WT Analysis

How did #AFCB manage to open the scoring against #NFFC today?🧵

Forest have a throw in the Bournemouth half, and give the ball to Yates who is immediately surrounded before being dispossessed, Forest are set-up well though and there's no imminent danger here. 

Even as #AFCB regain possession, #NFFC are still positioned well with Murillo, Anderson, Aina &amp; Jota all the right side of their men. 

Anderson though decides to push forward and leaves Kluivert behind him for #AFCB in so much space - this is a poor decision and creates immediate danger for #NFFC. 

Aina then does well to get back for #NFFC and he has the opportunity to engage Kluivert - Jota is also doing his job here tracking Kerkez for #AFCB. 

But as Kluivert slows down his movement, Aina continues to retreat for #NFFC and suddenly #AFCB are in a position to cause Forest problems again. 

As Kluivert goes toward the box, he's got 5 #NFFC defenders in front of him but at least 6 or 7 yards of space to get a shot off.

This overall is a very disappointing goal to concede and is likely one of the main reasons Nuno looks so frustrated on the touchline. 

Nuno set #NFFC in a very rarely used 5-3-2 formation against #BHAFC, let's look at how it worked in the game and how Forest proved once again they are more than just a 'low-block' side🧵

Elanga & Wood's primary job was to prevent any easy pass to Hinshelwood, with the midfield 3 in behind ensuring nobody moved in front of them to receive possession.

#NFFC's front line would then shuffle across following the ball, with the midfield 3 joining them leaving lots of space on the opposite wing. 

Forest are happy to do this as it's very difficult to switch the ball to the other side when there's so much pressure in the middle. 

Last time out against #BHAFC, there were able to exploit gaps between the #NFFC lines. I thought Nuno may go for a back 5 as Forest dealt with those issues much better when they made that switch.

For this to work, communication is key - Danilo is clearly passing Pedro on to Morato who is already anticipating the move and has stepped out of the line early.

It's also interesting to see Nuno asking Elanga to stay high on the CB, showing that the intent is not to be passive.

#BHAFC do move the ball forward, but Aina is very alive to the danger for #NFFC and intercepts, laying the ball off to Danilo who has lots of space and team mates to create a counter attack. 

Elanga receives the pass for #NFFC but unfortunately takes a heavy touch and Forest lose possession before they can create anything. 

Within 10 seconds, #NFFC are back in their 2-3 shape, and have begun to set up one of their traps that we see them use so often, this time on Hinshelwood.

Veltman in possession has no easy option for the pass, so goes backwards to his CB. 

#NFFC then reset again to the two lines, giving no options for #BHAFC centrally, forcing them to make a switch to the left flank.

This suits Forest as we know they are comfortable with Aina & Williams defending 1 v 1, and Brighton aren't able to play through the middle like they would prefer to do.

Later in the game now, and Wood & Elanga are once again doing their job in preventing any easy pass to Hinshelwood.

We're about to see #NFFC show how important it is to press high as a team and not as an individual, if the team doesn't react together, then #BHAFC can play through very easily.

Because #NFFC have a midfield 3 rather than a 2, any of the 3 CMs have more freedom to press high whilst not having to worry as much about the space behind them and the issues we saw against Bournemouth last week.

Here Danilo spots the opportunity to press Hinshelwood as #BHAFC go back to the GK.

Elanga knows there's an opportunity here for #NFFC and he is imploring Danilo to follow him forward to prevent the easy pass to Hinshelwood. 

Danilo is a very smart player and he follows Hinselwood deep, #NFFC force #BHAFC backwards again and Forest now have players high up the pitch. 

A slightly underhit pass by the #BHAFC keeper gives Elanga the chance to really pressure Dunk for #NFFC.

Dunk manages to control the pass and moves down the left flank. 

This time we see #NFFC set a trap that essentially uses the touchline as the spare man. Aina &amp; Gibbs-White have moved forward and created a line parallel to the touchline, once again giving #BHAFC no option but to hoof it long or go backwards to retain the ball. 

As #BHAFC move it backward, #NFFC now have 5 men in the final third. These are the 2 strikers, the RCM & CM, and Morato the RCB.

These movements by the midfield and defence can only be done because of the system Forest have played, they can move forward but still be confident they have numbers behind them should things not go to plan.

Milenkovic heads the ball back up field as #NFFC are now in a temporary conventional back 4. It's then the high Morato who wins the next ball for Forest. 

Gibbs-White then picks up the loose ball for #NFFC, and all of the #BHAFC defenders have been drawn in centrally leaving so much space wide on the left.

Wood is about to move in that direction, as Williams makes a run from deep into the space. 

Gibbs-White plays the pass for #NFFC to Wood and Forest are now in business. They've got men high up the field and space to move in to. 

To his credit, Minteh does a really good job for #BHAFC to get back and make a great intervention on Wood.

#NFFC win the corner from which they score the 2nd goal. This comes directly from some really clever and proactive pressing from Forest, that doesn't show up in any statistics as an often talked about 'high turnover', but is just as important and effective.

Breaking down the #NFFC equaliser v #BHAFC 🧵

Two things I pointed out earlier this week - Brighton like to go man-for-man when pressing high, and they also have a very high line. This gives teams opportunities to capitalise with quick and slick passes.

Look at Gibbs-White here, he's looking over this should almost begging for Chris Wood to drop deep in what looks like is a fully rehearsed move from the training ground.

Even before Murillo releases this pass to Wood for #NFFC, Gibbs-White has already started his run off the back of Wieffer of #BHAFC.

It's a simple but well executed play and now Forest have bypassed the press with their most creative player on the ball. 

