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Nottingham Forest wanted 70-year-old who worked with Conte at Tottenham

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Nottingham Forest were keen to appoint Gianni Vio as the club’s set-piece coach when he left Tottenham in the summer.

It’s now been claimed by The Telegraph that the lack of a set-piece coach at Forest is frustrating Evangelos Marinakis immensely.

Forest have a plethora of coaches working alongside Steve Cooper but none of them specialise in dead-ball situations.

The Reds have scored just once from a set-piece this season. That came back in August when Willy Boly scored against Manchester United.

Defensively, Forest have been abysmal at set-pieces. They looked all over the place against West Ham as they conceded two goals to lose 3-2.

Forest wanted Vio after Tottenham exit

When Ange Postecoglou restructured his backroom team in the summer there was no place for Vio.

He now works with the USA national team but would probably welcome the chance to get back involved with a club.

Nottingham Forest v Brighton & Hove Albion - Premier League
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The Telegraph claimed that a move for Forest to appoint Vio collapsed and now Marinakis is frustrated that a set-piece specialist hasn’t been appointed.

The report also claims that another candidate was being considered but the position looks to remain vacant for now.

Forest have to get key role fulfilled

The song preaches that Forest are magic on and off the pitch but right now, certain aspects of both elements simply aren’t true.

Marinakis has done some brilliant work to spruce up the City Ground and get the stadium looking like a Premier League outfit.

However, it’s easy to see why he’s frustrated that a set-piece coach hasn’t been sourced yet.

Cooper has reportedly come under some pressure over the weekend. That comes on the back of a 3-2 defeat to Brighton at the City Ground.

Forest simply have to get on the lookout for a set-piece coach and Vio would have been ideal.

The Italian was a trusted lieutenant of Antonio Conte and he might have been able to whip Forest into shape at both ends of the pitch.