Nottingham Forest face major issue with Ange Postecoglou that Nuno Espirito Santo excelled at
Nottingham Forest’s appointment of Ange Postecoglou is set to come with a major issue which will concern the Tricky Trees support.
Nuno Espirito Santo departed Nottingham Forest after falling out with owner Evangelos Marinakis despite a seventh placed finish last season and qualification for European football.
Nottingham Forest moved swiftly to appoint Ange Postecoglou, after the Australian was sacked by Tottenham in May, even though he won the club their first major trophy in 17 years.
Santo’s last game in charge of Nottingham Forest was a 3-0 defeat to West Ham, leaving the club 10th in the table on Postecoglou’s arrival.
Nottingham Forest could struggle defensively under Ange Postecoglou
Postecoglou taking charge at the City Ground will require a drastic shift in how Nottingham Forest play.
In his career, Postecoglou is known for a high line and fast-paced attacking football, which is the opposite of Nuno’s defensive-based approach.
Spurs had an xG conceded of 64.4 during the 2024/25 Premier League campaign, with only the three club’s relegated having a worse record.
Only four clubs conceded more goals than Postecoglou’s Spurs last season, including relegated trio Ipswich, Leicester and 16th-placed Wolves.
| Club | Goals Conceded |
| Southampton | 86 |
| Ipswich | 82 |
| Leicester | 80 |
| Wolves | 69 |
| Tottenham | 65 |
Nottingham Forest’s success last season stemmed from their ability to keep clean sheets, with goalkeeper Matz Sels earning the Golden Glove award alongside Arsenal shot stopper David Raya.
Posting on X [9 September], Henry Winter claimed Postecoglou’s style was “calamitous,” and that Marinakis could be making a managerial mistake.
“Ange Postecoglou is not an upgrade on Nuno Espírito Santo,” Winter said.
“Nuno improved Forest players. How many Spurs players did Postecoglou improve?
“Angeball, high line, occasionally high and calamitous, is also different to Nuno’s counterattacking style, so Forest players will have to adjust.
“Postecoglou has to hit the ground running, finish 7th minimum and learn from Nuno’s mistake (deliberate or otherwise) and not talk about his owner in public. No pressure.
“Good luck to him but it’s a gamble.”
Postecoglou’s first game in charge of the club will be away at Arsenal, an early test of his system against one of the Premier League’s title favourites.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s defensive record at Nottingham Forest
When he arrived at Nottingham Forest in 2023, the Portuguese transformed the club’s fortunes on the pitch, largely thanks to an excellent defensive record.
Forest only conceded 46 goals last season, 19 fewer than Spurs, a record bettered by only five sides and matched by Bournemouth.
Nuno was backed during the transfer window, with an influx of attacking talent bolstering the options that will now be at Postecoglou’s disposal.
Nottingham Forest’s defence will have to adapt to the way Postecoglou wants to set up, in a process that could take time.
The Australian is known for sticking to his own way of playing, and there is little chance that he will follow Nuno’s lead.