It proved to be mission accomplished for Nuno Espirito Santo at Nottingham Forest as Premier League football was secured once again.
The Portuguese boss took over from Steve Cooper in December and was dealt a pretty drab hand.
Forest had to contend with some scandalous VAR decisions, a four-point deduction and a host of defenders going to the AFCON in January.
It was tough and go at one point but despite the deduction, Forest did manage to get themselves clear of relegation.
Injuries and some woeful loan recruitment didn’t help Forest once again and Espirito Santo will have another rebuild on his hands this summer.
Here, we’ve looked at how 24 players who made at least five appearances faired as Forest guaranteed Premier League football.
Nottingham Forest goalkeepers rated in 2023/24
Matz Sels – 8/10
A very, very shrewd January addition made by Espirito Santo who plucked the stopper from Strasbourg for just £5 million.
He made 36 saves in 16 appearances for Forest (Who Scored) and he should get the chance to remain the club’s number one next season.
Matt Turner – 4/10
It’s hard to score the £10 million signing from Arsenal any higher given a wealth of high-profile errors.
If Turner was younger – and cheaper – you’d forgive the mistakes but at 29-years-old more was expected from the USMNT number one.
Odysseas Vlachodimos – 4/10
Underwhelming goalkeeping additions was Forest’s trend last summer and after five appearances Vlachodimos looks to be on his way out of the City Ground.
Augsburg are keen to sign Vlachodimos and it would be no real loss to see him depart the club this summer.
Nottingham Forest defenders rated in 2023/24
Murillo – 9/10
Utterly sensational. Forest beat Manchester City to sign Murillo last summer and at £10.4 million, he’s proved an absolute steal.
It’s absolutely no surprise that the central defender is now being courted by a host of clubs.
Neco Williams – 8/10
File under one of the most improved players of the campaign. Williams made 18 starts with a large number of them coming under Espirito Santo.
At 23-years-old he has now shown that he is capable of playing in the Premier League.
Harry Toffolo – 7/10
Is Toffolo a thoroughly good bloke and an honest professional? Yes. Do the Reds have better options at left-back? Yes. Is he a useful squad player for next season? Also, yes.
Toffolo made 15 starts, scoring once and registering three assists.
Ola Aina – 8/10
The defender signed a new one-year deal earlier this week and fans were surprised that Forest didn’t give Aina longer.
He’s struggled with injuries but ultimately, he’s proved a very good signing since joining the club on a free transfer from Torino.
Moussa Niakhate – 6/10
It’s tricky to move him from a standard six, as for a lot of the campaign he’s not been considered the first choice at centre-back.
Started 15 games and has done a good job but Forest will hope that he can also kick on next season.
Willy Boly – 7/10
Another who has been restricted due to injury problems but the Forest defensive unit looks better with Boly in it.
Of the central defenders, Boly has won the most headers during the 2023/24 campaign (Who Scored).
Gonzalo Montiel – 6/10
Forest have seen the good, the bad and the ugly of Montiel during the season that has just gone.
The World Cup winner will be available for just £4 million this summer but it’s hard to imagine Forest taking him again.
Andrew Omobamidele – 6/10
The youngster was a surprise signing from Norwich on transfer deadline day last summer.
He had to wait patiently for a chance to shine but looked comfortable in eight starts.
Felipe – 5/10
A shame that he only managed five appearances this season after showing so much quality in keeping Forest up during 2022/23.
Felipe received praise from his Forest teammates this week and has now retired.
Nuno Tavares – 4/10
Didn’t really do much to write home about during his time at Forest, making just five appearances.
Nottingham Forest midfielders rated in 2023/24
Ryan Yates – 7/10
Came into his own towards the end of the season but for too many of his 21 appearances, he was passive in too many games.
The challenge for Yates is to strive to improve further next season and one thing nobody can knock is his commitment to the cause.
Danilo – 8/10
We anticipate that this one will divide opinion but in our view, Danilo has been the best central midfielder at Forest this season.
He’s grown under Espirito Santo, scoring twice and claiming two assists across the campaign.
Nicolas Dominguez – 7/10
Who Scored shows that from his 26 appearances this season, Dominguez has a pass success ratio of 85.4% and he looks a solid signing.
Orel Mangala – 7/10
We’ve had to include Mangala as he made 19 appearances before joining Lyon in January.
The Belgian was a popular figure but with Forest keen to balance the books they simply couldn’t turn down the money for the 26-year-old.
Ibrahim Sangare – 4/10
It was not the maiden campaign that many anticipated the £30 million signing from PSV would have.
Sangare was brilliant away at Newcastle and had a good moment against West Ham away but next season, the fans need to see more from the record signing.
Cheikhou Kouyate – 5/10
Probably gets a five for his performance against Wolves away when he came in from the cold and was magnificent.
Only started twice all season for the Reds and has now been released.
Nottingham Forest attackers rated in 2023/24
Morgan Gibbs-White – 9/10
A few more goals probably stopped the ‘extraordinary’ player from getting full marks here.
Gibbs-White is fantastic and with five goals and 10 assists, Forest fans are incensed that he’s not in the England squad.
Anthony Elanga – 8/10
A solid first season at Forest for the man signed from Manchester United for £15 million.
He finished with five goals and nine assists from his 36 appearances and at 22 there will be more to come from him next season.
Callum Hudson-Odoi – 8/10
Started 20 games and scored eight goals for Forest after a summer transfer from Chelsea.
Hudson-Odoi perhaps needs to add a few more assists to his game but nonetheless, to land him for £3 million is just ridiculous business from the club.
Giovanni Reyna – 4/10
Showed moments of promise but this wasn’t a good loan move for the Borussia Dortmund-owned star.
Only started twice for Forest and was given little time to make an impact in his seven substitute appearances.
Nottingham Forest strikers rated in 2023/24
Chris Wood – 9/10
We’re torn on this one but we can’t give a player who scored 15 goals in all competitions any less than a nine.
Wood has silenced his critics during 2023/24 and hopefully, he can remain on the goal trail again next season.
Taiwo Awoniyi – 7/10
The Nigerian striker gets his scored based on his record in the first half of the campaign when he scored six goals.
Awoniyi also registered three assists but the challenge next season is for him to play more than the 20 games he’s managed during 2023/24.
Divock Origi – 1/10
We considered whether a score of one was harsh but taking the finances involved in this loan, Origi has been nothing short of shambolic.
He cost the club a fortune in wages and failed to score a single goal in the Premier League during the entire campaign.
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