Chris Hughton was last night confirmed as the new Nottingham Forest manager, with Sabri Lamouchi sacked after a dreadful run of form stretching back to the restart of the 2019-20 season.
Despite looking on course for a play-off place when last season was suspended, a diabolical run of form in the nine games that followed saw Forest pick up just 10 points before losing out on a play-off place thanks to a spectacular 1-4 capitulation at home to Stoke City on the final day.
Lamouchiās side have fared no better in the new campaign, scoring just once in four league defeats and being knocked out of the League Cup by Barnsley. At the time of writing, Forest sit 22nd in the Championship table, evidence enough for Forestās owners that the Frenchman should be shown the door after just over a year at the helm.
Hughton, who was appointed just half an hour after his predecessorās sacking, represents a steady yet cautious manager, but one who has still managed to get teams promoted from the Championship twice. With this the clubās sixth manager in just over three years under owner Evangelos Marinakis, and 13th since 2011, Platform takes a look at what fans can expect from the new man at the Forest helm.
Dealt a harsh hand, and has a proven record
Hughton enjoyed a distinguished playing career, spending its entirety in London. A full-back, Hughton made almost 400 appearances for Tottenham Hotspur from 1977-90, winning the FA Cup in 1981 and 1982, as well as the UEFA Cup (now the Europa League) in 1984. Brief but successful spells at both West Ham United and Brentford followed, winning promotion at both clubs, before his retirement due to injury in 1993. The 61-year old was also the first mixed-race player to represent the Republic of Ireland, earning over 50 caps.
As a manager, Hughton has built a solid reputation as a dignified, stable presence, who has a proven record in the Championship. His first managerial role at Newcastle United, following 14 years as a coach at Spurs and a two-year stint as assistant manager for the Republic of Ireland, saw him guide the Magpies back to the Premier League at the first time of asking. He repeated the feat at Brighton and Hove Albion in 2017, and whilst at Birmingham guided the club to both the Europa League group stages and the Championship play-offs in just one season.
Had it not been for interest from Premier League side Norwich City at the end of his sole season at Birmingham, it is likely he would have guided the Blues back to the top-flight as he had done on Tyneside. Indeed, his abrupt sacking by Mike Ashley halfway through Newcastleās first season back in the top-flight ignited fan protests, and his legacy has since been one of immense popularity and a feeling of being given an unfair crack of the whip.
In the Premier League, his record is less glamorous. Despite leading Norwich to an 11th-placed finish in his first season, his second season saw him sacked with five games to spare, which was not enough to save the Canaries from the drop. Whilst at Brighton he was the first black manager to be named Manager of the Month in February 2018 but was sacked in May 2019 after just three wins in 23 games and surviving relegation by just two points.
Yet regardless, Hughton has emerged from every job with his reputation intact ā something many managers would wish for. For Forest, he embodies a manager who can get results at this level, but also steady the ship, at a time when the club has for many years been on a rollercoaster ride in the Championship.
Style of play isnāt Hughtonās only challenge
Hughton has occasionally been criticised, particularly in the Premier League, for his style of play. Often labelled as negative, solid defences are preferred to attacks full of flair. In the Premier League, this system falls flat if the defence does not have the quality to withstand the attacking forces of world-class clubs, which may well have been the case at Norwich and Brighton. But in the Championship, this approach can have real benefit, particularly away from home, provided you can score a few goals along the way.
The new manager ā Forestās 13th since 2011 ā will need to address primarily the task of winning over fans if he sticks to his football philosophy. Lamouchi, although popular with fans, oversaw a team which whilst solid defensively offered little upfront, with Lewis Grabban the main outlet as smash-and-grab wins were common. Once that defence was breached, there was little offered in return. If Hughton is to genuinely improve the clubās fortunes, he may have to sacrifice some of his defensive rigidness for attacking fluidity and install resilience in a team which has been rolled over far too often in recent months.
He will need to settle on a team that can genuinely impress in the Championship. Worryingly, Forest have signed 60 players in three years, which may concern many Forest fans that there is little chemistry between the immense group of players. Hughton will need to find a team that works and stick to it if he is to drive the club back up the table.
Hughtonās record in the Championship remains impressive. Getting out of the Championship once, let alone twice, is no mean feat. However, if he is to truly win over fans ā and his new bosses ā he must create a sense of positivity within the team and may well have to adapt his style to do it.
By Callum Parke