#the nuno revenge tour

[coachtfd]

The Premier League table is so interesting this season, even quite ironic (if not hilarious) in some instances:

- Aston Villa has a -3 goal difference like Manchester United but they’re five places ahead in 9th.

- Spurs have scored 41 goals, have a +13 goal difference, but sit 9 places below Forest who’s only scored 26 goals and has a +7 goal difference.

- A Nuno-led team is currently out-scoring Manchester United. According to Capology, James Ward-Prowse is their highest-paid player, Casemiro is United’s. Chris Wood’s weekly salary is about £80K per week, Marcus Rashford’s is about £300K. Think we seriously need to redefine the expression “Premier-League-proven.”

- The top three teams at the moment also have the top 3 defenses, no surprise there; pity no one values defense. But I suppose dropping points or losing games every week is more entertaining, I see how you got there.

- The last time Liverpool scored and defended like this they went on that insane 12-month run where they won every competition they were in. If they keep this up, the league is theirs to lose.

- I had Palace finishing in the top 10 and they’re only six points off the pace. I think they can do it if they can bolster in January.

- West Ham has a -13 goal difference but is still 1 point ahead of Manchester United because they scored 2 more goals. Even in a very dysfunctional team at the moment, Jarrod Bowen has as many goal involvements this season as Bruno Fernandes (nine) but he’s on a fraction of the salary. Last season, he had 22 involvements in the league to Bruno’s 18. Ask me again why I wanted him. We’d be challenging for the league with another player hitting those numbers as regularly as he does. Before they sacked Moyes, he was running behind Saka for production two straight seasons.

- Wolves have scored more goals than 9 other teams this season but are currently 2 points away from the relegation zone. If they could defend at all they’d probably be in the top 6 right now.

- Brentford have scored as many goals as City this season (32). They’ve also scored more goals than Manchester United, Aston Villa, and Newcastle.

- City conceded 33 goals in the league last season, 26 the season before that. This season they’ve already conceded 26. The title race is over for them.

- Manchester United were actually on track to concede fewer goals this season prior to Amorim arriving, after conceding 58 last season. They’re now only 5 goals off the pace to concede 55+ goals again.

- Arsenal currently has a top 3 defense and if they maintain this until the end of the season, it will be the third season in a row they’ve accomplished that. NO ONE’s been able to boast about Arsenal’s defense like this in over a decade. Appreciate what Arteta and the club have done. If they defended like this in any other big European league they’d be on a three-peat title run right now.

🧐

[coachtfd]

Think twice before sacking a good coach. United we’re not even in the picture so at least Spurs has half a leg to stand on. 😬 I would love it if he led another Championship-promoted team into European football. Then tell me again about how much money you have to spend to move up the table or play in Europe because they’re not signing the Palmers and the Sanchos of the world, it’s all the castaways from the clubs below them. If they can bolster in January, I think top 6 is totally doable. I’d even back a 4th place finish the way the league is going.

I’d make two crazy but conceivable plays next month: get Calvert-Lewin from Everton and Norgaard from Brentford. Their contracts expire next summer, their current market values aren’t very high, they’re familiar with the league, and I think they’d relish a chance to play for a club currently sitting in 2nd and looking to stay there. Norgaard is essential to Brentford even at 30 years old, Calvert-Lewin has avoided injury, and I think both would be willing to take a pay cut of necessary to get in on this kind of action at this point in their careers. Plus Everton need the money, especially if they want to avoid relegation again.

I don’t think Forest could conjure up the resources to do both, but if they only did the Norgaard deal it would help immensely. Or if they want a younger prospect, pick up Damsgaard. He’s been on my radar for a while, he’s only 24, similar market value to Norgaard, and he would be a great rotation option to rest any of the attacking midfielders in the front four without missing a beat. 🧐

[coachtfd]

ELANGA!! The former United boy does it again!! ❤️ Forest are fourth, deal with it. 😂

[coachtfd]

Game on! Forest isn’t done yet. 👏🏾

[coachtfd]

Nuno’s Revenge Tour 2024

I’ve been saying for years that Nuno Espírito Santo is a good coach and he’s still a good coach. What you’re seeing at Forest is a good coach working with a good team that has bought into what he’s doing, has the quality to execute, and has the WILL to execute. Buying in is often a choice. Most coaches are not so radical with their demands or strategies that it’s impossible to buy into what they’re doing. Maybe a player doesn’t have the ability or capacity to execute, but putting the effort in is ultimately up to the player. Deciding to stay switched on for 90+ minutes to execute the game plan until you get the result is up to the player.

Spurs are more adventurous under Ange Postecoglou, but they’re currently sitting in 11th because they’re still switching off at critical moments and at times lack the quality to execute the game plan. They were crawling in 8th when Nuno was sacked after only five months in charge, it’s true, but people failed to see that he was trying to lay a defensive foundation that you can expand on later once it’s laid; this is what Arteta did at Arsenal when the fans were SCREAMING for him to be sacked. The problem wasn’t Nuno, it was the players and the club’s recruitment, as evidenced by the fact that they have a new manager and they’re currently in a lower position than they were when Nuno left. Even The Special One couldn’t do much with them.

Credit deserves to go to Nottingham Forest for giving him a chance, for giving him time to build and for assembling a team he can work with. They probably won’t finish in 5th, but they’re progressing and that’s what managerial stability does for you. This is a formula that works: find a good coach, hold on to them, and build a good, balanced team for them to lead. And by the way, who’s to say they won’t finish in 5th? He lead Wolves into the Europa League a few years ago, went for a good run too. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if he does it again at Forest.