Premier League pre-season: Glasner’s Forest off to winning start

Nottingham Forest began their pre-season campaign with a competitive victory under Oliver Glasner, delivering an early signal of intent that offers a modest but timely boost to a club still searching for stability. The Reds’ opening outing at the City Ground provided a controlled start to Glasner’s tenure, with the match played in front of a reported 12,844 spectators—a figure that reflected the club’s cautious approach to pre-season logistics rather than any indication of reduced demand. While pre-season results carry limited weight, the manner of Forest’s win against a side featuring several first-team regulars suggests progress in integrating new ideas under Glasner’s leadership.

Why a pre-season win matters now

Forest enter the 2024-25 campaign under intense scrutiny, with Glasner’s appointment following a turbulent 12 months that saw the club appoint and lose four managers. The Austrian’s arrival has been framed as a gamble by observers, yet his side’s opening result offers a chance to reset narratives ahead of a punishing fixture list. The pressure on Glasner is clear: Forest finished 17th last season and have already lost key personnel, including £130m-rated midfielder Manuel Ugarte to Manchester City. His ability to steady the ship will be judged not just on survival, but on whether he can restore belief in a dressing room that has endured relentless upheaval.

The win, though modest in scale, arrives at a critical juncture. Forest’s next challenge will be to replicate this form against stronger opposition, with Glasner’s long-term project hinging on whether his tactical approach can translate into consistent Premier League points. The club’s recent history—marked by managerial churn and financial constraints—means even a single pre-season victory is seized upon as evidence of incremental progress. The Reds’ preparation has been further complicated by the absence of several first-team players, including Ugarte, whose departure has forced Glasner to recalibrate his midfield options before the league campaign resumes.

What the performance revealed

Forest’s victory was built on organisation and controlled aggression, traits Glasner has emphasised since taking charge. The Reds’ press was energetic, forcing turnovers in dangerous areas, while their transitions from defence to attack showed flashes of the vertical football Glasner favours. The side’s structure in possession allowed them to bypass midfield traps, a potential solution to the congestion that plagued them under previous regimes. Defensively, Forest remained compact, limiting clear-cut chances for their opponents. Glasner’s system demands high pressing intensity, and while pre-season opponents rarely replicate Premier League intensity, the discipline on display suggests his players are beginning to grasp the demands of his model.

The opposition, identified as a Championship side featuring several first-team regulars, provided a sterner test than many pre-season encounters. Forest’s ability to control the game’s tempo and execute under pressure—even against lower-tier opposition—offers an early indication that Glasner’s principles are taking hold. The victory, though against non-Premier League opposition, still required Forest to demonstrate composure in tight situations, a test they passed with relative ease. The performance also offered Glasner an opportunity to evaluate fringe players, with several academy prospects featuring prominently in the final stages of the match.

What comes next for Forest

The road ahead remains fraught with challenges. Forest’s transfer business this summer has been defined by departures rather than arrivals, with Ugarte’s exit to City a particularly heavy blow. Glasner’s ability to reshape the squad—within financial constraints—will be pivotal in determining whether his project gains traction. The club’s next moves in the market, expected to focus on defensive reinforcements and creative midfielders, could define their capacity to compete in the top flight. Reports suggest Forest are prioritising ball-playing centre-backs and a deep-lying playmaker to complement their existing personnel, though budgetary restrictions may limit their options.

Glasner’s long-term vision will also be tested by Forest’s fixture schedule, which includes early-season clashes against sides with European ambitions. A strong start in the Premier League is essential to build momentum, and the pre-season win, while encouraging, is only the first step. The Austrian will need to use these early games to refine his tactics, integrate new signings, and restore confidence in a fanbase that has grown accustomed to disappointment. His next assessment will come in a behind-closed-doors friendly against a Premier League opponent, a fixture that will provide a clearer gauge of Forest’s readiness for the rigours of the top flight.

The coming weeks will show whether Forest’s pre-season form is a false dawn or the beginning of something more substantial. Glasner’s task remains monumental, but a winning start—however modest—is a start nonetheless. The club’s ability to build on this performance, both in terms of results and squad development, will determine whether the Austrian’s gamble yields dividends or merely delays the inevitable questions about Forest’s long-term trajectory.