🔗 Share this article

NO WAY! ABSOLUTELY YES!

Arguably the most unpopular Aussie to make an appearance in this part of England since a sinister lodging owner from a popular soap appeared in a Mansfield panto two decades ago, the Greek-Australian’s tenure at the Nottingham stadium could scarcely have got off to a more inauspicious start. Although the jeers and taunts that actor the soap veteran was endured during a festive pantomime were generally lighthearted, the hostility of the abuse hurled at the Australian coach during the club’s Europa League loss by Midtjylland on the previous night was so severe that it is difficult to imagine the man who has been in charge for a mere handful of fixtures will still be around to hear the festive cat-calls this December. On more than one occasion the experienced coach’s shouts of “There’s someone there!” went unheeded by his struggling players, especially when the visiting team scored their initial strikes from badly organized set-pieces. Far from the happy occasion they’d expected, Nottingham Forest’s first European home game in nearly three decades ended in acrimony with the crowd telling the boss he’d be “dismissed soon”, before praising his favored, newly sacked predecessor, the Portuguese tactician.

“I realize the environment is negative, I know how fans feel, especially about me, but I never worry about that, I’ve been here before,” Postecoglou growled in reply, while aiming the ground near him to the usual intense glare. “Football holds no surprises for me, it’s the way things are. This seems to be the direction. It’s beyond my influence. Followers are let down, they have every right to their view. I heard their opinion.” And while those followers are allowed to complain, it could be argued that they might be wiser picking a more fitting focus for their frustration. Ultimately, it was the club owner who dismissed a popular figure to hire Postecoglou, who was always going to face a tough task from day one. Watching from the owners’ area as he went through a range of surly, dark scowls unseen since that period he learned Tottenham had initiated the midfielder’s release clause, the Greek tycoon has so far escaped any kind of serious criticism from supporters, a fair few of whom remain convinced the he is beyond reproach.

As the clock ticked past noon on Friday, speculation of the manager being fired overnight proved to be overstated and sources indicate his job remains safe until such time as … well, it isn’t. Although the team manager can offer a partial defense that he has had little or no time on the training pitch to instil the style and strategic detail that led to the London club losing 22 of their 38 top-flight games last season, his side’s schedule remains daunting and unyielding. With the Magpies, the London club, the Portuguese giants and the South-Coast team on the horizon it is difficult to see from where a initial success under the new boss will come before what could possibly become the biggest dismissal-decider against Manchester United.

LIVE ON BIG WEBSITE

Follow the sports writer at 7.30pm BST for WSL updates on the stalemate between United and Chelsea.

TOP STATEMENT

“I steer clear of heated debates, who singles out individuals, actually, I won’t mention anyone’s name here. But I believe there was some disrespect, plus some impoliteness, and not a single hello or hi” – the Brazilian winger criticizes the Red Devils over the unfriendly setting at Old Trafford, where warmth has likely worsened like the club’s results.

READER COMMENTS

Is there truth the Forest manager has assured followers he always wins a match in his second season?” – a fan.

I wouldn’t normally to seek to emphasize the cliché that Arsenal supporters are the game’s biggest moaners, but Thabo Caves (the prior edition’s comments) does make you think. Noting that rather than a pair of fixtures per week, Arsenal are having to play over two matches weekly (ooh an extra 30 minutes!) over a particular 21-day span (for a roster with strong depth in each place to additionally) is not the discussion-closer he might think. On the contrary it’s just going to have the smallest fiddle players getting ready once more, while the wider sport sigh in unison” – Andrew Parker.

I’m puzzled whether your recent correspondents (on several fixtures each week) are intentionally, sarcastically mimicking one of the memorable moments of web discussion (SFW), or inadvertently demonstrating the philosopher’s saying about historical events repeating themselves as farce” – a respondent.

If it’s any solace, the previous correspondent (the prior comments), I’ve always been like that [hoping wealthy English teams to lose in Europe]. From the time Forest stopped competing in Europe, European competition for me has induced a state of helpless fury, punctuated only occasionally by the Eastern European team and, if pressed, the La Liga outfit. I don’t give a hoot for the Reds’ achievements from the eighties right up to the Champions League win. I’m indifferent to {‘that