‘He’s behind you!’ Is the manager the real villain in the City Ground theatrics?

NO WAY! ABSOLUTELY YES!

Quite possibly the least favored down-under figure to make an appearance in this part of England since a sinister lodging owner from a long-running series took part in a theatrical show two decades ago, Forest’s new boss’s tenure at the City Ground could scarcely have got off to a more inauspicious start. Although the heckling and shouts that TV star the Neighbours star was endured during Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood were generally lighthearted, the hostility of the invective hurled at the Australian coach during the club’s Bigger Vase defeat by their Scandinavian opponents on the previous night was so intense that it is hard to believe the coach who has been in charge for a mere handful of fixtures will keep his job to endure the seasonal boos this Christmas. On more than one occasion the 60-year-old’s shouts of “There’s someone there!” went disregarded by his hapless players, particularly when the visiting team scored their opening pair from badly organized dead-ball situations. Nowhere near the joyous atmosphere they’d anticipated, Nottingham Forest’s first UEFA fixture on home soil in nearly three decades ended in acrimony with home fans telling Postecoglou he’d be “sacked in the morning”, before serenading his popular, just-removed previous manager, the Portuguese tactician.

“I understand the atmosphere won’t be positive, I understand people’s attitude, particularly towards me, but that doesn’t concern me, this is nothing new to me,” Postecoglou growled in response, while directing the floor around his feet to the typical fierce look. “I’m never shocked in this sport, that’s the current environment. That appears to be the trend. It’s beyond my influence. The fans are disappointed, they can think what they like. I took in their thoughts.” And while those Forest fans are allowed to complain, it could be suggested that they might be wiser selecting a more fitting focus for their ire. Ultimately, it was the club owner who sacked a beloved manager to bring in the new boss, who was always going to face a tough task from day one. Observing from the executive seats as he went through a range of sullen, fierce looks last witnessed during that occasion he heard Spurs had initiated the midfielder’s buyout option, the wealthy owner has so far escaped any kind of serious criticism from fans, a good number of whom remain certain the he is beyond reproach.

As the clock ticked past noon on Friday, talk of the coach’s imminent dismissal proved to be greatly exaggerated and reports suggest his job remains protected until such time as … actually, it’s not. While the club boss can argue with some mitigation that he has had minimal opportunity on the practice field to implement the philosophy and tactical nuance that resulted in Tottenham Hotspur losing a majority of their Premier League fixtures last season, his team’s fixture list remains daunting and unyielding. Facing the Magpies, Chelsea, Porto and Bournemouth on the horizon it is hard to predict 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 names people, actually, I’ll keep it anonymous. Yet I feel there was a slight disregard, along with some incivility, without anyone offering a greeting” – the United player takes a pop at the Red Devils over the cold atmosphere at Old Trafford, where warmth has seemingly headed south like the team’s form.

FOOTBALL DAILY LETTERS

Is there truth the coach has promised followers he guarantees victory in his next campaign?” – Pete Negri.

I wouldn’t normally to seek to emphasize the cliché that Arsenal supporters are the game’s biggest moaners, but a correspondent (the prior edition’s comments) does make you wonder. Noting that rather than a pair of fixtures per week, the North London side are having to play over two matches weekly (wow, 30 additional minutes!) over a certain trio of weeks (for a roster with double coverage in all roles to boot) is not the argument-settler he might imagine. Instead it’s just going to have the tiniest violin ensemble getting ready once more, while the other fans look on with exasperation” – another reader.

I’m unsure whether your latest letter-writers (on several fixtures each week) are consciously, ironically recreating one of the high points of internet discourse (safe for work), or inadvertently demonstrating the philosopher’s saying about past occurrences returning as comedy” – Nick Wiltsher.

If it’s any solace, Bob Cushion (yesterday’s letters), I’ve always been like that [hoping affluent UK clubs to lose in Europe]. Since Forest lost the ability to negotiate Europe, Uefa football for me has caused a state of helpless fury, punctuated only occasionally by Steaua Bucharest and, maybe, the La Liga outfit. I couldn’t care less for Liverpool’s exploits from the eighties right up to the 2005 final. I feel nothing for {‘that