Season Preview 20in20 - Nottingham Forest

17 of 20 - Forest/The Reds

Author

nick lochner
August 09, 2023

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2022/23 Finish - 16th Place

Medium sized club in the midlands who have won cups and been generally good and very consistent having spent 57 seasons in the top league, 58 in level 2 and only 5 in level 3. However, it was a long dry spell for The Reds prior to last season having been out of the PL since 1999. Ownership went all in in the offseason after their promotion and signed an English record 21 players to their first team squad. The directive was set, stay up or bust, which put a lot of pressure on manager Steve Cooper. On several occasions the thought was Cooper would be out. Ownership stuck with him, and they avoided relegation by earning 11 points in their final six matches.

Forest continues to spend and has upped their expectation to finish well ahead of what the bettors think, 16th. A slow start could be the end for Cooper. Will a year of integrating what was basically a new squad last year pay dividends this year after a full offseason and some quality additions?

The Club

Located in West Bridgeford suburb of Nottingham (East Midlands)

City Ground, 30,000 capacity

Rough estimates

$100M Annual Revenue

$70M Player Payroll

History on the Pitch

  • 1 Title in1978

  • 2 FA Cups

  • 2 Europe Cups

Ownership

Evangelos Marinakis earned a his $3B+ in Shipping and is the Founder of Capital Maritime & Trading, Greece. Also owns Greek club Olympiacos.

In 2018, Marinakis was charged with drug trafficking as one of his ships was found with over 2 tons of heroin worth $70M. NFFC Chairman, Nicholas Randall wrote an open letter to supporters reaffirming his support of Marinakis. In 2021 it was determined there was no evidence implicating Marinakis.

Sponsorship

Biggest Rival - Millwall

  • Notts County & Forest stadiums are the two closest clubs in all of England, 300 yards. While they are a rival, Forest has been at least 1 league ahead of Notts since 1995.

  • The East Midlands Derby is contested between Derby County & Forest. In 109 matches Forest has 43W 37L 29D.

  • Leicester City & Sheffield United are also rivals given their location in the East Midlands. SU take’s LC’s spot this year in the PL.

The Culture

Sleeping giants? Forest has won titles (but not since the 1970s), have a big fanbase, and great tradition. It's just been out of the spotlight stuck in The Championship. Much of the personality of the club is tied to Brian Clough, “the spiky, provocative and great self-aggrandizer” whose personality put a mark on English Football. Clough brought a brash style for close to 20 years, with success. Forest fans definitely have a “preferred-style” of play - to play beautiful soccer - described by Clough as “aiming for utopia”. Current manager Steve Cooper’s team plays this way, out of the back with precision passing and quick build ups.

The fans have been unwavering and hope this second season back in the PL is not a launching pad. This slogan on a 40-yard banner hung by supporters on the first level grandstand sums up a Forest fan - “Nottingham Forest. No matter what. We’ll be behind you. And will never stop.”

Garibaldi Red

At the founding of the club in 1865, the decision was made to honor Giuseppe Garibaldi, an Italian general who led the Red Coats Freedom Fighters in battle and was populate in England at the time. Forest was the first club to officially wear red.

Arsenal’s red kits are a result of Forest who donated red kits to them at the founding of their club.

Supporters You May Recognize

  • Lee Westwood

  • Joe Dempsie

  • Many UK celebrities

Song

Made famous by Paul McCartney and Wings, the song was released in 1977 and adopted by Forest fans in 1978 when they won the top league title.

“City Ground, Oh mist rolling in from the Trent, My desire is always to be here, Oh City Ground.

Far have I travelled and much have I seen Goodison, Anfield are places I've been. Maine Road, Old Trafford still echo to the sound, Of the boys in the red from the City Ground.”

Game Day Pub Guide

Fan Sites

Official Twitter

@NFFC

High Follows on Twitter

@NFFC_Live (21k)

@NFFCNA (3k)

@Forest_Review (22k)

@Official_NFSC (6k)

@ForestWatch_ (9k)

The Team

The Gaffer

  • Steve Cooper (Wales), 43yo

  • In September 2021 Forest was in The Championship and in last place, hired Cooper who changed their style of play, and led them to Promotion to the PL. Then, kept them up in 2023.

ODDS

  • To Win League +100,000

  • To Be Relegated +275

  • To Finish Top 4 +10,000

  • To Finish Top 10 +800

Roster Notes

Full Roster click link

Projected to finish 16th

  • Americans: Ethan Horvath, GK, played with Luton Town on loan last year.

  • Joe Worrall, England, 26, Captain.

  • Forest is spending this year ($50M) after signing 21 players last year which was a record for the top league.

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