Betting odds vs legend: why Nottingham Forest may finish top ten

While bookmakers are tipping Nottingham Forest for relegation, City Ground legend Stan Collymore argues the club, now under Oliver Glasner, should be competing for eighth‑to‑tenth place in the Premier League. The contrast between betting odds and insider confidence highlights a debate over the club’s direction after a turbulent season.

Nottingham Forest start the Premier League campaign under a new manager after a season‑long relegation battle last time around. Forest began last season with Nuno Espirito Santo in charge but cycled through Ange Postecoglou and Sean Dyche before moving away from the drop zone under Vitor Pereira.

This summer, owner Evangelos Marinakis opted to let Vitor Pereira go and appoint Oliver Glasner. Glasner won the FA Cup, Community Shield and Conference League during a highly successful spell at Crystal Palace. Image credit: Getty Images.

Bookmakers predict drop

Despite that appointment, some bookmakers have tipped Forest for the drop, believing that the constant changes around the club could destabilise them once more. The prediction has been dismissed by Forest legend Stan Collymore, who thinks they have the ability to finish much higher in the table.

Asked if Glasner’s appointment may be Marinakis’ best decision in recent times, Collymore said: “It could prove to be his most impactful.” He added: “Seeing bookmakers list Forest among the favourites for relegation seems wildly inaccurate based on their squad depth. Unless there’s internal friction between Glasner and the hierarchy, the team operates at an eighth to 10th‑place standard.”

Glasner’s pedigree and squad depth

Glasner is a proven manager who has won trophies across Europe. Retaining Morgan Gibbs‑White gives Forest a strong core,

Gibbs‑White was wanted by Spurs last summer, but instead signed a new three‑year deal at Forest. Collymore said he is on a strong contract and Evangelos Marinakis views him as the club’s cornerstone player. He made the comments while representing 10bet, the online casino and sports betting brand.

His performance levels last season were exceptional, and Aston Villa evaluated him before opting for Johan Manzambi, a dynamic 20‑year‑old who impressed on the European stage for Freiburg. At 26, Gibbs‑White is in his prime. He has the technical quality to feature for any top six side.

The clash between betting markets and the legend’s assessment underscores that relegation fears hinge on potential internal friction rather than on‑field capability. If the hierarchy and Glasner remain aligned, Forest’s season could unfold far above the drop‑zone expectations.