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Ange-ball is working – to a point
These are still early days but Igor Jesus’s first goal in the Europa League draw with Real Betis was another tick in the box for so-called Ange-ball, a brisk team move culminating in the Brazil striker converting from close range. The first half was particularly encouraging from Ange Postecoglou’s perspective, Forest peppering the Betis goal, a series of cutting moves proof his methods are working. But Forest have squandered leads in three of their four matches under Postecoglou. Why are they struggling to get over the line? They toiled against Betis with Nikola Milenkovic cramping up approaching the final whistle, while Douglas Luiz, influential for both goals, was withdrawn at half-time owing to hamstring soreness. Worryingly, Forest again seemed to lose momentum after making substitutions. “We’ve got to manage games, see them out – we’ll be in a better position if we start doing that,” said Forest’s captain, Morgan Gibbs-White.
Is this the start of the end for Wood?
Only Mohamed Salah, Alexander Isak and Erling Haaland scored more goals in the Premier League than Chris Wood last season, whose 20-goal haul represented more than a third of Forest’s total tally. Wood spearheaded Nuno Espírito Santo’s side, bringing the bona fide No 9 back into vogue but the 33-year-old was an unused substitute in Seville and now Postecoglou can experiment with other options. Igor Jesus was alert in the box, the £16.5m signing from Botafogo scoring both of Forest’s goals a week on from his double at Swansea, and it will surely be hard for Postecoglou to drop him after another sharp outing. It felt telling that it was Arnaud Kalimuendo, another summer arrival, who replaced the 24-year-old Brazilian in the second half, though afterwards Postecoglou insisted: “Woody’s still a big part of this team.”
Anderson has evolved into Forest’s superstar
There was outcry when Gibbs-White was left out of Thomas Tuchel’s original squad for England’s June double-header, partly because the game against Senegal was at the City Ground, the 25-year-old’s playground. Gibbs-White was subsequently called up when Cole Palmer withdrew through injury but arguably the bigger omission was Elliot Anderson, a driving, dynamic midfield force who was the best player on the pitch at the Estadio La Cartuja on Wednesday. Instead the 22-year-old was picked for the under-21s, helping them to defend their European Championship crown and Tuchel has since seen the light, selecting him for their victories against Andorra and Serbia this month. Anderson has quietly superseded Gibbs-White as Forest’s key cog.
Forest fans savour European return
It was an occasion three decades in the making and a few hours before kick-off Sokratis Kominakis, who acquired 20% of the club when Evangelos Marinakis became the majority owner eight years ago, increased his popularity by buying dozens of supporters drinks and settling a bar tab, reported to be €800. Until Antony’s 85th-minute equaliser, Forest’s almost 3,500-strong contingent were in heaven. The Forest fans in the away end were subjected to a holdback totalling close to an hour after the game, which at least enabled them to serenade the substitutes, including the academy product Ryan Yates who joined aged eight, during the warm-down. The club expressed their disappointment that during that time Betis would not allow them to “use the toilet or purchase refreshments, as per competition rules”.
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… and home comforts await?
“That’s why we’re at the stadium, because we won’t see it for a while,” Postecoglou said at his unveiling a fortnight ago and, 16 days and four games into the job, he is yet to experience the City Ground in all its glory. The visit of Sunderland on Saturday will not only provide him with another opportunity to earn that elusive first win but also allow Forest a more routine matchday. Weeks of preparation go into away matches behind the scenes; for example, Forest’s team coach was transported to Seville via ferry after last weekend’s draw at Burnley. Forest are unlikely to encounter such high temperatures or humidity when Régis Le Bris’s side come to town. “I’m looking forward to experiencing the atmosphere,” Postecoglou said.
