Nottingham Forest - Bournemouth

[Username]

This is a huge chance to play our style of football and build confidence after two of the most difficult games we’ll have all season. We need to focus on attacking with purpose and punishing Bournemouth who are bound to have low morale.

I’d start:

      Henderson

Worrall Cook McKenna

Williams Mangala (if fit) O’Brien Lodi

          MGW
Dennis          Awoniyi

Lingard and Johnson off the bench. Maybe play Freuler if Mangala’s not fit yet.

What's Dennis/Awoniyi/even MGW done to start above Brennan?

Brennan spent almost an entire game chasing shadows against City, so I’d bring him off the bench for impact. I think we need more physical presence around the opposition box, hence the other two.

You’re right of course but sentiment prevails with a lot of the academy / championship players

[Paplane]

This is a huge chance to play our style of football and build confidence after two of the most difficult games we’ll have all season. We need to focus on attacking with purpose and punishing Bournemouth who are bound to have low morale.

I’d start:

      Henderson

Worrall Cook McKenna

Williams Mangala (if fit) O’Brien Lodi

          MGW
Dennis          Awoniyi

Lingard and Johnson off the bench. Maybe play Freuler if Mangala’s not fit yet.

What's Dennis/Awoniyi/even MGW done to start above Brennan?

Brennan spent almost an entire game chasing shadows against City, so I’d bring him off the bench for impact. I think we need more physical presence around the opposition box, hence the other two.

Easy to say with hindsight I know but what was Cooper hoping to achieve with Brennan on Wednesday? We were never going to win that game and you could argue that even us scoring was a long shot. I said during the game we needed a striker on who could receive the long balls out of defence and hold them. Brennan just cant do that. Surridge is better in that regard.

[wassy04]

This is a huge chance to play our style of football and build confidence after two of the most difficult games we’ll have all season. We need to focus on attacking with purpose and punishing Bournemouth who are bound to have low morale.

I’d start:

      Henderson

Worrall Cook McKenna

Williams Mangala (if fit) O’Brien Lodi

          MGW
Dennis          Awoniyi

Lingard and Johnson off the bench. Maybe play Freuler if Mangala’s not fit yet.

What's Dennis/Awoniyi/even MGW done to start above Brennan?

Brennan spent almost an entire game chasing shadows against City, so I’d bring him off the bench for impact. I think we need more physical presence around the opposition box, hence the other two.

You’re right of course but sentiment prevails with a lot of the academy / championship players

Right, but so did MGW? Also, it's not like the other two offered anything when they came on either. I get the idea of starting one of Taiwo or Dennis, (I would choose Taiwo) however I would choose MGW or Lingard to make way in that scenario.

[RyanR]

This is a huge chance to play our style of football and build confidence after two of the most difficult games we’ll have all season. We need to focus on attacking with purpose and punishing Bournemouth who are bound to have low morale.

I’d start:

      Henderson

Worrall Cook McKenna

Williams Mangala (if fit) O’Brien Lodi

          MGW
Dennis          Awoniyi

Lingard and Johnson off the bench. Maybe play Freuler if Mangala’s not fit yet.

What's Dennis/Awoniyi/even MGW done to start above Brennan?

Brennan spent almost an entire game chasing shadows against City, so I’d bring him off the bench for impact. I think we need more physical presence around the opposition box, hence the other two.

You’re right of course but sentiment prevails with a lot of the academy / championship players

Right, but so did MGW? Also, it's not like the other two offered anything when they came on either. I get the idea of starting one of Taiwo or Dennis, (I would choose Taiwo) however I would choose MGW or Lingard to make way in that scenario.

Maybe an Awoniyi and Johnson partnership with Lingard behind makes more sense. We have two wingbacks in Lodi and Williams with fantastic crossing, but have no targets for them to aim for with the previous line up. Awoniyi was unlucky with a header from a Lodi cross at the end of the game against city. He looked a real handful against West Ham too. I also like Dennis’ desire to get into shooting positions, though Brennan’s pace and finishing are a strength too. I’m pleased we have so many options as they’ll all be needed throughout the season.

[RyanR]

The other issue is Keiffer Moore. Will Boly be ready to start? He’s the best physical option we have to counter Moore.

[Paplane]

The other issue is Keiffer Moore. Will Boly be ready to start? He’s the best physical option we have to counter Moore.

I reckon he'll come straight in.

[Salvatore Matrecano]

Boly has been on bench for Wolves so should be fit.
If the alternatives are Cook or Kouyate I would choose Boly every time

[Username]

This is a huge chance to play our style of football and build confidence after two of the most difficult games we’ll have all season. We need to focus on attacking with purpose and punishing Bournemouth who are bound to have low morale.

I’d start:

      Henderson

Worrall Cook McKenna

Williams Mangala (if fit) O’Brien Lodi

          MGW
Dennis          Awoniyi

Lingard and Johnson off the bench. Maybe play Freuler if Mangala’s not fit yet.

What's Dennis/Awoniyi/even MGW done to start above Brennan?

Brennan spent almost an entire game chasing shadows against City, so I’d bring him off the bench for impact. I think we need more physical presence around the opposition box, hence the other two.

You’re right of course but sentiment prevails with a lot of the academy / championship players

Right, but so did MGW? Also, it's not like the other two offered anything when they came on either. I get the idea of starting one of Taiwo or Dennis, (I would choose Taiwo) however I would choose MGW or Lingard to make way in that scenario.

Taiwo did quite well against City with what he had, was very direct and got into some great positions albeit there are clearly question marks over his technical ability.

[pennhillred]

Not that it makes a difference for tomorrow I guess, but a friend of mine went to watch Bournemouth vs Villa, and Bournemouth vs Wolves and he text last night.

He said Bournemouth were hanging on from the first minute against Wolves & were very poor against Villa & definitely didn't deserve that win on the opening day.

Living 5 mins from Bournemouth, I hate playing them but I think a rocking City Ground will be the difference. We need to watch Solanke (played 90 mins against Wolves) & as always our old foe Kieffer Moore (came on as a sub against Wolves after 77 mins).

Please win, Forest. YOU REDS!

[Reds73]

Henderson

Williams
Worrall
Boly
McKenna
Lodi

Yates
O’Brien

Lingard
MGW
Johnson

[wassy04]

Henderson

Williams
Worrall
Boly
McKenna
Lodi

Yates
O’Brien

Lingard
MGW
Johnson

Is Mangala still not fit then do we know?

[Sausage Roll]

-----------------------------------Henderson------------------------------
-----------------Worrall------------Boly-----------McKenna--------------
Williams--------------Yates---------------O'Brien-------------------Lodi
------------------Gibbs-White---------------Dennis----------------------
-----------------------------------Awoniyi----------------------------------

Subs: Hennessy, Bianconi, Toffolo, Cook, Kouyate, Freuler, Lingard, Johnson, Surridge

I'd give Dennis a go from the start and put Awoniyi in up-front. Against Spurs we created a couple of chances but didn't have that central presence to take them.

This certainly shows how the squad building was necessary but also how successful it has been (on paper anyway). The twenty I've named there doesn't include Niakhate, Richards, Bade, Mangala, Colback and Cafu.

Oh, or Aurier (presuming he signs).