Twenty-six days gone. Another 255 to go. Nottingham Forest can be pleased with their start to the season, but they know this particular marathon still has some way to run.
The first few weeks of the campaign have seen two draws and one win in the Premier League, as well as a Carabao Cup defeat on penalties. There have been 11 signings, plenty of exits and a few changes made to the City Ground.
The first international break of the season is now coming to an end, with the Reds preparing for a trip to face Liverpool on Saturday (3pm kick-off). Below, we take a look at what has caught our eye since the 2024/25 term kicked off against Bournemouth on the banks of the Trent.
Sensible summer
This summer saw something of a change in approach when it came to Forest’s transfer dealings. Sensible and considered business was the order of the day – and that has the makings of paying dividends.
Deadline day came and went without any last-minute panic buying. The club had already made a number of promising signings before then, and they rounded the window off with a couple more.
From the start of the summer, head coach Nuno Espirito Santo made it clear what he wanted from the window. The Portuguese wanted “options and solutions” brought in, numbers trimmed and key men retained. Tick, tick and tick.
There is still a question mark over whether the Reds have sufficient strength in depth up front. Plenty of fingers will be crossed between now and January concerning the fitness of Chris Wood and Taiwo Awoniyi.
Aside from that, though, the Reds have made some excellent signings – at least on paper. They brought in a mixture of youthful promise with the likes of Eric da Silva Moreira and valuable experience in Nikola Milenkovic and James Ward-Prowse. Milenkovic could prove to be one of the signings of the summer, while Moreira looks a real gem.
They raised significant cash through the sales of Odysseas Vlachodimos, Moussa Niakhate and Orel Mangala. Meanwhile, a number of fringe players were let go.
Just as significant for Nuno, though, was not losing any of his star men. Morgan Gibbs-White, Murillo, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Anthony Elanga and Neco Williams all remain in situ despite having been linked with other clubs.
Nuno’s style
It is early days but in their first few outings Forest look like a proper Premier League side. They look as though they have enough about them to push up the table this time around and avoid another nervy finish.
Some of their play has been great to watch. Nuno has clearly made the most of working with his squad in pre-season to get his ideas across.
But there is still more to do. The Reds have scored just one goal in each of their league games but could and should have bagged more.
There is certainly no shortage of talent at the top end of the pitch. Gibbs-White remains the main man and will no doubt have been buoyed by making his England debut. Hudson-Odoi and Elanga now have Jota Silva and Ramon Sosa breathing down their necks. And Nuno undoubtedly knows how to get the best out of Wood.
Defensively, the partnership of Milenkovic and Murillo has the makings of being an excellent one. The arrival of the former should hopefully address Forest’s set-piece woes at the back, while Ward-Prowse should be able to take care of them at the opposite end.
Key decisions
Deadline day arrivals Morato and Ward-Prowse were not available for the Reds’ draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers prior to the break. The bench looked pretty strong that day as it was, so Nuno will be left with some big selection dilemmas for this weekend’s trip to Anfield – and beyond.
How Ward-Prowse fits into the equation is going to be interesting. He will be eager to play, but who drops out of the XI to accommodate him will be something for Nuno to ponder. The Reds boss will no doubt be wary of making too many changes to a team on a decent run of form.
Aston Villa loanee Alex Moreno will also have made the move to the City Ground with game time in mind. Does Nuno bring him in at left-back and move Ola Aina to the right? What about Neco Williams?
Finding the right balance in midfield is also going to be important. Elliot Anderson has almost made himself undroppable with his performances so far. Ibrahim Sangare, meanwhile, continues to divide opinion among supporters.
Getting the best out of Sangare is the challenge for Nuno. And the same applies where Awoniyi is concerned. On his day, the striker is a menace for defenders but he looked like he was still searching for peak fitness and sharpness when he played against Newcastle. Missing a chunk of pre-season will not have helped.
Off-field changes
Nuno had a lot to contend with last term. From a points deduction to refereeing controversies and plenty of talk about the future of the City Ground, it was not an easy time for the Portuguese.
With a bit of luck, this season should be a bit calmer. Nuno has already said he does not expect another Profitability and Sustainability Rules breach.
As for the City Ground, changes continue to be made. The most noticeable is the corner box project. Work has been going on during the break, with the club having previously said the boxes would be set to open in the autumn.
The boxes might not be to everyone’s taste. But there is no denying they are a talking point.
A safe standing section was installed during the off-season and the stadium’s hospitality facilities were given a refresh. Meanwhile, work continues on an executive suite for owner Evangelos Marinakis. Some of the changes made may divide opinion, but the Greek is certainly continuing to invest in the club.
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