The emblem is bigger than every manager,” the new Forest boss declared at his introduction as the club's head coach, sporting a training kit with his monogram. Subsequently, amended his statement. Actually, there was a single manager who was likely as big as the crest – everyone recognizes who that was.”} Then came, an imitation of the legendary manager, a crack at that unique drawl. “‘Young ginger, well done,’” he recalled, reliving his three years as a trainee at the City Ground, the period he spent strolling down the Trent, with Clough’s labrador, whizzing past him and his manager’s voice always within hearing range.
Dyche tells a story of how, as a youth player, he and a couple of mates looked after Clough’s garden at his home in Quarndon. Our weekly wage was minimal and he paid you a tenner to do his garden. So we really thought: ‘This is pretty good.’ He’d cook for you and ensure you were cared for. It was quite fun, not too much gardening.”
In his case, this moment has been a long time in the planning. He lives in the city and has a affection for the team. In recent years, he and his longstanding coach his deputy, who was a member of the Nottingham Forest squad the previous occasion they were in Europe, in the mid-90s, have sometimes popped into the West Bridgford coffee shop where Forest legends such as Frank Clark, Colin Barrett and Garry Birtles gather every Thursday to discuss old and new tales. He will have to give it a miss this time to prepare for the arrival of the Portuguese side, undefeated this campaign, in the Europa League on Thursday evening.
“I’m looking forward to meeting the miracle men,” remarked Dyche, who succeeded the previous coach to become Forest’s latest head coach of the season. “They will give me a bit of ear-holing if I don’t do too well, so I better secure some matches for them. Those fellows mean a lot to me. A lot of supporters recognise the history of this club. I’ve got my own and now I’ve got a chance to reinvent my personal history, I guess, as coach.”
The new boss oversaw the team practice for the initial session on this week, three days after Postecoglou oversaw a 3‑0 at home loss by the London club that placed the side in the top division relegation zone. Ryan Yates, who came as a child, acknowledged these are just the start but Dyche and his staff have alleviated some of the negativity.
His backroom team includes another club icon in Steve Stone, as well as a coach and Tony Loughlan, both of whom played for the team. “I feel like a massive asset of this organization is getting the bond between the fans, players and coach and, frankly, the recent period we lacked a positive atmosphere around here,” Yates said. “The new manager and his assistants have brought that feeling of life and enthusiasm.”
Dyche made clear he does not understand the team like the back of my hand” considering his most recent experience at Forest has been as an opposition manager, but he thinks he has a broader grasp of the environment and demands. The guidelines have been laid. “I’ve let them wear white socks, for heaven's sake,” Dyche said. I expect my former teammates caning me on WhatsApp. But they’re not allowed to wear neck warmers or hats … I had to do a deal somewhere.”
The team have lost their last four fixtures and not won since the start of the season. Dyche said the proprietor, Evangelos Marinakis, understood the importance of stabilising the situation. Dyche encountered the Greek billionaire in the Europa League with Burnley, when his team lost in a qualifier against Olympiakos in 2018. After the first leg Dyche expressed frustration at Olympiakos dignitaries, among them the owner, approaching the referees at the break in the stadium. “We had a bit of a giggle,” he recalled.
One aspect of his appeal is his reputation for constructing teams with solid foundations, pertinent for a side without a clean sheet in many games. People categorize me, I’m not concerned,” he stated. I don't avoid behind what’s successful. It’s no point of pride to me. In the past people were going: ‘Why do you rely on set pieces?’ Now they’re popular. Tight trousers, flared jeans, skinny jeans, flared jeans … my daughter criticizes me for any trousers I wear. Apparently on social media even I got some criticism for my shoes walking into training [on Tuesday] … was surprised by that. Tom Ford [trainers] but, regardless, don’t like to mention it.”
Dyche is pleased that his early career were at Forest but believes that should not mean he or his staff are judged in a special way. “There’s no shortcut with the supporters, but we do care, that’s a point I believe can ever be doubted,” he remarked. My only aspiration was putting on the shirt, but I didn't manage to achieve it. Stoney and Woany did, Billy played as a temporary keeper, Tony wore it and scored a strike. I was the only one who didn’t and they keep reminding me of that.
“In my case to have that connection of it is a big thing for me personally. But it doesn’t give me a divine right, believe me. The fans want me to win. If I’m failing, the fans are going to come at me because that’s the way supporters work and I’ve got no problem with that because it's the truth. I was at the club as a youth and didn't get to wear the kit, the badge. Well, currently, I’m sitting with it on me.”
