2026-27 preparation - hopes and dreams

[PlayedOnGrass]

Not sure this is the right place to post it - but at least it relates to next season!
It is Season Card relocation day today - and having stood in the Lower Bridgford since it was given back to us - 10 plus seasons ago - it is with heavy heart that I have relocated to the Main stand today.
Many enjoyable afternoons and evenings spent there - really enjoyed the craic - unfortunately age has caught up with me!
Looking forward to making new friends in Block E1 in August.

 

[Steve Stone’s Brylcreem]

Pre Season needs to be much better. We didn't prepare properly this season, That was likely due to Nuno throwing the towel in, not getting players up to fitness and not implementing any tactical ideas.

Chesterfield 0-0 Forest
Forest 0-0 Monaco
Forest 1-3 Fulham
Estoril 0-0 Forest
Birmingham 1-0 Forest
Forest 0-0 Fiorentina
Forest 0-0 Al Qadsiah

The level of teams we play in the upcoming pre season needs to be of a higher quality especially as we have had our first taste of European Football in 30 years and are heading into a 5th Premier League season.

The ones moaning about a lack of goals weren’t wrong were they?

 

[YouReds43]

Time to win a trophy. We need to target Carabao/FA cups next season

 

[Col]

Pre Season needs to be much better. We didn't prepare properly this season, That was likely due to Nuno throwing the towel in, not getting players up to fitness and not implementing any tactical ideas.

Chesterfield 0-0 Forest
Forest 0-0 Monaco
Forest 1-3 Fulham
Estoril 0-0 Forest
Birmingham 1-0 Forest
Forest 0-0 Fiorentina
Forest 0-0 Al Qadsiah

The level of teams we play in the upcoming pre season needs to be of a higher quality especially as we have had our first taste of European Football in 30 years and are heading into a 5th Premier League season.

Wow, that really was a shitty pre-season! For sure we need to step up a gear this year. Or we could do another badly prepared trip to the US like we did back in 2004 with Joe Kinnear!

 

[Gaz1980]

A spade in the ground...

 

[Berkshire Red]

The ones moaning about a lack of goals weren’t wrong were they?

Didn't Chris Wood play in most of those games too?

 

[Est.1865]

Well the Murillo contract is a good start, let’s get 2 or 3 more contracts re done and make a statement that the majority of the core squad will be sticking around.

 

[sammy the snake]

My take. Cut a deal to save Face for Newcastle and get Elanga back. Those that question his quality are bonkers in my view

He’s exactly what we need

 

[Project Zeus]

If we can get another new deal Infront of MGW, Williams, Milenkovic and Sangare and add three-five good additions in the summer we'll have a great chance of a top half finish next season.

 

[MaxiRobriguez]

I'd like us to trim the squad, fight to keep MGW, get a suitable Anderson replacement and completely rejig the wingers including selling all the ones we bought 12 months ago who just aren't up to it for me.

GK: Sels, Ortega
RB: Aina, Savona
RCB: Milenkovic, Cunha
LCB: Murillo, Bindon
LB: Williams, Netz
RCM: Sangare, Yates
LCM: ????, Dominguez
RW: ????, ????
AM: MGW, ????
LW: ????, CHO
ST: Wood, Jesus, Awoniyi

Anderson, Morato, Hutchinson, McAttee, Bakwa, Ndoye and Kalimuendo would raise what, £200m minimum?

We'd only need to spend half that to backfill those 5 vacancies above if we did our recruitment well. If we did end up spending all the £200m but got a significantly better attacking unit out of it then we'd be a shoe in for top ten.

 

[All I want is a boat]

Hope: a massive penetrative cup run leading to a semi final win for once (we have lost 3 in 4 seasons ffs).

Dream: the whole of the LB sings “sausage chips and beans” with me just before half-time leading to our 5th goal vs Man U.

 

[All I want is a boat]

I'd like us to trim the squad, fight to keep MGW, get a suitable Anderson replacement and completely rejig the wingers including selling all the ones we bought 12 months ago who just aren't up to it for me.

