Chris Wood (Nottingham Forest | England)

You do wonder how he will suit Ange’s system, and if by January he could be looking for another club. Hopefully not, but football is a fickle business, and will be different with Nuno gone

Old club Burnley this weekend. I’d say a future return there is more likely than St James Park

Yeah was thinking the same. Can't see how he fits Ange's system going forward at all. He doesn't get enough touches. 

I reckon Ange won't last long enough for it to matter. Watch them end up in a relegation scrap and then sack him.

We all have to hope things go Woods way so he can get the 100 would be a friggen crime if Ange FKs that up.
You never know Nuno might grab him if he gets another EPL gig.

I can’t watch Spurs at the moment. It’s a bunch of fast flowing football players winning by scoring from corners. 

Conversely, Ange teams record of not being able to defend corners at all seems well intact at Forest. Just saw the highlights and oh my Calamity Jane. 

Nice goals and Jesus seems like he’ll be competition for Woodsy. But…
They should have had 4 or 5 on the board but couldn’t finish a sandwich in the second half. The good news for Woodsy is that their new players created plenty so if he keeps his wits about him he can profit there. 

The bad news could be the unwieldy squad and the uncertainty about the team and club. 

Nuno is on record as liking a smaller squad as easier to manage and the way Pep kicks out unhappy players shows you the meaning of ‘one bad apple’. One bad apple spoils all of them. It’s going to be a big ask. 

And they couldn’t defend their corners. Two goals conceded from them. 

Ange needs more steel. He needs to do something to assert his authority and brand or he’s going run in to trouble as it will be clear to the players the two most important figures are the owner and Edu. I hope he goes well, but he needs to step it up and change the ‘gee shucks, mate’ routine he’s hitherto been peddling. It won’t work here. 

Forest travel to Burnley.

IMG_7521.jpeg 273.93 KB

Wood to start. Perhaps Bakwa, Luiz and Zinchenko will improve this team. Murillo out with an injury. 

Can Woodsy and Forest cash in?

Forest have played some good stuff. Wood with lots of good touches, winning a lot of headers and goal kicks, but the chance that was created for him he could have done better with. Soft shot and at the keeper. 

The wide players so far haven’t been able to get in behind their defenders, a l a Elanga, and put in a dangerous flat ball, somewhat disappointingly.

Still promising signs and an entertaining game. 

75 mins (1-1) in a 1-1 draw.
https://dasfootball.com/burnley-nottingham-forest-match-highlights-2025-09-20/

Should have scored- great build up play- first touch let him down as he couldn’t get the ball out from under  his feet to put enough on it. 

Wednesday

Europa League kicks off. Forest off to Seville, Andulasia, Spain to play Real Betis.
Seville great city to visit.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360833773/all-whites-striker-chris-wood-excited-europa-league-return-nottingham-forest

The suitability of 33-year-old Wood – who turns 34 in December – for Postecoglou's favoured high-pressing approach has been questioned by fans and pundits alike, but he has started both of Forest's Premier League matches since the coach's appointment.

That – combined with the fact that he hasn't scored for Forest since netting a brace in their opening-day win over Brentford – could mean he is rotated out for their first Europa League outing.

Nottingham Forest – Europa League fixtures (NZ time)

Thursday, September 25, 7am: at Real Betis (Spain)

Friday, October 3, 8am: v FC Midtjylland (Denmark)

Friday, October 24, 8am: v FC Porto (Portugal)

Friday, November 7, 6.45am: at SK Sturm Graz (Austria)

Friday, November 28, 9am: v Malmö FF (Sweden)

Friday, December 12, 6.45am: at FC Utretcht (Netherlands)

Friday, January 23, 9am: at SC Braga (Portugal)

Friday, January 30, 9am: v Ferencváros (Hungary)

Wood on the pine in what otherwise looks like a full strength side... Ange out!

They say Jesus moves in mysterious ways 

Crap, he's actually quite decent this bloke isn't he...

He's just not an Ange player lads. Not mobile enough.

Rather looks like Wood might be done sooner rather than later. He’s almost back to square one in terms of delivery from the wide players. Jesus grabbing his chances.

i guess if ange ain't going to play wood, i can go back to enjoying the ange circus and the gradual undoing of a very good nuno esparito santos side

they blew it today. drew 2-2 in the end

wood an unused sub. 

i feel like a dad, whose kid didn't get on the pitch

reg22

i guess if ange ain't going to play wood, i can go back to enjoying the ange circus and the gradual undoing of a very good nuno esparito santos side

they blew it today. drew 2-2 in the end

wood an unused sub. 

i feel like a dad, whose kid didn't get on the pitch

it really sucks for Wood if Ange isnt gonna play him, he's running out of time to get to the 100 club! Needs a move if he wont achieve it under Ange.

