Three talking points as Ange Postecoglou’s pragmatic Nottingham Forest fell to defeat once again, losing 2-0 to Newcastle United despite a resilient effort and a much-changed setup and mentality. George Edwards was at the match
In replacing Nuno Espírito Santo with Ange Postecoglou, the hierarchy at Nottingham Forest made the decision that the Reds needed to progress with their football, be more dominant with the ball and assert themselves in a different way.
But it seems that was a step the club just wasn’t ready for.
In defeat at Newcastle United, Forest looked the most comfortable they have done for a 90-minute display under Postecoglou. It wasn’t the win or even point that would stop the rot, but it was a needed display of grit and experience, undone by two second-half mistakes leading to Bruno Guimaraes and Nick Woltemade’s match-winning goals.
Postecoglou pragmatic under pressure
Ahead of the visit to St James’ Park, optimism in the Forest ranks was at a colossal low, from the supporters at least. Nobody could see anything other than a thumping Newcastle victory, clear that something needed to change in order to move forward and generate belief.
What wasn’t expected was for Postecoglou to ditch his front-foot football so early on into his tenure, maybe a sign that he really is feeling the pressure or a realisation that if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
In my lifetime, Forest have always been a counterattacking team; defensive solidity the foundation and the formula of our football. Karanka, Lamouchi and Cooper all before Nuno played with that mindset.
From the start against Newcastle, the players looked more comfortable; Ange focusing on nullifying the opposition in the air and aiming to pounce on Newcastle’s defensive weaknesses out wide in a bid to secure the points.
Postecoglou made four chances from the humiliating defeat to Midtjylland, sticking with the back five he chose but with a distinct focus on being hard to break down.
The extra height helped, with Nikola Milenkovic dominant once again, limiting Woltermade to scraps from open play and commanding his teammates like he was the one with the captain’s armband. Either side of him, Jair Cunha’s Premier League debut went as well as you could ask for, and despite the odd and expected jitter, Morato continues to look more comfortable as his period in the team continues.
But at the elite level, one bad decision or piece of bad luck can spoil all the progress, Forest’s resilient defensive efforts undone by moments Elliot Anderson and Morgan Gibbs-White would love to have back.
The question going forward is as to whether this setup and mentality is to stay or is a one-off.
Forest certainly suit playing on the break and have players who relish the art of defending, so it could be a short-term fix to ease the pressure and rebuild confidence. But ultimately, Forest wouldn’t have hired Ange to replace a defensive coach (and a very good one at that) to abandon his philosophy after seven games.
Ryan Yates selected again
When times get tough, every Forest manager turns to Ryan Yates.
Skipper Yates has had a mixed start to the season, off the pace in his only start against Swansea but a consistent lively spark off the bench. On his first league start this season he hit the ground running, the usual solid performance without being breathtaking on the eye but doing the job Forest needed him to do.
He’s a character that can never be written off, and there’s a distinct reason why he always works his way back into the side regardless of competition — his contagious energy.
It’s no surprise that we saw bodies on the line and a hungry desire in a way we haven’t for a long time — Yates’ mannerisms all over Forest’s defensive display.
The Reds have characters like Morgan Gibbs-White and Nikola Milenkovic who lead and dominate with their football, perhaps more than Forest’s number 22. But there’s absolutely no doubting his position as captain, a key figure that without, Forest would struggle to find their way.
What next?
Post-match Postecoglou revealed that he expects to hold talks with owner Evangelos Marinakis following his winless start, less than a month from taking the reins.
The last time we heard this it never happened; Nuno sacked without the scheduled ‘talks’ reported to have been arranged between the pair to resolve the Portuguese’s public criticisms of the Greek.
It’s highly unlikely that Marinakis will want to admit he’s made a mistake and sack Postecoglou this early, but where do Forest go from here?
It’s hard to picture them winning a game at present. Their next run of games involves fixtures with Chelsea, Bournemouth and Manchester United, plus two Europa League ties against Porto and Sturm Graz, before Leeds visit the City Ground in early November.
While the table hasn’t taken full shape yet, Forest are just a point above the relegation zone with five points from seven games, a reality that will be deemed unacceptable should Forest not propel up the table in the near future.
They can’t do what Ange did at Tottenham and put all their eggs in the Europa League basket. For starters, they’re already playing catch-up, and losing sight of the Premier League could prove fatal. The relegation battle already looks far more competitive than it has over the past two years, and Forest cannot afford to regress long-term in the manner that they have over the past month.
The criteria for success will have to be reevaluated, but above all, Forest need their spark and harmony back.
A return to Europe and an overwhelmingly positive transfer window should have led to the most exciting and investing season since the 1990s; instead, the club feels flat and floating in the wrong direction. Togetherness right through the core of the club is what has been testament to their recent success; realigning that spirit must be the primary focus as Ange looks to regain his reputation and Forest their identity.
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