GK: Sels, Ortega
RB: Aina, Savona
RCB: Milenkovic, Cunha
LCB: Murillo, Bindon
LB: Williams, Netz
RCM: Sangare, Yates
LCM: ????, Dominguez
RW: ????, ????
AM: MGW, ????
LW: ????, CHO
ST: Wood, Jesus, Awoniyi

Anderson, Morato, Hutchinson, McAttee, Bakwa, Ndoye and Kalimuendo would raise what, £200m minimum?

We'd only need to spend half that to backfill those 5 vacancies above if we did our recruitment well. If we did end up spending all the £200m but got a significantly better attacking unit out of it then we'd be a shoe in for top ten.

I’d like to keep most of them tbh, I think Morato will be a monster (he’s only 24) and Bakwa intrigues me, not seen enough. McA and Hutch are a tbc, but yes Dan and Kali could go.

 

[Malwood]

We need a new striker. Maybe Kalimuendo can be that player, but we cannot go into the new season with just Wood, Jesus and Taiwo

 

["...in the top one"]

Reasons to be cheerful for next season - couple of interesting snippets in the Athletic which suggest to me that structurally we are going to be fine (players may change but mentality and structure can remain constant). We didn't crumble this season and that is a strong platform for them to take into next season.

2nd - protecting leads (after Arsenal)

"....Scoring first and protecting a lead was a hallmark of Nottingham Forest’s success last season, and they were equally as strong on the occasions they did go a goal ahead in 2025-26 — drawing five and never losing in those 16 occasions.

2nd - injury time goals conceeded (after Villa).

 

[Rubics]

Target has to be a cup and another crack at Europe. We should be able to do it via the league without the European games - need an extra 10/12 points. And without burning through 4 managers - one of which should be done under the trades description act for calling himself a manager!

Main points for the squad -

Could be 3 keepers going so this needs sorting. (Ortaga / John / Gunn)
Defence - happy
Midfield - keep or more likely replace Anderson
Wingers - 2 out one quality winger in
Strikers - 2 out one pacy younger one in

Couple less players needed - and hinted at a smaller squad by VP.

Finally start getting the ground sorted, and put moving to bed once and for all. That walk over Trent bridge to the ground yesterday without a cloud in the sky

 

[Listen 'ere young man]

Back in Europe.
Finish above.

3 promoted teams
Leeds Brentford and Fulham
3 clubs in Europe (Brighton, Sunderland and Bournemouth)
Palace too.

Thats already 9th place. Maybe a couple of CL teams will drop off, Utd and Villa?

Also have Spurs, Newcastle and City as unknown quantities for next year.

 

[Red Ray's Redlist]

If Ortega goes a new keeper.
Full backs are sorted if we're happy Aina's injuries can be cleared up.
Centre back position looks good.
Centre midfield needs a new face so we can play a 3, and if Anderson leaves a quality replacement.
Attacking midfield looks set with MGW and McAtee. If we got a good offer for McAtee I would sell because it's not guaranteed he improves and if we sign Hackney he could cover, plus we might not play an AM.
Wingers are problematic. CHO is injury prone though much better than he is credited with. Hutchinson flatters to deceive. The defensive side of his game has disappeared. N'Doye ??? Bakwa is the one I'd stick with. I think we have to trust the coaching team on how they see them developing and try to sell if they don't think they're good enough. I'd love us to re-sign Elanga. If not someone else with that electric acceleration.
Jesus should improve, especially in the deep lying striker role.
Strikers currently are Wood, Awoniyi, and Kalimuendo. We could stick with these but I'd love us to sign a big pacey striker. Someone young. No idea who. If it was easy everyone would do it.

Without Europe I think we could push for top 6 depending upon how Spurs and Chelsea perform under new management and Man U cope with the extra games. I could see Villa regressing too.

 

[All I want is a boat]

Pre Season needs to be much better. We didn't prepare properly this season, That was likely due to Nuno throwing the towel in, not getting players up to fitness and not implementing any tactical ideas.

Chesterfield 0-0 Forest
Forest 0-0 Monaco
Forest 1-3 Fulham
Estoril 0-0 Forest
Birmingham 1-0 Forest
Forest 0-0 Fiorentina
Forest 0-0 Al Qadsiah

The level of teams we play in the upcoming pre season needs to be of a higher quality especially as we have had our first taste of European Football in 30 years and are heading into a 5th Premier League season.

