Sean Dyche faces an uphill battle to truly win over Nottingham Forest supporters.

Few expected Dyche to be anything beyond a temporary firefighter at the City Ground, and so far, his tenure has mostly followed that expectation. While he’s delivered some impressive results—most notably against Liverpool and Tottenham—lackluster displays against Everton (twice), Fulham, and Aston Villa have begun to raise concerns.

Dyche openly criticized his players last weekend after Forest’s FA Cup exit, implying that the fringe squad members he fielded wouldn’t be earning another chance anytime soon.

Now, the Forest boss is at it again—but this time, he seems to be shifting the blame onto Evangelos Marinakis and the club over a January transfer.

Dyche Issues Remarkable Comment on Kalimuendo Deal

Arnaud Kalimuendo departed Forest for Eintracht Frankfurt earlier this month, a decision that, on the surface, appeared to be Dyche’s call along with his coaching team.

Kalimuendo, a striker known for his poaching instincts and movement across the channels, never fit Dyche’s preferred style, which favors traditional target men. Yet, with fans critical of the striker’s exit, Dyche made a curious remark during his pre-Arsenal press conference, suggesting the club had the final say.

He stated:

“The obvious area is striker because we’re a bit light there. The club felt it was a very good deal for Kalimuendo to leave. We are exploring several options to bring someone in. That’s the most glaring one that jumps off the page.”

Dyche Risks Underestimating Forest Fans

If Dyche truly expects fans to believe the club forced Kalimuendo out against his wishes, it’s a questionable stance. Kalimuendo clearly wasn’t in Dyche’s plans—he scored twice in two Europa League matches but was limited to just five substitute appearances in the Premier League, totaling a mere 25 minutes.

Forest would be wise to support Dyche with a striker acquisition but resist backing other players he recommends, particularly on long-term contracts.

With comments like these regarding Kalimuendo, Dyche’s position at the club becomes increasingly precarious. Once this season concludes, it’s hard to see why he should be given another term as head coach.