From a selfish All Whites fan perspective I want to see Wood move sooner rather than later. He can be a bit form dependant as a player so really need him playing every week to be in top form for the world cup.

He isn't an Ange player, he won't get the mins here.

reg22

i guess if ange ain't going to play wood, i can go back to enjoying the ange circus and the gradual undoing of a very good nuno esparito santos side

they blew it today. drew 2-2 in the end

wood an unused sub. 

i feel like a dad, whose kid didn't get on the pitch

Igor Jesus with the double for Forest. And when Jesus came off (64 mins) he was replaced by Arnaud Kalimuendo.

Lets see what happens when Forest host Sunderland on the weekend. But not great signs.

Football a very fickle business. A 20 goal EPL season (4th equal in the GB standings) to within a few short months being on the outer.

Santo to replace either Amorim at Man U or Potter at West Ham, and give the Woodsman a lifeline?

Concerning times for AWs strikers.

Waineo is stuck at PV, not being selected  at all, Mata has no club, and Woodsy is under a coach playing a style that he doesn’t fit into.

Pretty cool atmosphere in Sevilla. Estadio de La Cartuja with a 70,000 capacity.
The Woodsman would be pretty gutted not to get to play in a game like this.

'La Cartuja' is the 4th-largest stadium in Spain, but not used that much apart from Copa del Rey finals & the odd Spain national team game. Will be a 2030 WC venue.

It's currently the temporary home of Real Betis during the renovation of their stadium, Estadio Benito Villamarín. But both Real Betis and derby rivals Sevilla FC prefer to use their own grounds.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAACfzxUbo0

https://www.foxsports.com.au/football/more-ange-heartbreak-as-85thminute-strike-ruins-dream-start-to-europe-league-defence/news-story/e4c0b271b65aeb41dbee91e27cbd48ce

I see whats happening here - Ange is going to do his best to stop a New Zealander from surpassing Australia's Premier League goals record!

I know I was a bit negative at the top, and I do feel like the new wide players are scarcely bothering to get on a wave length with him, but I’m trying to look at it the other way. 

Forest have a lot of football. There’s no way they can afford to lose a 20 goal a season player. He’s started every PL game so far and had a few chances. He’s still liked by Gibbs-White and Anderson at least. And it’s kinda in his own hands. If he can take his chances he’ll be more secure. 

If both strikers are scoring Ange is going to figure out a way to use both of them. And he hasn’t done much wrong and he enables Forest to retain possession and saves them time on defense. 

He’s just gotta find that lucky break and get the goals flowing again, remembering he already had a brace on opening day, but none for Ange yet.

Woodsy will be fine. He’s been through the wringer in his time in the UK. 

Jesus is quality. But still only 24 years old and in his first season in the Prem/Europe he’ll have down points too. Kalimeunda is another one that suits Angie’s style and hopefully he’s not the other one that starts getting favoured over Wood too. 

He should still get plenty of game-time. Jesus is definitely more suited to the play style so he probably is Ange’s no1 striker at this point but that can change very quickly. Jesus will start vs Sunderland but hopefully Woody can have an impact off the bench. 

I have been an Ange fan for a long time, but that is in the balance. If he fudges Woodsy, he is a goneburger.

Forest host Sunderland

Time to see if our and my panic has been for naught. 

Wood has been preferred in the league so far. He hasn’t returned Ange any goals though, perhaps with two chances he could have done better with. Gibbs-White knows his quality, but the new wingers aren’t on his wave length yet, and Hudson Odoi  has never been an assist machine for Wood. 

I think Ange can certainly make space for an experienced goal scorer…if he’s reliably scoring. Wood with 2 goals is still sitting 8th equal in the scoring charts, so it’s early days. Jesus will be keen to displace him as number one, if he hasn’t already. God forbid he goes to West Ham with Sterling as some mean commentators joked! 

martinb

Time to see if our and my panic has been for naught. 

Wood has been preferred in the league so far. He hasn’t returned Ange any goals though, perhaps with two chances he could have done better with. Gibbs-White knows his quality, but the new wingers aren’t on his wave length yet, and Hudson Odoi  has never been an assist machine for Wood. 

I think Ange can certainly make space for an experienced goal scorer…if he’s reliably scoring. Wood with 2 goals is still sitting 8th equal in the scoring charts, so it’s early days. Jesus will be keen to displace him as number one, if he hasn’t already. God forbid he goes to West Ham with Sterling as some mean commentators joked! 

Early days indeed, but if this is the new normal then I'd rather see him follow Nuno to the Hammers and get game time rather than play second fiddle in a system that doesn't suit him in the slightest.

There's not many clubs in the Prem who look like they need a striker at the moment. Personally I wouldn't mind seeing him go to Everton, they look solid again under Moyes and I don't think they'll be in a relegation battle. Grealish, Ndiaye, Dibling, Dewsbury-Hall, etc all capable of creating solid chances for a 9 like Wood. Would be an upgrade on Neto.