To be fair, that pre-season we were unbeaten and impervious in defence excluding those two games we lost.

 

[Dawg]

We're gonna be one of the favourites to go down again. Understandable IMO, we've struggled and people will expect Spurs to be better under RDZ so we're next up in a lot of peoples eyes. Especially if we sell Anderson.

However, quietly I think we'll prove a lot of people wrong again. A bit of stability, no European games, players bedded in that hopefully shine, manager getting comfortable with his team... No reason we can't push top 10 and beyond.

 

[Browser79]

It’s interesting seeing Neco win player of the year. He’s not the best player; he’s not scored the goals that have kept us up. He’s been consistent. Clearly that’s what the fanbase craved and valued the most this year. Even though I’d imagine EM’s tolerance for drama is much higher than the average soul in the CG, even he must be thinking about calming it down just a touch. Not being a hot mess is qualifying you for Europe right now, so let’s marry some stability with a little bit of ambition and investment and see if it doesn’t take us back to where we were in 24/25.

Fewer minutes to manage next year will be a huge help and we have good numbers now to work with. We need to tinker in a few areas.

In defence I think we’re in good shape with everyone fit, although I doubt we’ll ever look as effective as we did in 24/25 due to the style Nuno had us playing. I’ve got no problem making some money on Morato and elevating Bindon or Abbott to 4th CB.

If we assume Ando is gone, Sangare, MGW, Dom, Yatesy clearly need to stay. Take Elliot’s legs out of the equation and my hunch is we’ll see Sangare exposed more often, as he used to be. I think we need 3 players of his grade and higher to pick on form and fitness. Dom and Yatesy are, for me, invaluable squad guys if they’re happy to play that role.

Top of the pitch needs more attention. We need to be more reliably threatening and penetrative with the ball. MGW aside, I’d move any of our assets on if it freed up money to bring in players who can be a genuinely consistent goal threat. Wood will stay but we have to assume he’s bit-part, even if he proves not to be. CHO is obviously brilliant but it’s been too sporadic for a while now. Hutch, Bakwa, Ndoye, Jesus, McAtee, Kali - they could all have better 2nd seasons - none are a write off. But if we can find players that genuinely move the needle they’re all expendable to make it happen.

New back up GK (assuming Ortega goes)
2 new CMs (Hackney +1)
1 next level attacking mid/winger, and if we can’t find one don’t bother
1 next level striker, and if we can’t find one don’t bother

Improve even marginally and we’re top 8 I think. f*** it again and we could be down.

 

[All I want is a boat]

Based on my carefully calculated analysis of everyone’s opinions in this thread, I’ve just put a ton on Forest winning the league at 500/1.

Easy.

 

[kevvybaby]

I hope we’ll sell no more than one of EA, MGW and Murillo. I hope we’ll keep VP and see what a bit of stability can achieve. I hope we’ll continue to recognise that matchday prices have been too high. I hope our shirt designers abandon crappy pinstripes and even crappier shields. I hope we get to see a lot more Matchday Pass videos than this season.

I dream we’ll win the FA Cup as we haven’t won it in my lifetime, though I’d settle for another League Cup. I dream a Sky 6 team will be relegated (or another one, if Tottenham manage it this season). I dream there will be genuine news/progress in the redevelopment of the WFCG.

I'd love a good run in one of the domestic cups. They may have assumed Micky Mouse status over recent years, with the Prem and all that showbiz Cartel crap becoming the be all and end all. But a cup win for us would be a mega achievement. And with no Europe putting a massive strain on us, why not. Just no more ignominious semi final defeats please guys.

 

[Woods]

I'd be happy with a steady season and a 12th finish, no relegation worries and a decent cup run.

It would be nice to see the club push for another Europe spot though either through league position or via a cup.

 

[Annesleyred]

Hot water in the BC Stand Upper toilets (I don't ask for much but this won't happen)

 

[GaryCrosbysStepOver]

Need to buy:
Competition for Sels
Right back
Replacement for Anderson
2 wingers
Striker

Plus a wild card that we don’t ‘need’ but that comes available - could be in any position.

If we just to keep what we have, we’ll go backwards.

Should aim to come above teams like the promoted 3, Leeds, Everton, Palace, Spurs, Sunderland and get midtable.