Chris Wood (Nottingham Forest | England)

Woodsman on at 81 mins (3-2) in a 3-2 loss. 
Forest up 2-0 after 4 mins!!
But down to 10 men from 67th min (2-2)

You'd think Wood will get a run in the midweek League Cup tie against his old team Burnley.

Another Kiwi that like Waine & Tzanev has a good chance of starting this week in the League Cup.
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/08/30/england/league-cup/nottingham-forest-fc/burnley-fc/4212060/

Will be some familiar faces in the opposition as Burnley travel to Nottingham. I'm sure the travelling Clarets fans will be giving him some stick. 

Forest travel to Turf Moor, May 2024 in the last round of the EPL season - similar to what Wood's then Newcastle did in season 21/22!

Woodsman gets the start and 88 mins (0-0) in a 0-1 loss to Burnley.
Swiss Zeki Amdouni with a late 90th min winner for the Clarets.

Sounds like the game was a pretty dire watch, and Woodsman will most likely be back on the bench for a visit to Chelsea this weekend.
https://ca.news.yahoo.com/nottingham-forest-0-1-burnley-213118083.html

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/world-game/300961723/lincoln-city-dump-epl-side-in-league-cup-while-chris-wood-crashes-out-to-old-club-burnley

Kind of silly to comment with the day not done- but Forest have done a deal to send Brennan Johnson to Spurs. Their  inward transfers are mids and defenders, though Batshuayi has been mentioned as a possibility. 

Doesn’t look like any additional competition with Wood has been brought in at the minute, though one of Forest’s main creative players leaves. 

Forest travel to Chelsea.
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/09/02/england/premier-league/chelsea-football-club/nottingham-forest-fc/4082050/

Origi to Nottingham Forest probably not good news for our man.

loyalgunner

Origi to Nottingham Forest probably not good news for our man.

With Brennan Johnson gone, I’m not sure it means there’s a lot of extra competition, but it will keep him on his toes. Being an optimist it might even suit him or might see more attacking to his strengths as a finisher.

There are a few strikers in the squad already, but Wood has had plenty of time so far, without setting the world on fire, but has scored handy goals. 
I think it might be tactical too, with a 433 preferred to start, but something a bit different to either hold or chase a position later on. 

I think Wood is very much still in the manager’s plans, but that Origi is something of a panic buy to cover the loss of one of their better players. They’ve lost 8 goals from last season they need to replace. 

Anyway I hope we see more service to Wood and more finishing. Elanga and Awoniyi might break free and score an individual goal, but Wood is going to hold possession and create something or pressure the opposition high up the park and pounce on mistakes. Or really any goals. Got off the mark, hope he plays and keeps them coming. 

On the bench at Stamford Bridge.
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/09/02/england/premier-league/chelsea-football-club/nottingham-forest-fc/4082050/

He got about 30 mins off the bench, came on at 1-0 up and Forest hold on to win 1-0.

Massive win for Forest away from home. 

Wood hardly touched the ball but did well helping out on defense (a similar role Newcastle used him for when holding a lead). Made a couple of good runs where he would of just had the keeper to beat if teammate had passed to him, but both times they went for a hopeful shot instead.

Yeh my feeling is that Elanga has got the speed, but at times not the smarts. Awoniyi is just a very good player. Here’s Wood and another player calling for the ball here while Elanga shoots from a low percentage angle. Hopefully they’ll get Elanga focused. Was a good finish for his goal earlier.

IMG_4745.jpeg 1.09 MB

A few weeks after their League Cup tie, Burnley (last) return to Forest (9th) in the EPL.

coochiee

Our new episode with Chris Wood is now live! 🙌

From Waikato to the top of the English Premier League, what makes a good coach vs a great coach, the art of scoring goals and much, much more.

Watch or listen by visiting: https://t.co/Z8RFXdZfhf@nz_football #nzfootball #nzsport pic.twitter.com/XtJ30GhU1o

— Between Two Beers Podcast (@BeersBetween) September 18, 2023

 Really enjoyed this!

Fascinating that in response to a question about whether he would come back to live in New Zealand AFTER his career, he basically said no, his long term future is in the UK, but that he wants to come back to NZ for (at least?) a year and potentially before the end of his playing career. Completely volunteered that, question wasn't angling towards that or fishing for that at all.

When does his Notts Forest deal end?
If the new Auckland ALM owners want to start with a bang, he’d be a target 24/25 or 25/26 - leading into likely an AWs swansong at the 2026 WC

Origi on the bench to compete for impact minutes. 
Hudson-Odoi replaces Johnson, Aurier is injured and Elanga starts out wide as a LWB. 1-0 to Burnley at HT.

Finishes 1-1. Wood with a cameo on at 88 mins (1-1)

he is still 31 and stated in the podcast that he is motivated to stay at PL level or as close to it as possible until he is 35, so I don't think an A-League move is likely before the World Cup if he has his way.

Early call but can see a January reunion with Dyche at Everton eventuating, now that he has to compete with Origi to be second choice in a one striker system.  

coochiee

When does his Notts Forest deal end?
If the new Auckland ALM owners want to start with a bang, he’d be a target 24/25 or 25/26 - leading into likely an AWs swansong at the 2026 WC

Notts Forest (8th) travel to Manchester City (1st)
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/09/23/england/premier-league/manchester-city-football-club/nottingham-forest-fc/4082074/

The 2nd AW to venture to the Etihad in a matter of days. Woodsman on the bench.

