They used to say that the only reason a club would think to call Sean Dyche is either to put out a fire or increase their social followers. But how do you then explain the immediate impact that he’s had at Nottingham Forest? Sean Dyche’s tactics are, for the time being, working.
But what exactly are those tactics? And why do so many arrogantly think that they have Dyche figured out as an unexciting, defensive-first manager?
Here’s how I see things, and these are the tactics that Dyche has used since joining Forest, one of England’s legendary clubs.
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Pre-managerial career
You’ve likely heard Sean Dyche brag about being a Nottingham Forest fan at heart. And there’s some truth to that. Dyche was part of Forest’s youth academy. And although the legendary Brian Clough did not offer Dyche his professional debut, the current manager speaks fondly of his time at the club.
Dyche was, of course, a no-nonsense centre back who made over 450 professional appearances, most of them in the lower tiers of English football.
His managerial resume includes Watford, Burnley and Everton. His mission, of course, has usually been to avoid relegation at all costs. This means that Dyche, for the most part, became known as a tactician who plays direct, aggressive football and earns just enough points to get his team to sit at the rich clubs’ table.
Football Philosophy
I wrote about Sean Dyche’s tactics once before. It was in 2023 when he was managing Everton. Back then, I called Dyche a pragmatist married to a 4-4-2 formation, long-range passing and set-piece routines. Does this hold true now?
Well, I am happy to report that Dyche has adapted to a modern 4-2-3-1. That’s how Forest lined up as they ran away clear victors at Anfield.
And, yes, I am also glad to report that set pieces and long balls through the middle of the park used in counterattack routines continue to be strategies that Dyche heavily relies on.
Still, things go much deeper than that. Let’s look at Dyche’s fine-tuning since taking over the job as Forest manager.
Nottingham Forest in Defence
One trait that Dyche is consistent about is playing in a narrow 4-4-2 when out of possession.
However, Forest doesn’t just drop down into a low block and defend man-to-man as you might expect. They play in a mid-blow, press aggressively and attempt to have numerical superiority at all times.
Typically, Gibbs-White, the team’s star player, will move next to the striker, Igor Jesus, and pester the opposition’s defensive line.
The objective is always to bring the ball into wider areas where Forest can overwhelm opponents and quickly move into a counterattack.
When defending, one of the full-backs will tend to tuck in, inviting the opposition to attack down one of the flanks. The defensive midfielders are also given a lot of room to manoeuvre, their role being that of closing gaps between the lines. Elliot Anderson is particularly useful in this role.
Build-Up Style
Dyche has carved out a reputation as a back-to-basics, no-nonsense manager. He likes to advertise himself in this way. But I think that, in truth, he is well aware of the more sophisticated strategies he can use. He is aware of them, but rarely opts to use them.
For example, many of Forest’s goal-scoring opportunities recently have come through blasting long balls onto the right flank, where Nicolo Savona and Dan Ndoye have been able to overpower the opposition’s full-back.
Forest doesn’t just risk giving away possession by knocking balls forward. The build-up happens from the back, where Nikola Milenkovic and Murillo will act as ball-carrying defenders. This generally means that either Ibrahim Sangare, the defensive midfielder, or Morgan Gibbs-White, the playmaker, will drop deep to pick up the ball.
From this point, typically, possession will be switched to one of the flanks, and either Sangare or Gibbs-White will join in trying to create numerical overloads.
From here onward, yes, it’s down to a direct passing style through the middle of the pitch to create chances. This should suit Forest just fine. Igor Jesus has won the starting spot as striker. However, the team can also rely on Chris Wood and Taiwo Awoniyi, two powerful, experienced number nines.
Nottingham Forest in Attack
If you think, as I did, that Dyche is just going to ask his players to sit in a rigid 4-2-3-1 shape for the entirety of the game and throw balls unto the striker, you’re mistaken.
Against Liverpool, for example, it was clever use of space that got Forest the win. Players switching positions, creating numerical advantage on the flank and using Morgan Gibbs-White in almost a free role meant that Arne Slot’s defenders simply didn’t know who to mark and when to do it.
The team’s currently underperforming its xG. Given the potential of strikers like Igor or Wood, Dyche should feel confident about the team’s chances moving forward.
What’s Next for Sean Dyche and Nottingham Forest?
Nottingham Forest had a sensational 2024/25 season. The team, a former double Champions Cup winner, qualified for the Europa League. However, this season started out badly, and Dyche is already the team’s third manager of the campaign.
However, Dyche earned points against teams like Manchester United and Liverpool straight off the bat. Naturally, fans are confident.
Will this be enough to change Dyche’s reputation as a manager who only comes in when a team needs some tough love to help the club avoid relegation? It’s certainly a good opportunity to break with the past.
Forest is unlikely to relegate this season, and probably won’t reach Europe for a second year in a row. What will be interesting to see is whether Sean Dyche will be here to lead the team into next year’s campaign and how many more EPL giants are going to fall prey to Forest’s direct style of football.
