The release of Nottingham Forest’s 2023/24 Premier League fixtures this week means anticipation for the upcoming season can really step up a notch.
The countdown is on for the Reds’ return to action. And with the summer transfer window now open, Forest have some big weeks ahead as they look to get their business done.
Planning for the new term can begin in earnest. With that in mind, here’s our round-up of the latest goings-on Trentside.
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Terrific Taiwo
Striker Taiwo Awoniyi continues to be busy in the off-season. Following his goodwill gestures back in his homeland, he is now preparing to represent Nigeria against Sierra Leone on Sunday.
And the Reds ace has been speaking to local media as part of the preparations. One of the questions he was asked concerned his switch to the City Ground last summer.
It was put to Awoniyi that there might have been some concerns he had made the wrong move when he struggled for form early on in the campaign. His goals during the run-in soon put paid to that argument, and the man himself says he didn’t listen to the doubters.
“The truth is everyone has their opinion,” he told Brila FM (via All Nigeria Soccer). “Now everyone is saying, wow, I made a good season.
“If I had stayed at my former club no one would have known how important I would have been for Nottingham Forest. My advice for everyone is not to look into people’s ideas and just keep on believing in them and keep on praying for them regardless of what move they make.”
International duty
Awoniyi isn’t the only Forest player currently away with their countries. And there is good news where Neco Williams is concerned, with the defender fit to feature for Wales.
Williams suffered a fractured jaw during April’s 3-1 win over Brighton and Hove Albion, meaning he missed the Reds’ final five games. However, Wales boss Rob Page says he has been cleared to play in the Euro 2024 qualifiers.
The 22-year-old has taken part in full training and will not need to wear a protective mask when he plays. Wales host Armenia tonight and face Turkey on Monday, with Brennan Johnson and Wayne Hennessey also in the squad.
Also on international duty this month are Morgan Gibbs-White (European Championships with England Under-21s), Remo Freuler (Switzerland), Orel Mangala (Belgium), Serge Aurier (Ivory Coast), Cheikhou Kouyate and Moussa Niakhate (Senegal), Mohamed Drager (Tunisia) and Dale Taylor and Aaron Donnelly (Northern Ireland).
Duo depart
Summer always brings plenty of changes at clubs, not just in dressing rooms. Within the space of a couple of days, two former Forest bosses left their respective roles.
Mark Warburton’s departure from West Ham United was “by mutual consent”. He had been first-team assistant coach since last June, with the club saying he “leaves following amicable discussions” with manager David Moyes.
Warburton told the official website: “I am hugely grateful to West Ham United and, in particular, David Moyes for the opportunity to work for this fantastic football club. I’ve enjoyed my time here but, at this stage of my career, I am keen to seek new opportunities at a more senior level that are aligned with the attributes I believe I have to offer.”
Meanwhile, Philippe Montanier was axed by Toulouse after two years as head coach. French media report there was a rift between the club’s board and the Frenchman over the team’s performance last season.
New rules
The Football Association’s “new football solution” means Premier League and Championship clubs can now sign up to four overseas players per season who do not meet the current points requirements of the international visa system. The change, which will be of note for Forest as they look to strengthen, comes into effect for this summer’s transfer window.
The FA say the move “provides additional access to exceptional international talent which falls outside the current GBE (Governing Body Endorsement) criteria”. The criteria include the number of international appearances and domestic league minutes a player has played.
Since Britain left the European Union in 2020 all players from EU countries have been required to obtain a GBE in order to play in England. Brexit also meant clubs had to wait until a player from an EU country was at least 18 to sign them, rather than 16 as previously. As a consequence, clubs were said to be having to sign more expensive, established talents.
The FA say the Premier League and English Football League had “committed to work with the FA on improving the pathway for talented English youngsters” as part of the new agreement. The outcomes of both the changes to the GBE system and the improvements to the pathway will be kept under review. If both are found to be working successfully, it is possible the number of overseas players a club can sign who do not meet the regular GBE criteria could increase.
As Forbes point out, Forest striker Awoniyi did not make a single appearance during his time at Liverpool due to work permit issues. It meant he was loaned out to various European clubs. Changes to the work permit rules could mean other players no longer have the same problem.
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