Nottingham Forest pre match chat
We have 8 days to prepare for our next match.
We also had 8 days to prepare for our last one and we were dreadful so let's hope for better.
After a really poor performance vs Brighton comes a crucial game before the next international break vs struggling Nottingham Forest.
The East Midlands side had a bit of a turbulent summer with former manager Nuno Esperito Santo and Greek gangster owner Evangelos Marinakis butting heads.
An uneasy truce but with Nuno making public digs at the ownership a parting was inevitable.
By early September Nuno was gone and former Spurs manager and vibe merchant Ange Postecoglou was in charge.
8 games no wins later and the shortest permanent manager spell in Premier League history was over and survival specialist, Premier League veteran and Nottingham Forest youth player Sean Dyche is now in charge.
A decent start as well.
A win vs Porto who as of now have only lost 1 game (that one) in all competitions and have won 12 of 14 this season.
A defeat to 4th placed Bournemouth followed but then a spirited draw vs Manchester United who were at the time on a 3 match winning run including against Liverpool and Brighton.
He may not play beautiful football but Sean Dyche has already had an impact and some impressive results.
Tactically Dyche has been using a 4-2-3-1 with in possession one holder and one midfielder going box to box.
Despite his reputation for negative football Dyche teams do tend to be very physical and press high (in his last full season at Everton they were top 5 for presses in the attacking 3rd).
He doesn't care for possession Sean and is more than willing to go long , and fight for 2nd balls.
His teams tend to attack quickly and be very direct and has to be said this Forest team is stacked with talent and is probably the most gifted set of players he's had.
In terms of weaknesses it's hard of course to say much about his Forest side but in the past his teams have struggled to create chances and in the desperation to score they have been vulnerable on the break.
They have conceded 2 goals in both of his Premier League games.
But are unbeaten in 2 on paper very tough fixtures at The City Ground vs Manure and Porto.
As for Daniel Farke vs Sean Dyche the advantage has been with Dyche.
2 wins for Dyche
1 for Farke
1 draw.
The last time they met though was the draw and should be Remembered Farke had a worse record vs Nuno and we won so the past results aren't always guaranteed.
In terms of key players.
Talented number 10 Morgan Gibbs-White has scored in 2 of the games Dyche has taken charge of. He is the Captain and talisman of the side. Tends to see a lot of the ball and has quick feet, good eye for a pass and intelligence.
Tough tackling box to box Geordie midfielder Elliot Anderson is a vital cog in midfield with his high energy lung bursting runs up and down the pitch and eye for a pass. He ranks very high in the league for dribbles, chances created and duels and tackles won. An all rounder type midfielder.
Finally had his struggles this season but last season goalkeeper Matz Sels established himself as one of the best in the league. He was the PFA Team of the Year goalie, shared the golden glove for most clean sheets and had one of the best save percentages in the league.
So a struggling side with a struggle for clean sheets but one that has shown shoots of improvement under the new manager.
In terms of ourselves then.
No getting away from it, our away form has been awful.
We've lost 4 of 5 and only scored any goals against the side with only 2 points all season.
We've also gone behind in 7 of 10 games and only won 1 (again against the worst side in the league).
Do we need to see a more offensive lineup?
Does Daniel Farke need to be braver away from home?
Are doubts on the fitness of Calvert-Lewin, is it time for Piroe to get a chance or do we go more like for like with Nmecha?
Is it time for Stach to return? If so who for?
Would people like to see Dan James (whose admittedly struggled for ages) back in for his pace?
We also had 8 days to prepare for our last one and we were dreadful so let's hope for better.
After a really poor performance vs Brighton comes a crucial game before the next international break vs struggling Nottingham Forest.
The East Midlands side had a bit of a turbulent summer with former manager Nuno Esperito Santo and Greek gangster owner Evangelos Marinakis butting heads.
An uneasy truce but with Nuno making public digs at the ownership a parting was inevitable.
By early September Nuno was gone and former Spurs manager and vibe merchant Ange Postecoglou was in charge.
8 games no wins later and the shortest permanent manager spell in Premier League history was over and survival specialist, Premier League veteran and Nottingham Forest youth player Sean Dyche is now in charge.
A decent start as well.
A win vs Porto who as of now have only lost 1 game (that one) in all competitions and have won 12 of 14 this season.
A defeat to 4th placed Bournemouth followed but then a spirited draw vs Manchester United who were at the time on a 3 match winning run including against Liverpool and Brighton.
He may not play beautiful football but Sean Dyche has already had an impact and some impressive results.
Tactically Dyche has been using a 4-2-3-1 with in possession one holder and one midfielder going box to box.
Despite his reputation for negative football Dyche teams do tend to be very physical and press high (in his last full season at Everton they were top 5 for presses in the attacking 3rd).
He doesn't care for possession Sean and is more than willing to go long , and fight for 2nd balls.
His teams tend to attack quickly and be very direct and has to be said this Forest team is stacked with talent and is probably the most gifted set of players he's had.
In terms of weaknesses it's hard of course to say much about his Forest side but in the past his teams have struggled to create chances and in the desperation to score they have been vulnerable on the break.
They have conceded 2 goals in both of his Premier League games.
But are unbeaten in 2 on paper very tough fixtures at The City Ground vs Manure and Porto.
As for Daniel Farke vs Sean Dyche the advantage has been with Dyche.
2 wins for Dyche
1 for Farke
1 draw.
The last time they met though was the draw and should be Remembered Farke had a worse record vs Nuno and we won so the past results aren't always guaranteed.
In terms of key players.
Talented number 10 Morgan Gibbs-White has scored in 2 of the games Dyche has taken charge of. He is the Captain and talisman of the side. Tends to see a lot of the ball and has quick feet, good eye for a pass and intelligence.
Tough tackling box to box Geordie midfielder Elliot Anderson is a vital cog in midfield with his high energy lung bursting runs up and down the pitch and eye for a pass. He ranks very high in the league for dribbles, chances created and duels and tackles won. An all rounder type midfielder.
Finally had his struggles this season but last season goalkeeper Matz Sels established himself as one of the best in the league. He was the PFA Team of the Year goalie, shared the golden glove for most clean sheets and had one of the best save percentages in the league.
So a struggling side with a struggle for clean sheets but one that has shown shoots of improvement under the new manager.
In terms of ourselves then.
No getting away from it, our away form has been awful.
We've lost 4 of 5 and only scored any goals against the side with only 2 points all season.
We've also gone behind in 7 of 10 games and only won 1 (again against the worst side in the league).
Do we need to see a more offensive lineup?
Does Daniel Farke need to be braver away from home?
Are doubts on the fitness of Calvert-Lewin, is it time for Piroe to get a chance or do we go more like for like with Nmecha?
Is it time for Stach to return? If so who for?
Would people like to see Dan James (whose admittedly struggled for ages) back in for his pace?