Forest Dump Edu After Summer Signing Circus: The Hits and Misses Ranked from Disaster to Decent
Nottingham Forest have parted ways with Global Head of Football Edu after a dismal run of signings amid a chaotic season of three sacked managers and relegation worries. Their summer recruits, ranked from flops like Cuiabano and McAtee to slightly better like Ndoye, have failed to build on last term's seventh place. As Arsenal thrive under Edu's successor, Forest eye a reset.
Forest's Edu Era Ends in Shambles: A Relegation Rollercoaster
Picture this: Nottingham Forest kick off the season with Europa League dreams, only to sack three managers, flirt with the drop zone, and now boot out Edu, their Global Head of Football. Appointed last July, the ex-Arsenal chief oversaw a frantic spending spree that promised glory but delivered mostly groans. Less than a year in, he's gone – and with good reason, as their league position screams 'squad regression' compared to last season's seventh-place finish under Nuno Espírito Santo.
It's been turmoil at the City Ground. While Andrea Berta, Edu's replacement at Arsenal, has steadied the Gunners' ship, Forest's recruits have flopped harder than a fish on dry land. We've sifted through the Edu-era signings, ranking them from absolute duds to the least embarrassing. Buckle up – it's a list heavy on the bottom end.
The Bottom Feeders: Signings That Sank Without Trace
Starting with the ghosts: Cuiabano, the left-back from Botafogo, arrived in summer but hasn't kicked a ball for Forest. Loaned straight back, then shipped to Vasco da Gama – zero apps, zero impact. A proper phantom.
Next, James McAtee. Forest splashed £30m to snag the Manchester City youngster amid a bidding war. Seventeen appearances, one pen in Europe, and just a single Prem start? The attacking mid's been warming the bench more than boiling a kettle.
Arnaud Kalimuendo looked primed after Rennes stints, but two Europa goals and zilch in the league? Loaned to Eintracht Frankfurt by January. Forward fail.
Douglas Luiz, once on Edu's Arsenal wishlist from Aston Villa, arrived on loan post-Juve woes. Thirteen games, no goals, thigh niggles, and back to Villa early. Experiment over.
Dilane Bakwa teased with Strasbourg form but brought hamstring hell to England. One Prem assist after months, no goals, rare starts. Winger woes.
Oleksandr Zinchenko, Edu's old Arsenal mate, got a deadline loan. Ten apps, injury curse, five league mins – off to Ajax. Left-back lottery loss.
The Middling Mob: Glimmers Amid the Gloom
Angus Gunn? Freebie keeper depth, one sub app, clean sheet maintained. Squad filler, not filler-buster.
Lorenzo Lucca, the towering Napoli loanee, bagged a debut strike vs Leeds – earning the cheeky 'Pizza Crouch' tag. But one goal from five, injury whispers, and that £35m buy option? Dream on.
Luca Netz, £1m snag from Borussia Mönchengladbach with Bundesliga miles. Two sub apps (both losses), but early days for the left-back bargain.
Climbing up, Dan Ndoye cost a packet from Bologna after his Serie A hauls. Thirty-one apps, two Prem contributions (debut goal, follow-up assist) – promising start, then plateau. Winger with potential.
John Victor, another Botafogo import, backed Matz Sels before a knee-ending injury. Clean sheet on Prem bow vs Spurs, but a howler vs Villa just before the curtain fell. Nine apps, 12 conceded.
The top isn't exactly champagne – no elite standouts here. Forest's splurge hasn't lifted them from the scrap; Edu's out, and the rebuild rumbles on. Will the next man fare better, or is this just Trentside tradition? Pour another pint, lads – it's been a wild ride.