Not sure why they'd have to bring in someone else should Samba leave. They seem comfortable with Horvath as a Championship-level keeper - that money would probably be better spent upgrading the attack given what I assume will be a few departures. I'd argue they'd be better off getting a backup keeper for cheap. Of course, that assumes they lose the final and Samba leaves, neither of which are guaranteed. I'd be more nervous that the bring in someone to outcompete Horvath if they are promoted AND Samba leaves.
If they promote, Samba prolly stays but if they don't he's had a career 2nd half to the year. I can't imagine he doesn't get an offer he can't refuse.
On the bench with promotion to the EPL on the line: 📋 Team news 🆚 Huddersfield Town1️⃣ change for The Reds as Keinan Davis comes in for Sam Surridge🌳🔴 #NFFC pic.twitter.com/onv7740PdP— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC) May 29, 2022 Match is on ESPN+.
1-0 Nottingham Forest at the half. Huddersfield just sat back and absorbed a lot of pressure for nearly the entire half, but Forest broke through at the end of the half off an own goal. Maybe the game opens up a little now that Huddersfield have to push for a goall.
Still 1-0 with 5 minutes to go, and Samba looks a little hobbled. Horvath is warming up on the sidelines.
And Samba is finally unable to continue. Horvath coming in at the 90th minute to preserve the 1-0 scoreline. 6 minutes of extratime.
Ends 1-0, and Horvath is going to the Premier League. He watched one shot go just wide, but otherwise didn't have anything to do in his 6 minutes or so on the field.
Hey, he had the last kick of the match! Might've been the only time he touched the ball. There's something very sliding doors about his lump up the field for the last act of the game. Like, seemingly, he could've just kicked the ball, as casually walked to the locker room, grabbed his stuff, and out the door, assuming he's leaving the club shortly. Still, great accomplishment for him and the whole team. Glad we have someone playing on a team that's moving up rather than so many of our other guys who only seem to be moving down.
Ethan Horvath with a winner's medal and a key, albeit brief, appearance in the final. Got to be a great feeling for him.
Congrats to Horvath; I hope he can find a path to better things. Admittedly too small a sample, but from watching the last 20 minutes or so hard to think that either of these two teams wouldn't go right back down to the Championship. Neither team seemed capable of finding even a simple pass.
I hope not. I want him to start because I think he is our best keeper right now. (I know this is a minority opinion.) I think regular play will demonstrate that.
I guess I should note that there appears to be one insider in this thread with connections to Horvath's camp who believed that Horvath would be forcing his way out of the club at the end of this season. I don't know if that changes at all now that Forest are in the Premier League, but you're right that my statement about Horvath's league next season should be a little less definitive.
Yes. 60% - Steve Cooper has won 60% of his 45 games in charge of Nottingham Forest (W27 D10 L8), the best win ratio of any Forest manager since the club joined the Football League in 1892-93 (min. 15 games). Gallant. pic.twitter.com/hY3D5ulq7P— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 29, 2022
Correct agents goal to get him to a Championship team as #1. Confident a few clubs will be in the hunt. With Forest going up either Samba #1 or Samba sold (has only 1 year on his contract) and Cooper goes to get a #1 keeper that already has Premier League experience. Horvath knows he needs to leave & the 7 game run where he only lost 1 and that was to Liverpool showed he can play as #1 just needs to find coach / team that sees him as their guy.