Team analysis: Nottingham Forest under Nuno Espirito Santo
Impressive Unbeaten Start in the Premier League
Nottingham Forest has started the current Premier League season strongly, remaining one of seven unbeaten teams after four rounds. This is particularly remarkable for a team not traditionally considered among the top-tier clubs in the league. Their performance reflects a well-structured approach, delivering not just results but also quality gameplay, which has surprised many observers. One of the standout moments of their season so far was defeating Liverpool away from home, which underscored their growing stature in the league.
TWELVE GPT:
Nottingham Forest have had a solid season so far. Their chance creation has been typical, but they have been efficient with a higher proportion of box entries resulting in a shot. They have performed well in attacking transitions, maintaining more possessions after five seconds than most other teams. Defensively, they have been average, although their opponents have struggled to make quick box entries against them. Facing Nottingham Forest, teams have to be mindful of their strong transitions and clinical ability when entering the penalty area.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s Tactical Influence
The arrival of Nuno Espirito Santo as the manager had a major impact on the club’s success. His tactics, particularly the reliance on counter-attacks, have been highly effective. This worked especially well because of the specific types of players in Forest’s squad, such as Hudson-Odoi, Elanga, Gibbs-White, and Chris Wood. Their ability to execute swift, incisive counter-attacks makes them a dangerous side against stronger opponents. Nuno also shown adaptability by adjusting his defensive setups from game to game, improving the team’s stability.
TWELVE GPT:
Nottingham Forest is playing a strong season in terms of attacking transition. They have effectively regained possession frequently and have been able to keep control after transitions better than most teams. Their threat level and goal-scoring chances just after recovering the ball are standard. For their opponents, it would be important to limit their space and counter against their efforts to keep the ball long and tire out the defending team.
In the 2024/25 season, Nottingham Forest displayed strong performance in terms of attacking transitions. Significant long-term improvements were observed in several metrics, including expected threat (xT), expected goals (xG), box entries, and final third entries within 10 seconds after recovery, with the latest matches continuing to show some improvement in these areas. Additionally, there were positive trends in recovery line height and possessions retained after 5 seconds, although these showed smaller increases. On the whole, there're a general gain with beatiful variety metric-wise between matches.
Strong Defensive Foundation
One of the major improvements under Nuno has been Forest’s defensive structure. They’ve been able to limit the number and quality of chances opponents create against them. Statistically, they boast some of the lowest xG against them in the league, with only a few teams like Fulham and Chelsea forcing opponents to shoot from further out. This defensive solidity was instrumental in their strong start to the season, allowing the team to absorb pressure and strike back on the counter.
TWELVE GPT:
Nottingham Forest have played a solid season with an efficient defensive approach. Their opponents have struggled to challenge their defence, resulting in notably lower expected threat and fewer final third entries arriving into the penalty box. Despite winning a higher proportion of defensive duels, they operated with a lower defensive intensity, which suggests a more calculated and tactical approach to their defending. They had success disrupting their opponent but didn't constantly press or engage aggressively. Teams preparing to meet Nottingham Forest should expect a disciplined and resilient defence that focuses on winning key duels and restricting high-quality chances.
Nottingham Forest appears to be solidifying their defence in the ongoing 2024/25 season. The team has seen significant decreases in Opp. xT and Opp. Final third to box %, indicating stronger defensive control and fewer dangerous opportunities for opponents. Though their defensive intensity has dropped significantly, which might be cause for concern, the overall trends show improvements in preventing opposition advances, while minor changes in defensive duels won % and pass tempo do not detract from this general strength.
Depth and Squad Stability
Although Nottingham Forest has had a high turnover of players in recent seasons—67 signings in one recent window—their current squad is beginning to show stability. The club has managed to trim its roster and retain a solid core of players capable of performing at a high level in the Premier League. The presence of talented players like Murillo and Milenković, who complement each other well defensively, adds to the squad’s balance. Nuno’s management has helped this group gel, providing them with a starting eleven that is competitive and consistent.
Room for Improvement Despite Success
Despite their unbeaten start and notable victories, there is an understanding that the current form might be difficult to sustain across the entire season. The club’s performance in some matches, such as the game against Liverpool where they had minimal offensive output in the first half, shows that Forest still has areas to improve. Nevertheless, their ability to frustrate and disrupt stronger teams with disciplined, tactical football points to their potential to finish in the mid-table or even higher. Their financial positioning, with a higher wage bill, reflects the ambition to maintain their Premier League status and perhaps challenge for European competition spots in the near future.
