On Saturday, Nuno Espirito Santo takes over as Nottingham Forest’s new manager, ushering in a new chapter at the City Ground.
When the Reds play Bournemouth on the banks of the Trent, the Portuguese will be looking to start his stay off well.They enter the game having dropped their last three home games, and Steve Cooper’s tenure as head coach came to an end last weekend due to a 2-0 loss to Tottenham Hotspur.
Sarah Clapson, our Forest reporter, had a lot to discuss in a live Q&A on our Reds Facebook page following a hectic week.Here’s an overview of how everything turned out.
A: He brings a wealth of expertise with him, particularly from the Premier League. With the situation Forest finds itself in right now, knowing the league will be really helpful.
To halt the decline, something has to happen with the performances and results.Forest has to regain the margin that was once there between them and the relegation zone. They must maintain a safe distance from the bottom three.
Nuno had a successful tenure with Wolves.He acknowledged at his news conference that circumstances cannot be compared, thus the job he faces today will be distinct from that at Molineux and Tottenham. Because he wants to fully evaluate his players before making any decisions on their style of play, he has been hesitant to discuss it too much.
In the immediate term, he has to arrest the slip and stabilize the ship.You’d like to think that a manager like him could do it.
On Wednesday, he spoke extensively about his desire to ensure that Forest is a well-organized squad. It is obvious that making them difficult to beat and fortifying things would take precedence. It would be wonderful to gain some momentum. The upcoming games may not be easy, but there’s always the Christmas break to provide him some much-needed time to practice.
Q: The outcomes could not continue, something had to change.
A: It had gotten to the point where it was hard to predict when the next victory would occur.Although Steve Cooper had previously saved Forest from dire circumstances and reversed bad runs of form, something seemed different this time.
Either the manager or the outcomes needed to change.The owner made the decision that the latter would apply.
Because of what he has accomplished at the club, Cooper will always be regarded as a Forest legend. Most of the previous two seasons had been successful. In no way does the current series of outcomes diminish that. Nuno takes over with a ton of issues to resolve and areas to focus on, not the least of which is attempting to reduce the amount of goals Forest concedes and increase their scoring. However, sometimes a group needs a new face and fresh ideas to get going.
Q: Does he play the games that are scheduled to go because he is interested in the team for the next three games and 5-7 go to the AFCON?
A: Forest’s roster for the Africa Cup of Nations is probably going to be significantly reduced.The club is quite aware of it in relation to the transfer window.
Although they wish to reduce the number, they also understand that when players report for AFCON, they cannot be short-staffed in any one area. Depending on incomings, it might mean that some players who would have otherwise been inclined to depart would wind up having to stay put.
I’m sure Nuno’s only concern when choosing the lineup will be scoring some points. More often than not, that will determine his team selection in the long run. He will choose a side he believes is capable of stopping the slump in order to get off to a strong start. He and Forest will need to consider the possibility of losing specific players for a while in a few weeks, though.
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