Welcome to The Debrief, a column by Adam Bate on Sky Sports, where a mix of data and insight highlights key narratives from recent Premier League games. This week, we explore:
- Nottingham Forest’s evolving style
- Crystal Palace’s new identity post-dribblers
- Leeds discovering their game-changer
Postecoglou’s Impact on Nottingham Forest
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In their recent 1-1 draw against Burnley, Nottingham Forest dominated possession with 63.3%, their highest in a Premier League match since their return in 2022. Ange Postecoglou’s management is already making a noticeable difference.
Elliot Anderson executed 98 successful passes, while Oleksandr Zinchenko, in his first Premier League start for Forest, completed 88. This indicates a significant shift in tactical approach, as no player had reached 80 completed passes in the last four seasons since their promotion.
This match marked the first instance of Forest reaching 500 total passes in a Premier League game, surpassing the previous record of 484 against Everton during Steve Cooper’s tenure.
Moreover, Forest’s performance under Nuno Espirito Santo had limited passing sequences, yet against Burnley, they recorded 24 pass sequences of 10 or more—six more than their second-highest count in the past four seasons.
If some argue the performance was just against Burnley, it’s worth noting their last visit resulted in no similar sequences registered against a relegated side, a stark contrast to now. In Postecoglou’s first match against Arsenal, Forest had 13 such sequences, ranking among the top performers since 2022/23.
They currently lead in both these sequence metrics as well as in ‘build-up attacks,’ which tracks the number of sequences resulting in a shot or a penalty box touch.
Last season, Forest ranked poorly on these metrics under Nuno, but the new management should further amplify this tactical evolution. The optimistic viewpoint is that Postecoglou can maximize the potential of players like Anderson and Morgan Gibbs-White, offering them more opportunities to thrive.
Elliot Anderson set a passing record for Nottingham Forest against Burnley.
Conversely, some might fear that this evolution may erase the elements that contributed to Forest’s remarkable run to third place in the Premier League last season. Change is evident, and how it plays out remains to be seen.
Crystal Palace’s Evolution Without Dribblers
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Under Oliver Glasner, Crystal Palace has adapted its style significantly, having previously boasted a lineup rich in dribbling talent. The departure of Wilfried Zaha in 2023, followed by the exit of Ballon d’Or nominee Michael Olise in the summer of 2024 and fan favorite Eberechi Eze, marks a notable transition for the club.
Palace, once ranking among the top teams for successful dribbles in previous seasons, has found itself at the bottom of that statistic in the current season. Yet, Glasner’s iteration of the team demonstrates that they can win without reliance on dribbling.
Wing-backs are now heavily involved in plays, showcased by Tyrick Mitchell’s impressive displays, while Jean-Philippe Mateta has emerged as a formidable target man. Though fans may miss the flair of former dribblers, Palace is proving that they can adapt and thrive.
Okafor as Leeds’ Potential Game-Changer
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Noah Okafor stepped into the spotlight with 14 dribble attempts during Leeds’ 3-1 victory over Wolves, setting a Premier League record for the season. Notably, 12 of those attempts occurred in the first half, culminating in him scoring Leeds’ third goal.
While the £18m acquisition from AC Milan still has areas for improvement, having succeeded with only six of his 14 attempts, he appears to complement Dominic Calvert-Lewin well. Newly-promoted teams often require game-changers, and Okafor could be that for Leeds.
In contrast, Wolves look to be lacking such impactful players with absences from Matheus Cunha, Rayan Ait-Nouri, and Pablo Sarabia. Leeds may have found their answer in Okafor.