In recent seasons, the so-called ‘Big Six’ clubs have often flattered to deceive, with some, such as Manchester United and Tottenham, even falling into the bottom half of the table this season.
Their underperformance has left gaps in the top four to be filled by other clubs. Both Newcastle United and Aston Villa have upset the odds to claim a Champions League spot in recent seasons.
This season, the surprise package in the top four has been Nottingham Forest, who currently sit in third place in the table after an exceptional campaign.
Clever management and recruitment
It has been a truly amazing turnaround for Forest. The Tricky Trees were fighting for survival last season against the backdrop of a four-point deduction. In the end, they beat the drop by six points.
Not many would have expected Forest to enjoy the sort of campaign they are currently after last season. However, clever recruitment and shrewd management by Nuno Espirito Santo have lifted the Midlands outfit into those Champions League spots.
The Portuguese boss has done an exceptional job of getting the best out of his players. Veteran striker Chris Wood, in particular, has thrived under the Wolves head coach, scoring a career-best 18 Premier League goals this season.
When it comes to recruitment, Forest spent £105m in the summer strengthening their squad, but it would be hard to say that they spent beyond their means, as they also recouped £86m from players departing the club.
Some of the new signings have been instrumental in Forest’s improvement. Centre-back Nikola Milenkovic has been one of the team’s outstanding players this season. He has helped strengthen the team’s backline, which has been one of the most solid in the English top flight this season.
The Serbian international’s displays have led to speculation linking him with a summer move. If he does leave, it will be for a far higher figure than the £12m that Forest reportedly paid to sign him from Fiorentina in the summer.
Another summer arrival who has made a significant impact has been a midfielder, Elliot Anderson. He has been outstanding in the centre of the park since making the move from Newcastle in the summer. The 22-year-old has continued to build on his reputation as an up-and-coming midfield star.
The fact that he arrived in exchange for the Greek goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos, plus a reported fee of around £20m, makes him an absolute steal. The midfielder is only going to get better.
Forest are not the first team to go from strugglers to a top-four position
At first glance, it seems strange that Forest has gone from strugglers to a top-four spot. However, if you look at Newcastle and Aston Villa, they had a similar trajectory. Shortly before they challenged for a top-four spot, both teams had been struggling in the Premier League table.
However, simple tweaks and some clever management moved the teams into the Champions League spots. Many will say that Newcastle spent big, but many of the players who helped the Magpies to a top-four finish were with the team when it was struggling, with newly-capped England defender Dan Burn being a prime example.
Villa also didn’t go through some grand transformation between being strugglers and their top-four finish. Their turnaround has mainly been due to sensible approaches to team management and not necessarily buying a host of new players.
Villa, Newcastle and Forest’s rise into the top four has given hope to many of the other clubs who have struggled for success or been languishing in Premier League mid-table mediocrity. It shows that the Champions League spots are no longer a closed shop.
The so-called ‘elite’ clubs in the English top-flight can no longer rest on their laurels. This season has proven that if they do, then a better-run club will come along and take their place at the top table of English football.
No club has a divine right to be challenging at the top of the table. They have to keep proving they are the best on the pitch or be left behind.
Newcastle and Aston Villa may not currently be in the league’s top four, but they are still contenders for a Champions League spot for next season. It shows they have sustained improvements in the club’s fortunes.
Forest looking good to maintain a top-four spot
This season is not Nottingham Forest’s best in their history, considering they are former league champions and twice won the European Cup under the legendary Brian Clough.
However, the club has gone through a decline in recent decades. The turnaround in the club’s fortunes came when the Tricky Trees won promotion back to the Premier League in 2022 after a 23-year absence from the top flight. This season has no doubt been spectacular for Forest fans, who have suffered for too long.
The Tricky Trees are currently fifth points clear of reigning champions Manchester City, who occupy fifth place. After a slightly inconsistent run of form, Forest now seems to be on track after back-to-back league wins and booking their place in the last four of the FA Cup.
Forest finishing in the Champions League spot would be a massive achievement this season and on current form, they are on course to book their place in European football’s elite competition for next season.