🔗 Share this article

IT CAN’T BE HIM! BUT IT IS!

Arguably the least favored down-under figure to make an appearance in Nottinghamshire since a sinister lodging owner from a famous TV drama starred in a Mansfield panto in the early 2000s, the Greek-Australian’s time in charge at the club’s home could scarcely have got off to a more inauspicious start. Even though the heckling and shouts that TV star the Neighbours star was endured during Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood were largely good-natured, the venom of the invective aimed at Postecoglou during the team’s Europa League loss by Midtjylland on last Thursday was so overwhelming that it is difficult to imagine the man who has been in charge for a mere handful of fixtures will keep his job to listen to the seasonal boos this December. Multiple times the experienced coach’s shouts of “Watch out behind!” went unheeded by his struggling players, not least when the visiting team scored their opening pair from badly organized dead-ball situations. Far from the celebratory mood they’d anticipated, Forest’s first European home game in 29 years ended in bitterness with supporters telling the boss he’d be “fired by tomorrow”, before praising his favored, just-removed predecessor, Nuno Espírito Santo.

“I realize the environment is negative, I grasp the public’s opinion, chiefly directed at me, but I don’t fret over it, it’s not unfamiliar territory for me,” the coach retorted in reply, while aiming the floor around his feet to the usual death-stare. “Football holds no surprises for me, it’s the climate we’re in. It seems that’s the way things are going. It’s beyond my influence. Followers are let down, they can think what they like. I listened to what they said.” Even if those followers are free to express anger, it could be suggested that they might be better advised selecting a more appropriate target for their anger. After all, it was the club owner who fired a beloved manager to appoint Postecoglou, who was always going to face a tough task from day one. Looking on from the owners’ area as he went through a repertoire of sullen, fierce looks unseen since that period he found out Spurs had initiated the player’s transfer clause, the shipping magnate has up to now dodged any kind of harsh judgement from fans, a good number of whom remain certain the sun shines out of his generously upholstered nether regions.

When Friday lunchtime arrived, rumours of Postecoglou getting sacked in the morning proved to be overstated and it appears his job remains secure until such time as … actually, it’s not. While the club boss can argue with some mitigation that he has had very few sessions on the practice field to introduce the approach and gameplan subtleties that led to Spurs failing to win 22 of their 38 top-flight games last season, his side’s schedule remains tough and continuous. With the North-East side, the London club, the Portuguese giants and the South-Coast team coming soon it is difficult to see from where a first Postecoglou win will come before what could surely be the biggest dismissal-decider against the Red Devils.

COVERAGE ON MAJOR SITE

Join the journalist at 7.30 in the evening for WSL updates on the goalless draw.

TOP STATEMENT

“I steer clear of heated debates, who points fingers, actually, I won’t mention anyone’s name here. But I feel there was a slight disregard, even a bit of rudeness too, and not a single hello or hi” – the Brazilian winger slams the Red Devils over the unfriendly setting at the Theatre of Dreams, where friendliness has seemingly headed south like the side’s performance.

READER COMMENTS

Is it true the coach has assured Forest fans he guarantees victory in his next campaign?” – a reader.

I wouldn’t normally to wish to reinforce the cliché that Gunners fans are the sport’s most complaining followers, but a letter-writer (yesterday’s Football Daily letters) does make you wonder. Highlighting that rather than a pair of fixtures per week, the North London side are having to play more than two fixtures each week (wow, 30 additional minutes!) over a certain trio of weeks (for a squad with two good options for every position to as well) is not the argument-settler he might believe. Instead it’s just going to have the tiniest violin ensemble tuning up their instruments once more, while the rest of football sigh in unison” – Andrew Parker.

I’m unsure whether your current contributors (on multiple matches weekly) are intentionally, sarcastically mimicking one of the memorable moments of internet discourse (SFW), or unconsciously proving the philosopher’s saying about past occurrences returning as comedy” – a respondent.

To comfort you, Bob Cushion (the last mailbag), I’m the same [hoping rich Premier League sides to fail on the continent]. From the time Forest stopped competing in Europe, continental matches for me has caused a state of frustrated anger, interrupted now and then by Steaua Bucharest and, maybe, the La Liga outfit. I don’t give a hoot for the Reds’ achievements from the 1980s right up to the 2005 final. I’m indifferent to {‘that