Ruben Amorim's first defeat as United boss came at the hands of Arteta and Arsenal (bloody knobheads) in the last match. That 2-0 loss at The Emirates was a reality check after the 4-0 win over Everton that made many feel as though we were going to win the World Cup.
This game against Forest comes in quick time as there is no time to dwell on that disappointing defeat. We need to get back on the horse.
This one won't be easy though.
Predicted Lineup
Amorim has been making a lot of changes to his starting XIs for each game. At Arsenal, no one could've predicted that lineup as there were several players that didn't start whom many would've thought were guaranteed to be in the team for that match.
As they and others had some time off, it makes me believe that they will be selected for this afternoon.
I've brought the butcher back in as I think he is one of Amorim's trusted defenders. Maguire makes way and there's no place for Yoro despite a good cameo on Wednesday night.
After his suspension, like Martinez, I think Mainoo will be brought back into the starting lineup. His partner will be Casemiro as with Ugarte having played the entire match against Arsenal and Amorim saying that Ugarte will need a little more rest than someone like Bruno, he probably won't start this game.
Amad should also be back in the team as he was benched for Wednesday's loss. I could see Malacia starting again but I think he will go with Dalot.
More rotation up front as Hojlund comes out for Zirkzee, Garnacho for Rashford and Bruno moves into his number 10 spot instead of Mount. I can see the manager going with the same front three that got him 4 goals against Everton.
The manager said that he more or less knows his best team at this moment but I still wouldn't be surprised if we saw a number of changes again. I wouldn't agree with that if he did rotate because certain players always need to be in the team. They are also used to play a game every three days having done so for many years.
Four games was still relatively soon to give him time to see what his best team is but game five is most certainly when I think he should be going with the same players more often than not.
I also understand that he has to rotate players who are returning from injury but I think he rotated too much on Wednesday. The starting XI did work in the first half but in the second, we fell apart a little.
This rotation could also negatively affect those who play in games like Arsenal where it is a game in which the players have to work harder without much reward whereas those who start against Forest at home, will have it easier with all due respect to our opponents.
Amorim should be selecting his strongest team from the start from this point on.
Approach
I can see a similar match to that of Everton although Forest do have more quality.
United began that game pretty strongly but quickly faded before Everton started to grab a foothold in the game. The Toffees then went on to dictate the play and created some good chances that a better side would've scored from.
Forest are that better side and should they get such opportunities, with the likes of Chris Wood, Anthony Elanga and others, they will take them. If they manage to take the lead against us, we will need to see whether this team has what it takes to get back into a game under Amorim.
Arsenal was not only his first defeat but also the first time he conceded the first goal as United boss. We obviously didn't make it back in that match and nor did we look like scoring. Going behind in games and having to come back has been a regularity at United for a long time and in that time, we've seen that we won't always claw our way back.
Amorim will want to get rid of this habit. This is why we need to start off well because not only does it set the tone, it also eases a lot of nerves and gives us more confidence that we can get the win.
But in order to win, we have to score. Thank you Michael Owen 🙄. As I said, at The Emirates, we never looked like we were ever going to trouble David Raya and if you approach a game like that and then fall behind, you will find yourself in trouble.
Amorim will need to get his team firing up front again as that performance on Wednesday was absolute trash in attack.
But as I predict that our best attacker Amad will start and that Bruno will play further forward, we will have more threat in the final third. The manager will be happy to know that his captain has 11 goals and assists in his last 10 appearances at Old Trafford. We've also scored 7 in our last two home games which gives us all a lot of encouragement that we can get a few more today.
The midfield will also be a lot more solid and balanced with Mainoo and Casemiro as they have that understanding of those positions whereas Bruno isn't accustomed to the CM role. Mainoo and Casemiro also compliment each other a lot better than Ugarte and Fernandes.
It will be a key battle as at Arsenal, we won the midfield for the first half resulting in that decent performance. We lost it in the second and ended up losing that control we had.
Midfield is so important and we need to win that battle.
United also seem to struggle when playing out from the back. We look very suspect and teams who press us high, cause us a lot of problems.
Arsenal had a lot of high turnovers as they won the ball back 37 times against United on Wednesday night. We only did that to them on 21 occasions.
Forest will look at this and try to take advantage of that.
Form
2-0 against Arteta was United's first defeat in all competitions since Erik ten Hag's final game in charge when we lost 2-1 to West Ham at the back end of October.
Thanks to that defeat last time out, United dropped to our favorite position of 13th. After the jubilation of finally making it into the top half after beating Everton, we moved down into the bottom half after one loss.
ten Hag really did a number on us, eh?
Before losing to Arsenal, United were 4 points behind Brighton in 4th. After match 14, we are now 7 behind City who are in that final CL qualification spot.
Shows you in this league, one slip up and it all comes crashing down. It is ruthless.
At home, United's record has improved as we are in 8th with 13 points from 7 games. Our 11 scored is also a lot more respectable after putting 4 past Jordan Pickford last week.
Nottingham Forest
The surprise package of the Premier League, Nuno Espirito Santo has gotten Forest right up there for European qualification.
His team sits 7th in the league with six wins, four draws and four losses after 14 matches. With 22 points, they are 3 ahead of United which indicates even further how well they've done and how important this game is to us.
Their form has taken a hit in recent weeks as they've lost three of their last five. However, in that time, they've played Newcastle, Arsenal and City, all of whom gave them those three losses.
Forest have already played four of the traditional big 6 away from home. They lost 3-0 at both Arsenal and City (which is something that happens to most teams), got a 1-1 draw at the Bridge and miraculously, beat LFC at Anfield! That remains the only defeat for the League's leaders this season in all competitions.
They now face another of the big 6 away from home. That is a tough start for any club however, for them to be in the position they're in after playing all these teams, is incredible.
The PL really didn't give them a helping hand with the opening 15 fixtures.
In spite of being dealt this heavy hand, away from home, Forest are 4th! In contrast to that, we are 13th on the road.
Fair play Nuno. Fair play 👏.
Their record reads seven games, three wins, two draws and two losses with 11 points which is the same as Arsenal. Only a better goal difference sees the Gunners above them.
But what that GD shows is that while they do do well on their travels, Forest give up a decent amount of goals. 10 is what they've let in.
Forest are also doing well in other tables as Chris Wood is joint-third highest scorer in the league with 9 goals. Our highest scorer is Rashford with 4. Matz Sels has 5 clean sheets putting him 1 behind Onana at the top of that list.
Forest are playing ball.
Recent Meetings
United have dominated this fixture for a long time however, the one loss we suffered in 13 matches in all competitions did come the last time the two sides met in the league. Forest won 2-1 at home a year ago.
This fixture last season also saw United having to come back from 2 goals down after Forest took the lead early on at Old Trafford. Goals by Eriksen, Casemiro and Bruno ended up giving us the 3 points.
We won't want to have to do something like that again after a defeat in our last match.
Prediction
With Forest being strong away from home and our home record improving recently, it will be a tight game.
But I do think we will come out on top. 2-1 is my prediction.
We desperately need the win to help move us up the table again but it is not going to be easy.
Background Image: Amad | Image via Manchester United offcial X (@ManUtd)