Bournmeouth face Nottingham Forest in their next Premier League match and new manager Sean Dyche has explained the instant differences that the Cherries can expect at the weekend
Bournemouth will hope to avoid coming up against a dreaded new manager bounce when they take on Nottingham Forest on Sunday. The Cherries sit third in the Premier League but could take on a much different Forest side following the arrival of new manager Sean Dyche.
Forest sacked Ange Postecoglou shortly after his side’s 3-0 defeat to Chelsea on Saturday, with his reign lasting just 39 days. He failed to win a match during his eight games in charge, picking up two draws in all competitions.
It has been a disastrous start to the season for Forest. The club would have hoped to build on the momentum of qualifying for the Europa League last term but are now on their third manager of the campaign after Nuno Espirito Santo was dismissed in September.
Bournemouth will be confident of adding to their opponent’s recent woes and extending their six-game unbeaten run. However, manager Andoni Iraola may have to change his game plan following Dyche’s arrival at Forest.
During his lengthy spell as Burnley manager and two-year stint at Everton, Dyche’s teams primarily focused on defensive solidity. It is a stark contrast to his Forest predecessor’s more front-footed approach and Dyche hinted at the differences Bournemouth can expect after taking his first training session.
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“The basics have always got to be in place,” Dyche told Forest’s club website. “Strong, fit and organised is always a good place to start, but I want the players to have the freedom to go and play.
“There’s some real talent here, so our job now is to find that balance — the risk and reward of going forward to score goals and excite the crowd, but equally the solid base which has been such a big weapon for the Club, particularly last season. Finding that balance will be key.
“It’s been important to familiarise ourselves with the players, get a feel for them, and for them to get a feel for us — but more importantly, we want to get them going again and bring that vibrancy back among them.
“There was a nice edge to them in our first session, and we want to keep that going and take those plans into the schedule. We’ve reminded them how good they are, what they’ve already achieved, and how we can build on that to bring consistency.”
Bournemouth will have the benefit of knowing what instant changes Dyche has made to his new squad ahead of their game at the weekend. Forest are preparing to host Porto in the Europa League on Thursday.
It is a sign of how quickly Forest’s fortunes have altered that the club are juggling European football while currently occupying a place in the relegation zone. However, Forest’s busy schedule could work in Bournemouth’s favour as it gives Dyche less time with his players on the training ground.
The Cherries will attempt to ignore the noise surrounding Forest and focus on returning to winning ways on Sunday. Bournemouth have drawn three of their last four games, including their dramatic 3-3 against Crystal Palace last weekend.
Ryan Christie believed he had snatched a 3-2 victory for Iraola’s team, having initially been 2-0 ahead. However, Jean-Philippe Mateta scored a second-half brace and completed his hat-trick with a 97th-minute penalty, before missing a late chance to add a fourth for Palace.
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