Nottingham Forest will head into the new season hoping to shake off the inconsistency that blighted them last season. The Reds got off to a flying start under former defender and club legend Stuart Pearce, going the first 12 games unbeaten, but for the best part of two months after that they could not buy a win.
Pearce was dismissed in January and replaced with another former Forest player, Dougie Freedman. He too began his managerial career at the City Ground in style, winning six of his first seven games to offer hope that a promotion might still be on the cards. However, when their bid for a playoff spot fell short, the team's form dropped dramatically. Forest failed to win any of their last nine games of the season to finish in a disappointing 14th place.
A transfer embargo for breaching Financial Fair Play regulations has not helped Freedman's preparations for the new campaign, with the club only able to bring in free transfers and loanees, but there are some talented players on the books and this will give the fans hope of an improved showing this time around.
In
Jamie Ward (Derby County), Matt Mills (Bolton Wanderers), Ben Hamer (Leicester City, season-long loan), Daniel Pinillos (Cordoba) Tim Erlandsson (Halmstads)
Out
Greg Halford (Rotherham United), Louis Laing (Motherwell), Jamie Mackie (Queens Park Rangers), Dan Harding (released), Danny Collins (Rotherham United), Djamel Abdoun (PAE Veria), Lars Veldwijk (PEC Zwolle, season-long loan) Radoslaw Majewski (released)
Last season - 14th
Manager - Dougie Freedman
Freedman was appointed manager in February after the sacking of Stuart Pearce. The Scot had himself been sacked by Bolton Wanderers early last season and arrived at the City Ground with a point to prove. He seemed to be doing just that by taking 22 points from his first eight matches in charge, but once the team's playoff hopes were dashed that form soon disappeared.
He has been limited with the players that he can bring into Forest this summer, but he has made some astute signings, particularly with Matt Mills and Jamie Ward arriving on free transfers. He has also managed to ship out big earners such as Jamie Mackie and Djamel Abdoun in the process, freeing up funds to strengthen elsewhere.
Freedman has decent Championship experience with Bolton and Crystal Palace, but he needs to get the Forest players performing consistently if they are to achieve at least a top-10 finish.
Key Player - Michail Antonio
Stuart Pearce signed Antonio last summer from Sheffield Wednesday for £1.5m, and that fee already looks like a bargain. The powerful winger was outstanding in his first season with the Reds, netting 14 goals in 46 Championship appearances.
He is a constant threat with his pace, strength and eye for goal, and even when Forest's form tailed off at times during the campaign, he was the one player who consistently produced the goods.
West Bromwich Albion have reportedly made multiple bids for the 25-year-old, but Freedman has openly stated that Forest's best players are not for sale and he will be determined to hold on to him, particularly with other main goal threat Britt Assombalonga still sidelined through injury for several months.
Possible starting lineup
De Vries; Lichaj, Mills, Wilson, Pinillos; Antonio, Tesche, Vaughan, Lansbury, Ward; Blackstock
First game: Brighton & Hove Albion (A), Full fixture list
Sports Mole says
Forest have shown signs of being a side that is capable of challenging for promotion in recent seasons, but injuries to influential players and frequent changes of manager have hampered their progress. Despite their transfer embargo, key men such as Antonio and Henri Lansbury remain at the club and this is a real positive ahead of the new campaign.
Assombalonga, Chris Cohen, Andy Reid and Jack Hobbs are also expected to return from injury layoffs during the season, which just demonstrates further the depth that Forest still possess within their squad.
Bookmakers and pundits have generally overlooked Forest in the promotion race, but they have a team packed with quality. For the first time in many years, expectations are low at the City Ground, which should take some of the pressure off the players and the manager. If they are to achieve anything of note, though, they must find a way of delivering on a consistent basis throughout the season, rather than in spurts.
If they do that, there is no reason why they cannot find themselves in the top half come May.
