NOTTINGHAM Forest have rolled the dice AGAIN, appointing Vitor Pereira as their FOURTH permanent manager of a bonkers season.
The Portuguese gaffer has put pen to paper on an 18 month deal at the City Ground, taking over from Sean Dyche who got his marching orders on Thursday. And get this, no club in Premier League history has ever got through FOUR different permanent bosses in a single campaign. Record breakers, eh?
Pereira’s first job? Keep Forest in the top flight. They’re sat 17th, just three points above the drop zone, with only two wins in their last ten. Not exactly convincing.
But the 57 year old doesn’t get time to settle. First training session is Monday, then it’s straight into the deep end, a Europa League knockout round play off first leg against his old club Fenerbahce in Turkey on Thursday. After that, Liverpool at home on February 22. Piece of cake.
FROM WOLVES REJECT TO FOREST SAVIOUR?
Pereira knows the Premier League sort of. He was booted by Wolves back in November after just 11 months at Molineux, leaving with the club rock bottom on two points from ten games. Not exactly a glowing reference.
But he did keep them up last season, winning 14 of his 38 games in charge. And he’s worked under Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis before, winning the Greek title and cup at Olympiacos in 2014-15. That relationship might be the only thing keeping this madhouse steady.
He follows Nuno Espirito Santo, Ange Postecoglou and Dyche through the revolving door since September. Nuno got binned after three games despite guiding Forest to seventh and Europe last term. Postecoglou lasted 39 days without a win. Dyche brought stability for a bit seven wins in his first 12 but the wheels fell off.
DYCHED OUT BUT PLAYERS ESCAPE BLAME?
Dyche’s downfall was a goalless draw at home to bottom club Wolves. Forest had 35 shots that night THIRTY FIVE and couldn’t score. That sums up their season.
Chris Wood was crocked with a knee injury throughout Dyche’s reign, so goals were always going to be an issue. In 114 days, Forest racked up 241 shots, ninth in the league but their conversion rate of 8.3% was the third worst. Toothless.
Players were summoned to see Marinakis after the Wolves stalemate, and opinions were canvassed following Friday’s 3-1 defeat at fellow strugglers Leeds. The message was clear something had to change.
‘SHORT TERM IS HIS THING’ BUT WILL IT WORK?
BBC Radio WM’s Mike Taylor knows Pereira well from his Wolves days. His verdict? “Short term is his thing. He’s been everywhere, often not for very long. He had nine clubs in 10 years in seven countries before Wolves. So this is the Pereira method go in, do a job and move on.”
At Wolves, he galvanised them initially six wins on the spin at one point. But it turned toxic after a home defeat to Burnley in October, and he was gone a month later. He was unhappy with their summer transfer business, feeling they were too slow and didn’t get his first choice targets. He even regrets not walking away at the start of the season.
But he knows Marinakis, so there should be no surprises between the pair. Whether that’s a good thing or not remains to be seen.
FANS SPLIT FROM MORRIS MINOR TO BENTLEY?
Forest fans are torn. Simon’s gutted Dyche went: “Sad to see SD go. Should have been given until end of season. Players let him down. I think he would have kept them up.”
Ken’s buzzing: “Yes it will work. We’ve swapped a Morris Minor for a Bentley. He will sort us out to stay up, then further embed his philosophy in summer.”
Sean’s not convinced: “This will not work. Having a fourth ‘permanent’ manager will only create further instability. I am hopefully wrong, but I can’t see that happening.”
Neil wants perspective: “We need to concentrate on PL survival, even at expense of Europa League. We need a manager who can galvanise squad the way Leeds and West Ham have.”
Tony’s blaming the top: “This season is all on the owner! I don’t fancy a bet on us staying up with this latest appointment.”
PEREIRA’S WANDERLUST 15TH JOB IN 20 YEARS
Pereira started his managerial career with Portuguese club Sanjoanense in 2004. Since then, he’s been everywhere Germany, China, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, Greece, Turkey, and now back to England. Forest is his 15th role.
His coaching staff will include Filipe Jorge Monteiro Almeida and Luis Miguel Moreira Da Silva as assistants. Whether they can turn this mess around is anyone’s guess.
One thing’s for sure it’s never boring at the City Ground.
