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NO WAY! ABSOLUTELY YES!

Arguably the most unpopular down-under figure to show up in Nottinghamshire since a notorious innkeeper from a long-running series took part in a theatrical show two decades ago, Forest’s new boss’s reign at the Nottingham stadium could begun in the worst possible way. Although the jeers and taunts that TV star the soap veteran was subjected to during Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood were generally lighthearted, the toxicity of the invective hurled at the Australian coach during Nottingham Forest’s Bigger Vase defeat by the Danish side on Thursday was so intense that it is tough to see the manager who has been in charge for just six matches will keep his job to listen to the Christmas jeers this Christmas. On more than one occasion the 60-year-old’s shouts of “There’s someone there!” went ignored by his unfortunate players, not least when the Danish side scored their first two goals from poorly handled free-kicks and corners. Nowhere near the celebratory mood they’d hoped for, Nottingham Forest’s first European home game in 29 years ended in rancour with the crowd telling the boss he’d be “fired by tomorrow”, before praising his well-liked, newly sacked predecessor, Nuno Espírito Santo.

“I get the mood around the place isn’t going to be great, I grasp the public’s opinion, chiefly directed at me, but I never worry about that, I’ve been here before,” Postecoglou growled in reply, while aiming the floor around his feet to the usual fierce look. “Nothing surprises me in football, it’s the climate we’re in. It seems that’s the way things are going. I have no power over it. The fans are disappointed, they can think what they like. I took in their thoughts.” Although those followers are allowed to complain, it could be argued that they might be more sensible choosing a more appropriate target for their anger. After all, it was the club owner who sacked a beloved manager to hire the new boss, who was always going to start under pressure. Observing from the directors’ box as he went through a range of surly, dark scowls last witnessed during that time he learned the North London club had triggered Morgan Gibbs-White’s transfer clause, the wealthy owner has so far escaped any kind of serious criticism from fans, a good number of whom remain sure the he is beyond reproach.

As the clock ticked past noon on Friday, talk of the manager being fired overnight proved to be overstated and reports suggest his job remains protected until such time as … well, it isn’t. While the club boss can make a reasonable case that he has had minimal opportunity on the practice field to implement the style and strategic detail that led to Spurs dropping 22 of their 38 top-flight games last season, his club’s upcoming matches remains forbidding and relentless. Facing the Magpies, the Blues, the European opponents and Bournemouth on the horizon it is difficult to see from where a first Postecoglou win will come before what could likely be the ultimate sack-race clash against Manchester United.

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QUOTE OF THE DAY

“I’m not the kind of guy who gets involved in controversies, who points fingers, actually, I’ll refrain from naming names. However I believe there was some disrespect, even a bit of rudeness too, and not a single hello or hi” – the United player criticizes Manchester United over the unfriendly setting at the Theatre of Dreams, where warmth has apparently declined like the side’s performance.

FAN MAILBAG

Is there truth the coach has promised Forest fans he guarantees victory in his following term?” – Pete Negri.

It’s not my place to wish to reinforce the trope that Arsenal supporters are football’s whiniest fans, but a correspondent (yesterday’s Football Daily letters) does make you think. Pointing out that rather than a pair of fixtures per week, the North London side are having to play 2.33 games a week (wow, 30 additional minutes!) over a specific three-week period (for a squad with strong depth in each place to additionally) is not the discussion-closer he might imagine. Instead it’s just going to have the orchestra of the world’s smallest violins tuning up their instruments once more, while the wider sport roll their collective eyes” – a different supporter.

I’m unsure whether your recent correspondents (on two or three games a week) are intentionally, sarcastically mimicking one of the memorable moments of internet discourse (family-friendly), or accidentally confirming the philosopher’s saying about past occurrences returning as comedy” – a fan.

If it’s any solace, yesterday’s letter-writer (the prior comments), I’ve long felt that way [wanting affluent UK clubs to fail on the continent]. Ever since Forest fell out of European contention, Uefa football for me has induced a state of frustrated anger, broken up only sometimes by the Eastern European team and, maybe, the La Liga outfit. I couldn’t care less for Liverpool’s exploits from the 1980s right up to the Champions League win. I’m indifferent to {‘that