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Arguably the most unpopular Australian to pitch up in Nottinghamshire since villainous hotelier Paul Robinson from Neighbours starred in a Mansfield panto 20 years ago, Ange Postecoglou’s reign at the City Ground could scarcely have got off to a more inauspicious start. While the boos and catcalls that actor Stefan Dennis was subjected to during Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood were largely good-natured, such was the toxicity of the invective aimed at Postecoglou during Nottingham Forest’s Bigger Vase defeat by Midtjylland on Thursday, that it is difficult to imagine the man who has been in charge for just six matches will still be around to hear the festive cat-calls this Christmas. On more than one occasion the 60-year-old’s shouts of “He’s behind you!” went ignored by his hapless players, not least when the Danish side scored their first two goals from atrociously defended set-pieces. Far from the celebratory mood they’d hoped for, Forest’s first European home game in 29 years ended in rancour with home fans telling Postecoglou he’d be “sacked in the morning”, before serenading his popular, recently dismissed predecessor, Nuno Espírito Santo.
Is it true Ange Postecoglou has promised Forest fans he always wins a match in his second season?” – Pete Negri.
Far be it for me to want to amplify the trope that Arsenal supporters are football’s whiniest fans, but Thabo Caves (yesterday’s Football Daily letters) does make you wonder. Pointing out that rather than two games a week, Arsenal are having to play 2.33 games a week (ooh an extra 30 minutes!) over a specific three-week period (for a squad with two good options for every position to boot) is not the debate-ender he might imagine. Rather it’s just going to have the orchestra of the world’s smallest violins tuning up their instruments once more, while the rest of football rolls their collective eyes” – Andrew Parker.
I can’t work out whether your recent correspondents (on two or three games a week) are consciously, ironically recreating one of the high points of internet discourse (SFW), or unconsciously proving Marx’s adage about historical events repeating themselves as farce” – Nick Wiltsher.
If it’s any solace, Bob Cushion (yesterday’s letters), I’ve always been like that [wanting wealthy English teams to lose in Europe]. Since Forest lost the ability to negotiate Europe, Uefa football for me has induced a state of seething impotent rage, punctuated only occasionally by Steaua Bucharest and, at a push, Zaragoza. I care not one jot for Liverpool’s exploits from the 80s right up to Istanbul. I am unmoved by ‘that night in Barcelona’, always support anyone who plays Chelsea, because, well, Chelsea have never given me many reasons not to hate them, and I can’t be bothered to tot up how many pots Citeh win while we sort out this finances thing. Yes, I’ll get behind the Palaces of this world and could always back Leeds, but no-one whose name contains the word ‘Dynamo’ are ever going to win anything. Ever again. So you might as well turn it off and go to an actual match. I also always hope Brighton get rinsed, but I’m working through that with a therapist” – Jon Millard.
I struggled for a while to understand the closing caption reference (yesterday’s last line – full email edition) … and then it came to me, in an Aha! moment” – Declan Houton.
This is an extract from our daily football email … Football Daily. To get the full version, just visit this page and follow the instructions.
Continue reading…Sign up now! Sign up now! Sign up now? Sign up now!Arguably the most unpopular Australian to pitch up in Nottinghamshire since villainous hotelier Paul Robinson from Neighbours starred in a Mansfield panto 20 years ago, Ange Postecoglou’s reign at the City Ground could scarcely have got off to a more inauspicious start. While the boos and catcalls that actor Stefan Dennis was subjected to during Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood were largely good-natured, such was the toxicity of the invective aimed at Postecoglou during Nottingham Forest’s Bigger Vase defeat by Midtjylland on Thursday, that it is difficult to imagine the man who has been in charge for just six matches will still be around to hear the festive cat-calls this Christmas. On more than one occasion the 60-year-old’s shouts of “He’s behind you!” went ignored by his hapless players, not least when the Danish side scored their first two goals from atrociously defended set-pieces. Far from the celebratory mood they’d hoped for, Forest’s first European home game in 29 years ended in rancour with home fans telling Postecoglou he’d be “sacked in the morning”, before serenading his popular, recently dismissed predecessor, Nuno Espírito Santo.Is it true Ange Postecoglou has promised Forest fans he always wins a match in his second season?” – Pete Negri.Far be it for me to want to amplify the trope that Arsenal supporters are football’s whiniest fans, but Thabo Caves (yesterday’s Football Daily letters) does make you wonder. Pointing out that rather than two games a week, Arsenal are having to play 2.33 games a week (ooh an extra 30 minutes!) over a specific three-week period (for a squad with two good options for every position to boot) is not the debate-ender he might imagine. Rather it’s just going to have the orchestra of the world’s smallest violins tuning up their instruments once more, while the rest of football rolls their collective eyes” – Andrew Parker.I can’t work out whether your recent correspondents (on two or three games a week) are consciously, ironically recreating one of the high points of internet discourse (SFW), or unconsciously proving Marx’s adage about historical events repeating themselves as farce” – Nick Wiltsher.If it’s any solace, Bob Cushion (yesterday’s letters), I’ve always been like that [wanting wealthy English teams to lose in Europe]. Since Forest lost the ability to negotiate Europe, Uefa football for me has induced a state of seething impotent rage, punctuated only occasionally by Steaua Bucharest and, at a push, Zaragoza. I care not one jot for Liverpool’s exploits from the 80s right up to Istanbul. I am unmoved by ‘that night in Barcelona’, always support anyone who plays Chelsea, because, well, Chelsea have never given me many reasons not to hate them, and I can’t be bothered to tot up how many pots Citeh win while we sort out this finances thing. Yes, I’ll get behind the Palaces of this world and could always back Leeds, but no-one whose name contains the word ‘Dynamo’ are ever going to win anything. Ever again. So you might as well turn it off and go to an actual match. I also always hope Brighton get rinsed, but I’m working through that with a therapist” – Jon Millard.I struggled for a while to understand the closing caption reference (yesterday’s last line – full email edition) … and then it came to me, in an Aha! moment” – Declan Houton.This is an extract from our daily football email … Football Daily. To get the full version, just visit this page and follow the instructions. Continue reading…
