Sean Dyche is talking a good game but is still a Premier League boss with a lot to prove

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The statement from Nottingham Forest that confirmed the appointment of Sean Dyche earlier this week was slightly bizarre and unintentionally amusing in parts. It was hard not to smile when the announcement began by trumpeting the part played in a “thorough recruitment process” by Global Head of Football, Edu Gaspar, and Global Technical Director, George Syrianos.

The ‘Global’ duo came up with someone who lives down the road from the City Ground. And while there can be no doubting the process was thorough, it still alighted upon a manager who was available and has been linked to the role for some time. The tone of the statement was a touch odd.

“Dyche has built teams defined by defensive organisation, resilience, and strength from set-pieces - qualities that align closely with the current squad’s attributes and the Club’s footballing identity.”

Quite how those qualities align with Forest’s ‘footballing identity’ is anyone’s guess. Of course, any announcement of a new manager is always going to radiate positivity. It has to. It is the start of a new era.

The club is duty-bound to say that Dyche’s “appointment represents the best opportunity for a successful and competitive season across both domestic and European competitions.” The club is duty-bound to say that Dyche “brings the perfect blend of character, tactical acumen and proven achievement to guide the club through to its next chapter.”

And in his first interviews as Forest boss, Dyche - who has brought along club favourites Ian Woan and Steve Stone as assistants - has come across brilliantly. Which is no surprise.

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He is a very engaging, vey likeable character who can build a strong connection with the fans. And he is a good manager, winning the Championship with Burnley in 2015-16.

He is also a very, very confident manager, which is probably half the battle. But as he prepares to guide Forest ‘to its next chapter’, Dyche is still a manager who still has to convince people he can be progressive in the Premier League.

He did very well when maintaining Everton’s Premier League status, despite a points deduction. As he once said, Dyche guided the club through a ’s***-storm.’

But the bottom line is that Dyche won only THREE of the last 20 Premier League games he managed. That is Ange Postecoglou form. Over the course of his 332 Premier League matches, he has a win ratio of 28 percent. For a lot of his time at Everton, the football was not pretty.

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Necessity might have demanded that sort of approach but it still was not good to watch. The investment from Evangelos Marinakis means that Dyche almost certainly has a more talented squad of players at his disposal than he ever had at Burnley or at Everton.

And with this sort of Forest squad, supporters and, indeed, the owner will be expecting a bit more on top of ‘defensive organisation, resilience and strength from set-pieces’.

Before a ball has been kicked, Dyche and his staff seem like a very good fit for Forest ... but after that first ball is kicked, Dyche will still be a manager with a lot to prove.

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