Full Breakdown
Nottingham Forest’s Early-Season Struggles Under Oliver Glasner
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event – Disappointing Start to the Premier League Campaign
In Oliver Glasner’s eighth league match as Nottingham Forest head coach, the club sit second-bottom with five points from seven games. The team has recorded only one win, a draw with Liverpool and another with Tottenham, and has failed to score at home, managing just five goals while conceding more than their expected-goals (xG) tally suggests they should have. The lack of points has intensified scrutiny of Glasner’s tactics and the recent £45 million investment in striker Liam Delap.
Background & Context – Managerial Turnover and New Signings
Glasner arrived in July, replacing Vítor Pereira after a season that saw three different head coaches. Owner Evangelos Marinakis and chief football officer George Syrianos promoted Glasner as a long-term appointment, citing his success at Crystal Palace (FA Cup winner) and Eintracht Frankfurt (Europa League winner). The recruitment drive targeted specific needs: James McAtee was earmarked for a deeper midfield role, Xaver Schlager arrived on a free transfer, and Ousmane Diomande was secured as a defensive signing. Despite these moves, the squad is still adjusting to Glasner’s three-at-the-back formation and the presence of two number-10s.
Data & Statistics – Goals, Expected Goals and Points
- Expected goals (xG) rank: 7th in the league (Opta).
- Goals scored: 5 (fewest in the division).
- xG underperformance: –6.2, the largest gap between expected and actual goals.
- Shots at home: 62, none resulting in a goal.
- Points: 5 from 7 matches, placing the club 19th.
If Forest had converted their xG, they would be positioned around fourth in the table, highlighting a stark discrepancy between creation and finishing.
Official Statements & Responses – Club Leadership and Coaching Perspective
He added that the absence of captain Morgan Gibbs-White impacted the result, while also emphasizing that the squad can be competitive without him. Regarding Gibbs-White’s fitness, Glasner confirmed the midfielder “trained for the entire week” and will be available for the upcoming match at Ipswich.
George Syrianos, Forest’s chief football officer, reiterated that the hierarchy will give Glasner time to implement his ideas, describing the recruitment as “well-thought-out” and the coaching approach as “clever.”
Data & Statistics – Individual Player Contributions
Liam Delap, signed for £45 million, has scored once for Forest and averages a goal every five league appearances. His lack of pre-season preparation and a previous season at Chelsea are cited as factors in his slow adaptation.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We had to dig deep, we know it's difficult to come here,” — Noni Madueke
- “We have elite players, all 20-something players are elite and of the highest level," Madueke added.” — Noni Madueke
These comments, made after Arsenal’s 1-0 victory over Forest, illustrate the depth advantage cited by the opposition.
What’s Next – Upcoming Fixture and Continued Patience
Forest travel to Portman Road to face Ipswich Town on Friday. The club’s hierarchy, led by Syrianos and Marinakis, has publicly committed to allowing Glasner additional time to translate his tactical philosophy into results. The outcome of the Ipswich match will be an early test of whether the team can convert created chances into points as the season progresses.
