Nottingham Forest will host their first Premier League game in over 20 years on Saturday when West Ham visit. The Reds were promoted through the Championship’s playoffs last season and spent the offseason making over the squad.
Steve Cooper didn’t get the result he wanted on matchday No. 1 as Forest were beaten 2-0 by Newcastle United. After a scoreless first half, the Magpies scored twice in the second period to win.
Gearing up for Sunday. ☀️ 🌳🔴 #NFFC | #PL pic.twitter.com/2rXN1kl2t8— Nottingham Forest FC (@NFFC) August 11, 2022
Gearing up for Sunday. ☀️ 🌳🔴 #NFFC | #PL pic.twitter.com/2rXN1kl2t8
West Ham also didn’t get the result they would have hoped for. The Hammers were beaten by Manchester City 2-0 at home. David Moyes side was played off the park with Man City toying with them for much of the game.
Cooper will have some big decisions to make on Saturday in terms of player personnel. One of those decisions will be whether to start summer signing Taiwo Awoniyi. The striker, signed from Union Berlin in the summer, started on the bench while Sam Surridge began the game.
Awoniyi could start along with fellow new signing Jesse Lingard and Neco Williams. Lingard played the traditional No. 10 role in the first game.
West Ham manager Moyes will also have a big decision to make. He decided against starting striker Gianluca Scamacca versus Man City, opting for Michail Antonio. City kept Antonio quiet and now, Moyes must decide if he wants to play Scamcca, who scored 16 times in Serie A last season.
Moyes used a 4-2-3-1 formation on matchday No. 1 with Pablo Fornals and Jarrod Bowen playing wide. Manuel Lanzini played behind Antonio as an attacking midfielder.
Cooper used a 5-3-2 formation with new signing Dean Henderson playing in goal. Fellow new sigining Harry Toffolo played at left-back.
Nottingham Forest have made so many new signings, it will take time for them to gel. The Reds arguably have a stronger squad than fellow newly-promoted side Bournemouth.
Last season, Forest's Brennan Johnson led the team in goals with 16 goals in 45 matches in the Championship. The big question is whether or not Johnson can step up to the Premier League and score goals?
Nottingham Forest defender Omar Richards is ruled out with a leg injury. Ryan Yates is a major doubt to make the Forest squad.
Moyes is without summer signing Nayef Aguerd is ruled out of the match with an ankle injury. Fellow defender Angelo Ogbonna is set to miss the game as well. Goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski is a major doubt to play. Defender Craig Dawson is also a major doubt.
Due to West Ham’s variety of defensive injuries and poor performance in attack versus Man City, Nottingham Forest should post a win. Playing at home should give the newly-promoted side a big boost. The Reds should win 3-1.