Sabri Lamouchi has brought “a different type of football” to Nottingham Forest, and that is being embraced by Tendayi Darikwa.
The managerial baton at the City Ground has been on the move again this summer.
Martin O’Neill dropped it.
A Frenchman picked it up.
Lamouchi is now looking to run with it.
The challenge he faces is getting everybody up to speed with him.
Early signs have been encouraging.
There have been plenty of positive noises coming out of the Forest camp.
The Reds have stepped into unknown somewhat, but the plan is that a calculated risk will deliver rich rewards.
Darikwa appears to be of the opinion that the future is bright.
Regime
He has been talking up the new regime in the Nottingham Post, saying: “It is a different type of football once again. But as a professional you have to adapt and I am enjoying it.
“The new coach has been really good. I have enjoyed my brief time under him so far.
“He wants us to play in the right way. He is very demanding but I think that is what we needed. Hopefully we can take his ideas on board and carry that into the new season.
“Hopefully that can bring us success. He wants us to pass the ball and move it around the pitch. He also wants us to press from the front.
“We will be compact when we are out of possession at the same time.
“We are still learning what he wants and he is still learning about us as well.”
Balance
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Striking that balance between expression and containment will not be easy.
Many before Lamouchi have tried and failed.
A certain way of playing is expected at the City Ground.
Those charged with the task of delivering positive results appear to be aware of the demands placed on them.
There have been plenty of questionable experiments to get to this point, but big decisions are being made with the greater good in mind.
Darikwa added in the Post: “There has been another change, which has come from the top. But as players we are fully focused on the task ahead and we want to do everything we can to make sure it happens this season.
“Nottingham Forest are a massive club. We know that. As a club we have been underachieving for too long.
“The owners took it upon themselves to change the manager and that will hopefully work. But as players we have to do our best. It is down to us to make sure that we do enough ourselves this season.”
That is what it boils down to.
Lamouchi has been asked to anchor a Championship relay race, but he needs other members of the team – namely those out on the field – to ensure that the baton is not dropped again.
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