The writing is on the wall for Nottingham Forest’s Oliver Glasner. In a candid assessment that has sent shockwaves through the Premier League, former manager Tim Sherwood has declared the Austrian’s tenure at the City Ground will not extend beyond January. ‘He ain’t gonna be there in January,’ Sherwood stated with uncharacteristic bluntness, framing Glasner’s future as a matter of inevitability rather than speculation. The timing is telling: with Nottingham Forest’s defensive vulnerabilities exposed and their attack failing to materialise in front of goal, Sherwood’s prediction aligns with the mounting pressure on Glasner to deliver results that have thus far eluded him.
Sherwood’s critique cuts to the heart of the club’s current predicament. ‘They’re not good enough,’ he declared, a verdict echoed in Glasner’s own public appraisals. The manager’s honesty in diagnosing the team’s shortcomings—particularly in attack—has not translated into on-field success. Chris Wood, once a prolific striker, has struggled to replicate his earlier form, while the recently signed forward, described by Sherwood as ‘a boy who needs to keep developing,’ has yet to make an impact. The defensive structure, too, remains a liability, with Sherwood highlighting the club’s inability to secure results against high-quality opposition. ‘They’ll lose next week to Man City,’ he forecasted, a prediction that, if accurate, would further erode confidence in Glasner’s ability to steer the club away from the relegation zone.
The urgency of the situation is compounded by the club’s financial investment in new signings, a move Glasner himself has acknowledged as a strategic gamble. Yet the returns have not materialised, leaving the board and supporters questioning whether the right decisions are being made. Sherwood’s admiration for the club’s previous manager, Steve Cooper, and his decisive approach contrasts sharply with Glasner’s current struggles. ‘He doesn’t suffer fools,’ Sherwood remarked, a trait that has defined Cooper’s tenure and which Glasner may now be expected to emulate if he is to salvage his position. The international break looms as a potential deadline, with Sherwood suggesting Glasner’s departure could coincide with it—a timeline that would leave the club with little time to implement a new strategy before the critical winter transfer window.
What remains unclear is whether Glasner will attempt to salvage his reputation by delivering a turnaround in the coming weeks, or if the club will opt for a fresh start. Sherwood’s assessment carries weight, not least because of his own experience as a manager who navigated similar pressures. His belief that Nottingham Forest’s hierarchy will not tolerate further underperformance suggests Glasner’s future is already being decided behind closed doors. One thing is certain: the next manager will inherit a team in desperate need of tactical clarity, defensive solidity, and an attack capable of scoring with consistency. The clock is ticking, and the Premier League’s most precarious clubs are watching closely to see how Nottingham Forest will respond.
