Jump To:The CoachKey Player (and Top Scorer)Last Season's ResultsLessons From Last YearMost Likely To...Least Likely To...View From The StandsFixturesTitle OddsFFT VerdictCopy linkFacebookXPinterestEmailShare this article 0Join the conversationFollow usAdd us as a preferred source on GoogleNewsletterSubscribe to our newsletterNottingham Forest went into the 2025-26 season on a high, having finished seventh the year before and qualified for Europe for the first time in 29 years. It didn't take long for things to unravel.Nuno Espirito Santo was sacked just three games into the season, and what followed was a comedy of errors.Another two permanent managers came and went (Ange Postecoglou lasted eight matches, Sean Dyche 25 matches) as Forest battled relegation. Survival was eventually sealed by gaffer number four, Vitor Pereira, courtesy of an impressive fightback in the spring.Oliver Glasner must steady the Nottingham Forest ship and get the club back into Europe and trophy contentionThe recipe for success under the (second) former Wolves manager was based around unshackling Morgan Gibbs-White. Forest's talisman bagged nine goals in 10 league games under Pereira and deserved as much credit as anyone for the club's strong finish. Far more admirable was Forest's European form, as Brian Clough's old club rolled back the years.Beating the likes of Porto (twice) and Fenerbahce, they reached the Europa League semi-finals, where they ultimately lost to Aston Villa. The sparkling form of Igor Jesus was crucial to that progress. Supporting Evangelos Marinakis' Forest is never dull, though, with Pereira sacked this summer, and replaced by Oliver Glasner. Most fans would settle for managerial continuity and a mid-table finish in 2026-27. It's hard to feel certain of either of those outcomes. You may like Leeds United survived the drop last season, and now work is being done to cement the Whites as a Premier League outfit: Leeds 2026-27 season preview Ipswich Town have returned to the Premier League as fast as they fell from it in 2025, but will they be better prepared for survival this time around? Ipswich Town 2026-27 season preview Unai Emery's Europa League champions are the most likely non-Big 6 side to disturb the Premier League title race - Aston Villa 2026-27 season preview The CoachOliver Glasner held talks with Milan this summer after opting to call time on two-and-a-half years with Crystal Palace, so his decision to join Forest, who finished one place below the Eagles, was a surprise. How things go could depend on his relationship with the owner.Key Player (and Top Scorer)Morgan Gibbs-White, 26, is so central to Forest creative, relentless in the press and increasingly deadly, scoring 15 league goals that his World Cup squad omission bordered on a shock.Get FourFourTwo NewsletterThe best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.The Englishman bagged 18 goals in all competitions for his side, the most from any individual at the club. Forest supporters will be praying he avoids more horrific facial injuries this term.Last Season's ResultsPREMIER LEAGUE: 16thFA CUP: Third Round What to read next Fulham are a side edging closer to domestic success and European qualification, but can new boss Alvaro Arbeloa get them over the line? Fulham 2026-27 season preview Coventry City fought valiantly to make it back to the Premier League, but will surviving the drop prove to be an even greater task? - Coventry City 2026-27 season preview Hull City's return to the Premier League was borderline miraculous, but a far more absurd feat will be the requirement to stay up - Hull City 2026-27 season preview LEAGUE CUP: Third RoundEUROPA LEAGUE: Semi-finalLessons From Last YearConsistency is key. For the second year running, and despite having several different managers, Forest largely used the same back five in the Premier League as long as they were available: keeper Matz Sels behind Ola Aina, Murillo, Nikola Milenkovic and Neco Williams.That quintet, screened by Elliot Anderson and Ibrahim Sangare, were crucial to the Tricky Trees conceding fewer goals than Liverpool and Bournemouth, and just one more than third-placed Manchester United.While it was a season to forget in front of goal, Forest had the joint eighth-best defence and that's ultimately what kept them in the division.Most Likely To...Rotate elsewhere. Only relegated West Ham (32) used more players than Forest (31) last term.Least Likely To...Bask in mid-table serenity. In the club's four seasons back in the top flight, they've finished 16th, 17th, 7th and 16th. So, expect Forest to either push for Europe or be mired in a battle for survival.View From The StandsWords by: LEE CLARKE @redsidetrentpodLast season was certainly memorable. The first club to have four managers in a Premier League season also reached the Europa League semi-finals, while finishing 16th. Turbulent.The big talking point is whether we can actually keep one manager for the whole season.Our key player will be Morgan Gibbs-White. We have to keep him. He got 18 goals and seven assists in the league and Europe last year. We can't replace him and Elliot Anderson in the same summer.The active player I'd love to have back is Anthony Elanga.The opposition player I'd love here is Jarrod Bowen. It's unrealistic, due to his elite quality, but he'd be an amazing fit for our system.The opposition player who grinds my gears is Bruno Fernandes. The bloke is like a petulant kid who has been told he can't have the last Rolo!Fans think our owner is determined, passionate and a little crazy but his heart is in the right place.The pantomime villain will be Sean Dyche, if any top flight side is mental enough to take him on. If not, it'll be Frank Lampard due to his Derby links.The best thing about matchdays at our ground is The Nav. It's a brilliant boozer with top-notch beer, a football quiz and a barbecue on site.A social media account to follow is @wt_analysis he recently got himself a job in football, based on his brilliant data on all things Nottingham Forest.We'll finish in the top 10.FixturesAUGUST22 Leeds (H)29 Liverpool (A)SEPTEMBER5 Tottenham (H)12 Aston Villa (A)19 Coventry (H)OCTOBER10 Crystal Palace (A)17 Arsenal (H)24 Ipswich (A)31 Brentford (A)NOVEMBER7 Man City (H)21 Bournemouth (A)28 Chelsea (H)DECEMBER2 Hull City (A)5 Brighton (H)12 Sunderland (A)19 Everton (H)26 Man United (A)30 Newcastle (A)JANUARY2 Fulham (H)6 Hull City (H)16 Man City (A)23 Bournemouth (H)30 Chelsea (A)FEBRUARY6 Brentford (H)10 Fulham (A)20 Man United (H)27 Everton (A)MARCH3 Newcastle (H)13 Tottenham (A)20 Aston Villa (H)APRIL10 Leeds (A)17 Liverpool (H)24 Sunderland (H)MAY1 Brighton (A)8 Crystal Palace (H)15 Arsenal (A)23 Ipswich (H)30 Coventry (A)Title OddsNottingham Forest to win the Premier League title odds: 500/1FFT VerdictFourFourTwo verdict: Nottingham Forest to finish 18th.It could be the latter, particularly after the departure of Anderson. Glasner's arrival does give them more hope, though if Pereira had started the season, we feared for a repeat of Wolves' slide.This feature was written in June as part of FourFourTwo magazine's legendary Season Preview issue which can be ordered here.TOPICSPremier LeagueEd McCambridgeSocial Links NavigationStaff WriterEd is a staff writer at FourFourTwo, working across the magazine and website. A German speaker, hes been working as a football reporter in Berlin since 2015, predominantly covering the Bundesliga and Germany's national team. Favourite FFT features include an exclusive interview with Jude Bellingham following the youngsters move to Borussia Dortmund in 2020, a history of the Berlin Derby since the fall of the Wall and a celebration of Kevin Keegans playing career.
