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Taking over from a club hero was consistently going to be a challenging task, but Nuno Espírito Santo succeeded to pull off a shrewd move after the former coach’s departure: winning his initial pair of matches. Much is forgotten about the first six months of his time in charge, when the squad survived just one position above the relegation zone and went through a period of taking victory in only once in 10 top-flight games.

The former boss had done the crucial task of raising team spirit and winning over the fans by defeating Newcastle away and creating enthusiasm by overcoming Manchester United at home, and no one was calling for aesthetic football. The home stadium was rocking in the end of 2023, and home fans were not overly concerned that they witnessed only another two victories there for the rest of the season.

Nottingham Forest fans demand the manager dismissal after 23 days following continental defeat.

Ange Postecoglou is yet to experience a win, making him the initial Forest manager in a hundred years to be unable to secure a victory in any of their opening half-dozen games. There was a poisonous atmosphere at the City Ground on the recent matchday as they succumbed to the runner-up team in the Danish league. When fans are calling for your dismissal after 23 days, it is reasonable to say things are not going well. On Friday there were no intentions to dismiss the manager but a loss at St James’ Park on the weekend could cost him his job.

All those at the organization accepted there would be a period of change because the Australian’s tactical approach is virtually a polar opposite to the one Nuno finely tuned there. The strategy was evolving under the Portuguese but not at the speed Postecoglou is trying to implement.

Starting with four away games was always going to be a tough challenge for Postecoglou. Opening at a top side meant building momentum from the first whistle was improbable but losing at Swansea in the Carabao Cup and drawing at Burnley put Postecoglou on the defensive. The match at a Spanish club appeared to be a positive shift because the performance was strong and in line with anticipations regarding the manager’s style. The processes were correct and, but for a last-minute Antony goal, success would have begun.

Instead Forest remain grounded. If the coach could have been excused for the performances on the road, losing at home to a visiting team and Midtjylland was not part of the thinking. There was a element of mitigation in the first home defeat: a generous set-piece decision that led to the decisive goal and appalling finishing from Forest meant the result went away to the north-east. Forest had nearly two-thirds of the ball and multiple attempts but beating an opponent on xG is irrelevant.

Ange Postecoglou and a key player will want to turn the team’s results around at Newcastle on the upcoming matchday.

There was a belief that once the forwards regained their scoring touch, everything would be resolved but poor finishing is only one of the issues confronting Postecoglou. The solid defensive unit constructed by the previous manager has been dismantled, leaving him awaiting a clean sheet. Defending set pieces has been problematic, a pair of Midtjylland’s goals coming from them, and the remaining goal Forest conceded was from a fast break, the sort that were a regular occurrence during Postecoglou’s time at Tottenham.

Postecoglou was eager to return to management promptly after being dismissed by Tottenham, particularly with a Europa League honor around his neck. He wanted to prove people wrong and Forest presented that opportunity, with the extra incentive of being in the competition he had triumphed in in May. The Greek connection with Forest’s owner, the club’s chief, helped make the hiring straightforward and Postecoglou, despite his critics, does have the credentials necessary – but pragmatism 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 fight with the owner that he was not going to win. Finishing in seventh place and guiding Forest into continental competition made Nuno incredibly popular. In spite of his gripes, a squad capable of finishing in the top half was put together and plenty of funds was spent. After far too much short-termism at Forest, they had a clear long-term vision and approach, which featured 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.

Trips to one opponent and another rival bookend the home game of a top team in the next three Premier League games, suggesting life is only going to get harder. The owner made the selection with his emotions and is urgently hoping to prevent another sacking because firing the manager would be an acknowledgment that he made a pair of terrible decisions in dismissing Nuno and choosing the successor. The sport is one big popularity competition and the ex-boss started gaining his at St James’ Park. The current manager needs to do the same or he faces the possibility of losing his for good.