Last year was a terrible one for all around Nottingham Forest, as the club slumped to a dismal finish in the Sky Bet Championship.

As a result of the clubs poor form, Dougie Freeman was released of his duties in March, with first team coach Paul Williams stepping in for the remaining games.

However, the club have now appointed a new boss - ex-Real Sociedad and Rennes manager Phillipe Montanier has arrived at the City Ground, and all around the East Midlands outfit will have renewed optimism for the forthcoming campaign.

Forest begin their season tomorrow against newly promoted Burton Albion - where a win is the only foreseeable result for the Forest faithful. A vicotry in Montanier's first game is an absolute necessity, to ensure that this campaign starts with a different attitude as to how last season ended.

I believe it will be a different campaign for the Reds this season - and in this article, Football League World writer Jack Sharp takes a look at three things we can expect from Phillipe Montanier's Nottingham Forest side this season

The same core group of players

Montanier has made a string of acquisitions since he took over at the City Ground - with Apostolos Vellios, Pajtim Kasami and Armand Traore arriving at the club in the first few weeks of Montanier's reign - however the Frenchman has come out and said that they have the 'capacity to keep all of their squad'.

The new boss said this when asked whether rumours about talisman Britt Assombalonga leaving the East Midlands had any truth behind them.

To quote Montanier: 'The squad is the most important thing at Nottingham Forest. For this moment we have received no offers. And we have the capacity to keep all of our players. That is most important to me.'

This could certainly come as a surprise to many, seeing how poor Forest were throughout the majority of the last campaign.

A lot more goals

Last season Montanier's Rennes side scored 52 goals in Ligue 1, a record that was only bettered by the top four of France's premier division.

This is an impressive record, and the fact that he's came out and said he plans to keep star striker Britt Assombalonga, and brought in experienced strikers Apostolos Vellios and Lars Weldwijk, to combine with the recently arrived Patjim Kasami -who isn't a striker, but we all know that he is capable of scoring world-class goals.

I think that Forest fans can expect a goals total far in excess of their poor 43 last term with Montanier at the helm.

Better structure at the club

Phillipe Montanier is looking like a fantastic appointment from the club - however there has been one other appointment which has perhaps gone more unnoticed in the media.

Former Brago CEO Pedro Pereira has been installed as the new Director of Football at Forest, which ends the five year spell of not having a DOF presence at the club.

This news that has pleased supporters that were crying out for more structure behind the scenes at the club.

Fans at the East Midlands club will be hoping that Pereira, who was Director of Football at Italian giants Fiorentina last season, can be a key figment in ensuring this season isn't as disastrous as the last.

So... Forest fans, what do you think of your chances this season? Is Montanier a good appointment? How vital will the new DOF be?Leave thoughts and opinions below!