Nottingham Forest are due to play a behind-closed-doors friendly against Italian opposition this week, as part of their international break schedule.
Without a Premier League game for the next fortnight, Reds head coach Steve Cooper will be aiming to use that period to address a miserable run of form. There is plenty for the Welshman to mull over before his team return to action at Leicester City on October 3, and he will also get valuable time on the training pitch with his players.
A number of the Forest squad have linked up with their national squads. But for those remaining, a match against Palermo has been planned.
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Table predicted
A supercomputer has predicted where Nottingham Forest will finish in the Premier League.
The Reds have quickly discovered just how brutal the top-flight can be amid a miserable run of form on their return to the division. After an encouraging start to the campaign, they have now suffered four defeats in a row.
A particular worry for boss Steve Cooper will be, in his words, the “self-inflicted” nature of leads being thrown away against fellow promoted sides Bournemouth and Fulham. The Welshman has plenty of work to do during the international break to try to stop the rot.
Trying to integrate a raft of summer signings and get a new-look squad to gel is a challenge, as is settling upon his best team. But Cooper has proved adept at unifying groups in the past and has previously demonstrated his tactical acumen.
Brighton links
Brighton and Hove Albion looked at “a range of excellent” candidates during their search for a new manager, amid links to Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper.
The Welshman is understood to have admirers at the Amex Stadium and was said to be on the shortlist to replace Graham Potter, following his departure to Chelsea. But any speculation was put to bed on Sunday, when the Seagulls appointed Roberto De Zerbi as their new boss.
Mainz’ Bo Svensson and Bodø/Glimt chief Kjetil Knutsen were also among those reportedly in contention for the job. But Brighton chief executive Paul Barner, who is also deputy chairman, says De Zerbi was the only one the club held talks with.
He told the official website: “We looked at a range of excellent candidates, but Roberto was our number one choice from the start and the only person we spoke to.
Transfer regret?
For the second time this season, former Nottingham Forest loanee Philip Zinckernagel has scored on his debut.
The Dane signed on loan for Standard Liege earlier this month, barely three months after he had joined Olympiacos, who, like the Reds, are owned by Evangelos Marinakis. He has quickly made an impact for his new team.
Zinckernagel made his first appearance for the Belgian side on Sunday and notched a well-taken brace as Club Brugge were toppled 3-0. His first came on the half hour, when he expertly curled the ball in from outside the area. That was followed with another in the 64th minute, when he raced into the box and drilled in a shot from close range after some fancy footwork.
The 27-year-old had scored on his debut for Olympiacos, too, back in July. Amid Forest’s miserable run of form, his goals have got Reds fans talking.
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