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Tag: Nottingham Forest

  • Morgan Gibbs-White tells Tuchel he was worthy of an England call-up

    Morgan Gibbs-White tells Tuchel he was worthy of an England call-up

    Nottingham Forest captain Morgan Gibbs-White made it clear to England’s new coach, Thomas Tuchel, that he deserved a place in the squad after initially being left out.

    Many were surprised when Gibbs-White was not included in Tuchel’s first squad, especially considering his key role in helping Forest reach third place in the Premier League under Nuno Espirito Santo.

    However, the 25-year-old got a second chance on Sunday when he was called up as a replacement following Cole Palmer’s injury.

    “Obviously I was upset. Yeah, a little bit disappointed,” Gibbs-White told the BBC.

    “I said to him back like ‘I feel like I’ve done enough to get the call-up, considering the form level that we were in, but obviously you’re the manager, you make the decisions, and I respect that totally’.

    “So, obviously, it was disappointing but then Sunday I got the call, so I was straight here.”

    Gibbs-White made his first two appearances for the Three Lions under caretaker manager Lee Carsley.

    But he faces stiff competition to earn a place regularly in Tuchel’s team from the likes of Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Palmer.

    “The standard of players is top level,” Gibbs-White said.

    “He (Tuchel) phoned me up and said ‘Are you still upset with me, or do you want to come and join us and fancy training tomorrow?’

    “Obviously, there’s no question there. I said I’d obviously love to come and join and train with the boys, so, yeah, found out Sunday late afternoon and I was just smiling from ear to ear.”

    Tuchel’s reign begins with a World Cup qualifier against Albania on Friday followed by the visit of Latvia to Wembley on March 24.

    Despite his initial snub, Gibbs-White has praised Tuchel’s approach in seeking to speak to the players before they met for the first time at England’s St.George’s Park training base this week.

    “I feel like it was, for him, important to try and get that bond straight away with players because he’s used to club football, so he’s used to spending time every day with players,” he said.

    “I felt like it was top from him, really good that he sort of started that relationship before even meeting us, which is really good.”

  • FA bans Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis over misconduct

    FA bans Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis over misconduct

    Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis has been handed a five-match stadium ban by the FA for misconduct.

    Marinakis was charged for conduct following Forest’s 1-0 defeat against Fulham on Sept. 28.

    The FA summary said Marinakis was guilty of improper conduct around the tunnel area after the final whistle. Marinakis denied the charge, but it was found proven by an independent regulatory commission.

    It comes the same day as Forest manager Nuno Espírito Santo was hit with a three-match touchline ban and £55,000 fine for misconduct in Forest’s 2-2 draw with Brighton in September.

    The FA statement said Espírito Santo “acted in an improper manner and/or used abusive and/or insulting words towards a match official.”

    Espírito Santo was handed a two-match ban, but the misconduct activated a further one-match touchline ban from a previous suspended charge.

    The Forest boss said he was surprised at the extent of the sanction, telling reporters: “There’s nothing we can do. It’s not for me to judge; my job is to move forward and make sure the coaching staff are ready to help the team.

    “We had a hearing; everything was normal. The sanction has been decided. Let’s go.”

    Midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White has also been handed a one-match ban and fined £20,000 for improper conduct and using abusive or insulting language towards the fourth official after his red card in the same match.

    Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler was fined £8,000 for misconduct as well.

    Earlier in October, Nottingham Forest faced a £750,000 ($979,526) fine due to a social media post from the previous season that targeted video assistant referee Stuart Attwell.

  • Nottingham Forest welcome Portugal’s Jota Silva

    Nottingham Forest welcome Portugal’s Jota Silva

    Nottingham Forest have secured the signing of Portugal international Jota Silva from Portuguese top-flight club Vitoria on a four-year contract.

    The 25-year-old forward netted 15 goals in 42 appearances for Vitoria last season, which led to his first international call-up by Portugal manager Roberto Martinez in March, earning him two caps..

    “We can see how excited Jota is to continue his career journey beyond Portugal where he has enjoyed such a strong period in the Primeira Liga with Vitoria,” Forest football officer Ross Wilson said.

    Forest finished 17th in the Premier League last season, narrowly avoiding relegation by six points.

    Under the leadership of Nuno Espirito Santo, the team netted 49 goals in the league.

    However, the Portuguese manager is eager to further strengthen his attacking options.

    In their summer transfer activity, Forest has secured the services of Fiorentina’s Nikola Milenkovic and Newcastle United’s Elliot Anderson to enhance their midfield.

    Additionally, defender Marko Stamenic has been signed from Partizan Belgrade but will spend the season on loan at Olympiacos.

    Meanwhile, goalkeeper Carlos Miguel has joined the squad from Brazilian side Corinthians.

  • Nottingham Forest nears deal closure with Scotland striker Ché Adams

    Nottingham Forest nears deal closure with Scotland striker Ché Adams

    Nottingham Forest are reportedly close to securing the signing of Scotland striker Ché Adams, beating out competition from Wolves, according to a source who spoke to ESPN.

    Adams is set to leave Southampton this summer, as his contract expires.

    Last season, he netted 18 goals, including 16 in the Championship, helping Southampton secure their return to the Premier League by defeating Leeds United in the playoff final.

    The 27-year-old is nearing an agreement to join Forest on a free transfer, despite strong interest from Wolves. Nuno Espírito Santo’s side managed to retain their Premier League status last season by finishing 17th, six points clear of relegation.

    Forest also secured their survival despite a four-point deduction for breaching the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules.

    Nottingham Forest nears deal closure with Scotland striker Ché Adams

    Adams will add valuable top-flight experience to the City Ground, having spent four seasons in the Premier League with Southampton, where he scored 25 goals between 2019 and 2023 after a £15 million ($19m) move from Birmingham City. He also had a stint at Sheffield United.

    Adams is set to represent Scotland at Euro 2024 this summer, having been named in Steve Clarke’s provisional squad. With injuries sidelining forwards Lyndon Dykes and Ben Doak, Adams is expected to play a crucial role in Germany.

    Since making his international debut in 2021, Adams has scored six goals in 30 appearances for Scotland, including a goal in the recent 2-0 win over Gibraltar.

    Scotland will kick off their Euro campaign against hosts Germany on June 14.

  • Independent board thrashes Forest point deduction appeal

    Independent board thrashes Forest point deduction appeal

    On Tuesday, the Premier League announced that Nottingham Forest’s appeal against a four-point deduction has been denied.

    The club received the deduction in March for breaching Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR). Despite Forest’s appeal and expressed disappointment with the initial decision, an independent commission upheld the deduction, leaving the club in a precarious relegation battle.

    Currently standing at 29 points, they hold a slim three-point lead over 18th-placed Luton, with only two games left in the season. The Premier League confirmed the rejection of the appeal on two grounds in a statement.

    “The club argued that the independent commission committed an error in not treating the sale of a high-profile player shortly after the assessment period as a mitigating factor and that it committed a further error in electing not to suspend some or all of the points deduction it imposed,” the Premier League said.

    “Each of these grounds was rejected by the Appeal Board, which found the independent Commission was entitled to immediately impose the sanction it did. The four-point deduction will therefore remain in place.”

    Earlier this season, Everton successfully appealed against a points deduction, reducing it from 10 to six for breaching Premier League financial rules.

    According to Premier League regulations, clubs are restricted to a maximum loss of £105 million ($133.6 million) over three years. However, different rules apply to Forest due to their status in the second-tier championship until 2022.

    Championship clubs are allowed a maximum loss of £39m ($49.6 million) across three seasons or £13 million ($16.6 million) per season. Therefore, Forest’s permissible losses over the last three campaigns would total £61m ($77.7m).

    In January, Forest was charged with breaching these regulations for the period ending in the 2022–23 season.

  • FA charges Forest as Clattenburg departs team

    FA charges Forest as Clattenburg departs team

    Nottingham Forest, manager Nuno Espirito Santo, and defender Neco Williams face misconduct charges from the FA. This comes as former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg exits his role with the club.

    The charges stem from comments made after a 2-0 defeat against Everton last month.

    The FA alleges that the comments imply bias and question the integrity of match officials. Forest, particularly upset about penalty decisions, released a statement on social media shortly after the match.

    Despite their criticism, Forest did not request a replacement for the video assistant referee prior to the game. They have until Thursday to respond to the charges.

    After the game Williams told Sky Sports: “Every single week this happens now. We are getting decisions against us, I don’t know why. Is it because we are a lower, bottom half of the table team? Because I guarantee all the top six teams are getting every single one of them.

    “I know every single person watching that game today knew all three of them were clear, blatant penalties. It is ridiculous. It is week after week now we are getting these decisions against us.”

    Nuno said the officials had bad games while Clattenburg, in the Mail on Sunday, called the decisions a joke and said Forest were feeling victimised.

    The trio were asked for their observations by the FA. Nuno confirmed on Thursday he had responded.

    The Premier League also confirmed it will investigate the comments.

    The news comes after Clattenburg stepped down from his role, saying his position had “become more of a hindrance than help” to the club.

    Mark Clattenburg joined the relegation-threatened Premier League side in February as a referee analyst. However, he faced controversy after publicly criticizing referee Paul Tierney following a match against Liverpool.

    Clattenburg argued that Forest should have been given the ball back after a foul and was denied access to the referees’ dressing room. Following this incident, Gary Neville urged Clattenburg to resign.

    In his own statement on Friday Clattenburg said his role had caused “unintended friction between Forest and other participants”.

    “It has also led to the unmerited targeting of me, personally, by certain participants and pundits,” he added.

    “I performed my services under the consultancy agreement in good faith, to the best of my abilities and in the hope of using my extensive experience as a match official to help Nottingham Forest understand how decisions in relation to key match incidents are made amid the workings of VAR.”

    Forest travel to relegated Sheffield United on Saturday sitting a point above the Premier League’s bottom three.

  • Forest demands release of VAR audio after defeat to Everton

    Forest demands release of VAR audio after defeat to Everton

    Nottingham Forest has formally requested the release of the VAR audio from their recent match against Everton, where they suffered a 2-0 defeat and had three penalty appeals dismissed.

    The club expressed dissatisfaction with the refereeing body, PGMOL for appointing Stuart Attwell as the VAR, citing concerns about his alleged support for Luton Town, a rival battling against relegation.

    Despite facing criticism for their initial statement post-match, Forest reiterated their stance and urged PGMOL to disclose the communication between the on-field referee and the VAR booth at Stockley Park.

    Monday’s statement read: “Nottingham Forest has today submitted a formal request to the PGMOL to release into the public domain the audio recordings between officials during yesterday’s match against Everton at Goodison Park.

