Pundits rave about Nuno Espirito Santo trend as Nottingham Forest bridge gap
Nottingham Forest remain unbeaten so far in the 2024/25 Premier League campaign, which Alan Shearer and fellow pundits attribute to changes made by Nuno Espirito Santo
by James Quinlan · NottinghamshireLiveNuno Espirito Santo has been praised for the advancements he has helped Nottingham Forest make regarding squad depth and substitutes' impact on matches in such a short space of time.
After five rounds of Premier League football, Forest are one of four top-flight clubs yet to be bested on the field of play. For a club that has marginally overcame relegation from the division in each of their two seasons since promotion, this early season sign is one for everyone associated with the club to take much confidence from.
The latest match away at Brighton displayed the latest example of how manager Nuno is rapidly having an influence on the team, even just weeks into his first full campaign at the helm. It was his decision to introduce summer recruits Jota Silva and Ramon Sosa towards the start of the second half that allowed both to combine in the 70th minute for the team's definitive equaliser.
Picking up on this during Match of the Day 2, Alan Shearer said: "Great result last weekend [against Liverpool], subs that came on and had an effect on the game. Exactly same thing today, so you’re absolutely right with the depth in the squad, that’s a real positive."
Echoing the Premier League all-time top goalscorer's praise, Shay Given added: "They’ve had a great start to the season, unbeaten. Silva and Sosa the difference this week, [Anthony] Elanga and [Callum] Hudson-Odoi last week, so they’re doing a great job."
As the pundits touched upon there, Sunday's match was the second in succession during which Forest's players coming off the bench have been able to make critical inputs. The winner against Liverpool at Anfield and the goal to draw level against the Seagulls at the Amex Stadium take the club's total to two strikes from substitutes in the five matches to date.
This places them joint-second amongst their rivals for substitute goals in 2024/25, trailing only Aston Villa's four. For further context, eight managers in the division are yet to see their teams benefit.
It would also be important to look back on those recent campaigns from which Premier League status has been rescued in the very last moments. Last season Steve Cooper's 17 matches in charge saw three goals from substitutes, whilst Nuno's 21 games saw two substitute goals, placing the two coaches 17th and 22nd respectively on the list of 25 total top-flight managers last term.
In the 2022/23 campaign, Cooper took charge of all 38 matches in the season and again he oversaw three impact goals from players he brought on during the 90 minutes.
Extrapolating the current data, Nuno would be on track to have on average 15.2 substitute goals by the end of the current term, which would beat the totals of top performers Manchester United (12) in 2022/23 and Newcastle United (14) in 2023/24.
Former Forest midfielder Roy Keane, speaking after watching Manchester City's injury-time equaliser against title rivals Arsenal on Sunday, was another who highlighted the importance of impact players in the long run - a lesson Forest are evidently learning as their Premier League experience increases.
He said: "Reminder to everyone as well, look at the squad. Of course, [Jack] Grealish comes on and has an effect towards the goal, but also [John] Stones. Players off the bench. We saw it with Aston Villa [against Wolves]. These top teams, the influence of the subs coming on is going to be huge come the end of the season."