After just two months into the season, Nottingham Forest have replaced their manager for the second time, following the 3-0 defeat at home to Chelsea.
What’s their plan?
How can you go from Nuno Espirito Santo, who had a pragmatic style of playing, to Ange Postecoglou’s free-flowing football, and then back to being practical with Sean Dyche?
If the plan to bring in Postecoglou was to win the Europa League, that is quite an ambitious target. The 60-year-old won the competition in his second season at Tottenham Hotspur.
While the move to bring Dyche in makes sense, it raises the question: if Markinakis had a falling out with Espirito-Santo, why would he risk appointing someone with a completely different style than what your squad is used to?
If you liked Ange’s philosophy of football, at least give him a pre-season so he can bring in his own players next summer.
It is no surprise that the Forest fans are livid at what is happening at their football club.
The fact that Dyche began his playing career at the East Midlands club is another valid reason for the appointment, but why not do it earlier?
The former Everton boss spoke fondly about his time at the club as a player, especially his admiration for the great Brian Clough.
“Everyone knew the expectation of how to play,” “It was kind of ingrained in the whole club. That’s a valuable thing to have if you can build it. But of course, nowadays, people want to change a lot. So it takes some doing when you’ve got to build a whole club.”
Dyche: Sky Sports
Though he only played for the youth side, Clough still remains an integral part of his life as a icon.
The fact that Forest won the European Cup under Clough in 1979 and 1980, should be used as an inspiration for Forest and Dyche to emulate it by winning the Europa League.
That is of course a big ask, given that the position the team is in rights now, but you just never know.
Dyche More Direct
Source: Deposit Photos
While Nuno and Dyche emphasise deploying a solid defensive structure, Dyche’s teams like to press higher up the pitch, whereas teams under Nuno are much more in a deeper block.
Long balls and set pieces are a massive part of Dyche’s philosophy. The fact that players like Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Beto were Everton’s top scorers under him shows how he wants his teams to play, with a solid defensive structure.
His football will definitely keep Forest in the league, but one could argue why he wasn’t the replacement for Nuno?
It isn’t easy to switch from one style of play to another in the middle of the season, which is why Postecoglou’s appointment made no sense.
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While you get that Marinakis is a passionate guy who wants to win, you’ve also got to look at the players in your squad, and adapt accordingly in terms of finding a coach who has a system that suits the profile of your squad.
That’s why bringing in someone like Dyce fits the bill perfectly, as he can adapt his style of play according to the opponents and his own team.
Wood Back in Familiar Surroundings?
Embed from Getty ImagesWhile the players will not be accustomed to the style of play under Dyche, Chris Wood was a huge asset to Dyche during his time at Burnley.
Having signed for Dyche’s Burnley in August 2017, for £15 million. The 33-year-old centre forward scored 46 goals in 127 games for the Clarets and was a huge part of Dyche’s success at the club.
Last season, Wood scored 20 goals in 36 appearances for Forest and was a massive asset in securing Europa League football.
He could definitely play a pivotal role in how this Forest side is set up under Dyche.
Forest will also face FC Porto in the Europa League. The club’s next two games are away to an in-form AFC Bournemouth and a home game against a rejuvenated Manchester United under Ruben Amorim.
Will Dyche steady the ship for Forest?
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