Alious
Nottingham Forest face a crucial moment in their Premier League campaign as they prepare to welcome Crystal Palace to the City Ground on Monday evening, with the pursuit of their first home victory this season taking center stage. While Nuno Espirito Santo’s tenure has shown promise overall, the absence of a home win remains a conspicuous void in their otherwise encouraging start.
The challenge facing Forest has been significantly complicated by multiple suspensions, creating a selection dilemma that echoes a previous tactical miscalculation. The absence of both their manager Nuno and key playmaker Morgan Gibbs-White through suspension, coupled with James Ward-Prowse’s unavailability, presents a particularly complex puzzle. The situation bears an unfortunate similarity to their recent 1-0 defeat against Fulham, where Gibbs-White’s suspension led to an unsuccessful experiment with a 4-4-2 formation.
The injury situation surrounding Gibbs-White adds another layer of complexity, as his ankle problem sustained during the 1-1 draw at Chelsea would likely have ruled him out regardless of his suspension. The memory of how sorely he was missed during the Fulham fixture looms large over the team’s preparation for Palace.
However, despite these setbacks and the continued absence of midfield options Danilo and Ibrahim Sangare, Nuno’s tactical alternatives aren’t entirely exhausted. Within the framework of his preferred 4-2-3-1 system, the contest for the number 10 position appears to be between Elliot Anderson and Jota Silva. The latter, though yet to start a Premier League game, has been making increasingly compelling cases for inclusion through his impact as a substitute.
The midfield composition presents various possibilities, with the potential deployment of Anderson alongside Ryan Yates in central midfield should Jota assume the advanced role. An alternative 4-3-3 formation featuring Yates, Anderson, and Nicolas Dominguez remains possible, though questions persist about whether this combination would provide the necessary tactical balance.
In the attacking third, Anthony Elanga’s recent bench role in consecutive matches suggests he’s eager to reclaim his starting position. A potential attacking triumvirate of Elanga, Jota, and Callum Hudson-Odoi offers intriguing possibilities against Palace’s defense. Meanwhile, Taiwo Awoniyi’s situation adds another dimension to the selection considerations, having been unused against Chelsea despite starting against Fulham previously.
While Nuno hasn’t dismissed the possibility of pairing Chris Wood and Awoniyi in attack, he’s acknowledged that such a partnership requires further development before it can be effectively implemented. Currently, Wood appears to hold the advantage for a starting role, though Awoniyi’s potential impact from the bench remains a valuable tactical option.
The anticipated lineup suggests a balanced approach: Sels in goal, protected by a back four of Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, and Moreno, with Yates and Anderson providing midfield stability. The attacking quartet of Elanga, Jota, Hudson-Odoi, and Wood represents a blend of creativity and physical presence that could prove crucial in securing that elusive first home victory.
Alious
