Ange Postecoglou paid the ultimate price for his poor start to life at Nottingham Forest on Saturday – and it’s hard to see where the former Tottenham boss goes next
Ange Postecoglou has run out of soundbites and excuses this time. It is impossible to see a route back into Premier League management after his disastrous 39 day reign at Nottingham Forest.
Big Ange has been great entertainment during his time at Tottenham and Forest. And not just because his defences are so wide -open that it generally ensures a feast of goals. But the football facts speak for themselves. Postecoglou failed to win any of his eight games in charge at Forest. Even worse, Postecoglou has managed just one win in his last 17 Premier League games, a run which stretches way back to February.
Yes, yes, yes, we all know about the Europa League success and Postecoglou promising – and delivering – a trophy. It was Tottenham’s first in 17 years.
But in retrospect, what on earth possessed Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis to appoint Postecoglou after sacking Nuno Espirito Santo last month?
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It is absolutely bonkers when you think about it. His run of form in the Premier League is an absolute disaster.
But Big Ange charmed many of us into buying into his lovable, cheeky and smiling soundbites. He came out with fun anecdotes, comparisons and his own positive spin on every negative.
His final Forest press conference last Friday – where he tried to convince everyone of his brilliance – caused much amusement even among other Premier League managers. One was utterly bewildered after watching it and asked: “Does he actually believe this?”
Postecoglou’s relationship with Marinakis was key in him getting the job. The Forest owner, who also owns Olympiacos, gave Postecoglou a lifetime achievement award back in June after the ex-Spurs boss became the first Greek-born manager to win a major European trophy.
The Greek businessman was clearly blinded by their friendship and the glow from the Europa League trophy which, in fairness, must be respected because it was one hell of an achievement.
But at what cost? Well, partly his own reputation. No manager can come 17th while in charge of Spurs.
The Spurs fans indulged him, particularly after the first half of his first season at White Hart Lane. But Postecoglou failed to mention last Friday that they became the first club to enjoy such a great start and still not make the top four.
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Yes, Postecoglou has enjoyed great success elsewhere – my word, he’s not been shy in telling us – and played good football.
But trying to switch Forest from defensive, counter attacking with a low block bolstered by two old school centre halves into free-flowing, play out from the back, high press and attack at all costs overnight was naive beyond belief.
That was his undoing at Forest. What on earth must the players have thought? They lost Nuno who led them into Europe and now the owner’s mate is trying to get us to play a completely different way. It was madness.
I confess that I really like Ange. I wanted him to succeed. I thought it would be a fun ride at Forest. But even I could not have imagined it would go so badly.
To last just 39 days is embarrassing. To get the sack just 19 minutes after a 3-0 home defeat to Chelsea (which was classed as a must-win game) just compounds it.
But the bigger picture is far more damning. And that is why Postecoglou will surely find it impossible to get another job in the Premier League. Because his results speak for themselves.
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