Nottingham Forest Are Back in the Premier League – What to Expect From Steve Cooper’s Side

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Nottingham Forest spent more than two decades in the wilderness. Now, the two-time European Cup winners are back in the big time. Can they cement their status as on elite club once again?

Under the guidance of Steve Cooper, the Tricky Trees catapulted themselves up the Championship table before tasting play-off glory at Wembley. It’s been a long road, but few would argue that Forest don’t deserve another shot at top-flight football.

Analysing Forest’s Lengthy Absence From the Premier League

Nottingham Forest were relegated from the Premier League in 1998/99. Since then, the East Midlands outfit have spent 20 seasons in the Championship – and even languished in League One between 2005/06 and 2007/08.

Believe it or not, Cooper is the club’s 19th permanent manager since 1998/99. Off-field issues hindered the team’s on-field performances season after season, as new managers came and went at a rapid rate.

Forest reached the play-offs in 2009/10 and 2010/11 before missing out on goal difference in 2019/20. At the fourth time of asking, however, the Tricky Trees overcame their play-off hoodoo to gain promotion.

How the Reds Ended Their 23-Year Wait for Top-Flight Football

Last season, Forest made their worst start to a campaign for 108 years – picking up a solitary point from the opening seven games. Naturally, everyone connected to the club was preparing for another disappointing season.

Chris Hughton was sacked in September 2021, leading to the appointment of Steve Cooper. The rest, as they say, is history.

To say that Cooper transformed the club would be a massive understatement. Under the Welshman, Forest have registered 27 wins, ten draws and eight losses – meaning the manager has a win ratio of 60%.

Despite a run of nine wins in ten games across March and April, the Reds finished fourth. But after dispatching Sheffield United in the play-off semi-finals, they beat Huddersfield Town 1-0 at Wembley secure promotion.

Evaluating Forest’s Last Premier League Season (1998/99)

It’s fair to say that Forest’s previous Premier League campaign was a disaster. After losing 22 of their 38 games, the Tricky Trees finishes rock bottom of the table – 11 points from safety.

• Position: 20th
• Wins: 7
• Draws: 9
• Losses: 22
• Points: 30
• Goals For: 35
• Goals Against: 69
• Goal Difference -34

During the 1998/99 season, the club changed chairmen and managers. Despite the best efforts of Dougie Freedman – who was the top scorer with nine goals in the league – Forest were unable to avoid relegation.

The Tricky Trees Are Building for the Future

Forest have wasted no time in strengthening their squad for what is destined to be a testing comeback season in the Premier League. In fact, only six top-flight clubs in England have spent more than Forest this summer.

As it stands, the Reds have acquired 11 players – spending more than £70 million. They have also made some shrewd free transfers and loans, bringing in Jesse Lingard and Dean Handerson from Manchester United.

• Taiwo Awoniyi – Union Berlin (£18.45m)
• Neco Williams – Liverpool (£18.00m)
• Giulian Biancone – Troyes (£9.00m)
• Moussa Niakhate – 1.FSV Mainz 05 (£9.00m)
• Omar Richards – Bayern Munich (£7.65m)
• Harry Toffolo – Huddersfield Town (£5.31m)
• Lewis O’Brien - Huddersfield Town (£5.31m)
• Brandon Aguilera – LD Alajuelense (£0.85m)
• Jesse Lingard – Manchester United (Free)
• Wayne Hennessey – Burnley (Free)
• Dean Henderson – Manchester United (Loan)

It is difficult to predict how Nottingham Forest will fare in 2022/23. After all, the Premier League is widely regarded as the toughest league in world football.

That said, the Tricky Trees have set the foundations for a successful campaign. If they can avoid relegation and cement their place in England’s top tier, they could return to the glory days in the coming years.