‘Watch your back!’ Is the manager the main culprit in the City Ground theatrics?

IT CAN’T BE HIM! BUT IT IS!

Arguably the least favored Aussie to arrive in Nottinghamshire since a sinister lodging owner from a popular soap starred in a local pantomime 20 years back, the Greek-Australian’s reign at the Nottingham stadium could hardly have begun more poorly. Although the boos and catcalls that TV star the Neighbours star was endured during Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood were mostly in fun, the toxicity of the invective hurled at Postecoglou during the team’s Europa League loss by Midtjylland on the previous night was so intense that it is difficult to imagine the manager who has been in charge for just six matches will remain in post to endure the Christmas jeers this Christmas. Multiple times the 60-year-old’s shouts of “He’s behind you!” went disregarded by his struggling players, not least when the visiting team scored their initial strikes from badly organized free-kicks and corners. Far from the happy occasion they’d hoped for, the team’s first European home game in almost 30 seasons ended in rancour with supporters telling the manager he’d be “fired by tomorrow”, before chanting for his popular, just-removed previous manager, the Portuguese tactician.

“I realize the environment is negative, I understand people’s attitude, particularly towards me, but that doesn’t concern me, this is nothing new to me,” Postecoglou growled in reply, while subjecting the floor around his feet to the typical death-stare. “I’m never shocked in this sport, it’s the way things are. This seems to be the direction. It’s beyond my influence. Supporters are upset, they are allowed to have an opinion on it. I listened to what they said.” Although those Forest fans are allowed to complain, it could be contended that they might be wiser choosing a more appropriate target for their anger. After all, it was the Greek businessman who fired a beloved manager to appoint Postecoglou, who was always going to face a tough task from day one. Watching from the executive seats as he went through a repertoire of angry, grim faces last witnessed during that time he learned Spurs had activated Morgan Gibbs-White’s release clause, the wealthy owner has thus far mostly avoided any kind of major backlash from the crowd, a good number of whom remain certain the sun shines out of his generously upholstered nether regions.

By Friday midday, rumours of the manager being fired overnight proved to be unfounded and reports suggest his job remains protected until such time as … actually, it’s not. Although the team manager can make a reasonable case that he has had little or no time on the training ground to introduce the approach and gameplan subtleties that led to Spurs dropping 22 of their 38 top-flight games last campaign, his side’s schedule remains tough and continuous. Up against Newcastle, Chelsea, the European opponents and the Cherries next up it is tough to imagine from where a maiden victory for the manager will come before what could likely be the biggest dismissal-decider against Manchester United.

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QUOTE OF THE DAY

“I avoid conflicts and disputes, who singles out individuals, truthfully, I’ll refrain from naming names. However I believe there was some disrespect, along with some incivility, without anyone offering a greeting” – the Brazilian winger takes a pop at the Red Devils over the frosty environment at the Theatre of Dreams, where friendliness has seemingly headed south like the club’s results.

FOOTBALL DAILY LETTERS

Is it true the Forest manager has promised supporters he always wins a match in his second season?” – a reader.

Far be it for me to wish to reinforce the cliché that the Emirates faithful are the sport’s most complaining followers, but Thabo Caves (the previous day’s mailbag) does make you wonder. Highlighting that rather than a pair of fixtures per week, the Gunners are having to play 2.33 games a week (wow, 30 additional minutes!) over a particular 21-day span (for a squad with two good options for every position to boot) is not the debate-ender he might imagine. Rather it’s just going to have the tiniest violin ensemble getting ready once more, while the wider sport look on with exasperation” – another reader.

I’m puzzled whether your current contributors (on several fixtures each week) are consciously, ironically recreating one of the classic instances of internet discourse (family-friendly), or inadvertently demonstrating Marx’s adage about historical events repeating themselves as farce” – Nick Wiltsher.

If it’s any solace, the previous correspondent (the prior comments), I’ve always been like that [wishing wealthy English teams to fail on the continent]. Ever since Forest fell out of European contention, continental matches for me has induced a state of seething impotent rage, punctuated only occasionally by Steaua Bucharest and, at a push, the La Liga outfit. I care not one jot for Liverpool’s exploits from the 1980s right up to the Champions League win. I am unmoved by {‘that