    “The club has requested this be shared for three key match incidents — Ashley Young’s challenge on Giovanni Reyna (24th minute), Ashley Young’s handball (44th minute) and Ashley Young’s challenge on Callum Hudson-Odoi (56th minute).

    “We firmly advocate for the broader football community and supporters to have access to the audio and transcript for full transparency, ensuring the integrity of our sport is upheld.”

    On Monday, the Football Association (FA) announced its intention to investigate Nottingham Forest’s initial tweet, along with remarks made by manager Nuno Espirito Santo and defender Neco Williams.

    Additionally, Mark Clattenburg, a former Premier League referee currently working as a consultant for Forest, has been requested to clarify the content of a newspaper article he authored regarding the officiating.

    “We have formally requested observations from Nottingham Forest, Nuno Espirito Santo, Neco Williams and Mark Clattenburg as a result of their comments following their Premier League match against Everton on April 21,” read the FA statement. “We will provide any further updates in due course.”

    Meanwhile, the Premier League responded to Forest with a statement of its own.

    “The Premier League was extremely disappointed to read the comments made by Nottingham Forest on social media yesterday, following its match against Everton.

    “We note that the FA has confirmed it will be investigating the club’s statement. It is never appropriate to improperly question the integrity of match officials, and the nature of these comments means the Premier League will also be investigating the matter in relation to the League’s Rules.”

    Forest host reigning champions Manchester City on Sunday.

  • Nottingham Forest coach banned and fined for using offensive words on referee after Liverpool defeat

    Nottingham Forest coach banned and fined for using offensive words on referee after Liverpool defeat

    Nottingham Forest manager Steven Reid has been penalized by the Football Association for verbally abusing referee Paul Tierney following their defeat to Liverpool.

    Reid has been handed a two-match ban and fined £5,000 for his inappropriate conduct towards Tierney, which occurred after Darwin Nunez scored the winning goal deep into stoppage time at City Ground on March 2nd.

    Additionally, Nottingham Forest has been fined £75,000 for failing to control their players and staff from behaving improperly after the final whistle.

    The incident arose from a controversial decision by Tierney to award possession back to Liverpool via a drop-ball, despite Nottingham Forest having possession before play was halted due to a head injury to Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate.

    Mark Clattenburg, a former Premier League referee and currently working as Forest’s referee analyst, criticised the decision and told BBC Radio 5: “If the referee stops the game, he has to give the ball back to the team in possession. That was Forest.”

    Tierney mentioned about the incident in his match report and wrote: “Following the final whistle I was surrounded by members of Nottingham Forest’s substitutes and backroom staff on the field of play. One of those who approached me was Steven Reid, who was not listed on the teamsheet.

    He asked me about a decision and I said to him that I would speak to him inside and not outside on the field of play. He then continued to question me and I repeated that I would speak to him inside. He then said, ‘It’s the same every week, you [expletive]’.”

    After referee Tierney showed Reid a red card for his remarks, Reid admitted to using abusive language initially but denied using it further after being sent off.

    However, Tierney and the assistant referees reported Reid’s continued swearing and confrontational behavior as they exited the field, leading to the confirmation of the charges against him.

    Forest acknowledged that owner Evangelos Marinakis approached Tierney after the match but dismissed reports of any altercation requiring intervention.

    This is not the first time Forest has faced penalties for misconduct towards match officials. Over the past 18 months, the club has been involved in similar incidents on three previous occasions, raising concerns about their disciplinary behavior. In conclusion, the regulatory commission warned Forest that future breaches of the rules may result in more severe consequences.

  • Man City risk an ‘expulsion’ from Premier League if found guilty of “major” FFP breaches

    Man City risk an ‘expulsion’ from Premier League if found guilty of “major” FFP breaches

    Manchester City have been warned they could face “expulsion” from the Premier League if found guilty of breaching FFP rules.

    Premier League champions Manchester City and rival Chelsea have both been warned they could face being thrown out of the English top flight if found guilty of breaching Financial Fair Play rules.

    City is facing 115 charges and their case will be heard in the autumn. Chelsea may also find themselves in hot water due to their big-spending habits if major sales are not made this summer.

    The commission that docked Nottingham Forest four points for breaching Profit and Sustainability Rules this week made it clear in their 52-written reasons the type of sanctions available for more serious issues, as reported by The Sun.


    Robert Glancy KC, sports law specialist Mark Hovell and accounting expert Steve Holt wrote that available punishments “range from a warning through to expulsion from the Premier League.”.


    The trio went on to say: “Where a PSR breach is ‘minor’, then it will be for other commissions to determine if any point deduction is necessary, appropriate or proportionate.


    “But if the breach is properly described as ‘major’ then it may be the case that even a very severe sanction such as expulsion is more appropriate.”


    The news of deductions for Everton and Forest has already led some commentators to suggest City could be hit hard if found guilty. Former Liverpool defender and television pundit Jamie Carragher has claimed the Premier League champions could “end up in the National League North,” while boxer and Everton fan Tony Bellew has called the current situation “a disgrace” and has tipped the Cityzens to be relegated to the Conference.


    City manager Pep Guardiola has insisted his club is innocent of the charges and has vowed to stay on even if the club are sanctioned and relegated to League One.

    It has been suggested that City may also be stripped of their trophies if found guilty, but the Manchester outfit are likely to add more silverware before their case is heard as they remain in contention for the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League.

  • Nottingham Forest suffer a four-point deduction over violation of financial regulations

    Nottingham Forest suffer a four-point deduction over violation of financial regulations

    Nottingham Forest has incurred a four-point deduction for violating the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR), as announced by the league on Monday.

    Consequently, the team’s points tally for the season drops from 25 to 21 after 29 games, pushing them into the relegation zone and positioning them one point behind Luton Town in 18th place.

    This marks the second instance of a points deduction in the Premier League this season, following Everton’s initial 10-point deduction (later reduced to six upon appeal) for breaching PSR regulations. Everton also faces additional penalties for another violation within the same timeframe as Nottingham Forest.

    “The independent commission determined the sanction following a two-day hearing this month, at which the club had the opportunity to detail a range of mitigating factors. The Commission found that the club had demonstrated ‘exceptional cooperation’ in its dealings with the Premier League throughout the process,” the Premier League said in a statement.

    The independent commission’s report said Forest’s charge warranted a six-point penalty but was reduced to four points after mitigation, which included an early plea and meaningful cooperation with the investigation.

    Forest said they were “extremely disappointed” with the decision in a club statement published later on Monday.

    “We were extremely dismayed by the tone and content of the Premier League’s submissions before the Commission,” it said.

    “After months of engagement with the Premier League, and exceptional cooperation throughout, this was unexpected and has harmed the trust and confidence we had in the Premier League.

    “That the Premier League sought a sanction of eight points as a starting point was utterly disproportionate when compared to the nine points that their own rules prescribe for insolvency.”

    According to Premier League regulations, clubs are not allowed to incur losses exceeding £105 million ($133.6m) over a three-year span.

    However, Nottingham Forest’s situation differs due to their participation in the second-tier championship until 2022. In that league, clubs are permitted a maximum loss of £39m ($49.6m) across three seasons or £13m ($16.6m) per season. Thus, Forest’s allowable losses over the past three campaigns total £61m ($77.7m).

    Forest faced charges in January for violating these regulations during the 2022-23 season.

    Upon their promotion ahead of the 2022-23 season, Forest made history by completing 21 separate transfers, setting a new record for the most transfers by a Premier League club in a single close-season window.

  • Everton points deduction reduced to 6 points after appeal

    Everton points deduction reduced to 6 points after appeal

    Everton has climbed above Nottingham Forest and Brentford in the Premier League standings, reclaiming the 15th position after the Premier League’s appeals board reduced their 10-point deduction to six, thus restoring four points.

    The deduction was initially imposed due to Everton’s violation of spending regulations during the period ending in 2021–22, exceeding the permitted £105 million in losses by £19.5 million.

    The club argued that they had mitigating circumstances that warranted consideration.

    These included expenses deemed permissible, such as stadium costs, investment losses due to the Russian war, and pandemic-related setbacks.

    Following the appeal, Everton contended that the punishment was disproportionate and immediately lodged an appeal.

    A three-man panel presided over a three-day hearing in late January and earlier this month.

    During the hearing, Everton was not permitted to present new evidence but made several legal arguments, led by prominent lawyer Laurence Rabinowitz KC.

    As a result of the appeal, the original 10-point penalty for financial rule breaches has been reduced to six points.

    Everton say they are ’satisfied’ with the outcome and a club statement read: ‘
    While the club is still digesting the Appeal Board’s decision, we are satisfied our appeal has resulted in a reduction in the points sanction.

    ‘Everton can confirm that an Appeal Board has concluded that the points deduction imposed by an independent Premier League Commission in November will be reduced from 10 points to six points, with immediate effect.
    ‘While the club is still digesting the Appeal Board’s decision, we are satisfied our appeal has resulted in a reduction in the points sanction.

    ‘We understand the Appeal Board considered the 10-point deduction originally imposed to be inappropriate when assessed against the available benchmarks of which the Club made the Commission aware, including the position under the relevant EFL regulations, and the 9-point deduction that is imposed under the Premier League’s own rules in the event of insolvency.


    ‘The Club is also particularly pleased with the Appeal Board’s decision to overturn the original Commission’s finding that the Club failed to act in utmost good faith. That decision, along with reducing the points deduction, was an incredibly important point of principle for the Club on appeal. The Club, therefore, feels vindicated in pursuing its appeal.


    ‘Notwithstanding the Appeal Board’s decision, and the positive outcome, the Club remains fully committed to cooperating with the Premier League in respect of the ongoing proceedings brought for the accounting period ending in June 2023.


    ‘The Club is still considering the wider implications of the decision and will make no further comment at this time other than to place on record its thanks to our Fan Advisory Board and other fan groups throughout this process, and to all Evertonians for their ongoing support and patience.’


    The Toffees made their the appeal hearing before an independent commission earlier this month after the club described the initial 10-point penalty as ‘wholly disproportionate’.


    The outcome of the appeal may also have a direct impact on a second PSR complaint the club is facing, which was laid on January 15. That complaint covers an assessment period that ends with the 2022-23 season.


    Under a new expedited process to deal with PSR breaches that was agreed upon by top-flight clubs last summer, an independent commission hearing into the second PSR complaint must conclude no later than 12 weeks after the complaint was laid, which would be early April.

