Brian Clough’s presence at Nottingham Forest spanned 18 seasons, a period marked by significant accomplishments at the City Ground, including a league championship, four League Cups, and, most notably, two European Cups.
While Clough’s forceful personality often dominated the spotlight, his assistant, Peter Taylor, was widely considered the strategic mind behind the scenes, playing a crucial role in the club’s achievements.
In a similar vein, current owner Evangelos Marinakis has exerted a strong influence through his commanding character, leading the club not only back to the Premier League but also to European qualification.
Nuno: the new Peter Taylor?
While head coach Nuno Espirito Santo has performed admirably at the City Ground, his approach has been less flamboyant than Clough’s, with Marinakis capturing much of the attention.
In several respects, while their respective functions within the club differ considerably, Marinakis has assumed the role akin to the assertive Clough, while Espirito Santo has embodied the insightful persona of Peter Taylor.
“Nuno’s position is more comparable to that, it would be reasonable to suggest,” Forest icon Stuart Pearce remarked to FourFourTwo, having spent a significant part of his City Ground tenure under Clough.
“During my time with Cloughie, he held sway over the board – that approach has waned, it’s no longer prevalent in football.”
“We currently have an owner at Forest who is actively involved, has invested his resources into the club, and has accomplished remarkable achievements.
“Following a 23-year absence from the Premier League, one cannot criticize his contributions and the financial backing he has provided. He demonstrates a genuine passion for the club and the success he is fostering, which is deserving of recognition.
“On the other hand, Nuno has managed the situation exceptionally well – the professional relationship might present difficulties at times, perhaps Nuno experiences moments of frustration, but it appears to be effective, and Nuno handles it with commendable skill.”
Pearce’s remarks were part of the unveiling of CLUB game, a complimentary, next-generation football ownership mobile game developed by Formation Games, which enables players to assume the role of club owner rather than simply the manager, as is the case in numerous conventional games.
This shift underscores the evolving balance of authority within football, particularly between managers and owners.
“We are now highly conscious of the individuals who own football clubs,” Pearce noted. “In years past, as a player, I lacked certainty regarding the owners of specific clubs within the league. Presently, we possess acute knowledge of the ownership of the majority of clubs throughout the Premier League and beyond.
“The prominence of ownership has grown, with owners increasingly seeking to integrate it into their public image, leading to a more conspicuous and outspoken presence from ownership, and the authority wielded by owners has become substantial.
“Indeed, even the designation ‘manager’ has evolved, with the term ‘coach’ now frequently employed, underscoring this transformation.
“However, during my tenure as manager of Manchester City, for example, I consistently sought to involve the owner in the decision-making process, routinely extending invitations to the training ground.
“With the two individuals I collaborated with there, I made it a practice to invite John Wardle and David Bernstein on Friday mornings, when we were conducting our preparation meetings, to attend and gain insights into our focus on the opposition.
“That way, they gained a comprehension of the process rather than simply arriving on a Saturday, taking their seats, and contemplating, ‘Have we overlooked set plays? Have we neglected to address this?’.
“I consistently maintained an open approach as a manager and appreciated their presence at the training ground to gain familiarity with the process, as we were all united in pursuing our objectives.
“Additionally, from my vantage point, it facilitated a more seamless persuasive argument when I conveyed to them, ‘I require this specific equipment.’ They could witness firsthand the rationale behind our need for it.”
Gibbs-White key for Forest
Marinakis played a pivotal role in securing Morgan Gibbs-White’s commitment to Nottingham Forest this summer, despite attempts by Spurs to activate his release clause.
“It’s conceivable that certain assurances have been provided behind the scenes, such as ‘If an offer materializes for you next summer…’, ” Pearce speculated.
“However, from a player’s standpoint, and as someone with a deep connection to Forest, I believe that Forest has been beneficial for Gibbs-White, enabling him to showcase the pinnacle of his career.
“The club is progressing, participating in European competitions, and retaining his services was the appropriate course of action for both him and the club.
“He has provided valuable service, but it’s also imperative to reciprocate the loyalty of the supporters; therefore, with optimism, the situation has stabilized, and he will be a driving force in Europe this season.
“I anticipate a challenging season ahead for Forest, given their participation in the European campaign; I encountered this firsthand during my coaching tenure at West Ham, and it’s not a straightforward undertaking to manage both simultaneously.
“While a lower league finish would not come as a shock, I believe they are well-positioned to make significant progress in Europe.”
Pearce offered his insights representing CLUB, the innovative Fantasy Football mobile game. Download CLUB and commence the construction of your football legacy, accessible at no cost through the Play Store for Android users and the App Store for iOS users.
