AS he stood by the side of the pitch under the shelter of a huge umbrella, one observer drew a cheeky comparison between Stuart Pearce and another former Nottingham Forest and England manager. Not that anyone would be brave enough to tell him that.
But Pearce is no wally, with a brolly or otherwise. Over the last few days, he has shown himself to be anything but.
Out of a difficult situation, the Forest manager has probably only managed to endear himself to fans just a little bit more.
As straight as the stair-rods of rain that were hammering down at St George's Park, through simple directness and honesty, Pearce has emerged from an odd situation with his credibility not just intact, but also enhanced a little.
Over the last few days it had been club owner Fawaz Al Hasawi who had been forced to take shelter, even thousands of miles away, in the blazing summer sunshine of Kuwait, following the suggestion, from Pearce, that two of the club's prize assets had been sold against his advice.
But now both men have said their piece, publicly, a sense of calm can perhaps settle over the City Ground once more. You sense Pearce's motivation was not to pick a fight. But just to provide clarity.
And, by the time 3pm rolls around on Saturday, football is all that will be on anyone's mind. Although there is unlikely to be much in the way of calm on the banks of the Trent as the Reds kick-off, against Blackpool, for the first time with Pearce back in charge.
Football was certainly the centre of Pearce's attention as he watched the action unfold on the carpet like pitch at England's training base.
Neither Jamaal Lascelles or Karl Darlow were involved in the final friendly of the summer, as they completed the final formalities of that controversial transfer to Premier League Newcastle.
But there was little significance to be read into the absence of any players, on a difficult afternoon for any kind of cohesion, in this tree-lined corner of Burton countryside, as Pearce did not follow up on his suggestion that he would name the strongest Forest team of pre-season so far.
There were some significant names on the team sheet, in Chris Cohen, Eric Lichaj and Jack Hobbs, who all played another 45 minutes to an hour on their return from injury, while Greg Halford and Danny Collins also got some minutes under their belts. But, otherwise, it was a side made up of young players, as pre-season came to an end in damp surroundings.
"Pre-season has been okay, the only downside we have had are the injuries, but seeing Jack Hobbs, Chris Cohen and Eric Lichaj come through the game is a real bonus for us," said Pearce afterwards. "I have been pleased with the input of the players, they have had good focus and we are looking forward to the start of the season now.
"I near enough have my starting XI in my head now, although we are hoping to do some business before Saturday yet, as well, if we can.
"We are pretty strong at the back, with the lads playing today and coming through, so we are looking further forward."
Pearce is also looking forward off the pitch, rather than dwelling on recent events.
"The chairman Fawaz is in Kuwait the whole summer so I've not had a conversation. The financial people in charge asked me and I said 'don't deal the deal' but it was done," he said. "It's modern day football but I don't agree with it.
"Everything should go through the manager. But owners run football clubs and they put people in place to make decisions and calls on their behalf. In the modern game you have to accept it and work with it.
"It's a learning curve for both of us and I'm sure we will have a chat at the weekend. And I don't think it will be a problem for the two players (coming back on loan), because of the nature of the two individuals, I am delighted that they are coming back.
"Lascelles has been injured and has not kicked a ball in pre-season. Darlow has played. But the thing they have in common is that they both have Forest at heart and will be desperate to sign off well, with a good campaign this year."
What Pearce witnessed on the pitch, asides from the lack of injuries, may have told him little, beyond the reassuring suggestion that the injured trio are suffering few after-effects of their lengthy spells on the sidelines.
Cohen and Lichaj both looked lively on either side of the back-four, while Hobbs and Collins were solid enough in the centre of it. Burton had few meaningful chances. Nor did Forest, in a 0-0 draw.
Jorge Grant, who again had moments of promise in midfield, came close with an overhead effort and forced a smart save with another, during the first half.
Nicolai Todorov, a teenage trialist looking to win a place in the club's youth setup, clattered a shot against the bar, after the break. Jack Blake saw a rising shot narrowly clear the bar, while Hobbs had a header, from a Cohen corner, cleared off the line.
Tyler Walker was then denied by the keeper, Greg Halford drove a shot, from the edge of the box, narrowly wide and Blake was thwarted again, this time by a strong save, after launching a stinging 25-yard drive that was threatening to dip under the bar.
Forest are likely to have a very different side out on Saturday afternoon. And, regardless of the weather, Pearce is unlikely to be sheltering under an umbrella, as he soaks up what is likely to be an storm of noise, to welcome his return to the club.
"I would be lying if I said it was just another game. I am looking forward to it," he said.
Forest: de Vries, Lichaj (Polimos 45), Hobbs (Fenton 60), Collins, Cohen (Holey 60), Rees, Grant (Blake 45), Halford, Otim, Walker, Todorov.
