Nottingham Forest predictions: Trees hoping to avoid Tricky second season
- Nottingham Forest finished 16th in their first season back in Premier League
- The Reds relied heavily on their home form last season
- Recommended bet: Brennan Johnson over 7.5 total goals
Nottingham Forest's first season back in the Premier League for 23 years ended in them preserving their top-flight status and now Steve Cooper and his side will be hoping to avoid second-season syndrome.
Survival and consolidation will once again be the aim for Forest for 2023-24 and keeping hold of key players such as Brennan Johnson and Morgan Gibbs-White will be key to those chances.
Last season
After securing promotion to the top-flight via the Championship play-offs in 2022, Forest ripped up their playbook and overhauled their squad, bringing in over 20 players in a bid to ready themselves for the campaign.
Unfortunately for the Tricky Trees, the upheaval had the opposite effect, as they only won one of their opening 11 league fixtures, a sequence that left them deep in the relegation mire and ramped up the pressure on manager Cooper.
It was expected Cooper would be relieved of his duties following that poor start, but Forest stuck by their promotion-winning coach and they were gradually able to pull themselves clear of the relegation zone.
Forest's home form proved key to their survival, as they picked up 30 of their 38 points at the City Ground, claiming memorable wins over the likes of Liverpool, Brighton and Arsenal - the latter of those victories against the Gunners sealed their top-flight status with a game to spare.
The manager
When England under-17 World Cup winning coach Cooper was appointed Forest manager in September 2021 the Reds were rooted to the bottom of the Championship standings, but they ended that season by securing promotion at Wembley.
Despite coming under pressure at times last season and dealing with a squad overhaul that would have tested the most seasoned of managers, Cooper was able to successfully keep Forest in the Premier League and it is no surprise that he is a firm favourite with the City Ground faithful.
Transfers
Forest signed two teams worth of players last summer so perhaps it is no surprise things have been a little more subdued in Nottingham this time around.
Anthony Elanga has arrived from Manchester United to bolster Forest's attacking options, while full-back Ola Aina is the only other new arrival so far after joining on a free transfer from Torino.
Further acquisitions are expected, with a new goalkeeper being a top priority. Dean Henderson, who enjoyed a successful loan spell with Forest last season, appears to be Cooper's top transfer target between the sticks.
In terms of outgoings, Cooper has trimmed down his squad, but keeping hold of key players Johnson and Gibbs-White may be the best business Forest can do this window.
Strengths and weaknesses
Attack may be the best form of defence for Forest this season, as they have plenty of options in the final third, with Johnson and Gibbs-White being supported by new signing Elanga and centre forward Taiwo Awoniyi, who top scored with 10 league goals last season.
However, there are obvious gaps within this Forest squad, notably in goal, as unless they bring in a new number one quickly, they will have to start the season with Wayne Hennessey between the sticks and he was third-choice last season.
Left back is another area where Forest could do with strengthening, while a new centre-back also appears to be a priority, as Cooper bids to tighten up a defence that conceded 68 top-flight goals last term.
Best outright bet
After avoiding relegation with a game to spare last season, Forest will hope to be more comfortable in the top flight during 2023 and they are 5/1 with LiveScore Bet to finish in the top 10, although that may be a stretch given their lack of squad depth in certain areas.
If Forest are to stand any chance of finishing in the top half they will surely have to keep hold of highly-rated winger Johnson, who has been linked with a summer move to the likes of Tottenham and Brentford.
Johnson played an integral role in Forest's survival last term, ending his first Premier League campaign with an impressive eight goals and he will expect to at least match that tally this season.
