🔗 Share this article

Taking over from a team hero was consistently going to be a tough assignment, but Nuno Espírito Santo managed to achieve a smart move after Steve Cooper’s exit: securing victories in his first two fixtures. Much is overlooked about the opening six months of Nuno’s tenure, when the squad survived just one place above the relegation zone and went through a period of taking victory in only one time in 10 Premier League games.

Nuno had done the vital job of boosting team spirit and winning over the supporters by beating an opponent away and creating enthusiasm by overcoming a major rival at their own ground, and nobody was demanding style points. The City Ground was rocking in late December 2023, and home fans did not mind that they saw only another two wins there for the remainder of the season.

Nottingham Forest supporters demand the manager dismissal after less than a month following European defeat.

The Australian coach is yet to experience a win, becoming the initial Forest manager in a hundred years to be unable to secure a victory in any of their first six fixtures. There was a toxic atmosphere at the City Ground on Thursday night as they lost to the runner-up team in Denmark. When fans are demanding your sacking after three weeks, it is fair to say things are not going well. On Friday there were no intentions to dismiss Postecoglou but a defeat at Newcastle on Sunday could end his position.

Everyone at the club understood there would be a period of transition because the new manager’s style of play is virtually a polar opposite to the one his predecessor finely tuned there. The strategy was developing under the former coach but not at the speed the new boss is trying to introduce.

Beginning with a series of road matches was consistently going to be a tough ask for Postecoglou. Kicking off at a top side meant building momentum from the first whistle was unlikely but losing at a Championship team in the Carabao Cup and drawing at another opponent put Postecoglou on the back foot. The game at Real Betis seemed to be a positive shift because the performance was impressive and fitting with anticipations regarding Postecoglou’s style. The methods were sound and, but for a late Antony goal, success would have commenced.

Instead Forest remain grounded. If Postecoglou could have been excused for the performances on the road, losing at home to a visiting team and Midtjylland was not part of the plan. There was a element of explanation in the initial City Ground loss: a generous set-piece award that led to the winner and appalling shooting from Forest meant the result went back to the north-east. Forest had nearly two-thirds of possession and 22 shots but outscoring an rival on xG is meaningless.

The manager and a key player will aim to reverse the team’s fortunes around at Newcastle on Sunday.

There was a belief that once the forwards regained their scoring touch, all aspects would be fine but poor conversion is only one of the issues confronting Postecoglou. The solid backline built by Nuno has been taken apart, leaving him awaiting a shutout. Stopping set pieces has been problematic, a pair of Midtjylland’s goals originating from them, and the other goal Forest let in was from a counterattack, the sort that were a common occurrence during his time at his former club.

Postecoglou was eager to return to management promptly after being sacked by Tottenham, especially with a Europa League winner’s medal around his neck. He wanted to prove critics wrong and Forest presented that chance, with the added bonus of being in the tournament he had won in May. The Hellenic link with Forest’s owner, Evangelos Marinakis, facilitated make the appointment straightforward and Postecoglou, in spite of his detractors, possesses the qualifications required – but pragmatism was unlikely to be involved.

Register to the daily football newsletter

Start your evenings with the most recent take on the world of soccer.

Nuno was not sacked for sporting causes but for picking a dispute with Marinakis that he was not going to prevail in. Ending up in seventh place and taking Forest into Europe made Nuno extremely beloved. Despite his complaints, a squad able of finishing in the upper section was put together and a lot of funds was invested. After excessive short-termism at Forest, they had a defined future plan and approach, which featured a team that fit the previous boss. Now it seems as if a stepdad has moved into the house and the children are not happy.

Trips to one opponent and Bournemouth bookend the visit of Chelsea in the upcoming trio of league games, implying life is only going to get more difficult. Marinakis made the selection with his heart and is desperately wishing to avoid another sacking because removing the manager would be an acknowledgment that he made two terrible choices in letting go of the former coach and selecting the successor. The sport is one big public approval competition and Nuno began gaining his at St James’ Park. The current manager needs to do the same or he risks losing his for good.