Nottingham Forest

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It seems inevitable a host of Premier League managers will point to fixture congestion in the months to come.

When injuries mount, or when time on the training ground is squeezed, coaches often reference the intense nature of the calendar.

But research conducted by the respected CIES Football Observatory has delivered data which shows clubs are - on average - not playing more competitive games than they have in the last couple of decades.

The CIES looked at 677 clubs across 40 leagues. In looking at a period from 2012 to 2024, its findings show in 2023-24, the average club played 42.4 competitive matches. In 2014-15 that figure was 42.6 and in 2020-21 it hit 43.9.

And if focus is placed on sides competing in the Champions League, data gathered between 2000 and 2024 also shows sides are not setting fixture records in the current game, as some managers may like to loosely imply.

In looking at the five major European Leagues, the CIES claim Champions League competitors played an average of 50.8 matches last season.

In 2020-21 they averaged 57.9 and in 2002-03 they contested 55.2.

Manchester United played in 52 competitive games last season, down from highs of 71 in 2020-21 and 66 in 2008-09.

Across all of the clubs analysed, only 4% played more than 60 games last season. In 2012-13, the figure stood at 5.1%.

While clubs may play added friendlies and - it would be fair to say - individual matches tend to be longer given increased injury time in the current game, the data shows that competitive fixture numbers are flat or have in most cases fallen, even if disgruntled managers say otherwise.

The full study is here, external

Slobodan Maricic
BBC Serbia journalist

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It was the 42nd minute of 2017 Serbian Cup final between the two Belgrade giants, Red Star and Partizan, when the black-and-whites had a corner.

As the ball flew in front of the Red Star goalkeeper, a 19-year-old Nikola Milenkovic met it to score.

In his final game for Partizan he had got the winner against their arch-rivals - and it is a goal fans will never forget.

Even though still a teenager at the time, Milenkovic was one of the best Partizan players - a defensive anchor who played a key role in their last Serbian league title win.

He had come to Partizan at 15 after a trial at the academy, and at a young age was compared to former Manchester United captain Nemanja Vidic - and after only 36 games for the club, he got a transfer to Fiorentina.

Milenkovic also became a regular for Serbia. He has 57 caps for this country and has appeared at the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, and at Euro 2024.

He played 264 times for Fiorentina over almost seven years, featuring in their Europa Conference League final defeats in 2023 and 2024.

The 26-year-old will not be the only Nottingham Forest player schooled in a Belgrade footballing academy.

Marko Stamenic, the defensive midfielder from New Zealand with Serbian origins, came from Red Star in January, but was initially sent out on loan to Olympiakos.

The previous season, the 22-year-old played in the Champions League against Manchester City, Young Boys and RB Leipzig, and eventually won the Serbian league and cup double.

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Nottingham Forest have signed defender Nikola Milenkovic from Fiorentina, who will form "key part" of their squad.

The 26-year-old has joined on a five-year-deal from the Serie A side, who he made 264 appearances for across a seven-year spell, for a fee believed to be about £12m.

The centre-back was a key part of the Fiorentina team last season, playing 50 times across all competitions and helping them reach the final of the Uefa Europa Conference League.

A Serbia international, Milenkovic has played 57 times for his country including every minute of their Euro 2024 campaign in Germany.

Forest's chief football officer Ross Wilson said: "We are excited to welcome Nikola to Nottingham Forest. He is a key part of our squad planning this summer and I know how enthusiastic he has been to join the club.

"We have long admired his performances with the Serbian national team, and in Serie A and European competitions for Fiorentina.

"We are delighted that he will bring his experience and qualities to Nottingham Forest."

How do you feel about the signing, Reds fans? The type of player the team needs?

Let us know here, external

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

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Fiorentina and Serbia defender Nikola Milenkovic is due to have his medical at Nottingham Forest on Wednesday.

The Reds need defensive reinforcements after selling centre-back Moussa Niakhate to Lyon for £27m.

Milenkovic has 56 caps for Serbia and he played in all of their Group C games at Euro 2024, including the 1-0 defeat by England.

The 26-year-old started his career at Partizan and spent two seasons in their first team before joining Fiorentina in 2017.

In his seven-year stint at the Serie A club, Milenkovic has made 264 appearances, scoring 17 goals and providing five assists.

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Nottingham Forest forward Taiwo Awoniyi will not be travelling to the Reds' pre-season training camp in Spain with the rest of the squad.

The 26-year-old was also unavailable for the club's first pre-season friendly against Chesterfield on Saturday.

BBC Radio Nottingham understands he is dealing with a personal family matter, and his absence is not injury related.

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The football never stops.

Euro 2024 has barely finished but Premier League clubs have already started turning their attention to pre-season friendlies.

The games are spread across the globe, from Tokyo and New York to Sligo and Crawley.

So who will your team face? And when and where are the matches?

Keep across all the fixtures and results here

We asked for your views on Nottingham Forest's pre-season victory over League Two side Chesterfield.

Here are some of your thoughts:

Dave: Very rarely in recent years have Forest returned a decent performance and a positive score against a 'minnow' in pre-season. Everything crossed that this is a good sign of things to come this season.

Pete: Thought Sangare's performance was very encouraging, rounded off with a nice goal.

Gary: The second half line-up was so fluid at times but realistically a Premier League club should come out on top in this sort of fixture. The new signings looked good and it was nice to see Josh Bowler getting a run out.

Kris: Some important minutes and a run out for the new players who are settling in, and those in the shop window. Great to see Sangare on the scoresheet, hoping this season he pushes on and fulfils his promise. Awoniyi missing again is a concern though and shows we need to look at bringing in another forward.

