Nottingham Forest’s revamped midfield bearing fruits for Chris Hughton

Nottingham Forest continued their improvement by picking up a point at local rivals Derby County on Friday evening as they look to lay any relegation worries to rest on a disappointing season.

Whilst Colin Kazim-Richards equaliser would have graced any ground in the world with his thunderous strike, Forest fans were left disappointed that their team couldn’t see out a game that they’d controlled from the moment James Garner opened the scoring in the 33rd minute.

As Chris Hughton has steadily put his stamp on the team defensively in the December months, Forest have become a well-drilled and stubborn outfit since. It’s the bonkers nature of the Championship that since being well beaten by Brentford at The City Ground on December 12th, Forest have conceded just eight goals, twelve less than The Bees since that result and have lost fewer matches also during that period.

Whilst Hughton has stuck with 80% of the back five that so narrowly missed out on the play-offs last season, he’s not been afforded the same luxury in midfield. Forest had seen their influential captain Ben Watson depart last summer along with Tiago Silva, whilst Samba Sow remains plagued with injury problems.

Both Harry Arter and Jack Colback have not lived up to expectations since their arrival which has left Forest’s midfield looking laboured in possession and lacking any real creative spark.

Whilst Ryan Yates’ continued improvement remains one of the season’s positives, Hughton took the opportunity to revamp the Forest midfield in January with the arrivals of loanees James Garner and Filip Krovinovic, from Manchester United and Benfica respectively having had their loans ended with Watford and West Brom.

The pair have made an instant impact at The City Ground and provided a crucial blend that Forest were so lacking in earlier parts of the season. Not only can both players compete for the ball in the middle of the park, Garner and Krovinivic also possess the natural ability to use the ball with far greater purpose. It’s no surprise that Forest’s new-look midfield is now starting to bear fruits.

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In Krovinivic, Forest have added a wilful runner into the number 10 position and whilst he’s yet to find a goal or assist for his new team, his ability to work hard and lead Forest’s midfield press has been a welcome addition. He’s been unfortunate not to have greater rewards and against Rotherham and Derby last week, the Croatian midfielder has shown glimpses that his desired impact is growing ever closer.

Against Rotherham, Krovinovic looked to have swept home his first goal for the club before Ryan Yates was harshly adjudged to have fouled in the build-up and against Derby, Krovinovic’s sublime exchange with Glenn Murray almost brought about an assist, as Luke Freeman fired narrowly over the bar when well found by the Croatian. Off the pitch, Krovinovic looks to have settled well and on the pitch, he looks happy and enthusiastic to be playing after finding his opportunities limited at The Hawthorns.

James Garner has been the real standout of Forest January’s transfer business and he enamoured himself further to the fanbase with the opening goal in Friday’s local derby. Receiving the ball on the edge of the box, Garner swivelled to hit a volley which went under David Marshall into the Derby net. It may not have been the most well-struck shot, but registering his first professional goal in a match of such magnitude, will be the ultimate takeaway for the United youngster.

That goal had been coming in recent weeks, however, having hit the crossbar last weekend in the win over Blackburn Rovers and also coming perilously close at Swansea with a long-distance strike which narrowly missed the target. Not only providing a goal threat, Garner’s eye to switch the play with a raking cross-field pass has been evident in bringing about goals in the recent and important wins over Coventry City and Wycombe.

Still developing physically, Garner is busy in the centre of the park and with his ability to read the game and win tackles, Hughton’s robust set up has not been compromised only improved by the talented 19-year-old’s arrival.

Whilst the new boys have deservedly taken the plaudits, arguably Forest’s best midfield performer has come from the almost unlikely source of Portuguese midfielder, Cafu. A summer signing from Olympiacos, Cafu’s arrival was met with some merriment on Trentside given his namesake and that he was the latest arrival in a fairly long line of failed signings from the Greek giants.

Primarily seen as a defensive midfield player, Cafu had not appeared under Sabri Lamouchi and when he did get his opportunity under Hughton, he was deployed in the number 10 role to support Forest’s toothless attack. Cafu’s physicality and work rate has benefitted his transition to English football and with his good technical ability and an eye for a pass, his introduction into the side has certainly benefited a midfield that looked devoid of ideas from a creative perspective.

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With the arrival of Krovinovic, Cafu has settled into a more familiar defensive midfield role and his influence on the team is growing by the game. Similarly to the new faces, Cafu has the ability to do the ugly side of things but with added guile and a touch of flair, Forest’s ball retention has certainly improved in recent weeks.

The upturn in Anthony Knockaert’s form can be no coincidence with Forest looking less predictable when in possession. With greater ability in the midfield to either switch the play or to play more intricately with one-touch movement, the speed of Forest’s transition is allowing the likes of Knockaert to get on the ball earlier and run at defenders.

With the loan deals of Garner and Krovinovic set to expire in the summer, Forest may look to extend both players time at the club given their impact. Their relationship with Benfica in recent years may make Krovinovic a realistic target and given that Garner has been allowed to flourish at The City Ground following a frustrating period at Watford, United may well look favourably on him being valued at a club as they continue to prime his development.

Forest are still a work in progress but as one of the form sides in the division, supporters will be hoping that any threat of relegation will be well out of the way come the busy Easter period next month.

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