  • Partey missing from Arsenal squad to play against Nottingham Forest

    Partey missing from Arsenal squad to play against Nottingham Forest

    Arsenal’s manager, Mikel Arteta, has confirmed that Thomas Partey won’t be playing in the upcoming match against Nottingham Forest.This adds to the team’s challenges as they get ready for Premier League action this week.

    After a convincing 5-0 win against Crystal Palace in their last game, Arsenal aims to continue their winning streak.

    However, they had a bit of a rough patch towards the end of 2023.

    To get back into the race for the league title, Arsenal knows they need victories in the upcoming matches. Nottingham Forest, fighting to avoid relegation, poses a potential challenge.

    Arteta stressed the importance of being well-prepared for this match.

    In addressing the team’s fitness concerns, Arteta disclosed that Thomas Partey remains unavailable for the forthcoming fixture.

    The manager also provided an update on Declan Rice’s status, stating, “We’ve got some late decisions to make. Thomas won’t be one of those. We are still uncertain about a few players. Thomas is not in the squad.”

    Tonight, the Gunners aim to overcome challenges and put on a strong performance against Nottingham Forest as they try to make a mark in the Premier League title race.

  • Chris Wood strikes extra-time winner for Forest to avert FA Cup shock

    Chris Wood strikes extra-time winner for Forest to avert FA Cup shock

    In a challenging week for Nottingham Forest, Chris Wood scored an extra-time winner to secure a 3-2 victory against Blackpool in their FA Cup replay at Bloomfield Road.

    Nottingham Forest, charged with breaching financial regulations earlier in the week, faced a tough challenge as Blackpool fought back from 2-0 down.

    Forest seemed in control with goals from Andrew Omobamidele and Danilo, but Blackpool mounted a comeback with Albie Morgan’s stunning strike and a header from substitute Kyle Joseph.

    The thrilling match, marked by drama in the final half-hour, forced the game into extra time.

    Chris Wood scored the decisive goal in the 110th minute, turning in a cross from Ryan Yates. The win advanced Nottingham Forest to the fourth round of the FA Cup, where they are set to face Bristol City.

    The victory provided a positive note amid a troubled week for the Premier League club.

  • Everton and Nottingham Forest face charges for violating financial regulations of Premier League

    Everton and Nottingham Forest face charges for violating financial regulations of Premier League

    Everton and Nottingham Forest are facing charges for violating the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability regulations (PSR).

    The alleged breaches, which could result in fines and points deductions, were communicated to both clubs on Monday. An independent commission will now be tasked with determining the appropriate sanctions for each club.

    Nottingham Forest becomes the third club in the top flight to be charged with contravening the financial rules, allowing a maximum loss of £105 million over three years or £35 million per season.

    Considering their two-season stint in the Championship during this period, their permitted loss was capped at £61 million.

    Meanwhile, Everton is confronted with another breach, adding to their woes after already receiving a 10-point deduction in November, a penalty related to the 2021/22 season.

    “The Premier League does not have guidelines that prevent a club from being sanctioned for alleged breaches in financial periods that have already been subject to punishment, unlike other governing bodies, including the EFL,” an Everton statement read.

    “As a result, and because of the Premier League’s new commitment to deal with such matters “in-season,” the club is in a position where it has had no option but to submit a PSR calculation that remains subject to change pending the outcome of the appeal.

    “The club must now defend another Premier League complaint, which includes the very same financial periods for which it has already been sanctioned, before that appeal has even been heard. The club takes the view that this results from a clear deficiency in the Premier League’s rules.

    “Everton can assure its fans that it will continue to defend its position during the ongoing appeal and, should it be required to do so, at any future commission, and that the impact on supporters will be reflected as part of that process.”

    Forest themselves stated that they acknowledge the Premier League’s statement and they are hoping for a “speedy and fair resolution.”.

    “Nottingham Forest acknowledges the statement from the Premier League confirming that the club has today been charged with a breach of the league’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules.

    “The club intends to continue to cooperate fully with the Premier League on this matter and are confident of a speedy and fair resolution.”

  • Gibbs-White fire Nottingham Forest to first victory against Man United

    Gibbs-White fire Nottingham Forest to first victory against Man United

    Morgan Gibbs-White fired Nottingham Forest to a first victory against Manchester United since 1994 as Erik ten Hag’s side ended a topsy-turvy year with a whimper.

    The Red Devils had won the sides’ last 11 meetings in all competitions, but new boss Nuno Espirito Santo would celebrate a memorable second win in just five days.

    Gibbs-White’s super late strike from the edge of the box wrapped up a memorable 2-1 triumph after Marcus Rashford had capitalised on a terrible Matt Turner pass to cancel out Nicolas Dominguez’s opener.

    This was United’s 14th defeat in all competitions this term and a miserable end to the year for a side that were a pale imitation of the one that roared back to beat Aston Villa on Boxing Day.

    Match-winner Rasmus Hojlund was absent through illness and Ten Hag’s team underperformed at the City Ground, where a forgettable first half made way for a pulsating second period.

    Rodriguez fired Forest ahead in the 64th minute, only for under-fire Turner to see a poor pass cut out as Rashford went on to rifle home a 78th-minute leveller.

    But the goalkeeper helped make amends four minutes later, denying Christian Eriksen before the hosts raced up the field and Gibbs-White slammed the hosts back ahead.

    Turner held firm in stoppage time to ensure Forest beat United at home for the first time since 1992.

    INEOS director of sport Sir Dave Brailsford was an interested observer alongside Sir Alex Ferguson on the banks of the Trent, where Kobbie Mainoo heading away an early Dominguez attempt.

    Chris Wood, brimming with confidence after his hat-trick at Newcastle on Boxing Day, drove off target before United survived an 11th-minute scare.

    Former United talent Anthony Elanga drove a cross in front the left and Raphael Varane’s awkward attempt to cut it out took it over helpless Andre Onana and across the face of goal.

    The Forest faithful bellowed “you’re not famous anymore” as their side continued in the ascendancy, thanks in no small part to United’s poor decision making and passing.

    The home side crowded out Ten Hag’s men in attacking areas, just as they did when Aaron Wan-Bissaka saw a shot blocked shortly after Ryan Yates scooped over at the other end.

    A forgettable first half limped on until the break, when Scott McTominay replaced Mainoo.

    Ten Hag would also take off Antony in the 54th minute to Forest chants of “what a waste of money” as Amad Diallo made his first United appearance in two years.

    A minute later, misfiring United nearly went ahead through the unlikely source of Diogo Dalot. The full-back’s first-time drive from distance came back off the right-hand post.

    But, in truth, Forest had emerged from half-time with more bite to their play and the City Ground was rocking in the 64th minute.

    Elanga played into right-back Gonzalo Montiel, who followed an expert touch with a smart cutback for compatriot Dominguez to stroke a right-footed effort into the bottom corner.

    It was an excellent strike that sparked chants of “you’re getting sacked in the morning” being aimed at Ten Hag.

    Alejandro Garnacho sent an acrobatic effort into the ground and onto the roof of the net as United sought a leveller that Turner was soon relieved not to gift them.

    The Forest goalkeeper’s miskick flew up in the air but bounced back to him. His blushes would not be spared for long, though.

    Turner saw a lax pass out from the back cut out by Garnacho, who squared for Rashford to level in the 78th minute.

    Forest fans went ballistic after the goalkeeper’s latest error and there were murmurs when he next touched the ball.

    But Turner atoned his earlier mistake by stopping Eriksen, which sparked a Forest break. Elanga squared for Gibbs-White and the man of the match curled beyond Onana into the bottom corner.

    The stadium erupted, just as it did midway through 10 minutes of stoppage time when Turner brilliantly tipped over a deflected Fernandes volley.

    Amad was also denied before the final whistle saw players collapse to the turf.

  • Blackpool to face Forest in FA Cup after beating Forest Green

    Blackpool to face Forest in FA Cup after beating Forest Green

    Owen Dale, Jordan Gabriel, and Marvin Ekpiteta scored as Blackpool secured a 3-0 victory against Forest Green, setting up a third-round FA Cup tie with Nottingham Forest.

    Blackpool took the lead in the 18th minute when Owen Dale charged down a loose ball, won a 50-50 challenge with keeper Luke Daniels, and tapped into an empty net.

    Despite missed chances by Dom Thompson and Matty Virtue in the first half, Blackpool maintained their dominance.

    In the second half, Kyle Joseph had an opportunity to extend the lead, but Forest Green made a triple substitution, including player-coach Troy Deeney, to find a route back into the game. However, Blackpool continued to control the match, and Jordan Gabriel scored a second 15 minutes from time.

    Marvin Ekpiteta sealed the victory by heading Karamoko Dembele’s free-kick into the net, completing a successful night for Blackpool.

  • I want to buy Nottingham Forest to promote Ghana – McDan

    I want to buy Nottingham Forest to promote Ghana – McDan

    Ghanaian entrepreneur, Dr. Daniel McKorley, has publicly declared his keen interest in acquiring the Premier League club Nottingham Forest.

    During a Joy Thought Leadership seminar held at the Labadi Beach Hotel on Monday, the 52-year-old Chief Executive Officer of the McDan Group of Companies disclosed that Nottingham Forest is the sole football club he passionately supports, aside from his allegiance to the Ghana Premier League team, Great Olympics.

    “The only team I support in the world apart from Oly [Great Olympics] is Nottingham Forest,” Daniel McKorley, popularly known as McDan said.

    “I have been a supporter of Nottingham Forest when Nottingham was even in the third division. Why? Because I want to buy that team. I want to buy Nottingham Forest. Imagine with all this development going on.”

    He further expressed his aspiration that his investment in the local football system would bear fruit, ultimately leading to a scenario where over half of the team comprises Ghanaian players participating in the Premier League.

    “McDan buys Nottingham Forest and every time you see about 60% of the players [in the team] from the English league are from Ghana.”

    The Joy Sports and Joy Business Thought Leadership seminar centered around the theme “Football Economy: Adapting Our Development Approach – Drawing Insights from the Saudi Arabian Experience.” This event convened experts to explore how Ghana can utilize the Saudi Arabian model to enhance its football industry development.

  • Hudson-Odoi tells why he left Chelsea for Forest

    Hudson-Odoi tells why he left Chelsea for Forest

    Ghanaian winger Callum Hudson-Odoi has revealed the challenging choice he faced when deciding to depart from Chelsea during the summer transfer window.

    The 22-year-old, who had spent the previous season on loan at Bayer Leverkusen, completed a last-minute move to Nottingham Forest on transfer deadline day, thus concluding his 16-year association with Chelsea.

