Some say it was 39 and some say it was 40 days. It doesn't matter, it's still a Premier League record that Ange Postecoglou did not want. Ange was given 8 games at Nottingham Forest but it felt as if the pressure was on him right from the get go. It didn't help that some in the media believed he could be the catalyst for Forest going on to win the Europa League when he had hardly cleared Santo's desk. Losses and draws followed although Forest created chances, the fans were on his back and perhaps the fact that his 17th place finish with Tottenham the previous season was lingering on their minds.
But one person who is really not being held accountable is club owner Evangelos Marinakis. It was him who fired Nuno, him who brought in Ange and him who fired Ange. Marinakis is solely to blame for this whole fiasco. Yes Nuno and back room staff Edu could not get along. Ask which is more important, the guy who just gave Forest their best season in a generation or a purchaser who was happy to jump ship from Arsenal for more pay? Sacking Nuno at this time after his achievements has to go down as one of the craziest moments in Premier League history. It made no sense. It got worse in appointing Ange because despite his qualities - attacking teams and winning the Europa League last season, Ange is not a better manager than Nuno. Why at this stage would you take a step down when Forest were clearly on a positive trajectory? Did Ange deserved to be sacked? No, because what manager deemed good enough to get the job in the first place deserves to be sacked less than six weeks later?
The sacking spoke more about Marinakis than it did about Ange however it has hurt Ange's resume now to be sacked twice from Premier League clubs in the space of 4 months. He'll surely be back in the league just to prove a point no doubt.
Meanwhile Marinakis has given the job to Sean Dyche, a manager who has a win rate of just 34% from over 500 games. Dyche's last managerial job was with Everton which was remembered mostly as a struggle although he did manage to keep the Toffees up when they looked certain to go down especially after receiving a six point fine. However, towards the final three months of the job Dyche's time at Goodison Park turned sour and the club were forced to sack him in January 2025. Dyche has a connection to Forest and his assistants including Ian Woan have played for the club. But Dyche's style of football may feel negative to what fans have experienced under Santo and even Ange. Ultimately what does Marinakis want from Dyche? Has the owner conceded that a win for Forest this season is simply to not be relegated? If so Dyche could be that man that steers the boat, but expect it to be in choppy waters. But if the Greek owner shows Dyche a no nonsense attitude like he did Ange, could Forest actually be in search of their 4th manager of the season by the end of this year? Dyche certainly may get some good results but Forest are still going to lose quite a few games under him, so it will be interesting to see if Marinakis' patience is calmer this time around.
Liverpool are last season's Manchester City so far. It's actually eerie how the form of the two sides has mirrored one another. A blisteringly good start has been evaporated by 3 defeats in a row and the Reds have seen Arsenal shoot to the top of the table. One player most will focus on is Mohamed Salah simply because of how brilliant he has been with Liverpool over the past 8 years. But so far this season everything seems off for him. Just 2 goals have been scored so far and he looks a shadow of the player who terrorised defences even last season. Some have suggested he is missing link up play with Trent Alexander-Arnold who left in the summer for the heights of Real Madrid. Salah's game is off and it has been interesting how Salah has been giving nods to start in league games at the expense of in form Hugo Ekitike who keeps scoring goals given the opportunity. Liverpool look too good not to bounce back again but even Jürgen Klopp had nightmares spells with this talented squad.
Manchester City do not look at their absolute best but while everyone has been ahhing over Arsenal and gasping over Liverpool, City have been plugging along and crept into 2nd place. Erling Haaland who despite his goals last season looked off now looks bang on form so far and has 11 goals already in the league. You get the sense that after near domination in the league this decade manager Pep Guardiola will be content with a non favourite tag slapped on his side. For the first time in 16 months City look happy to be playing football and they rather than Liverpool could well be the biggest threat to Arsenal's title challenge this season. Football moves and changes quickly of course but City are looking a real danger in recent times and that should be a concern for Arsenal and Mikel Arteta.
Latest odds to win the Premier League: Arsenal 1.80, Manchester City 4.33, Liverpool 5.00, Chelsea 20.00, Manchester United 51.00
The doom and gloom continues at West Ham who must be regretting shooting themselves in the foot and sacking David Moyes. Since then they suffered a nightmare spell with Graham Potter and Nuno Espirto Santo's start has been poor. Santo has managed 3 games so far and managed 1 point, a draw away to Everton. A new low came last Monday. It was Santo's first game at home and the opposition were Brentford, not great travellers. It felt with all due respect 3 points for the Hammers. Instead they were outplayed and lost 2-0. It's official if we did not already realise it but West Ham have a poor side. You wonder if Santo is thinking if he's bitten off more than he can chew here because West Ham look like they will be in a relegation fight already. On top of that fans continue to protest, they want the owners out and they want a different stadium. It all feels quite understandable too. Owners David Sullivan and Karen Brady look out of their depth and the stadium is not a football one and lacks atmosphere. You have to feel for the fans who had one of the most intimidating stadiums in Upton Park in the country. To give it up for a 60,000 athletics stadium and popcorn feels soulless. Will a billionaire come calling? Under the current PSR premier league rulings that stifle up and coming clubs though, probably not.
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