City 2-0 up after 14 mins. Rodri gets sent off to start the 2nd half (straight red), but Forest can't take advantage and it finishes 2-0.
Woodsman on in the 75th min.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/world-game/300976703/rodri-sent-off-after-neck-grab-in-manchester-citys-premier-league-win-over-nottingham-forest

Haaland had to settle for scoring a powerful header into the top corner from Matheus Nunes' right-wing cross in the 14th minute, which built on Foden's seventh-minute opener from a 46-pass move – the second longest passing sequence leading to a Premier League goal since figures were collated from 2006-07, according to stats company Opta.

A very lean looking Chris Wood. And yes congrats on 200 EPL games. Great achievement. Reid 166 EPL matches & Nellie 197.

Recognising a fine achievement.

Congratulations on 200 @premierleague appearances, Chris 👏 pic.twitter.com/SX6LH0oW32

— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) September 28, 2023

I think he’s looked very sharp. Hopefully the goals follow. 

Notts Forest (12th) host Brentford (14th).
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/10/01/england/premier-league/nottingham-forest-fc/brentford-fc/4082082/

Wood on the bench.

Though Wood gets on in the 80th minute he gets a good 25 minutes!

And the boss acknowledges he came close to an amazing steal and did a power of defensive work:

IMG_5635.jpeg 1.42 MB

Forest had one shot on target the entire game apparently and that was their goal. 

martinb

Though Wood gets on in the 80th minute he gets a good 25 minutes!

And the boss acknowledges he came close to an amazing steal and did a power of defensive work:

IMG_5635.jpeg 1.42 MB

Forest had one shot on target the entire game apparently and that was their goal. 

Deserves more of a chance, pretty hard when your team is down a man for a striker to get chances.

So yes a 1-1 draw with Forest down to 10 men from 56 mins (0-0).

Yoane Wissa who plays for DR Congo a full game for Brentford.

coochiee

So yes a 1-1 draw with Forest down to 10 men from 56 mins (0-0).

Yoane Wissa who plays for DR Congo a full game for Brentford.

Wissa looked pretty useful this morning too.

Notts Forest (12th) travel to Crystal Palace (9th).
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/10/07/england/premier-league/crystal-palace-fc/nottingham-forest-fc/4082089/

Woodsman rare start & 76 mins, in a 0-0 draw.

Also captain.

Taiwo Awoniyi is set to be out for a month with a groin injury, so a great chance for Chris to bank some serious minutes

From Flying Kiwis.

Manager Steve Cooper had some nice words for him afterwards: “I have to give Woody recognition. He did a really good job for the team. He would probably have loved more chances and crosses, but his work freed up the way we ended the game. I really respect that. He’s been waiting in the wings. He’s trained really well and has come back from the serious injury he had last season. He looked ready for the game. I know that will be recognised.”

As did Morgan Gibbs-White, the champion bloke that he is: “We have different strikers who can create a different role. Credit to Wood, he’s an incredible player and gives us something completely different to Taiwo. We missed Taiwo’s pace in behind but we had Wood’s hold-up play. He gives us a different aspect of the game. We’ve got good competition in the group now, so we will miss him but we have people who can do the job.”

From Flying Kiwis & AWs verus Congo wrap.
Wood is just deadly from the spot.

And all regular Niche Cache readers will know that Chris Wood is one of the world’s great penalty takers. Every time he scores one, we get to add to the stat. Across his entire professional career he has scored 29/32 for club and country. He’s now on a streak of 20 penalty successes in a row - which rises up to 27 in a row if you include shootouts. He last missed a penalty in April 2016 when playing for Leeds in the English Championship in a 2-2 draw against Hull City. He’s 5/5 in the Premier League. He’s 4/4 for the All Whites.

Forest (13th) host Luton Town (17th).
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/10/21/england/premier-league/nottingham-forest-fc/luton-town-fc/4082103/

Woodsman starts

coochiee

Forest (13th) host Luton Town (17th).
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2023/10/21/england/premier-league/nottingham-forest-fc/luton-town-fc/4082103/

Woodsman starts

Gets a double! His first multiple goal game in the Premier League since April 2021 (hat-trick v Wolves).

Unfortunately it's not enough for the points as Forest bottle a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2 with new boys Luton Town.

Woodsy had one in the back of the net in added time, but this was ruled out due to offside.

A pretty good scoring weekend for AW's returning to their club sides. Just, Garbett & now Wood finding the back of the net for their respective clubs.

Someone might have an official confirmation of this as well, but by my count that was Woods 500th match in English football.

223 - Championship
205 - Premier League
29 - League One
27 - League Cup
14 - FA Cup
2 - Championship Playoffs.
500 appearances across the board. 
What a fantastic career, and what an absolute legend!👏👏👏

Two super goals they were. A great run and chip over the keeper, an angled header. 

Mental that you feel he should have got a hatty for the win. Yes, we reckon he’s Haaland good. 

But great to see good service from 4-5 different players and now assists from 3 different players for his goals. Several different kinds of goals, too. And like a shark he’s smelling blood and hopefully a goal frenzy follows this season.

On the flipside 2 points thrown away by Forest after being 2-0 up which is careless as they dominated the game.