Nottinghamshire

Pat Riddell
Fan writer

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There is a lot of noise around Nottingham Forest at the moment, for obvious reasons, which means the progress of numerous summer signings has been somewhat overlooked.

The 13 transfer window signings arrived with great fanfare but many have yet to really make their mark, with the incumbent squad amassing greater game time as they are eased into the season.

Igor Jesus made an impact with a double against both Swansea City and Real Betis, and another call-up to the Brazil squad confirms his presence.

On Sunday, his compatriot Jair Cunha made an assured first-team start against Newcastle United. The result obviously did not go our way, but it was one of the few positives.

Injuries to full-backs Ola Aina and Oleksandr Zinchenko have given an opportunity to Nicolo Savona, and while he has shown glimpses of potential, time is needed to develop understanding there, as well as whether he is better suited to playing as part of a back three.

Loanee Douglas Luiz has impressed in the little time we have seen before injury, while the big money signings Omar Hutchinson, Dilane Bakwa, James McAtee and Arnaud Kalimuendo will presumably feature more prominently in the weeks to come.

Dan Ndoye, who arrived in time for pre-season training, has gained more game time, but that extra time is often key. It is easy to judge players from their YouTube highlights. It is even easier to judge them before they have settled into a new club in a new country.

Some obviously take no time in fitting in - Nikola Milenkovic, Murillo, Elliot Anderson - but that pre-season time can be all-important. Others take time to adapt, even if they have Premier League experience.

With the club as it is at the moment, it is hardly an ideal time to be settling into an unsettled environment. But a few weeks ago, we were concerned about the lack of cover at centre-back; Cunha offers some reassurance there.

Time is something all new signings need – and it is something the international break offers.

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Former Premier League striker Chris Sutton says he does not "see it ending well for Ange Postecoglou" because "I can't see Forest fans changing their mind about him".

The Nottingham Forest boss was jeered by his own fans after just six games in charge, following the defeat at Newcastle.

"Nottingham Forest fans loved Nuno Espirito Santo and they love Evangelos Marinakis because he is a very hands-on owner," said Sutton on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club. "He is visible so they absolutely adore him.

"But he has made this decision so there needs to be an element of patience.

"Any manager needs time. He has barely been in the job for four weeks!

"But having said that, I don't see it ending well for Postecoglou because I can't see Forest fans changing their mind about him.

"It is deeply unfair and sums up where we are in the game now, in terms of it being short-term and going off what people think."

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Fulham manager Marco Silva is a long-term target for Nottingham Forest should they sack Ange Postecoglou, though an approach for the Portuguese is unlikely to happen before the end of the season. (Mail), external

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Former Nottingham Forest striker Robert Earnshaw told BBC Radio 5 Live that fans need to give Ange Postecoglou time to make a difference.

The new Forest boss is winless in his first seven games in all competitions and will now have the international break to consolidate his ideas and recover injured players.

"A few years ago, Forest were seventh from bottom in the Championship and now they're playing in Europe and that's under his [Evangelos Marinakis] ownership," said Earnshaw. "Yes, they have had lots of managers because Marinakis has moved and changed them.

"I think this is probably the worst one as he probably didn't want Nuno Espirito Santo to go actually, but he had to almost make the decision.

"Nuno is very popular in Nottingham, they love him, but they also love Marinakis, so that whole fall out was the fans caught in the middle thinking, 'we love both of these, what's going on, we don't want this, we want both of you to get on.'

"So, I just think we've got to give the respect to Ange Postecoglou, just to give him time, because he's only been there three and a half weeks.

"He's got to start winning for sure, but I also think he's got a bit of extra time."

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Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney says he is concerned for Nottingham Forest manager Ange Postecoglou's future.

Speaking on the The Wayne Rooney Show, the former England captain said Postecoglou deserved more time to implement his ideas following Nuno Espirito Santo's departure, and questioned the club's hierarchy for creating instability so early in the season.

The former forward believes Postecoglou has shown promising signs despite poor results.

"It's crazy. All the rumours that you're hearing is Ange could get sacked, and he's had what, six or seven games," Rooney said. "It's absolutely crazy. And I like Ange. I think he's a good manager. He obviously struggled in the league with Tottenham last season and then won the Europa League, and it was strange.

"Obviously, Nuno getting sacked at Forest and they've brought Ange in, so if he does get sacked, I'm not hearing anyone talking about the ownership, and decisions they're making. They're the ones making the decision. So, if they do sack him, someone has to be responsible for hiring him.

"The difficulty he's got is the style Nuno played to what Ange wants to play is completely different.

