The Three Players Who Can Trouble Man United, Says Parker

Man United and Nottingham Forest face each other tonight, so we caught up with former Man United star Paul Parker, who shared his thoughts on Forest, who has surpassed everyone’s expectations this season. 

Nottingham Forest are currently third in the Premier League, and their results have been absolutely sensational this season. For a deeper dive into Forest’s take on the 2024/25 season, click here: Nottingham Forest: You Can Keep Your Possession.

Tonight will be another important step for them trying to finish in the top four, and Paul Parker is looking forward to the match as he always enjoys watching Nottingham Forest. 

I really like watching them

“They are playing amazing football… People are enjoying watching them. They are playing quick, working hard and they are just delivering almost every week. I really like their team, and I love their centre halves.”

“Murillo is a top defender, and Milenkovic looks like a Serbian soldier. They are not overdoing it. They are playing head and volley. Good, old fashioned defending. They are not trying to do something they don’t can.”

“All of them are amazing and I really like watching them.”

“No, they can’t win the league, but it’s a great story at the moment and a lot of people are hoping they can finish in the top four or maybe even as a runner up.”

Elliot Anderson is one of the best in the league

The strong midfielder left Newcastle to join Nottingham Forest in the summer, and the move was wise by Anderson, who Parker now labels as one of the best in his position.

“When you look at Elliot Anderson, you have to look at his work-rate. He is amazing and if he was playing for a more prominent side, he would be mentioned with England..”

“But he won’t because he plays for Forest, and it’s the same with Gibbs White. He should play for England, but he doesn’t even get looked at because he plays for Forest.”

“Anderson is a really good player and in my opinion he is one of the best midfielders in the Premier League.”

Every club would like to have Chris Wood, but it doesn’t fit their narrative

Chris Wood has scored  18 goals in 29 games, and Parker is really impressed with the striker, who could play for any team in his opinion. 

“Chris Wood is the greatest ever New Zealander to play in the English league, and he is everything that a lot of clubs want. He will work his nuts off to keep the ball and you can always give him the ball. A lot of clubs would love to have a player like him, but on the other hand they wouldn’t because they would feel like they would get embarrassed and called a long ball team.”

“Chris Wood is not flashy, so he doesn’t fit the narrative of a lot of clubs, but he is the perfect player for Forest and when they have their quick wingers, he is perfect. He is always trying to score and he is always finding space. Everything suits him at the moment and he should be very proud of what he is doing.”

“I think he enjoys playing with Elanga and Hudson Odoi, because a player like him doesn’t want to play with inverted wingers. He is an old fashioned striker who just wants to get crosses into his head and then he will do something about it. I really like him and I think he is the type of striker every club should be looking for.”

Chris Wood picked up an injury during the international break, and whether he is ready to play tonight is still uncertain, but he is definitely one to watch according to Parker as he mentioned above.

Hudson Odoi would frighten the life out of me

Hudson Odoi was one of the biggest talents when he broke through at Chelsea, but the winger dealt with injuries which forced him back in the pecking order, but now he is playing the best football of his life according to Parker.

“Hudson Odoi had some injuries at Chelsea and he didn’t have the best spell at Leverkusen, but he has come back and finally has a manager who has made him a free spirit but also put discipline into his game.”

“Their manager is getting the best out of him, and he should be mentioned with the England squad. He is definitely playing his best football ever, and he is really wanted by his club and his manager.”

“Hudson Odoi would frighten the life out of me because I wouldn´t know what he was going to do. If I let him down the outside and let him cross the ball, first of all I would be embarrassed and secondly my centre half would like to kill me, because I have allowed the ball to get crossed. He can step inside as well, but he is clever enough not always to look for a shot. I really like him and I think he deserves all the credit he gets and maybe even more.”

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