Apollyon
Vital Football Legend
The Nuno Espirito Santo effect has not worked for long. We have won only three of our last 11 games under the tutelage of the Portuguese heart throb. We are without a victory in four Premier League outings and can drop into the relegation zone if the two teams below them win this weekend. We are as Will says, truly in the shit.
On the other hand, West Ham United are seemingly in a free fall. The Hammers were sixth on the Premier League table two weeks ago but have dropped to eighth after two successive defeats. In fact, David Moyes’s men have not won a single game in seven attempts in 2024, also geeting hoofed out of the FA Cup by a team we also struggled against.
The reverse fixture saw West Ham come from a goal down to beat Nottingham Forest 3-2, with Tomas Soucek scoring the match-winner.
Willy Boly, Ola Aina, and Ibrahim Sangare are back home from the Africa Cup of Nations final, with Boly and Sangare winning the competition with the Ivory Coast. They won't apparently be in today's squad. Weird.
Gonzalo "she said no" Montiel and Chris Wood remain on the sidelines due to their respective injuries.
Matz Sels has taken no time to become the undisputed first-choice goalkeeper and will take his spot between the sticks, with Nottingham Forest lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation against West Ham United. The backline should consist of Williams, Niakhate, Murillo, and Nuno Tavares.
As for the midfield unit, Yates should pair up with Danilo in the double pivot. Morgan Gibbs-White will reprise the no. 10 role, with Anthony Elanga and Callum Hudson-Odoi being the two wide attackers. Finally, Taiwo Awoniyi will lead the line for the home side.
Michail Antonio and Lucas Paqueta are close to regaining full fitness, although Saturday’s game might have come too soon for them to feature from the get-go. But the duo might make it to the matchday squad this weekend.
West Ham will line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation against Nottingham Forest, with Alphonse Areola taking his spot between the sticks. Kostas Mavropanos and Kurt Zouma should pair up at the heart of the defence, with Aaron Cresswell and Vladimir Coufal being the two full-backs.
As for the midfield unit, there is no looking past Edson Alvarez and Kalvin Phillips in the double pivot. James Ward-Prowse will be the most advanced midfielder, with his ghosting runs and set-piece ability being his strengths. Finally, Jarrod Bowen, Maxwel Cornet, and Mohammed Kudus should combine in a fluid attacking trifecta.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Areola; Coufal, Mavropanos, Zouma, Cresswell; Phillips, Alvarez; Kudus, Ward-Prowse, Cornet; Bowen
The weather, much like @AdebolaCornflakes, is wet and mild.
My prediction
2-0 win
This thread was today brought to you by the usual:
Apollo Table Water
Cracking
On the other hand, West Ham United are seemingly in a free fall. The Hammers were sixth on the Premier League table two weeks ago but have dropped to eighth after two successive defeats. In fact, David Moyes’s men have not won a single game in seven attempts in 2024, also geeting hoofed out of the FA Cup by a team we also struggled against.
The reverse fixture saw West Ham come from a goal down to beat Nottingham Forest 3-2, with Tomas Soucek scoring the match-winner.
Team News & Tactics
Nottingham Forest
Nuno Espirito Santo has given some positive updates on the team news front ahead of this fixture.Willy Boly, Ola Aina, and Ibrahim Sangare are back home from the Africa Cup of Nations final, with Boly and Sangare winning the competition with the Ivory Coast. They won't apparently be in today's squad. Weird.
Gonzalo "she said no" Montiel and Chris Wood remain on the sidelines due to their respective injuries.
Matz Sels has taken no time to become the undisputed first-choice goalkeeper and will take his spot between the sticks, with Nottingham Forest lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation against West Ham United. The backline should consist of Williams, Niakhate, Murillo, and Nuno Tavares.
As for the midfield unit, Yates should pair up with Danilo in the double pivot. Morgan Gibbs-White will reprise the no. 10 role, with Anthony Elanga and Callum Hudson-Odoi being the two wide attackers. Finally, Taiwo Awoniyi will lead the line for the home side.
West Ham United
Like his counterpart in the Nottingham Forest dugout, David Moyes does not have many issues to deal with ahead of the trip to the City Ground. The West Ham United manager might have a fully-fit squad on Saturday.Michail Antonio and Lucas Paqueta are close to regaining full fitness, although Saturday’s game might have come too soon for them to feature from the get-go. But the duo might make it to the matchday squad this weekend.
West Ham will line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation against Nottingham Forest, with Alphonse Areola taking his spot between the sticks. Kostas Mavropanos and Kurt Zouma should pair up at the heart of the defence, with Aaron Cresswell and Vladimir Coufal being the two full-backs.
As for the midfield unit, there is no looking past Edson Alvarez and Kalvin Phillips in the double pivot. James Ward-Prowse will be the most advanced midfielder, with his ghosting runs and set-piece ability being his strengths. Finally, Jarrod Bowen, Maxwel Cornet, and Mohammed Kudus should combine in a fluid attacking trifecta.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Areola; Coufal, Mavropanos, Zouma, Cresswell; Phillips, Alvarez; Kudus, Ward-Prowse, Cornet; Bowen
Key Stats
- Nottingham Forest beat West Ham United at the City Ground 1-0 last season. But they most recently won successive home league games against West Ham in December 1983.
- West Ham United can complete a league double over Nottingham Forest for the first time since the 2011/12 season and their first in the top flight since 1968/69.
- Nottingham Forest have lost nine of their last 13 Premier League games (W2 D2), including three of the four outings in 2024 (D1). They have the joint-most defeats in the top flight since the start of November (9, level with Brentford and Burnley).
- West Ham United have lost their last two Premier League games, conceding nine goals in the process, as many as they had done in the previous eight.
- Nottingham Forest have conceded a goal in their most recent 13 Premier League games (29 in total).
The weather, much like @AdebolaCornflakes, is wet and mild.
My prediction
2-0 win
This thread was today brought to you by the usual:
Apollo Table Water
Cracking
c*********t.
