Forest SHOCKER! Pereira In - What Will Happen Now?!

Nottingham Forest have, once again, pressed the reset button. Vitor Pereira is the new man in charge at the City Ground, signing an 18-month deal to become the club's *fourth* manager this season alone. It's a move that reeks of desperation, frankly, and it leaves you wondering what owner Evangelos Marinakis is really trying to achieve.

Forest SHOCKER! Pereira In - What Will Happen Now?...

The 57-year-old Portuguese manager takes over from Sean Dyche, who was unceremoniously dumped on Thursday. The mission, should he choose to accept it (and he clearly has), is to steer Forest clear of Premier League relegation. Currently sitting precariously in 17th, just three points above the dreaded drop zone, Forest have only managed two wins in their last ten outings. It’s not exactly the kind of form that inspires confidence.

Pereira's immediate schedule is, shall we say, challenging. His first match is a Europa League knockout round play-off tie against Fenerbahce in Turkey – a reunion with his former club. Following that, it's a home clash against Liverpool. Talk about being thrown in at the deep end! You’ve got to feel for the guy, though, considering the mess he’s walking into.

This isn't Pereira's first rodeo in English football, of course. He had a brief, and ultimately unsuccessful, stint with Wolves that ended in November after just 11 months. He was brought in to steady the ship, but ultimately failed to deliver. Despite helping them avoid relegation last season and winning 14 of his 38 games, the club clearly felt a change was needed. And to be fair, seeing him given another chance so soon seems odd, doesn't it?

What's perhaps most interesting is Pereira's prior relationship with Marinakis at Olympiacos. He even won the Greek title and Greek Cup with them in 2014-15. Clearly, Marinakis values Pereira's style and approach. However, we all know that what works in Greece doesn't always translate to the Premier League. The fact that he worked under Marinakis previously may be the only reason he has the job at all, which would be a worrying sign of things to come.

Let's not forget the managerial merry-go-round that Forest have been on this season. Nuno Espirito Santo was sacked just three games in after a falling out with Marinakis. Then came Ange Postecoglou, whose reign lasted a mere 39 days, punctuated by a string of winless league matches. Dyche, initially bringing stability, ultimately failed to convince the players with his methods, leading to his recent dismissal. Will Pereira succeed where others have failed? Only time will tell. But given Forest's track record, and the short leash managers seem to have under Marinakis, I wouldn't bet on it.