Ange Postecoglou paid the ultimate price for a poor start to life at Nottingham Forest on Saturday – and it’s hard to see where the former Tottenham manager will go next
A football enthusiast who spends much of his life on the highway, watching games all over the country. Passionate about soccer, work and mirrors. I have always believed that the Premier League is the best in the world and that England have a chance. Author of Arsene Wenger: The Inside Story of Arsenal Under Wenger.
Ange Postecoglou has run out of soundbites and excuses this time. After a disastrous 39-day reign at Nottingham Forest, it is impossible to see a path back into Premier League management.
Big Ange provided great entertainment during his time at Tottenham and Forest. It’s not just that his defense is so wide that it ensures a feast of goals. But the soccer facts speak for themselves. Postecoglou failed to win any of his eight matches at Forest. To make matters worse, Postecoglou have won just one of their last 17 Premier League games, a record that stretches back to February.
Yes, yes, yes, we all know the Europa League success and Postecoglou promised trophies and delivered. It was the first time in 17 years for Tottenham.
But looking back, what exactly prompted Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis to appoint Postecoglou after sacking Nuno Espirito Santo last month?
read more: Alan Shearer slams Evangelos Marinakis after Ange Postecoglou’s Nottingham Forest sending offread more: Enzo Maresca’s ice-cold 11-word reaction to the sacking of Nottingham Forest manager Ange Postecoglou
When you think about it, it’s totally ridiculous. His form in the Premier League is truly dire.
But Big Ange won over many of us, captivated by his endearingly cheeky and smiley sound bites. He shared fun anecdotes and comparisons and put his own positive spin on every negative.
His final press conference for Forest last Friday, in which he tried to convince everyone of his talent, caused a stir among other Premier League managers. One person was completely perplexed after seeing it and asked, “Does he really believe this?”
Mr. Postecoglou’s relationship with Mr. Marinakis was key to getting the job. Forest owners, who also own Olympiakos, presented Postecoglou with a lifetime achievement award in June after the former Spurs manager became the first Greek-born manager to win a major European trophy.
The Greek businessman was clearly blinded by their friendship and the glory of the Europa League trophy, but in all fairness it was an incredible feat and should be respected.
But at what cost? Well, it’s partly his own reputation. A manager managing Spurs cannot be ranked 17th.
Spurs fans spoiled him, especially after the first half of his first season at White Hart Lane. However, Postecoglou did not mention that last Friday he became the first club to fail to finish in the top four despite such a strong start.
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Yes, Postecoglou has had great success elsewhere and, if you ask me, he wasn’t shy about telling us – and played good football.
But it was incredibly naive to switch Forest overnight from a defensive posture, with a low block reinforced by two old-fashioned centre-halves, freeing up counter-attacks, to coming out from the back, pressing high and attacking at all costs.
That was his undoing at Forest. What on earth were the players thinking? They lost Nuno, who took them to Europe, and now a friend of the owner wants us to play in a completely different way. It was crazy.
I confess that I love Angers. I wanted him to succeed. I thought a ride in the forest would be fun. However, even I could not have imagined that it would be this bad.
It’s embarrassing that it only lasts 39 days. His sacking after just 19 minutes in a 3-0 home defeat to Chelsea (classified as a must-win game) only made matters worse.
But the big picture is far more frightening. That is why Postecoglou will be convinced that it is impossible for him to get a new job in the Premier League. Because his results speak for themselves.
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