    Hudson-Odoi emphasised that leaving Chelsea was a momentous decision, one laden with substantial emotional significance. He acknowledged that he instigated the move, understanding that his prospects for regular playing time at Chelsea were expected to be limited.

    “Chelsea has been my home for a very long time, and knowing it was time to go was emotional,” Hudson-Odoi shared in an interview with The Telegraph.

    “It was difficult; we had conversations, but I thought it was best if I leave. It was a mutual agreement, but I’d say it was more my decision.

    “Forest is the right place for me to excel in my football and do more than I probably could at Chelsea. I want to be playing as much as possible,” he added.

    Hudson-Odoi is on the verge of making his debut for Nottingham Forest, as the East Midlands club is scheduled to take on Burnley in the Premier League on Monday night.

    This move from Chelsea represents a new phase in his career, and he is enthusiastic about seizing the fresh opportunities that await him at Forest.

  • Manchester United supporters protest Glazers by staging a sit-in

    Manchester United supporters protest Glazers by staging a sit-in

    Following the match against Nottingham Forest, numerous Manchester United supporters opted to remain seated as a demonstration of their disapproval towards the Glazer family.

    Before Saturday’s Premier League match, the 1958 Group asked fans to stay at Old Trafford to show that they still don’t support the family who owns the club. – Thousands of spectators chose to stay in the stadium well past the game’s end as United sealed a thrilling 3-2 victory over Forest.

    As usual, people were shouting ‘We want Glazers out’ loudly and clearly as the players went into the tunnel, and they kept on chanting throughout the protest.

    The Glazers have been thinking about selling the club since November. They recently accepted a £6 billion bid from Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim.

    However, fans are understandably very angry and upset about how much time the discussions for the takeover have been taking. It is important to note that there is absolutely no guarantee that the sale will actually occur.

    Finally, the stadium started to empty out, but there were still many people in the Stretford End almost an hour after the game ended.

    United boss Erik ten Hag said that the protesters have the right to share their opinion and that it might have an impact on his team.

    But there is a strong connection between the fans and the team. During my time here, it has become more and more powerful.

    In the match, the Red Devils were losing 2-0 to Forest after only four minutes. This adds to their bad performances in the previous games against Wolves and Tottenham.

    But Ten Hag’s team fought back by scoring goals from Christian Eriksen and Casemiro, which made the score level. Later, a penalty taken by Bruno Fernandes helped them complete the comeback.

    The beginning was scary, but the team’s attitude was great, the manager said.

    We were very calm and collected. We followed our belief and plan, played well, and scored three goals successfully. It was a really impressive recovery.

    We cannot let Forest achieve those goals, even though we respect them. They were easily noticed or obvious. Sometimes, games can turn out really unpredictable or strange. Like I mentioned before, we remained relaxed.

    It’s definitely a marker. We have observed that this team has the ability to recover from setbacks. If you have faced a difficult beginning, you need to move past it. It’s difficult, but the team deserves praise.

    We have the traits that make us who we are. Sometimes we can definitely get better, but overall this team always has the determination to recover.

  • USMNT goalkeeper Matt Turner successfully join Nottingham Forest in a £10 million deal

    USMNT goalkeeper Matt Turner successfully join Nottingham Forest in a £10 million deal

    USMNT goalkeeper Matt Turner’s transfer to Nottingham Forest has been successfully finalized for a fee of £10 million.

    In response, Arsenal is poised to secure David Raya as his replacement. Turner has committed to a four-year contract with Nottingham Forest, binding him to the club until 2027. Having spent just one year at Emirates Stadium, the 29-year-old departs Arsenal on a permanent basis, as he was unable to displace Aaron Ramsdale as the first-choice goalkeeper.

    While Turner was present on the bench when the Gunners defeated Manchester City in the Community Shield on Sunday, he only managed to make seven competitive appearances for Mikel Arteta’s squad during his time there. Now, however, he is set to assume the role of the primary goalkeeper at the City Ground.


    Turner told Forest’s official website after his unveiling on Wednesday: “It feels great to be here. It’s something I’m really looking forward to. It’s a great challenge and a great step in my career. When I heard that there was interest to bring me here, it just felt right for my family. It felt right when my agent spoke to me about it and it feels like the right move for me right now.

    “The manager and the backroom staff, everything about the club has a little sparkle to it. It’s felt right from the start, and I’m happy it’s got done. I’m looking forward to making a connection with my teammates, the fans, and the city. I’m grateful to be here and can’t wait to get things started.”

    As Arsenal aims to secure Brentford’s goalkeeper David Raya, valued at £30 million ($38 million), Turner’s departure from the club coincides with this move.

    Allegedly, Raya has already consented to a transfer to the Emirates.

    In the upcoming season, Raya is anticipated to contend with Ramsdale for the primary goalkeeper position in Mikel Arteta’s starting lineup, rendering Turner’s presence unnecessary.

  • Tribute pours in for Bart-Williams

    Tribute pours in for Bart-Williams

    Chris Bart-Williams, the former midfielder of Sheffield Wednesday and Nottingham Forest passed away at the age of 49.

    The sad news was confirmed by Sheffield Wednesday, stating that he died in the US, where he was serving as a mentor and coach.

    During this difficult time, both clubs, Sheffield Wednesday and Nottingham Forest, are also coping with the loss of another former player, Trevor Francis, who passed away at the age of 69.

    A statement from the Owls said: “Bart-Williams’ untimely passing mirrors that of his manager at Hillsborough Trevor Francis, who also died on this, one of the darkest days in our long history.

    “Our thoughts are with Chris’ and Trevor’s families and friends at this devastating time.”

    Chris Bart-Williams, originally from Sierra Leone, started his football journey as a trainee at Leyton Orient.

    He went on to have an impressive career, making over 150 appearances for Sheffield Wednesday, where he played in the Premier League as a teenager. In July 1995, he secured a £2.5 million move to Nottingham Forest, where he played 248 games.

    After his playing career, Bart-Williams transitioned into coaching and moved to the US. Initially, he worked in women’s college football and later became the owner and chief executive officer of CBW Soccer Elite, a US College Soccer recruiting agency.

    He described himself as a “coach, college recruiter, former footballer” on his social media accounts and was dedicated to working with college-bound players.

    His LinkedIn profile reads: “As a retired athlete with 35 years of international playing and coaching experience, I’m passionate about developing young adults into highly successful soccer players.

    “My goal is to empower kids to have the confidence and technical ability to excel in soccer while learning valuable lessons in responsibility and teamwork that will prepare them for a lifetime of success. 

    “Everything I do is designed to maximize athletes’ unique potential and propel them to their personal best in soccer and in life.”

    In February last year, Florida-based Dade County announced Bart-Williams had been appointed as head coach to oversee all football programmes.

    News of his death was greeted with shock by former team-mate Mark Crossley.

    The goalkeeper, who played with Bart-Williams at Forest, tweeted: “Devastating and I’m so upset to hear the news of Trevor Francis passing and my former team-mate Chris Bart Williams. 

    “Both so young, it is so sad. RIP Trevor and Chris.”

    Ipswich also offered their condolences. They posted: “The club is saddened to learn of the passing of former player Chris Bart-Williams. 

    “Once a Blue, always a Blue.”

  • Former Nottingham Forest and Sheffield Wednesday star Chris Bart-Williams dies aged 49

    Former Nottingham Forest and Sheffield Wednesday star Chris Bart-Williams dies aged 49

    The football world is mourning the loss of Chris Bart-Williams, the former midfielder who played for Nottingham Forest, Sheffield Wednesday and England. He passed away in the US at the age of 49, where he had been working as a coach and mentor.

    Bart-Williams was born in Sierra Leone and moved to London as a child. He started his career at Leyton Orient, where he made his debut at 16.

    He then joined Sheffield Wednesday in 1991 for a club-record fee of £275,000. He played more than 150 games for the Owls, helping them reach the FA Cup and League Cup finals in 1993.

    He also played under Trevor Francis, the former striker who also died on Monday at the age of 69.

    In 1995, Bart-Williams moved to Nottingham Forest for £2.5 million. He became a key player for the Reds, winning the First Division title in 1997/98 and scoring 36 goals in 248 appearances.

    He also played for Charlton and Ipswich, before ending his playing career in Cyprus and Malta.

    Bart-Williams represented England at under-19, under-21 and B levels, earning 16 caps for the under-21s. He then pursued a coaching career in the US, working in women’s college football and youth soccer.

    He was the owner and CEO of CBW Soccer Elite, a recruiting agency for college-bound players. He also became the head coach of Dade County in Florida last year.

    His former clubs and teammates paid tribute to him on social media, expressing their shock and sadness at his untimely death.

    “Sheffield Wednesday are deeply saddened at the passing of our former player Chris Bart-Williams,” the club said in a statement. “Our thoughts are with Chris’ and Trevor’s families and friends at this devastating time.”

    Nottingham Forest tweeted: “Nottingham Forest is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of our former player Chris Bart-Williams. Our thoughts go out to Chris’ family and friends at this truly difficult time.”

    Mark Crossley, who played with Bart-Williams at Forest, wrote: “Devastating and I’m so upset to hear the news of Trevor Francis passing and my former teammate Chris Bart-Williams, both so young, it is so sad , RIP Trevor and Chris.”

    Ipswich also offered their condolences, posting: “The club is saddened to learn of the passing of former player Chris Bart-Williams. Once a Blue, always a Blue.”

  • Willian pays a visit to the Nottingham Forest training ground amid links

    Willian pays a visit to the Nottingham Forest training ground amid links

    Ahead of a potential summer transfer, Willian paid a visit to the Nottingham Forest training ground.

    The Brazilian winger’s contract with Fulham has expired, and he has been engaged in discussions with Forest regarding a move to the City Ground.

    Willian toured the club’s facilities on Thursday, but an agreement has not yet been reached.

    Fulham has also extended a contract offer to the 34-year-old following his impressive performances during the 2022-23 season.

    The former Chelsea and Arsenal winger scored five times in 25 appearances as Marco Silva’s side enjoyed a top-half finish.

    Forest made 30 signings last year in their first season back in the top tier but they are not expected to be as active this year.

    They are targeting up to eight new arrivals as they aim to build on last year’s 16th-placed finish.

  • FA charges Nottingham Forest defender, Harry Toffolo for 375 times betting rules breach

    FA charges Nottingham Forest defender, Harry Toffolo for 375 times betting rules breach

    The Football Association has accused Nottingham Forest defender Harry Toffolo of breaking 375 of the organization’s betting laws.

    According to reports, the FA Regulation E1(b) violations occurred between January 2014 and March 2017.

    Toffolo was under contract to his old team Norwich City throughout that time, but he played on loan at Swindon, Rotherham, and Scunthorpe.

