Nottingham Forest spent the summer recruiting several new players to give boss Sabri Lamouchi the very best chance of a successful season.
No fewer than 12 new players checked in at the City Ground and a large number of them have integrated nicely into the squad.
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The Reds beat Brentford on Saturday to go second in the Championship and things appear to be on an upward curve for Forest.
With the second international break of the campaign now upon us, we at Seat Pitch continue with our new series which assesses the starts made by the Forest new-boys. Up next is Alfa Semedo:
What’s the background?
The man-mountain Portuguese midfielder arrived on a season-long loan from Benfica during the summer transfer window.
It was an exciting signing, to say the least. The 22-year-old played 19 times last season, including three games on loan at Espanyol.
Semedo also has a release clause in his current Benfica contract of £25 million (Nottinghamshire Live).
How has he looked during the first two months?
Semedo has looked like a human battering ram when he has been called upon by Sabri Lamouchi.
His physicality isn’t his only attribute, however, and he also looks calm and composed in possession.
He has started five games in all competitions and he has largely looked like being a class player for the Reds over the course of the campaign.
Semedo has sat out the last four matches in all competitions due to injury, although he should return after the international break.
Against Leeds in August he produced a fantastic performance, whilst he also linked up well with John Bostock against Derby in the Carabao Cup.
Arguably his highlight came against Swansea when Semedo scored a late winner to give Forest a massive away victory.
What does the future hold?
Given his massive release clause it seems likely that Forest will only be able to land Semedo permanently should they realise their Premier League ambitions.
In the immediate future, Semedo must win his place back in Lamouchi’s team. Samba Sow has done an admirable job in his absence and with Malian picking up an injury on Saturday, that might open the door for his positional rival.
Semedo is more than capable of playing in the Championship on the evidence of his first five starts and there is certainly more to come from the uncompromising player.
Verdict…
Semedo has looked like an attractive signing for the Reds during his first handful of games in the team.
He reads the game incredibly well defensively and has looked neat and tidy in possession during his time at the club so far.
Lamouchi could be looking for a replacement for Sow if his injury proves to be a bad one and Semedo may well get another chance to stamp his authority on the team after the international break. 7.5/10.
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