logo
Nottingham Forest news: Are Reds better without the ball?

Nottingham Forest news: Are Reds better without the ball?

BBC News06-05-2025

For more than a decade, those watching from the stands and through screens have been led to believe that possession-based football is the holy grail when pursuing success.
With Barcelona's tiki-taka and the tactics brought to the Premier League by Pep Guardiola, more and more teams have prioritised this 'easy on the eye' style of play.
And while it is hard to argue with the success of the La Liga giants and Manchester City's recent trophy-laden years, it is not something that works for everyone.
A number of teams have fallen foul of this obsession to build up play from the back and keep-ball over counter-attack.
But, it is a mould Nottingham Forest have been trying to break this season.
The Reds sit sixth in the table and just two points off a Champions League spot - this despite having the second-lowest average possession in the league so far this campaign (39.97%).
From relegation candidates to European place contenders in less than 12 months, they have built this progress, not on possession, but on a solid defence and ability to be clinical on the counter-attack.
The East Midlands side are joint-fourth for goals conceded (42) and sit only one place and one fewer than newly crowned Premier League champions Liverpool for clean sheets (13).
There have been few occasions this term where Forest have been equal to or had more possession than their opponent.
Their draw at Crystal Palace on Monday night was one such occasion. Despite having more of the ball, they struggled to really create quality chances and, had Eberechi Eze's late effort dipped a couple of inches lower, they may have come away empty handed.
There have been 28 games in the league when Nuno Espirito Santo's side have had under 50% of the possession this season, of which they have gone on to win 15 - a win percentage of 54%.
In a much smaller sample size, there have been just seven occasions in which they have had 50% or more possession and from those they have won three games, giving them a win percentage of 43%.
While they understandably concede less per game when they have more of the ball (0.86 compared to 1.29), they do tend to score more when they have less possession (1.61 compared to 1.29 per game).
In fact, when looking at how they fared in the match they had least possession in this campaign, they scored three times in a win over Manchester United at Old Trafford.
In contrast, in the game where they had the ball the most - at home to Brentford - they succumbed to a 2-0 defeat.
When everyone else is trying to move more towards the possession-based grain, going against it could be what secures Forest European football for the first time in more than 40 years.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Leroy Sane sends message to Bayern Munich over Arsenal transfer
Leroy Sane sends message to Bayern Munich over Arsenal transfer

Metro

time9 minutes ago

  • Metro

Leroy Sane sends message to Bayern Munich over Arsenal transfer

Leroy Sane has indicated he is 'very interested' in a move to Arsenal amid his contract dispute with Bayern Munich, according to reports in Germany. The 29-year-old winger will become a free agent in a matter of weeks after failing to reach an agreement with Bayern over a contract extension. Sane joined the Bundesliga giants from Manchester City in 2020 in a deal worth up to £55m. Making at least 40 appearances every season since arriving at the club, Sane has been a hugely influential member of the Bayern squad, playing a major role in four league title wins. Bayern Munich bosses are keen to keep hold of Sane and have already offered him a new three-year contract on reduced terms. Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro's Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we'll send you so we can get football news tailored to you. But Sane rejected the offer as he is unwilling to take a pay-cut and has since been linked with a number of Premier League clubs. German outlet BILD say Sane is yet to make a final decision on his future despite the fact he is set to become a free agent on July 1. It is also claimed Sane is 'very interested' in joining Arsenal, with a move to London 'appealing' to him and his wife Candice. Sane has attracted interest from Arsenal's Premier League rivals Tottenham and Newcastle United but moves to those clubs does not appear to be a genuine possibility at this stage. Other options include a move to Saudi Arabia or Serie A champions Napoli but those are less attractive to Sane, according to BILD. 'I would love Leroy Sane to sign for Spurs; he's a world class player who has won everything. 'Why would you not want him at your football club? He might've picked up a few injuries in his career, but you can't tell me he wouldn't be a great signing for Spurs – even if he demands £250,000 a week!' Former Spurs midfielder Jamie O'Hara speaking to Grosvenor Sport Despite the intense transfer speculation, Sane is not expected to make a decision before the Club World Cup starts this weekend. Bayern are even considering offering Sane a short-term contract to ensure he features in the tournament, even if he could leave shortly after Bayern Munich return from the United States. Sane is also aware of interest from Turkish giants Galatasaray and Fenerbahce, who are both ready to make lucrative offers to secure his signature. But a move to Arsenal would give Sane a reunion with Mikel Arteta, who he worked with at Manchester City while the current Gunners boss was assistant to Pep Guardiola. Arteta is keen to bolster his attacking options ahead of the 2025-26 campaign but Didi Hamann believes it would be a mistake to sign Sane. 'If you look at Arsenal, I think you need very good players to improve the team,' Hamann told Best Betting Sites. 'And obviously Saka plays on the right. More Trending 'Leroy Sane mainly plays on the right and he's a hugely talented player. He's been at Bayern for five years now. He just hasn't done it on a consistent basis. 'Now, why would he do it now for the next three years when he's 29? He's a hugely talented player, but we shouldn't talk about a player who's 29 about his talent – we should talk about the impact they have and the medals they've won. 'At that age, you're looking for guarantees from your performance level, and Sane just hasn't given me any assurance that he can deliver consistently. 'I don't think Arsenal should be looking at him and certainly not moving for him.' For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. MORE: Arsenal interested in sensational £70m swoop for Man Utd star to rival Chelsea MORE: Why Benjamin Sesko isn't playing for Slovenia tonight after Arsenal transfer links MORE: PSG star Gianluigi Donnarumma responds to Man Utd and Man City transfer links

