Postecoglou Stands Firm Amid Mounting Forest Fan Frustration

Published: 03 October 2025. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online

Ange Postecoglou finds himself in a storm of discontent just six matches into his reign at Nottingham Forest. A 3-2 Europa League defeat to Danish side FC Midtjylland has left the Australian head coach still searching for his first win, and with it, his credibility among the Forest faithful is rapidly eroding. The atmosphere at the City Ground on Thursday night was tense, and by the final whistle the home crowd’s verdict was brutally clear. Many supporters, unable to contain their frustration, chanted “You’re getting sacked in the morning” as the beleaguered manager trudged off the pitch.

This result marks a grim piece of history for Postecoglou, who has become the first permanent Forest manager in a century to fail to win any of his opening six fixtures. His mood in the post-match press conference was reflective, if somewhat resigned. “The fans are disappointed. They are allowed to have an opinion on it. I heard their opinion,” he admitted. “Nothing surprises me in football. It’s the climate we’re in. It seems that’s the way things are going. It’s nothing I can control.”

That acknowledgement carried the weary tone of a coach who, only a few months ago, was on the highest of highs. Back in May, Postecoglou was celebrating lifting the Europa League trophy with Tottenham Hotspur. Yet his triumph proved short-lived: he was dismissed just 16 days later after Spurs’ Premier League campaign faltered. Now, barely four months on, he finds himself facing another battle for survival—this time in the East Midlands.

The night was supposed to be a historic occasion, the City Ground’s first European tie in 29 years. Instead, it dissolved into a bitter evening of recrimination. Valdemar Byskov’s late strike for Midtjylland sealed the win for the visitors, and before the final whistle, much of the Forest crowd had turned against their new manager. To compound the humiliation, fans sang songs in praise of Nuno Espírito Santo, Postecoglou’s predecessor, who is now managing West Ham United.

The irony was unavoidable. Nuno guided Forest to a seventh-place finish in the Premier League last season, a significant achievement that had supporters daring to dream of European glory. But his relationship with club owner Evangelos Marinakis soured, leading to his dismissal despite the progress on the pitch. Postecoglou was appointed on September 9, entrusted with continuing the upward trajectory. So far, however, that promise has unravelled, replaced by a string of defeats and a rising tide of dissatisfaction.

Forest’s woes are not confined to Europe. Last weekend’s 1-0 Premier League defeat to Sunderland further darkened the mood around the club. Supporters are now questioning not only the manager’s tactics but also Marinakis’ decision-making. The Greek owner sanctioned a summer outlay of around £180m in transfers, a statement of intent to push the club further up the table. Yet the squad, despite its reinforcements, has faltered badly under Postecoglou’s watch.

The head coach, though, insists he remains committed to his vision. “My responsibility is to make sure we get some wins for this football club and progress it,” he said. “I would prefer if people were optimistic in their outlook of what I’m doing. I can only change that by winning games of football. Irrespective, that’s not going to change the way I’m taking things on. I really believe in the process of what we’re doing and I don’t think we’re far away from being the team that can eradicate the situation we’re in at the moment and get the results.”

On Thursday, however, the process looked threadbare. Forest were left chasing the game after conceding early goals to Ousmane Diao and Mads Bech, with Dan Ndoye briefly restoring hope with an equaliser. But defensive lapses continued to haunt the side, and even Chris Wood’s late penalty could not prevent another painful loss.

Postecoglou remained defiant in his post-match assessment, arguing that his team were closer to a breakthrough than the results suggest. “Yes I do, nothing I saw tonight changes any of that,” he said. “I get the mood around the place isn’t going to be great, and I understand people’s attitude at the moment, particularly towards me, but it’s not unfamiliar territory for me. I believe we are on the right track and when we get through this period of uncertainty we are in, we will be on a good path.”

Such words may reassure some, but the majority of Forest supporters appear less convinced. The harsh realities of football mean that patience is often in short supply. The chants from the stands carried a familiar warning for managers in his position: results matter, and quickly.

Thursday’s defeat came just a week after a 2-2 draw away to Real Betis, a result that hinted at progress but failed to inspire confidence. Now Forest head into a daunting Premier League clash at Newcastle on Sunday before the international break, a match that could further shape perceptions of Postecoglou’s future.

The timing of this downturn is particularly cruel given the scale of investment over the summer and the weight of expectation that followed. Marinakis’ ambition is clear, but his track record shows little tolerance for prolonged failure. For Postecoglou, the task is simple in theory yet immensely difficult in practice: deliver wins, and quickly, or risk joining the list of managers undone by the unforgiving demands of modern football.

As things stand, the Australian coach appears determined to stick to his philosophy. He acknowledges the criticism, accepts the jeers, but insists he will not deviate from his belief in the process. Whether that belief will be enough to turn results around—and silence a restless fan base—remains the burning question.

For now, what was supposed to be a new chapter of European excitement for Nottingham Forest has instead become a cautionary tale of how quickly fortunes can change. The club that only months ago seemed to be on the rise is again engulfed in uncertainty, its manager under siege, its supporters disillusioned, and its owner once more in the spotlight.

The Europa League campaign still has time to recover, and the Premier League season is young. But if Forest’s fortunes do not improve soon, Postecoglou’s tenure could become another fleeting footnote in the club’s long history—an experiment cut short before it ever had the chance to succeed.