Hello and how are you? Saturday the 17th of January sees the Mighty Cannon make a trip waist-lands of England and take on Nottingham Forest in our next PL game. KO is a 5.30pm local time. Expected weather is; partly cloudy with temperature at 7° (feels like 6°) and with 1% chance of rain.
So, here we go again into slings and arrows of the misfortunate Forest of Nottingham, a team struggling, but a team that can also pull off sneaky results when they want. Most weeks we’ve agreed that the games are massive, maybe this one doesn’t feel as massive, but lets hope we don’t go into it feeling like Goliath and that they’ve changed their name by Deed poll to David.
Dyche’s men must be feel the mean reds after the FAC defeat at Wrexham, currently they sit in 17th place, seven points clear of the more sulphurous end of the league, and enjoyed last time out in the PL, a win at struggling West Ham.
For the Gun, Piero Hincapie (thigh), Riccardo Calafiori (muscle), Max Dowman (ankle) and Cristhian Mosquera (ankle) are out and not about, and maybe it’s time to stop saying it every week until they come back? I think we can expect some rotation, what with Inter in three days after this match?
Missing from action for Forest are Chris Wood and keeper John Victor. Arsenal loanee Mr Zinchenko is unavailable as he cannot play against the parent club, however it seems Forest don’t want him anyway. Ibrahim Sangare and Willy Boly return from the Africa Cup of Nations and rumour has it that Ryan Yates is back in training and will be ready to rumble when Saturday comes.
I turned up at Statto HQ for the facts and figures and found they were arguing about their favourite Ed Wood film, as they shouted to each other “pull the string!” I was handed a note with this on it: Nottingham Forest have been given a 15.5% chance of winning and the Mighty Cannon, 61.9%. Next up mambo Italiano! with Inter on Wednesday, as the CL is back. So COYG!
Mills
I honestly have no idea what the selection might be for this game. MLS seems to be in the naughty corner so the same back 4 as against Chelsea with Raya? But in front of them it’s anybody’s guess. I had thought that with the certainty of facing a low block, Havertz or Jesus might play, but with Victor playing so well last time out, Mikel might want to keep him at it?
We are going to qualify as a top seed in the CL regardless of what happens midweek, so I hope this game and our next PL fixture take priority, should the poor fragile lads need a break.
Pedantic George.