Because everybody loves a premature opinion.
Postecoglou has a lot of work ahead. I think we already knew this, but this performance and the wider context at his new club render this a particularly fraught assignment.
There’s the volatility of owner Marinakis. Postecoglou meant it as a joke when he said this week he may need to win the Europa League for a second straight season to satisfy him, but he legit might have to. That’s partly because of the previous couple of seasons.
As mentioned, his predecessor Nuno took the team from 17th to seventh in a season. Nuno’s predecessor Steve Cooper left Forest back to the top flight for the first time in more than two decades. This club is on the way up, and Marinakis clearly wants that continue. You sense that is why he has made such a drastic change in manager (and football philosophy).
Postecoglou is used to fixing broken clubs and restoring previous glories. This is new territory for him. Winning over the fans will be key, and that’s before addressing on-pitch issues.
“I’ve got to convince every person in the building about what we’re trying to do on the back of them doing something a certain way and having success that way,” Postecoglou said this week.
“It is fair to say it’s not going to happen overnight, it’s a process that will take a little bit of time, but never at the expense of competitiveness.
“None of my beliefs are going to get in the way of us making sure the team is prepared to win on a Saturday.”
Arsenal 2-0 Nottingham Forest after 85 minutes
