MAC OF THE NET COLUMN: There could be more fireworks at the City Ground after Evangelos Marinakis replaced one outspoken manager with another by hiring Ange Postecoglou
08:00, 13 Sep 2025
Chris McKenna
Chris McKenna is the Daily Star's boxing correspondent and an expert voice on the 'sweet science', along with a hugely experienced football reporter, who primarily focuses on Merseyside giants Liverpool and Everton. He has covered world title fights all around the world, Champions League finals, FA Cup finals and Premier League title deciders.
Nottingham Forest boss Ange Postecoglou
Ange Postecoglou is back in the Premier League already at Nottingham Forest(Image: PA)
Ange Postecoglou and Evangelos Marinakis together at one club - what could go wrong? Quite a lot, really. We will find out soon enough.
Why any manager would want to work for a hot-headed owner like Nottingham Forest’s is anyone’s guess. OK, maybe the money in your pocket and the amount you can splash out in the transfer market will go one way to convincing some.
Let’s not feel too sorry for Nuno Espirito Santo. He did a remarkable job with Forest as he guided them to Europe after being relegation candidates. But he will have got a hefty pay off and he knew what he was getting into when he signed up to work with Marinakis, a volatile person who brings such emotion into his business decisions it seems.
READ MORE: Premier League club bans 'embarrassing' half-and-half scarves 'that should be illegal'READ MORE: Man Utd urged to hijack Liverpool transfer and told target 'wouldn't say no'
So there won’t be any tears in the next few weeks or months if Postecoglou suddenly finds himself clashing heads with his new boss. We know Postecoglou is a fiery character. He arrived in England from Celtic when he joined Tottenham in 2023.
At first, it was a charm offensive from the Greek-born Aussie. Spurs flew out of the traps and he talked his way into their hearts. But once results turned, he became tetchy in media engagements and was not afraid to bite back at criticisms.
That’s fine, that’s his character. He’s got a right to defend himself and he - like anyone - can be angry at criticism if they feel it is unfair. But linking up with Marinakis - even if they share Greek blood - could be a disaster waiting to happen.
The sight of Marinakis recently standing in the tunnel at the City Ground high fiving players as they came off the pitch shows just how involved the owner is in proceedings. Some love that as it shows he cares but managers don’t like it when owners overstep their mark.
Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis
Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis is no stranger to controversy(Image: PA)
Postecoglou won’t be shy in telling his new boss what he thinks should he criticise any of his side’s play, judging by his previous relations with the media. The first challenge for the Aussie will be getting the players to adapt to his way of playing given Nuno had mastered making Forest hard to beat with physicality and a clinical approach.
Maybe Postecoglou can dip into his Europa League final tactical book and repeat the performance which frustrated Manchester United in May to lift the trophy for Spurs. But he’s more likely to revert to type and go with the high-line starting Saturday in the lunchtime kick-off against Arsenal.
Good luck Postecoglou, you’ll need it.
*Sadly this is the end for this column after just over two years. It has been short but very sweet.
Thank you to my sports editor David McClay for giving me the opportunity to have my own football column to rant and rave in. Hope you all enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
*****************************************************************
The Manchester Derby on Sunday and two managers desperate for a win for very different reasons.
Pep Guardiola has enough credit at the Etihad Stadium to walk away whenever he wants so any talk of him being under pressure is a bit silly. But the City boss will want a convincing win to instil confidence in his new-look squad that they can get the blue half of the city back to its best this season.
While Ruben Amorim needs a big win to show his United side are going in the right direction. United would probably be happy with a battling draw but a heavy defeat will pile the pressure on the Portuguese.
Maybe not a classic derby in store but certainly an intriguing one.
ONSIDE
David Brooks. New deal at Bournemouth. Playing very well. An inspiration after he recovered from cancer.
OFFSIDE
Article continues below
Heimir Hallgrimsson. A disastrous appointment for Ireland, who are not going to the World Cup after defeat by Armenia.