Why Nottingham Forest really can win the Premier League: The ‘finishers’ approach, Nuno’s blueprint for success and the ethos he shares with Brian Clough

Why Nottingham Forest really can win the Premier League: The ‘finishers’ approach, Nuno’s blueprint for success and the ethos he shares with Brian Clough

Nottingham boy Tom Cairney was the latest to write off his hometown club’s title chances despite watching them move level with Arsenal in second spot.

‘I can’t see them being in the title race,’ said the Fulham midfielder, in his role as a Sky Sports pundit, following Nottingham Forest’s 3-0 win at Wolves. ‘There is half the season left and they are bottom of the league in terms of possession. I think they will hit a wall at some stage.’

This is exactly what most observers were saying about another East Midlands club nine years ago. Many refused to believe Leicester City were really in the title race until the moment they watched Wes Morgan lifting the Premier League trophy on the pitch at the King Power Stadium.

While the Leicester story may never be repeated, it would be foolish to rule Forest out. Their attacking numbers need to improve and the future of key men like Chris Wood and Morgan Gibbs-White must be solved, but there are so many reasons to be optimistic.

As they try to do the double over leaders Liverpool on January 14, Mail Sport explains why Forest can stay the course to the end.

Nottingham Forest continued their stunning season with a 3-0 win over Wolves on Monday 

Some have claimed they could repeat Leicester's historic feat and win the Premier League

Some have claimed they could repeat Leicester’s historic feat and win the Premier League

But Tom Cairney, speaking on MNF, was the latest to rule Forest out of this year's title race

But Tom Cairney, speaking on MNF, was the latest to rule Forest out of this year’s title race 

Squad depth 

It’s time to stop making jokes about Forest and their haphazard transfer policy. There are so many examples of excellent business but this one takes some beating: a combined £20million to sign Nikola Milenkovic and Murillo, probably the best centre back pairing in the Premier League this season.

If either of those players is missing, Forest have an excellent replacement in Morato (£9m). It is the same further forward, where Jota Silva and Ramon Sosa keep wingers Callum Hudson-Odoi and Anthony Elanga on their toes, while Elliot Anderson can switch from midfield to No 10 if Gibbs-White is unavailable. Full backs Neco Williams and Ola Aina can play on either flank.

Former England rugby union coach Eddie Jones used the term ‘finishers’ when referring to his bench players and Nuno has introduced a similar concept. Instead of being frustrated at their exclusion, substitutes now understand they have an important role.

Though Forest have used only 23 players this season, with only Manchester City fielding fewer (22), they have made 96 substitutions – joint-top with Brighton.

Forest's recruitment deserves huge credit with Murillo and Nikola Milenkovic in stunning form

Forest’s recruitment deserves huge credit with Murillo and Nikola Milenkovic in stunning form

Nuno Espirito Santo also uses subs well, with Taiwo Awoniyi scoring off the bench vs Wolves

Nuno Espirito Santo also uses subs well, with Taiwo Awoniyi scoring off the bench vs Wolves

Spirit 

When he replaced Steve Cooper as head coach in December 2023, Nuno Espirito Santo said: ‘We need the players to spend more time together and eat together. If players go straight home after training, you lose a big opportunity for them to engage. When they become friends, they will become family.’

Forest’s greatest manager Brian Clough forged an unbreakable bond among his players and Nuno is doing the same.

The dining area at the training ground has been transformed into a stylish restaurant, with communal areas that include table tennis and table football, comfortable chairs in front of a large TV screen, and even a barista serving high-quality coffee and smoothies.

The squad has been described as a ‘band of brothers’, with Gibbs-White, Aina, Hudson-Odoi and Elanga the natural leaders.

Nuno has transformed the team spirit, with the squad described as a 'band of brothers'

Nuno has transformed the team spirit, with the squad described as a ‘band of brothers’

Forest’s greatest manager Brian Clough forged an unbreakable bond among his players

Forest’s greatest manager Brian Clough forged an unbreakable bond among his players

Defence 

In Italy they are still scratching their heads that no wealthier English club tried to sign Milenkovic, who had been one of the best centre backs in Serie A after joining Fiorentina in 2017.

Very little gets past the 27-year-old Serb. He is strong in the tackle, dominant in the air and reads the game superbly. Alongside him, Murillo knows how to be in the right place at the right time, too: the Brazilian has blocked 43 shots this season and leads the way in that category alongside Southampton’s Taylor Harwood-Bellis.

Forest’s work without the ball is superb. Anderson, Ryan Yates and Nicolas Dominguez win vital tackles, Hudson-Odoi and Elanga help out their full backs and Wood is nearly as effective in his own box as he is in the opponents’.

No wonder Forest have conceded just 19 goals this term, kept the most clean sheets (nine) and only Arsenal and Liverpool have given up fewer xG (expected goals, a measure of how good a chance is) than Nuno’s men.

Under Nuno, Forest have conceded just 19 goals this season and kept the most clean sheets

Forest's work without the ball is superb and Murillo and Milenkovic are imperious at the back

Forest’s work without the ball is superb and Murillo and Milenkovic are imperious at the back

Wood and Sels 

A reliable structure is of little value if your centre forward cannot hit a barn door and your goalkeeper cannot stop the ball. Luckily for Forest, these players are having outstanding seasons.

What a turnaround it has been for Wood. After he joined Forest two years ago on a contract worth about £100,000 a week, injury restricted him to seven appearances in his first season and the hierarchy thought they had made an expensive mistake. Now he has 12 goals in 20 games. His finishing is excellent too – scoring one in three of his chances, which only Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo can beat this season.

Before Sels, Forest had not had a reliable goalkeeper since Brice Samba helped them to promotion in 2022. The Belgian is having a stunning campaign and regularly produces big saves, as he did from Jorgen Strand Larsen and Rodrigo Gomes in the 3-0 win at Wolves on Monday.

Chris Wood is in the form of his life and scored his 12th goal of the season on Monday night

Chris Wood is in the form of his life and scored his 12th goal of the season on Monday night

At the other end Matz Sels is proving to be Forest's first reliable keeper in a very long time

At the other end Matz Sels is proving to be Forest’s first reliable keeper in a very long time

Nuno’s journey 

Sit deep, soak up pressure, break at pace. Those principles brought Nuno his success at Wolves and he has revived them at Forest with fabulous results. Yet it has not always been a smooth pathway.

Towards the end of his time at Molineux, Nuno lost his way. Perhaps under pressure from above, he tried to make Wolves a more progressive team. It never worked and for a time Nuno lost his way. There was the disastrous four-month spell at Tottenham, and during his first season at Forest they thought about sacking him at least once.

Yet last summer Nuno rediscovered his mojo. He has decided that his way works and has resolved to ignore other perceptions.

Who cares if Forest have had less than 40 per cent of the ball this season? What does it matter if they rarely try to win it back high up the pitch?

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. After nearly 13 years as a boss, Nuno feels comfortable in his own skin – and it could not be better news for his club.


Source From: Premier League News, Fixtures and Results | Mail Online

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