Nottingham

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In the final part of Friday's Q&A session, our Nottingham Forest expert Colin Fray assesses where the squad might need to improve.

David asked: As great as Forest have been this season so far, to move on to the next level, where do you think the squad could be improved?

Colin answered: Any manager will tell you there is always the chance to improve the squad. No manager will ever be fully happy with where they are because there is always something else to aim at.

As has been said many times by many people, I think they will look to add depth to the striker position but they will not be held to ransom and they will be keeping an eye on the figures.

One or two signings can often make a big difference. Look at how solid Nikola Milenkovic and Murillo have been as a centre-back pairing. You would say that has taken Forest up a level but that will not mean they are not still looking to improve in every position.

Matz Sels' recent good form has perhaps moved the conversation on from bringing in another goalkeeper, but they may feel they want to add a third senior goalkeeper to give them a bit more cover - or ideally, to challenge Sels for the start.

Listen to full commentary on every Nottingham Forest game, and In The Game every weeknight from 18:00, on BBC Radio Nottingham.

And subscribe to the Shut Up And Show More Football podcast on BBC Sounds.

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BBC Radio Nottingham's Colin Fray has been answering your questions about Nottingham Forest.

Barry asked: What can Edu bring to the 'Marinakis Football Group' if he is appointed following his departure from Arsenal? Would his recruitment have a negative response with the Forest recruitment staff after the best transfer window in decades at the City Ground?

Colin answered: It is going to be interesting to see what effect Edu can bring if his appointment is confirmed.

I would expect, in the same way as with a football dressing room, staff would see his arrival as a boost to their squad rather than being a rival.

The role would be a little different with him working across multiple clubs, but he now has five years of experience with the Gunners and if he can recreate the work he did there to help Forest progress, it should help them to the next level.

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Nottingham Forest striker Chris Wood has been continuing his fine form in front of goal while on international duty by scoring two goals in one minute to help New Zealand seal an 8-1 victory over Vanuatu in World Cup qualifying.

The 32-year-old was awarded Premier League player of the month for October, becoming the first New Zealander and also the first Reds player to win the prize.

Wood has been involved in top-flight stints with West Brom, Leicester City, Burnley, Newcastle United and Forest - but it is at the City Ground where he seems to have found his career-best form.

And he will be hoping to improve his eight goals in 11 league games so far this season when the Premier League returns on 23 November.

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Our Nottingham Forest expert Colin Fray has been answering your questions, including one about what it is like dealing with manager after a match.

Al asked: Do you ever dread an interview? I am a big Nuno Espirito Santo fan because he wears his heart on his sleeve, but would not have fancied interviewing him after a few controversial games recently. How do you manage a manager after these incidents?

Colin answered: The simple answer is yes, sometimes... although I cannot say I have had that experience with Nuno so far!

The key thing is to have some empathy for the situation the manager is in. They do not have many minutes to gather their thoughts and calm down after the emotion of a football match before they are thrust in front of the cameras and microphones.

It is not an easy thing for them to come out and be interviewed at times. So, a bit of empathy can go a long way, as can politeness, and there is a bit of a golden rule which most managers appreciate if you stick to: the interview is about gathering their opinions, not giving yours.

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Over the course of Friday, BBC Radio Nottingham's Colin Fray will be answering your questions about Nottingham Forest.

Tony asked: Do we stick or twist in the January transfer window? Do we have the right team to challenge for a European place or do we still need to strengthen? And can we afford to?

Colin answered: There is little doubt that Forest - and ambitious owner Evangelos Marinakis - will look to strengthen further in the January transfer window, but not necessarily in a race to try to earn European football this season.

Some of Forest's transfer work has been heavily criticised since returning to the Premier League, but there have been signs that they have been getting it right after all.

Few would argue with the fees paid (or not) for the current starting XI - or indeed the rest of the squad.

They have found good value signings in the likes of Nikola Milenkovic, for instance, and in the summer they notably did not spend over the odds on inflated fees for some potential targets.

So, expect more building in a similar fashion, certainly with an eye on the PSR rules. And do not forget, the vast majority of supporters would have accepted a mid-table finish this season - even a lower mid-table final position would represent progress from previous seasons.

Any challenge for Europe would be a huge bonus, rather than something to be expected.

Listen to full commentary on every Nottingham Forest game, and In The Game every weeknight from 18:00, on BBC Radio Nottingham.

And subscribe to the Shut Up And Show More Football podcast on BBC Sounds.

Nottingham Forest are under no pressure to sell £40m-rated defender Murillo in January, despite interest from Real Madrid. (Mail - subscription required), external

Want more transfer news? Read Friday's full gossip column

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Nottingham Forest supporter and South American football journalist Nathan Joyes, speaking to BBC Radio Nottingham's Shut Up And Show More Football podcast about why Brazil fans are excited about defender Murillo's call-up to the national team:

"It's that 'jogo bonito' [beautiful game] style of play. We all see it in his game - he has at least one shot every game when he sees that he can break into the midfield. You could describe it as kamikaze, but it's organised as well. There's logic to the madness and it seems to work. It seems to catch opponents out.

"That's what I grew up with watching Brazilian football - it was that confidence, that flair, that attacking style of play. If he can step out and help out the midfield for Brazil, that's what Brazilian fans want. They don't want this organised, structured, European style of play.

"What has made Brazilian football so special is because they are unique and they have this 'jogo bonito' style and Murillo fits that trend. It is really refreshing and Brazilian fans want that because a large part of their squad are based in Europe.

"When they've been struggling, there's not that affinity any more between the fans and the players. Murillo is playing in Europe but he's only just gone and it's refreshing to see his style of play, so I think they want to recapture that spark of their identity."

Venezuela v Brazil kicks off at 21:00 GMT

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

The latest episode of Shut Up And Show More Football has landed - and this week the focus is on Murillo.

David Jackson and Colin Fray are joined by South American football journalist Nathan Joyes to discuss the Brazilian receiving his first senior international call-up and whether Nicolas Dominguez could get back into the Argentina team for the World Cup qualifiers.

And is fifth in the Premier League, after 11 games, really that bad?

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

With only four points separating third and 13th, we do not normally see that many teams in this type of mini league.

Normally, you might have the teams in a pack around the top four or five and then another pack underneath that with your relegation pack as well, so the fact there is so many teams in it at this stage is making it different.

From the mental side of competing in that, you look at Manchester United who have struggled so much this season and are sitting 13th. If they get a win, it can shoot them right up the table. They are in a position to think they are only a few points off the Champions League places' and that is good.

But it can work both ways.

Knowing the points are so close can keep you strong, keep you competing and have that competitiveness because you know a result can jump you up. But on the flipside, you could easily go from seventh down to 13th in one weekend or from third down to 10th.

How you deal with it depends on the manager, the players and also the psychologists within the group. Psychology in sport is really important for whether you see the situation as a positive or a negative.

Whether it stays like this all season is hard to say as there have been some really inconsistent performances and results. The most consistent team is the one sitting at the top.

I do not know what the rest of the campaign has in store for these sides because all the teams seem to be able to take points off each other this season.

Fara Williams was speaking to BBC Sport's Nicola Pearson

Barcelona and Real Madrid are keeping an eye on Nottingham Forest's 22-year-old Brazilian centre-back Murillo. (Sport in Spanish), external

Want more transfer news? Read Thursday's full gossip column