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OH NO HE ISN’T! OH YES HE IS!

Arguably the least favored Australian to make an appearance in this part of England since a notorious innkeeper from a long-running series took part in a theatrical show 20 years back, Ange Postecoglou’s tenure at the Nottingham stadium could begun in the worst possible way. While the heckling and shouts that TV star the Neighbours star was subjected to during Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood were largely good-natured, the venom of the invective hurled at Postecoglou during the team’s Bigger Vase defeat by the Danish side on Thursday was so severe that it is hard to believe the man who has been in charge for a mere handful of fixtures will still be around to listen to the Christmas jeers this holiday season. Repeatedly the 60-year-old’s shouts of “There’s someone there!” went ignored by his hapless players, especially when the visiting team scored their first two goals from poorly handled set-pieces. Far from the happy occasion they’d hoped for, Forest’s first continental match at home in nearly three decades ended in acrimony with home fans telling the manager he’d be “sacked in the morning”, before praising his popular, recently dismissed former boss, Nuno Espírito Santo.

“I realize the environment is negative, I know how fans feel, especially about me, but I don’t fret over it, it’s not unfamiliar territory for me,” Postecoglou growled in answer, while directing the ground near him to the usual death-stare. “Football holds no surprises for me, it’s the climate we’re in. It seems that’s the way things are going. It’s beyond my influence. The fans are disappointed, they are allowed to have an opinion on it. I took in their thoughts.” And while those followers are free to express anger, it could be argued that they might be more sensible selecting a better aim for their ire. Ultimately, it was the Greek businessman who dismissed a beloved manager to appoint Postecoglou, who was always going to face a tough task from day one. Looking on from the directors’ box as he went through a repertoire of sullen, fierce looks last witnessed during that period he heard Tottenham had activated the player’s transfer clause, the Greek tycoon has up to now dodged any kind of harsh judgement from the crowd, a sizable group of whom remain convinced the sun shines out of his generously upholstered nether regions.

As the clock ticked past noon on Friday, speculation of the manager being fired overnight proved to be overstated and it appears his job remains protected until such time as … well, it isn’t. Although the club boss can argue with some mitigation that he has had minimal opportunity on the training ground to instil the approach and gameplan subtleties that caused the London club losing a majority of their Premier League fixtures last season, his team’s fixture list remains daunting and unyielding. With the North-East side, Chelsea, the Portuguese giants and the South-Coast team on the horizon it is difficult to see from where a maiden victory for the manager will come before what could surely be the biggest dismissal-decider against the Red Devils.

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BEST REMARK

“I avoid conflicts and disputes, who singles out individuals, in fact, I’ll refrain from naming names. But I believe there was some disrespect, along with some incivility, without anyone offering a greeting” – the United player criticizes the Red Devils over the unfriendly setting at Old Trafford, where friendliness has seemingly headed south like the club’s results.

READER COMMENTS

Can it be the coach has vowed followers he guarantees victory in his next campaign?” – a reader.

Far be it for me to want to amplify the stereotype that Gunners fans are football’s whiniest fans, but Thabo Caves (the previous day’s mailbag) does make you think. Noting that rather than two games a week, the North London side are having to play more than two fixtures each week (oh, a half-hour more!) over a certain trio of weeks (for a team with double coverage in all roles to as well) is not the debate-ender he might think. Rather it’s just going to have the orchestra of the world’s smallest violins tuning up their instruments once more, while the wider sport sigh in unison” – another reader.

I’m puzzled whether your recent correspondents (on several fixtures each week) are consciously, ironically recreating one of the classic instances of online debate (SFW), or accidentally confirming the famous quote about past occurrences returning as comedy” – Nick Wiltsher.

For what it’s worth, Bob Cushion (the prior comments), I’m the same [wishing affluent UK clubs to be defeated abroad]. From the time Forest stopped competing in Europe, Uefa football for me has led to a state of helpless fury, broken up only sometimes by the Eastern European team and, maybe, Zaragoza. I don’t give a hoot for the Reds’ achievements from the 1980s right up to the 2005 final. I feel nothing for {‘that