21-year-old has featured in every game since his debut in October, and he should start once again this weekend. Murillo will look to progress play and pick up his third clean sheet of the season.
4) LCB – Moussa Niakhate
Niakhate’s position in the starting XI depends on whether Felipe is fit enough to start, but given that the Brazilian is set to undergo a late fitness test, the number 19 may be preferred. The Senegal international has only kept one clean sheet this season, which came in his player-of-the-match performance against Aston Villa.
5) RWB/RM – Serge Aurier
Neco Williams started last weekend in the absence of Aurier, but the ex-Spurs player could return to the side after suffering from an injury. The 30-year-old was fighting to be fit for last weekend’s game, so he should be ready for Bournemouth.
6) CM – Orel Mangala
The Belgian midfielder has started all but one game this season, and he will keep his place at the heart of Forest’s midfield. Mangala has failed to form a relationship with teammates this season due to rotation, but the number five has been a mainstay in the team.
7) CM – Ibrahim Sangare
Sangare has only started ten games this season under Cooper, but with a new boss in charge, his Forest career could finally take off. The ex-PSV star is set to take a late fitness test after being out with an Adductor strain, but if he is fit, he should walk into the starting XI – ensuring that Ryan Yates is among those to make way.
8) LWB/LM – Harry Toffolo
Nuno does have options in this role in the form of Williams and Ola Aina, but Harry Toffolo should be given the nod this weekend. The 28-year-old is Forest’s joint top assister this season, and he will look to create in the final third on Saturday.
9) RW – Morgan Gibbs-White
The Reds star has featured in every game this season, but he has only registered one goal and two assists. He will look to re-connect with his former manager, who gave him his breakthrough at Wolves, and the boss will start the number ten this weekend.
10) ST – Chris Wood
After scoring a brace versus Luton in October, Chris Wood has failed to score in his last six games for Forest. However, with Taiwo Awoniyi out injured, the 32-year-old should come back into the fold after the experiment of playing without a centre-forward last time out failed to pay off.
A “reliable” goalscorer at Burnley – as described by pundit Gary Neville – Wood could well start firing again under the new regime.
11) LW – Anthony Elanga
The ex-Manchester United star has only started 11 games this season, but he has registered six goal contributions, the joint most in the squad. Callum Hudson-Odoi may challenge for his place, but the 21-year-old should be favoured.
Nottingham Forest’s predicted lineup vs Bournemouth in full: GK – Turner; RCB – Boly, CB – Murillo, LCB – Niakhate; RWB/RM – Aurier, CM – Mangala, CM – Sangare, LWB/LM – Toffolo; RW – Gibbs-White, ST – Wood, LW – Elanga.
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