As Sean Dyche exits the City Ground, Evangelos Marinakis bets on a Portuguese tactician to revitalize Forest’s £42m star.
The Nottingham Forest managerial merry-go-round continues. Following a goalless draw against bottom-of-the-table Wolves, Sean Dyche has been sacked by Evangelos Marinakis. The Greek owner has wasted no time, with reports from Ben Jacobs confirming that former Wolves boss Vitor Pereira is “almost agreed” as the successor.
While Pereira’s stint at Molineux ended earlier this season after heavy squad sales, his reputation for building elite relationships with attackers remains intact. For Forest fans, the most exciting prospect of Pereira’s arrival isn’t just stability—it’s the potential “rebirth” of Morgan Gibbs-White.
The “Cunha Formula” at the City Ground
At Wolves, Pereira maximized Matheus Cunha, turning the Brazilian into one of the league’s most feared transition monsters. Now, he inherits Gibbs-White, a player described as having “magic tricks” on the ball but who has struggled amidst Forest’s seasonal upheaval.
| Feature | Matheus Cunha (Wolves 24/25) | Morgan Gibbs-White (Current) |
| Primary Role | Creative Forward / Number 10 | Advanced Playmaker |
| Strengths | Dribbling & Transition | Chance Creation & Vision |
| Key Stat | 12 Goal Involvements (under Pereira) | Top 10% for Chances Created |
Tactical Synergy
Pereira’s system relies on a functional build-up that prioritizes a creative “Number 10.” Last season, Gibbs-White registered 15 direct goal involvements. Under Dyche’s more rigid structure, that flair was often stifled.
If Pereira can replicate the freedom he gave Cunha, Gibbs-White could return to the “monster in transition” form that earned him his England call-up. For Marinakis, this isn’t just a managerial change; it’s a desperate move to protect his biggest financial asset from the threat of relegation.
Thiago Nuno is a football editor and analyst covering European leagues, match statistics, and transfer market trends.
