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Replacing a team icon was consistently going to be a challenging assignment, but the previous manager succeeded to pull off a shrewd move after Steve Cooper’s departure: securing victories in his first two fixtures. A great deal is forgotten about the first six months of his time in charge, when the squad survived just one place above the drop zone and endured a stretch of taking victory in only one time in 10 top-flight games.

Nuno had done the vital task of raising team spirit and winning over the supporters by defeating an opponent away and generating enthusiasm by beating Manchester United at home, and no one was calling for style points. The City Ground was buzzing in late December 2023, and home fans did not mind that they saw only two more victories there for the rest of the season.

The club fans call for Postecoglou axe after 23 days following European defeat.

Ange Postecoglou is still waiting to experience a win, making him the first Forest head coach in a hundred years to be unable to win any of their opening half-dozen games. There was a toxic atmosphere at the City Ground on Thursday night as they lost to the runner-up team in Denmark. When fans are demanding your sacking after three weeks, it is fair to say the situation are not going well. On Friday there were no plans to fire the manager but a defeat at St James’ Park on Sunday could cost him his job.

Everyone at the organization understood there would be a period of transition because the new manager’s tactical approach is almost a polar opposite to the one his predecessor carefully developed there. The strategy was evolving under the Portuguese but not at the pace Postecoglou is trying to introduce.

Starting with a series of road matches was always going to be a tough ask for the manager. Kicking off at Arsenal meant generating positive energy from the outset was improbable but losing at a Championship team in the domestic cup and drawing at Burnley put him on the back foot. The game at Real Betis appeared to be a turning point because the performance was impressive and fitting with anticipations regarding the manager’s style. The processes were sound and, but for a last-minute Antony goal, success would have commenced.

Instead Forest remain stuck. If Postecoglou could have been forgiven for the away results, losing at their stadium to Sunderland and Midtjylland was never part of the plan. 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 points went away to the north-east. Forest had almost two-thirds of possession and 22 shots but beating an opponent on xG is irrelevant.

Ange Postecoglou and Neco Williams will want to turn the team’s results around at the next venue on Sunday.

There was a belief that once the forwards found form, everything would be resolved but ineffective finishing is only a single of the issues confronting the boss. The solid backline built by Nuno has been dismantled, leaving Postecoglou awaiting a clean sheet. Stopping set pieces has been problematic, two of Midtjylland’s goals coming from them, and the other goal Forest let in was from a counterattack, the type that were a regular occurrence during his time at his former club.

Postecoglou was keen to get back to management promptly after being dismissed by Tottenham, especially with a Europa League honor around his neck. He aimed to show critics wrong and Forest presented that opportunity, with the added bonus of being in the competition he had won in May. The Hellenic link with Forest’s proprietor, Evangelos Marinakis, helped make the hiring smooth and Postecoglou, despite his critics, does have the qualifications required – but practicality was unlikely to be part of the equation.

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The former manager was not fired for sporting reasons but for picking a fight with the owner that he was never going to win. Finishing seventh and taking Forest into continental competition made him extremely beloved. Despite his gripes, a team able of ending in the top half was assembled and a lot of funds was spent. After excessive short-termism at Forest, they had a clear future plan and strategy, which featured a squad that suited the previous boss. Now it feels as if a new figure has entered the house and the residents are not happy.

Visits to one opponent and Bournemouth bookend the visit of Chelsea in the next three league games, implying the situation is only going to get harder. Marinakis made the appointment with his heart and is desperately wishing to avoid another dismissal because firing the manager would be an acknowledgment that he made a pair of terrible choices in dismissing the former coach and selecting the successor. The sport is one big public approval competition and Nuno began winning his at St James’ Park. Postecoglou needs to do the same or he risks forfeiting his permanently.