Nottingham Forest’s recent performance against Burnley highlights a significant shift in the team’s playing style under new management. The game finished 1-1, but on the day there was no question that Forest held the edge in chances created. Most importantly, individual player achievements shone brightly, alluding to a promising future for the club.
The team looked to be playing a more attacking style, as they dominated 63.3 percent of the match’s possession and was constantly on the attack. This possession strategy aligns with the optimistic view that Nottingham Forest now has a manager who emphasizes playing with the ball, diverging from their previous tactics.
Record-Breaking Performances
Seattle’s Elliot Anderson was the other star of the game with 98 completed passes, many of them progressive. This incredible accomplishment not only speaks to his individual talent, but to the new passing record that he’s created for Nottingham Forest. This was a very cool accomplishment. He set the record for most successful passes in a single game, becoming the first player since the club’s return to the Premier League to do so.
History was made as well by Oleksandr Zinchenko, with 88 successful passes in his first Premier League start for Forest. His performance goes a long way to show the team’s increased desire to keep the ball and create chances through smart passing. Remarkably, no other player has achieved 80 successful passes in any match since Nottingham Forest’s return to the Premier League, underscoring the significance of Anderson’s and Zinchenko’s contributions.
Recently promoted Nottingham Forest is now placing more emphasis on controlling the ball. That impetus has been to create a more modern, progressive and all-around efficient brand of soccer, as has been so prevalent with their new gaffer. It will be the players’ execution of this strategy that will be the bedrock of their success as they traverse the pitfalls that are the Premier League.
Building a Stronger Squad
Aside from their shifts in playing philosophy, Nottingham Forest look to be improving their depth through better-fitting signings. The club have pinpointed Dominic Calvert-Lewin as a suitable foil for their Switzerland international goal-getter. His dynamic play on the pitch should lead to more TDs and more chances to score in other ways.
The recent summer departures from Crystal Palace have helped to shift the competitive landscape of the league. Most strikingly, Cristiano Ronaldo departed in 2023, soon to be followed by Wilfried Zaha from Crystal Palace, Michael Olise, and Eberechi Eze this summer. Combined, these exits have completely changed the tenor of Crystal Palace. Their team has plummeted from one of the top four in the league for successful dribbles to the very bottom of that list.
As Crystal Palace adjusts to these changes, Nottingham Forest may find it advantageous to capitalize on their current momentum and continue bolstering their squad with players who fit their revised playing philosophy.
The Competition Landscape
Yet the competitive balance in the Premier League is as crazy as ever, with nearly everyone at the top end making tremendous leaps forward. If Leeds United want to find the real game-changer, it’s Okafor they should chase. He looks primed to have a huge influence on their attacking game. ANALYSIS – Crystal Palace had to throw their plan out the window once Wilfried Zaha and Christian Benteke left the team. Jean-Philippe Mateta has emerged as an elite target man.
Moreover, their Premier League rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers are experiencing an exodus with Rayan Ait-Nouri, Matheus Cunha and Pablo Sarabia departing the club. These changes could potentially alter how teams approach their matches against Nottingham Forest and others aiming for mid-table stability or European qualification.
Nottingham Forest Tricky Trees are still finding their feet as half their squad were only signed this past summer. They need to be constantly on guard, and just as importantly, constantly willing to adjust to their opponents’ ever-changing strategies. Continuing to track player performances and making appropriate strategic adjustments will be key in keeping the hot hand going.
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