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OH NO HE ISN’T! OH YES HE IS!

Arguably the most disliked Aussie to make an appearance in the Nottingham area since a sinister lodging owner from a popular soap took part in a local pantomime in the early 2000s, the Greek-Australian’s time in charge at the Nottingham stadium could hardly have begun more poorly. Even though the heckling and shouts that performer Stefan Dennis was endured during a seasonal stage show were largely good-natured, the hostility of the criticism directed at the Forest manager during the team’s Bigger Vase defeat by their Scandinavian opponents on last Thursday was so overwhelming that it is hard to believe the manager who has been in charge for only half a dozen games will still be around to endure the Christmas jeers this holiday season. On more than one occasion the 60-year-old’s shouts of “Watch out behind!” went disregarded by his unfortunate players, not least when the Danish side scored their first two goals from atrociously defended set-pieces. Nowhere near the celebratory mood they’d expected, the team’s first European home game in almost 30 seasons ended in bitterness with home fans telling Postecoglou he’d be “dismissed soon”, before serenading his favored, newly sacked predecessor, Nuno Espírito Santo.

“I get the mood around the place isn’t going to be great, I grasp the public’s opinion, chiefly directed at me, but that doesn’t concern me, I’ve been here before,” the manager snapped in response, while directing the ground near him to the now customary fierce look. “I’m never shocked in this sport, it’s the climate we’re in. It seems that’s the way things are going. I have no power over it. Followers are let down, they have every right to their view. I heard their opinion.” And while those followers are allowed to complain, it could be argued that they might be better advised choosing a better aim for their frustration. In the end, it was the club owner who fired a beloved manager to bring in the Australian, who was always going to face a tough task from day one. Watching from the executive seats as he went through a series of angry, grim faces last witnessed during that time he found out Spurs had triggered the player’s buyout option, the Greek tycoon has thus far mostly avoided 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, rumours of the coach’s imminent dismissal proved to be unfounded and it appears his job remains protected until such time as … actually, it’s not. Although the Forest head coach can argue with some mitigation that he has had minimal opportunity on the training ground to instil the philosophy and tactical nuance that caused the London club dropping 22 of their 38 top-flight games last campaign, his club’s upcoming matches 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 initial success under the new boss will come before what could likely be the mother of all El Sackicos against Manchester United.

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TOP STATEMENT

“I avoid conflicts and disputes, who names people, actually, I’ll keep it anonymous. But I believe there was some disrespect, plus some impoliteness, without anyone offering a greeting” – Antony slams his club over the frosty environment at their stadium, where friendliness has apparently declined like the side’s performance.

FAN MAILBAG

Is it true the Forest manager has promised supporters he always wins a match in his following term?” – a reader.

I wouldn’t normally to wish to reinforce the stereotype that Arsenal supporters are the game’s biggest moaners, but a correspondent (the previous day’s mailbag) does make you wonder. Highlighting that rather than a pair of fixtures per week, Arsenal are having to play more than two fixtures each week (wow, 30 additional minutes!) over a particular 21-day span (for a roster with strong depth in each place to as well) is not the discussion-closer he might imagine. On the contrary it’s just going to have the tiniest violin ensemble getting ready once more, while the wider sport look on with exasperation” – a different supporter.

I can’t work out whether your current contributors (on two or three games a week) are deliberately, mockingly repeating one of the classic instances of online debate (SFW), or inadvertently demonstrating the famous quote about historical events repeating themselves as farce” – a fan.

If it’s any solace, yesterday’s letter-writer (yesterday’s letters), I’m the same [wanting wealthy English teams to fail on the continent]. From the time Forest stopped competing in Europe, continental matches for me has led to a state of seething impotent rage, punctuated only occasionally by the Eastern European team and, if pressed, Zaragoza. I couldn’t care less for the Merseyside club’s successes from the eighties right up to the Champions League win. I’m indifferent to {‘that