With Forest making a strong start to the Premier League campaign in 2024/25, it’s perhaps a good time to remember where the Reds have come from.
Given the solid start, expectation levels have naturally risen and fans are dusting their passports off in preparation for a European tour.
The Reds naturally have a long way to go just yet but as a football fan, there is nothing wrong with daring to dream is there.
In December 2023, Steve Cooper was sacked by Evangelos Marinakis and in came Nuno Espirito Santo, tasked with bringing stability.
Things didn’t always go according to plan and Marinakis considered sacking Espirito Santo on two occasions last season.
The Portuguese boss couldn’t wave a magic wand and guide Forest to safety in a comfortable fashion – although the team did fall over the line eventually.
A full pre-season has seen the head coach reap the rewards and Forest are now thriving under the influence of the head coach.
Willy Boly of Nottingham Forrest is sent off during the Premier League match between Nottingham Forest and AFC Bournemouth at City Ground on Decemb...
Photo by Ryan Jenkinson/MB Media/Getty Images
The first Nottingham Forest XI under Nuno Espirito Santo
Forest face Bournemouth on home soil in Espirito Santo’s first game in charge and with games to come against Newcastle and Manchester United, points were required.
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In true Forest fashion, the Reds lost to Bournemouth but went and defeated both Newcastle and United in a matter of a few days.
This game was decided in the first half when Willy Boly was wrongly sent off for a second yellow card, leaving Forest to play for over an hour with 10 men.
Here is how the Forest team looked that day…
GK – Matt Turner
The stopper is now on loan at Crystal Palace and Espirito Santo replaced him in January with Matz Sels
RB – Neco Williams
Still at the club and has recently been restored to the team under Espirito Santo.
CB – Willy Boly
Struggling with injuries still and Boly has been linked with a move to Saudi Arabia.
CB – Murillo
A constant in the Forest team, Murillo is valued around the £70 million mark these days.
LB – Harry Toffolo
A really good player to have in the dressing room but Toffolo has struggled to get on the pitch this season.
CM – Ryan Yates
Remains the Forest captain and Yates has been the main beneficiary of a number of midfield injuries this season.
CM – Orel Mangala
The first big departure of the Espirito Santo era, Mangala was sold to Lyon and joined Everton on loan during the summer.
RW – Divock Origi
The Belgian was dreadful to Forest, scoring just once in an FA Cup game against Bristol City and failed to do anything of note at the club.
AMC – Morgan Gibbs-White
Scored against Manchester United this season and often produces the goods under Espirito Santo.
LW – Anthony Elanga
Isn’t always a regular at the moment but as a young player, there is hope that he will get back to his best.
ST – Chris Wood
Has scored a remarkable number of goals under Espirito Santo and has been replaying the manager’s faith for over a year now.
Substitutes
Odysseas Vlachodimos
Calamitous goalkeeper who moved to Newcastle for £20 million.
Moussa Niakhate
The Senegalese player joined Lyon in the summer to end two years with the Reds.
Nuno Tavares
Struggled at Forest but Tavares is now starring in Italy.
Ola Aina
Still at Forest and is on the cusp of a new deal.
Gonzalo Montiel
Montiel was linked with Forest in the summer but in truth, he didn’t do much at the City Ground.
Danilo
Broke his ankle 10 minutes into the season but is now back in training ahead of a return.
Cheikhou Kouyate
Was released in the summer and is surprisingly still without a club.
Nicolas Dominguez
Fighting for a shirt in the Forest team having been dropped against Manchester United.
Callum Hudson-Odoi
A regular in the team under Espirito Santo these days and he’s proved himself to the boss.
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