Yahoo News Nottingham Forest sent clear manager message as transfer needs highlighted
If there is one thing that the last three seasons have taught the wider world about Nottingham Forest, it’s that there’s rarely a dull moment at the City Ground.
From Steve Cooper’s remarkable transformation of the Reds from Championship relegation candidates to play-off winners, last season’s rollercoaster top-flight return after 23 years and now locking horns with the Premier League over VAR and player spending, the Reds have seldom ducked a fight.
No doubt, all that is part of what makes Reds supporters love the club so much, but the challenges are far from over. Season ticket price rises have angered many supporters, although they largely seem to be bringing Forest into line with many of their top-flight rivals. Then there is the City Ground, and a £10m battle between the club and the City Council over Forest’s spiritual home. But most pressing for Reds fans still trying to get their breath after a nail-biter of a 2023/24 survival battle is the future of head coach Nuno Espirito Santo.
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The Portuguese former boss of Wolves and Tottenham successfully ducked the brickbats of a difficult campaign to keep the Reds in the top-flight, but it seems his future at the City Ground is not assured.
Amid talk linking him with German giants Bayern Munich, reports have also emerged of the Forest hierarchy assessing their options and running the rule of possible replacements. Nuno’s performance as Reds boss and his future at the club figured highly in our end-of-season poll of supporters, and they have now had their say.
Asked to rate the job he has done this past season, opinion was split. Of the nearly 2,000 respondents to our poll, 46 percent said “good”, while another 13 percent said “very good”, but 33 percent considered his efforts to be no more than “average”.
But 46 percent of respondents believed the club was right to sack promotion manager Cooper, while a clear 64 percent voted to stick with Nuno for next season, although 22 percent were “unsure”.
Reflecting on Forest’s 2023/24 campaign, 62 percent of fans who took part in the poll rated it as below average, another 19 percent opted for “average” and a further 16 percent said it was no more than they had expected.
Asked why they thought Forest had found themselves in another relegation battle, 38 percent of respondents put it down to the Reds still establishing themselves in the Premier League. However, 23 percent laid it at the door of refereeing and VAR issues.
Looking ahead to next season, a majority of supporters (54 percent) hope to see four to six new arrivals once the summer transfer window opens, while 42 percent reckon between one and three new players will be sufficient.
Asked which positions were most in need of attention, 55 percent of votes went with a new striker, while second best on 18 percent was a central defender.
Looking at Forest’s transfer business over the last two windows, 46 percent said it was no more than average, while 33 percent of votes went for “good”. Another 19 percent rated it as “poor”.
Looking at the overall running of the club, 41% of fans taking part in the poll opted for “generally, yes” when asked if they had confidence in Evangelos Marinakis’ ownership. Another 16 percent admitted they had “some doubts” but 36 percent were right behind him, opting for “yes, absolutely” in our poll options.
Forest end of season poll results in full
Who was your player of the season?
Morgan Gibbs-White - 32%
Murillo - 47%
Anthony Elanga - 2%
Chris Wood - 14%
Neco Williams - 5%
How would you rate Forest’s season?
Very good - 3%
Average - 19%
Below average - 62%
As expected - 16%
What do you think is the main reason Forest found themselves in another relegation fight?
Still establishing themselves in the Premier League - 38%
Referee/VAR issues - 23%
Points deduction - 9%
Manager decisions - 14%
Player absences (injuries and AFCON) - 16%
How would you rate the job Nuno has done?
Excellent - 3%
Very good - 13%
Good - 46%
Average - 33%
Poor - 5%
Did Forest make the right decision to sack Steve Cooper?
Yes - 46%
No - 23%
Not sure - 31%
Would you stick with Nuno for next season?
Yes - 64%
No - 14%
Not sure - 22%
How many signings should Forest make this summer?
None - 1%
1-3 - 42%
4-6 - 54%
7-10 - 2%
10+ 1%
Which position should be the priority for Forest to strengthen in the transfer window?
Goalkeeper - 7%
Full-back - 5%
Central defender - 18%
Midfield - 13%
Winger - 2%
Striker - 55%
How would you rate Forest’s transfer business in the last two windows?
Excellent - 2%
Good - 33%
Average - 46%
Poor - 19%
Do you have confidence in Evangelos Marinakis’ ownership?
Yes, absolutely - 36%
Generally, yes - 41%
Some doubts - 16%
No, not really - 4%
No, not at all - 3%
