Ange Postecoglou on the Brink at Nottingham Forest
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Ange Postecoglou is facing dismissal from Nottingham Forest after just 33 days in charge, with owner Evangelos Marinakis reportedly considering a third manager change this year. The Australian coach’s future reportedly hinges on the upcoming match against Chelsea – a loss could spell the end of his brief tenure.
Forest’s Precarious Position
Nottingham Forest currently sit just one point above the relegation zone, adding pressure to an already tense situation. Postecoglou has yet to secure a single victory since taking charge, with the team’s poor form raising serious concerns about their Premier League survival prospects.
Marinakis’s Managerial Merry-Go-Round
The Telegraph reports that Marinakis has grown increasingly dissatisfied with Postecoglou’s performance. This potential dismissal would mark the third coaching change Forest has undergone within a single year, highlighting the instability at the City Ground.
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Background: The Nuno Fallout
The current crisis traces back to September, when owner Marinakis clashed with previous manager Nuno Espírito Santo. The Portuguese coach had grown frustrated with the club’s transfer strategy, which saw key players sold without adequate replacements and new signings made without his consultation.
The situation deteriorated further due to tensions with Edu, the new head of the club’s football operations. Nuno reportedly failed to establish a working relationship with Edu from day one, leading to the technical director distancing himself from first-team affairs and rarely appearing at the training ground.
Postecoglou’s Arrival and Early Struggles
During the conflict with Nuno, Postecoglou emerged as the leading candidate to replace him. The former Tottenham manager was the only available coach with recent trophy-winning experience, having led Spurs to silverware. Insider reports suggested Marinakis had wanted Postecoglou since summer, but the move only materialized in autumn.
Postecoglou’s tenure began disastrously with a 3-0 defeat to Arsenal, followed by an embarrassing League Cup exit to Swansea City, where Forest conceded a late winner in added time.
Brief Respite and Further Decline
Back-to-back draws against Burnley in the Premier League and Real Betis in the Europa League offered temporary hope that Forest were turning a corner. However, this optimism was short-lived as the team immediately suffered defeat to Sunderland.
Postecoglou defended his approach after the Sunderland loss: “A win would have helped us, but the most important thing is the players. They’ve bought into what we’re trying to implement, and we’re working differently since my arrival. The players believe in the process.
“They’re working extremely hard, showing improved metrics in physical performance. We’re creating more chances than opponents, dominating in every aspect except the scoreline. We want the players to get rewarded for their efforts because that accelerates growth and strengthens belief. We’re certainly not going to abandon what we’re doing.”
Owner’s Patience Wears Thin
True to his word, Postecoglou refused to compromise his football philosophy. However, results failed to improve, with subsequent defeats to Midtjylland and Newcastle appearing to exhaust Marinakis’s patience.
Despite the mounting pressure, Postecoglou remains philosophical: “Seriously, what’s wrong with facing difficulties? Why do we expect everything to come in beautiful packaging? I’m sure many parents faced hardships in life, right? And they didn’t give up. Maybe their child seemed hopeless at some point, but they never lost hope, correct? There will be challenges, but that’s completely normal.”
Sean Dyche Emerges as Leading Replacement
54-year-old Sean Dyche tops the shortlist to replace Postecoglou should the dismissal proceed. The experienced manager has been out of work since January when Everton surprisingly sacked him just three hours before a match against Peterborough United.
At the time of his Everton dismissal, the club was battling relegation while preparing for a move to the new Hill Dickinson stadium – dropping into the Championship would have been catastrophic. David Moyes eventually took over and stabilized the situation.
Since his departure, Dyche has remained visible in media circles, notably expressing envy about Vincent Kompany’s appointment at Bayern Munich. The former Burnley manager believes he achieved more with limited resources at Turf Moor than Pep Guardiola’s protégé has in his career to date.
