Nottingham Forest's Rocky Start Raises Questions for Glasner and Delap
Nottingham Forest’s current position in the Premier League isn’t what anyone envisioned. Sitting in 19th place after bringing in a well-regarded manager and a £45 million striker, the club is facing serious challenges. With zero goals scored at home and just one point to show for their efforts, it’s clear this isn’t the start they had hoped for.
As Liam Delap heads back to Ipswich, where he began his rise, Forest is trying to keep its cool. The club is keen to avoid the pitfalls of short-term thinking that plagued them last season. Twelve months ago, they were already on their third coach due to a disappointing campaign. This summer, they made the tough decision to part ways with Vítor Pereira, who had done well to keep them up, in favor of Glasner, hoping he could work his magic similar to what he did at Crystal Palace.
The hefty investments in Glasner and Delap have raised expectations among fans, but instant success isn’t often the reality in football. For Glasner, it’s about immersing himself in the club’s culture while implementing his tactical approach. For Delap, the focus is on regaining his confidence, which hinges on finding the back of the net.
Glasner's journey at Palace wasn’t smooth either; in his first season, the team only managed one win in their opening 13 league matches yet eventually secured a mid-table finish and an FA Cup victory. His time at Eintracht Frankfurt followed a similar pattern, winning just once in ten games before clinching the Europa League title. Adapting to Glasner's style is a challenge, especially since it involves a three-at-the-back setup and deploying two No 10s, all while coping with the loss of star player Elliot Anderson.
The club's recruitment strategy was deliberate, targeting specific areas for improvement while avoiding unnecessary signings that had burdened them after their promotion. Replacing Anderson became urgent, and Glasner believes James McAtee can thrive in a deeper midfield role alongside the savvy free transfer Xaver Schlager. The addition of Ousmane Diomande in defense was a smart move, and Glasner's influence was pivotal in bringing Daniel Muñoz from Selhurst Park.
Despite the current struggles, there are signs of promise. Glasner has seen better underlying statistics than any previous Forest manager in the Premier League era. His team ranks seventh for expected goals (xG) but has only managed to score five, making them the biggest underperformers with a -6.2 xG difference. That means they’ve been missing out on nearly a goal per game. If all teams scored according to xG, Forest would find themselves in fourth place.
It’s understandable that Delap hasn’t hit the ground running yet. After a tough year at Chelsea and missing out on pre-season, he faces an uphill battle. Forest had tried to bring him in prior to his Stamford Bridge move and still holds high hopes for him, but he must improve on his current record of one goal every five league games. Delap has the attributes of an ideal No 9—speed, strength, and sharp finishing—but turning potential into consistent results is no easy task.
Although he has scored just once for Forest, Delap is working hard, leading the press against opposing defenders. His quick thinking was evident when he set up a goal with a swift throw-in against Liverpool, and he nearly replicated that against Arsenal, only for Chris Wood to squander the opportunity.
Last weekend, Forest allowed Arsenal just one shot on target, which unfortunately became the deciding goal. Glasner can point to the absence of captain Morgan Gibbs-White, the team's creative heartbeat, as a contributing factor. “It feels very unfair,” Glasner remarked about the loss. “We have to accept we are missing some bits. But the performance in many parts was very good.”
During his two seasons at Selhurst Park, Glasner secured two major trophies for a club that had gone over a century without silverware. With two European titles under his belt and a distinctive tactical style developed over 12 years, Glasner understands the time required to instill his vision.
As they approach the eighth match of the Premier League season, there’s a clearer picture for Forest. The hope is that their hard work will soon translate into better luck on the pitch, with the right recruitment led by chief football officer George Syrianos and clever coaching. Syrianos is Glasner’s biggest supporter and has assured fans that the manager will be given the time to implement his plans.
Unlike Ange Postecoglou, who was dismissed after just five games last year, Glasner has already shown signs of progress. He remains optimistic that points will soon follow.
