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IT CAN’T BE HIM! BUT IT IS!

Without a doubt the most unpopular Australian to arrive in this part of England since a sinister lodging owner from a popular soap took part in a local pantomime in the early 2000s, Ange Postecoglou’s time in charge at the club’s home could scarcely have got off to a more inauspicious start. Even though the heckling and shouts that performer the Neighbours star was subjected to during Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood were generally lighthearted, the toxicity of the abuse hurled at the Forest manager during the club’s European setback by the Danish side on Thursday was so overwhelming that it is difficult to imagine the man who has been in charge for only half a dozen games will still be around to hear the Christmas jeers this Christmas. On more than one occasion the 60-year-old’s shouts of “He’s behind you!” went unheeded by his struggling players, especially when the opposition scored their first two goals from poorly handled free-kicks and corners. Nowhere near the celebratory mood they’d expected, the team’s first continental match at home in almost 30 seasons ended in bitterness with supporters telling Postecoglou he’d be “sacked in the morning”, before chanting for his well-liked, recently dismissed 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 I don’t fret over it, I’ve been here before,” the manager snapped in answer, while subjecting the floor around his feet to the usual intense glare. “Football holds no surprises for me, it’s the way things are. It seems that’s the way things are going. It’s beyond my influence. Supporters are upset, they are allowed to have an opinion on it. I took in their thoughts.” And while those supporters are allowed to complain, it could be argued that they might be wiser picking a more appropriate target for their ire. Ultimately, it was the Greek businessman who fired a popular figure to hire the new boss, who was always going to face a tough task from day one. Watching from the directors’ box as he went through a series of sullen, fierce looks last witnessed during that period he found out Spurs had activated the midfielder’s release clause, the Greek tycoon has thus far mostly avoided any kind of major backlash from the crowd, a fair few of whom remain sure the he is beyond reproach.

By Friday midday, talk of Postecoglou getting sacked in the morning proved to be overstated and reports suggest his job remains secure until such time as … in reality, it changes. While the team manager can argue with some mitigation that he has had very few sessions on the practice field to instil the philosophy and tactical nuance that led to the London club losing a majority of their Premier League fixtures last term, his team’s fixture list remains forbidding and relentless. Facing the Magpies, the London club, the European opponents and Bournemouth coming soon it is hard to predict from where a first Postecoglou win will come before what could surely be the biggest dismissal-decider against the Red Devils.

FOLLOWING LIVE ONLINE

Tune in with the journalist at 7.30pm BST for WSL updates on the goalless draw.

BEST REMARK

“I’m not the kind of guy who gets involved in controversies, who names people, truthfully, I’ll keep it anonymous. However I believe there was some disrespect, along with some incivility, with no one giving you a ‘good morning’, a ‘good afternoon’” – the United player slams the Red Devils over the unfriendly setting at their stadium, where conviviality has seemingly headed south like the club’s results.

FOOTBALL DAILY LETTERS

Is there truth the coach has assured Forest fans he always wins a match in his next campaign?” – a reader.

It’s not my place to want to amplify the stereotype that the Emirates faithful are the game’s biggest moaners, but Thabo Caves (the prior edition’s comments) does make you ponder. Pointing out that rather than two games a week, the Gunners are having to play over two matches weekly (oh, a half-hour more!) over a particular 21-day span (for a roster with double coverage in all roles to boot) is not the argument-settler he might imagine. On the contrary it’s just going to have the tiniest violin ensemble preparing to play once more, while the rest of football roll their collective eyes” – another reader.

I’m puzzled whether your recent correspondents (on two or three games a week) are deliberately, mockingly repeating one of the high points of online debate (safe for work), or unconsciously proving Marx’s adage about past occurrences returning as comedy” – a fan.

To comfort you, yesterday’s letter-writer (the prior comments), I’ve always been like that [wishing rich Premier League sides to fail on the continent]. Since Forest lost the ability to negotiate Europe, Uefa football for me has caused a state of frustrated anger, interrupted now and then by Steaua Bucharest and, maybe, the Spanish club. I don’t give a hoot for the Reds’ achievements from the 80s right up to Istanbul. I feel nothing for {‘that