Not many would have thought that after leading Nottingham Forest to European football for the first time in over 30 years, Nuno Espirito Santo would be the first Premier League manager to get the sack.
Yet here we are. Nuno is gone after a high-profile falling out with owner Evangelos Marinakis and new head of global soccer Edu and Forest have wasted no time in replacing him with former Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou, 55.
Big Ange left a divisive legacy at Spurs, ending last season all the way down in 17th, but winning the Europa League. So, what can Forest expect from this appointment?
A Good Relationship with The Owner
This feels like the type of appointment that Marinakis has wanted to make for a while. The two have a previous relationship, thanks in large part to Postecoglou’s Greek heritage, although this is the first time they will work with each other.
According to the Daily Mail, Postecoglou sat down with Marinakis for a meal in July, during a ceremony in Greece where the former Celtic boss was honoured for his Europa League triumph with Tottenham.
Marinakis, who presented the award, hailed Postecoglou for being so proud of his heritage, saying: "What I want to say about Ange is that he has spoken about Greece many times, he is proud to be Greek, and in the great success he had with Tottenham by winning the Europa League, he spoke about Greece.
"(He is) a man who not only does not hide his origin but is also proud of it. What he achieved, he did with a team that has not won any titles, it has had a very difficult time in recent years.
“In this huge success that the whole world saw, he promoted Greece. We must thank him especially for this, and we wish him well, although we are sure that he will do well as he has the ability. Wherever he goes, the successes will come."
Even during his time at Spurs, he never went against the company line. Ange is very much the type of manager that will get on with the owners/chairperson. Marinakis isn’t exactly an easy man to work with, however, although neither was Daniel levy.
Ange’s Tactical Style
His time at Tottenham was defined by this side’s sometimes questionable high line. Like the teams he coaches, he’s entertaining, sometimes a little abrasive, and stubborn to a fault but ultimately likeable.
The game against Chelsea in November 2023 is the one that sticks in everyone’s mind. Down to nine men with the score at 1-1, Tottenham refused to accept a draw and stick every man behind the ball in an attempt to earn a hard-fought point.
Of course, that game ended 4-1 to Chelsea thanks to a late Nicolas Jackson hattrick. The Spurs fans gave their side a standing ovation for sticking to their principles, while Postecoglou was torn apart in the press.
Last season, in the Premier League at least, they were completely figured out. Eleven wins, five draws, and 22 defeats is a truly dismal record, no matter the size of the club. Only four sides conceded more goals, and three of them were relegated.
The big caveat is, he managed to win the Europa League with a totally different style of play. Ange, who had been so adamant he would only play ONE way, was more than happy to let the opposition control the game on the continent.
Spurs’ average possession throughout the tournament was just 50.9%, while the managed to keep six clean sheets, the joint fewest. So, perhaps Forest have appointed him as a cup specialist, and their focus will be on winning silverware rather than solidifying their place in the league.
Which Forest Players Will Benefit?
Forest’s midfield looks well suited to playing ‘Ange-ball’. Morgan Gibbs-White, Elliot Anderson, and new signing David Luiz are all great at receiving the ball under pressure and driving forward.
The forward three also look like good fits. Chris Wood acting as the big number nine, allowing for quick wingers like Callum Hudson-Odoi and Dan Ndoye to run in behind and take on their full backs is exactly what their new manager likes to see.
Heading further back, it’s a different story. Ange asks a lot of his centre-backs, with Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero at Sprus, he had rapid players that were able to make recovery runs and cover up the cracks when the attack was exposed.
Murillo should be ok, although it will take a little time for him to adapt, Nikola Milenkovic on the other hand, may not have the mobility needed. The Serbian ranks 95th for top speed recorded (30.31km/h), compared to Van de Ven who was top with (37.12 km/h).
Verdict
It’s certainly a risk, but it’s not just Mariniakis hiring one of his mates, there is some sound tactical reasons for brining Postecoglou in, he will need to adapt his style, however. He doesn’t have to shift completely, just accept that some players are suited and others aren’t.
He had some time on a Greek beach to reflect on what went wrong at Tottenham. Forest fans will be hoping they get Ange 2.0.