Martin Keown suggests that Nottingham Forest’s chances of survival could be boosted if Nuno Espírito Santo, potentially taking on a coaching role, reverts to a trusted back-three formation. This approach aligns with Nuno’s successful past strategies, offering defensive solidity and counter-attacking potential. By reinstating the back-three structure, Forest could strengthen their defense and increase their odds of success.
Nuno Espírito Santo gained a reputation as a back-three specialist during his tenure at Wolverhampton Wanderers, where he guided the team to the Premier League and comfortably maintained their status. His consistent use of a back-three formation, either as a 3-4-3 or 3-5-2, became the cornerstone of Wolves’ success, even leading them to European qualification in their debut season. This strategic choice proved effective in 100 out of his 114 Premier League games, underscoring its value in building a resilient and adaptable team.
However, since his departure from Wolverhampton Wanderers three years ago, Nuno Espírito Santo has largely moved away from the back-three system that brought him success. During his stint at Tottenham Hotspur, he employed a back-four formation, and the same strategy continued during his time at Nottingham Forest. This approach changed recently, when, in a match against Manchester City, Nuno reverted to the back-three formation for the first time since May 2021. This shift might signal a return to the tactics that worked well for him in the past.
Willy Boly showed every ounce of his experience after coming in alongside the outstanding Murillo and Moussa Niakhate in a three-man defence and, though Forest lost 2-0, they will have taken great confidence from their positive performance.
