Glasner on the Hot Seat: Nottingham Forest's Struggles Continue
Oliver Glasner is feeling the heat at Nottingham Forest, and he knows it. Since the beginning of last season, the club has cycled through five different managers, and with only one win in their first nine league matches, Glasner fears he could be next on the chopping block.
After the Reds' 2-0 defeat to Brentford on Saturday, Glasner made it clear that changes are essential. "It's now time not to make compromises," he told BBC's Match of the Day. "We have to show a clear way, and everybody has to follow. If they don't want to follow, then I guess the sixth manager will come in."
Currently sitting 19th in the Premier League table, Forest has only managed six points from their first nine games. Their latest loss to Brentford, a team that hadn’t tasted victory in four matches, puts them perilously close to the bottom once again.
Glasner's frustration is palpable. "We have to change something, a few things," he asserted. "I will change a few things, 100%. We can't continue in the same way."
The stats paint a grim picture. Forest has failed to find the net in five of their nine league outings this season. When discussing the game against Brentford, Glasner lamented, "We are making too many mistakes in our defence, and we’re not ruthless enough in finishing. That's the truth."
The match saw little action until Brentford's second goal in the 76th minute, following an own goal from Nikola Milenkovic. Forest's only shot on target came too late to make a difference.
Glasner isn't alone in this predicament; he shares the same record as Forest’s previous managers at this point last season. Despite securing six points this year—one more than last season—Forest’s woes continue, having started in an equally dismal position on the table.
His appointment last summer surprised many, especially after he left Crystal Palace as their most successful manager following a trophy-laden year. Nonetheless, the ambition shown by Forest stands in contrast to their recent streak of managerial changes.
Statistically, the argument for Forest’s struggles is nuanced. They rank fourth in the Premier League for expected goals (xG), yet they find themselves at the bottom in actual goals scored, netting just six times. Their attacking efforts are evident, as they trail only Manchester United for the most shots per game.
One of the culprits has been summer signing Liam Delap, who, despite a hefty £50m price tag, has scored only once in eight league appearances. With 24 shots, he sits eighth in the league for attempts but has been unable to convert those chances into goals.
For now, Glasner’s position seems secure, given that he is just under four months into a three-year deal. However, with a hefty salary around £10m a year, a managerial change would come at a significant cost.
In an effort to shift the team's fortunes, Glasner quipped, "We start with hugging. If hugging doesn't work, we try the opposite." His commitment to changing tactics is clear, as he vowed to alter the course if results do not improve. "The only way is to change it or these things will happen again. That's what we will do."
