'Postecoglou will need to win over sceptical fanbase'

Ange Postecoglou inherits solid foundations at Nottingham Forest, but has big shoes to fill at the City Ground.

The former Tottenham boss has been available after leaving the north London club at the end of last season, following a Europa League win which was juxtaposed by a wretched league season as Spurs finished 17th in the Premier League.

But now the Australian's appointment has been confirmed - and it was only a matter of time after he was seen arriving at the club's training ground on Tuesday - he will need to win over a sceptical fanbase who adored Nuno Espirito Santo for what he delivered during his 21-month spell.

There was a real sense of unity under Nuno, even if that did appear to crumble over the summer and through his subsequent statements criticising the club's slow transfer policy.

But he did bring European football back to the City Ground for the first time in 30 years, building on the foundations predecessor Steve Cooper laid by leading the Reds back to the Premier League in 2022.

Nuno's departure has naturally been met with sadness from supporters, so Postecoglou will have to win them over quickly.

There is no doubt, despite Nuno's complaints, that Forest strengthened this summer. The club spent £180m and broke their transfer record.

Omari Hutchinson's £37.5m move from Ipswich Town was a club record, while James McAtee, Arnaud Kalimuendo, Dilane Bakwa all joined in deals worth about £30m.

Forest's success was built on Nuno's counter-attacking style, so Postecoglou's high-press and possession-based method will be a real change.

Nikola Milenkovic and Murillo have excelled under Nuno but, without additional cover and the chances of being exposed more often, will they fit a new style?

Postecoglou took a more pragmatic approach in Tottenham's Europa League semi-final second-leg win at Bodo/Glimt in May, opting for safety first as Spurs threw a blanket on the game to ensure they progressed.

So the Australian can change when necessary, but there wasn't much evidence of that in the Premier League last season, when Tottenham lost 22 of their 38 games, finishing 27 points behind Forest.

McAtee, Morgan Gibbs-White, Elliot Anderson and Callum Hudson-Odoi all like to have the ball, and Ola Aina and Neco Williams like to get up from full-back. So there are weapons available to Postecoglou, but there could be chinks in the armour going forward.