Ange Postecoglou took first steps along new path for Nottingham Forest head coach posting first session imagery on Wednesday. The session marked a significant step forward for the club as it embarks on a new season filled with high expectations. Postecoglou had only just replaced the last incumbents. He’s begun to instill a hallmark of his vision for the club—intensity, tactical demands, and meticulous preparations.
You could see from the outset how the Nottingham Forest players reacted to the environment of the training ground created by Postecoglou. In turn, reports have shown that the squad excelled during the intense amped up session. That sprinting enthusiasm is a perfect encapsulation of his commitment to developing a cutthroat game environment. The club’s larger aspirations to expand their footprint are emerging. This follows a team-high £165 million investment in the front line over the course of the summer transfer window.
Postecoglou’s hours for the on-field staff have extended well past what they initially intended at the training ground. His goal is to figure out the best way to play based on his new players’ abilities. He suggested a degree of cool confidence in his methods underlined by the fact that he often finds success in his second campaign at a given club.
“I have always been winning a trophy in the second season,” – Ange Postecoglou
With Postecoglou at the helm, Nottingham Forest hope to move away from an overly-counter attacking philosophy and adopt a more attractive brand of football. That hasn’t stopped an impatient fanbase from worrying over this change, because it often takes a season or two to fully adapt to a new playing philosophy. Despite these concerns, Postecoglou isn’t fazed and has a long track record of playing with multiple formations as the head coach over his two-decade coaching career.
The expectations surrounding Postecoglou are high. Marinakis has already made it clear since taking ownership of Nottingham Forest that he sees the club competing for trophies again.
“We want to compete with the best and challenge for trophies,” – Evangelos Marinakis
Postecoglou has a clear idea of what is in store. He’s wasted no time in formulating a plan of action to deliver silverware back to the club. In his first press conference, Clough called Marinakis “ambitious,” underlining the two men’s common vision for Nottingham Forest’s long-term future. The coach knows what an impossible pressure cooker comes with his job. This awareness is particularly acute given that he was sacked from his previous position for the first time in his years of coaching, prior to coming on board at Forest.
When the ex-Celtic manager spoke of needing to win silverware in his first campaign as a condition for employment, it sounded like a laughable thought experiment. He approaches the daunting task with humor. One thing is certain, both the love for his community and the awareness of his responsibility shine through him. On his 60th birthday, rather than celebrating with friends, he was hard at work on the transition planning with his new employer’s new chief.
To be clear, Postecoglou is not leaving for Nottingham Forest. His ambitions go beyond his own achievements to see the club thrive. He is dangerous in part because he believes in creating a winning mentality. He knows that if they find success on the pitch it will vastly improve the atmosphere around the team and with the fans.
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