Nottingham Forest conceded 67 goals in the Premier League last season, the fifth-highest in the division. While this is one fewer than the 68 goals they conceded in the 2022/23 campaign, it remains one of the poorest defensive records. Over the past two seasons, Forest’s squad has seen 28 new signings, making it challenging to establish a consistent backline, leading to continued defensive struggles.
Forest’s first-choice goalkeeper, Matz Sels, joined in January last season, making 16 appearances with one clean sheet and conceding 27 goals in 1,440 minutes. His performance hasn’t quite matched the level of his predecessor, Brice Samba.
Brice Samba was signed by Forest from SM Caen in 2019 for €2.10m (£1.7m). During his time with Forest, he made 133 appearances, keeping 45 clean sheets and conceding 124 goals. Samba was a key player in the 2021/22 season, making 45 appearances, keeping 16 clean sheets, and conceding only 39 goals. His heroics during the Championship play-offs, including a crucial penalty save against Sheffield United, made him a fan favorite.
Since leaving Forest for Lens in 2022 for €5.00m (£4m), Samba has made 84 appearances for the French club, keeping 32 clean sheets and conceding 83 goals. His impressive form saw his market value rise to €15.00m (£13m) and earned him a nomination for the Yashin Trophy in 2023, competing with top goalkeepers like Thibaut Courtois and Ederson.
Comparing Samba with Sels, Samba significantly outperforms Sels in key metrics: he has a better save percentage (76.1% vs. 60.2%), makes more saves per 90 minutes (3.07 vs. 2.17), and keeps more clean sheets per 90 minutes (0.35 vs. 0.11). Samba’s superior shot-stopping and distribution skills highlight what Forest lost by letting him go.
If Forest had managed to retain Samba, they might have saved considerable time, effort, and money trying to replace him. He has proven himself to be among the world’s top goalkeepers, even earning a call-up to the French national team.