Nottingham Forest Sacks Ange Postecoglou After 39 Days

Ange Postecoglou’s brief tenure as manager of Nottingham Forest ended abruptly after just 39 days, following a decisive 3-0 defeat to Chelsea at the City Ground on Saturday. The news of his dismissal came shortly after the match, with Postecoglou informing his squad of the decision moments before leaving the stadium. By the time the public learned of the change, he had already departed, and his coaching staff were informed of their fate hours later.

Evangelos Marinakis, the owner of Nottingham Forest, acted quickly to remove Postecoglou, departing the stadium before the final whistle. This move is notable given that Postecoglou had only recently relocated to Nottingham and had conducted just 20 training sessions with the team, of which only eight included the full squad due to injuries and international breaks.

Postecoglou’s challenge was considerable, as he sought to transform Forest’s playing style from Nuno Espirito Santo‘s pragmatic approach to his own attacking philosophy, referred to as “Angeball.” This transition proved difficult, especially with key players sidelined by injuries. For example, Ola Aina, whom Postecoglou identified as crucial to his strategy, was ruled out for the season on his first day at the club. Other players he relied on, including Murillo, Douglas Luiz, and Oleksandr Zinchenko, also missed significant matches.

Despite a promising start to the season, with Forest previously enjoying a memorable campaign, the squad struggled to maintain their form. Last year, they finished seventh after holding a Champions League spot for much of the season. Observers within the club noted that while last season’s success was significant, the style of play was not sustainable, leading to a decline in performance.

“The team weren’t really good,” stated a source close to the dressing room. The team had relied on exceptional performances from players like Chris Wood, who notably exceeded his Expected Goals tally last season but has since struggled to replicate that form. His goal-scoring dried up, with only two goals in his last eleven league matches from the previous season and none this term.

Throughout Postecoglou’s brief reign, the team exhibited a tendency to concede from set-pieces. In total, Forest allowed eleven goals from dead-ball situations, significantly above the league average. This recurring issue was evident in both his first and last matches, where set-piece goals contributed to their defeats. Despite weekly training on set-pieces led by coach Axl Rice, the team’s defensive frailties remained problematic.

Under pressure from poor results, Postecoglou maintained focus on the long-term vision for the club, noting in a press conference that he viewed criticism through “a prism.” Nevertheless, the lack of public support from the club’s hierarchy contrasted starkly with the backing given to other managers in the league.

While the attacking metrics improved under Postecoglou’s direction, the inability to convert chances into goals ultimately led to his downfall. In their final match against Chelsea, Forest missed several clear opportunities that could have changed the outcome. This pattern was echoed in previous matches, where despite high expected goals (xG) statistics, the team could not secure victories.

As Nottingham Forest prepares to move forward, the appointment of a new manager will be crucial in establishing a coherent strategy that aligns with the club’s ambitions. Observers will watch closely to see how the incoming coach, Sean Dyche, addresses the challenges left in Postecoglou’s wake, particularly concerning set-piece tactics and overall team cohesion.