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Taking over from a club icon was always going to be a tough task, but the previous manager managed to achieve a shrewd strategy after the former coach’s departure: winning his initial pair of fixtures. A great deal is forgotten about the opening six months of his time in charge, when the squad survived just one place above the drop zone and went through a period of taking victory in only one time in 10 top-flight games.

The former boss had accomplished the crucial task of raising team spirit and winning over the fans by defeating Newcastle away and creating enthusiasm by beating a major rival at home, and nobody was demanding style points. The City Ground was rocking in late December 2023, and home fans were not overly concerned that they witnessed only two more victories there for the rest of the season.

Nottingham Forest fans call for Postecoglou dismissal after 23 days following European loss.

The Australian coach is yet to taste a win, becoming the initial Forest manager in a century to be unable to win any of their opening half-dozen fixtures. There was a toxic atmosphere at the stadium 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 the situation are not going well. On Friday there were no plans to fire Postecoglou but a defeat at Newcastle on the weekend could cost him his job.

Everyone at the organization accepted there would be a phase of change because the new manager’s tactical approach is almost a complete contrast to the one Nuno carefully developed there. The strategy was evolving under the former coach but not at the speed the new boss is trying to introduce.

Beginning with four away games was consistently going to be a difficult challenge for Postecoglou. Opening at a top side meant building momentum from the outset was improbable but suffering a defeat at a Championship team in the Carabao Cup and drawing at another opponent put him on the back foot. The match at a Spanish club appeared to be a positive shift because the showing was strong and fitting with expectations regarding Postecoglou’s style. The methods were sound and, but for a late Antony goal, success would have begun.

However Forest are still grounded. If Postecoglou could have been excused for the performances on the road, falling at home to a visiting team and Midtjylland was not part of the thinking. There was a element of explanation in the initial home loss: a generous free-kick award that resulted in the winner and poor finishing from Forest meant the result went away to the opposing team. Forest had almost the majority of possession and 22 shots but beating an rival on xG is meaningless.

Ange Postecoglou and a key player will want to turn the team’s results around at the next venue on Sunday.

There was a hope that when the strikers found their scoring touch, everything would be fine but poor finishing is only a single of the issues facing Postecoglou. The robust backline built by the previous manager has been dismantled, leaving Postecoglou still waiting for a clean sheet. Stopping set pieces has been problematic, two of Midtjylland’s goals originating from them, and the other goal Forest conceded was from a fast break, the sort that were a common feature during his time at Tottenham.

The coach was keen to return to management quickly after being dismissed by Tottenham, especially with a European winner’s medal around his neck. He aimed to show people wrong and Forest offered that opportunity, with the added bonus of being in the competition he had won in the spring. The Hellenic connection with Forest’s proprietor, the club’s chief, helped make the appointment straightforward and the manager, despite his detractors, does have the credentials required – but practicality was unlikely to be part of the equation.

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The former manager was not fired for sporting reasons but for initiating a dispute with the owner that he was not going to prevail in. Ending up in seventh place and guiding Forest into continental competition made Nuno extremely beloved. Despite his complaints, a squad able of finishing in the upper section was assembled and plenty of funds was spent. After excessive immediate thinking at Forest, they had a defined future plan and approach, which included a squad that fit the previous boss. Now it seems as if a new figure has entered the house and the children are not happy.

Visits to Newcastle and another rival bookend the home game of Chelsea in the next three league games, suggesting life is only going to get harder. Marinakis made the selection with his heart and is urgently wishing to prevent another sacking because firing the manager would be an acknowledgment that he made a pair of dreadful choices in dismissing Nuno and selecting the replacement. Football is one big public approval contest and the ex-boss began gaining his at the away ground. Postecoglou needs to emulate that or he risks losing his for good.