The new season is here and our focus has been on individual player performances in pre-season and how Forest are shaping up with the handful of new recruits the club has managed to sign.
The recruitment team at Forest has allowed Nuno some excellent additions to his squad this summer but, as Brian Clough would say, nothing is won on paper.
Forest are shaping up with a committed group.
Forest have managed to hang on to their prized assets – so far – and they have made intelligent signings to provide the depth required to compete for stability and build for the future.
Murillo, Danilo, Morgan and Hudson-Odoi all appear happy to stay at the club for at least another season. Overall, the squad seems to be in good spirits with clear signs of comradery and scenes of contentment within the camp.
Keeping the bulk of the squad for another season shows a connection and a determination to commit to the club for another season. This can only be good and a sign that the players trust Nuno’s system.
We mentioned how, last season, Murillo had been with more partners at the back than a Kardashian – Forest’s Missing Ingredient | Tree Seasons | Nottingham Forest – and this weighed heavily on our minds, providing fans a sense of anxiety and uncertainty.
We all knew Murillo was a stalwart at the back but who could partner him? With Niakhate’s departure and Boly’s inability to slow the ageing process, this was a position that the club needed to fill fast.
Nikola Milenković to partner Murillo.
This summer, it looks as if we have the answer. Up steps Nikola Milenković, a 26-year-old, 6ft 5ins tall, Serbian centre-half from Fiorentina, Italy.
Born in Belgrade, Milenković impressed at the Euros where he played in all of Serbia’s games, including a solid performance against England.
Forest immediately recognised his talent and perceived him as the perfect accompaniment at the back and, possibly, the answer to the issue of leaked goals from set-pieces.
Forest are shaping up nicely in the centre of defence with Murillo’s speed, power and natural agility, whilst Milenković brings height and the sort of disciplined composure that comes from playing regularly in Europe.
Forest are shaping up with Eric da Silva Moreira.
Also at the back, Forest have acquired the services of 18-year-old, Eric da Silva Moreira from newly promoted FC St Pauli. When I first heard the name, I was convinced that he must be another Brazilian wonderkid; Forest unearthing more South American gems as the result of extensive, in-depth scouting analysis over several months.
Born in Germany, Moreira has Portuguese, African and Polish ancestry. He was been a standout player for Germany’s under-16 squad in the 2023 European Championships and in the under-17s World Cup that followed.
Being so young, we expected him to be a player for the future but recent performances in pre-season outings have indicated that the defensive right-winger is shaping up to be a player for the now, especially if Neco is set to leave.
Elliot Anderson from Newcastle.
Another new signing who was part of the pre-season, mini-window is Elliot Anderson. Anderson looks set for great things at Forest as he has already impressed us in the summer friendlies. Where he will fit in remains to be seen as Forest are shaping up nicely in midfield with Danilo, Dominguez, Sangaré, Ryan and MGW all fighting for a place.
Signed from Newcastle United – the club Forest will face in the Carabao Cup in a few weeks – for a reported £35 million, the Scottish international was a firm favourite with many Newcastle fans who expect the new Number 8 to improve even further under Nuno.
Seeing Anderson arrive in early July was as encouraging as the high-pressure building in the Azores. I feel that signings like Anderson and Milenković fit the type of profile to suggest that Forest have ambitions to push to the next level.
Not content with relegation battles, it was vital for Forest to avoid relegation last season but equally important to show ambitious intent this season.
Away from the instability of last season’s looming points deduction and the media narrative surrounding the club, Forest can build slowly and shrewdly whilst staying within the PSR and not mirroring a player warehouse like at Chelsea’s joyless concentration camp of disgruntled millionaires.
Even if he starts on the bench against Bournemouth, Elliot Anderson certainly gives Nuno an attractive option to change the shape of the group if necessary.
Having said that, I’m sure Anderson won’t be content to be a substitute for long and he will want to prove himself as a starter at the City Ground.
Forest reaching new heights with a keeper.
A week later, on July 9th, and Forest signed a 2-metre-tall Brazilian goalkeeper from Corinthians. At 6ft 8ins, Carlos Miguel dos Santos Pereira is an opposing figure in goal and quite possibly on a list of potential extras for a Game of Thrones spinoff.
