NOTTINGHAM FOREST are preparing for a new era at the City Ground after sacking Nuno Espirito Santo.
Just hours after the brutal axing of the boss who’s taken them into Europe, Forest are already set to name Ange Postecoglou as their new manager.
GettyAnge Postecoglou looks set to become the new Nottingham Forest boss[/caption]
GettyWill Chris Wood keep his place in the team up front?[/caption]
GettyDouglas Luiz arrived on loan for the season from Juventus[/caption]
The former Tottenham chief – who himself was let go despite winning last season’s Europa League – could face Arsenal away in his first match in charge of his new team.
But with the transfer window closed, Postecoglou, 60, will not be able to bring any new signings in until January.
So the Australian must stick with the current squad for the time being.
But how might the attack-minded coach line his team up to face his former foes – with one key change going forwards?
Matz Sels might wear the No26 at the City Ground but he is very much the undisputed No1 for Forest.
The Belgium international was named in the PFA Team of the Year last season after sharing the Golden Glove with David Raya.
In defence, Nikola Milenkovic and Murillo will almost certainly retain their places as the centre-back pairing – despite the 3-0 defeat at home to West Ham last time out.
There is unlikely to be changes at full-back for the trip to Arsenal with Ola Aina and Neco Williams hoping to stay in the team.
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But Oleksandr Zinchenko arrived on deadline day on loan from the Gunners.
So although he cannot face his parent club, the Ukrainian has not moved to the East Midlands to sit on the bench – he will want game time.
‘Nuno to Ange like reversing polarity of the planet’ – Martin Lipton
IF the Nottingham Forest players are still feeling dizzy, you wouldn’t blame them.
They have spent the last 21 months playing risk-averse, counter-attack Nuno-ball.
Suddenly, overnight, they have now discovered the approach is defence-averse, “it’s who we are mate”, Ange-ball.
It feels like the footballing equivalent of reversing the polarity of the planet.
A total culture and attitude shift in the space of a few hours.
And given so much of Forest’s success is down to the strategy deployed by Nuno Espirito Santo, who galvanised his players into believing they added up to far more than the sum of their collective parts, even Evangelos Marinakis might accept it’s a roll of the dice.
Postecoglou favoured a 4-3-3 formation at Spurs and will no doubt stick to his preferred system with Forest.
And that will mean new England star Elliot Anderson the beating heart in the middle of the park alongside holder Ibrahim Sangare or loanee Douglas Luiz while playmaker Morgan Gibbs-White is a guaranteed starter.
James McAtee signed from Manchester City in the summer for £30million and will be pushing to break into the team.
But Forest are stacked in the No10 and winger positions.
They spent an initial £35m on Dan Ndoye and a further £30m on Dilane Bakwa this summer.
But it is the club-record arrival Omari Hutchinson – a £37.5m signing from Ipswich – who may well get the nod from Postecoglou at the Emirates.
The Gibbs-White deal may reach £42.5m with add-ons but the £37.5m for Hutchinson is the biggest initial fee Forest have spent on any player in their history.
AlamyOmari Hutchinson arrived for a huge £37.5m from Ipswich[/caption]
Ndoye started the Hammers defeat, with Callum Hudson-Odoi on the other flank, but the incoming Australian gaffer will have a headache working out who will make the starting XI.
But it would not be a bad idea to give their new most expensive player a shot.
And up front, the ex-Celtic boss will either have to leave out last season’s top scorer Chris Wood or £26m new signing Arnaud Kalimuendo.
But tried-and-tested Wood will surley be the safer pick to start with.
Forest play Swansea in the Carabao Cup third round on September 17 then begin their Europa League campaign on September 24.
So with plenty of football coming up – five matches in 15 days – Postecoglou will not be short of opportunities to give his plethora of attacking talent chances to shine.
GettyForest spent £30m on James McAtee from Manchester City[/caption]
AlamyOleksander Zinchenko cannot face parent club Arsenal[/caption] Creator – [#item_custom_dc:creator]