    The charges against Toffolo have until July 19 for a response.

    The left-back made 19 Premier League appearances for Forest last season after joining the club from Huddersfield Town in the summer.

    In May, Brentford’s Ivan Toney was suspended for eight months after admitting to 232 breaches of FA Rule E8. The offences took place between 2017 and 2021.

    In December 2020, England defender Kieran Trippier received a ten-week ban after being found guilty of breaching betting regulations.

  • Reid makes come-back to Nottingham Forest

    Reid makes come-back to Nottingham Forest

    Former Republic of Ireland international, Steven Reid, has made a return to Nottingham Forest as a first-team coach, a year after leaving for a new venture.

    At the age of 42, Reid departed from Steve Cooper’s coaching staff twelve months ago, having played a role in the club’s promotion to the Premier League.

    He transitioned into a specialist coaching role, providing support to players in areas such as mental well-being, confidence, and leadership.

    However, the former midfielder, who previously played for Millwall, Blackburn, West Brom, and Burnley, has now reconnected with Forest.

    He had a brief stint as the interim manager following Chris Hughton’s departure in September 2021.

    Reid told the club’s official website: “It is a club that has stayed close to my heart for many reasons, firstly because of the amazing journey to promotion, but also because of the support I felt from within the club and the amazing fanbase when stepping away from football to do some work around mental health and well-being.

    “I have remained close to Steve and many of the coaching staff and players and cannot wait to get going again.”

    Cooper added: “I’m delighted that Reidy is returning to the club. He had a massive impact in our Championship promotion-winning season, but he also has experience of working and playing in the Premier League and knows what it demands.”

  • Andre Ayew no longer with Nottingham Forest

    Andre Ayew no longer with Nottingham Forest

    Nottingham Forest has announced the departure of Black Stars captain Andre Ayew following the conclusion of his contract.

    Ayew joined the club in January on a six-month deal after leaving Al Sadd.

    The 33-year-old made 13 appearances under Steve Cooper as Forest sought experience to avoid relegation from the Premier League.

    However, Ayew was unable to find the back of the net during his 306 minutes on the pitch and also missed a penalty.

    The forward is now a free agent and has set sight on a new club before the start of next season.

  • Olive tree to team meetings? Mikel Arteta has a reason

    Olive tree to team meetings? Mikel Arteta has a reason

    Mikel Arteta, the manager of Arsenal, has admitted that one of the methods he used to inspire his team is occasionally bringing an olive tree to team meetings.

    Arteta spoke about another odd motivational tool he uses at London Colney after it was revealed that the Arsenal manager had started bringing a chocolate Labrador named Win to the training facility to give a calming impact.

    In his press conference ahead of Arsenal’s trip to Nottingham Forest, Arteta spoke about the club’s olive tree, a miniature version of which he has used to explain the importance of togetherness to his young squad.

    The Spaniard said: “Another symbol at the club is our tree.

    It needs a lot of care as well. It’s an olive tree, it’s older than 150 years, similar to the club, and we have to look after those roots every single to the day, make sure they don’t get poisoned, don’t get damaged and it’s in the right condition.”

    ESPN reports that Arteta spotted the tree from the window of his office and asked a staff member to make a miniature version that he could use in front of his squad.

    Win the dog and the olive tree are the latest in a line of inventive ways Arteta communicates ideas to his players.

    The light bulb scene in Amazon’s All or Nothing series was another famous example.

    Appropriately enough, after Friday’s tree revelation, Arsenal take on relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest at the City Ground in Saturday’s late kick-off.

  • Forest star Neco to miss rest of season over fractured jaw

    Forest star Neco to miss rest of season over fractured jaw

    Neco Williams, a defender for Nottingham Forest, is “gutted” to have to sit out the rest of the season after fracturing his jaw in his team’s 3-1 victory over Brighton.

    On Wednesday, Forest won for the first time in a dozen games to increase their chances of avoiding relegation.

    After defeating the Seagulls, Forest moved one point above the bottom three teams in the Premier League.

    The victory, however, came at a price as Brennan Johnson and Williams collided unintentionally, dealing Williams a serious wound.

    He was stretchered off and immediately taken to hospital, where he had surgery and is set to return home on Friday afternoon, according to a statement from Forest on Thursday evening.

    While Forest did not give an indication of how long he would be out for, the Welshman himself indicated he will play no further part in the campaign with five matches remaining.

    He wrote on Twitter: “Absolutely buzzing the lads got the win yesterday but at the same time I am gutted to say my seasons over for sustaining a broken jaw.

    “I will do everything I can to help my teammates bring home those points every game.”

    The 22-year-old has made 34 appearances in all competitions this season since joining Forest from Liverpool last summer in a transfer worth £17million.

  • FA charges Wolves winger Podence for reportedly spitting at Forest’s Johnson

    FA charges Wolves winger Podence for reportedly spitting at Forest’s Johnson

    FA has charged Wolves winger Daniel Podence for allegedly spitting at Brennan Johnson of Nottingham Forest during Saturday’s 1-1 Premier League match.

    Podence and Johnson got into a verbal altercation near the end of the second half during a dispute between the two teams of players.

    Although replays appeared to show Podence in the act of spitting, footage was unable to conclusively prove if the Portugal international actually spat. Therefore, the VAR review did not lead to a red card.

    Johnson was asked about the incident at full-time and, while he told Sky Sports he was not going to “allegate [Podence]”, the Forest player also claimed he “felt like some sort of spit came towards my face”.

    The FA seemingly saw enough to deem Podence worthy of retrospective punishment on Wednesday.

    A statement said: ” Podence has been charged after the forward allegedly spat at an opposing player during the 90th minute.”

    The FA also charged Forest for their players surrounding the referee in the first half, while both teams’ assistant managers will answer charges of improper and/or violent conduct.

  • Forest owner gives Cooper the feared vote of confidence despite speculations of his dismissal

    Forest owner gives Cooper the feared vote of confidence despite speculations of his dismissal

    Steve Cooper, the manager of Nottingham Forest, who is now under fire, has been granted a stay of execution.

    After Friday night’s 2-1 loss to relegation rivals Leeds, it has been speculated that the Welshman is likely to become the unlucky 13th Premier League manager fired this season.

    Owner Evangelos Marinakis, though, has issued a statement endorsing Cooper, 43.

    He said: “No one denies that our club is in a difficult position in the Premier League, but we wish to end the speculation and the false and disruptive reporting in the media to confirm that Steve Cooper remains our manager at Nottingham Forest. 

    “We have all been disappointed with recent performances and it is very clear that a lot of hard work needs to be done to address this urgently.

    Results and performances must improve immediately. 

    “Now is the time for everyone connected with our club, from us as owners, to the board, our supporters, backroom staff, coaches and players — to come together and fight to secure our status in the Premier League. 

    “There can be no time for distractions, rumours and speculation.

    There is only time for hard work, determination, a commitment from Steve and the players to getting the results we need and, of course, the continued magnificent support of the fans of Nottingham Forest.”

    Forest, who have signed 30 players this season, are on an eight-game winless run that has dragged them into the middle of a relegation battle.

    They sit 17th in the table but are only above Bournemouth on goal difference in a nine-team scrap to avoid the drop.

  • Andre Ayew says Nottingham Forest’s challenge this season is meeting years old teams

    Andre Ayew says Nottingham Forest’s challenge this season is meeting years old teams

    Ghanaian international Andre Ayew claims that his Nottingham Forest team has struggled because they are up against teams that have been together for a long time.

    Ayew signed a temporary contract to join the Premier League team in January.

    In their most recent 3-1 loss to Tottenham Hotspurs on the road last Saturday, the Ghanaian international missed a stoppage time penalty.

    “Everybody who wears a Forest shirt knows it’s not going to be easy, but we’re going to keep believing in ourselves. If you were to say we’d be where we are after 26 games, a lot of people would be happy. That’s a fact.”

    “The results will come. Our problem is we’re facing teams that have been together for four or five years, they have their own style of play and their own ideas, but it’s not time to panic.”

    “It’s going to be difficult, but we don’t just have to look at the negatives. We know our away form isn’t good enough, but we’re not going to give up. We’re going to keep fighting until the end,” he said.

    The 33-year-old joined Forest as a free agent in the January transfer window after leaving Qatari side Al Sadd. Ayew is determined to succeed once again in the English top flight and is pumped up for the game against Newcastle United.

  • Dede Ayew misses penalty again, netizens descend him

    Dede Ayew misses penalty again, netizens descend him

    Ghanaian international football player, Andrew Dede Ayew, has received criticism once more for missing a penalty.

    When Nottingham Forest faced Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday, losing 3-1 on aggregate, the Black Stars captain was given the chance to save his team in the final seconds.

    The 33-year-old striker, however, blew the chance to increase his team’s goal total and reduce the goal difference.

    The striker for Nottingham Forest was reliving his terrifying World Cup 2022 experience.

    The Black Stars forward lost a penalty at the crucial stage of the 2022 FIFA World Cup when Ghana clashed with Uruguay in the last group-stage match of the competition.

    It was an opportunity presented to the Black Stars and Ghanaians who were looking forward to seeking revenge against their South American rivals.

    Uruguay in 2010 denied Ghana victory on her way to making history in South Africa.

    On Twitter, many football fans have expressed displeasure with his latest penalty miss with most comments suggesting the sun may have set on the football career of the Black Star skipper.

  • Fulham 1-1 Wolves: Solomon scores to tie the game

    Fulham 1-1 Wolves: Solomon scores to tie the game

    At Craven Cottage, Manor Solomon’s second goal as a substitute gave Fulham a 1-1 draw with Wolves.

    The winger scored his third goal in as many games, cancelling out Pablo Sarabia’s first-half goal for Wolves. He had previously scored the game-winning goal at Brighton the previous weekend and against Nottingham Forest.

    Wolves were just three points above the Premier League drop zone heading into the weekend, but they earned a crucial point against a high-flying Fulham side that had lost only two games since the World Cup break – at Newcastle and at home to Tottenham.

    However, the Cottagers’ attacking prowess was diminished as talisman striker Aleksandar Mitrovic missed a second straight game due to a hamstring injury.

    Fulham struggled to get going against a Wolves side who started quickly but there were few clear chances at the start of the match, with both sides struggling to find openings.

    Wolves capitalised on their possession dominance when Sarabia fired the visitors into the lead in the 23rd minute.

    Raul Jimenez knocked the ball down in the box to Sarabia, who had time to take a touch then fire past Bernd Leno for his side’s opener and his first goal for the club.

