Nottingham Forest’s turbulent season shows no signs of slowing down, with two managers already shown the door before November has even arrived.
Club owner Evangelos Marinakis, never one to shy away from bold decisions, likely hoped for a quick turnaround after sacking Nuno Espirito Santo and appointing Ange Postecoglou. But after just 39 days in charge — a disastrous spell that saw Forest slide further into the Premier League’s relegation zone — the former Tottenham manager was ruthlessly dismissed.
Now, the ever-pragmatic Sean Dyche has been handed the reins, tasked with steadying the ship at the City Ground. His reign got off to a perfect start as Forest beat Porto 2-0 in the Europa League, offering fans a glimmer of hope that stability might finally be on the horizon.
Dyche turns focus to Bournemouth challenge
Next up is the Premier League — and a difficult trip to the South Coast to face Bournemouth. However, Dyche may have to make do without Oleksandr Zinchenko, who limped off midweek and is a major doubt for the match.
Even if the Ukrainian defender recovers in time, his place in the starting XI could be under serious threat.
Why Zinchenko could be dropped
Zinchenko’s availability will likely be decided just before kick-off, but Dyche has a strong alternative in Nicolo Savona, the young Italian full-back signed from Juventus in the summer.
Savona impressed when coming on for Zinchenko against Porto, helping to secure the clean sheet and even winning the penalty that sealed Dyche’s debut victory. The 22-year-old’s composed display — winning all of his duels and showing a willingness to put his body on the line — fits perfectly with Dyche’s no-nonsense style of football.
Meanwhile, Zinchenko’s early spell in Nottingham has been far from convincing. The former Manchester City man has lost three of his six appearances in Forest colours, and Dyche may be tempted to make a statement by leaving him out.
Dyche may also drop Forest’s “incredible” striker
Another player whose place could be under scrutiny is Igor Jesus. The Brazilian forward has shone in Europe, scoring three goals in the Europa League and adding two more in the EFL Cup, but his Premier League record remains blank.
Despite being described as an “incredible” finisher by journalist Zach Lowy, Jesus has struggled to replicate that form domestically. He came close against Chelsea, striking the post during a lively substitute appearance, but his lack of top-flight experience may concern Dyche ahead of a physical contest with Bournemouth.
Instead, Dyche could turn to Taiwo Awoniyi, a proven Premier League scorer with 17 goals to his name, or welcome back Chris Wood — a player he knows well from their time together at Burnley. Wood, who missed the Porto clash through injury, scored 53 goals under Dyche’s management and remains a trusted lieutenant.
Dyche era begins with tough decisions
It might seem harsh for Dyche to drop two players — Zinchenko and Jesus — who featured in his first win as Forest boss. Yet the Premier League demands results, and Dyche has never been one to shy away from difficult choices.
With Bournemouth awaiting and survival already the top priority, expect the new Forest boss to rely on trusted experience and defensive solidity over flair. Early signs suggest Dyche is ready to make his mark — and that means no one’s place in this Forest side is guaranteed.