Opposition Q&A with Nottingham Forest

Forest fan Mark Woodruff gives us the lowdown on the season and this weekend’s big game…

West Ham supporters will be looking for much better from our squad after a dismal run of results, and to get our season back on track before we fall into a vicious cycle of hopelessness, pessimism, and animosity. We go to Nottingham Forest, who are ranked 16th, and astonishingly, we are still in eighth place in the table. I was able to put aside my curiosity about Istanbul for a couple of hours prior to the game in order to speak with Forest supporter Mark Woodruff about the season and the match this coming weekend.

Hello Mark For what duration have you been a Nottingham Forest supporter? Who were your early heroes and what are your earliest memories?

Hi, I’ve been a Forest fan since about 1970.  I live in Long Eaton which is slap-bang in the middle of Derby and Nottingham.  When I first started going to The City Ground, Them Lot up the road, Derby County were riding high as League Champions, so the end of the 70s when we won the League and the European Cup, among other trophies were great times.  My favourite players from that great team were, if I had to pick, John Robertson, and Peter Shilton.  But above all, if you’re a Forest fan from those days,  then Brian Clough was and is your greatest hero.  I mean, what a man!  That he was sacked by Derby when they were top dogs made it all better.

Nottingham Forest currently sit 16th in the table.  Are you happy with that?  What is a successful season for Nottingham Forest fans?

I wouldn’t say I was happy no, but we finished in 16th place last season, our first back in the top flight for a while, and I was delighted by that, and will take it again this season.  We need to try and establish ourselves back in the Premier League for a couple of years before we can start to push on.

Steve Cooper was replaced as your manager back in December and replaced by Nuno Espirito Santo – what do you think of this turn of events, were you one of those who wanted to see Cooper sacked?  What is your opinion of Nuno Santo?

No, I did not want to see Cooper sacked, as I thought he had done a reasonable job in firstly getting us promoted, and then keeping us up last year.  However, as your manager David Moyes will know at the moment, almost any manager is only 5 or 6 games away from the sack.  Once the momentum of negativity starts building it is hard to stop.  In the end it was almost inevitable that Cooper was going to go.  Nuno had a good start for us, we beat Man Utd and Newcastle away in successive games.  However, we have only gained one point since the turn of the year!  I’ll reserve my judgement until the end of the season, but at the moment he’s our manager and will get my support!

Who have been the best players for you so far this season?

Morgan Gibbs-White is having a good season in midfield, and up front Taiwo Awoniyi and Chris Woods.

How about from throughout the league, which three players from defence, midfield and attack have most impressed you?

In defence I’d say Saliba at Arsenal, and Van Dijk at Liverpool.  In midfield I’ll go for Madison at Spurs, and give Conor Gallagher from Chelsea a shout-out.  Up front it’s hard to look past Haarland and Salah, but I’ve also been impressed with Dominic Salanke at Bournemouth this year

Who are your picks for the top four places in the League come the end of the season?

It looks like Manchester City are gearing up to pull away now that their best two players De Bruyne and Haarland are both fit again.  So I’ll go Man City, followed by Liverpool, then Arsenal with Man Utd and Spurs fighting over 4th place

How about at the other end of the table, who are your three picks for relegation?

I think Burnley and Sheffield United are down, then it will be any one from Brentford down to join them – I just pray it’s not us!

Who, if anyone, will Nottingham Forest have to be on the lookout for from the West Ham team this weekend?

Is Antonio fit and playing?  He is well remembered here and is a real handful. Bowen is always a threat.

How will  Nuno Santo set your team out to face us this weekend?  Players/formation?

Probably 4-2-3-1

Sels; Williams, Niakhate, Murillo, Tavares; Yates, Danilo; Elanga, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Awoniyi

Finally will either one of our teams be able to turn around their recent form?  Prediction for score please?

We need the points more than you, so you’ll forgive me for saying 2-1 to us.  Cheers.

Many thanks to Mark Woodruff for his time and thoughts.  As I return to London, I’m hoping for a welcoming away win,  but I am going for a 1-1 draw.  COYI