Glasner arrived at Forest determined to transplant the 3‑4‑2‑1 formation that had thrived at Crystal Palace.
Central midfielders are the engine, which Glasner once dubbed ‘the quarterbacks.’ At Palace he relied on Adam Wharton, a defensive anchor who also sparks attacks.
He also needed to fill the void left by Elliot Anderson, Manchester City’s midfield heartbeat, in the same zone.
Few saw James McAtee as the answer to both puzzles.
Just months ago McAtee lingered on the fringes after a £30 million switch from City, logging only two Premier League starts and never earning trust from four Forest managers.
Glasner has carved a niche for him at the City Ground, but it required a positional shift. The former attacking No 10 now operates deep in Glasner’s setup.
It’s a stark departure, yet even Pep Guardiola praised his composure in cramped areas.
‘What stands out about McAtee?’ Glasner noted. ‘The tighter the space, the more at home he feels. He’s tailor‑made for this role.’
Small, left‑footed, and comfortable in tight zones, McAtee now mirrors Wharton’s function in the new system.
Wharton’s signature is incisive passes that split defenses; McAtee has been delivering the same in the opening weeks, with impressive outcomes.
In the first five league games, the 23‑year‑old ranks among the most creative, outranked in chance creation by only five players and in open‑play creativity by three. For my money, McAtee is the league’s most underrated creator.
When measuring passes that lead to a shot within two or three touches, McAtee sits second league‑wide, level with last season’s top creator Bruno Fernandes.
Only teammate Morgan Gibbs‑White has logged more shot‑creating passes this term, yet McAtee’s role may be even more pivotal.
Remember, he occupies Wharton’s ‘quarterback’ slot.
Glasner last season said they dictate the speed of attacks, whether pressing forward or retaining possession.
McAtee now orchestrates play, his sharp passes essential to Glasner’s direct approach.
Like Palace before, Forest shuns patient possession, favoring a vertical, efficient style the Austrian favors.
A telling stat: merely four of Forest’s attacks this season are ‘build‑up’; the rest surge forward instantly. They boast the fourth‑best forward‑passing rate and third‑most completed through balls.
McAtee sits at the core of that rapid style, just as Wharton did for Palace, making him a highly valued midfielder.
So when Glasner returns to Crystal Palace, now as Forest’s manager, the narrative deepens.
It’s not only about Glasner revisiting the club where he delivered historic success, nor merely facing the side that ousted Palace from the Europa League.
It also pits his new project against his former one, with Wharton and McAtee duelling in midfield—a classic ‘old versus new’ showdown. Will McAtee outshine Wharton when they meet?