Nuno Espirito Santo is out as Nottingham Forest Manager. Replacing him is Ange Postecoglou who left a mixed legacy upon his own recent departure from Tottenham Hotspur. Santo, who also came to Wolves after a turn as Spurs manager, valiantly rescued Forest from the brink of relegation in 2023/24 to capture a place in Europe with a seventh place finish last season. Strangely, however, Santo seemed intent on plotting his own demise. The taciturn manager placed himself on the hot seat by going public on a souring relationship with Owner Evangelos Marinakis. The fiery and emotional Marinakis is not one to be trifled with and talks between the two men over the international break failed to resolve their differences. Santo was sacked and immediately replaced with Postecoglou on Tuesday.
Ange Postecoglou
The new Nottingham Forest manager will have his work cut out for him as his aggressive high line defense is diametrically different from the defensive teachings of Santo. Postecoglou inherits a club which was still settling after several summer personnel changes and must now contend with the unaccustomed rigors of balancing European and domestic competition. Postecoglou was unable to balance both at Tottenham Hotspur, leading to a paradoxical and controversial end to his tour in north London. The Australian manager led Spurs to the worst Premier League season of any club not relegated after an ugly mess which saw his club lose 22 of its 38 league matches.
Still, Postecoglou delivered the first silverware for the club in 17 years, putting all his focus on the Europa League and seeming to care little for the club’s Premier League labors. Even the Europa League trophy, however, was tainted from the moment it was hoisted following an ugly and uninspiring win in the final over the worst Manchester United team in the Premier League era. The disastrous league season could not be ignored and Postecoglou was sacked just 16 days after celebrating his Europa League win. The Australian manager became increasingly cantankerous under unrelenting criticism of his performance last season. Rather than taking time to reflect and recharge, Postecoglou is now back into the fray as his new journey starts Saturday at Arsenal. The new manger must be aware that his new boss is not a patient man.
The tumult at Forest nudged the Manchester derby just a bit down the headlines. Sunday’s match at the Etihad, however, will provide further evidence as to whether Manchester United manager Ruben Amroim should join Santo on the unemployment line. Amorim’s record in the Premier League is exceptionally poor as he has reached 15 league losses more quickly than any manager in the competition’s history. He also lost the Europa League to Postecoglou in a matchup of underperforming managers last spring. A loss to League Two side Grimsby Town in the EFL Cup two weeks ago was a new low. And yet most Premier League fans would be surprised to know that Manchester United stands above their crosstown rivals, Manchester City, in the current Premier League table after the Red Devils squeaked by newly promoted Burnley in their last match. For all the doom and gloom, United is unbeaten in its two league matches since a narrow 1-0 loss to Arsenal on opening weekend. While doing nothing to quell the uncertainty surrounding Manager Ruben Amorim, those last two results put the Red Devils a point above gold plated manager Pep Guardiola and his surprisingly vulnerable Manchester City side. The Citizens lost at Brighton last week after being stunned at the Etihad by Tottenham Hotspur the week before.
An opening laugher over Wolverhampton now seems more a judgement on a poor opponent than the strength of Guardiola’s club. The Citizens have been surprisingly ineffective in attack since opening weekend as Manchester City could sorely use other attack options besides Erling Haaland. As good as the world class Norwegian striker is, the club appears one-dimensional with few options outside its prized asset. The decline of a still young Phil Foden remains a puzzle while relative newcomers such as Omar Mamoush and Tijjani Reijnders are yet to step up in league competition. Marmoush will not make an impact this weekend due to a knee injury suffered on international assignment. Manchester United supporters will be looking to see whether summer signing Benjamin Sesko, receives his first Premier League start. There is an inordinate amount of doubt surrounding the prospects of a player inked to a premium deal who has been unable to crack Amorim’s starting lineup. The health of Matheus Cunha is also a question for the Red Devils. The winger, signed after a breakout season at Wolverhampton, suffered a hamstring injury in United’s last match but is supposedly racing the clock to get back for the derby matchup. Manchester United has been surprisingly good against their rivals despite an inequality in roster and management in recent years. The Red Devils took both Premier League matches last season, including a 2-1 victory at the Etihad.
Things get even rougher for Burnley following their loss to Manchester United before the break when Liverpool visits Turf Moor in Sunday’s other match. The defending champions, perfect in their three matches this season, could unveil their latest prize in striker Alexander Isak though the Premier League’s most expensively acquired player will likely need some time for fitness and acclimation before playing meaningful minutes for Liverpool. A galaxy of attacking players allows the Reds to be cautious in launching their newest weapon. Isak’s former club, Newcastle, will be home at St James’s Park to face Wolverhampton. Wolves look in dire relegation jeopardy after shipping eight goals while scoring just twice in three league losses so far. Isak did not participate in any of Newcastle’s matches before his transfer as he pressed for his transfer in the most petulant manner possible.
Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi, meanwhile, was a consummate professional as he continued to captain Crystal Palace amid reports of his own rumored transfer to Liverpool. It proved more than rumor as a deal seemed done, and Guehi took his Liverpool physical on deadline day. Crystal Palace pulled out at the last minute, however, and we will see if Guehi’s professionalism continues when Sunderland visits Selhurst Park to play the Eagles on Saturday.
Elsewhere in London, there are two derby contests on Saturday. West Ham, shock winners over Nottingham Forest in their last outing, host Tottenham Hotspur. Chelsea is at Brentford. The unbeaten Blues are waiting on the fitness of Cole Palmer’s groin and will be without Liam Delap for 10-12 weeks after the striker underwent surgery on his hamstring. Even more pressure falls on the production of Joao Pedro who has found the net twice this season while assisting on two other Chelsea seven goals this season. Brentford has little sympathy. The top two scorers for the Bees last season have moved on, Bryan Mbeumo to Manchester United and Yoane Wissa to Newcastle. Leeds will also be in London to face Fulham. The Whites have struggled for goals but have captured valuable points with an opening 1-0 defeat of Everton and a scoreless draw before the break with Newcastle.
Everton responded to its opening defeat with two victories and will try to make it three in a row when Aston Villa makes its first visit to the new Hill Dickinson Stadium on Merseyside. Villa has been spiraling with two losses in a row after its opening weekend goalless draw with Newcastle and is the only Premier League side not to score a goal this season.
Bournemouth needed just one goal in each of its last two matches to capture six points. The Cherries host Brighton on Saturday with the Seagulls returning to action after a thrilling 2-1 comeback win over Manchester City before the break.
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