January 7, 2025

Nottingham Forest trio step up for Tuchel as Wolves star offers Amorim unlikely Man Utd solution

Nottingham Forest were once again ruthless on the counter-attack, with three English players impressing in full view of Thomas Tuchel. It’s hard not to watch any wing-back performance without wondering if Manchester United should be scouting them.

Tuchel must have felt justified in his decision to travel to Molineux after just seven minutes. Uncapped Elliot Anderson played a brilliant disguised pass through Wolves’ midfield to Morgan Gibbs-White, who surged from halfway, exchanged passes with Anthony Elanga (a Swedish player, unfortunately, but no one’s perfect), and calmly slotted the ball into the corner with an efficiency that Joshua Zirkzee and Harry Maguire could only dream of in their similar positions against Liverpool on Sunday.

By half-time, the England manager was likely considering whether he could squeeze three Nottingham Forest players into his squad for the March internationals. Callum Hudson-Odoi had just breezed past Matt Doherty to set up Chris Wood (unfortunately a Kiwi) for his 12th goal of the season.

Wolves had their chances—Jorgen Strand Larsen somehow failed to score after a shot was cleared off the line by Murillo, and a point-blank header was sent straight at Matz Sels. But Forest continued their relentless push for Champions League qualification, propelled by their devastating and incredibly efficient counter-attacking play. It’s truly something to behold.

Tom Cairney, clearly a clever observer, remarked in the studio that it felt as though Nuno Espirito Santo’s Wolves “didn’t want the ball” when Fulham played them back in September. This game marked just one of four Premier League losses for Forest with their anti-possession style, and this victory—part of a Brian Clough-legacy six-game winning streak—was a perfect example of their counter-punching prowess.

Elanga and Hudson-Odoi were electric, combining direct running with sharp decision-making when it mattered most, while Gibbs-White buzzed between them, and Wood remained poised up top, only to strike when the moment arrived to exploit the space and score.

Wolves will be disappointed with their defending. Despite keeping a clean sheet—only their ninth of the season—they lacked their usual control without the ball in the first half. Sels was busy, and the pairing of Murillo and Nikola Milenkovic looked more vulnerable than they have at any point this season.

Credit to Wolves and new manager Vitor Pereira, who is making light work of Gary O’Neil’s regular complaints about a lack of resources, with one underused player particularly standing out. Rodrigo Gomes, with a deft touch and powerful volley after bursting forward from his left wing-back position, had viewers wondering, “Who on earth is that?”—a familiar query when trying to identify Wolves’ Portuguese contingent.

Rodrigo Gomes, signed in the summer from SC Braga for around £12m, joined Wolves after they fended off competition from Atletico Madrid to secure a player touted as Pedro Neto’s successor.

Gomes certainly shares similarities with Neto, displaying a similar gait, speed, and nimbleness. He gave Ola Aina plenty of trouble with his runs down the left, whipping in exceptional crosses with both feet. He then switched flanks to challenge Nico Williams, testing his defensive prowess.

Although he wasn’t as impactful on the right, possibly due to Forest retreating deeper into their shell by that stage, Gomes looked equally at ease, showcasing his impressive two-footedness.

Wolves fans might not thank us for this, given this was just the fifth time Gomes started a Premier League match for them, but we can’t help but watch any wing-back in the top flight now and think Manchester United should consider signing them for Amorim’s 3-4-3 formation.

United are in desperate need of wing-backs on both sides, and after reportedly botching their attempt to sign Pedro Neto in the summer, they could have the chance to sign his Wolves replacement—Rodrigo Gomes—before anyone realizes he’s the next in line. At this stage, they could likely land him for a fee that fits their limited budget. Just a thought.

Now, back to Forest and their incredible 40 points from 20 games. No team has ever failed to qualify for the Champions League from that position, and a win over Liverpool next time out would force us to consider them legitimate title challengers. It’s truly remarkable.

Taiwo Awoniyi was overjoyed to seal the victory, coming off the bench after yet another devastating counter-attack, with Callum Hudson-Odoi playing a key role once again. Forest are a team we keep expecting to hit a ceiling due to their style, yet they just keep winning matches. They’re enjoying it, and so are we.

Further reading: First Club to Pursue Dani Olmo as Man City and Arsenal Target Free Transfer for Barcelona Star