Sacking three head coaches in a season does not reflect well on Nottingham Forest or their owner, Evangelos Marinakis. It is a mess of their own making, which started with the exit of their most successful manager in recent history and has the latest P45 going to the man brought in to sort out the problems created by an ill-judged appointment that lasted eight winless games.
Twelve months ago Forest were battling for a Champions League spot under the stable stewardship of Nuno Espírito Santo. A lot has changed and they will become the first Premier League side to have four permanent managers in a season, which was not a record Forest were aiming for in August, when they were hoping to build on a seventh-place finish, an FA Cup semi-final and qualifying for Europe for the first time in 30 years.
Nuno lasted 24 days of Forest’s season after a breakdown in relations with Marinakis, Ange Postecoglou a disastrous 40 and Sean Dyche a respectable 114. There are items on the shelves of West Bridgford greengrocers that have been around for longer than the combined managerial stints. At least, for Vítor Pereira, who is in talks to take over, there are only 101 days until the final match of the campaign.
Forest are in a battle for survival, one place and three points above the relegation zone. The goalless draw against Wolves on Wednesday sealed Dyche’s fate, as boos and expletives swirled at full-time with Marinakis watching from the stands. For the second time this season Marinakis took action by parting with a coach within hours of a game finishing.
The air had turned toxic in the stands, fans frustrated by the football and the inability to beat the worst team in the Premier League, despite Forest having 35 shots. From the first whistle there were groans when a pass did not find its destination or an effort at goal went wayward, with Dyche feeling the brunt of the criticism. The supporters did not warm to him. His brand of football was extremely conservative, but this was to be expected.
It was not difficult for the cameras to pick out Marinakis in the stands, the owner having constructed something akin to a throne in the directors’ box. Whenever a chance was missed, the TV coverage turned to the Greek billionaire, who went through a full array of grimaces as his investments toiled.
Marinakis holds great affection for his players and when he noted their backing for Dyche was waning, it was always likely he would act because coaches are far more disposable. Nor does Marinakis want a poisonous atmosphere inside the ground; he enjoys the adulation of fans and with an unpopular figure in the dugout, things could not go on.
It was similar when Postecoglou was dismissed, having been selected by Marinakis, but the decision to remove Nuno for Postecoglou was a miscalculation. Postecoglou wanted to revolutionise Forest but did not have the means to do so and quickly grated on the players with a style that did not suit those available. He was sent packing within 20 minutes of losing to Chelsea and did not even get to perform his press duties. At least Dyche was given three hours’ grace and a chat with journalists.
Dyche’s appointment was a pragmatic necessity after Postecoglou’s flawed reign. Dyche performed the role he was supposed to, sorting out the defence and bringing order after the chaos. For the period of Dyche’s tenure, Forest were 11th, above Sunderland and Bournemouth, who have European aspirations, and he guided them into the Europa League knockout stages. There was even a nomination for the Premier League manager of the month for January but, with players irritated, things descended quickly.
Dyche and his staff had a strained relationship with the squad by the end. His intense methods and growl were not appreciated. Against Wolves everyone was looking for a reaction after last Friday’s 3-1 loss at Leeds, where Forest were appalling. That was their only league defeat in six, and came with three of the regular back five absent. There was greater attacking intent against Wolves but the execution was too sloppy and no individuals lived up to expectations, hindered by a lack of confidence.
Marinakis remains popular at the City Ground, regularly having his name chanted. No one can question his financial commitment to Forest, who have made 16 signings since the end of last season, at a cost of £180m. Getting the best out of any player requires a stable environment, though, particularly as they have often moved countries, and Forest do not offer that. There, styles and methods change faster than the seasons.
A good portion of Marinakis’s recent expenditure has gone on exciting wingers but Dyche was never likely to embrace them, and Forest scored 20 goals in his 18 league games. Omari Hutchinson, Dan Ndoye and Dilane Bakwa were bit-part players under Dyche, who often preferred the disciplined Nicolás Domínguez out wide for his defensive attributes.
Four wins in Dyche’s opening seven games brought optimism and began to turn the ship. Liverpool were defeated at Anfield and Tottenham pummelled on the banks of the Trent; the former Brian Clough apprentice had masterminded key victories. But within four months Dyche has gone. His reputation will not be damaged because the Forest job is the most precarious in the Premier League. Pereira is poised to take over but if Forest are relegated neither he nor his three immediate predecessors should shoulder the blame.