Thomas Frank and the problem with daring to do too much at Tottenham
Thomas Frank and the problem with daring to do too much at Tottenham

The Guardian

time12 minutes ago

  • The Guardian

Thomas Frank and the problem with daring to do too much at Tottenham

As the wait goes on for Thomas Frank to be announced as Tottenham Hotspur's new manager, Football Daily can't help but wonder what exactly is causing the delay. On Sunday it was reported that personal terms between the Dane and Daniel Levy had more or less been agreed, a compensatory fee in the region of £10m for Brentford was deemed to be adequate and all that was left to be decided was how many of Frank's coaching staff would be joining him. But while the Daily holds Keith Andrews – who has successfully muscled his way in to the pantheon of camera-hogging set-piece coaches with great hair in recent months – in the very highest of regard, we're going to go out on a limb and guess the former Ireland international's inclusion in any exit package almost certainly isn't a deal-breaker. What might be troubling Frank, at this potentially crucial juncture in his career, is that Spurs, not content with sacking managers for not winning trophies, have just got rid of the bloke who secured their first one in 17 years. Given the comparatively snakebelly low expectations he shoulders in his current role, Brentford's manager could be forgiven for wanting to know exactly what will be expected of him in N17 and more pertinently, if the Spurs hierarchy actually have any clear idea. Given that winning Bigger Vase and qualifying for next season's Bigger Cup was not deemed good enough for Ange Postecoglou to keep his job, the Tottenham board have ostensibly made it clear that finishing higher up the Premier League than 17th is quite literally all that concerns them. 'To dare is to do,' as the club motto says, just so long as you don't dare to do anything so audacious as win a cup and seat at European football's top table. Among a small handful of top-flight managers who are almost universally liked and admired, Frank has long been renowned as a very straight talker. So much so that in any interview scenario between him and a prospective new employer, it is not difficult to imagine the Dane asking the more probing questions while his headhunter squirms in the face of a barrage of interrogatory projectiles. The second-longest serving manager in the Premier League behind Pep Guardiola, Frank ticks a number of the apparently requisite boxes for Spurs in so far as he has never won anything, hasn't been relegated, doesn't wang on about knack all the time and doesn't say 'mate' in a passive-aggressive way when the world is conspiring against him. And while his slow starts at Brondby and Brentford, where he won two out of his first 18 matches combined, may perturb a fanbase who are not exactly famous for their patience, he seems as good a choice as any for a club that increasingly seems to have little or no idea what it wants or who it needs to help them achieve it. Join Rob Smyth at 7.45pm (BST) for red-hot friendly updates on England 0-0 Senegal. The level will increase immediately once we are playing against Portugal or Spain. We will rise to the occasion. This will come. It will bring out the very best in us' – Thomas Tuchel, there, wrapping up some words in a big white sheet with two eyeholes cut into it, and inviting them to come back and haunt him. Following last week's balanced piece in Football Daily on how Cristiano Ronaldo's ego continues to destroy Portugal's chances of success, readers will look forward to some acknowledgement of that side's Nations League victory. Perhaps focusing on how a 40-year-old Scotland captain, say, would be viewed if he had just led his country to a tournament final victory over England, scoring eight goals along the way including one in the final and the winner against Germany in the semi-final' – Brian Broderick. Re: transfer speculation concerning Granny Bellingham (yesterday's Football Daily – full email edition); I have it on good authority the next target in the family will be Lynda – I got it from a reliable sauce' – Andy Korman. If you do have any, please send letters to Today's winner of our prizeless letter o' the day is … Rollover. Terms and conditions for our competitions, when we run them, can be viewed here. When it comes to Manchester City's succession planning, the question is always the same: how on earth do you replace Pep? Well, how about with another Pep. You see, the club have nipped in to appoint Pepijn Lijnders as Guardiola's No 2. It's a move that seemed highly unlikely a year ago, when Jürgen Klopp's wingman