A Fairy Tale Replaced by a Nightmare
Nottingham Forest’s mood has shifted fast. Not long ago, the club was basking in glory. Under Nuno Espírito Santo, Forest achieved one of their best seasons in decades. Now, under Ange Postecoglou, that glow feels like a ghost.
As Postecoglou endures a winless start to his tenure, pressure mounts. The comparison with his predecessor looms large. And many ask: is patience running out?
The Rise — Nuno’s Brief but Brilliant Legacy
When Nuno arrived, Forest were struggling for direction. He steadied the team and kept them in the Premier League before leading them to an extraordinary season that few saw coming.
Under his leadership, Forest finished seventh in the Premier League — their best position in 30 years — and secured a long-awaited return to European football. The club’s run to the FA Cup semi-finals only added to the sense of revival.
Nuno’s counter-attacking style delivered results and belief. He became the first Forest manager to win three Premier League Manager of the Month awards in a single season.
But success behind the scenes did not last. Tensions reportedly grew between Nuno and club owner Evangelos Marinakis, leading to his abrupt dismissal just three games into the new season. His departure shocked supporters who had begun to dream again.
Postecoglou’s Rocky Arrival
Ange Postecoglou was brought in with a clear brief — to build on Nuno’s progress and introduce a more fluid, attacking brand of football. The Australian’s reputation for bold, high-tempo play preceded him, but his early results have been anything but inspiring.
Forest are winless in their first seven matches under his leadership, with two draws and five defeats. The latest setback, a 2–0 loss to Newcastle United, deepened the crisis and pushed the team into the relegation zone.
The start has been historically poor. It marks the club’s worst opening run under any permanent manager in a century.
Despite the mounting criticism, Postecoglou has refused to back down. After the Newcastle defeat, he said he expects open discussions with the club’s hierarchy about “where we’re at and what we need to do.”
Asked about the growing calls for his dismissal, he remained defiant:
“Maybe you’re all right and I’m gone. Next week it’ll be somebody else. I love the position I’m in now — I have to fight for everything.”
He admits his side have struggled to turn possession into points but insists the performances show promise. “The results don’t reflect the way we’ve embraced what we want to do,” he said. “The results will come.”
A Balancing Act of Expectations
Forest’s leadership now faces a difficult choice. Nuno’s success raised expectations to unprecedented levels, yet Postecoglou was hired precisely for his ambition and long-term vision.
The club’s owner has shown before that patience is in short supply when results falter. Yet there are hints of continued faith in Postecoglou’s project, at least for now.
Still, the contrast could not be sharper. Nuno built momentum and belief; Postecoglou is fighting to stop the slide. One built memories that rekindled Forest’s pride. The other faces the reality of survival.
Whether Postecoglou gets the time to prove his footballing philosophy remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: the shadow of Nuno’s brief, brilliant reign still looms large over Nottingham.
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