Nottingham Forest went into the 2025-26 season on a high, having finished seventh the year before and qualified for Europe for the first time in 29 years. It didn't take long for things to unravel.
Nuno Espirito Santo was sacked just three games into the season, and what followed was a comedy of errors.
Another two permanent managers came and went (Ange Postecoglou lasted eight matches, Sean Dyche 25 matches) as Forest battled relegation. Survival was eventually sealed by gaffer number four, Vitor Pereira, courtesy of an impressive fightback in the spring.
Oliver Glasner must steady the Nottingham Forest ship and get the club back into Europe and trophy contention
The recipe for success under the (second) former Wolves manager was based around unshackling Morgan Gibbs-White. Forest's talisman bagged nine goals in 10 league games under Pereira and deserved as much credit as anyone for the club's strong finish. Far more admirable was Forest's European form, as Brian Clough's old club rolled back the years.
Beating the likes of Porto (twice) and Fenerbahce, they reached the Europa League semi-finals, where they ultimately lost to Aston Villa. The sparkling form of Igor Jesus was crucial to that progress. Supporting Evangelos Marinakis' Forest is never dull, though, with Pereira sacked this summer, and replaced by Oliver Glasner. Most fans would settle for managerial continuity and a mid-table finish in 2026-27. It's hard to feel certain of either of those outcomes.
The Coach
Oliver Glasner held talks with Milan this summer after opting to call time on two-and-a-half years with Crystal Palace, so his decision to join Forest, who finished one place below the Eagles, was a surprise. How things go could depend on his relationship with the owner.
Key Player (and Top Scorer)
Morgan Gibbs-White, 26, is so central to Forest – creative, relentless in the press and increasingly deadly, scoring 15 league goals – that his World Cup squad omission bordered on a shock.
The Englishman bagged 18 goals in all competitions for his side, the most from any individual at the club. Forest supporters will be praying he avoids more horrific facial injuries this term.
Last Season's Results
PREMIER LEAGUE: 16th
FA CUP: Third Round
LEAGUE CUP: Third Round
EUROPA LEAGUE: Semi-final
Lessons From Last Year
Consistency is key. For the second year running, and despite having several different managers, Forest largely used the same back five in the Premier League as long as they were available: keeper Matz Sels behind Ola Aina, Murillo, Nikola Milenkovic and Neco Williams.
That quintet, screened by Elliot Anderson and Ibrahim Sangare, were crucial to the Tricky Trees conceding fewer goals than Liverpool and Bournemouth, and just one more than third-placed Manchester United.
While it was a season to forget in front of goal, Forest had the joint eighth-best defence and that's ultimately what kept them in the division.
Most Likely To...
Rotate elsewhere. Only relegated West Ham (32) used more players than Forest (31) last term.
Least Likely To...
Bask in mid-table serenity. In the club's four seasons back in the top flight, they've finished 16th, 17th, 7th and 16th. So, expect Forest to either push for Europe or be mired in a battle for survival.
View From The Stands
Words by: LEE CLARKE @redsidetrentpod
Last season was certainly memorable. The first club to have four managers in a Premier League season also reached the Europa League semi-finals, while finishing 16th. Turbulent.
The big talking point is whether we can actually keep one manager for the whole season.
Our key player will be Morgan Gibbs-White. We have to keep him. He got 18 goals and seven assists in the league and Europe last year. We can't replace him and Elliot Anderson in the same summer.
The active player I'd love to have back is Anthony Elanga.
The opposition player I'd love here is Jarrod Bowen. It's unrealistic, due to his elite quality, but he'd be an amazing fit for our system.
The opposition player who grinds my gears is Bruno Fernandes. The bloke is like a petulant kid who has been told he can't have the last Rolo!
Fans think our owner is determined, passionate and a little crazy – but his heart is in the right place.
The pantomime villain will be Sean Dyche, if any top flight side is mental enough to take him on. If not, it'll be Frank Lampard due to his Derby links.
The best thing about matchdays at our ground is The Nav. It's a brilliant boozer with top-notch beer, a football quiz and a barbecue on site.
A social media account to follow is @wt_analysis – he recently got himself a job in football, based on his brilliant data on all things Nottingham Forest.
We'll finish in the top 10.
Fixtures
AUGUST
22 Leeds (H)
29 Liverpool (A)
SEPTEMBER
5 Tottenham (H)
12 Aston Villa (A)
19 Coventry (H)
OCTOBER
10 Crystal Palace (A)
17 Arsenal (H)
24 Ipswich (A)
31 Brentford (A)
NOVEMBER
7 Man City (H)
21 Bournemouth (A)
28 Chelsea (H)
DECEMBER
2 Hull City (A)
5 Brighton (H)
12 Sunderland (A)
19 Everton (H)
26 Man United (A)
30 Newcastle (A)
JANUARY
2 Fulham (H)
6 Hull City (H)
16 Man City (A)
23 Bournemouth (H)
30 Chelsea (A)
FEBRUARY
6 Brentford (H)
10 Fulham (A)
20 Man United (H)
27 Everton (A)
MARCH
3 Newcastle (H)
13 Tottenham (A)
20 Aston Villa (H)
APRIL
10 Leeds (A)
17 Liverpool (H)
24 Sunderland (H)
MAY
1 Brighton (A)
8 Crystal Palace (H)
15 Arsenal (A)
23 Ipswich (H)
30 Coventry (A)
Title Odds
Nottingham Forest to win the Premier League title odds: 500/1
FFT Verdict
FourFourTwo verdict: Nottingham Forest to finish 18th.
It could be the latter, particularly after the departure of Anderson. Glasner's arrival does give them more hope, though – if Pereira had started the season, we feared for a repeat of Wolves' slide.
This feature was written in June as part of FourFourTwo magazine's legendary Season Preview issue which can be ordered here.
