While Nuno Espirito Santo's tenuous relationship with the Nottingham Forest ownership rages on, hopes remain high that last season's success can be used as a platform for new riches.
A heavy summer of spending has run counter to Nuno's desire to play with a more compact first-team squad. Still, the pointers are promising, and even after last week's surprise defeat to West Ham United, there is reason for the Reds to be excited for the times ahead.
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Nuno Espirito Santo in action for Nottingham Forest.
Last season's success in the Premier League has led to Forest awaiting a campaign in the Europa League, with the stern, steely defence doing such fine work over the past year.
However, it was Chris Wood at the other end of the field who took many of the plaudits, with the 33-year-old still firing them in for the Tricky Trees.
Chris Wood continues to deliver
When Wood arrived at the City Ground in January 2023, he arrived as a Newcastle United reject, and many believed his best days were behind him.
That couldn't be further from the truth.
Chris Wood
The New Zealand international has scored 36 goals from 69 matches in the Premier League, including a remarkable 20-strike haul last term. Pundit Alan Shearer praised his "unbelievable" shooting last term, the focal point of the Tricky Trees' success.
Lethal and commanding in the final third, the powerful striker has already added two goals to his collection this term, and now stares down the runway at that elusive centurion badge, 91 goals scored in the competition.
His second in the opening-day match against Brentford was a thing of beauty, collecting, scuttling, striking. The net bulges.
It was a lovely strike, engineered by the creative brilliance of Elliot Anderson in the centre. And it is the robust centre-midfielder who is shaping into Forest's main man.
Forest have hit gold on Elliot Anderson
In July 2024, Newcastle United were forced to sell homegrown prospect Anderson to avoid PSR-related disaster.
He joined Forest in a £35m deal, perhaps a little costly at the time, but since viewed as a shrewd deal for an elite talent. The 22-year-old has been nothing short of a bona fide success, right from the get-go.
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Elliot Anderson celebrates after scoring against Tottenham Hotspur.
Instrumental in qualifying for Europe last year, analyst Ben Mattinson has described Anderson as a "midfield warrior" and a "powerhouse carrier with a bit of passing range".
Hailed for his "utter class" performances in the Forest midfield by journalist Ralph Blackburn, Anderson is starting to shape into one of the most underrated midfielders in the Premier League, so cultured and complete for a high-flying outfit.
Anderson - PL record for Forest
Stats (*per game)
Matches (starts)
Goals
Assists
Touches*
Pass completion
Big chances created
Key passes*
Dribbles*
Ball recoveries*
Tackles + interceptions*
Duels (won)*
Data via Sofascore
An unrelenting defender and a silky, progressive attacking outlet from the centre, Anderson has it all, and given that he's still so early into his Premier League career, there's every reason to imagine that the duel machine might prove to be the defining player of the Nuno era, perhaps leaping ahead of someone like Wood.
His incisive passing and immense athleticism make an interesting comment on his potential, with Football Transfers recording his value to have doubled since first joining the Forest squad.
FFC in-text wider Anderson
Having recently earned his first call-up for duty with Thomas Tuchel's England squad, Anderson really has gone from strength to strength since leaving Tyneside.
To lose him would be inconceivable, packing so much into Forest's defensive and attacking manoeuvres. Wood might be a first-class talisman, but there's a case to be made that Anderson is the cream of the crop.