Nottingham Forest conceded 67 targets within the Premier League final season, the fifth-highest quantity conceded within the division. While that is one fewer purpose than they conceded within the 2022/23 marketing campaign (68), it’s nonetheless one of many worst defensive data within the league.
This Forest aspect have made 28 signings previously two seasons, making it tough to ascertain a beginning again 4 (again 5 together with the goalkeeper), which in flip has seen the Difficult Bushes wrestle defensively over the previous few years.
Forest’s primary goalkeeper, Matz Sels, made 16 appearances for the membership after signing in January final season, retaining one clear sheet, and conceding 27 targets in 1,440 minutes performed.
It is secure to say he isn’t fairly pretty much as good as this famed stopper on Trentside…
How a lot Forest signed Brice Samba for
Fan favorite Brice Samba joined Forest again in 2019, signed from SM Caen for €2.10m (£1.7m). Samba had solely made 49 appearances for the French aspect, conceding 66 targets and retaining 15 clear sheets, making a reputation for himself and incomes his transfer to English shores.
The gloveman went on to make 133 appearances for Forest, retaining 45 clear sheets, conceding 124 targets, and totalling 11,995 minutes performed. His finest season by the Trent got here in 2021/22, making 45 appearances, retaining 16 clear sheets and conceding 39 targets.
Samba made some enormous saves for Forest, serving to them of their Championship play-offs, even being referred to as the “hero” after saving a penalty within the penalty shootout to beat Sheffield United, and progress to the Championship play-off closing.
Brice Samba’s type in 2024
Since leaving Forest for under €5.00m (£4m), becoming a member of Lens in 2022, Samba has made 84 appearances for the French outfit, retaining 32 clear sheets, conceding 83 targets and totaling 7,590 minutes performed.
The place Are They Now
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Samba is now valued at €15.00m (£13m) by Transfermarkt, greater than triple the worth he was offered for under two years in the past. Since then, Forest have signed Matz Sels, Matt Turner, and Odysseas Vlachodimos attempting to interchange Samba, in addition to mortgage strikes for Dean Henderson, Keylor Navas and Wayne Hennessey.
The 30-year-old shot-stopper has been so good that he was nominated for the Yashin Trophy award in 2023, coming off the again of a runner-up marketing campaign in Ligue 1 with RC Lens, making 37 appearances, conceding 28 targets and retaining 15 clear sheets.
Samba was nominated amongst lots of the world’s finest, together with Actual Madrid’s Thibaut Courtois, Barcelona’s Marc Andre Ter Stegen, and Manchester Metropolis’s Ederson.
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Samba vs Sels comparability |
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|---|---|---|
|
Stats (per 90 minutes) |
Samba |
Sels |
|
Objectives In opposition to |
1.19 |
1.46 |
|
Saves |
3.07 |
2.17 |
|
Save % |
76.1% |
60.2% |
|
Passes Tried |
29.1 |
22.5 |
|
Throws Tried |
4.59 |
3.40 |
|
Clear Sheets |
0.35 |
0.11 |
|
Pictures on Goal In opposition to |
4.22 |
3.51 |
|
Stats taken from FBref |
||
The metrics present Samba is way outperforming Sels, dealing with extra pictures heading in the right direction per 90, retaining extra clear sheets, conceding fewer targets and making extra saves per 90, averaging 3.07 saves in comparison with the Forest ‘keeper’s 2.17 saves per 90.
Having a 15.9% increased save proportion than Sels exhibits the distinction of their shot-stopping capacity, while the previous Forest star can be averaging extra passes tried per 90, and extra throws tried per 90, however this will come from enjoying in a ball-dominant aspect the place he will get extra touches.
Forest might have saved themself loads of effort and time, in addition to cash, when changing Samba, if they might have held onto him. Certainly, he has rapidly confirmed himself as among the best goalkeepers on this planet, incomes himself a France call-up alongside the best way.