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Just one match away from the Champions League in May, the situation has dramatically changed by October, as they find themselves in the relegation zone of the Premier League with a new manager appointed for the third time in six weeks.
Sean Dyche has taken over from Ange Postecoglou on a contract extending until the summer of 2027, which follows the Australian's dismissal a mere 17 minutes after Saturday's 3-0 loss to Chelsea—bringing his 39-day tenure to an abrupt end.
Postecoglou had been optimistic, declaring that winning the Europa League was a key goal, yet he ended his time as the shortest-serving permanent manager in the history of both Nottingham Forest and the Premier League.
Even before the weekend, Dyche was in the frame as owner Evangelos Marinakis began to weigh his options during the international break.
A former player for the Forest academy and now a Nottingham local, Dyche has stepped in to help the club regain its confidence and identity in a season that has already derailed due to self-inflicted issues.
But is Dyche truly the right fit for this role?
Dyche, known as a motivator
Forest has painted themselves into a difficult position following the unsuccessful Postecoglou venture.
They aimed to have the new manager in place before Thursday's Europa League clash against Porto, and Dyche now has the task of re-establishing the structure and resilience that was clearly demonstrated under Nuno Espirito Santo, who led the team to a seventh-place finish in the Premier League last season.
The centre-backs, Murillo and Nikola Milenkovic, struggled to adapt to Postecoglou's more fluid scheme, while goalkeeper Matz Sels—who last season shared the Golden Glove with Arsenal's David Raya—has yet to secure a clean sheet this season and was accountable for at least one of the goals conceded against Chelsea.
Elliot Anderson has been consistent, having achieved the highest number of touches in the Premier League this season at 807; however, he stands out as an exception within the squad.
This predicament indicates that Dyche will need to quickly grasp the squad's composition and mentality after Forest invested £180 million in 13 new recruits during the summer transfer window.
On Saturday, around £120 million worth of talent—including James McAtee, Dilane Bakwa, Arnaud Kalimuendo, and record signing Omari Hutchinson—was completely omitted from the squad, while only two signings from the summer, loanees Douglas Luiz and Oleksandr Zinchenko, were included in the starting lineup.
Insiders believe the team has an excess of players, particularly those of similar styles.
The cohesion that had been crucial for their success has been shaken by Nuno's exit, so Dyche must work to rebuild that unity.
"He's one of the most charismatic individuals; he enters a room and commands attention," shared former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson, who played under Dyche at Burnley for 18 months.
"I always responded well to managers who were approachable and candid, giving you honest feedback whether it was convenient or not, and that’s one of Sean’s key strengths."
He is a leader among his peers, earning immediate respect within the locker room. Though he has faced criticism for his playing style, he delivers results, and what stands out is his ability to maximize the potential of players who might not be performing at their best.
Within the Nottingham Forest lineup, there are talents like Morgan Gibbs-White, Elliot Anderson, Neco Williams, and Callum Hudson-Odoi. Such players will undoubtedly thrive under the guidance of Sean Dyche. He will be the kind of manager that allows them to shine.
Forest commenced the season with aspirations of returning to European competition, and Postecoglou was appointed to secure trophies, but they now find themselves needing to readjust in order to move ahead.
Dyche previously led Burnley to a remarkable seventh-place finish in the 2017-2018 season, marking the club's first European qualification in over five decades.
On the other hand, during his time with Everton, they placed 17th and then 15th, raising questions about whether the 54-year-old can lead the team to win the Europa League.
"I believe it is still achievable; the player roster remains intact," Robinson stated. "The key is shifting the mindset. Breaking free from a losing streak can be challenging, but he’s certainly the kind of person capable of accomplishing that.
"He aims to avoid being labeled similarly to Sam Allardyce, known for stepping in as a quick fix to secure teams in the Premier League. This presents him with an opportunity to build something substantial.
"He possesses a solid group of players. Although there are financial limitations, when assessing the squad, it does not require extensive modifications this season.
"This role seems perfectly suited for him. It's likely a position he has been waiting for."
Fans of Forest are apprehensive about a return to obscurity.
The transition from Nuno to Dyche, following Postecoglou in under six weeks, underscores the confusion prevailing at the City Ground.
Desiring to advance is one thing; however, collapsing and making poor decisions, even with good intentions, is an entirely different matter.
Forest is in its fourth season back in the Premier League after a 23-year absence. Steve Cooper achieved promotion in 2022, and Marinakis brought Postecoglou on board to compete for trophies.
Instead, the club now faces a fight for relegation, and Matt Davies, host of the well-known Forest Focus podcast, feels fans must adopt a more realistic perspective following Dyche's hiring.
"It's likely a wake-up call," he commented. "We entered the season filled with hope, following our most successful season and significant investment in the team.
However, it's essential to assess the situation at hand, and currently, we find ourselves in the relegation zone. While there are still eight matches left to play, this is an unfortunate time to be struggling, especially when the teams that have moved up aren't particularly weak.
"As a result, at least one well-established, provided we qualify as such, Premier League team will be facing relegation. It’s crucial to bounce back immediately, as failing to do so could mean experiencing significant setbacks.
"There’s considerable anxiety among Forest fans about returning to the wilderness after a 23-year absence. We certainly want to avoid that, and we do not wish to return in the most avoidable manner possible.
"It’s imperative to get this right, and if Sean Dyche represents that necessary reality check, then so be it."
The search for accountability regarding how Forest ended up in this predicament has already commenced, yet Davies is hesitant to assign blame to any one individual.
"It’s overly simplistic to just assign it to a single person and say, 'oh, it’s all the owner, it’s all Ange,'" he remarked.
"There are actually four individuals involved: Nuno, Marinakis, Postecoglou, and Edu have all played significant roles at the club since the conclusion of the last season.
"Many individuals need to pause and evaluate what has gone wrong and devise ways to rectify the situation, as well as how to restore some level of stability this season before it spirals into a complete disaster."
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