Nottingham Forest have reportedly developed serious concerns over Liam Delap’s performances as their ongoing struggles in front of goal continue to increase the pressure on Oliver Glasner.
The 23-year-old has managed just one goal in seven Premier League appearances this season and failed to find the net again in Forest’s most recent outing, a 1-1 draw against his former club Ipswich Town.
Forest have now recorded just one victory in their opening eight league matches, leaving them 18th in the table, with their inability to score consistently proving a major factor behind their disappointing start.
Former Manchester United chief scout Mick Brown told Football Insider that Forest’s goalscoring problems are preventing them from winning matches and could ultimately cost Glasner his position as manager.
Although Glasner continues to enjoy the backing of the club’s hierarchy and much of the fanbase at the City Ground, the pressure is likely to intensify if his team cannot improve its results in the coming weeks.
Delap has become a major talking point amid those concerns, with his disappointing goalscoring record highlighting Forest’s attacking shortcomings. As frustration grows, questions are being raised about whether the striker can deliver the performances needed to turn the situation around.
Why are Nottingham Forest concerned about Liam Delap?
Brown revealed to Football Insider on 13 October that Forest had concerns about Delap’s performances following his arrival, particularly given the significant investment required to bring him to the club.
Forest’s struggles to find a reliable goalscorer are not a recent development, with the club spending £50 million to sign the striker from Chelsea in the hope that he would provide a solution to their longstanding problems in attack.
However, Delap’s difficult start to the campaign has raised further questions about whether he can meet expectations. If his performances do not improve, Glasner could ultimately pay the price for the team’s continued struggles.
“Everybody knows Nottingham Forest’s big problem is with scoring goals,” Brown told Football Insider.
“That is nothing new, it’s been a problem for them since the start of last season, and they haven’t done anything to resolve that because Delap cannot be the answer to their prayers.
“Forest will have major concerns about Delap, in fact, because when you spend £50million on a new striker, the least you expect is for him to find the net regularly.
“And the big problem is, if Nottingham Forest can’t score goals, they’re not going to win games, and if they’re not winning games, the finger will be pointed at the manager.
“There have been plenty of positives for Glasner to take at Forest, and he is still being backed to succeed, but there is no doubt results have got to improve quickly.
“Ultimately, it comes down to the fact they’re creating plenty but not scoring often enough, that is the fault of the players like Delap, but the manager will get the blame.”
What is the latest on Oliver Glasner’s future?
Glasner’s position at Nottingham Forest has come under increasing scrutiny following the club’s disappointing start to the season, with just one win from their first eight Premier League fixtures.
Forest have also suffered an early exit from the League Cup after losing to Leeds, adding to the pressure on the manager. Unless results improve soon, Glasner is likely to face further questions about his ability to get the team back on track.
However, Brown told Football Insider on 23 October that Glasner should not shoulder all the blame for Forest’s disappointing performances, arguing that the club’s board have failed to provide him with sufficient support.
There is growing concern that Forest did not adequately strengthen their attacking options during the summer transfer window, leaving Glasner without the personnel he needs to make his team more effective in the final third.
Delap has emerged as a key example of the recruitment decisions now being questioned, with his struggles raising doubts about whether the club made the right investment.
While the striker is under pressure to improve his output, Glasner’s supporters believe the manager cannot be held entirely responsible for the team’s attacking problems. With Forest desperate to climb away from the relegation zone, the coming weeks could prove crucial in determining whether they can rediscover their form and ease the growing pressure at the City Ground.
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