Nottingham Forest have today sacked head coach Ange Postecoglou only 61 days after his arrival. His short stint of 39 days and just eight matches on the bench brought unsatisfactory results. Appointed on September 9, the 60-year-old Australian manager faced significant challenges during his short time at the club, ultimately failing to secure a single victory. It is one of the Premier League’s briefest tenures. It’s only a fraction longer than Sam Allardyce’s 30-day appointment at Leeds United.
Postecoglou’s appointment was made with much optimism, as he signed a two-year contract to take control of Nottingham Forest. His tenure as dictator soon took a turn for the worse. The team had only recorded 6 losses and 2 draws, leaving them sitting towards the bottom of the Premier League table. Most experts were caught off guard when they announced their decision to fire him on October 18. This happened only a little over a month into his term.
Disappointing Results and Defensive Struggles
In the same amount of time under Postecoglou’s stewardship, Nottingham Forest have shipped more goals from corners than any other Premier League team since his first game in charge. In addition, no manager in the current season has seen their teams concede more goals within the first ten minutes of the second half than he did. These harrowing numbers helped lead to severe pressure on the coach.
The team’s performances included a series of notable defeats: a 3-0 loss to Arsenal, a 2-3 defeat against FC Midtjylland, and a disheartening 0-3 home defeat to Chelsea. Supporters became fed up as the team failed to find pay-dirt in three consecutive home games. That was the longest such drought for the program since October 1998, two of those games coming during Postecoglou’s tenure.
Among the low points was a home match where supporters chanted “sacked in the morning,” reflecting their discontent with the team’s performance. With their meeting after the loss, the players made clear they were unhappy. While this meeting only lasted an hour, it would serve as a reflection of how dire the circumstances were within the team.
A Short-Lived Tenure
Postecoglou’s short time in charge has turned into a fantasy discussion board favourite to the potential for occurring in actual life. His record stands at zero wins in eight matches. This is especially concerning for a side that has some realistic ambitions of enjoying stability and success in the English topflight. His pedigree was undeniable, after having recorded seasons of success in the Bundesliga, Championship, and Premiership, he was unable to carry that over to Nottingham Forest.
After eight matches, his team had managed just two draws, to Burnley and Real Betis. Unfortunately, they ended up losing the other six matches. The lack of positive results left the team fighting to stay out of the league’s cellar. Because this performance, by all accounts, did him in as the head coach.
“The story always ends the same… me with a trophy.” – Ange Postecoglou
That line pretty well sums up Postecoglou’s dream big attitude before he took off to Nottingham Forest. It’s now been sadly overshadowed by an unsuccessful…well, stint. Club fans and officials alike are anxiously asking where their team is headed next.
Looking Ahead
The decision to part ways with Postecoglou raises questions about the club’s strategy moving forward. Nottingham Forest would be keen to respond strongly after suffering that disappointment. Their next managerial choice will have to address these tactical deficiencies, but needs to turn around the morale of a broken team.
The club are now left to search for a replacement who will be able to bring back a sense of confidence and drive results consistently on the pitch. It’s no surprise that the Premier League season is once again in full swing. Nottingham Forest needs to make a move sooner than later to avoid falling further down the table.
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