The tales of Robin Hood are familiar all around the globe. The legendary English heroic outlaw was known for stealing from the rich and giving to the poor while fighting his arch-enemy, the vicious Sheriff of Nottingham.However, modern days bring some new heroes, write some new tales, and sometimes even change the old ones so much that one might feel as if he read them for the first time. Something like that has been happening in the past couple of months.Out of the blue! Arteta set to lose his most precious ally!Instead of the classic Robin Hood, a new tale has been presented. A tale in which the Sheriff of Nottingham is the hero, helping the “poor” to defeat the rich and upset their well and long-established order. A tale written by a man whose last name speaks much more than one could expect.Nevertheless, the new author must have some creative freedom, so our hero is not even an Englishman, but a New Zealander, or a “Kiwi” if you wish. Yet, not a regular one. This one has been giving his blood, sweat, and tears to English clubs since 2003 when he joined Cambridge’s youth categories as a twelve-year-old boy. He is – as you could probably guess by now – Chris Wood.12 years ago, Chris Wood was sold by West Brom to Leicester for £1.25m. Steve Clarke, the West Brom coach told him, “sorry Chris, you’re too big, you’re too slow, you’re too cumbersome.”It’s now 19 goals in 26 under Nuno for the Kiwi Lewandowski ✅ pic.twitter.com/wptLQ0DH92— FPL Banger Podcast 🎙️ (@FPL_Banger) November 4, 2024 Ever since New Zealand’s all-time leading scorer embarked on a journey through England in 2009, wearing West Bromwich Albion’s jersey, he must have felt neglected. The Baggies sent him on six loans in four years (?!), “allowing” him to make only 27 appearances in their white and navy blue colours.The episodes at Leicester City and Leeds United followed, but despite scoring regularly (44 goals in 88 games for the Whites from West Yorkshire!), he was never fully accepted as if he couldn’t be one of their own. Yet, five seasons at Burnley (2017-2022) changed everything as Wood finally got the trust he needed, and his rise just continued at Nottingham Forest. After all, isn’t there at least something fateful if a man named Wood plays for a team named Forest?Koulibaly on Jackson’s Ballon d’Or potential: He can be the best in Africa – and why not in the world?Even if there isn’t, this Kiwi found himself in Nottingham and became the Sheriff. But not the vicious one from Robin Hood, but the one wearing a hero’s cape. Wood netted eight times in 10 matches in the Premier League, which makes 57% of the Trees’ this season’s goals (?!), leading them to the third spot after ten PL rounds, while Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham, and Man United, among others, sit behind them!Chris Wood has now scored 8 league goals from 21 shots this season (38.1%).Only Yoane Wissa (5/13 – 38.5%) has a better shot conversion rate (min. 5 shots). #NFOWHU pic.twitter.com/zZWulyEkVW— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) November 2, 2024 But it wouldn’t be fair to mention only Wood, no. Just like Robin Hood had Friar Tuck, Wood has the man whose last name means “Holy Spirit,” translated to English – Nuno Espirito Santo. The 50-year-old Portuguese, born in the African Sao Tome and Principe, made a name for himself at Wolverhampton’s bench when he won the promotion from the Championship with Wolves and then ended seventh two seasons in a row, which is still the club’s best-ever ranking in the Premier League.16 – Since Nuno Espírito Santo’s first game in charge of Nottingham Forest (23rd December, 2023), only Erling Haaland (18) has scored more non-penalty goals in the Premier League than Chris Wood (16). Remarkable. pic.twitter.com/6joJuE2Jvf— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 25, 2024 The unsuccessful episode at Tottenham – but was there any successful manager at the Spurs bench in the previous decade? – made everyone doubt his quality, and Espirito Santo was forced to move to Saudi Arabia. However, after a brief spell with Al-Ittihad, he returned to England’s top tier to prove that he still had what to offer. And, God, did he show everyone!📈 @NFFC’s transformation under Nuno Espirito Santo 👏They finish the day in the top three of the Premier League for the first time since 1998! pic.twitter.com/i93S8wsekt— Premier League (@premierleague) November 2, 2024 Nottingham Forest, First Division champions in 1978 and two-time European Cup winners in 1979 and 1980, currently sit in the third Premier League spot. They ended third in the Premier League back in 1993, but that Premier League and today’s Premier League are two different terms.And even if they don’t manage to hold out and grab a European competition ticket, they have already done wonders and written one of the most remarkable tales in world football this season. So, forget about Robin Hood and his band, the tale of the Kiwi Sheriff of Nottingham and his crew is the story you need to hear about.ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE – MATCHDAY 10SaturdayNewcastle – Arsenal 1-0 (1-0)/Isak 12/Bournemouth – Manchester City 2-1 (1-0)/Semenyo 9, Evanilson 64 – Gvardiol /Ipswich – Leicester City 1-1 (0-0)/Davis 55 – Ayew 90+4/Liverpool – Brighton 2-1 (0-1)/Gakpo 69, Salah 72 – Kadioglu 14/Nott. Forest – West Ham 3-0 (1-0)/Wood 27, Huddson-Odoi 65, Aina 78/Southampton – Everton 1-0 (0-0)/Armstrong 85/Wolverhampton – Crystal Palace 2-2 (0-0)/Larsen 67, Gomes 72 – Chalobah 60, Guehi 77/Sunday Tottenham – Aston Villa 4-1 (0-1)/Johnson 49, Solanke 75, 79, Maddison 90+6 – Rogers 32/Man.Utd. – Chelsea 1-1 (0-0)/Fernandes 70 pen – Caicedo 74/Monday23.00: (2.00) Fulham (3.50) Brentford (3.70)***odds are subject to change***
