Former Premier League boss launches attack on Nottingham Forest with ‘defeats coming’

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Nottingham Forest have proven themselves to be one of the surprise packages in the Premier League so far this season.

A number of people may have had Nuno Espirito Santo‘s side down for relegation this season after a difficult 2023/24 campaign.

It took until the final game of the season for Forest to secure their Premier League status last term in what was a turbulent season, to say the least.

However, the Reds have been in fine form this term with 13 points already on the board with only goal difference keeping them behind Tottenham Hotspur in seventh.

But it seems as if not everyone is convinced Forest are capable on maintaining their spot inside the top half of the table.

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What Alan Pardew has said about Nottingham Forest

There have been some really impressive performances from some of the Forest players of late with the Reds flying high in the top half.

Commentator Seb Hutchinson raved about Elliot Anderson following his performance on Monday night against Crystal Palace.

The former Newcastle midfielder is just one of the players who is providing a good example of himself under Nuno this season.

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However, speaking on Super Sport TV, former Premier League manager Alan Pardew has slammed Forest’s hopes of staying in the top half of the table.

“They are in a false position, I absolutely agree with Tim [Sherwood], because that squad is definitely not good enough to be the top ten after 38 games,” he said.

“But you know, when you look at the bottom of the table, now, Forest have got themselves a nice little distance so, and trust me, when you are a manager of Nottingham Forest you are looking there, rather than up there.

“And, you know, that’s a nice cushion for them, and it will give a little space. There’s going to be some defeats coming their way. I don’t know if they’ll get one on Friday night. They’re probably well set for Friday night. They could get another three points and find themselves in the top eight.

“But, you know, realistically, they’re looking at another year of stability in the Premier League, more quality coming into the group, and then maybe a top ten finish.”

Forest should be praised for their impressive start to the season

The Premier League is currently being dominated by one side with Manchester City having won the title for six of the last seven seasons.

And the money being spent by the teams at the top of the table is only growing the distance between the sides towards the bottom.

Yet Forest find themselves being put down by the likes of Pardew for enjoying a really impressive start to the campaign.

Pardew is suggesting Forest do not have a squad capable of keeping up this standard for the remainder of the campaign, but this is a Forest side who beat Liverpool having made changes to their usual starting XI.

With Morgan Gibbs-White, the Reds were able to put three points on the board against Fulham.

It just feels like an unnecessary take from a manager whose last two jobs have been just about as far from Premier League football as possible in Bulgaria and Greece.