Marinakis Keeps His Nerve as Postecoglou Faces First Big Week at Forest

Nottingham Forest’s iconic red didn’t just belong to the shirts this week — it was splashed across a few faces as well. Ange Postecoglou’s tenure has begun with a thud: a comprehensive lesson at Arsenal followed by a midweek collapse in south Wales after racing into a two-goal lead. Painful? Absolutely. Terminal? Not yet.

Marinakis: Frustrated, Yes — But Still Backing His Man

Evangelos Marinakis didn’t spend big over the summer to watch Forest wobble out of the blocks. But those close to the owner say the belief in Postecoglou is intact. This is, after all, the coach he championed for steering Spurs to Europa League glory — a pedigree appointment expected to inject authority and ambition at the City Ground. The results have been rough, the conviction remains.

Postecoglou’s Reality Check: No Time for Theory, Only Points

Postecoglou has been straight: Forest aren’t a long-term “project” and there’s no room for airy philosophy. It’s about instant solutions and decisive calls. Two games in, he’s learned plenty the hard way — and he’ll know that another slow start on Saturday would test the patience of an owner who isn’t known for tolerating drift.

Right-Back Riddle and a Midfield Shake-Up

In defence, Ola Aina’s absence leaves a call to make down the right. Nicolo Savona, with his Juventus schooling, won’t be startled by pressure, but Neco Williams looks the likelier pick at Turf Moor. Oleksandr Zinchenko clocked his first full outing in midweek, while Murillo had a torrid time filling in at Arsenal — lessons banked, and the back line needs clarity quickly.

Midfield could see a rejig too. Douglas Luiz is back from a stop-start spell with Juventus after his £50m switch from Aston Villa last year, and he brings control and bite. If he starts, Ibrahim Sangare may be the one to miss out, which would nudge the tireless Ryan Yates further from the XI. Expect Postecoglou to keep faith with the 4-2-3-1 that underpinned last season’s surge, but with sharper edges.

Fresh Faces Up Front — And Real Competition

Here’s the good news: options. Anthony Elanga’s move to Newcastle changes the dynamic, and Postecoglou proved he’s willing to rotate — the entire front four was switched from the Arsenal game. Dan Ndoye looks a handful, Dilane Bakwa brought spark, Omari Hutchinson knitted play superbly, and Igor Jesus banged in two in the Carabao Cup, which should have Chris Wood glancing over his shoulder. Morgan Gibbs-White was untouchable last season; now James McAtee’s arrival gives genuine choice in the pocket. This is what competition is supposed to look like.

Burnley, Betis, Sunderland: A Week That Sets the Tone

Turf Moor is no place for passengers. Whoever wears that famous Garibaldi hue on Saturday has to be a clear upgrade in the manager’s mind — and, whisper it, probably in the owner’s as well. Start fast, stay ruthless, and manage the game better than in south Wales. Then it’s a quick turn to Europe for Real Betis, before another newly-promoted test against Sunderland. It’s a run that can calm nerves or crank up the pressure.

This is a pivotal week for Forest and for Postecoglou’s authority in the dressing room. If you’re tracking the market mood while the fixtures come thick and fast, check the latest guides at best betting sites — and judge for yourself whether Forest’s new-look attack is about to click.

The Verdict

Marinakis isn’t thrilled, but he hasn’t blinked. Postecoglou knows the brief: pick the right men, pick them quickly, and turn promise into points. Another seven days like the last and tempers may flare; a sharp response and those red faces will be forgotten just as quickly.