Nottingham Forest - Leeds United
#1
Tree 
To be played on Sunday 5th February 2023.

At the world famous City Ground in Nottingham.

Kick off is at 2pm.

COYR!
Panic on the streets of London
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#2
A quick write up

Leeds are a high energy and aggressive team who play a 4-2-3-1 formation. Leeds general style of play is short quick passes in the middle third of the pitch mostly in the wide areas with more of the ball spent on the left side.

Leeds have only won one game away from home this year but at no point should Forest expect a easy ride as they shown many strengths in their games including the ability to come back into games from losing positions. Leeds have a strong mentality and remain focused throughout the full 90 mins of a match. So unlike other teams in the lower half of the table there is no drop off time frames that can be taken advantage of. With this attitude and determination they have a great record of winning the ball back quickly and high up the pitch with a high press. I do see this is an issue for Forest as it is something we do struggle to deal with. This might be the game to have a Woods up front we can hit long to try to relieve some of the pressure we will face. The only down side is Wood’s record of hold up play on his own which is a poor 5% of retaining the ball from direct passes. Someone will need to play close to him in order to increase the chances of the ball being retained.

As you would expect with a high press team such as Leeds they are very adept at creating long range efforts with 43% of all goals being outside the 18 yard box. Forest will also need to be aware of goals from set plays as 23% of all Leeds goals come from that route.

Looking at Leeds away from home they do have some areas which Forest can take advantage of none will be more important that a hostile atmosphere. We have seen a higher than average number of individual errors made by there players in away stadiums where the crowds have been close to the pitch and fan pressure high.

Forest’s style of counter attacking football will be useful in the game to move the Leeds team back out of our defensive third. However, Leeds have only conceded one goal this season from a counter attacking move so it’s going to be a more controlled build up required with bursts to move us up the pitch.

As I said earlier Leeds like a high press and with this tactic comes a high risk that if the opposition posses a skilful player who can beat the pressing player it creates space and a chance of an overload in between the lines. The question is who will step up with MGW expected to be out to take on a player and drive Forest forward.

Time for some stats.

Leeds have scored 2 goals or more in most of their away games
Most goals for Leeds come in the second half
Leeds have only been in a winning position at half time once away from home
Leeds have roughly 12 shots per away game but concede 13 shots against.
Over the last 20 games between these two teams Forest 8 Draws 7 Leeds 5
50% chance that 2 goals are scored in this match
Mostly likely out come 1-1
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#3
So realistic team for Sunday:

Hennessey
Aurier Boly Worrall (Felipe?!) Lodi (Neco if injury rumour is true?)
Freuler Danilo Mangala
Brennan Wood Scarpa

This is like at the start of the season, no idea who's going to play. I guess we'll know more after tomorrow night on who's included in that game.

Cooper mentioned Wood and Colback so not sure whether they are available, Colback might start ahead of Danilo. Who knows whether Shelvey is fit enough for a bench role. Not sure whether Felipe is thrown in at the deep end, maybe he'll sign in time to play tomorrow too? Assume Neco is backup to Lodi if injured. Scarpa could play in midfield again (although Cooper did complain about how open we were so I doubt that) or replace MGW or Lingard could start there depending on how he does tomorrow night (presume they both start).

So basically I reckon Aurier, Brennan and Freuler are locked in, plus Boly assuming he's fit. The rest is pretty up in the air, this game is in 5 days! Not ideal for what is such a huge game.

Hoping it goes as well as the last time we played Leeds at home, except swap in Brennan for Tyler.
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#4
This game is massive.
Panic on the streets of London
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#5
With the run of games ahead this really is a 6 pointer. God I’m nervous!
If we lose we are pulled back into the mix; win and we really might get breathing space before the difficult games following.
We play on Sunday and looking at the Saturday fixture list, it’s possible all the teams below us might lose.

Everton v Arsenal
Aston Villa v Leicester
Brentford v Southampton
Brighton v Bournemouth
Man Utd v Crystal Palace
Wolves v Liverpool
Newcastle v West Ham

Leicester might get something at villa but on paper it’s really tough for the rest.
What an opportunity!
If we win on Sunday we might be 7 clear and have pulled out a decent gap above 14th.

Hopefully MGW is fit and Felipe settled enough to start (I think his pace and experience will make a massive difference)
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#6
IMO Navas and Felipe will start.
It’s who partners Felipe.
Confident MGW will be back also
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#7
(02-02-2023, 10:03 AM)Surely Boly?Reds73 Wrote: IMO Navas and Felipe will start.
It’s who partners Felipe.
Confident MGW will be back also

Surely Boly?

We really need MGW to be fit!
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#8
(02-02-2023, 10:06 AM)wassy04 Wrote:
(02-02-2023, 10:03 AM)Surely Boly?Reds73 Wrote: IMO Navas and Felipe will start.
It’s who partners Felipe.
Confident MGW will be back also

Surely Boly?

We really need MGW to be fit!

Yeah, gotta be Boly. 
I reckon MGW will be back too.
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#9
I think it’ll be:

Navas
Aurier Worrall Boly Renan Lodi
Freuler Danilo Mangala
Johnson Wood Scarpa

I can’t see MGW being back, though maybe leaving him out against United was a mind game. We could also try Surridge as a wide attacker and drop Scarpa back into the midfield 3. I think it’s too soon for Felipe and Ayew, though they might be on the bench
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#10
(02-02-2023, 08:17 AM)Sniffer Dog (Admin) Wrote: This game is massive.

I think who comes off worst in this game and the reverse fixture is in real trouble.
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#11
(02-02-2023, 10:58 PM)RyanR Wrote: I think it’ll be:

Navas
Aurier Worrall Boly Renan Lodi
Freuler Danilo Mangala
Johnson Wood Scarpa

I can’t see MGW being back, though maybe leaving him out against United was a mind game. We could also try Surridge as a wide attacker and drop Scarpa back into the midfield 3. I think it’s too soon for Felipe and Ayew, though they might be on the bench

I reckon he'll want to put Felipe straight in, shame we couldn't have got that one done a day earlier as the league Cup game would've been an ideal chance to bed him in. Fitness could be a factor as it looks like he's barely played 14 mins this year.

Think if fit Colback (or Yates if fit) will play ahead of Danilo.
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#12
(02-02-2023, 10:58 PM)RyanR Wrote: I think it’ll be:

Navas
Aurier Worrall Boly Renan Lodi
Freuler Danilo Mangala
Johnson Wood Scarpa

I can’t see MGW being back, though maybe leaving him out against United was a mind game. We could also try Surridge as a wide attacker and drop Scarpa back into the midfield 3. I think it’s too soon for Felipe and Ayew, though they might be on the bench

Possibly the Strongest match day squad we have not including injured players :- 
Navas
Aurier
Filipe
Boly
Lodi
Frueler
Danilo
Johnson
MGW
Scarpa
Wood

Hennessy 
Williams
Worral
Mckenna 
Toff/Colback/Shelvey ?
Mangala 
Surridge
Dennis
Ayew
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