Following the departure of Steve Cooper from Nottingham Forest, Nuno Espirito Santo has rocked up the City ground in an attempt to steer the club to Premier League safety.
It’s a difficult task at a time when the fans and players are not entirely sure what’s going on at the club after owner Evangelos Marinakis sacked the popular Cooper after a run of five losses and a draw, which left the club just five points above the drop zone. After one match in charge Santo has seen that gap reduce to two points and so the heat, with a game away to Newcastle United on Boxing Day, is already on.
Cooper was a hero in Nottingham after he led the team to a first season in the top flight this century and he heroically kept them up last season; and he won’t be short of job offers as the season unfolds. But the club has moved on and Santo is the man in the hot seat.
I have a feeling it won’t be a very comfortable one.
What will Nuno bring?
Still only 49 years old Forest’s new manager brings a wealth of experience in the Premier League and beyond. He came to the attention of English football fans when he led Wolverhampton Wanderers to the top flight, albeit with a player budget way out of the Championship league. Nuno established Wolves as a strong Premier League outfit and in 2019 the club qualified for the Europa League to get their first taste of European football since 1981, and he left, by mutual consent in 2021, with his head held high.
He moved to Tottenham Hotspur in the summer of 2021 but, after a bright start, Nuno was potted within four months. Thee wins from his first three games won him the Premier League Manager of the Month Award for August, but five losses in seven matches saw his sacked by November. And his style was not really welcomed by the Tottenham fans. His Wolves side played scintillating football in the Championship but the Portuguese manager became a pragmatist in the Premier League and soon shed his reputation for free-flowing football.
His former club, Spurs, are currently working hard to win a Champions League spot and, under Ange Postecoglou, are playing in a swashbuckling style. Meanwhile, Nuno has been in the Saudi Pro League, managing Al-Ittihad; but is hasn’t gone swimmingly there as he left the reigning Saudi Champions down in sixth place and 22 points behind leaders Al-Hilal.
Nuno will organise Forest, but he will need to get the players, and the fans, on board quickly, and that won’t be easy.
Will it be enough?
The Premier League 2023 betting odds still say Forest are odds on to survive but that situation could change quickly if Nuno fails to bring a new manager bounce with him. He had the perfect opportunity last Saturday when his opener was at home to Bournemouth. The Cherries are on a good run but are likely to finish lower mid-table and that’s the sort of home game you need to get something from. But once centre back Willy Boly was sent off it became an uphill battle and Forest eventually succumbed to a Dominic Solanke hat-trick.
Forest had to fight hard for survival in their first season back in the top flight and the fans believe Cooper should have been given the chance to see this season out and, even if they were relegated, they would rather have stuck with the Welshman. But Marinakis didn’t see it that way and he swung the axe. The owner has sanctioned a big player budget over the last couple of years and that caused a rapid player turnover, but Cooper moulded them into a team which played attractive football and, crucially, he helped the fans to make the City Ground a fortress. If they lose that togetherness there could be trouble ahead.
Nuno needs to put together a solid run of Premier League 2023 results, so let’s see what’s in store over the next few weeks.
Forest’s next five games
Here at SBOTOP we’ll be watching the relegation battle closely and, sad to say for Forest fans, I suspect they will be watching it too. It couldn’t be a much tougher start for Nuno and he will be ruing the missed opportunity on Saturday. Newcastle have been stuttering of late, but not at home and the Magpies will give Forest a hard time on Boxing Day. Then Forest host Manchester United, a club in disarray but with a wealth of talent in their playing squad. It’s the type of game Cooper may have won but Nuno’s style might suit the Red Devils.
Then it’s a tricky test away to Brentford and another chance to beat Bournemouth, but this time on the Cherries’ home turf; and sandwiched between those two games, league leaders Arsenal at home.
This is a big moment in Forest’s season. Is Nuno is the man to save them? Well, ask me again in February!
●●●
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE FOOTBALL STORIES & ODDS
Stay updated with everything sports and betting.
Follow us on social Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