This is where #BHAFC's man-for-man and high line has big weaknesses. Van Hecke follows Wood deep, Dunk hasn't reacted to Jota Silva being the spare man.

Note Jota's body shape here as Wood lays this off... 

As Gibbs-White receives the ball for #NFFC, Jota Silva has already repositioned his body shape ready for the pass.

The #BHAFC back 4 are completely out of shape, Veltman is too deep and both Jota Silva &amp; Ramon Sosa are off-side and behind the defence. 

I've been very impressed by Jota Silva in the glimpses that we've seen of him for #NFFC, and this just reenforces it.

As soon as he gets the ball under control, he gets his head up and looks for his team-mate. It's simple but unselfish and great to see. 

How did Nuno set up #NFFC to prevent #MUFC from playing the ball into central areas in the build up phase?🧵

Forest set up with MGW &amp; Wood deeper, looking after the Man Utd CMs. The winger on either side is expected to push forward when the ball is on their side of the pitch. 

There was similar plan behind #NFFC's first line, as Anderson &amp; Yates largely went man for man with #MUFC's attacking midfielders. 

Right from the start of the game we see that Wood is staying close to Ugarte. #NFFC are trying to restrict #MUFC from playing any easy balls into the central areas during the build up phase. 

Throughout the game Wood was consistently looking over his shoulder, monitoring the movement of Ugarte. He continued to make slight adjustments to cut off the passing lanes for #NFFC. 

Wood was only really caught out once for #NFFC, and unfortunately it led to the equalising goal for #MUFC.

Initially here he's in a good position as we see De Ligt gesturing for a team mate to move into the space between Hudson-Odoi &amp; Wood. 

De Ligt continues to carry the ball forward as Ugarte moves a little further behind Wood. The striker is caught in two minds weather to press for #NFFC or drop deeper. 

Eventually Bruno Fernandes moves into the space for #MUFC, and Anderson isn't tight enough so he can play a simple pass to Ugarte who has lots of space to move in to.

Because #NFFC's central midfielders are wide, there's a huge gap between the front line and defensive line. 

Immediately after the goal, #NFFC drop back deeper to reduce the space behind the first line. This is perhaps a little more passive than they'd like to play, but it provides a platform to regain a little control in the match. 

At half time Nuno asked #NFFC to stay narrow centrally and press from the wingers. Jota Silva implements that instruction straight away and jumps onto Martinez as soon as he receives the ball, as Wood &amp; MGW stay on the #MUFC central midfielders. 

#NFFC were by no means passive for the whole game. When the #MUFC build-up shape isn't in its normal shape, Forest press with intent and with numbers to try and create turnovers.

Here Wood presses Onana and Jota Silva looks over his shoulder before pressing Martinez. 

It's important to press as a team, so it's great to see MGW follow his team forward to prevent easy passes for #MUFC.

#NFFC have now triggered the press and will be in a promising position should they turn the ball over. 

Hudson-Odoi now is the man pressing from the wing as requested by Nuno - #NFFC have 4 men in the final third as Yoro plays a pass down the line for Fernandes. 

It's a poor pass and Hudson-Odoi picks it up and travels forward. Because of the numbers forward for #NFFC, CHO has 3 options. He can pass left to Wood, continue on the ball himself, or pass right to MGW - this means Ugarte is hesitant to commit at this stage. 

This gives space for MGW to receive the ball for #NFFC - and even he has the option to pass and slide in Jota for a chance on goal. Instead he takes the shot which thankfully goes in! 

After the 3rd goal #NFFC are still looking to try and create turnovers. Again Hudson-Odoi on the wing is furthest forward, taking on board Nuno's half-time instructions.

MGW &amp; Wood are still occupying #MUFC's central midfielders. 

As Ugarte drops deep to try and get on the ball, #MUFC pass backward. Knowing there's nobody behind him now, Wood can trigger the press for #NFFC onto the defence. 

Wood continues to press forward for #NFFC onto Onana and is followed by his team mates Hudson-Odoi and Jota Silva. There's no easy short pass for Onana. 

Onana looks for a risky pass for #MUFC into Mainoo - if it comes off then they'll have a decent chance to get forward with #NFFC players caught up the field - but MGW sees this pass and moves to intercept it. 

Once again, as #NFFC intercept the ball because of the well-timed and well-constructed press, Forest have multiple numbers in the final third and can create an opportunity to score another goal. 

A few minutes later as we see #MUFC back in their normal build-up shape, #NFFC return to their conventional line of 4 with Jota Silva waiting to press Martinez again, Nuno's instructions still clear in his mind. 

As Wood is caught in two minds (like he was in the first) to either press De Ligt or stay back, we see Hudson-Odoi make a very smart call in moving to drop into the space to cover Ugarte. 

This is really nice from CHO and is likely something identified at half-time by #NFFC as part of Nuno's tactical tweaks.

For me #MUFC were much less threatening when Bruno came off, not just because of his departure but also that of Ugarte. 

#NFFC have already gone to a back 3/5 so there should be more space in the middle, but Amorim removes a player from the space which means Forest have less to worry about in central areas during the build up. We see now there's just Mainoo occupying that space behind Forest's front line.

Even as #MUFC progress forward, it's still just Mainoo behind the #NFFC front line. This means Man Utd either have to play low-percentage/difficult balls forward to the strikers, or go into wider areas.

Both options suit Forest who now have more men in the defensive line and will be even more comfortable at defending crosses with Morato on the field.

Because of this switch from #MUFC, Nuno felt comfortable in taking Wood off for #NFFC in the closing stages, replacing him with Dominguez who slotted in as the centre forward.

There's a lot less responsibility on the Forest front line now and Dominguez was rarely troubled out of possession in an unfamiliar position.