Sean Dyche's honeymoon period at Nottingham Forest is coming to an abrupt end after the club suffered a dismal Europa League defeat to Braga, leaving fans feeling frustrated and disappointed.
Dyche, who was expected to bring stability to the team, was instead tasked with navigating a listless performance that lacked sharp edges and not only in attack. The absence of a genuine striker was painfully evident, and Forest's struggles to change gear were on full display as they became the second team in Europa League history to lose without facing a single shot on target.
The mood at Forest is far from upbeat, with fans growing increasingly disillusioned with Dyche's inability to get the best out of his squad. The manager himself acknowledged that there was a high expectation at the club following the influx of new signings last summer, but he was clear about the challenges ahead: "There was a high expectation...I was not expecting it to be easy."
Dyche's own experience as a manager is well-documented, and he recalled the Europa League qualifying campaign with Burnley in 2018-19 as being both heaven and hell. This time around, Forest are facing a similar juggling act between playing on the continent and the Premier League schedule.
While Dyche acknowledged that some signings have struggled to make an impact, such as Dilane Bakwa and James McAtee, he emphasized the importance of sharing the load without affecting results. However, it remains to be seen whether this approach will be enough to get Forest back on track.
As the team gears up for their next match against Brentford on Sunday, Dyche faces a critical period that will determine the direction of his tenure at the club. With nine matches in just 35 days ahead, Forest must find a way to lift their performance and inject some much-needed life into their campaign. Anything less than success would be deemed unacceptable for this embattled manager, who is determined to prove himself as more than just OK โ but as someone capable of delivering a trophy-winning season at this iconic club.
Dyche, who was expected to bring stability to the team, was instead tasked with navigating a listless performance that lacked sharp edges and not only in attack. The absence of a genuine striker was painfully evident, and Forest's struggles to change gear were on full display as they became the second team in Europa League history to lose without facing a single shot on target.
The mood at Forest is far from upbeat, with fans growing increasingly disillusioned with Dyche's inability to get the best out of his squad. The manager himself acknowledged that there was a high expectation at the club following the influx of new signings last summer, but he was clear about the challenges ahead: "There was a high expectation...I was not expecting it to be easy."
Dyche's own experience as a manager is well-documented, and he recalled the Europa League qualifying campaign with Burnley in 2018-19 as being both heaven and hell. This time around, Forest are facing a similar juggling act between playing on the continent and the Premier League schedule.
While Dyche acknowledged that some signings have struggled to make an impact, such as Dilane Bakwa and James McAtee, he emphasized the importance of sharing the load without affecting results. However, it remains to be seen whether this approach will be enough to get Forest back on track.
As the team gears up for their next match against Brentford on Sunday, Dyche faces a critical period that will determine the direction of his tenure at the club. With nine matches in just 35 days ahead, Forest must find a way to lift their performance and inject some much-needed life into their campaign. Anything less than success would be deemed unacceptable for this embattled manager, who is determined to prove himself as more than just OK โ but as someone capable of delivering a trophy-winning season at this iconic club.