This feels like one of the biggest weeks -we’ve had – both on and off the pitch – since the takeover three years ago.
Points wise, we’ve made a solid start to 2024/25 with four from a possible six, but we were really poor in Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Bournemouth, struggled with 11 men against Southampton and have work to do to appease an increasingly frustrated fanbase over the final three days of the summer transfer window.
Secure a quality signing or two, progress in the cup against Nottingham Forest and suddenly we’d be going into Sunday’s tricky clash with Tottenham in good spirits – but this weekend’s game at St James’ Park could have a very different feel if the next few days don’t go well.
As for Forest, it’ll mark the second coming of Sandro Tonali – our £55m man finally free to play again for the first time since October last year – and see us line up against former Mags Elliot Anderson, Chris Wood and Matz Sells at the City Ground.
Eddie Howe’s pre-match comments
“Big challenge, they have started the season well, they have deserved the points they have got. I think you have seen a slow evolution under Nuno; a very effective counter-attacking style with a lot of pace in their team and good physicality in their team. We are prepared for another difficult game.
“Both teams will want to progress in an important competition. We will have to do better in the details then we did at Bournemouth, there were some good things but there are things we still need to work on.”
“We will try and play a really strong team; we want to progress. We will make changes as well at the same time, because we have a squad that I think enables me to do so, while not weakening the quality, we saw the strength of our bench on Sunday, which made a huge difference.
“There are a lot of players eager to show what they can do. We are determined to do well; this competition has been good for us. Last year we were incredibly close to another…
Author : Olly Hawkins
Publish date : 2024-08-27 23:40:32
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Author : soccernews
Publish date : 2024-08-27 23:40:45
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.