Nuno Espirito Santo’s dismissal had been impending ever since his comments over Forest’s lack of preparation for the season and revealing apparent rifts with Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis.
Earlier this week, Marinakis took the decision to sack the manager who had guided Forest to Europe for the first time in 30 years, which was seemingly catalysed by the fallout between Nuno and newly-appointed Global Head of Football Edu Gaspar.
Nuno was swiftly replaced by former Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou, who seemed the most sought-after candidate from Marinakis’ shortlist.
Questions over whether he would be a suitable fit for Forest quickly surfaced more than substantial praise for Marinakis’ judgement of selecting the perfect replacement.
This debate has been rooted in Postecoglou’s vastly different tactical setup he deployed at previous clubs.
He often adopted expansive, energetic football rather than the measured and quite often defensive propensities of Nuno.
But, his historic Europa League triumph at Tottenham amplified his appeal and, as far as Marinakis is concerned, he has a proven track-record of delivering silverware in his second season.
Postecoglou has been handed a two-year contract to replicate that feat Trentside. So perhaps this new project may not come into fruition instantly and Forest may hit some immediate stumbling blocks amid new additions and a change in style.
Surely part of his remit will be for Forest’s league form to remain intact while the manager’s credibility in the Europa League could intensify pressure to perform, yet it could facilitate an effective approach to contend with the novel competition.
Postecoglou’s first test is against his former rivals Arsenal. The Forest personnel are capable of injecting impetus into their game, but equally the players could be comfortable with falling back on their familiar defensive approach against this calibre of opposition.
Can Forest players adapt styles and align with their new manager?
Nuno Espirito Santo had instilled a style of play which had become so familiar last season. Soaking up pressure while remaining defensively solid and often scoring the opening goal outwitted several Premier League outfits and Forest became the most adept team in the league at doing so.
There were areas to exploit in this approach later down the line which begged the question of Nuno’s tactical adaptability at the helm when Forest ultimately faltered in the run-in.
At the start of this campaign, Forest have showcased several strings to their bow from a scintillating possession display against Brentford to demonstrating a breadth of qualities against Crystal Palace.
Ange Postecoglou is the new manager steering the ship and the Forest players will be expected to follow his lead regarding the tactical outlook. It could be a complete shift to what they have been accustomed to during Nuno’s tenure.
The open and expansive football Tottenham Hotspur displayed under Postecoglou was an entertaining style which promised goals despite the justified criticism over a lack of results.
There is an argument to be had that whenever you tuned into a game featuring The Lilywhites last term as a neutral you were treated to attacking football, but perhaps as a devoted fan it was a different story.
The North London side finished 17th in the Premier League, where that style was implemented on a consistent basis.
Meanwhile, on the road to their Europa League triumph, Postecoglou tinkered with his approach and became receptive to the advantages of tournament football and how they differed to domestic competition.
Nottingham Forest have acquired several new signings this summer with many supposedly not requested by Nuno, so perhaps the club were gearing up for this new manager given the influx of attackers particularly.
These new faces have not been integrated into the Premier League side fully as of yet; however, Ange has the opportunity to embed his style into them as well as the existing players.
There is no doubt that many of the latter are able to adapt and play forward-thinking football like Elliot Anderson or Morgan Gibbs-White.
Forest had a transitional threat in abundance last season and we have already seen glimpses of that possession-oriented danger evolving, so why can’t it take that next step.
Forest are more than capable of undergoing a seismic tactical shift and the players may very well embrace it.
In his first pre-match press conference, Postecoglou referenced this challenge, "It's familiar territory for me. It will be a gradual process. Nuno was transitioning into something different, but we're all different. It's just a matter of making it as smooth as possible."
Why Arsenal may force Forest to revert to old ways?
Forest’s record against Arsenal at the Emirates is concerning heading into their match this Saturday.
They have only scored one goal in their last four matches in North London and have not come away with a single point.
Arsenal dominated possession and scored the goals to give themselves breathing room in each of those contests.
Mikel Arteta’s men will be seeking three points on home soil after their loss to Liverpool prior to the international break, so too are Forest after their humiliating loss at the City Ground to West Ham United in what turned out to be Nuno’s final game in charge.
Perhaps Arsenal have more of the onus in this encounter to assert their authority, and they may seize possession from word go and push their opponents onto the back foot.
The Forest faithful may see glimpses of how their side will pivot stylistically in the forthcoming season, or they may get the full package this weekend since Postecoglou springing a surprise on his old foe can’t be entirely ruled out.
However, Arsenal are expected to command possession against them and Forest may have to retreat and resort to transitions, finishing attacks quickly with intent.
This could be a more suited approach to nullify the **Premier League**’s runners-up. The Forest camp now embark on the task of whether they should stick or twist with how they have successfully set up before against more challenging opposition.