05 Oct 2025 18:55:21
I haven't seen today's game or the defeat to the Danish Pork Butchers 11 as I'm on my hols in Spain and couldn't find the games on TV or in a bar.
In general terms Postecoglou is, imo, a poor fit and appointed at the wrong time.
Firstly, our success in getting into Europe is based on a solid defence and quick counter attacking football last season ( in the fine tradition of Cloughies teams). I don't see the point of appointing an attacking coach who doesn't play to our strengths and particularly with no pre season and no time to coach the team ( and the 13 new transfer window arrivals ) in the new methods with the season well under way.
Ok I have some sympathy with Ange because he's been thrown in at the deep end and has had bad luck with injuries to key players like Aina and Murillo. As Napoleon said, it's better to have a lucky General than a good one.
I do agree that we needed to expand the squad to cope with the extra Europa games with the associated air miles and loss of recovery time between games. The jury is out on recruitment. For example Zinchenko is the slowest full back I think I've ever seen at the WFCG, exposed against Sunderland. Ndoye has good skills but lacks Elangas blistering pace to get away from his marker, having beaten him at close quarters. Wood looks a shadow of his former self in Anges new system. Jesus looks like he has potential.
A word of warning. The Coates betting billionaires who own Stoke City got rid of Tony Pulis because of his dire but successful ultra defensive tactics which involved getting the ball off the pitch as often as possible and breaking up the play based around a great goalkeeper Begovic ( like us) two massive and ruthless centre backs, Huth and Shawcross ( ditto) and a big old fashioned centre forward Kenwyn Jones ( ditto Wood). He brought in more attacking coachs and look where they are now.
I'm not saying we are as dire as Stoke were. They were exceptionally anti football ( see Jonathon Wilson's excellent book " The Inverted Pyramid " for their exceptional negativity analysed statistically)
Ange is in the same position as Nuno when he first arrived and Cooper before him in terms of preparation for his new era and, like them, it's going to be a struggle.
05 Oct 2025 19:35:47
Nice to see you posting again Stokey. Miss your Monday reviews!
05 Oct 2025 19:47:55
Good to see you posting stokey.
05 Oct 2025 19:53:54
Welcome back Stokey mate.
05 Oct 2025 19:59:30
It's good to have you back on here my friend. I've missed your anti-brevity posts! As such, I've just requested another appointment at Plymouth Eye Hospital.
As we all know too well, being a Forest fan has always been a roller-coaster ride. However, my biggest worry at the moment is how quickly the passion and belief from last mid-season has evaporated.
How we all regain that passion and belief is ultimately down to Big M - and his personal struggle between reality vs his own ego.
06 Oct 2025 08:56:10
I guess my post is just a long winded way of saying “be careful what you wish for “ mate.
Anyway, off to the pool with my light holiday reading “Judgement at Tokyo” by Gary J. Bass, a magisterial account of the Japanese post WW2 war crimes trials…. ???.