Ange Postecoglou has only been in charge for six matches at Nottingham Forest, but the supporters are already done with the manager after the defeat against FC Midtjylland in the Europa League, the tournament he won last season with Tottenham Hotspur.
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"You’re getting sacked in the morning," sang the Nottingham Forest supporters on Thursday night, their voices echoing through the City Ground after the painful 3-2 defeat to FC Midtjylland in the Europa League.
For many fans, the loss was the tipping point in their frustration with new manager Ange Postecoglou, who only took charge of the club on September 9 but is already facing intense scrutiny. The Australian coach admitted he was fully aware of the chants and acknowledged the dissatisfaction in the stands. "The fans are disappointed," he said afterwards. "They are entitled to an opinion, and I heard it. Nothing surprises me in football anymore. That’s the world we live in. Apparently, that’s how it goes and I have no control over it."
The result against Midtjylland was particularly stinging for the Forest faithful, not only because it marked another defeat in a winless run under Postecoglou, but also because the Europa League had once seemed like a symbol of progress for the club. Forest, who had worked hard in recent years to reestablish themselves in the Premier League, were now competing in Europe for the first time in almost three decades. Instead of being a celebration, however, their continental campaign has turned into another source of disappointment.
For now, Postecoglou remains in charge, but the numbers are damning. Since his arrival, Forest have played six matches across three competitions the Premier League, Europa League, and Carabao Cup and have not managed to win a single one. Worse still, they have conceded thirteen goals, displaying defensive frailties that have left them as statistically the worst-performing team in the Premier League during that period. To make matters even more humiliating, Postecoglou has entered the club’s history books for the wrong reasons: he is the first Nottingham Forest manager in one hundred years to go winless in his opening six matches. The last to suffer a similar fate was John Baynes in 1925, almost an entire century ago.
Postecoglou, however, has made it clear that he does not intend to panic or abandon his philosophy. "My responsibility is to make sure we get some wins for this club and that we make progress," he insisted. "I would prefer people to be optimistic about what I’m doing. I can only change that by winning matches. I truly believe in the process we are working on, and I don’t think we are far from becoming the team that can turn around the situation we are in and start getting results."
The big question, though, is whether he will be given enough time to make his vision work. Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis is not known for patience when results are poor. Earlier this season, he dismissed Nuno Espirito Santo after just three games, despite the Portuguese coach having guided Forest to Europe for the first time in nearly thirty years an achievement that many fans thought would secure his legacy at the club. Nuno has since landed on his feet with a new role at West Ham United, while Forest are once again in the middle of a managerial storm.
Marinakis appointed Postecoglou with the hope of taking the club to the next level. The Greek owner has invested heavily in recent years, building a squad capable of competing not just for survival in the Premier League, but eventually for trophies. With Postecoglou’s reputation as a modern, attacking-minded coach who had lifted Tottenham Hotspur to Europa League glory in May ending Spurs’ seventeen-year trophy drought there was genuine belief that Forest could ride the wave of his momentum. Yet the reality so far has been the opposite. While Postecoglou brought silverware to Tottenham, he was also sacked after finishing seventeenth in the Premier League in his second season, a warning sign that his methods, while ambitious, can sometimes collapse under the pressure of England’s top flight.
For Postecoglou, the challenge now is not just tactical but psychological. He must win back the faith of supporters who are growing restless with each defeat. The Europa League loss to Midtjylland highlighted Forest’s defensive vulnerability and lack of resilience, two issues that must be addressed quickly. At the same time, the Premier League campaign cannot be ignored with points desperately needed to avoid slipping further into the relegation battle.
On Sunday, Forest face Newcastle United in what could prove to be a decisive fixture for Postecoglou’s short-term future. Newcastle, strong at home and ambitious under Eddie Howe, will provide a stern test for a Forest side low on confidence. A defeat would only intensify the pressure, while even a hard-fought draw might buy Postecoglou more time to stabilize the team.
The atmosphere around the club remains tense. For the fans, patience is running thin; for the owner, the temptation to make another change is ever-present; and for Postecoglou, every game now feels like a fight not only for points but for his very survival in the role. His track record shows that he can build successful teams and win major trophies, but the question is whether Nottingham Forest a club steeped in history but also scarred by years of instability can afford to wait long enough for his project to bear fruit.
For now, the chants of "You’re getting sacked in the morning" serve as a stark reminder of the unforgiving nature of football management. Postecoglou’s journey with Nottingham Forest has begun in crisis, and whether it becomes a story of redemption or another swift dismissal will likely be decided in the coming weeks.
Updated: 11:50, 3 Oct 2025
