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Replacing a club icon was always going to be a challenging assignment, but the previous manager succeeded to pull off a smart strategy after Steve Cooper’s exit: securing victories in his initial pair of matches. Much is forgotten about the first six months of his tenure, when the squad survived just one place above the relegation zone and went through a stretch of taking victory in only once in 10 Premier League games.

Nuno had accomplished the vital job of boosting morale and winning over the supporters by defeating an opponent away and creating excitement by overcoming Manchester United at their own ground, and no one was demanding aesthetic football. The City Ground was rocking in late December 2023, and local supporters did not mind that they witnessed only another two wins there for the rest of the season.

The club supporters call for the manager axe after 23 days following continental loss.

Ange Postecoglou is yet to taste a win, becoming the first Forest head coach in a century to fail to win any of their first six games. There was a toxic mood at the stadium on Thursday night as they succumbed to the second-best team in Denmark. When supporters are calling for your dismissal after three weeks, it is reasonable to say the situation are not progressing smoothly. On the next day there were no intentions to fire Postecoglou but a loss at Newcastle on the weekend could end his position.

All those at the organization understood there would be a phase of change because the Australian’s tactical approach is virtually a polar opposite to the one Nuno carefully developed there. The plan was developing under the former coach but not at the pace Postecoglou is trying to implement.

Beginning with a series of road matches was consistently going to be a tough challenge for Postecoglou. Kicking off at a top side meant building positive energy from the outset was unlikely but losing at Swansea in the domestic cup and drawing at Burnley put Postecoglou on the back foot. The match at Real Betis appeared to be a positive shift because the performance was impressive and in line with anticipations regarding the manager’s style. The processes were sound and, if not for a late Antony goal, takeoff would have begun.

However Forest are still grounded. If the coach could have been forgiven for the performances on the road, falling at home to a visiting team and Midtjylland was not part of the plan. There was a degree of mitigation in the first home loss: a soft free-kick decision that resulted in the decisive goal and appalling finishing from Forest meant the points went back to the north-east. Forest had almost two-thirds of possession and 22 shots but beating an rival on expected goals is irrelevant.

The manager and a key player will aim to turn the team’s results around at Newcastle on Sunday.

There was a belief that once the strikers found form, everything would be resolved but poor conversion is only a single of the problems confronting the boss. The solid backline constructed by Nuno has been taken apart, leaving Postecoglou awaiting a shutout. Stopping set pieces has been an issue, two of the opponent’s goals coming from them, and the remaining goal Forest let in was from a fast break, the type that were a regular occurrence during Postecoglou’s time at his former club.

The coach was eager to get back to management promptly after being dismissed by Tottenham, particularly with a European honor around his neck. He aimed to prove people wrong and Forest presented that chance, with the added bonus of being in the tournament he had won in the spring. The Hellenic link with Forest’s proprietor, the club’s chief, helped make the appointment smooth and Postecoglou, in spite of his critics, possesses the qualifications required – but pragmatism was not to be involved.

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The former manager was not sacked for sporting causes but for picking a dispute with Marinakis that he was not going to prevail in. Finishing seventh and taking Forest into Europe made him incredibly popular. Despite his gripes, a squad able of ending in the top half was put together and a lot of funds was spent. After excessive short-termism at Forest, they had a defined future plan and strategy, which featured a team that fit Nuno. Now it feels as if a stepdad has moved into the home and the children are displeased.

Trips to Newcastle and another rival frame the visit of a top team in the next three Premier League games, implying the situation is only going to get more difficult. Marinakis made the appointment with his heart and is desperately hoping to avoid another sacking because removing the manager would be an admission that he made two dreadful decisions in dismissing Nuno and selecting the replacement. Football is one big popularity contest and Nuno began winning his at the away ground. Postecoglou needs to do the same or he faces the possibility of losing his for good.