Ange Postecoglou has been the talk of English football lately. The ex-Tottenham Hotspur manager has quickly established himself as a key player following his success in the Europa League. He sees a new opportunity on the horizon. Now he needs to run the show at Nottingham Forest, a club that was a mess with former boss Nuno Espírito Santo. The million dollar question is whether Postecoglou’s winning mentality can be replicated at Forest.
At Tottenham, Postecoglou became a household name after leading the club to a Europa League title. This historic success made him the first Greek manager to win the coveted title. This historic achievement was met with ecstasy by Evangelos Marinakis who, as is tradition, presented him with an award for his record-breaking achievement. Though true to his historic success, Postecoglou’s run at the north London club proved momentary. The team ended up 17th in the Premier League, resulting in chairman Daniel Levy firing him.
Tottenham’s season was punctuated by individual defensive errors, as they logged the fourth-most mistakes resulting in goals in the league. These issues overshadowed their otherwise impressive performances, including a standout moment against Bodo/Glimt in Norway, where Postecoglou’s team exhibited resilience and control. Indeed, they registered an impressive 2-0 away win. Then, they backed it up with a 3-1 victory at home, marked by a thrilling brand of attacking football and swarming high press.
At the core of Postecoglou’s philosophy is attacking play and high pressure defense, values he believes are crucial for playing winning football. He stated, “The main principles are playing with the purpose of scoring goals, defending aggressively, trying to win the ball as quick as you can.” It’s a major departure from Nuno’s approach, which saw him crucified for a team that wasn’t as defensively strong. Under Nuno’s stewardship, Nottingham Forest shipped 65 goals in the Premier League, highlighting the desire for a tactical reset.
Postecoglou looks set to step into this new role comfortably. He comes with a big bag of experience and a deep conviction in what he does. He has expressed confidence in his ability to turn around struggling teams, famously stating, “I always win things in my second season.” This claim has given heart to Forest backers seeking early proof of a better showing in the second campaign.
The difference in managerial styles between Nuno and Postecoglou exposes the problems that lay ahead. Nuno’s pragmatic approach often left Forest lacking in creativity and flair, while Postecoglou’s attacking strategy demands a more proactive mindset from players. This transition could be a long process as he injects his philosophy into the team.
Postecoglou’s time in charge of Tottenham was not an unqualified success. The club’s failure to win their final seven top-flight matches raised questions about consistency and resilience. Reflecting on this period, he remarked, “It’s: is the team playing Champions League this season? What’s different if you then finish 13th or 10th? Does it change anything?” This kind of insight explains why he’s more focused on long-term sustainable solutions instead of short-term band aids.
So it’s no surprise that Postecoglou’s appointment has sent the Celtic fanbase buzzing. There is continued skepticism about his capacity to reproduce his previous successes at Forest. After the club’s misfortunes in recent years, fanatics understandably crave stability and direction, or at least the semblance of it. As they prepare for the 2023-24 campaign, most observers are wondering how Postecoglou is going to focus that powerful winning mentality. Will he lead Nottingham Forest to regain their historical significance in English football?
Leave a Reply