Ange Postecoglou is under pressure at Nottingham Forest after six winless games, with his future possibly decided against Newcastle.
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Ange Postecoglou already finds himself under enormous pressure at Nottingham Forest, with The Times reporting that the Australian coach could be facing the sack after just a handful of games in charge.
The sixty-year-old manager was only appointed on September 9, following the surprise departure of Nuno Espírito Santo, yet six matches into his tenure he is still searching for his first victory. With results failing to improve and frustration building among the supporters, Forest’s upcoming away clash against Newcastle United on Sunday is being framed as a make-or-break encounter for Postecoglou’s future at the club.
Forest’s outspoken and ambitious Greek owner, Angelos Marinakis, made the bold decision in September to part ways with Nuno, the man who had guided the club into European football for the first time in decades. The timing of that move shocked many observers, given Nuno’s success in stabilising Forest and achieving continental qualification. Yet Marinakis, known for his decisive and at times ruthless leadership style, immediately turned to Postecoglou. The Australian was unveiled as Nuno’s successor that very same day, in a move that seemed to underline the owner’s impatience and determination to push the club forward.
For Postecoglou, this opportunity represented both a challenge and a fresh start. His tenure at Tottenham Hotspur ended in mixed fashion last summer, as he was surprisingly dismissed despite winning the Europa League in his second season – a feat that many believed had cemented his reputation as a manager capable of delivering on the European stage. That context only heightened expectations when he was appointed at the City Ground. However, the reality of his early weeks in charge has been nothing short of a nightmare.
His debut on the Forest bench could hardly have been more discouraging, as his side slumped to a 3-0 defeat away to Arsenal in the Premier League. A few days later came another setback, with Forest being knocked out of the EFL Cup in the third round by Championship club Swansea City in a thrilling but painful 3-2 defeat. Those losses were followed by two matches that at least showed some resilience: a 1-1 draw against Burnley in the league and a spirited 2-2 result against Real Betis in the Europa League, where Forest looked more competitive. Yet momentum stalled again last weekend when the team was beaten 1-0 at home by Sunderland, a result that intensified the sense of crisis.
On Thursday night, matters worsened with another damaging result in Europe. Hosting Danish side FC Midtjylland in the second round of the Europa League group stage, Forest fell to a 3-2 defeat, undone in part by a goal from former FC Groningen defender Mads Bech Sørensen. That loss, which came in front of a restless City Ground crowd, highlighted both the defensive frailties and lack of cutting edge that have plagued Postecoglou’s team since he arrived.
The poor start has left Forest in a precarious position both domestically and in Europe. In the Premier League, the team risks slipping into the lower reaches of the table, while in the Europa League their hopes of progressing to the knockout rounds are already under threat. The lack of victories has also eroded confidence within the squad, and murmurs of discontent among the players have reportedly begun to surface.
According to The Times, the Forest hierarchy is already evaluating Postecoglou’s position, even though he has been in the job for less than a month. The paper claims that while he is expected to remain in charge for the Newcastle match, a poor performance or another negative result could prove the final straw, with the upcoming international break viewed as a natural opportunity for the club to act. The fact that Postecoglou is being judged so harshly, so quickly, underlines the impatience of Marinakis and the high expectations surrounding the club this season.
The supporters, too, appear divided. Some sections of the fanbase have already lost patience, venting their anger during the Europa League defeat to Midtjylland with chants of “You’re getting sacked in the morning.” Such open hostility at the City Ground illustrates the pressure cooker environment in which Postecoglou now finds himself. Others, however, argue that the manager needs more time to impose his style and rebuild confidence, pointing to the challenges of inheriting a squad in transition and a fixture list that immediately pitted Forest against difficult opponents.
If Postecoglou is indeed dismissed in the coming weeks, it would raise fresh questions about Forest’s long-term planning and the decision-making of their ownership. The club has made significant investments in recent transfer windows, yet stability in the dugout has been elusive. The Australian’s potential departure so soon after his arrival would represent yet another chapter in the turbulent recent history of Nottingham Forest.
For now, all eyes turn to St James’ Park on Sunday, where Forest will take on Newcastle in a match that could effectively decide Postecoglou’s fate. A victory might buy him time and ease the pressure, while a heavy defeat could all but seal his departure. Either way, the next ninety minutes are set to be pivotal for both the manager and the direction of Nottingham Forest’s season.
