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Twelve months ago, Forest were brimming with optimism. After finishing 7th in the Premier League under Nuno Espirito Santo, the Tricky Trees were looking forward to pushing on in the league and first European campaign for 30 years in the Europa League. What followed was a season of chaos. There were plenty of highs, including glorious nights in Istanbul and Denmark throughout their run to the Europa League semi-finals. But there were also plenty of lows, as Forest spent long periods starring down the abyss of relegation after managers were dismissed left, right and centre. They survived, and now with Oliver Glasner at the helm, Forest will be hoping that last year was a blip and that they can resume their upwards climb towards troubling England’s elite. 2025/26 Season Recap Words by Jak Netting Nottingham Forest's 2025/26 campaign offered a mixed bag for supporters, with chaos on and off the pitch. A hugely disappointing domestic season saw the Reds knocked out in the earliest possible round in both cups, before slumping to a 16th-place finish in the Premier League. In truth, their league finish was much better than the relegation that was once feared to be a distinct possibility and was largely credited to the arrival of Vitor Pereira as the club's head coach. Pereira was Forest's fourth head coach last season, a sign of the chaos that ensued on and off the pitch. Nuno Espirito Santo was sacked after just three games, before Ange Postecoglou became the league's second shortest-serving boss of all time, with Evangelos Marinakis pulling the trigger after just 39 days. Sean Dyche lasted longer, and enjoyed some positive moments, and rejuvenated the fanbase early on, in large part thanks to his connection to the club, as a former academy player. But he too was sacked and, despite Pereira guiding Forest to a Europa League semi-final and Premier League survival, he was dismissed over the summer, as Marinakis opted to appoint then-jobless Oliver Glasner, weeks after he won a European trophy with Crystal Palace. Transfer Activity Words by Jak Netting Slow and steady has been the motto for Nottingham Forest this summer. While it has left some frustrated, it has been something of a welcome change compared to the chaos of last year, when 13 players arrived on Trentside over the summer. So far, there have been just four additions, with one of those, Gustavo Sa, heading straight to sister club Olympiacos on loan, therefore not adding to Oliver Glasner's squad, initially at least. Veteran backup goalkeeper Steven Benda and midfielder Xaver Schlager arrived on free transfers, with the latter a former player under Glasner at Wolfsburg, a signing led by the head coach. The Austrian World Cup star was the first through the door this summer, and has impressed so far throughout pre-season, leaving an immediate impression on fans. But by far the most high-profile acquisition was Ousmane Diomande, who arrived in a £34 million deal from Sporting. The Ivorian central defender had been a long-term target of Glasner and was viewed as an essential signing to facilitate the implementation of his 3-4-2-1 system at the club. There remains work to do for Forest, who are targeting a striker and a wingback, as well as several outgoings, both permanent and loan deals, but the business so far has been overwhelmingly good. One to Watch: Xaver Schlager Words by Snehasis Mukherjee This 28-year-old experienced Austrian midfielder, Xaver Schlager, could be one of the key players to watch out for at Nottingham Forest. Heading into the upcoming Premier League 2026/27 season, Schlager is one of the few signings the club has secured for their new head coach, Oliver Glasner. Schlager has joined the Premier League side from RB Leipzig on a free transfer. There is already an old connection between him and Glasner, with the pair having previously worked together at Wolfsburg, where the Austrian midfielder played 81 games across all competitions between the 2019/20 and 2021/22 seasons. Mostly known for playing as a central midfielder, Schlager can also be slotted into a defensive or attacking midfield role when needed. Having already worked under Glasner and knowing his tactical demands, the Austrian is expected to adapt to his new team quickly and establish himself as a key figure in the playing XI. His ability to progress the ball and maintain a high-intensity work rate has been one of his major strengths. However, for his new team, how quickly he gels with the squad and delivers on the pitch remains to be seen. Last season with RB Leipzig, Schlager played 30 games across all competitions, finishing with three goals and one assist. He missed six games last season due to injury. More recently, he was also seen in action at the FIFA World Cup, playing all four games for Austria — three group-stage clashes and the Round of 32 tie against eventual champions Spain. Against Jordan, he also registered an assist. Strongest XI Words by Theo Tarling Sels; Aina, Diomande, Milkenkovic, Murillo, Williams; Sangaré, Schlager, Gibbs-White; Ndoye; Jesus A new manager means a fresh formation; Oliver Glasner is likely to use a similar three at the back to the one that brought him much success at Crystal Palace. Matz Sels is expected to continue as the number one keeper under Glasner. The centre-back trio features the ever-present Murillo and Nikola Milenkovic. However, it does feature a new name in Côte d'Ivoire’s Ousmane Diomande, who signed from Sporting CP for £34 million last week. Ola Aina and Neco Williams are still expected to be the wingbacks running up and down the pitch. Xaver Schlager and Ibrahim Sangaré will be the pair holding things down in the centre, while Morgan Gibbs White and Dan Ndoye play just ahead of them. Igor Jesus is likely to be the number nine to lead the line for Glasner’s side, hoping to improve on the 16 goals in 52 games from 25/26. Tactics Words by William Fortune Oliver Glasner has taken charge at the City Ground ahead of the new season following Vitor Pereira’s departure. He is under contract until 2029 and is set to shake things up tactically on the field. While managing Crystal Palace, the Austrian instilled a 3-4-2-1 formation and is set to do the same with the tricky trees as this is the formation he has favoured during pre-season tests. However, he has previously stated in interviews that his favourite formation is a 4-4-2 but he prefers to use what will suit the players at his disposal. When in possession he prefers his two wing-backs to be attacking and bombarding the opposition box. That permits the two tens to drift inside nearer the striker and interchanging with each other. Away from the strength of aggressive wing-backs pressing on the front foot, a key component of Glasner’s system that worked so well in South London was the nature of Maxence Lacroix and Adam Wharton. Lacroix would operate as the central centre back and his exceptional recovery pace was frequently used to thwart opponents from having too much success as well as his long passes to the flanks. Murillo, new arrival Diomande and Nikola Milenkovic will likely be the three in Nottinghamshire. Wharton, on the other hand, would use his vision to play passes progressively into the final third to allow the half spaces to be exploited with the tens having runs in behind the defence at goal. Season Expectations Words by Matthew Shotter Last season was nothing short of chaotic at the City Ground. It seemed that catastrophe lurked around every corner for Nottingham Forest, even before a ball was kicked in earnest; the then manager (now four head coaches ago), Nuno Espírito Santo, was embroiled in a war of words and opinion with club owner Evangelos Marinakis. So, the City Ground faithful will be hoping for a campaign of calm and recuperation under Oliver Glasner, one that sees them steer far away from the relegation battle that they were involved in last time out. And while mid-table safety is a sensible and realistic goal for the Tricky Trees, it’s no secret that Marinakis is ambitious and has a desire to see his side compete with the league’s best. There is no doubt it will be a year where there is something of a balancing act between fans’ and the owner’s aims. On the cup front, Forest will be seeking to end what, by the end of the season, will be 37-years without a piece of silverware, and as some of the league’s “bigger” sides focus on what could be an incredibly open season at the top end of the division, Glasner’s side may well smell opportunity to finally go all the way in either the League or FA Cup.