Nuno Espirito Santo is still getting to know his Nottingham Forest squad, but he will soon have one key decision to make.
The goalkeeper debate is one the Portuguese’s predecessor, Steve Cooper, never quite managed to settle. And the question over who should be the Reds’ No.1 isn’t going away.
Forest brought in Matt Turner and Odysseas Vlachodimos in the summer. Both have been given chances, by both Cooper and Nuno, but haven’t exactly convinced.
With the January transfer window open, there has been talk over whether the club should dip into the market again to address the problem. Below, we take a look at the situation as it stands.
How have Turner and Vlachodimos done?
Neither has particularly staked a claim to have the shirt long-term. Turner started out between the posts under Cooper but made some high-profile mistakes, which led to the change being made.
However, Vlachodimos conceded 12 goals in four games – including letting in five on a dire evening at Fulham – and was replaced as Cooper tried to stop the rot. Nuno stuck with Turner when he replaced the Welshman at the helm, but gave Vlachodimos a go in the FA Cup on Sunday.
The latter made the move to the City Ground with a strong CV and plenty of experience under his belt, but he hasn’t really shown those kind of credentials for the Reds so far. Although he was let down by his defence against Blackpool at the weekend, the goals conceded were still poor.
Turner, meanwhile, experienced a rollercoaster of emotions in his most recent outing. At fault for Marcus Rashford’s equaliser, he then played his part in what proved to be the winner against Manchester United and also pulled off a crucial late save.
What has Nuno said on the subject?
A former goalkeeper himself, Nuno has made clear he isn’t afraid to make a change between the posts. He served a warning to Turner almost as soon as he was appointed.
“I would prefer to tell you that Turner will be the goalkeeper, but at this moment it is about performance,” Nuno said last month. “It is about performance, so any decision we are going to make is going to be based on the performance we want for our team. Every player has to improve, starting with our goalkeepers.”
He was a little more sympathetic when it came to Turner’s mistake against United. The responsibility, Nuno said, was a collective one as the American was simply trying to follow instructions to play from the back.
“It’s our responsibility,” the Reds head coach said after that game. “OK it is a mistake, but it is our mistake because we said we wanted to try to play.
“Matt made a mistake, but then he kept us in the game with some fantastic saves. He was very good on the crosses.”
The ex-pro view…
Former Red Guy Moussi says it is vital Nuno decides who is his No.1 and who is his No.2. He believes the uncertainty will help neither player and says it is a position where continuity is important.
“It is really difficult. Goalkeeper is such a special position and it is one that needs stability,” Moussi said on NottinghamshireLive’s Garibaldi Red podcast.
“It’s not like with outfield players where you know you can have competition. It is a really crucial position where you have to be really focused.
“It is not easy for the keeper to be unbalanced regarding his position. You understand there is always competition, but we have to understand who is the No.1 and who is the No.2.
“You can still have competition in the way that if the No.1 keeper doesn’t do well then obviously the No.2 keeper can have his chance. But me, I would prefer that it is pretty clear because then the keeper can be relaxed when he plays.
“Sometimes you can play and know that as soon as you make a mistake you are not sure about your position, but with regards goalkeepers it is such a different position. For me, I wouldn’t be comfortable with that.”
What have the players said?
After the 2-1 victory over United, Turner said his topsy-turvy night encapsulated his career so far. But he believes he has the mental toughness to bounce back from any setbacks.
“You know, there are ups and downs being a goalkeeper. I’ve had my moments this season,” he said at the time.
“What happened out there was a microcosm of my whole career. I always seem to battle back. I looked around at the guys beside me, they weren’t blaming me and pointing fingers, they had my back and we ended up getting the win. You never want to make mistakes, but if you are going to make them you want to respond in the right way and I think I did.”
Vlachodimos previously had to be patient waiting for his opportunity. But the Greek has said he believes in his own ability – even if he is confident he can still get better.
“You can always get a step up. I am not done with improving,” he said earlier in the season. “I’m 29 years old now. There is always something to improve and something to do better in every situation of a game.
“Games help you to get better. But also being in training with the goalkeeper coaches; we speak about everything, and it is all with the intention of making you better and fulfilling your potential. I really like that. It is hard work every day.
“We have a very good goalkeeping department. All of the goalkeepers help each other in training. We push each other to the limit, to get the best from each of us.
“It is quite nice competition. We are all very good friends and we have fun, but we push each other. It is nice to work with all of the guys.”
He added: “I believe in myself, I always want to play. In the last seven years I have played at a very high level, both with the national team and with Benfica. I have the experience and I feel ready for the Premier League.”
Finances will likely play a part in determining the answer, as well as Nuno’s judgement on what is required. The Reds will have to be smart about their business during the window. They have other areas in need of strengthening, so they must determine whether cash would be best spent adding options elsewhere.
Some goalkeepers have already been linked with moves to the City Ground, including Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Jose Sa. But it remains to be seen whether it is a route Forest opt to go down, having brought Turner and Vlachodimos in on permanent deals.
Wayne Hennessey is the third senior stopper on the books, but his contract is due to expire in the summer. The same applies for Ethan Horvath, who did not make the cut for the 25-man Premier League squad and who is likely to move on this month. The former Luton Town loanee does have interest in him, including from the Championship.
