Sean Dyche Takes Charge of Nottingham Forest Amid Challenges
“I have seen enough fashionistas come in and out of this division,” says new Nottingham Forest manager Sean Dyche. “You’ve got to win the games; it’s as simple as that.”
The 54-year-old may not consider himself a football fashionista, but as coaches increasingly emphasize set-pieces and long ball tactics, he may find himself in vogue.
Ange Postecoglou's tenure at Forest lasted just 39 days after he was appointed to win trophies and implement a more expansive style of play, replacing Nuno Espirito Santo on September 9. However, he managed only two draws and six losses in his eight matches, as the squad struggled to adapt to his demands.
Upon taking the helm, Dyche outlined his philosophy and style, having faced criticism during his previous stints at Burnley and Everton. “I did a podcast with Tony Pulis and Mick McCarthy; Tony is now being praised for long throws, which he was once criticized for when managing Stoke,” Dyche remarked. He has signed a contract that runs until the summer of 2027.
“Football trends change frequently, and while I’m not here to pontificate, I value winning above all else. The Forest fans have shown openness to a different approach since last season, which was quite successful. The players recognize this too. I’ve gathered a lot of feedback from them, and they take pride in their achievements from last season, which I fully support. Now, the challenge is to slightly reshape that winning mentality.”
“Whether it’s long ball or short ball, the key is to play effective football. That approach will never go out of style.”
Currently, Forest sits 18th in the Premier League, winless in all competitions since their opening match, and will face Porto in the Europa League for Dyche's debut on Thursday. This starkly contrasts last season's seventh-place finish, which marked the return of European football to the City Ground for the first time in 30 years.
This season, Forest has scored only twice from set-pieces in the Premier League, while league leaders Arsenal have netted eight times from such situations. The frequency of long throws per game has nearly doubled since last season, and there has been a reduction in playing out from the back, with 48% of goal-kicks directed into the attacking half compared to 40% last season.
“This season, we’ve seen significant shifts in statistics. For the first time in a decade, there are more long passes being made,” Dyche noted. “When other teams use long passes, it’s seen positively, but when I employ similar tactics, it’s labeled as long balls. I joke about it, but it’s true. We aim to play effectively because we need to return to winning ways. It’s pointless for me to claim we’ll play like Spain did when they won the World Cup. Instead, we need to explore various styles.”
“Can we build on a style that leverages our players' skills differently? We’ll see, but we need a solid foundation to work from.”
Marinakis Aware of the New Challenge
Forest has not kept a clean sheet in 20 games, a run that dates back to April and a 1-0 victory over Manchester United. Under Postecoglou, they scored just once in five Premier League matches while conceding 10 goals, leaving them two points adrift of safety.
Initially, the club aimed to win the Europa League and challenge for European spots again, but owner Evangelos Marinakis acknowledges that stability must come first. “He’s well aware of the challenges,” Dyche said. “He spoke candidly about the situation. He doesn’t believe it’s a given simply because of last season. Having been involved in football for a long time, both with Olympiacos and here, he knows that stability is the first step, but it cannot be the only goal of a Nottingham Forest manager.”
“I don’t want to settle for mediocrity; I want to push for more. As a football manager, coach, and players, we should always strive for improvement, but first, we need to stabilize the situation. You in the media have been discussing this for weeks, so can we move forward? However, we still need to re-establish the basics within the team, as they seem to have lost sight of that.”
Club captain Ryan Yates insists that the players must take responsibility for their current predicament following Dyche’s arrival. During a recent Europa League match against Midtjylland, fans chanted that Postecoglou would be “sacked in the morning,” indicating a shift in the atmosphere at the City Ground.
Forest will face Bournemouth in the Premier League on Sunday before hosting Manchester United on November 1. Yates emphasized, “It’s our responsibility as players. We need to hold ourselves accountable. We haven’t been good enough. While we can’t blame any one individual, we now have a fresh opportunity and are eager to start strong.”
“A significant strength of this club is the connection between the fans, players, and manager. Let’s be honest; the atmosphere hasn’t been great in recent weeks. However, the new manager and his coaching staff have injected a renewed sense of life and energy into the club.”