Many season predictions appear to have Nottingham Forest down for battling Premier League relegation again. But with the quality and morale in their current squad, as well as the grand ambitions of those at the helm, they may just surprise a few this year, says George Edwards
It’s well documented that it took Nottingham Forest 23 years to return to the top flight after relegation in 1999. Once their status was regained, they were in no mood to let it just be a one-time thing and moved heaven and earth to achieve survival.
The Reds have since defied second-season syndrome, an achievement that should not be overlooked in the current climate and particularly in their context. Granted, not entirely by the rule book, but the gap on the pitch was 10 points last season, showing Forest’s superiority to the bottom three.
However, this season it’s likely that survival will be an expectation rather than an ambition. Progression up the league will be touted, so here are four reasons why the Reds may well surprise a few in the Premier League this season.
Preseason
Especially since their return to the top flight, preseasons on Trentside have been disruptive, to say the least. Five new players walking in at once. A lack of availability due to international tournaments or injury. The first team players very rarely getting a runout. This year, under Nuno Espírito Santo, Forest have done it properly.
From that opening game against Chesterfield, the manager made his intentions clear. That he would take every game and training session seriously and not waste a minute. The group now looks settled and confident in themselves, and, on the pitch, they’ve looked like a team rather than 11 strangers.
Granted, you can’t read too much into friendlies, but there have been some good signs. The link up between Anthony Elanga, Morgan Gibbs-White and Callum Hudson-Odoi; Ibrahim Sangaré and Nico Dominguez stepping up in the middle; and relationships building all over the pitch. The manager felt comfortable to experiment too, often fielding a back five, but has now seemed to settle with the back four.
Professional and mature aren’t words that are often associated with Nottingham Forest, but this preseason has certainly, and finally, been both of those.
Transfers
The same can be said with the Reds’ transfer activity, with Forest seemingly having a clear plan for the window, which they have, so far, executed to perfection.
PSR deadline day was the first major obstacle the club conquered with maturity, slyly combining with Newcastle to ease both clubs’ points deduction fears. And signing Elliot Anderson while losing Odysseas Vlachodimos for a net loss of £15million is certainly a coup.
It seems Forest have had players that they have targeted, executed or moved onto the next, with the regular influx of new players from mid-June until now. It was about time Forest had a steady transfer window under Evangelos Marinakis, with just the six arrivals to date.
They probably need a young, hungry striker to complement Chris Wood and Taiwo Awoniyi, but with three weeks left, it’s hard not to give this window at least an 8/10.
Depth
This recruitment has meant that the squad looks Premier League-ready.
In goal, Matz Sels is a steady pair of hands and is certainly more than capable at this level, but the exciting signing of Carlos Miguel provides him with real competition to retain his spot; something he unfortunately just didn’t have from Matt Turner.
At the back, Nikola Milenkovic supplies the height and experience that Murillo lacks — precisely what Forest were crying out for last year. Willy Boly and Andrew Omobamidele have proved their worth, while Joe Worrall is still around, so there are no guarantees anywhere.
Eric da Silva Moreria has enraptured plaudits during his short career and will learn from two similarly attack-minded full backs in Neco Williams and Ola Aina, while Harry Toffolo’s role in the squad seems integral.
The midfield is where the real excitement comes. Ryan Yates, Dominguez, Sangaré and Danilo are all possible starters, providing the manager with different assets and options to suit each game. Plus, in Anderson, Gibbs-White finally has someone to ease the creative pressure on his shoulders, something only likely to bring more out of the Reds’ fiery number 10.
Jota Silva is another gripping addition to the Reds already youthful and dynamic attack — although the rumoured signing of Ramon Sosa could be key — as Elanga and especially Hudson-Odoi will aim to build on very solid foundations laid down last season. And up top, Wood and Awoniyi are about as good as you could ask for being a midtable Premier League side; let’s just hope they can steer clear of any injury woes.
All in all, this paints a healthy picture and a very decent crop of players for the manager, with a plethora of youth, experience and quality on display.
opening
No match is easy in the PL, but in terms of an opening set of fixtures, Forest couldn’t have really asked for much better. Two home games in their first three, including opening day (at last!), as they host Bournemouth and Wolves, with a trip to newly promoted Southampton sandwiched between.
Granted, they have had their struggles against these opposition, with the Cherries quickly becoming Forest’s bogey team; the Reds also yet to win against Wolves in the league since promotion.
But, in comparison to last season, when they visited Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea and Manchester City as their first four away games — or the season before kicking off in Newcastle — it’s far preferable. Is seven points too much to ask for?
Plus, in Nuno, Forest have a manager who knows how to make a start. He famously won manager of the month in August for Spurs before things turned pretty sour, also losing just one of his first nine Premier League games following promotion with Wolves.
Forest are between third and fifth favourites for relegation this season, but with this squad, this manager and these supporters, anything is possible. Bring on Saturday.
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