    It was a rare goal for Fulham to concede, just a fifth in the league since the resumption of the Premier League in December.

    It was an uncharacteristically flat start from the hosts but they did have a chance in the 37th minute, when Carlos Vinicius headed a Bobby De Cordova-Reid cross straight at Jose Sa.

    From the final kick of the first half, Sa had to tip an Andreas Pereira free-kick over the bar but Fulham struggled to impose themselves, despite going into the weekend sixth in the table after an impressive first half of the season.

    Wolves suffered a blow when Matheus Cunha was carried off on a stretcher early in the second half, following an innocuous challenge.

    Fulham did not start the second half with significantly more attacking threat than the first, but they did strike an equaliser shortly after the hour mark.

    Half-time substitute Solomon picked up the ball at the edge of the box and expertly curled past Sa and into the far corner.

    Fulham had a late chance to wrap up the win, but Vinicius’ header was saved by a diving Sa and the points were shared.

  • Guardiola bemoans Man City’s distasteful finishing in draw with Forest

    Guardiola bemoans Man City’s distasteful finishing in draw with Forest

    Pep Guardiola, the manager of Manchester City, lamented his team’s wastefulness in front of goal as Nottingham Forest held them to a 1-1 draw on Saturday.

    After being ousted by Arsenal earlier on Saturday, the defending champions appeared poised to reclaim first place in the Premier League courtesy to Bernardo Silva’s outstanding first-half goal.

    Chris Wood, though, made a late appearance to deny them all three points, allowing Forest to avoid a loss to the reigning champions for the first time since they defeated Manchester United in December 1994.

    City squandered a host of glorious opportunities to extend their lead before Wood’s intervention, with Erling Haaland guilty of one particularly glaring miss, and Guardiola was disappointed with his side’s profligacy.

    “Congratulations to Nottingham for the point that they got,” the City boss said.

    “It was a brilliant performance, we played really good but we didn’t score. We have to score and we didn’t do it and that’s why we dropped points.

    “For the goal we could defend better, more energy but the way we played was brilliant.

    “In the first half, it should be already be two- or three-zero, we conceded one shot on target and we dropped points.

    “It’s sad and disappointing but the way we played was really good.”

    The result meant City have failed to beat a promoted side in the Premier League for the first time since April 2021 when they lost against Leeds United – they had won nine such games in a row before the draw with Forest.

    City defender Kyle Walker was less diplomatic than his manager, stating that City’s failure to take all three points back to Manchester was “unacceptable”.

    “First and foremost, we go to the Emirates [where they beat Arsenal in midweek] and play the game we did and then come here, it [the performance] is unacceptable,” he said.

    “If we want to compete with teams near the top, we need to win. We missed a few chances and we need to do better as a team.

    “Sometimes it’s football and sometimes it’s emotion. Every game should be treated the same, like a cup final. What can I say other than it is unacceptable. We have to stick together as a group.

    “The senior members of the team need to put our thoughts across. That is just not acceptable. We have to give credit to Nottingham Forest. They dug in and hung on. We have to do better.”

  • Nottingham Forest unveil new signing Andre Ayew

    Nottingham Forest unveil new signing Andre Ayew

    Ghanaian international Andre Ayew, has agreed to a short-term contract with Nottingham Forest and will play in the English Premier League once more.

    The English top-flight club announced the acquisition of the Black Stars captain on Thursday evening.

    “Nottingham Forest is delighted to announce the signing of Ghana captain André Ayew.

    “The forward joins on a free transfer following his recent departure from Al Sadd and has signed a deal until the end of the season.

    “André will wear the shirt number 42 during his time on Trentside,” an official club statement said.

    In the unveiling, Andre Ayew posed with his father and Ghana legend, the great Abedi Pele.

    At Nottingham Forest, the former Swansea City man will be playing a key role to help the team to stay in the English Premier League at the end of the 2022/23 football season.

    Check out pictures from Andre Ayew’s unveiling below:

  • Andre Ayew joins EPL side Nottingham Forest

    Andre Ayew joins EPL side Nottingham Forest

    Ghana captain, Andre Ayew has sealed a move to join Nottingham Forest in the English Premier League.

    The experienced Black Stars forward became a free agent in January after mutually terminating his contract with Qatar Stars League club Al Sadd SC.

    Before the January transfer window was shut on Tuesday, Andre Ayew was offered to Everton and Nottingham Forest but no deal was agreed upon.

    Today, it can be confirmed that the Black Stars captain has reached a deal with Nottingham Forest to become the latest signing of the side.

    Sources have confirmed that his former coach at Swansea City, Steve Cooper played a key role in making the deal happen.

    Andre Ayew, 33, is already in the UK where he is set to sign the six-months contract.

    He will undergo a mandatory medical examination in the next few hours before the English Premier League side officially announces his signing.

  • Manchester United march towards final after beating Nottingham

    Manchester United march towards final after beating Nottingham

    With a 3-0 victory over Nottingham Forest in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semifinal, Manchester United secured a place at Wembley Way.

    Only a miracle turnaround in the second leg, which is scheduled for next week, can prevent United from playing in the League Cup final at the national stadium next month after goals from Marcus Rashford, Wout Weghorst, and Bruno Fernandes in the first half and a late third at the City Ground.

    Rashford’s goal, which he scored after sprinting 50 yards, Weghorst’s first goal for the team since joining on loan from Burnley, and Fernandes’ decisive late goal effectively ended the tie.

    With the victory, United is poised to play in its first domestic championship game at Wembley since losing the 2018 FA Cup final, and Erik ten Hag will have the opportunity to end the team’s trophy drought, which dates back to 2017, in his first season at Old Trafford.

    With four titles won in 12 years under Brian Clough, Forest has a history in the League Cup that is almost as extensive as United’s. Forest will view this as a squandered opportunity to head to Old Trafford next week with something to grasp onto.

    Sam Surridge had a goal disallowed in the first half, and Morgan Gibbs-White and Brennan Johnson also had good opportunities.

    However, Ten Hag’s team easily won on the Trent River’s banks and will mark February 26 on their calendars for a trip to Wembley, while Forest will need to channel their late manager Clough in the hopes of a miracle.

    The two teams memorably faced off in the 1992 League Cup final at Wembley, which United won on the strength of a goal from Brian McClair. The current crop of players demonstrated their desire to return there this year.

    Rashford continued his stellar form with a spectacular individual goal, and Ten Hag was rewarded for selecting his strongest team possible with an early lead.

    It was his 10th goal in 10 games since the resumption after the World Cup and his form has been the driving force behind United’s impressive run of results.

    There were more goals for the taking in a dominant start for the visitors but Antony twice drifted shots wide of the post from good positions after cutting in from the right.

    Forest had been overrun in the opening 15 minutes but they came to life and thought they had levelled in the 23rd minute.

    A brilliant counter-attack saw Gibbs-White feed Sam Surridge, who produced a fine first-time finish into the bottom corner.

    However, it was ruled out after VAR found Surridge’s knee to be offside.

    Forest to their credit did not let that disappointment affect them and they continued to push forward and had chances for an equaliser.

    David de Gea produced a flying save to keep out Gustavo Scarpa’s volley from the edge of the area, then got down well to stop a Gibbs-White effort before watching Johnson fire over after gliding past a couple of United tackles.

    Having soaked up that pressure, United got a killer second goal on the stroke of half-time.

    They expertly manoeuvred the ball from back to front and, after Hennessey palmed out Antony’s shot, Weghorst reacted first to fire home the rebound and break his United duck.

    The hosts struggled to recreate the verve they showed in the first half and United kept them at arm’s length.

    Indeed, it was the visitors, who won 8-1 on their last visit to the City Ground in 1999, who strengthened their grip on the tie.

    Christian Eriksen had earlier hit the crossbar before Fernandes drilled home a low finish in the 89th minute, with ecstatic United supporters appearing to fall through a broken hoarding during the celebrations.

  • Wood leaves Newcastle for Forest loan ahead of £15m transfer

    Wood leaves Newcastle for Forest loan ahead of £15m transfer

    Chris Wood, a striker for Newcastle United, has signed a loan agreement with Nottingham Forest that will turn into a permanent one at the end of the current season.

    Wood didn’t join Newcastle until January 2022, moving for £25 million from then-relegation rivals Burnley.

    Burnley were ultimately relegated, but Eddie Howe helped Newcastle easily stay up, and a year later, they are still very much in the running for Champions League qualifying.

    But whereas Wood started 15 of his 17 Premier League games for the Magpies the previous season, he has only made four starts in his 18 appearances this year, totaling just 437 minutes.

    The New Zealand international had scored just four goals in 35 games, placing him behind the recovered Callum Wilson and the club-record signing Alexander Isak.

    Instead, he will spend at least the rest of the current campaign with Forest, who hired Wood after learning of Taiwo Awoniyi’s injury in an effort to maintain their Premier League status for the upcoming year.

    The agreement contains “a conditional obligation to become a permanent deal”, Forest confirmed, with reports suggesting the achievable criteria of those conditions will lead to a £15m move.

    Wood was no longer a starter at St James’ Park, but only Jacob Murphy (36) had made more Premier League appearances for Newcastle since his arrival from Burnley, and Howe wants a replacement for the 31-year-old forward.

    Ahead of the transfer on Friday, Howe said: “Hopefully, we’re planning to replace him.

    “Certainly, from my side, there was no thought of letting a player go and not replacing [them]. I think that would leave us dangerously short of players.”

    Howe acknowledged the club were now in a “difficult situation” in the transfer market but recognised Wood’s departure represented “a very good deal financially”.

  • Man United up against Forest in Carabao Cup semi-finals

    Man United up against Forest in Carabao Cup semi-finals

    In the Carabao Cup semifinals, Manchester United will play Nottingham Forest, and Newcastle United will play Southampton.

    Having defeated third-tier Charlton Athletic 3-0 in the round of eight, Erik ten Hag’s team will now head to the City Ground for the first leg of their two-game semifinal matchup as United looks to win its first trophy since 2017.

    Forest has struggled in the Premier League as they fight to stay up, but they defeated Wolves on penalties on Wednesday following a 1-1 draw to move closer to the Wembley Stadium championship final.

    Newcastle advanced to the competition’s semifinals for the first time since 1976 with a 2-0 victory over Leicester City. They will now travel to Southampton, the bottom team in the Premier League, for the first leg.

    Only West Ham and Manchester United have defeated Pep Guardiola’s City in the EFL Cup, while Nathan Jones’ team defeated Manchester City in an improbable 2-0 quarterfinal victory (twice).

    http://tigpost.co/rashford-seals-uniteds-spot-in-semis/

    The first leg of the final four meetings will be played the week of January 23, and the second leg will be played the following week.

