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With more lows than highs, the 2020/21 season will certainly not be one to remain long in the memories of Nottingham Forest fans.
A slow start to the season, caused probably by the influx of 13 signings, proved to be the catalyst to Sabri Lamouchi’s downfall and by October there was a new man in the dugout.
There was change aplenty at the City Ground. Lamouchi’s vast amount of signings needed time to settle and new boss Chris Hughton had to restore a struggling Forest side. The ex-Brighton & Hove Albion manager restored the Forest management team’s place in the area farthest from the West Bridgford Stand following a brief spell away under the Reds’ former manager.
Key moments from a lacklustre campaign
The addition of 13 signings, including three on loan, automatically gave Forest a slow start to the Championship season. Constant selection changes resulted in mixed performances and, after five consecutive defeats in all competitions, time was up for Sabri Lamouchi.
It was clearly a decision made a while before the announcement. The news of Hughton’s arrival came just three days after a 2-1 defeat to Bristol City and less than an hour after a sharply-worded statement announced Lamouchi’s exit.
The next chapter started brightly, losing just once in seven, but this was then followed by three wins in 15 matches – keeping the Reds close to the bottom three.
Whilst Forest never really looked like realistic relegation candidates, their inconsistent form meant they had to have their wits about them to avoid being drawn into a battle to avoid the drop.
Under Hughton’s guidance, the Reds successfully navigated away from the relegation zone and have already begun to plan for next season.
Loan additions star for Forest and so the battle for their services begins
It says something about Forest’s season when the player who arguably had the biggest impact never played a minute at the City Ground. Brennan Johnson, Forest’s latest poster boy to emerge from the Nigel Doughty Academy, has had an excellent season on loan at Lincoln City, providing 13 goals and 14 assists for the Imps.
Despite suffering play-off heartbreak, losing 2-1 to Blackpool at Wembley, the teenage sensation enjoyed a stellar campaign at Sincil Bank and will return to the City Ground a more developed and experienced individual to boost Chris Hughton’s squad.
Of those who did feature on Trentside, however, Filip Krovinovic and James Garner are the stand-out players. The duo arrived in the East Midlands in the January transfer window and quickly added a spark to the loose embers of the Forest squad.
It is no surprise, therefore, that Hughton hopes to sign Krovinovic on another loan deal – he may, however, be thwarted by the attempts of other clubs who can meet a high pricetag set by parent club Benfica in any potential permanent sale.
For James Garner, meanwhile, the Manchester United hierarchy will have been pleased by his performances under Hughton and will likely look for a bottom-half Premier League team to continue the midfielder’s development away from Old Trafford.
Defensive pair show signs of strong partnership
Injuries stopped them from featuring alongside each other too often, but Joe Worrall and Scott McKenna came together to form a defensive stand in the Forest ranks.
McKenna proved a positive light for Forest fans despite suffering briefly from an ankle injury midway through the campaign. Having moved from Aberdeen to the City Ground in late September on a deal that runs until 2023 at the earliest. Winning 75% and 67% of his defensive and aerial duels respectively, the six-foot-two-inches tall central defender imposed himself as a regular starter when fit under Hughton.
Despite suffering from his own fair share of injuries and absences, Worrall continues to be a transfer target for Sean Dyche’s Burnley; the Clarets are expected to lodge a below-par £10 million bid for the central defender this summer.
Hughton would be naive to let one of his star defenders depart the City Ground. The defensive partnership between Worrall and McKenna started to show positive signs during the 2020/21 campaign – Forest lost just three of the 10 Championship matches in which the duo played together – and another season together could prove far more beneficial than a boost to the club finances through Worrall’s sale could provide.
A season of disappointment but foundations laid for improvement
Chris Hughton is known for his talent at taking teams from the Championship and establishing them in the Premier League. With two promotions to his name, achieved with Newcastle United and Brighton & Hove Albion, the 62-year-old’s honours list must have played a part in getting the Nottingham Forest gig.
Having steadied the Reds’ boat on Trentside, it is now about building on the foundations laid in order to push for promotion and those reinforcements will come both on and off the pitch.
The return of Brennan Johnson from Lincoln City will provide an attacking dynamic that has been missed in seasons gone by: add him into an on-form team alongside Joe Lolley and Alex Mighten and the Reds will have an incredibly powerful frontline.
It may be slightly too soon for Jordan Gabriel, fresh from his loan at Blackpool, to break into the Forest first team, but the defender may not be too far away from being another young talent to make his mark at the City Ground.
To continue with Forest’s existing heritage of producing young talent, the announcement of Category A status for the academy is to be welcomed with open arms. Gary Brazil and Andy Reid’s fine work will continue and should improve as the young Reds will soon take on the likes of Wolves, Aston Villa, Newcastle United and Norwich City. They could also enter the Papa John’s Trophy to compete against League One and League Two teams for a place at Wembley.
The last few months may have been disappointing for Forest, but the stepping stones are there ready for the Reds to build and develop over the year ahead.
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