NO WAY! ABSOLUTELY YES!
Quite possibly the most disliked Australian to make an appearance in the Nottingham area since a notorious innkeeper from a long-running series starred in a local pantomime 20 years back, Forest’s new boss’s reign at the club’s home could hardly have begun more poorly. Even though the boos and catcalls that actor Stefan Dennis was subjected to during Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood were generally lighthearted, the venom of the abuse hurled at the Australian coach during the club’s European setback by Midtjylland on the previous night was so severe that it is tough to see the man who has been in charge for just six matches will remain in post to endure the seasonal boos this holiday season. Repeatedly the 60-year-old’s shouts of “He’s behind you!” went unheeded by his unfortunate players, especially when the Danish side scored their opening pair from atrociously defended set-pieces. Nowhere near the happy occasion they’d hoped for, the team’s first continental match at home in 29 years ended in acrimony with home fans telling the manager he’d be “sacked in the morning”, before chanting for his favored, just-removed previous manager, the Portuguese tactician.
“I understand the atmosphere won’t be positive, 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 response, while aiming the floor around his feet to the typical death-stare. “I’m never shocked in this sport, it’s the way things are. This seems to be the direction. It’s nothing I can control. The fans are disappointed, they have every right to their view. I heard their opinion.” And while those Forest fans are free to express anger, it could be contended that they might be better advised selecting a more appropriate target for their anger. After all, it was Evangelos Marinakis 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 directors’ box as he went through a range of sullen, fierce looks not seen since that time he learned Tottenham had triggered Morgan Gibbs-White’s buyout option, the Greek tycoon has thus far mostly avoided any kind of harsh judgement from fans, a sizable group of whom remain certain the he can do no wrong.
When Friday lunchtime arrived, rumours of the manager being fired overnight proved to be unfounded and reports suggest his job remains safe until such time as … in reality, it changes. Although the club boss can offer a partial defense that he has had very few sessions on the practice field to instil the philosophy and tactical nuance that resulted in the London club dropping more than half their league matches last campaign, his side’s schedule remains daunting and unyielding. With the Magpies, Chelsea, the Portuguese giants and the South-Coast team next up it is hard to predict from where a maiden victory for the manager will come before what could surely be the ultimate sack-race clash against Manchester United.
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TOP STATEMENT
“I’m not the kind of guy who gets involved in controversies, who points fingers, actually, I’ll keep it anonymous. However I believe there was some disrespect, even a bit of rudeness too, and not a single hello or hi” – the Brazilian winger criticizes his club over the frosty environment at the Theatre of Dreams, where friendliness has seemingly headed south like the side’s performance.
FAN MAILBAG
Is it true Ange Postecoglou has vowed Forest fans he always wins a match in his second season?” – a reader.
Far be it for me to wish to reinforce the trope that the Emirates faithful are the sport’s most complaining followers, but Thabo Caves (yesterday’s Football Daily letters) does make you think. Highlighting that rather than a couple of matches weekly, the North London side are having to play 2.33 games a week (ooh an extra 30 minutes!) over a particular 21-day span (for a team with two good options for every position to as well) is not the argument-settler he might think. On the contrary it’s just going to have the tiniest violin ensemble preparing to play once more, while the other fans look on with exasperation” – a different supporter.
I’m puzzled whether your current contributors (on multiple matches weekly) are consciously, ironically recreating one of the high points of internet discourse (safe for work), or unconsciously proving the famous quote about history repeating first as tragedy, then as farce” – Nick Wiltsher.
If it’s any solace, Bob Cushion (the prior comments), I’m the same [hoping wealthy English teams 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 Steaua Bucharest and, at a push, Zaragoza. I don’t give a hoot for Liverpool’s exploits from the 80s right up to the Champions League win. I feel nothing for {‘that