at Liverpool followed the German out of Anfield and took the top job at RB Salzburg. Unfortunately for the Dutchman, he bombed, and was sacked before Christmas. But if he now studies under Guardiola at City, having already absorbed the best of Kloppball, you'd imagine Ljinders could be one hell of a skilful coach in a few years' time. He's still only 42 and has plenty of time left to have a proper stab at a managerial position once again. We can already guess how Liverpool fans will feel about their one-time fist-pumping assistant bringing his intense methods to the Etihad. They'll be wishing him all the best won't they? And if it does all go wrong for Ljinders at City, he's always got his career as a writer to fall back on. Here's David Squires on … the buildup to Gianni Infantino's big, beautiful Club World Cup in the land of Trump. Hey Jobe, don't be afraid, go to Dortmund, just like your brother. The £32m midfielder may even face his sibling at the Club World Cup. Nottingham Forest have chucked their two pennorth into the Crystal Palace multi-club ownership wrangle, and have written to Uefa arguing that Palace are in breach of its MCO rules. Shy and retiring head-honcho Evangelos Marinakis, who also owns Olympiakos, put his own Forest shares into a blind trust before the end of the season. And the club that would take Palace's place should they be hoyed out of Bigger Vase? Why, Nottingham Forest of course. Dean Huijsen has checked in at the Bernabéu and his days at Bournemouth already seem like a lifetime ago. 'I've wanted to be here since day one,' sobbed the defender. 'Since Madrid called, I've had no other team in mind.' Chelsea could be looking elsewhere for another new keeper after failing to agree a fee with Milan for Mike Maignan. Meanwhile, the Blues have thrown in a fresh £42m bid for Dortmund's Jamie Gittens. In more transfer deadline day (part one) news: Kieran Tierney has left Arsenal to rejoin Celtic on a five-year deal. 'To be here with the strip on again just feels amazing,' trilled the full-back. Arsenal will play all their WSL home fixtures at the Emirates next season. 'Bringing every WSL match [here] is another step for more supporters to be part of this special journey,' cheered Gunners boss Renée Slegers. Though Wales were beaten 4-3 by Belgium in a thriller, Sorba Thomas knows who the real winners were. 'Even though we lost the game, I feel like we won it in our own heads,' he honked. It says here that Che Adams scored a hat-trick (subs, please check) as Scotland stormed the Rheinpark Stadium and dished out a 4-0 beatdown to Liechtenstein last night. And perhaps after reading yesterday's Football Daily, Claudio Ranieri has dilly-dinged and dilly-donged himself out of the running for the Italy job. There's an interview with Brighton's Tanzanian trailblazer Aisha Masaka in the latest edition of our sister email, which you can read right here. Chilled-out entertainer Bukayo Saka talks about feeling 'more balanced about football and life', writes Andy Hunter. 'I'd be a bit gutted if you ended up winning a Club World Cup competition and not being there.' Will Unwin talks to Manchester City and Chelsea fans ignoring the scepticism and apathy to travel to the Club World Cup. Jonathan Wilson is very much in the 'no' camp though, and warns that it's another step towards a global super league. Leander Schaerlaeckens on why another dose of sports dad drama is the last thing the USMNT needs. And which big clubs are poised to swoop for Bournemouth's Semenyo and Zabarnyi? The Rumour Mill sifts through today's tittle-tattle. Admittedly, we're struggling for context, but here's Fabio Capello getting into the spirit of things at the Circus Medrano for the Epiphany in June 2003.

Defender Kesler-Hayden expected to leave Villa this summer
Defender Kesler-Hayden expected to leave Villa this summer

BBC News

time12 minutes ago

  • BBC News

Defender Kesler-Hayden expected to leave Villa this summer

Defender Kaine Kesler-Hayden is likely to leave Aston Villa this summer after an impressive loan spell at Preston North 22-year-old is attracting interest from the Championship and abroad following a standout season at has come through Villa's academy - making four substitute appearances - and any cash will help the club comply with Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).Kesler-Hayden, an England Under-20 international, won Preston's young player of the season and player of the season full-back made 51 appearances as North End finished 20th in the has previously spent time on loan at Swindon, MK Dons, Huddersfield and Plymouth.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store