Chris Wood faces Nottingham Forest axe unless Ange Postecoglou ‘compromises’
Nottingham Forest striker Chris Wood could be a casualty of the new style of play Ange Postecoglou will bring to the City Ground.
Wood was top goal scorer under previous boss Nuno Espirito Santo, spearheading their charge towards European football.
Postecoglou was appointed Nottingham Forest manager with the impression that he will change the club’s style of play to become a greater attacking force.
The former Spurs and Celtic boss will take charge of his first Nottingham Forest match away to Arsenal just three days after taking the job.
Chris Wood faces losing starting XI place
The Athletic‘s Conor O’Neil, [12 September], believes Wood could be a victim of Postecoglou’s style of play.
Postecoglou has previously stated that he wants his sides to press high up the pitch and Dominic Solanke at Spurs epitomised his way of playing.
O’Neil said: “No player in 2024-25 made more ‘double-pressures’ — denoted as closing down one opponent before pressing another within three seconds.“
This could be a problem for Wood, who at 33 is unlikely to be able to change the way he plays to suit Postecoglou.
O’Neil continued: “Either Postecoglou compromises for the less mobile Wood, or he turns to a more energetic option to lead the press, such as new signing Arnaud Kalimuendo.”
22-year-old Kalimuendo signed for Forest from Rennes for £25million and has yet to start a game for the club, whilst Igor Jesus is another option Postecoglou could prefer over Wood.
Ange Postecoglou’s striker profiles do not fit Wood
Postecoglou’s first match at Arsenal is unlikely to see any huge changes considering the short amount of time he has had on the training pitch with the players.
Having had Kyogo Furuhashi at Celtic and Solanke at Spurs, Postecoglou likes his strikers to be mobile and to be able to threaten in-behind.
Wood is a different type of striker, feeding off crosses and being a poacher in the penalty area.
| Chris Wood | Stats |
| Appearances | 40 |
| Goals | 20 |
| Assists | 3 |
The New Zealand international’s form gives no reason why Postecoglou should drop him against Arsenal, but in the long-term his place in the team seems under threat.
Postecoglou is unlikely to move away from his principles and so Wood could be one of the players ousted because of it.