"I watched him against Burnley. I thought Forest were very good and against Real Betis in the Europa League, I thought they were very good in that game as well. He's been unlucky on a couple of occasions.

"The Forest fans really like Nuno, and it doesn't look like they're willing to give Ange time."

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Ciaran Kelly
Football reporter

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Can Ange Postecoglou turn things around at Nottingham Forest and mould a winning side in his image?

The manager and his staff, like other top-flight bosses competing in European competitions, have had little time to work with players on the training pitches given the relentless nature of the schedule.

Douglas Luiz, Murillo and Oleksandr Zinchenko are among those players Postecoglou feels need more training time.

He has identified the upcoming two-week international break as an "important" period for those who are not travelling to play for their countries.

Such time is precious, but it is particularly crucial when shifting from one style to another - as Joe Hart knows well, after their time together at Celtic.

"We were probably five, six or seven games into the season - having had a pre-season - before we were really flowing, understanding what he wants us to do and having confidence in it," the former goalkeeper told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"Ange is a big man and he understands what he walked into."

Postecoglou certainly did not appear crestfallen after Forest's latest defeat against Newcastle.

After staying out to applaud the away end at full-time, he deadpanned that his situation was "a lost cause" when asked if he could turn things around with time.

"It's a fight and it's a struggle," he said. "So what? That's OK. If people outside or even internally don't think I'm the right person, it makes no difference to me.

"I took this role on knowing it would be a massive challenge with what we were trying to do in terms of changing the direction of the club. Nothing I've seen in the last three and a half weeks has changed my view on that.

"I love the challenge of taking this club to where it needs to be and I'm very confident of getting there."

We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League game between Newcastle and Nottingham Forest.

Here are some of your comments:

Newcastle fans

Davey: It might not have been flowing football or particularly stylish, but winning games like this is essential to pushing for another Champions League qualification. We're still adapting to a new style of forward in the middle, but we were pretty solid in defence and our midfield wasn't bad either. Sandro Tonali was my man of the match - he never stops battling.

Bob: A good performance all round but one that might go under the radar is that of Anthony Gordon who was greatly improved. Malick Thiaw also looked solid alongside Sven Botman - a promising partnership there.

Andrew: A game of two halves. In the first half, we looked a bit disjointed. Maybe the pressure of a much-needed win was getting to the team. In the second half, we found some rhythm, created some great chances and deserved more than the two goals in the end. We need to build on the last two games.

Simon: A good solid performance across the team. It was tough to break down the Forest defence and their keeper kept them in the game. Good goal from Bruno Guimaraes and an excellent penalty from Nick Woltemade. Well earned three points.

Forest fans

Mike: I can see exactly what Ange Postecoglou is trying to do and the fanbase need to cut him some slack. I agree that results have not gone his way so far but he had a hard act to follow and in these crazy times he deserves some support. The real problem lies in the ownership and letting Nuno Espirito Santo go which could or maybe will prove catastrophic. Onwards and upwards. We will get better.

Matt: Some improvement but is it enough? I doubt it. Matz Sels brilliance aside it could have been three or four and then it would be a foregone conclusion. As nice a man as Ange comes across as, he's not for Forest and I think it's just a matter of time.

Adam: First half I thought we played well and did a good job. Second half Newcastle out on more pressure and it paid off. I'd like to say things are starting to improve but Newcastle have been poor so far this season as well so it's hardly a good result. I'd happily take Steve Cooper back to be honest.

Graham: I keep refreshing the BBC site, hoping for the news we all want to come. Sadly it has not.

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Former Premier League goalkeeper David James believes Ange Postecoglou has inherited a Nottingham Forest side with "problems" that were masked by Matz Sels' brilliance last season.

The defeat by Newcastle means Postecoglou has failed to win any of his first seven games in all competitions and Forest have conceded an average of more than two goals per match.

"If it had not have been for Sels, it could have been a five-goal defeat easily," said James on BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast. "Last season, he was outstanding and they would never have got to where they did if they had a lesser goalkeeper.

"But if the goalkeeper is having to play that well through the course of the season, then there is a problem with who is in front of him.

"Postecoglou was not there then so there is a bigger problem for him to deal with.

"He hasn't got the comfort of a transfer window right now, but they need to let him get to one."

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Pundits Joe Hart and Danny Murphy join host Kelly Cates to bring you the action and talking points from Sunday's five Premier League fixtures.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Aston Villa 2-1 Burnley

• Everton 2-1 Crystal Palace

• Newcastle 2-0 Nottingham Forest

• Wolves 1-1 Brighton

• Brentford 0-1 Man City