  • Martial prepared for restart with Manchester United’s ‘great dynamic’

    Anthony Martial thinks Manchester United have plenty of reason for optimism ahead of the second half of the season, praising the “great dynamic” instilled by Erik ten Hag.

    The Red Devils have enjoyed something of a resurgence under the Dutchman following a dismal 2021-22 campaign, mounting a charge for the top four once again.

    With a quarter-final berth in the EFL Cup secured, United next face Nottingham Forest on Tuesday as they resume their Premier League season following the break for the World Cup in Qatar.

    Martial, who has been limited by injury so far but nevertheless has picked up four goals in eight games, certainly believes there is cause to believe the club can succeed this term under Ten Hag.

    “Why not?” he told MUTV. “We’ve [got] a very good team of players, with a great dynamic about us and lots of victories under our belt.

    “We now just to have keep on [with] those winning ways we have shown in these recent matches.

    “There has been some time for rest, so we hope we will return in good shape for the challenges ahead, and to win all the matches we can.”

    While several members of United’s squad – including the central defensive trio of Raphael Varane, Lisandro Martinez and Harry Maguire – enjoyed deep World Cup runs, Martial was absent after France passed him over.

    But the forward feels those left behind have used their time wisely to ensure they can hit the ground running as 2023 comes around the corner.

    “We’ve put in a lot of good work, and it has been a bit like a pre-season for us,” he added. “We’ve worked on fitness training and getting into top shape physically, and I’ve benefited a lot from that personally.”

  • Arsenal 5-0 Nottingham Forest: Nelson back as Gunners flex muscles

    Arsenal returned to the top of the Premier League in style as forgotten man Reiss Nelson came off the bench for the injured Bukayo Saka to score a brace in a 5-0 win against Nottingham Forest.

    England forward Saka seemed to take a knock in the opening minute but still teed up Gabriel Martinelli to break the deadlock, later limping off to be replaced by Nelson, who scored twice in three minutes before assisting Thomas Partey as captain Martin Odegaard wrapped up the win.

    Nelson had not scored a Premier League goal in 837 days since getting on the scoresheet in a win over Liverpool, but it was an impact that settled the home crowd after Arsenal had earlier failed to build on a strong start.

    After losing to PSV Eindhoven in the Europa League on Thursday night, Mikel Arteta somewhat surprisingly reverted back to the starting XI that was held to a 1-1 draw at Southampton a week ago.

    Some of his players seemed to tire in that game, but here they put to the sword a Forest side showing just one change from their shock 1-0 win over Liverpool.

    Arsenal made the most of a lively opening as Martinelli stooped to head in a pinpoint Saka cross after five minutes.

    The Arsenal players celebrated by holding up a shirt with Pablo Mari’s name and number on the back after the defender — currently on loan at Monza — was stabbed in a Milan supermarket last week.

    Arsenal were well on top and came so close to a second, only for Renan Lodi to clear Martinelli’s effort off the line.

    But the Gunners were not having everything their own way. Saka had taken a knock early on and having tried to play on, was forced off before the half-hour mark as Nelson replaced him.

    The change seemed to give Forest fresh impetus as they enjoyed a couple of rare forays into the Arsenal half and almost levelled as Gabriel Magalhaes gifted possession to Jesse Lingard, whose shot was bravely blocked.

    The game changed after the break, with Nelson taking centre-stage on his first Premier League appearance since the opening-day defeat at Brentford last season.

    He doubled the lead with a finish high into Dean Henderson’s net after the England goalkeeper had done well to keep out Nelson’s initial effort.

    The points were secured just three minutes later. Nelson scored again as he turned home Gabriel Jesus’ cross before laying a pass into the path of Partey, who finished superbly from outside the box to make it four.

    Arteta took his opportunity to rest a number of other key personnel as William Saliba, Granit Xhaka and Martinelli were all replaced before Odegaard latched onto a Jesus pass to score the fifth.

    That proved to be the last of the goals, with Arteta probably as happy at keeping a first home Premier League clean sheet since March as he was at the clinical display at the other end of the pitch.

  • Who replaces Alexander-Arnold and James?

    We’re at a time of the season when we’ve got to stay sharp as Fantasy Football managers, keeping up to date with all the injury news and making sure we don’t miss the gameweek deadlines.

    For gameweek 11 that’s at 18:30 BST on Friday this week before Brentford against Brighton and there’s a round of midweek fixtures next week with the gameweek 12 deadline at 18:00 on Tuesday.

    No excuses – you have been warned!

    Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold was taken off at half-time against Arsenal last weekend, having suffered an ankle issue

    In terms of the injury news, we know that Trent Alexander-Arnold and Luis Diaz are definitely going to miss the next couple of gameweeks and there’s a chance that could be the same for Reece James.

    Sometimes I would advocate holding on to a premium asset even if you know they’re going to be unavailable for a short spell because you don’t want to waste transfers and money taking them out and bringing them back in again, but the fact that Arsenal and Manchester City don’t have a fixture in gameweek 12 makes this slightly different in James’ case for me.

    I’m already keeping Joao Cancelo, Gabriel Martinelli and Erling Haaland in my squad so that they’re ready to go again after their blank week but I really need the rest of my outfield players to be likely to start in gameweek 12. That’s not necessarily the case with Nottingham Forest’s Neco Williams and West Ham’s Emerson on my bench so I’m not sure I can really afford to try and ride the James injury out as well.

    The problem is that if you already own Cancelo and Kieran Trippier then none of the replacements are anywhere as near as appetising as James.

    You could go for one of his team-mates in Marc Cucurella, Ben Chilwell or Cesar Azpilicueta but you run the risk of rotation, as Graham Potter has already shown us with his team selections, and the same could be said for the Tottenham wing-backs in Ivan Perisic, Ryan Sessegnon and Matt Doherty, even with Emerson Royal still suspended for the next two games.

    If you’re looking for guaranteed starters then Statman Dave suggested Eric Dier as a possibility in this week’s Fantasy 606 podcast. He has less potential of attacking returns as a centre-back but has already scored two goals this season and does strike the occasional free-kick for Tottenham. Dave also mentioned Fabian Schar as an option in the Newcastle defence and Everton’s Conor Coady with recent clean sheets against Liverpool and West Ham and a goal in the 2-1 win at Southampton.

    I also think a Brighton defender might be worth a look as their next two games are at Brentford and then at home to Nottingham Forest.

    Of course, if you’ve still got your wildcard left then you can avoid this whole issue by simply selling your Arsenal and Manchester City players over the next two gameweeks and then just bringing them straight back in on the wildcard in gameweek 13. I wouldn’t play the free hit in gameweek 12 though to try and get around the problem because I think it will be more valuable to you later in the season.

    Aleksandar Mitrovic owners could well face the same dilemma – you’ll want to hold him for Fulham games against Bournemouth, Aston Villa and Leeds but will his recent injury affect his chances of playing in three games in quick succession? If you’re looking for replacements in a similar price bracket then I would point you towards West Ham’s Gianluca Scamacca and Newcastle’s Callum Wilson who we mentioned last week.

    And we’ve not even touched on the Mohamed Salah conundrum yet. Peripheral in the 3-2 defeat at Arsenal on Sunday, electric at Ibrox on Wednesday – if you’ve got him then you definitely keep him, if you haven’t then I still wouldn’t move heaven and earth to sign him, particularly if you’re not planning on captaining him any time soon. I would, however, get a Liverpool forward in from gameweek 13 onwards, be that Darwin Nunez, Roberto Firmino or Diogo Jota.

    Liverpool fans won’t like it but I’m going to advise giving the captain’s armband to Erling Haaland at Anfield on Sunday, although there are other candidates in gameweek 11 if you want to back against him. Son Heung-min and Harry Kane have a home game against Everton and any one of Arsenal’s attacking trio – Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus – would be a good bet away to Leeds.

    The captaincy question in gameweek 12 is far more interesting with Haaland sitting that one out – Tottenham’s deadly duo are away to Manchester United, Liverpool’s attackers face the West Ham defence at Anfield but it’s definitely a week when you could take a punt on a differential to try and climb the rankings – maybe Brighton’s Leandro Trossard at home to Nottingham Forest, Leicester’s James Maddison against Leeds or Newcastle’s Wilson versus Everton.

    Alistair Bruce-Ball presents the Fantasy 606 podcast alongside former Premier League winner Chris Sutton and Statman Dave.

    The latest episode previewing gameweeks 11 and 12 will be available via the BBC Sounds app.

      Our coverage of your Premier League club is bigger and better than ever before – follow your team and sign up for notifications in the BBC Sport app to make sure you never miss a moment

    Source: bbc.com

  • Nottingham Forest hand Cooper new contract despite losing streak

    Nottingham Forest manager Steve Cooper has signed a new contract until 2025, despite being on a five-game losing streak in the Premier League.

    The 42-year-old took charge of the club in September 2021 and led the charge to promotion to the Premier League, finishing fourth in the Championship before beating Huddersfield Town in the play-off final.

    Forest bolstered their squad for a return to the top-flight, signing 23 players in total, but have been unable to find form, sitting rock-bottom of the standings with just four points from the opening eight matches.

    A 4-0 defeat at Leicester City on Monday extended Forest’s losing streak to five games, raising speculation that Cooper’s position is under threat – but the club have made it clear he retains the faith of the hierarchy.

    A statement from the club announcing Cooper’s new deal on Friday read: “It is now important that our focus is solely on football.

    “As a group we are all concentrated and will do everything we can to help the team move up the league table and once again demonstrate our qualities that led us to the Premier League.”

    Forest welcome Aston Villa to the City Ground on Monday, with six further fixtures in the Premier League beyond that before the season pauses for the World Cup in Qatar.


    Source: BBC

  • Six face prosecution for over the stadium crush

     Indonesia’s police chief says, six individuals, including police officers and organisers, are being investigated for their roles in a crash at a football stadium that claimed at least 131 lives.

    The maximum punishment for the crime of criminal negligence causing death is five years.

    The disaster happened last week when police fired tear gas at fans who invaded the pitch after a defeat.

    Hundreds tried to flee through the exits, which caused a deadly stampede.

    The incident has led to public anger, with much of it directed at the police and their use of tear gas. The local police chief in Malang, where the incident took place, was fired and nine other officers were suspended.

    Those now facing charges include three police officers who had tear-gassed fans, the head of the home club Arema FC’s organizing committee, and one of the club’s security officers.