Villa wouldn't be as good a fit, but they may well want an alternative if Watkins continues to stink up the joint. 

Wood starts. 

Gibbs-White on the bench with Sangare. 
New boys (this season) Ndoye, Bakwa and MacAtee join Wood in attack. 

Aina still out injured and perhaps Forest are missing his talismanic performances. 

Still an interesting line up. Can they get the job done?

Edit: Douglas Luiz with a hamstring injury apparently. 

The answer: no. Woodsy (captain) missed a glorious chance too.

Jazzy Jeff

martinb

Time to see if our and my panic has been for naught. 

Wood has been preferred in the league so far. He hasn’t returned Ange any goals though, perhaps with two chances he could have done better with. Gibbs-White knows his quality, but the new wingers aren’t on his wave length yet, and Hudson Odoi  has never been an assist machine for Wood. 

I think Ange can certainly make space for an experienced goal scorer…if he’s reliably scoring. Wood with 2 goals is still sitting 8th equal in the scoring charts, so it’s early days. Jesus will be keen to displace him as number one, if he hasn’t already. God forbid he goes to West Ham with Sterling as some mean commentators joked! 

Early days indeed, but if this is the new normal then I'd rather see him follow Nuno to the Hammers and get game time rather than play second fiddle in a system that doesn't suit him in the slightest.

There's not many clubs in the Prem who look like they need a striker at the moment. Personally I wouldn't mind seeing him go to Everton, they look solid again under Moyes and I don't think they'll be in a relegation battle. Grealish, Ndiaye, Dibling, Dewsbury-Hall, etc all capable of creating solid chances for a 9 like Wood. Would be an upgrade on Neto.

Villa wouldn't be as good a fit, but they may well want an alternative if Watkins continues to stink up the joint. 

How many top clubs will want to sign a 34 year old? I certainly don't think Wood is past it yet and back him to come right this season, but I can't imagine many top teams jumping at the chance given his age and profile. 

The flip side of that is the if Nuno or someone similar does manage to conjure up a 2-3 year contract for him then it might suit all parties for him to move on. From Wood's perspective that might be silly to turn down, even if it involves a relegation fight.

So yes a 0-1 loss to the Black Cats and captain Wood kept on until 91 mins.

https://dasfootball.com/nottingham-forest-sunderland-match-highlights-2025-09-27/

Dunno what to make of that. Glad I didn’t watch it all.
One great chance and two good half chances for the Woodsman. 
Ange teams at this level…well if this keeps up we won’t see a full season of Ange imo.

martinb

Dunno what to make of that. Glad I didn’t watch it all.
One great chance and two good half chances for the Woodsman. 
Ange teams at this level…well if this keeps up we won’t see a full season of Ange imo.

feel like the way ange likes to play is like 2 years too old, the way the premier league is now it's so focused on pace and power and size. Even Pep is having to adjust, getting Donnarumma whose not at the level with the ball at his feet Pep has normally had as his 'keeper for instance.

Bullion

martinb

Dunno what to make of that. Glad I didn’t watch it all.
One great chance and two good half chances for the Woodsman. 
Ange teams at this level…well if this keeps up we won’t see a full season of Ange imo.

feel like the way ange likes to play is like 2 years too old, the way the premier league is now it's so focused on pace and power and size. Even Pep is having to adjust, getting Donnarumma whose not at the level with the ball at his feet Pep has normally had as his 'keeper for instance.

And it is very confused. 
Nuno’s game had a degree of clarity. 

I was a bit down on the Woodsman, until I got a chance to watch the second half. All the attackers had good chances. Zhaka and defenders were allowed to get away with murder on several occasions, but you can hardly blame them for that. 

It did seem a bit like Spurs. So much talent camped on the edge of the box, but not really sure how they were going to find a breakthrough, given a resolute defense and just a market day crowd of bodies. 

I’m guna have to stop watching these or they’re gonna be bad for my health! 

For any slow coaches like me unaware Nuno had got the gig at West Ham

Chris Wood to West Ham United in January? https://t.co/9umlSmDPXy

— Andrew Voerman (@andrewvoerman) September 27, 2025

coochiee

For any slow coaches like me unaware Nuno had got the gig at West Ham

Chris Wood to West Ham United in January? https://t.co/9umlSmDPXy

— Andrew Voerman (@andrewvoerman) September 27, 2025

Took the Jazzy Jeff comment above for me! 

martinb

coochiee

For any slow coaches like me unaware Nuno had got the gig at West Ham

Chris Wood to West Ham United in January? https://t.co/9umlSmDPXy

— Andrew Voerman (@andrewvoerman) September 27, 2025

Took the Jazzy Jeff comment above for me! 

 Transfer to a club where the manager knows how to get the best out of wood?