Nottingham Forest barely scraped past relegation in the 2022–23 season, with many expecting more of a challenge from the Garibaldis this campaign.
However, they’ve been largely riddled with injuries, and coupled with a dip in form for some of their best players, it looks like they will just survive relegation again this campaign.
With their season winding down, Afrosport takes a deep look into how their 2023–24 season in the Premier League played out.
Overall Review
Nottingham Forest hasn’t enjoyed the best campaign in the 2023–24 Premier League season.
As of when this review was made, the Garibaldis have won just eight games this season, one short of their 2022–23 campaign total. Additionally, they have lost 20 games, two more than they did last season, signalling how poor they have been this season.
Forest cannot finish above 17th position this season as they have conceded the fifth most goals in the league (66) and scored the fourth fewest goals (47).
Unsung Hero
Danilo dos Santos de Oliveira
The Brazilian joined Nottingham Forest in January 2023 and has since turned out great performances for the two-time European champions this season, despite evident struggles for the team in general.
Danilo has played 28 matches in the league this season for Forest, starting 19 and chipping in two goals and two assists.
He has made the third most progressive passes (81) for Forest this season while creating two big chances, the season most of any midfielder in the team.
Manager
Steve Cooper/Nuno Espirito Santo
Former England Under-17 manager Steve Cooper brought Forest back to the Premier League and kept them up in their first season back. However, he was dismissed this season after 18 games—losing ten, drawing five, and winning just three matches.
The Garibaldis then appointed former Wolves manager Nuno Espirito Santo, who won the Saudi Pro League with Al-Ittihad, before he was fired by the club.
Since Nuno’s appointment, they have won five games, drawn four, and lost ten matches, bringing them closer to Premier League safety.
Possible areas for reinforcement
With Forest almost safe from relegation, changes have to be made in certain areas if they desire to remain in the top division past the upcoming season.
They concede too many goals; therefore, possible reinforcements should be made in their center-back positions, especially going for a defender with pace, as that is clearly missing in their team.
Apart from Morgan Gibbs-White, they find chance creation hard to come by, and it would be great if they could bring in another dynamic midfielder. Also, they don’t score enough goals, and with Taiwo Awoniyi’s injury record, another goal scorer should be brought in.
Finally, their goalkeeping position needs to be looked at, as they seem to lack a stable knowledge of who is the number one choice.
Tactical selection options
Start One: Taiwo Awoniyi
Bench One: Chris Wood
Sell One: Divock Origi