    Two of the police officers had ordered their colleagues to fire tear gas, national police chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo told local media. The third knew about FIFA’s safety regulations that prohibit the use of tear gas at matches but did not prevent it from being used, he added.

    Authorities have said that some 2,000 officers – including several police units and soldiers – were at the stadium that night.

    Videos from the incident, which took place on Saturday night in East Java, showed Arema FC fans running onto the pitch after the final whistle marked the home team’s 2-3 defeat and police firing tear gas in response.

    More than 320 other people were injured as supporters were trampled on and suffocated in crushes as they fled the gas. Indonesia’s deputy minister of children and women affairs said the victims included children between three and 17 years.

    Footage online showed fans clambering over fences to escape. Separate videos appeared to show lifeless bodies on the floor.

    “We [saw] these different police forces running around the pitch, brutally kicking people, hitting people. This is completely unacceptable behaviour,” Jacqui Baker, a policing expert, told the BBC after the incident.

    But police said the club’s officials had not complied with safety requirements, allowing in a larger crowd than the stadium could handle. They added that the exits were too narrow for people to pass through.

    The stampede is one of the worst stadium disasters ever. In the UK, 97 Liverpool fans died in a crash at the Hillsborough stadium in Sheffield in 1989. They were attending the club’s FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest.

    Stadium disaster graphic

     

  • Steve Cooper to remain Nottingham Forest manager following club meetings

    Nottingham Forest manager Steve Cooper will remain in his role following meetings at the club.

    The 42-year-old’s position was in doubt after his side fell to the bottom of the Premier League following Monday’s 4-0 loss to Leicester.

    However, it has been decided he should be given more time in recognition of his achievement in getting Forest promoted after a 23-year absence.

    The club have also named Filippo Giraldi as sporting director.

    Giraldi’s appointment is viewed as an attempt to guide the club through their current difficulties and give them the structures needed to progress as a Premier League club.

    Cooper was appointed manager in September 2021 and took them back to the top flight for the first time since 1999 at the end of his first season in charge.

    He then spent £145m on 21 players in the summer transfer window.

    Despite the heavy spending, Forest have won just once in the league this season, with Monday’s defeat at the King Power Stadium their fifth loss in a row.

    Italian Giraldi spent nine years at Watford, initially as a chief scout before moving into the technical director role in 2014.

    It is felt his experience will prove invaluable in ensuring Forest have the best possible chance of avoiding an immediate return to the Championship.

    Source: BBC

  • Leicester hammer Nottingham Forest to ease pressure on Brendan Rodgers

    Brendan Rodgers breathed a sigh of relief and piled the pressure on Steve Cooper as Leicester ended their winless start to the season at the eighth attempt with a fine 4-0 victory over Nottingham Forest.

    In a meeting of two under-pressure managers and their struggling teams, Rodgers celebrated at full-time after Leicester hit three in 10 first-half minutes – two from the outstanding James Maddison either side of Harvey Barnes’ curling strike.

    Maddison then turned provider in the second half, teeing up substitute Patson Daka for the final blow.

    It was enough to lift Leicester off the foot of the table at the expense of their East Midlands rivals, a much-needed success for Rodgers as Leicester chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha jetted in to watch his first match in person in six weeks.

    The outlook for Cooper is far less certain after a fifth straight league defeat – Forest’s worst run since January 2004.

    It is a year and 12 days since Cooper took the job, performing miracles in lifting Forest from the Championship relegation zone to the Premier League for the first time in 23 years.

    But having signed 22 players in a huge overhaul this summer it is not clear if Cooper knows his best XI, or if Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis will afford him the time to work it out.

    There was little sense of the perilous position both clubs found themselves in before kick-off as fans filled the King Power Stadium with noise, the only calls for Rodgers to go being heard from the Forest fans in the corner of the ground.

    Jamie Vardy, back in Leicester’s starting line-up, scuffed an early shot wide before Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall miraculously missed the target with a free header in front of goal.

    Vardy then got clear of the Forest defence to head wide from Maddison’s free-kick before shooting straight at Dean Henderson after being played in by a midfielder in the mood to stake his England claim.

    Forest were unable to get on the ball, their pressure coming through a succession of early set-pieces, but they created a superb chance in the 22nd minute when Morgan Gibbs-White played in Taiwo Awoniyi, who skipped beyond Wout Faes but saw his shot bounce back off the post.

    It was a let-off for Leicester, and one they quickly took full advantage of.

    Jesse Lingard mis-hit a clearance straight to Maddison, whose shot deflected off Scott McKenna to beat Henderson in the 25th minute.

    Two minutes later it was 2-0 as Barnes cut in off the left and bent a shot beyond the goalkeeper.

    Forest were imploding, and Leicester were happy to pile it on. After Cheikhou Kouyate was booked for bringing down Dewsbury-Hall on the edge of the D, Maddison added to the punishment as he curled a free-kick beyond the stationary Henderson.

    Serge Aurier came on to make his Forest debut at the break, one of three changes as Cooper also sent on Remo Freuler and Ryan Yates.

    Six minutes after the restart Awoniyi looked offside as he ran through on goal, but Danny Ward would have taken confidence from the save he made regardless.

    Instead it was Leicester who pushed on. Barnes struck a shot which deflected off the arm of Steve Cook, who looked relieved when only a corner was awarded.

    The fourth arrived in the 73rd minute as Maddison added an assist to his two goals, crossing for Daka to beat Henderson with a neat flick at the near post.

    At the other end, Ward saved well from Brennan Johnson at his near post, then from Gibbs-White’s header, to preserve Leicester’s first clean sheet of the season on a fine night for the Foxes, and an ominous one for Forest.

    Source: Livescore

     

     

  • Sasa Kalajdzic: Wolves readies to sign Stuttgart striker after agreeing fee

    Sasa Kalajdzic is expected to transfer from Stuttgart to Wolves when the two clubs agree on a transfer fee.

    For star striker Sasa Kalajdzic, Wolves have agreed to pay Stuttgart 18 million euros (£15.4 million) plus add-ons.

    After yesterday’s 1-1 draw with Newcastle, manager Bruno Lage expressed his desire to add another forward to the lineup to challenge Raul Jimenez.

    Austria striker Kalajdzic, 25, has been on Wolves’ radar for a number of weeks.

    He asked to be left out of Stuttgart’s Bundesliga game with Koln at the weekend.

    Meanwhile, Willy Boly’s likely move to Nottingham Forest is understood to be edging closer.

    Boly opted not to turn up for the Newcastle game despite being asked to by Lage in order to push through the transfer. There is still no agreement on the fee.

    Meanwhile, striker Patrick Cutrone has secured a move away from Molineux. The 24-year-old has joined Italian Serie B side Como, his hometown club, on a permanent deal.

    The Italian, who joined Wolves in 2019 from AC Milan, has had loan spells at Fiorentina, Valencia, and Empoli since the start of 2020.

  • Forest agree £42m deal for Wolves’ Gibbs-White

    Morgan Gibbs-White is set to become Nottingham Forest’s 16th signing of the summer

    Nottingham Forest have agreed a deal worth up to £42m including add-ons for Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White.

    The 22-year-old would become Forest’s 16th signing of a busy summer at the City Ground.

    Forest have spent most of the summer trying to sign Gibbs-White, who came through Wolves’ academy.

    The Stafford-born player has started both Premier League games for Bruno Lage’s side this season.

    All your Forest news and views in one place

    However, Wolves are still trying to reshape Lage’s squad and it was likely Forest would make another push to sign him.

    Forest will pay an initial fee of £25m, with up to £17m in potential add-ons.

    Gibbs-White, who has 10 England Under-21s caps, impressed in the Championship last season on loan at Sheffield United.

    He is due to have his medical later on Thursday.

    You can now get Forest news notifications in the BBC Sport app – find out more

    Our coverage of Nottingham Forest is bigger and better than ever before – here’s everything you need to know to make sure you never miss a momentEverything Forest – go straight to all the best content

    Source: bbc.com

  • Richie Laryea returns home as he joins Toronto FC

    Canadian-born Ghanaian defender Richie Laryea has made a return to his country of birth as he has joined Toronto FC on loan from Nottingham Forest.

    He makes a return to his old stomping grounds where he played for three years before joining the English side, Nottingham Forest.

    At the English side, he saw limited playing time in England’s second tier, unable to crack a Forest lineup on a winning run under manager Steve Cooper, who led the team to promotion.

    Toronto coach Bob Bradley, who doubles as the team’s sporting director, said the deal to bring back Laryea was “far” down the road.

    “It’s not quite finished but I think we’re all optimistic that the main parts are done,” he said after training Thursday.

    A deadline was looming with the MLS secondary transfer window closing at end of the day.

    The move fills a hole at right fullback for Toronto while giving Laryea a place to play in the lead-up to the November World Cup in Qatar.

    Bradley said he expects the Laryea move to be a loan initially with the player expected to arrive later Thursday. Toronto (6-12-5) plays at Nashville SC (8-7-9) on Saturday.

    Laryea made 83 appearances across all competitions with nine goals and 12 assists for Toronto. He earned US$226,950 last season with TFC.

    He was one of 22 players from last year’s first team to move on.

    Laryea didn’t make his Forest debut until April 18, coming off the bench in the 79th minute in a 4-0 win over West Bromwich Albion. And with Forest strengthening its roster for its return to the Premier League — reportedly spending more than £80 million (C$124.9 million) on 12 players — the competition for playing time was growing considerably.

    Source: Ghanagurdian

  • Nottingham Forest in talks over Stuttgart midfielder Orel Mangala

    Nottingham Forest are negotiating with Stuttgart over a deal to sign midfielder Orel Mangala.

    Forest have been incredibly active this summer as they prepare themselves for their long-awaited return to the top flight, with recent signing Jesse Lingard the 12th new face at The City Ground – and there are plans to add to that.

    Sources have confirmed to 90min that the next player on the radar is 24-year-old Mangala and talks are well underway in an attempt to thrash out a deal that could be worth a total of €15m.

     

     

    Forest are looking to pay €12m up front and are happy to include add-ons to take the deal closer to Stuttgart’s asking price.

    Mangala has impressed during his five years on the books at Stuttgart and was rewarded with a maiden appearance for Roberto Martinez’s Belgium squad back in March, turning out in friendlies against both Ireland and Burkina Faso.

    He was dropped for this summer’s international break and Mangala’s agent recently revealed that the midfielder’s primary focus is not money, but a platform to get himself back into Martinez’s plans for the upcoming World Cup.

    “Orel needs playing time. The World Cup is his goal,” representative Mehmet Eser told SWR Sport recently.

    “For the next step, the perspective of the project must be right. The money is secondary.”