Nottinghamshire

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Ange Postecoglou is not the most expressive of managers, his tone of voice rarely changes, but there is always honesty.

That may have counted against him in his career - and it still may do at Nottingham Forest - but you cannot deny Postecoglou will always make his feelings known.

That's what he did with his five-minute and five seconds monologue in his pre-match press conference at the City Ground on Friday.

As expected he came out fighting, defending his record at Tottenham and how he changed them from 'Spursy' to becoming winners with their Europa League victory.

He argued his first season there, finishing fifth in the Premier League, has been airburshed with the focus on last term's 17th place to highlight he was a bad manager.

The reality, he said, could be that winning the Europa League proves if given time he will win trophies.

That is what he was brought to Forest for but so far Forest have already assessed their options during the international break and Saturday's visit of Chelsea appears vital to his future.

Seven winless games to open his reign since replacing Nuno Espirito Santo last month, Postecoglou has no room for error at the City Ground.

The last home game saw fans turn and chant "you're getting sacked in the morning" during the Europa League defeat to Midtjylland and words will not appease the Forest supporters who have already turned.

Katie Stafford
BBC Sport journalist

Nottingham Forest boss Ange Postecoglou has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Chelsea at the City Ground (kick-off 12:30 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Those who played for their national teams have "all come back in good condition and are ready to play".

• He confirmed he had no meeting with owner Evangelos Marinakis over the break and added: "We are just getting on with it."

• On needing to turn results around: "It's always important to win the next game, irrespective of what's happened previously. We're facing a very good opponent and we're at home, which is the good thing."

• In response to pressure being on him: "I just don't fit. Not here, but just in general. If you look at it through the prism that I'm a failed manager who is lucky to get this job – I know you are smirking at me but that has been said and I can find the print [that says it] – then, of course, these five weeks look like I'm under pressure."

• He went on to say: "There is of course an alternative story you can look at. I came here to the Premier League two years ago and took over Tottenham. 'Spursy' Tottenham. I was told by the chairman at the time this club has to win a trophy. We win a trophy, we shed the tag of being Spursy and it's Champions League football. But all I've heard since is that we finished 17th and I'm a failed manager who is lucky to get another opportunity."

• More on his previous achievements: "Maybe I'm a manager where, when given time, the story ends the same - that's with me and a trophy."

• He acknowledged "there's been a major change" at Forest, but he is still "excited" by the job because "the players are willing to change" and there is "fresh young talent" in the squad.

• Postecoglou concluded: "Some will look at the weeds - I will look at what's growing."

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Sami Mokbel
Senior football correspondent

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It is understood the process of identifying replacements in the event of Ange Postecoglou's sacking are under way, and developed during the international break.

Of course, it makes common sense for all clubs to have contingency plans in place for every scenario.

On Forest's radar is Fulham head coach Marco Silva, with sources indicating that the Portuguese is the preferred option of a number of internal figures at the City Ground.

But Silva is under contract at Craven Cottage, with sources informing BBC Sport that the 48-year-old has a "significant" release clause in his contract.

Sources have told BBC Sport that the prospect of re-appointing Steve Cooper, who led Forest back to the top flight in 2022 before being sacked and replaced by Nuno in December 2023, has been considered.

But Cooper was recently appointed head coach of Danish club Brondby.

Another option explored, as reported by BBC Sport last week, is the appointment of Sean Dyche.

Dyche lives close to Nottingham and is available for nothing, having left Everton earlier this year.

However, whether Forest and Dyche would be able to reach an agreement on terms should the club formalise their interest in the manager remains to be seen.

Read more from Sami here

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Ange Postecoglou faces the media on Friday afternoon with the spotlight on his Nottingham Forest future.

There has always been talk about it, in reality, after he replaced Nuno Espirito Santo last month and was never the first choice of supporters.

Seven winless games have naturally failed to win over fans, who goaded Postecoglou with "sacked in the morning chants" in the Europa League defeat by Midtjylland last month.

The mitigating circumstances - injuries, loss of form of some players and the fine lines which could have seen wins at Real Betis and Burnley - will not cut any ice without victories.

Chelsea arrive at the City Ground on Saturday in a pivotal moment for Postecoglou, with Forest already assessing their options, having considered Sean Dyche.

Beforehand, Postecoglou will be grilled on his future and whether he has spoken to owner Evangelos Marinakis during the international break and what the nature of discussions were.

The former Tottenham boss has come out fighting before when his job was on the line in north London, and you would expect him to do the same with his future uncertain once again.

Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson is certain to feature on a long list of summer transfer targets for Newcastle, who are keen to bring the 22-year-old England international back to the north east. (Mail - subscription required), external

Want more transfer news? Read Friday's full gossip column

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Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Nottingham Forest have been criticised by the Football Association for failing to address their behaviour on the pitch.

The club and Chelsea were charged and fined for failing to control their players during a mass confrontation in the 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge last October.

They were fined £125,000 and £40,000 respectively, although Forest appealed and their punishment has now been reduced to £112,000 following a hearing last Friday.

It was a sixth issue in two years and eight months for Forest. The club was fined following similar incidents against Derby and Crystal Palace in 2022, twice against Wolves in the EFL Cup and Premier League in 2023 and last year against Liverpool, which resulted in a £75,000 fine.

The FA has now released its written reasons and, despite giving Forest credit for their guilty plea, has been critical.

"We accept that their role within the incident itself was a lesser one but nevertheless contributed to a deeply unseemly scene," it wrote.

"Their position is aggravated by a significantly worse misconduct history for E20 offences. It seems to this commission that the club are doing very little to address this sort of behaviour."

The FA had previously criticised Forest following their EFL Cup quarter-final penalty shoot-out win over Wolves in January 2023.

Tempers boiled over at the City Ground after the west Midlands side lost on penalties and former Wolves midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White celebrated in front of the travelling fans.

The commission said at the time: "There has been no evidence put forward to the commission to demonstrate that the club are addressing what is now becoming a serial problem."

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Saturday's visit of Chelsea appears crucial to Ange Postecoglou's future at Nottingham Forest.

After seven winless games to open his reign, having replaced Nuno Espirito Santo last month, the pressure remains on the Australian.

Sources close to the squad feel Postecoglou could get Chelsea and Thursday's Europa League visit of Porto, but only if the result against the Blues on Saturday is positive and the fans do not turn.

Ultimately, it will be the decision of owner Evangelos Marinakis, who has been considering Sean Dyche as Postecoglou's replacement just five weeks after appointing the former Tottenham boss.

Should Forest supporters snap again, like they did after FC Midtjylland went 3-1 up in the Europa League last month - chanting "you're getting sacked in the morning" towards their own head coach - then a way back for Postecoglou would appear remote.

Postecoglou has said he did not expect it to be love at first sight with the fans but, so far, it is a tense relationship and you sense some chocolates and a bunch of flowers are not going to repair things.

The international break arguably came at a bad time for Postecoglou, who will be desperate for more time on the training pitches with his Forest squad.

He had six games in his first 23 days, limiting the time to implement his style of high pressure and pressing, which is vastly different to the compact and direct counter-attacking nature of predecessor Nuno's team.

Postecoglou has been without 12 players who have gone away with their countries, including Morgan Gibbs-White and Elliot Anderson with England.

During the break, Chis Wood became New Zealand's joint most capped player with Ivan Vicelich, with 88 appearances.

But, despite positive noises from All Whites coach Darren Bazeley, Wood came off after an hour of the 1-1 draw in Norway on Tuesday with a knee problem.

The striker will be assessed by Forest ahead of the weekend.