Nottingham Forest vs Bournemouth Preview & Prediction | 2024-25 English Premier League
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After being appointed mid-way through last season, Nuno Espirito Santo begins his first full campaign in charge of Nottingham Forest this weekend as they face Andoni Iraola’s AFC Bournemouth at the City Ground this weekend.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Saturday 17th August, 2024 - UK – 3:00pm / US ET – 10:00am / US PT – 7:00am
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – N/A / US – N/A
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – N/A / US – Peacock, Fubo, Sling Blue & DirecTV Stream
NOTTINGHAM FOREST PREVIEW: NUNO’S TRICKY TREES
Whisper it but Nottingham Forest may well actually have quite a settled side as we head into the 2024/25 campaign. Forest have spent two seasons back in the Premier League but both have been overshadowed by almost ludicrous bits of recruitment that have left the squad pretty much in flux for the entirety of their time back in the top-flight.
However, this time around, with Nuno Espirito Santo able to keep hold of key players such as Murillo and Morgan Gibbs-White, Forest have a squad and a team that appear perfectly suited and well set up to play the counter attacking style of football that Nuno prefers and was successful with at Wolverhampton Wanderers, albeit with a different shape.
BOURNEMOUTH PREVIEW: REPLACING SOLANKE
It is not an ideal situation for Bournemouth to be in to lose their star striker, Dominic Solanke, less than two weeks before the season begins but that his what has been thrust upon Andoni Iraola, who was nominated for the Manager of the Year award in the Premier League last season in his debut campaign in English football.
The former Rayo Vallecano boss, who spent the majority of his career playing for Athletic Club and played under Marcelo Bielsa with traits of that football in his style, achieved a mid-table finish with the Cherries and building on that this time around would propel them into the hunt for a top seven spot and potential European qualification.
NOTTINGHAM FOREST TEAM NEWS: CRYPTIC NUNO
Nuno Espirito Santo was as cryptic as ever in his pre-match press conference with the Portuguese coach suggesting there are 'issues' but not disclosing what those issues are and also suggesting they are 'not big ones'.
Nigeria striker Taiwo Awoniyi, who missed a lot of last season through injury, has returned to fitness with some substitute appearances in the summer.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Sels; Williams, Milenkovic, Murillo, Aina; Yates, Danilo; Elanga, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Wood
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE:
BOURNEMOUTH TEAM NEWS: CONTINUING THE GOOD STUFF
Bournemouth are on the verge of breaking their club record transfer fee to sign FC Porto and Brazil international forward Evanilson but Andoni Iraola has said it is unclear whether the deal will be done in time for him to feature for the Cherries this weekend.
There is a bit of illness, once again, going round the Cherries camp and they also have a few injury issues, too, with Tyler Adams, David Brooks and Enes Unal sidelined for the trip to the City Ground.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Neto; Smith, Zabarnyi, Marcos Senesi, Kerkez; Cook, Christie; Tavernier, Kluivert, Luis Sinisterra; Semenyo
UNAVAILABLE: Adams (Injured), Brooks (Injured), Unal (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
NOTTINGHAM FOREST VS AFC BOURNEMOUTH PREDICTION
These two have played out some thrillers at the City Ground since they gained promotion alongside each other in 2022 and there is the chance for another. With Forest looking to hit on the counter with their pace up-front and Bournemouth, reeling from the loss of Solanke, having their own abundance of creativity, quite a carefree and fun for the neutral opening day encounter may break out.
NOTTINGHAM FOREST VS AFC BOURNEMOUTH TIP: BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE
