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OH NO HE ISN’T! OH YES HE IS!

Arguably the least favored down-under figure to make an appearance in this part of England since a sinister lodging owner from a famous TV drama took part in a local pantomime in the early 2000s, the Greek-Australian’s reign at the City Ground could hardly have begun more poorly. While the heckling and shouts that actor the soap veteran was endured during Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood were largely good-natured, the hostility of the criticism aimed at the Forest manager during the team’s Europa League loss by Midtjylland on Thursday was so overwhelming that it is difficult to imagine the coach who has been in charge for just six matches will still be around to listen to the festive cat-calls this December. Multiple times the experienced coach’s shouts of “He’s behind you!” went ignored by his unfortunate players, especially when the opposition scored their first two goals from badly organized set-pieces. A long way from the joyous atmosphere they’d anticipated, the team’s first UEFA fixture on home soil in 29 years ended in acrimony with the crowd telling Postecoglou he’d be “fired by tomorrow”, before praising his well-liked, just-removed former boss, Nuno Espírito Santo.

“I realize the environment is negative, I know how fans feel, especially about me, but that doesn’t concern me, it’s not unfamiliar territory for me,” the manager snapped in answer, while aiming the area at his feet to the now customary fierce look. “Nothing surprises me in football, it’s the way things are. It seems that’s the way things are going. I have no power over it. Followers are let down, they can think what they like. I listened to what they said.” And while those Forest fans are free to express anger, it could be suggested that they might be wiser choosing a more fitting focus for their frustration. After all, it was the club owner who fired a firm fan favourite to bring in Postecoglou, who was always going to begin his reign on a hiding to nothing. Observing from the executive seats as he went through a series of surly, dark scowls unseen since that period he learned the North London club had initiated Morgan Gibbs-White’s buyout option, the wealthy owner has thus far mostly avoided any kind of harsh judgement from the crowd, a fair few of whom remain convinced the sun shines out of his generously upholstered nether regions.

By Friday midday, speculation of the coach’s imminent dismissal proved to be unfounded and it appears his job remains safe until such time as … actually, it’s not. Even though the club boss can offer a partial defense that he has had very few sessions on the training pitch to introduce the philosophy and tactical nuance that resulted in Spurs losing more than half their league matches last term, his team’s fixture list remains forbidding and relentless. Facing Newcastle, the Blues, the Portuguese giants and Bournemouth on the horizon it is tough to imagine from where a maiden victory for the manager will come before what could surely be the ultimate sack-race clash against the Old Trafford side.

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QUOTE OF THE DAY

“I’m not the kind of guy who gets involved in controversies, who points fingers, actually, I’ll refrain from naming names. But I believe there was some disrespect, plus some impoliteness, and not a single hello or hi” – the United player takes a pop at Manchester United over the unfriendly setting at their stadium, where warmth has likely worsened like the side’s performance.

FOOTBALL DAILY LETTERS

Can it be the Forest manager has promised Forest fans he guarantees victory in his following term?” – Pete Negri.

Far be it for me to wish to reinforce the trope that Arsenal supporters are football’s whiniest fans, but Thabo Caves (yesterday’s Football Daily letters) does make you ponder. Highlighting that rather than a pair of fixtures per week, Arsenal are having to play more than two fixtures each week (oh, a half-hour more!) over a particular 21-day span (for a team with double coverage in all roles to boot) is not the debate-ender he might imagine. On the contrary it’s just going to have the tiniest violin ensemble tuning up their instruments once more, while the wider sport sigh in unison” – another reader.

I’m unsure whether your current contributors (on multiple matches weekly) are consciously, ironically recreating one of the classic instances of online debate (SFW), or accidentally confirming the philosopher’s saying about historical events repeating themselves as farce” – a respondent.

For what it’s worth, yesterday’s letter-writer (yesterday’s letters), I’ve always been like that [wishing rich Premier League sides to fail on the continent]. Since Forest lost the ability to negotiate Europe, European competition for me has led to a state of helpless fury, interrupted now and then by the Romanian side and, at a push, Zaragoza. I care not one jot for the Reds’ achievements from the 80s right up to the Champions League win. I feel nothing for {‘that