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NO WAY! ABSOLUTELY YES!

Arguably the least favored Aussie to make an appearance in Nottinghamshire since a notorious innkeeper from a popular soap took part in a local pantomime 20 years back, the Greek-Australian’s tenure at the City Ground could begun in the worst possible way. While the boos and catcalls that actor the Neighbours star was subjected to during Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood were generally lighthearted, the hostility of the criticism directed at the Forest manager during the team’s European setback by the Danish side on the previous night was so overwhelming that it is difficult to imagine the man who has been in charge for just six matches will still be around to endure the Christmas jeers this December. On more than one occasion the experienced coach’s shouts of “He’s behind you!” went ignored by his hapless players, particularly when the opposition scored their opening pair from poorly handled free-kicks and corners. A long way from the joyous atmosphere they’d hoped for, the team’s first European home game in nearly three decades ended in bitterness with supporters telling the boss he’d be “fired by tomorrow”, before serenading his favored, newly sacked predecessor, the Portuguese tactician.

“I get the mood around the place isn’t going to be great, I know how fans feel, especially about me, but I don’t fret over it, I’ve been here before,” Postecoglou growled in reply, while directing the area at his feet to the typical death-stare. “Football holds no surprises for me, it’s the way things are. It seems that’s the way things are going. It’s beyond my influence. Supporters are upset, they have every right to their view. I heard their opinion.” Although those Forest fans are free to express anger, it could be suggested that they might be better advised picking a better aim for their ire. After all, it was Evangelos Marinakis who sacked a popular figure to bring in the new boss, who was always going to start under pressure. Watching from the directors’ box as he went through a range of surly, dark scowls last witnessed during that time he learned Tottenham had activated the midfielder’s transfer clause, the shipping magnate has so far escaped any kind of major backlash from supporters, a fair few of whom remain convinced the sun shines out of his generously upholstered nether regions.

When Friday lunchtime arrived, speculation of Postecoglou getting sacked in the morning proved to be greatly exaggerated and reports suggest his job remains safe until such time as … in reality, it changes. Although the club boss can argue with some mitigation that he has had minimal opportunity on the training ground to instil the style and strategic detail that led to the London club dropping a majority of their Premier League fixtures last campaign, his club’s upcoming matches remains tough and continuous. With the Magpies, the London club, the European opponents and the South-Coast team coming soon it is difficult to see from where a first Postecoglou win will come before what could surely be the mother of all El Sackicos against the Old Trafford side.

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TOP STATEMENT

“I’m not the kind of guy who gets involved in controversies, who names people, in fact, I won’t mention anyone’s name here. Yet I believe there was some disrespect, plus some impoliteness, and not a single hello or hi” – the United player criticizes Manchester United over the unfriendly setting at Old Trafford, where conviviality has seemingly headed south like the side’s performance.

FOOTBALL DAILY LETTERS

Is it true the coach has promised supporters he guarantees victory in his next campaign?” – Pete Negri.

I wouldn’t normally to wish to reinforce the trope that the Emirates faithful are the sport’s most complaining followers, but Thabo Caves (the previous day’s mailbag) does make you ponder. Noting that rather than a couple of matches weekly, the Gunners are having to play 2.33 games a week (oh, a half-hour more!) over a specific three-week period (for a squad with double coverage in all roles to as well) is not the debate-ender he might think. Rather it’s just going to have the smallest fiddle players tuning up their instruments once more, while the rest of football sigh in unison” – Andrew Parker.

I’m unsure whether your current contributors (on two or three games a week) are consciously, ironically recreating one of the high points of internet discourse (SFW), or accidentally confirming Marx’s adage about historical events repeating themselves as farce” – a fan.

For what it’s worth, the previous correspondent (the prior comments), I’m the same [hoping rich Premier League sides to lose in Europe]. Since Forest lost the ability to negotiate Europe, Uefa football for me has induced a state of helpless fury, broken up only sometimes by Steaua Bucharest and, if pressed, the La Liga outfit. I couldn’t care less for the Merseyside club’s successes from the eighties right up to the Champions League win. I feel nothing for {‘that