Oliver Glasner Delivers Brutal Warning to Nottingham Forest Players After Brentford Defeat as Sixth Manager Threat Emerges
Nottingham Forest manager Oliver Glasner has issued a strong warning to his players following their disappointing 2-0 defeat against Brentford, suggesting that another managerial change could be on the cards if the team fails to improve.
Forest have endured a difficult start to the Premier League campaign, recording just one victory from their opening nine matches. Their latest defeat has increased the pressure at the City Ground, with the club now sitting 19th in the league table.
The result also means Forest have lost four of their last five league matches, with their only positive result during that period coming in a 1-1 draw against Ipswich Town.
Speaking after Saturday’s defeat, Glasner admitted that he had been too willing to compromise since taking charge and insisted that significant changes would now be necessary.
The Austrian made it clear that every player must follow his instructions, warning that those unwilling to accept his approach could leave the club facing yet another managerial appointment.
“It’s now time not to make compromises, it’s now time to show a clear way and everybody has to follow,” he told the BBC’s Match of the Day.
He added that if certain players refused to follow his instructions, Forest could end up appointing their sixth manager since the beginning of last season.
Glasner also acknowledged that his team could no longer continue performing in the same manner, promising to make several adjustments to address their worrying situation.
According to the former Crystal Palace manager, Forest have repeatedly been punished by defensive mistakes, while their inability to take advantage of scoring opportunities has made their struggles even worse.
He explained that although his team had periods of control against Brentford, individual errors continued to undermine their efforts.
The defeat against the Bees was particularly frustrating because Brentford had gone into the encounter without winning any of their previous four matches.
Neither team managed to register a shot on target until Igor Thiago scored Brentford’s second goal in the 76th minute. The hosts had earlier taken the lead through an own goal from Nikola Milenkovic.
Forest eventually recorded their first shot on target shortly after going two goals behind, highlighting their attacking difficulties.
Glasner admitted that his players needed to become more decisive in both penalty areas, insisting that their defensive mistakes and lack of clinical finishing were costing them valuable points.
Forest’s Managerial Merry-Go-Round Continues
Forest’s current situation has brought back memories of their chaotic managerial period last season.
At this stage a year ago, Sean Dyche had only recently taken charge after the departures of Nuno Espirito Santo and Ange Postecoglou.
Dyche was subsequently replaced by Vitor Pereira before Glasner arrived at the City Ground.
Despite the frequent managerial changes, Forest have struggled to make significant progress compared with their performances at the same stage last season.
Interestingly, Glasner has recorded the same number of victories as his predecessors managed during the opening nine league matches last season.
However, Forest have collected six points this campaign, one more than their tally of five at the equivalent stage last term.
The appointment of Glasner was initially viewed as an ambitious move following his successful spell at Crystal Palace, where he guided the Eagles to major silverware.
Nevertheless, his arrival has yet to produce the expected improvement, with Forest continuing to struggle near the bottom of the Premier League table.
Forest’s Attacking Statistics Reveal a Different Problem
Although Forest’s results have been disappointing, their underlying attacking numbers suggest that their problems are not entirely down to a lack of creativity or opportunities.
Their expected goals (xG) figure against Brentford stood at 0.85, almost twice the home side’s 0.46.
More surprisingly, Forest have accumulated 14.33 expected goals in the Premier League this season, the fourth-highest figure in the division at the time of the report.
Despite creating opportunities, they have scored just six league goals, leaving them as the lowest-scoring team in the competition.
They have also registered the second-highest number of shots per match in the Premier League, behind Manchester United.
One player who has struggled to deliver the expected return is summer signing Liam Delap.
The striker arrived from Chelsea in a £50 million deal but has managed just one Premier League goal from his first eight appearances, seven of which have come as a starter.
Delap has attempted 24 shots, placing him among the league’s most active forwards in terms of attempts on goal. However, his conversion rate has been disappointing, with 48 players having scored more league goals this season.
Is Oliver Glasner Facing the Sack?
Despite Forest’s worrying position, Glasner is not believed to be facing immediate dismissal.
The Austrian only arrived at the City Ground a few months ago and signed a three-year contract, meaning that terminating his agreement could prove financially expensive for the club.
Reports indicate that his annual salary at Forest is approximately £10 million, making an immediate managerial departure a potentially costly decision.
Nevertheless, Glasner has made it clear that his approach will change following the disappointing results.
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, he jokingly explained that his initial approach involved showing affection towards his players.
“We start with hugging,” Glasner said. “If hugging doesn’t work, we try the opposite.”
His subsequent comments suggested that a tougher approach could now be introduced as he attempts to turn Forest’s season around.
The manager insisted that making changes was the only way to prevent the same problems from happening again.
With Manchester City next on their schedule, Forest face another difficult challenge, and Glasner will be desperate to see an immediate response from his players.
For now, his future appears secure, but his warning has made one thing clear: Forest cannot afford to continue in the same direction.
SACK FEARS! Oliver Glasner Issues Explosive Warning to Nottingham Forest Players as Sixth Manager Looms – Supporters Left Stunned by Latest Developments
