Nottingham | What's going wrong at Forest?

Nottingham Forest 2 - 3 Midtjylland

Ange Postecoglou had to endure a furious supporter backlash as his winless start as Nottingham Forest head coach carried on with this damaging defeat to Midtjylland.

Author | Frank L

Stadium | The City Ground

Stephen: Forest looked and played like a team without leadership, and without Elliot Anderson, Ibrahim Sangare and Neco Williams the result would have been much worse. Too many players appear unsure of their roles, and as for the supposed “snappy” football, I am still waiting to see it. The revolving door keeps spinning, and I wonder who the next casualty will be.

Jonathan: I thought we put out the strongest side available. We did not make wholesale changes, but we still lost. Elimination from Europe and the threat of relegation from the Premier League is becoming a stark reality.

Marcus: Ange Postecoglou needs to leave as soon as possible. He has imposed a completely different “system” on the players, and it is not working. I was taken aback to see him standing on the touchline with his hands in his pockets, rarely engaging with the players. Only one second-half substitution on 75 minutes was far too little, far too late. The reality is that he is not the right fit for this team and he has to go before a poor start spirals into a season defined by relegation fears.

Dave: Why is anyone surprised by this defeat? It feels like Dr Death has taken over, and nothing is ever his fault. Get used to it.

Andy: Last season, we benefited from a consistent formation and approach and a settled line-up. There is no doubt the squad is stronger this season, but the sense of stability has completely vanished. We do not seem to know our best XI, how we want to play, and the owner’s ruthless approach creates further instability from the top. This was meant to be a special season, but now we look set to struggle, and another managerial change might only make things worse.

Joshua: Last season the defence was solid, the players knew the system, and even if our tactics were predictable, most opponents could not stop us. This season it feels like everything is unravelling. The players are committed and working hard, but there seems to be no structure or tactical direction. The only philosophy that matters in football is winning matches, and we are not doing that. Change needs to come sooner rather than later.

Niall: I am usually in favour of giving a new manager time, but this feels different. The players do not appear to know their roles, and I cannot see how we can improve, especially defensively. Most fans knew Postecoglou was never the right appointment, but our ownership does not listen. Since ownership will not change, the manager has to.

Mark: I want Ange to succeed, but if he cannot get the players to put his methods into practice, time will run out quickly. It is painful to watch right now, though a single good result could turn things around. I hope that comes at Newcastle on Sunday, though that is probably wishful thinking. We shall see.