Postecoglou Debuts at Forest as Arsenal Test Burns Bright and Newcastle Looms with a New Look Forward Line
Ange Postecoglou makes his Forest bow away to Arsenal.
He never won a north London derby with Tottenham.
He drew one and lost three.
That legacy adds pressure as he starts life in Nottingham Forest against a familiar foe.
A whirlwind week followed his appointment.
Nuno Espírito Santo left under a cloud.
Pragmatism is rare with the Australian.
He must win the squad over quickly.
Forest officials said the departure was not football related.
Time is short with players due to international duty and a Saturday kickoff.
The binder of drills sits on the shelf as a reminder of what he loves and what he fears.
He must adapt, a sign of strength after past Tottenham lessons.
The new boss faces a squad still in flux after international duty.
In a Mourinho style, structure shape and shadow play guide the approach.
Mourinho would remind us the details decide the game.
Arsenal v Nottingham Forest, Saturday 12.30pm BST.
Bournemouth v Brighton, Saturday 3pm.
Crystal Palace v Sunderland, Saturday 3pm.
Everton v Aston Villa, Saturday 3pm.
A new look forward line at Newcastle hints at shifting threat beyond this tie.
For United fans the talk of a Manchester derby to forget adds to the mood around the league.
The season will test discipline before pace.
That is a theme the old guard would recognize as the lost tempo of the Ferguson era.
Postecoglou knows the league will bite if you fail to adapt.
A Mourinho cadence returns as attention settles on the shape and the shadow of the pitch.
Will Unwin notes the need to adapt quickly and balance the starting XI.
In the echo chamber the details decide the game.
TLDR:
1) Postecoglou must quickly win over Forest and implement his structure after a turbulent week.
2) Arsenal at home tests whether his plan holds up under big six pressure and the glare of the first season.
3) Newcastle’s new look forward line signals broader shifts in the league and increases the need for Manchester rivals to tighten up.
Ange Postecoglou
Nottingham Forest