Andrea: Sangare looked much brighter, Anderson and Moreira impressed and the side that finished last season looked fit and ready to go. Lots of chances created which the score doesn’t reflect.

Iama: I thought Morgan Gibbs-White and Callum Hudson-Odoi looked a million miles ahead of every other player. Their class is a different level.

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Nuno Espirito Santo's Nottingham Forest side kicked off their pre-season campaign with a 3-0 win over Chesterfield.

Forest have been active early on in the transfer window, retaining key names with new faces joining the squad.

"The squad is not complete yet, we still have to make decisions. More importantly we were able to keep our players," Nuno told BBC Radio Nottingham.

"So I'm really really happy for that, that we we as a club are keeping our most important players because I believe if after the work of last season, this is what's going to give us the improvement through this season."

On the performance versus Chesterfield, Nuno said: "I think we were solid, but more than anything, any aspect was to integrate the new players and to give minutes to everybody.

"I think we have a good foundation from last season. We have to continue to improve a lot of aspects and we know how many aspects we have to improve."

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Elliot Anderson took the leap to leave his boyhood club Newcastle for the East Midlands for a hefty price tag and after his first outing - a friendly win over Chesterfield - he told BBC Radio Nottingham: "It was tough, really tough, but it's very exciting starting your journey.

"The lads, lads have really helped me settle in. I think it's always daunting joining a new club, but they've they've been brilliant with me."

On being labelled as a versatile player Anderson said: "It's important to be versatile it gets you in the team.

"I think it's always a big positive to be versatile. It's good to play a range of positions. But, it's always nice to to have one position for yourself. Versatility is is no bad thing."

Looking to pre-season he added: "You've got six weeks to get ready for the for the main games, building your body up is definitely a huge part of pre-season."

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Second-half goals from Chris Wood, Josh Bowler and Ibrahim Sangare gave Nottingham Forest a win over League Two Chesterfield in their opening pre-season friendly.

What did you learn from this game, Reds fans?

Let us know your thoughts on the match here, external

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Nottingham Forest's new home kit for this season has been unveiled.

The club said the shirt features two overlapping stars that represent the Reds' two European Cup wins in 1979 and 1980.

It added: "We wear those stars with pride and use it to drive our ambition. This kit represents the next chapter of Nottingham Forest."

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BBC Radio Nottingham's Colin Fray has been discussing Nottingham Forest's new signing Carlos Miguel, after the Brazilian goalkeeper revealed his "main objective" is to become an "important member" of Nuno Espirito Santo's team.

"Most of the club's delves into the South American market have been successful," Fray said on the Shut Up And Show More Football podcast.

"Danilo and Murillo have come across. Nicolas Dominguez has come through a different route, but he is another South American in the squad that is doing well. So Forest will be hoping Carlos Miguel is another one who will fit in.

"The signing is interesting for two reasons. First, Nuno was a goalkeeper so he obviously knows what he wants from a goalkeeper. He has now brought two goalkeepers in - one in each transfer window since he took charge. That tells you a lot about where he thinks Forest's goalkeeping department is at.

"Secondly, is Miguel going to be able to force his way into the team and how long is it going to take for him to force his way in? It will be interesting in pre-season to see how he starts to fit in, because he is 25 years old and hasn't played a lot of first-team professional football."

South American football journalist and Forest fan Nathan Joyes added: "Miguel defies logic and science in terms of how quickly he can react to initial saves and follow-up saves.

"From what I have seen, he is very impressive.

"I don't want to get caught saying that he is going to be on the same level as Murillo. I think Forest fans need to lower their expectations when it comes to other South Americans coming in, purely because of how good Murillo is."

Listen to the full podcast on BBC Sounds

The latest Shut Up And Show More Football has landed.

On this week's show, BBC Radio Nottingham's David Jackson and Colin Fray are joined by South American football journalist Nathan Joyes to discuss new goalkeeping recruit Carlos Miguel.

They will also be chatting pre-season friendlies and giving an update on the future of the City Ground.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Monaco rejected a 30m euros (£25.5m) bid from Nottingham Forest for 25-year-old France midfielder Youssouf Fofana, who has since agreed terms with AC Milan. (Fabrizio Romano), external

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

Goalkeeper Carlos Miguel signed for Nottingham Forest on Tuesday and is likely to compete with Matz Sels for the role of first-choice keeper.

We asked you for your opinions on the Brazilian and here are some of your replies:

Johnno: I am happy with the signing, from stats provided, but we just need to be sure our backline give him the protection. We need clean sheets because then we have a chance of getting something out of the games.

Tom: It is so refreshing that he has got a positive attitude towards playing for Forest from the get-go! Replacing Sels will be a tall order - but at 6ft 8in, tall is exactly what he is!

Henrik: If this signing is half as successful as that of our other Brazilian - Murillo - then we will have hit the jackpot again. He comes highly recommended and at a snip of the price. Welcome to the City Ground.

Nottingham Forest and Wolves are both interested in Le Havre's 22-year-old French defender Etienne Youte Kinkoue. (Football Insider), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

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New signing Carlos Miguel says he is "honoured" to join Nottingham Forest and hopes to become an "important member of the team".

The 25 year-old, who stands at six feet eight inches tall, joins from Brazilian club Corinthians where he kept 14 clean sheets in 25 appearances for the Brazilian club.

"I'm really happy and honoured to represent this club," Miguel said.

"My main objective is to become an important member of this team, a giant club in the history of football. I want a place in the museum like the others!"

Chief Football Officer Ross Wilson added: “Carlos has arrived in Nottingham full of excitement following his performances in Brazil with Corinthians.

"He concluded all of the formalities yesterday and we are pleased that he will join the squad so early on in pre-season.”

Happy with the signing, Forest fans? Let us know here, external