TThe strangest aspect of Ange Postecoglou's 40-day reign at Nottingham Forest was how inevitable it all seemed. The only shock was that he was fired on Saturday, minutes after Home defeat to Chelsea with a score of 3:0.not in a day or two. But by that time it became obvious that this ill-fated adventure had run its course; perhaps it would be kinder for everyone to end this. Forest have certainly had to act quickly if they are to make the most of their first European campaign in three decades.
But why was such an obviously terrible appointment made in the first place? What made Nottingham Forest did the owner, Evangelos Marinakis, ever think that Postecoglou was the right man to succeed Nuno Espiritu Santo? They met in July at an event organized by the Greek league to celebrate Postecoglou's Europa League win with Tottenham, but was it really just that? That they got along well over a glass of wine?
Forest exceeded expectations last season, finishing seventh, but they did so by sitting deep and playing in the post. It was simple and effective. The team got the most out of its two central defenders, Murillo and Nikola Milenkovic; Morgan Gibbs-White enjoyed the freedom the deep midfield platform afforded him; Chris Wood enjoyed the best season of his life, benefiting from the services of speedy strikers Callum Hudson-Odoi and Anthony Elanga.
However, this is not Postecoglou's football, which raises two obvious questions. Didn't Marinakis understand this? And didn’t Postecoglou understand this? Could an owner, even one as unstable as Marinakis, really be so bad at football that he didn't realize how completely unsuitable Postecoglou was? Perhaps the idea was that Postecoglou would oversee Forest's transition to a more openly attacking team, and Marinakis simply underestimated the gulf in philosophy between Postecoglou and his team.
Why Postecoglou took the job is even more puzzling. He was a successful coach. He clearly understands the essence of the problem. At Tottenham, for all his bluster, he has changed his style significantly in recent months, achieving results in the Europa League. Still, being willing to compromise in a pinch – and Spurs, as Postecoglou has repeatedly pointed out, had an injury crisis – is not the same as undergoing a radical transformation late in one's career.
Postecoglou's style is push; this is not a Forest unit that can press. His first game in charge was against Arsenal. Four days earlier, any thoughts of Milenkovic clearing the ball had been put to rest as he was sent off while playing for Serbia against England and clumsily tripped Harry Kane as the striker ran away from him. Looking back, it almost seemed like a cry for help. Postecoglou was generally upbeat after the 3-0 defeat. Next Wednesday we will see a team playing the way he wanted against Swansea in the League Cup. Fortune rarely refuses such hostages: Forest led 2-0 and lost 3-2, Engball on top. After which the fall followed its predictable path.
Postecoglou receives his reward. And it may be worth it, given the 40 days of work, such a short period that there was hardly time for the pressure to build. But this probably ended his hopes of working in Premier League again. His last 18 league games have yielded just six points. Who would take a chance on someone with such a track record?
Although his Tottenham side finished fourth in the league, this was at least compensated for by winning the Europa League. Memories of eight wins in his first ten games plus that success made his record justifiable. But his 40 days at Forest tipped the scales. Postecoglou now exists as essentially a meme, a Baghdad Bob from the dugout, making absurd statements even as the situation around him worsened and passive-aggressively calling people “buddies.” His hiring in the Forest damaged what was left of his reputation.
So why did will he take it? Was it the ego? Did he think he could force this group of unsuitable players to play his way? Was it desperation? Did he, at 60, think (wrongly of course) that this might be his last chance to get a Premier League job? Or did he feel the time approaching and thought: now or never? He talked about how a relaxed and tanned manager is just one who is out of work; perhaps he simply lacked adrenaline. But given how obvious the discrepancy was to everyone else, surely Postecoglou knew what he was up against?
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That mistake alone may be enough to make him unsuitable for any other Premier League job. But it also damaged his legacy. He is no longer an idealist who achieved incredible redemption with a Europa League triumph; now he's just another dreamer who failed.
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This is an extract from Football with Jonathan Wilson, Guardian US's weekly look at the game in Europe and beyond. Subscribe for free here. Have a question for Jonathan? E-mail [email protected]and he'll answer the best questions in a future episode.
