EPL 2026/27 Nottingham Forest ....
Aug 17, 2026
Nottingham Forest
Forest were my dark horse suggestion in 24/25 after two seasons just above the relegation zone and that worked out great, with a 7th place finish and even Champions League football looking possible until the very final weeks. Ahead of last season I was FAR less optimistic and my notes included .....
They collected 37 points from their first 19 games which is second place level and only 28 from the second 19 games (10th place) and xP gave them just 50 points total. They were indeed that dark horse and surprised a lot of teams, but no doubt really that they either tired as the season progressed(they played long periods of many games without the ball) and/or opponents had more data and were better set up to combat them, or more likely, a combination of both and they did use the fewest number of players in the EPL last season. This feels like a very different season for the Tricky Trees.
First up, the level of expectation at the club has risen, they have lost Anthony Elanga who had a 17 goal contribution in a team who were the joint lowest scorers amongst the top 10 and he looked absolutely vital and a main outlet given how they played (low possession, quick in transition) and they also return to Europe for the first time in 30 years. That alone means an additional 8 games minimum and is a trip into the unknown for the club, most of the players and whilst head coach Nuno Espirito Santo has some experience of European football, he has not had to deal with that, alongside a domestic campaign in four years. Add in that a lot of their numbers give cause for concern and whilst most of us know that possession is less important in modern football, personally, I do not think it possible to outperform those stats season after season. Leicester City and that shock title win are often put up as the prime example of a team not needing much possession to win games, but even they were 12th the following season and have been relegated twice subsequently! I am also concerned about goals in general, they have already lost the Elanga contribution and top scorer Chris Wood will be 34 years old in a couple of months time. The Kiwi scored 20 goals with three assists, that was his best ever season in the EPL and by some way and he also played his most ever EPL minutes, an additional and HUGE 67% compared to the previous campaign and it would be a miracle if he came close to any of those numbers, Forest have also won just 2 of the last 12 games ( 8 defeats) in which he has played 45 minutes or less.
They did well in Europe, with a run the the Europa League semi final, but finished 16th in the league, just five points above the drop zone and worked their way through four "permanent" head coaches and are now on a 5th . With Oliver Glasner at the helm and with a juicy big money contract (for however long it might last) after winning an FA Cup, Community Shield and Europa Conference League title with Crystal Palace, who previously had an empty trophy cabinet.
Glasner's record is insane! He has coached four clubs, taking LASK from second tier football to the Champions League in four years. Wolfsburg to 7th and 4th place in the Bundesliga and CL football in two seasons! Next up he took Eintracht Frankfurt to the Champions League, also winning the Europa League and to a DFB Pokal final. We have already set out his record with the Eagles. Success, trophies and all with clubs that had not had much of either prior to his arrival and it is as impressive a CV as you are likely to find IMO. However, and I guess you knew this coming, he fell out with players and his bosses at Wolfsburg, left Frankfurt early and was very outspoken in the media in his final season at Palace. I am not sure that he is an easy man to keep happy and we know that Forest boss Evangelos Marinakis has had two roads built at the City Ground, his way and the highway!
Forest have received a British club record fee for Elliott Anderson from Manchester City and I discussed that move in my City notes. They have not spent much at all so far, but seem sure to and it appears a couple of deals are close and last summer they spent £220m on a host of young talented players (nine aged 20-24) all of whom should improve this season.
I feel we have a good handle on Forest and with no European distractions, a young squad and very talented head coach, they seem sure to improve in the league and also likely to go well in one of the cups. They just need Glasner and Marinakis to stay on friendly terms, which is easier said than done!
Forest have stepped up their recruitment and begun to build "Glasner's" team, the signing of Ivory Coast CB Ousmane Diomande from Sporting FC for £34m looks a key part and he will help form a very talented back three alongside Murillo and Milenkovic, in the head coach's beloved 3-5-2.
Good luck!
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