Forest struggle with second-season syndrome
THE 10-POINT deduction handed to Everton last month gives them a sense of purpose that Nottingham Forest are struggling to find.
Sean Dyche’s side would clearly rather not have the penalty, which the club are appealing, yet it is a pretty effective way to bring together players, coaches, directors and supporters. Forest’s unity last season was the envy of the Premier League but that bond seems to have weakened. Even though owner Evangelos Marinakis twice came close to sacking boss Steve Cooper, the atmosphere at the City Ground was unmatched as fans and players drove each other forward. Cooper called the challenge of integrating 30 new players ‘unique’ and Forest did not half rise to it. Where is that clarity of ambition now? Forest look directionless. Their predicament has been experienced by so many clubs that it has its own name — second-season syndrome. They returned for pre-season in July knowing the best they could probably hope for was a lower-mid-table finish. Hardly something to set the pulses of players or fans racing. There were some boos at the City Ground after Forest produced one of their poorest displays of the campaign to lose 1-0 at home to Everton, thanks to Dwight McNeil’s second-half strike. That reaction was unthinkable as Forest marched towards survival last spring. ‘There are always lots of emotions when supporters are leaving the ground and whatever those are, they come from support and love for the club,’ said Cooper. ‘I’ve no problem with that. It comes from the heart. We’ve lost two on the bounce at home. We can talk about decisions that have gone against us but we have to work hard to put it right.’ Marinakis is targeting a top-10 finish after spending close to £300million on transfers in the last three windows and that is why Cooper finds himself in danger again, with Fulham on Wednesday looking pivotal. Marinakis admires Fulham coach Marco Silva, who he employed at Greek giants Olympiacos in the 2015-16 season, and a win for the Cottagers would not reflect favourably on Cooper. Everton are still in the relegation zone due to the deduction but without it, they would be close to the top half. Their victory owed much to ex-Forest loanee James Garner, who took control of midfield.
This was Everton’s third win on the road and Dyche said: ‘There has always been a lot of noise about the away form and we wanted to correct it. The mentality and belief have been improving all the time.’
N FOREST (4-3-3): Vlachodimos 6; Aurier 5, Boly 6.5 (Felipe 46min, 6), Murillo 7, Toffolo 6 (Origi 82); Sangare 65 (Hudson-Odoi 65, 5), Mangala 6.5, Yates 6; Gibbs-White 7, Wood 5, Elanga 6.5.
Booked: Tate, Felipe.
Manager: Steve Cooper 6.
EVERTON (4-4-1-1): Pickford 7; Young 6, Tarkowski 7.5, BRANTHWAITE 8, Mykolenko 6.5; Harrison 6.5, Garner 7.5, Gueye 7, McNeil 7.5; Doucoure 6; Beto 5.5 (Chermiti 82). Scorer: McNeil 67.
Manager: Sean Dyche 7.
Referee: Paul Tierney 6. Attendance:
JORDAN Pickford’s status as England’s No 1 has never appeared more secure. The threat of any challenge from Aaron Ramsdale has subsided because he cannot get a game at Arsenal and Nick Pope, overlooked by Gareth Southgate despite his consistent brilliance at Newcastle united, dislocated a shoulder on Saturday.
Dean Henderson has barely played in 2023 because of injuries and, although he is near full fitness once again, any return would dislodge Sam Johnstone from the team at Crystal Palace.
Pickford, meanwhile, is performing better than ever. Southgate’s sidekick Steve Holland was at Nottingham Forest to see him keep a clean sheet for Everton with a display to suggest he is finally mastering the art of concentration.
It has never been his greatest strength. He can be erratic. Sometimes as if bored by a lack of involvement, desperate to make something happen and prove how talented he is.
At the City Ground, he did not have a save to make until the game was almost over. Then Forest applied late pressure and Pickford was alert, made good decisions and vital contributions. one explosive dash from his line to smother Anthony Elanga as he shaped to shoot was crucial and his kicking was effective as ever.
Sean Dyche is a good manager for goalkeepers. He protects them with a solid defensive unit and does not expose them with a perilously high line and half of the pitch to look after. under these conditions, confidence grows. It is not by chance Pope excelled under him at Burnley. Nor that Tom Heaton’s international recognition came under his tutelage at Turf Moor.
Just as Jose Mourinho’s goalkeepers would look composed and assured when compared to Arsene Wenger’s, who often looked on the verge of a nervous breakdown.
Burnley won well on Saturday but James Trafford, England’s highly- regarded under 21 goalkeeper, has conceded 32 goals in 14 Premier League games, playing behind a team not designed to defend.
Pickford is more capable than most with the ball at his feet but he is not going to be passing it around in his own six-yard box at Everton. Aesthetics are not central to the recovery process after a 10-point deduction. It is all about desire, spirit and togetherness in the fight to recover lost ground.
Dyche is not about to decline the chance to channel the anger of perceived injustice to bind his players more tightly around his style of play and Pickford is one of his leaders.
Everton are perfectly capable of escaping relegation regardless of the success of any appeal.
Something that will not pass without comment in the red half of Sheffield, where scars of the Carlos Tevez affair led them to accuse the Premier League of doing all they could to preserve the grandees of their competition.
In 2007, the Blades felt unable to compete against West Ham, home of Bobby Moore, Martin Peters and Sir Geoff Hurst, despite eventually winning their case and more than £20million compensation. This year, it is Everton, football’s ‘School of Science’, Alan Ball, Howard Kendall, Colin Harvey and the ‘People’s Club’. Without the lustre of old but with more global prestige and appeal than relegation rivals Burnley, Luton Town or Sheffield united can generate.
None of this is Pickford’s problem though. He has 58 caps in six years since his England debut and could easily double that.
He turns 30 in March, with years of experience behind him, destined for a fourth major tournament, getting better with age and currently under very little threat from anyone else.