Nottingham Forest enter the new Premier League season hoping stability finally replaces the chaos of last year. Four managers came and went during a turbulent 2025/26 campaign, but the club now believes they’ve landed a genuine coup in Oliver Glasner, fresh from delivering FA Cup, Community Shield and Conference League glory at Crystal Palace. Keep up to date with all of our picks and shows on the Premier League Gambling Podcast.
Nottingham Forest spent last season in a permanent state of emergency, stumbling to 16th place in the Premier League after a campaign defined by instability and survival mode. Four managers came and went , a churn that shredded any sense of continuity. The season began with hope but quickly descended into a relegation fight. Forest repeatedly changed direction in search of a spark. Performances were erratic, confidence fragile, and the club spent long stretches hovering dangerously close to the drop. Only a late surge, driven by Morgan Gibbs‑White’s goals, kept them afloat.
The managerial carousel ended with Vítor Pereira, who was then dismissed in July despite technically steering Forest to safety . His exit capped a year of turbulence that left the squad disjointed and the fanbase exhausted. Forest survived, but only just. The sense was clear that they couldn’t endure another season like it. That chaos set the stage for a decisive reset and the arrival of a manager with genuine pedigree. Stay across all of the Premier League results and fixtures here
Oliver Glasner
Nottingham Forest pulled off one of the most impressive managerial hires of the summer by landing Oliver Glasner, a coach whose stock has risen sharply after a glittering spell at Crystal Palace. Glasner arrives with genuine pedigree. He delivered FA Cup, Community Shield, and Conference League titles at Selhurst Park , transforming Palace into one of Europe’s surprise success stories. Before that, he built his reputation through structured, high‑energy football at Wolfsburg and Eintracht Frankfurt, consistently improving squads and imposing a clear tactical identity. Forest haven’t had a manager of this calibre in years. After last season’s chaos, his arrival feels like a stabilising force.
Glasner’s football is defined by organisation, intensity, and clarity. He favours a 3‑4‑3 system, the shape that underpinned Palace’s European run. I expect him to implement the same at Forest . His teams press aggressively, build through wide overloads, and rely on disciplined spacing. That’s a structure that should suit Forest’s new signings, especially Ousmane Diomande and Xaver Schlager. Crucially, Glasner isn’t dogmatic. He adapts to the squad he inherits, something he’s already stressed publicly. After a season of four managers and constant tactical resets, Forest finally have someone who brings order, identity, and a proven track record of lifting clubs out of turbulence.
Players Out
Elliott Anderson (£116 million, Manchester City)
Players In
Ousmane Diomande (£34 million, Sporting Lisbon)
Xaver Schlager (free, RB Liepzig)
Forest’s summer window has been one of the most decisive in the league, driven by a clear shift toward structure and high‑ceiling talent under Oliver Glasner. The headline move was the £116m sale of Elliot Anderson to Manchester City, a fee that instantly reshaped Forest’s budget and allowed them to rebuild the spine. They’ve spent it wisely. Ousmane Diomande arrived from Sporting CP for £34m, a Champions League‑tested centre‑back with AFCON pedigree and the athletic profile Glasner demands. In midfield, Forest reunited Glasner with Xaver Schlager, a trusted lieutenant from their Wolfsburg days.
There’s been a deliberate clearing of the decks too. David Carmo and Stefan Ortega both departed for Olympiacos, Angus Gunn moved to SJ Earthquakes, and Willy Boly was released. This trimmed a squad that had become bloated during last season’s managerial churn. The net effect is a cleaner, more coherent group: younger, more athletic, and far better suited to Glasner’s 3‑4‑3 structure. With Diomande anchoring the defence, Schlager organising midfield, and Gibbs‑White and Igor Jesus carrying the attacking load. Forest’s window has not been high profile, but seems sensible and progressive.
Nottingham Forest Premier League Odds
Premier League Winners 500/1
Top 4 Finish 33/1
Top 6 Finish 8/1
Top Half Finish +162
Bottom Half Finish -228
To be Relegated 8/1
To Finish Bottom 40/1
Strengths
Forest’s biggest strength is the manager. Oliver Glasner is a proven organiser, a coach who brings structure, clarity and a system that players buy into quickly. After last season’s chaos, his presence alone raises Forest’s floor. His preferred 3‑4‑3 gives Forest a defined identity, and the squad looks built to fit, something they never managed during last year’s managerial carousel.
The recruitment has been sharp. Ousmane Diomande gives Forest a Champions League‑level defender with the athleticism to play in Glasner’s aggressive system. Xaver Schlager is a huge upgrade in midfield. He’s experienced, disciplined, and already familiar with Glasner’s demands from their Wolfsburg days. Igor Jesus brings goals and confidence from Europe. Add in Morgan Gibbs‑White, still the heartbeat of the side, and Forest suddenly have a spine that looks coherent, balanced and capable of punching above their weight.
There’s also genuine depth now. Last season’s squad was bloated but uneven, this one is leaner, younger, and far better suited to a manager who thrives on organisation. With Glasner’s structure, a refreshed defence, and a midfield that finally looks Premier League‑ready, Forest enter the season with more stability, and more upside, than they’ve had in years.
Weaknesses
Forest may have upgraded key areas, but the squad still carries structural vulnerabilities. The attack is heavily dependent on Igor Jesus and Gibbs‑White for goals and creativity. There’s no reliable Premier League scorer behind them either if form dips or injuries strike. Wide areas also look thin: Forest have runners and work‑rate, but lack a consistent, high‑end winger who can change games on their own. In a Glasner system that relies on width and overloads, that absence could become a recurring problem.
There’s also the question of adaptation time. Glasner’s 3‑4‑3 is demanding , physically, tactically, and mentally. Forest’s squad is still learning its patterns. Several new signings are stepping into a league they’ve never played in, and Forest don’t have the luxury of a gentle start. their opening fixtures are brutal. If the system doesn’t click quickly, Forest could find themselves chasing stability again, especially with a defence that, despite being more athletic, remains largely untested as a unit.
Summary and Picks
Prediction 13th Place – 48 points
The points line is right on my number, so for me it’s a no bet in that market. Morgan Gibbs White was their top scorer last term but at +125 there has to be value in taking him on. Dan Ndoye had a good World Cup, and what it should be a low scoring heat, is big value at 14/1.
Dan Ndoye Top Forest Scorer 14/1
