Nottingham Forest’s slow start shifts early scrutiny onto Glasner and Delap
Nottingham Forest sit 19th in the Premier League after a winless home start that has turned attention onto manager Oliver Glasner and striker Liam Delap, with Delap set to return to Ipswich on Friday night.
The club had hoped the arrival of a highly regarded manager and a £45m forward would lift their fortunes, but Forest have scored zero home goals and collected a solitary point at the City Ground, a beginning that has intensified focus on the coaching duo and playing staff. The club moved decisively this summer by removing Vítor Pereira and recruiting Glasner, who was brought in with the expectation he could upgrade the team the way supporters believe he did at Crystal Palace. The transfers of Glasner and Delap were expensive and some fans expect quick results, yet the coaching side requires Glasner to learn the club while implementing his methods and Delap to rebuild confidence through goals.
Tactically, Glasner has introduced formations unfamiliar to many Forest players, including a three-at-the-back system and the use of two No 10s, and the squad has had to adapt while coping with the loss of Elliot Anderson. Recruitment this summer was described as measured, prioritising positions that required strengthening and avoiding the unnecessary purchases that previously troubled the club after promotion. That approach is part of a longer-term plan rather than an instant overhaul.
Specific signings and role changes underpin that strategy: Glasner envisaged James McAtee in a deeper midfield role, signed Xaver Schlager on a free transfer, brought in Ousmane Diomande in defence, and persuaded Daniel Muñoz to follow him from Selhurst Park. Those moves were highlighted as targeted improvements to the squad rather than wholesale change.
Statistically there are encouraging indicators beneath the results. According to Opta, Forest rank seventh in the Premier League for expected goals (xG) but have scored the fewest goals—five—and are the biggest xG underperformers at -6.2, a discrepancy equivalent to missing almost a goal per game. The team have produced 62 shots at home that have come to nothing, and the data suggest that if every side had scored and conceded the goals measured by xG, Forest would be fourth in the table.
Delap’s personal situation has been cited as a factor in the slow start: a disappointing year at Chelsea and a lack of pre-season are said to have set him back after Forest attempted to sign him before he went to Stamford Bridge. The club remain confident in his profile—described as an ideal No 9 with pace, power and sharp finishing—but he must improve on a record of one goal every five league appearances. Delap has scored once for Forest so far, contributes by pressing opposition centre-backs as the front line of defence, produced a quick throw-in to set up a goal at Anfield and nearly duplicated that intervention against Arsenal only for Chris Wood to miss the chance; Forest allowed Arsenal a single shot on target last Sunday, which was deflected in for the winner.
Reflecting on recent results, Glasner said: “It feels very unfair. We have to accept we are missing some bits. But the performance in many parts was very good.” His managerial record includes two full seasons at Selhurst Park in which he won two major trophies for a club that had gone almost 120 years without one, plus two European titles, and the article notes his distinctive formation and execution developed over 12 years in coaching. Chief football officer George Syrianos is described as Glasner’s biggest advocate and has told supporters the manager would be given time; the club hope the current endeavour is rewarded with greater luck.
Forest are remaining calm as Delap prepares to return to Ipswich on Friday night, and Friday will be Glasner’s eighth Premier League match at Forest, three more than Ange Postecoglou was permitted before being sacked this time last year by the owner, Evangelos Marinakis.