Ange Postecoglou Faces Dwindling Popularity Battle Without A Strong Start

Taking over from a club hero was consistently going to be a tough task, but the previous manager managed to pull off a shrewd strategy after Steve Cooper’s exit: winning his initial pair of fixtures. Much is forgotten about the opening six months of his time in charge, when the squad stayed up just one position above the drop zone and went through a stretch of winning only once in 10 Premier League games.

Nuno had done the crucial task of boosting morale and winning over the supporters by beating an opponent away and creating excitement by overcoming a major rival at their own ground, and nobody was demanding style points. The home stadium was rocking in late December 2023, and home fans were not overly concerned that they saw only two more wins there for the rest of the campaign.

Ange Postecoglou is still waiting to experience success, becoming the first Forest head coach in a century to fail to secure a victory in any of their opening half-dozen games. There was a toxic atmosphere at the stadium on Thursday night as they lost to the second-best team in the Danish league. When supporters are demanding your dismissal after three weeks, it is fair to say things are not going well. On Friday there were no plans to fire the manager but a defeat at St James’ Park on Sunday could cost him his job.

All those at the organization accepted there would be a phase of transition because the new manager’s tactical approach is almost a polar opposite to the one his predecessor carefully developed there. The plan was evolving under the Portuguese but not at the pace the new boss is attempting to introduce.

Beginning with a series of road matches was consistently going to be a difficult challenge for Postecoglou. Opening at a top side meant generating momentum from the outset was unlikely but suffering a defeat at Swansea in the Carabao Cup and tying at another opponent put Postecoglou on the back foot. The match at Real Betis appeared to be a turning point because the performance was strong and in line with expectations regarding Postecoglou’s style. The processes were correct and, if not for a last-minute Antony goal, success would have begun.

However Forest are still grounded. If Postecoglou could have been forgiven for the away results, losing at home to a visiting team and a European side was never part of the thinking. There was a degree of mitigation in the first City Ground defeat: a soft set-piece award that led to the decisive goal and poor shooting from Forest meant the result went away to the opposing team. Forest had almost the majority of the ball and 22 shots but beating an opponent on xG is meaningless.

There was a hope that when the strikers found form, everything would be fine but poor conversion is only one of the issues confronting the boss. The robust backline built by Nuno has been dismantled, leaving Postecoglou awaiting a shutout. Stopping set pieces has been problematic, a pair of the opponent’s goals originating from them, and the other goal Forest conceded was from a counterattack, the sort that were a regular feature during Postecoglou’s time at Tottenham.

The coach was eager to return to management quickly after being dismissed by Tottenham, especially with a Europa League honor around his neck. He aimed to prove people wrong and Forest presented that opportunity, with the added bonus of being in the tournament he had triumphed in in May. The Greek link with Forest’s owner, Evangelos Marinakis, facilitated make the appointment straightforward and Postecoglou, despite his detractors, does have the qualifications necessary – but pragmatism was not to be part of the equation.

The former manager was never fired for sporting causes but for picking a dispute with the owner that he was never going to win. Ending up seventh and guiding Forest into Europe made him incredibly beloved. In spite of his complaints, a squad capable of finishing in the upper section was put together and a lot of funds was spent. After far too much short-termism at Forest, they had a defined future plan and strategy, which featured a team that fit the previous boss. Now it feels as if a stepdad has entered the house and the children are not happy.

Visits to one opponent and another rival frame the visit of a top team in the next three league fixtures, suggesting life is only going to get more difficult. The owner made the appointment with his heart and is urgently wishing to prevent another sacking because removing Postecoglou would be an acknowledgment that he made two dreadful choices in letting go of the former coach and selecting the successor. Football is one big popularity contest and Nuno started winning his at the away ground. Postecoglou needs to emulate that or he risks forfeiting his permanently.