Nottingham Forest – A Struggle This Season
Nottingham Forest, the Tricky Trees, hoped the arrival of Oliver Glasner would end last season’s chaos. Instead, they’re second from bottom with the league’s worst attack, and they play Ipswich tonight.
The Numbers
Forest have won once in seven league games, with two draws and four defeats, and sit 19th. They have five points and five goals, the fewest in the league. They haven’t scored in any Premier League home game this season, and they’ve won only once away.
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Chances Without Goals
The picture isn’t as bad as the table suggests. Opta ranks Forest seventh for expected goals, but they’ve scored the fewest and are the biggest underperformers, missing almost a goal a game. They keep creating, but they keep missing. Chris Wood missed a clear chance against Arsenal.
That match summed it up. Forest lost 1-0 when Noni Madueke’s late deflected strike beat them with Arsenal’s only shot on target. Glasner admitted it was another defeat and another game when they couldn’t score at the City Ground.
A New System And A Big Departure
Glasner’s methods take time. Playing three at the back is rarely the norm, nor is having two No. 10s, and Forest lost their best player, Elliot Anderson, to Manchester City. The summer’s £45m striker signing, Liam Delap, has also been slow to start. He has scored once for Forest, though he’s pressing relentlessly as the front line of defence. His one goal this season was the opener in a 2-1 win at Aston Villa, which is Forest’s only league win so far.
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Injuries
Igor Jesus is out with a calf injury, and Nicolò Savona has a knee problem. Morgan Gibbs-White missed the Arsenal defeat with a muscle issue but is available tonight. That’s a big factor, because Gibbs-White is the creative heart of the team. He’s been involved in 45 Premier League goals for the club, more than any other player.
A Club That’s Been Here Before
It’s an uncomfortable echo of last season. Forest had an identical record of five points and five goals from seven games before Ange Postecoglou was sacked following a 3-0 home defeat by Chelsea. They went through four permanent managers that season, and Vítor Pereira left on 2 July after a mutual break clause was used. That season they finished 16th. There’s no sign Glasner faces immediate dismissal, but the pressure is building.
What Next
Forest travel to Ipswich, who are 10th, tonight. Delap has a strong record at Portman Road, scoring six of his 14 Premier League goals there. A win would ease the pressure. Another blank would make it very uncomfortable.
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