Carlos Miguel has great reactions, and a man of his build shouldn’t be so lithe. He’s so much of a giant that he makes Tim Burton disappointed with his own imagination.
Carlos Miguel is highly revered in his homeland and tipped to be the next Brazilian No.1. Despite the initial elation of signing Brazil’s future numero uno, there are rumours-a-plenty to suggest that Nuno wants another keeper, making Brice Samba’s departure look even more farcical.
Sels still looks as if he will start against Bournemouth as he is the improved version between the sticks.
Only time will tell if Carlos Miguel can squeeze his freakish frame into the shirt and keep out the inevitable threat from set-pieces; sweeping balls from the sky with his huge reach, providing an intimidating presence for the away fans.
Forest are shaping up with the Portuguese Jack Grealish.
One player who appeared to be high on Nuno’s shopping list this summer is Portuguese winger, Jota Silva, from Vitória Guimarães. Surprisingly, there are early signs that he will make the swift transition to sister side, Olympiacos.
Known as the Portuguese Jack Grealish, we are hoping that Jota has all the skill and finesse of Manchester City’s gentleman Jack but less of the thirst at the bar.
Taking Brennan Johnson’s shirt number, Jota Silva leaving for Greece seems a surprising exchange for many fans but it’s possible we won’t see the revered number 20 shirt at Forest for a while.
One reason why we may see an early departure of the Portuguese Grealish is the arrival of Ramón Sosa. This signing has been on and off more times than an abusive relationship of indecision but we are now informed that Sosa is flying to Nottingham from Argentina, and the Paraguayan international will have a medical prior to the Bournemouth game.
Ramón Sosa?
Sosa has been described as unstoppable at Talleres and, if Forest do sign him, this will enhance the narrative of a team looking to improve and stand out as an established Premier League club.
There was a sense that things were perhaps falling apart at Forest last season and the atmosphere was less intense at Home, almost accepting our points deduction fate whilst wallowing at the wrong end of the table with Luton Town and Burnley.
This season, things are looking more positive with fewer, shrewder signings, good business going the other way, and a show of commitment from our best players.
Although it appears as if Forest are shaping up nicely, if we are to change the script and see us avenge our monsters against the likes of Bournemouth, Forest will need to sign a striker soon.
Bournemouth have already done their business in this department and secured the signing of Porto’s Evanilson. The Brazilian has signed for a club-record fee of £40million, making Forest look like a smaller, inferior club.
Bournemouth’s Sloppy Seconds.
With rumours coming out that Forest are considering Arsenal reject, Eddie Nketiah, I’m concerned that Bournemouth have trumped us here and our Premier League status is not as high as I first thought.
Nketiah was originally also part of Bournemouth’s list of potential signings and it now looks as if they have kicked him out of bed and passed him to us like an unwanted whore.
We can’t rely on Chris Wood to fill in for an injury-prone Taiwo again and, despite the transfer rumours, the marquee signing this season needs to be a quality striker who will reliably bag 16 goals and won’t breach PSR.
Nketiah doesn’t seem to have the profile for such a player. Although the majority of his performances have come from the bench, he will want a fat-pocket wage and come at a hefty price.
Furthermore, Nketiah’s goal ratio isn’t that impressive either. He played 116 games for Arsenal and scored less than once every 5 games (19 goals).
We know that Nuno likes to work with smaller squads but I’m sure there will be further signings as I believe Nuno also wants another left-back.
We are made aware that the club is accepting offers for a handful of other players, including Joe Worrall and Josh Bowler, in an attempt to reduce the squad even further.
Forest are shaping up with optimism.
Our optimistic prediction is victory against Bournemouth and I’d be delighted to see Forest finish above 16th place to help avoid palliative care in the twilight of the season. If Forest can be safe with half a dozen games to go, we can see a reduction in the number of heart attacks at the Nottingham QMC in late April.
The majority fo Forest fans are very optimistic about this season, more than any other set of supporters – if you believe social media.
Our prediction: Nottingham Forest 2- Boringmouth 0. COYR!
