This wasn’t your typical friendly. Olympiacos’ ultras made sure of that, with their constant drum banging, pyrotechnics and smoke bombs.
As run-outs go, though, it was as useful as any for Nottingham Forest - with a mixture of good and not-so-good to take away from it ahead of the season’s resumption. The result might not have counted for anything, but certain aspects of his team’s performance clearly irked head coach Steve Cooper.
Reading too much into a game with nothing riding on it would be foolish; particularly as the substitutions flowed in the second half. However, with the return to competitive action looming, there was plenty for the Reds to mull over after their 1-0 defeat in Greece.
READ MORE: How the Reds rated against Olympiacos
READ MORE: Forest training camp insight given amid key boost to survival fight
Going forward
Forest dominated possession in the first half at the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium. They just weren’t able to do a great deal with it.
The game was played at a pedestrian pace with no real energy or spark. The visitors knocked the ball about well enough - with the midfield of Ryan Yates, Orel Mangala and Jack Colback giving their team a foothold - but their attacking players found it tough to have much of an influence.
Cooper had started with the trio of Brennan Johnson (the only Wales player back with the group after the World Cup), Jesse Lingard and Morgan Gibbs-White. A combination which had raised eyebrows when the starting line-up was named in the final game before the break, against Crystal Palace, but which had worked to good effect. They struggled to cause Olympiacos too many problems in the first half on Saturday night, though.
Following a half-time talking to by the manager, there was an improvement from the team as a whole after the break. More energy, more action and more threat - not just from the front three, but throughout the team, with Lewis O’Brien looking bright when he came on and the full-backs pushing further forward.
Scoring goals and making sure they take their chances is something the Reds will need to be conscious of when they get back to the Premier League, though. They had got better at that before the hiatus, and while it is hard to be too critical about a friendly, they had enough opportunities and got into enough promising positions to ensure a different final scoreline in Greece.
Manager’s dilemma
Cooper will have selection decisions to make across the pitch when it comes to facing Blackburn Rovers in the Carabao Cup and then Manchester United in the league. Injuries and assessing those players who have been involved in the World Cup will play a part, of course.
Cheikhou Kouyate being ruled out for an extended period of time leaves a hole to be filled in the centre of the pitch. Orel Mangala will no doubt hope to seize that chance, and he looked classy on the ball at times against Olympiacos. But O’Brien also put his case forward by making a difference in the second half. Meanwhile, Colback, although not as progressive with his play as those two, showed he can still be depended upon if needed.
Up front has always provided something of a headache, when it comes to deciding who to play. Although Johnson, Gibbs-White and Lingard can work well, away from home it might be that playing an out-and-out striker works best.
Taiwo Awoniyi has been working on his hold-up play during this break, and Emmanuel Dennis had some decent moments when he came on on Saturday. With January around the corner, though, it would be no surprise if that is an area where Forest look to strengthen.
Who starts at the back when the campaign resumes is also not clearcut. Willy Boly produced a brilliant last-ditch tackle to thwart Pep Biel in the first half, staking his claim to keep his place after doing well in the two games before the break.
New addition
Gustavo Scarpa will not come into contention for a place in the side until January, when his contract officially starts. However, there was a chance to get a brief look at him when he came off the bench.
The Brazilian had weighed in with two assists during the behind-closed-doors match against Atromitos in midweek. And he played the final half hour in the Reds’ penultimate friendly, replacing Colback at the Karaiskakis.
He showed some nice touches, and is clearly full of confidence. He was happy to take set-pieces, whipping in a corner and hitting the wall with a free-kick in a good position.
Not all of his passes came off, and there was a show of apology to Serge Aurier when he put too much weight on one particular ball out to the flank. Still, there was reason to be encouraged about what Scarpa can offer once he settles.
Superb support
It wasn’t a particularly big attendance, but the home crowd certainly created a unique atmosphere. The travelling Forest contingent played their part, too.
Flags were on display, and at one point there was a response to Olympiacos’ flares with what looked to be some kind of sparkler in the away end. Dean Henderson had just about avoided being consumed by the smoke which came from the pyrotechnics being set off behind him in the first half.
Greek football is certainly different compared to the UK when it comes to monitoring that side of things. Youngsters were even permitted to sit on the barriers between the stands and the pitch, swinging their legs as they watched the action.
After the game, Reds players walked over to the supporters to show their appreciation. Many took their shirts off and threw them into the crowd, in recognition of the effort those who made the trip had gone to.
How will Forest fare in the second half of the season? Have your say in the comments below
READ NEXT
