Nottingham Forest Surpassing Expectations Under Nuno Espirito Santo
Nottingham Forest have emerged as one of the biggest surprises in the 2024 Premier League season, reaching their highest league position in 26 years. Currently sitting third in the table, Forest's remarkable climb follows a tumultuous previous season marked by a relegation scare and off-pitch controversies. As they prepare for a significant clash against Newcastle, Forest fans are reveling in a long-awaited resurgence.
Forest’s current success harkens back to August 1998, when Dave Bassett’s squad reached second place following a victory over Southampton. Now, Nuno Espirito Santo’s side has not only replicated such feats but also made headlines with their stellar performances. Among their achievements, a win over league leaders Liverpool stands out, marking Liverpool’s only loss so far this season. With Forest positioned above heavyweights like Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester United, the club’s fans are daring to dream of a return to their former glory days under Brian Clough.
This season’s turnaround comes after last year’s close brush with relegation, exacerbated by a four-point deduction in March for breaching the Premier League's financial rules. That penalty plunged the club into crisis, amplified by a contentious loss to Everton in April that saw Forest’s social media express frustration with VAR official Stuart Attwell. Despite the chaos, Forest managed to secure their place in the top flight and have thrived since.
A significant driver behind Forest's success has been the exceptional form of striker Chris Wood. The 32-year-old New Zealand international has been pivotal, scoring eight of the team’s 14 league goals and earning the Premier League Player of the Month award for October. Wood’s consistent scoring, with 22 goals in 30 league starts since joining permanently from Newcastle in June 2023, has propelled Forest’s attack.
On the defensive front, goalkeeper Matz Sels has been a standout, tying for the most clean sheets in the league. His reliability has been bolstered by Nikola Milenkovic’s solidifying presence since his transfer from Fiorentina, forming a formidable partnership with Brazilian centre-back Murillo.
Credit for Forest’s resurgence must also go to Nuno Espirito Santo. Initially met with skepticism after being appointed in December to replace Steve Cooper, Nuno has proved to be the ideal fit. His return to the Premier League, after a brief stint in Saudi Arabia with Al-Ittihad, has revitalized the team. Nuno’s structured approach and tactical astuteness have helped balance a squad that has been historically volatile under the ownership of Evangelos Marinakis. Marinakis, known for his ambitious and demanding nature, is currently serving a five-game ban for an incident involving officials in September.
“Starting from the owner, the ambition to grow and improve the club makes us all aware that we have to give our best,” Nuno stated. “But we cannot get away from our track... we have to remain humble.”
Further signaling Forest’s ambitious trajectory, Arsenal’s former sporting director Edu is set to join Marinakis’ multi-club operations, which includes Olympiacos. This move underscores the ownership’s intent to elevate Forest’s stature further.
Although Forest’s wins over top clubs like Liverpool and a draw with Chelsea hint at their potential to compete with the best, upcoming fixtures will truly test their mettle. Matches against Arsenal, Manchester City, and Manchester United, along with challenging home games against Aston Villa and Tottenham, will gauge whether Forest can maintain their impressive run.
Nuno remains focused, urging continuous improvement from his squad. “We have to recognize there are a lot of mistakes being made that we have to correct,” he said. For the fans at City Ground, however, hopes of European competition—absent since the 1995-96 season—are starting to feel within reach.
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