The Nottingham Forest decline has certainly cast a shadow over the beautiful defiance they showed upon their Premier League return – a run that arguably stands amongst the most compelling comebacks in recent league history.
The most transformative shift came with the appointment of Nuno Espírito Santo, who took charge after a narrow escape from relegation. Despite nearly slipping again in his second season after succeeding Steve Cooper, it was evident that genuine progress had begun.
Forest defied expectations, pushed for European qualification and earned a ticket to this season’s Europa League. But the story has taken a sharp turn – what we are now witnessing is Nottingham Forest’s decline, fueled by Nottingham Forest’s poor form and an alarming identity crisis that threatens to undo all the good work of the past few years.
Cracks Behind the Curtain
So where did it all go wrong? Was the rise of this supposed awakening giant just a façade? Did the clash of egos between the club owner and manager abruptly stop the train of Forest’s revival? From a sensible standpoint, the answer feels like a yes.
Nuno Espírito Santo managed only three games this season – one win, one draw, and one loss – before being dismissed. For many, “Nuno Espírito Santo sacked” was a headline that came far too soon.
Surely that record wasn’t enough reason for the club’s ownership to pull the trigger. But the spark that lit this fire began last season when Evangelos Marinakis, the club’s owner, couldn’t stick to his behind-the-scenes role and publicly confronted Nuno after a 2–2 draw with Leicester City.
From that moment, the relationship deteriorated rapidly. The appointment of former Arsenal sporting director Edu Gaspar as Nottingham Forest’s Global Head of Football added more tension, as Edu’s recruitment strategy clashed heavily with Nuno’s philosophy.
And that’s where a string of questionable decisions began. How does a club ignore the voice of a manager whose previous recruitment pulled them out of relegation battles and propelled them into Europe? The direction suddenly stopped making sense.
Nottingham Forest Identity Crisis
That confrontation marked the start of Forest’s downward spiral. After a meteoric rise, the club now finds itself trapped in confusion – a full-blown Nottingham Forest identity crisis.
Ask any football fan what Nottingham Forest was best known for, and the answers come quickly: defensive solidity, compact shape, low possession numbers, and deadly counterattacks. These traits defined the Forest of Nuno’s era.
So what did the board decide to do? Replace him with Ange Postecoglou, a manager whose entire system – famously attack-minded and possession-heavy – couldn’t be more opposite.
Ange Postecoglou’s tactics involve building from the back, maintaining a high defensive line, and pressing with intensity. But applying that to a squad built for deep defending and counterpunching is like forcing a square peg into a round hole.
No surprise, then, that Nottingham Forest’s poor form has become the headline of their new season.
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Early Signs of Nottingham Forest Decline
Since Ange Postecoglou took charge, Forest have played six matches, drawing two and losing four – a worrying trend that screams Nottingham Forest’s poor form.
The defeats include a shocking EFL Cup third-round exit to Swansea, a home loss to newly promoted Sunderland, another home loss in the Europa League to Midtjylland, and a recent defeat to Newcastle United.
These performances show just how ill-fitting Ange Postecoglou’s tactics are for this squad. Forest’s once well-drilled defensive structure now looks uncertain, their attack lacks cohesion and the players seem caught between two contrasting footballing ideologies.
Now, the big question is whether Nottingham Forest’s board is ready to spend again to rebuild a team that fits their new manager’s style. The current squad was built around Nuno’s defensive blueprint – and expecting them to thrive under Ange Postecoglou’s tactics feels unrealistic.
Is the director of football truly willing to pour another large sum into the winter transfer window for a manager whose Premier League record remains unconvincing? Because, as things stand, Forest’s vision looks fragmented, and the sharp Nottingham Forest decline is becoming too obvious to ignore.
The streak of good decision-making that once carried them from the brink of relegation to Europe now seems to be ending in disarray. For now, Nottingham Forest – the once awakening giant – looks to be sinking back into its slumber, weighed down by poor decisions, poor form, and an identity crisis of its own making.
Main Photo
Credit: IMAGO / Sportimage
Recording Date: 02.10.2025