Latest news with #Yoane
Metro
3 days ago
- Sport
- Metro
Espirito Santo makes startling admission about major Nottingham Forest problem
Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo sounds extremely concerned about his squad ahead of the new Premier League season, saying they are 'very, very far' from where they need to be. Forest had an excellent season last time round, finishing seventh in the table and qualifying for European football as a result. Thanks to a well organised defence and Chris Wood scoring regularly, Espirito Santo's team spend a lot of the season in the top four, upsetting the odds as many had them down as likely relegation battlers. There have been some exits over the summer, most notably Anthony Elanga to Newcastle for £55m and Danilo to Botafogo, but Forest have managed to keep the majority of last season's successful team together. Tottenham were interested in Morgan Gibbs-White, but the midfielder has signed a new contract and stayed put. Metro's new weekly football newsletter: In The Mixer. Exclusive analysis, FPL tips and transfer talk sent straight to your inbox every Friday – sign up, it's an open goal. There have also been new signings in the shapes of Dan Ndoye from Bologna, while Igor Jesus and Jair Cunha have arrived from Botafogo. However, the manager is not happy with how things are going, feeling his team is underprepared and there are players in his squad that should not be. Forest host Brentford on Sunday in their season opener and the Bees will surely be boosted by how the Portuguese coach is speaking. 'We are very far – very, very far – from where we should be,' Espirito Santo told Sky. 'We are very far in terms of preparation, in terms of planning, in terms of the squad. 'So we are all very worried that in two or three days time we are playing for the Premier League, the most demanding competition in the world. And we are very far. Very, very far. 'The plans that we had didn't come through. The preparation in terms of squad was not ideal. We didn't have a chance to create the bond – and this is what I think is more important. 'Because we don't know which squad we have. We have players working here that know they're going to leave on loan. We have a major problem.' Forest have been very busy in pre-season in terms of friendlies, but the results have not been good. Five of their seven friendlies have finished goalless, while the others saw them lose to Fulham and Birmingham City. More Trending A boost for Forest will be that Brentford forward Yoane Wissa will not be playing this weekend after prolonged transfer speculation this summer and the forward reportedly pushing for a move to Newcastle. Manager Keith Andrews confirmed that he will not be including Wissa at the City Ground, telling a pre-match press conference: 'I've made the decision that he's not [available]. It's been a very disruptive pre-season and everyone is aware of that. 'There's been interest in Yoane and I've been very clear on the situation. As a head coach, I want Yoane in the building and I want him to be a part of the first-team squad. 'I'm very understanding of his situation and I've got a very good relationship with him, but we have to focus on the players that are ready to play and perform on Sunday, and I don't think Yoane's in that place.' MORE: Ruben Amorim reveals midfield alternative if Man Utd don't sign Carlos Baleba MORE: Morgan Rogers injury update ahead of Aston Villa vs Newcastle United MORE: Ruben Amorim reveals if Benjamin Sesko will start for Man Utd against Arsenal
Scottish Sun
4 days ago
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Yoane Wissa AXED from Brentford squad for Premier League opener amid Newcastle transfer interest
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) KEITH ANDREWS has axed wantaway Yoane Wissa from Brentford's clash at Nottingham Forest - but still hopes to keep the star. The DR Congo forward, 28, has his heart set on joining Newcastle after they had a £30m offer rejected. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 Wissa has made it clear he wants to move to Newcastle this summer Credit: AFP 5 The manager has said there is no point using a player whose mind is not here Credit: Getty 5 Keith Andrews has taken over from Thomas Frank this summer Credit: Sportsfile Play Dream Team now! Play The Sun Dream Team ahead of the 2025/26 season Free to play Over £100,000 in total prize money Play in Mini Leagues against your mates Submit a team for Gameweek 1 to enter £5,000 prize draw Play via Dream Team's app or website today! Wissa left the Bees' Portuguese pre-season camp after Toon's bid and threatened to never play for them again before talks with boss Andrews led to him returning to training. However, last season's 19-goal ace will play no part of their Prem opener and could miss the rest of the month until the window shuts or he gets his wish and heads to St. James'. Andrews, ahead of his first competitive game since replacing Thomas Frank, said: 'I have made a decision he is not [available]. "It has been a very disrupted pre-season - I think you're aware of that interest in Yoane. '[I'm] very clear on the situation. "As a head coach, I want Yoane in the building, to be a part of the first-team and the squad. "I see that moving forwards but I am very understanding of his situation. 'I have a very good relationship with him, and that will persist, but we have to focus on the players who are ready to play and perform on Sunday and I don't think Yoane's in that space. BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK "For Yoane on Sunday, he won't be involved.' Brentford have lost Bryan Mbeumo to Manchester United, Christian Norgaard to Arsenal and keeper Mark Flekken to Bayer Leverkusen this summer but have brought in England midfielder Jordan Henderson, goalie Caoimhin Kelleher and Dutch attacking midfielder Antoni Milambo. Mbeumo completes Man Utd move But Andrews claims despite the upheaval, it is only the current Wissa problem that has caused him any headaches. He added: 'The only one who really disrupts an ideal preparation is the Yoane Wissa situation. Is it ideal? No, it's not. Would the players like him to be part of the squad? Of course they would.' 5 5 TRANSFER NEWS LIVE - KEEP UP WITH ALL THE LATEST FROM A BUSY SUMMER WINDOW
