Nottingham Forest enter the new season hoping Oliver Glasner can finally provide the consistency that has been missing after a remarkable campaign in which the club went through four different permanent head coaches.

Forest’s writers’ predicted Premier League finish is 11th, although that figure represents the average of the Guardian’s predictions rather than an individual forecast from Will Unwin. The club ended last season in 16th place.

Glasner Begins to Shape His Forest Team

Glasner has wasted little time putting his tactical stamp on the squad. The Austrian has moved Forest towards a 3-4-2-1 formation, the system that helped him achieve success during his time at Crystal Palace.

Players will need time to become comfortable with the new structure, but pre-season has offered encouraging indications. One of Forest’s biggest advantages is the quality available at centre-back, with three strong options capable of forming the defensive core of Glasner’s approach.

The need for stability is obvious. Having four permanent managers in a single season created constant tactical changes, with Forest’s players repeatedly asked to adjust to different ideas. That instability contributed to a campaign in which the club found itself pulled into a relegation fight.

Glasner should at least offer a clearer direction. Forest will not have European football to contend with this season, which could reduce the workload on the squad. The group is also arguably stronger than it has been in previous seasons, while a settled tactical environment could help Dan Ndoye and Dilane Bakwa after both endured difficult introductions to Premier League football.

Another priority is finding a striker. Chris Wood’s age and injury history make it difficult to assume the 34-year-old can lead the attack throughout an entire campaign. Liam Delap has emerged as a target and would appear well suited to Forest’s needs, although persuading Chelsea to sell the 23-year-old would require a significant investment.

Stadium Plans and a Busy Boardroom

Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis has taken legal action against Crystal Palace following a derogatory banner aimed at him by some Palace supporters. The dispute attracted considerable attention, although Marinakis is no stranger to the spotlight.

Away from the controversy, the club is still waiting for planning approval for an ambitious redevelopment of the City Ground. The proposal would increase capacity from around 30,500 to 52,500.

If permission is secured, work could begin next summer. Progress has been slow, but a development of this size was never going to be straightforward, particularly because the plans involve demolishing existing properties.

Fans Remain Divided Over Marinakis

Ticket pricing became a major issue for Forest supporters last season, particularly during the club’s Europa League campaign. Weak demand eventually forced the club to reduce prices, while season-ticket costs were frozen in an effort to ease tensions.

Marinakis remains broadly popular among supporters because of the progress Forest have made in recent years. However, his willingness to make frequent managerial changes continues to generate criticism among sections of the fanbase.

Glasner Faces His Own Challenge

The decision to replace Vítor Pereira with Glasner was unexpected. Pereira had helped restore some stability, making his dismissal difficult to anticipate, while Glasner had only recently departed Palace, adding an intriguing dimension given the strained relationship between the two clubs.

Even so, Glasner appears to be a stronger tactical match for the players available at the City Ground. His previous experience at Palace also showed that he is willing to challenge club executives when transfer decisions do not align with his plans.

That relationship will be important at Forest. If Glasner is to establish himself for the long term, he will need to work effectively with the club’s hierarchy as well as the players on the pitch.

The Numbers Behind Forest’s Struggles

Forest’s 16th-place finish was mirrored in Opta’s expected-points standings last season, underlining how poor the underlying campaign became.

The circumstances were unusual. Forest became the first Premier League side to appoint four permanent managers during one season, yet none of those coaches managed to finish their spell with a positive expected-goal difference during the 2025-26 campaign.

That is one of the clearest challenges awaiting Glasner. His task is not simply to improve Forest’s league position but to raise the team’s underlying performance. Failure to do so would make his position at the City Ground increasingly difficult to sustain.

Ousmane Diomande Leads the Recruitment

Forest’s transfer strategy appears considerably more selective than in previous years. At the time of writing, Ousmane Diomande is the only summer arrival for whom the club has paid a transfer fee.

Forest committed £34m to bring the Ivorian defender from Sporting, making the 22-year-old a significant investment. Glasner is a major admirer of Diomande, and the defender offers both immediate value and the potential to become an important part of the team for many years.

His ability to contribute straight away while continuing to develop makes him a particularly important addition to Glasner’s defensive plans.

McAtee Has a Chance to Rebuild His Reputation

James McAtee endured a disappointing first season in Nottingham. Regular opportunities were difficult to find because Morgan Gibbs-White occupied the role ahead of him, leaving McAtee with limited scope to establish himself.

There had been expectations that the midfielder might leave during the summer, but he remains with Forest. His situation could now change after the club failed to sign Lucas Bergvall, potentially opening a central midfield role that had been earmarked for Elliot Anderson’s replacement.

McAtee possesses the technical quality to make an impact when Forest have the ball. However, becoming a regular contributor will require greater intensity and tactical discipline when possession is lost. Glasner may offer him the opportunity to revive his Forest career, but McAtee will need to take advantage of it.

Aina Returns With Plenty of Energy

Ola Aina will not be heading to the World Cup after Nigeria failed to qualify for the tournament, but the absence of international duty may have given him an unusually enjoyable break from football.

The Forest defender made the most of his time away from the pitch. His summer activities included paintball with Fikayo Tomori, visits to both the French Open and Wimbledon, and a trip to the British Grand Prix where he was able to experience the event from the pits.

After such a varied summer, Aina should return to club football refreshed and ready for the new campaign.